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The recent years have witnessed a significant change in China–EUrope relations, with the EU's strategic positioning of China undergoing a fundamental shift from a "partner" to a "systemic rival." By applying a theoretical framework based on neoclassical realism, the present paper examines the determinant factors leading to such a shift. This study highlights three factors: first, a change in the US's strategy and governance capability; second, the power symmetries between China and EUrope, including salient changes in material strength and marked differences in norms; third, an emergent change in strategic culture, encompassing a striving China vis-à-vis a strategically autonomous EUrope. By following Götz's (2021) insights on neoclassical realist approaches that employ intervening variables as complementary factors, we identify the US factor as the most important international factor in structural terms, while the power symmetries and strategic culture act as complementary factors. The paper concludes that while maintaining engagement, China–EUrope relations will only see further intensified rivalry and contradictions in the future. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Nowadays, China increasingly sees education as a critical component of becoming a world emerging power. Since 2015, China has implemented its new education strategy, named the "World first-class universities and world first-class disciplines" project. In this context, the university's internal governance has become a critical factor for the Chinese standards to construct world first-class universities. The Chinese government has published a series of related documents to enhance university autonomy and improve external conditions with university governance's mechanism reform. The paper firstly discusses the research statutes and proposes the analytical framework based on the stakeholder theory and quadrilateral model. Secondly, it presents the history and progress of the university's internal governance in China and Europe and summarizes their experiences and characteristics. Thirdly, it discusses the similarities and differences between Europe and China in the universities' internal governance, which focuses on the internal governance framework and the power distribution. In this way, the university budget and finance, teacher's appointment and promotion, enrollment power, curriculum design, research, and even the housing and equipment assignment are all analyzed. Finally, it summarizes China and Europe's internal governance models with the key factors and prominent features in the different models. It also discusses the common issues that the universities are facing in internal governance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The author comments on a study which found that although the number of nanotechnology papers published by Chinese researchers is increasing rapidly, the U.S. and Europe continue to lead in terms of quality. The author believes that the study just confirm the need for China to focus on quality rather than quantity.

The worlds that Matteo Ricci lived in-early modern Europe, Ming China and the pre-Westphalian international order-are vastly different from the world of the 21 century, when accelerated globalization binds China and Europe together as never before and when global international society is moving decisively beyond Westphalia. How much are the legacies of Matteo Ricci still relevant, 400 years on, to enriching the relationship between China and Europe in the 21 century? This paper starts with a brief overview of the civilizational encounters between China and Europe and the unfolding of their turbulent and often troubled relationship over the last four centuries of wars, collapse of empires, internal convulsions, nation-state building, scientific and industrial revolutions and great economic transformations. Against this historical narrative is the discussion of Matteo Ricci as a cultural agent, a knowledge broker and a practitioner of public diplomacy in fostering Sino-European relations in its nascent years. The paper argues that even in an increasingly globalized world, Matteo Ricci's conception of culture, his wisdom about the power of knowledge and his practice of people-to-people diplomacy remain valuable in informing both China and the EU, two aspiring global players, in their search for a viable China-EU strategic partnership. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This essay examines and evaluates China's global rise and the state of the transatlantic discussions about this issue. Since 2010, the rise of China has been accompanied by multiple Chinese initiatives on the international front, especially in the fields of trade and investment. Chinese overseas direct investments are on the rise at a global level. The creation of the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank, of the Silk Road Fund, and of the 'Belt and Road' initiative are signs of a much more assertive China that is now engaging Western countries, including Europe and the USA. Western reactions, both at governmental and grass-root levels have been mixed. Two questions emerge: can Europeans agree on a common policy toward China? And can the USA and the European Union pursue a dialog and a more coordinated strategy? This will be especially relevant in the context of President Donald Trump's administration as well as newly elected governments in France and Germany following general elections in these countries in 2017. The future of a transatlantic dialog should also encompass the British question when the UK leaves the EU. As the USA and leading European countries map their foreign policy strategies in coming years, there is a need to elevate policy coordination toward China in the hierarchy of political and economic goals. The paper offers some suggestions on possible priorities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The European Union (EU)'s trade strategy has changed since 2015 with the re-introduction of human rights and the EU's refusal to grant China Market Economy Status. The questions under investigation here are what were the drivers of EU-China trade before the strategic turn and what consequences could the new EU strategy bring about in the relationship. The paper will draw from 16 interviews with think tanks and policy makers carried out in Beijing and Brussels in 2015 to uncover the Chinese perceptions of the EU and its diplomats as well as the preferences that have so far pushed China to make the EU one of its first trade partners. This work concludes that in order for the EU-China trade relationship to keep functioning, the new EU strategy towards China needs to keep human rights as an issue separated from trade, needs to boost knowledge and legislation transfers on sensitive issues like food safety and environmental management and finally needs to keep the 'European way' of dealing with trade frictions and disputes with China. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In recent years an increasing number of works on EU international actorness have begun to focus on notions of “normative, value-driven external policy”. However, the majority of these works tend to uncritically analyse EU foreign policy without considering its internal complexity and the existing national, supranational and intergovernmental dynamics. This paper first sheds light on these issues by proposing an original theoretical and analytical framework to study European, rather than merely EU, normative foreign policy. Secondly, this paper attempts to empirically apply such a framework in the specific case of European human rights promotion in China. What emerges is that in the case of China, and Asia more broadly, Europe appears more as a normative trap, where the interaction of EU institutions and member states originate policies not in line with the EU human rights normative basis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background & Aims: Diabetes and related metabolic syndromes represent a significant global health challenge, with the global burden of diabetes increasing considerably since 1990. In this article, we examined the trend of publications in Endocrinology, Diabetes and Metabolism between 1996 and 2021, focusing on Asian countries. Methods: We obtained and used the data from the Scopus database from the SCImago website (https://www.scimagojr.com/), on 1 April 2023, related to the subspecialty of Endocrinology, Diabetes and Metabolism for country rankings between 1996 and 2021. We did not include any data related to other medical specialties or other fields. Results: There has been a steady rise in global publications on these subspecialties over the past decade, with the number of publications from Asian countries increasing significantly. Western Europe recorded the highest number of publications, followed by North America and Asia. The COVID-19 pandemic also contributed to a surge in publications in this field. In Asian countries, China and India have notably increased their global contribution to publications, with China emerging as the top Asian nation in 2021. Conclusion: Our findings provide valuable insights into the research output from various countries and the productivity trends in Diabetes, Endocrinology and Metabolism-related research. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

When it was discovered in 1669, phosphorus became a wonder of the European courts and fairs, with the chemiluminescent combination of phosphorus and atmospheric oxygen producing a light show no one had ever seen before or even thought possible. Within ten years of its discovery, a new curiosity emerged when Robert Boyle improved the production method by adding SiO2 to the mix, then coating paper with the resulting phosphorus. When he drew a wood splinter through the paper, it lit on fire. From that essential function of providing instant fire, phosphorus eventually found other uses, including fertilizer and detergents. Today, very few smelters of any capacity remain, with the greatest production volume coming from China. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Age of consent-the age at which young people are considered legally competent to consent to sexual activities-is an important weapon invented by law makers to protect young children from being sexually abused and exploited by predatory adults. In this study, a comparison of the age of consent legislation in 2004 and 2016 in Europe reveals that it is a trend for European law makers to adopt a gender-neutral approach in their age of consent legislation, i.e., the gender of the sexual participants does not affect the legal consequence of the sexual activity and both male and female children, either in heterosexual or homosexual relations, enjoy protection to the same extent. Then the age of consent legislation in China is deeply examined to see whether it is gender-neutral as most of the European jurisdictions. Based on the previous introduction and analysis of Europe and China, this paper concludes that the gender-neutral trend identified in Europe could be instructive for China's future age of consent legislation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

AbstractThe harm associated with high-risk injected opiate use and the threat of the HIV epidemic among injecting drug users has become a worldwide problem. Twenty years ago, in the face of a rapid increase in mortality rates among injecting drug users and the upcoming threat of HIV, the first harm-reduction programs were implemented in the Western world. This paper is a literature review describing four forms of harm reduction currently in use in Europe, North America, and Australia. Each represents a reasonable counterapproach to the threat of increased prevalence of HIV among injecting drug users in transitional and developing countries. The paper attempts to explain the concepts behind the most commonly used types of harm reduction and provides a brief overview of the advantages and disadvantages of each and the reasons for their implementation. The main focus of the review is on the definition and the practical aspects of harm reduction; it includes a brief introduction of Chinese harm-reduction efforts and their implications.Acta Pharmacologica Sinica (2009) 30: 513–521; doi: 10.1038/aps.2009.30; published online 6th April 2009 [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Normative power can be defined as the ability to govern interdependencies by means of rules, regimes and compliance strategies. This paper presents two case studies in security governance-international responsibility to protect in Sudan and counter-proliferation policies towards Iran's nuclear programme-to evaluate the degree of normative convergence between China and Europe. It concludes that there are still major differences between Europe and China on employing normative strategies in security governance but that both modes of governance and identities as security actors are mobile so that the trend is towards convergence, albeit with some distance still to travel. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper addresses Chinese interrogation rules from historical and comparative perspectives by relating them to the very different development of interrogation procedure in Europe. A fuller understanding of the evolution of the rules in both contexts is relevant to the present day controversy concerning the universal versus relative nature of interrogation fairness. The comparative analysis reveals that, in fact, the influence of ancient Greek and Chinese civilizations resulted in a great difference between Europe and China regarding legal cultures and institutional arrangements for criminal interrogation procedure. Considering future legal reforms in China, and given the very different historical and institutional context, the likelihood seems low that an 'autonomous version' of the right to remain silent and the privilege against self-incrimination will develop on China's very different soil. However, traditional native resources are also available to legal reformers to ensure a cooperative interviewing style in criminal questioning, and eliminate police-coerced confessions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The previous papers of this issue discuss the views teachers from the United States, Australia, Hong Kong SAR, and Mainland China have on effective mathematics teaching and learning. Similarities and differences are found and a differentiation from West to East can be worked out in the order of the regions as listed above. The picture of teachers' views can, however, be differentiated when they are looked at from a European perspective. On the basis of the analysis of two comparative studies on teaching cultures in three European countries and a questioning of teachers, this commentary therefore locates France, Germany, and England within this framework so that the East-West-contrast is distinguished in more detail. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

On 12 February 2014, a major earthquake occurred near the Yutian County, China. In this paper, the ionospheric variations around the time of this earthquake were analysed on the basis of the global positioning system vertical total electron contents (VTEC) and computerised ionospheric tomography (CIT) electron density distributions. Three ionospheric anomalies on 2, 17 and 19 February were detected with the global VTEC data from Center for Orbit Determination in Europe before and after the earthquake. Based on the analysis of the geomagnetic indices, we think the anomalies on 17 and 19 February could be related to the geomagnetic disturbances. Through further investigations on the temporal and spatial characteristics of the anomaly on 2 February, we draw the conclusion that the pre-earthquake ionospheric anomaly is probably the seismo-ionospheric precursor of the Yutian earthquake. In addition, the CIT results of the anomaly on 2 February were used to study the vertical distribution of this anomaly. The results showed that the ionospheric anomaly was mainly concentrated at the heights between 200 and 400 km. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Temperature has a large influence on insect abundances, thus under climate change, identifying major drivers affecting pest insect populations is critical to world food security and agricultural ecosystem health. Here, we conducted a meta-analysis with data obtained from 120 studies across China and Europe from 1970 to 2017 to reveal how climate and agricultural practices affect populations of wheat aphids. Here we showed that aphid loads on wheat had distinct patterns between these two regions, with a significant increase in China but a decrease in Europe over this time period. Although temperature increased over this period in both regions, we found no evidence showing climate warming affected aphid loads. Rather, differences in pesticide use, fertilization, land use, and natural enemies between China and Europe may be key factors accounting for differences in aphid pest populations. These long-term data suggest that agricultural practices impact wheat aphid loads more than climate warming. A meta-analysis of wheat aphid populations obtained from 120 studies from 1970 to 2017 reveals that pest loads increased in China but decreased in Europe and suggests this is due to differences in pesticide use, fertilization, land use, and natural enemies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Both the EU and China are important participants in the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change and the Kyoto Protocol. The EU's reliance on legally binding rules and institutions demonstrates its strong belief on institutionalism. While interstate cooperation is certainly necessary, implementation of any international agreement and most of the work needs to be done within a state. Henceforth, an uneasy balance between national interests and international responsibility has to be maintained. In the case of EU-China partnership, the carbon aviation tax issue serves as a good example to examine the realist-institutionalist struggle. Although it is still too early to tell if the EU and China would overcome their major disagreements in the field of climate change, there is reason to believe that an international agreement may be reached by 2015. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The European Union's (EU) normative roles in global politics have in recent years been a hotly debated topic. The EU promotes its political values outside of the Union, especially with regard to prospective accession countries and small developing countries. However, a normative foreign policy approach encounters considerable challenges when confronted with major powers, such as China and Russia that do not share the political values promoted by the EU. Attempts at pursuing a normative policy towards these countries often come across as halfhearted. This article discusses EU normative policy towards China. It identifies loss of the moral high ground, conflicting positions of EU members and lack of leverage as the three main factors hampering it. It needs to be recognised that these problems are fundamental and stem from the very nature of the EU itself. The article argues that instead of a halfhearted offensive normative approach towards China or ubiquitous dialogues with partners, the EU may be better off with a more determined policy of defensive normativity. This would entail being more insistent in upholding European values within our own community rather than seeking to export them outside of the Union, and favouring demand-driven cooperation. The choice stands between altering the self-image of the EU to make it better correspond to reality, or making reality live up to the self-image. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The internationalization of higher education systems has become critical to the educational success of a country. The purpose of this research is to carry out a study of the growing pace of internationalization in Chinese higher education in the contemporary period. The research focuses on the cooperation between China and Europe, especially the management of transnational projects related to improving collaboration between Chinese and European institutions of higher education. The move to mass higher education in the Chinese context and its implications stand as the starting point of the investigation. The project aims to analyze the main national policies for enhancing the internationalization of higher education both in China and Europe. Then, taking as examples some projects of particular relevance, it will consider the objectives and the consequences of these forms of cooperation and collaboration, especially for the development of the Chinese higher education system. Finally, a concise historical overview of the relations in higher education between China and Europe in the last 20 years will facilitate understanding of the changing role played by Europe in the Chinese context. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The significance of China's Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) for Europe is increasing. The diplomatic initiative "16 + 1," comprising China and 16 Central, East and Southeast European economies (CESEE), expanded to a "17 + 1" format in April 2019, when Greece officially joined the cooperation forum. This expansion revived interest in Chinese activities aimed at better physical and digital connectivity in Europe and their effects. The article descriptively shows a geographical division of Chinese infrastructure development activities in Europe: the "17 + 1" region is targeted more intensively by Chinese construction projects. Moreover, roughly 90% of all construction contracts with the "17 + 1" region are attributable to connectivity sectors, while Chinese activities in other European regions are more diversified. In Europe, the Western Balkans are expected to economically benefit the most from the BRI, as they show particularly high deficiencies in infrastructure, and so far, have limited access to EU grants. Economic effects of infrastructure projects, however, trickle through European production and supply chains, affecting a larger number of countries than information on projects would suggest. EU initiatives presented since 2018 may help to increase complementarity between Chinese and European infrastructure development plans and reduce associated risks, such as unsustainable debt or new trade barriers arising from increased competition for Chinese investments. The BRI is about to change physical and digital connectivity within Europe, while the EU has yet to become an active player engaging in the initiative, in order to enable improved connectivity in Europe to drive economic convergence and not political divergence. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aim: The European Society for Clinical and Economic Aspects of Osteoporosis, Osteoarthritis and Musculoskeletal Diseases (ESCEO) algorithm for the management of knee osteoarthritis (OA) is available worldwide from 2014, but in 2019 an update was published. Based on this algorithm, a Working Group (WG), including ESCEO members and Chinese experts, wished to see how the new ESCEO algorithm was perceived by Chinese experts in knee OA and how it was integrated into their clinical practice. Methods: A WG was held between members of the international ESCEO task force and a group of Chinese experts. Results: Non-pharmacological approach should be combined with pharmacological interventions. In step 1, symptomatic slow-acting drugs for osteoarthritis (SYSADOA) are the most important background drugs. Evidence, supported by high-quality research, is available only for crystalline glucosamine sulfate (pCGS) and chondroitin sulfate. Topical NSAIDs could be used as an additional option. In step 2, oral NSAIDs could be useful, but cardiovascular/renal/gastrointestinal profiles of the patients should be considered. Intra-articular hyaluronic acid and corticosteroids are alternative to oral NSAIDs, but the evidence is still limited. If steps 1 and 2 are not sufficient, weak opioids could be used. Overall, the conclusions of the ESCEO algorithm are accepted in China for products available in this country. The WG suggests the importance of economic studies, specifically made in China. Conclusion: This work provides evidence-based advice to establish a treatment algorithm in knee OA, for practical implementation in clinical practice in China. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract. Choosing a methodology determines what we can study as well as the range of possible results and conclusions. This study took an instrument that had been developed in the West and used extensively in Europe and North America to investigate managerial behavior in the People's Republic of China. For a number of reasons, it failed to produce a valid and reliable description of Chinese managerial behavior. This paper investigates some of the methodogical issues involved in extending western organizational knowledge to the East. It raises some fundamental questions about being "outside, looking in". [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Developing culturally appropriate diabetes nutrition interventions for immigrants could be facilitated knowing what is successful in the home country and other relevant countries. The primary purpose of this scoping review was to identify the design and delivery methods of nutrition interventions for Chinese populations with type 2 diabetes, in their home countries and as immigrants to western countries. A total of 14 articles was retrieved and included. Overall, the approaches used in China often were modelled on intensive lifestyle programs although alternative strategies were also identified. Most interventions were not focussed solely on nutrition, and only a few were conducted in community settings. Most of the interventions were delivered in a group format, while those conducted in China also included individual counselling, particularly for nutrition. In addition, the diabetes and nutrition-related outcomes, cultural relevance and acceptability, and other factors that influenced protocol compliance were considered. Improvements in blood glucose control were observed in participants in all interventions where it was measured. Participants reported increased nutritional knowledge but nutritional behaviour was generally not well documented. Trials conducted in the United States emphasized the importance of cultural adaptation of intervention programs, particularly with respect to dietary patterns and specific foods. Practice-transferable characteristics are highlighted. Research gaps included trials conducted in community settings with pragmatic implementation and evaluation, comparative trials of interventions to gauge relative effectiveness, and measuring and reporting dietary outcomes for better understanding of the impact on dietary behaviours and their relationship to health outcomes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Kawasaki disease (KD), also well known as mucocutaneous lymph node syndrome, is an acute febrile disease in children with systemic vasculitis as its main pathological change, and usually occurs in children under the age of 5. KD is now the commonest cause of acquired heart disease in children in Japan, Europe and North America. Although KD is now being increasingly diagnosed in mainland China, there is paucity of data on this condition. To provide clinical basis for the treatment of KD, the authors report their experience on 170 children with KD at Shaanxi People's Hospital, Xi'an, China in this research. This also is one of the largest single centre experiences from China so far. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Sanguisorba officinalis L., one kind of perennial plants, has been widely distributed in southern Europe, northern Africa and China. The objective of the present work was to evaluate the antibacterial captivities of polyphenolic extract (PE) of S. officinalis L. on five pathogenic bacteria, including Gram-negative bacteria (Escherichia coli and Salmonella typhimurium) and Gram-positive bacteria (Staphylococcus aureus, Listeria monocytogenes and Bacillus subtilis). The antibacterial activities were determined by the diameter of inhibition zone, minimum inhibitory concentration and minimum bactericidal concentration tests. The results showed that purified PE had significantly better performance in inhibiting bacteria than crude PE (P < 0.05), and PE had better inhibition effect on Gram-positive bacteria than Gram-negative bacteria. Using LC–ESI–QTOF–MS/MS technology, a total of 44 polyphenolic compounds were tentatively identified, 26 of which have been discussed for the first time in S. officinalis L. Gallic acid, ellagic acid, catechin and their derivatives, which have been identified as antibacterial bioactivities previously, were the major constituents with the amounts of 10, 8 and 11, respectively. Besides, compared with potassium sorbate and sodium benzoate, purified PE with a low concentration had significantly stronger antibacterial ability against all the tested bacteria (P < 0.05), suggesting that purified PE of S. officinalis L. could be a promising source of food preservatives. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Spatial and temporal patterns in precipitation indices across Northwest China (NWC) during 1960–2011 were investigated using 11 previously defined indices. Results show that more than 50% of stations for wet-related indices exhibit increasing trends and the largest increases appear in winter, while 72.1% of stations display decreasing trends for consecutive dry days. The observing sites with positive trends are mainly distributed over mid-western NWC and northwestern Xinjiang, while the declining trends are concentrated in eastern NWC. Very wet days account for 23% of the total rainfall on average, combined with similar patterns of spatial distribution between annual total rainfall and precipitation extremes, suggesting that extreme, rather than moderate, precipitation moderates the variations in total rainfall. After the mid-1980s, the NWC exhibits a wetting tendency, and precipitation extremes tend to increase with larger magnitudes and fluctuations. During 1987–2011, the prevailing eastward wind field anomalies at 850 hPa and statistically significant increasing trends of geopotential height are found over the Eurasian continent from spring to autumn, together with enhanced anticyclonic circulation near 47° N and 100° E, providing favorable conditions for the occurrence of extreme precipitation events over NWC. While the circulation pattern in winter is distinct compared with other seasons, a convergence between eastward wind anomalies and southeasterly winds favors significantly positive increases in precipitation extremes. The well-organized wave train-like structures originated from the North Atlantic travel through Europe and central Asia and impact the precipitation extremes over NWC from spring to autumn during 1987–2011. Similar to wind field anomalies, the southeasterly water vapor fluxes are remarkable in winter. Generally, the approximately opposite circulation patterns dominate during 1960–1986 in comparison with those during 1987–2011. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Many recently established non-native insect species appear to be spreading across Europe significantly faster than before. The box tree moth (Cydalima perspectalis), a native to Asia, is illustrative of this trend. First recorded in 2007 in Germany, the moth has then colonized in less than 10 years more than 30 countries in Europe and Asia Minor, causing significant damage to wild and ornamental Buxus trees. It has been hypothesized that the trade of ornamental box trees between China and Europe was responsible for the moth introduction while plant trade among European countries may have caused its rapid spread. To clarify the pest invasion history, we analyzed the genetic diversity and structure of its populations in the native and invaded ranges, using a 1495-bp fragment of the mitochondrial cytochrome oxidase I and II genes. Moth genetic diversity in Asia compared to the one observed in the invaded Europe and Asia Minor suggested that the invasive populations probably originated from eastern China. Furthermore, the high genetic diversity coupled with the spatial genetic structure in the invaded range suggested the occurrence of several introduction events, probably directly from China. Moreover, the spatial genetic structure in Europe and Asia Minor may also reflect secondary invasions within invaded range because of ornamental plant trade among European countries. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

NATO allies have since the inception of the alliance sought to establish an Atlanticist habit of political consultation to prevent political go-it-alone drift on the part of key allies and help define NATO in regard to major strategic issues. Today, observers dispute the ability of Atlanticism to sustain the Alliance. This article reviews the history and current politics of Atlanticist consultations to assess the conditions under which consultations are most likely to serve as a force of alliance continuity. The article argues that European allies have become accustomed to an incremental Atlanticist approach that no longer serves them well. Reviewing Atlanticist history, the article suggests how Europe can leap forward to revive the tradition of consultations. It involves a balancing act for Europe between on the one hand expanded power to manage global issues such as the rise of China and on the other limited ambitions of strategic autonomy. NATO's future ability to sustain itself by political consultations, the article argues, is hostage to this balancing act and the support accorded to it by all allies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We explore the problem of distinguishing the relatively constant versus culturally variable dimensions of mental suffering and disorder in the context of a cross-cultural study of Internet gaming-related distress. We extend the conceptual contrast of "core" and "peripheral" symptoms drawn from game studies and use a framework that synthesizes cultural and neurobiological understandings of emotional distress. In our framework, "core" symptoms are relatively constant across cultures and therefore presumed to be more closely tied to a neurobiological base. By contrast, we treat as "peripheral" symptoms those that are more culturally variable, and thus less directly tied to the neurobiology of addiction. We develop and illustrate this approach with a factor analysis of cross-cultural survey data, resting on previous ethnographic work, through which we compare online gaming distress experienced in North America (n = 2025), Europe (n = 1198), and China (n = 841). We identify the same four-factor structure across the three regions, with Addiction always the first and most important factor, though with variability in regional factors' exact item composition. The study aims to advance an integrative biocultural approach to distinguishing universal as opposed to culturally contingent dimensions of human suffering, and to help resolve debates about whether problem gaming represents a form of addiction. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Drosophila suzukii is native to East Asia and an invasive pest of fruit crops widely established in the Americas and Europe. The lack of effective indigenous parasitoids of D. suzukii in the invaded regions prompted surveys for co-evolved parasitoids in Yunnan Province, China, from 2013 to 2016. From banana-baited traps (2013-2015), 458 parasitoids of drosophilids were reared, comprised of Braconidae (49.56%), Figitidae (37.55%), Diapriidae (7.42%), and Pteromalidae (5.46%). Larval parasitoids included seven braconid species, all Asobara and primarily Asobara mesocauda, and five figitid species, primarily Leptopilina japonica japonica. Pupal parasitoids were the diapriid Trichopria drosophilae and the pteromalid Pachycrepoideus vindemiae. Collections from wild fruits (2016) provided more interesting results. From the puparia of drosophilids collected, comprised of D. suzukii and Drosophila pulchrella, emerged 1354 parasitoids. The larval parasitoids Ganaspis brasiliensis and L. j. japonica were the prevalent species, reaching a fairly high percentage parasitism of fly puparia collected from berries of Rubus foliosus (22.35%), R. niveus (18.81%), Fragaria moupinensis (19.75%), and Sambucus adnata (63.46%). Ganaspis brasiliensis was the dominant species and was collected only from D. suzukii and D. pulchrella-infested fruits and never from banana-baited traps. Molecular analysis showed two G. brasiliensis lineages, which are discussed with respect to previous Japanese collections. Quarantine tests showed that G. brasiliensis developed from D. suzukii and two closely related hosts (Drosophila melanogaster and Drosophila simulans) but did not develop from seven non-target drosophilid species. Our results suggest that G. brasiliensis is a promising classical biocontrol agent for release in invaded regions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

How should Europe respond to China's growing economic and military capabilities, and to the more assertive foreign policy behavior it has generated? Should it seek to check or even resist China's rise, or should it instead rely on a strategy of engagement and accommodation? Three distinct and coherent strategic visions exist that could guide Europe's policy and strategy toward China and the Asia Pacific over the next 10 or 15 years. These range from narrow commitments to Europe's own security and material prosperity to more ambitious and expansive efforts to shape and influence events in the Asia Pacific. These three strategic visions are (1) balancing, (2) engagement, and (3) retrenchment. After outlining and evaluating each strategic vision, this article then offers a brief review and analysis of Europe's current approach toward China, which is a hodgepodge of engagement and retrenchment. The article concludes by examining what might cause Europe to pursue a clearer and more consistent strategic approach toward China in the years ahead. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

China's economic statecraft in Europe relies upon three distinct strategies: specific and diffuse reciprocity, and strategic engagement-each designed to advance a specific type of policy objective. However, the tensions between a reciprocity and engagement strategy have undermined China's efforts to reassure Europeans of Beijing's benevolent intent. This article compares Beijing's three strategies through case studies of China's efforts to discourage European receptions of the Dalai Lama, secure market economy status, and Beijing's response to Europe's post-2009 financial crisis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article will adopt a long-term perspective on the possible evolutions of the respective role of China and Europe in the global division of labour and in international trade and how it affects the flow of Chinese outward direct investments in Europe. The Chinese leadership has been pursuing an active industrial policy to enable its national champions to move up the value chain and challenge the European incumbents. In that context, Chinese authorities have been fostering strategic asset-seeking outward direct investments by Chinese firms in the European Union to capture technology and management know-how by taking over European enterprises weakened by the crisis. This new challenge affects very differently the various European Union member states according to their level of technological development and their role in the regional division of labour between the economic centre and the periphery of the European Union. This analysis will explain the evolution and distribution of Chinese outward direct investments in Europe and provide elements for a prospective analysis of this phenomenon. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Both Europe and China have announced targets for greenhouse gas emissions reduction and renewable energy development. To achieve their emissions targets, Europe has introduced emissions trading scheme (ETS) since 2005 and China has planned to establish a national ETS in 2015. We assess the impact of a joint Europe-China ETS when both climate and energy policy instruments are simulated in a multiregional general equilibrium model. Our results show that a joint ETS markedly increases total carbon emissions from fossil fuels even though global mitigation costs are reduced. Moreover, a joint ETS helps China achieve its renewable energy target, but for Europe, it works opposite. While the renewable energy target does not help Europe achieve additional abatement, the renewable energy target in China reduces mitigation costs and emissions, and increases renewable energy consumption and sales of carbon allowances. Financial transfer through a joint ETS remains marginal compared to China's demand for renewable energy subsidies. We conclude that as long as an absolute emissions cap is missing in China, a joint ETS is not attractive for mitigation and China's renewable energy target can reduce emissions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Emotion knowledge contributes to emotion regulation and coping among adults, but few studies have investigated its role in children's coping development, especially in a cross-cultural context. We examine relations between children's emotion knowledge and coping in European American and Chinese immigrant families. One hundred and three 7- to 10-year-old children and their mothers from European American and Chinese cultural background participated in this study. Children's emotion knowledge was assessed using emotion-situation knowledge production task. This task examines their understanding of situational antecedents o discrete emotions. Children's use of coping strategies was reported by mothers using the Children's Coping Strategies Checklist. Results showed that Chinese immigrant children had greater emotion knowledge of fear and pride but were reported using less variety of coping strategies than European American children. The relationship between children's knowledge of self-conscious emotions and their use of distraction coping strategies was moderated by culture, whereby knowledge of self-conscious emotions was negatively associated with the parent-reported distraction strategies only for European American children but not for Chinese immigrant children. The importance of culture in both theory and practice related to emotion knowledge and coping is discussed. Findings in this study suggest that family intervention and children's emotion training programs may need to consider children's cultural background. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We compare public perceptions of biobanks in China and in Europe, reporting similarities and differences in how publics in Europe and China view key issues in the realm of biobank research. Despite many differences in perception, the similarity in the perception of biobanks in China and in Europe is striking. Our research finds that Chinese with lower education levels are less concerned about privacy, while those with higher education levels have preferences in privacy protection that are similar to those in Europe. Transnational research is perceived positively in both regions, but specific historical experiences shape how people approach these issues. While Chinese publics focus on certain effects of international research on the Chinese state, Europeans are mainly concerned about data security and impacts on research. The study is based on 66 focus groups conducted in China (6) and Europe (60), with approximately 700 participants. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Mercury is transported globally in the atmosphere mostly in gaseous elemental form (GEM, $$ {\text{Hg}}_{\text{gas}}^{0} $$ ), but still few worldwide studies taking into account different and contrasted environmental settings are available in a single publication. This work presents and discusses data from Argentina, Bolivia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Brazil, Chile, China, Croatia, Finland, Italy, Russia, South Africa, Spain, Slovenia and Venezuela. We classified the information in four groups: (1) mining districts where this contaminant poses or has posed a risk for human populations and/or ecosystems; (2) cities, where the concentration of atmospheric mercury could be higher than normal due to the burning of fossil fuels and industrial activities; (3) areas with natural emissions from volcanoes; and (4) pristine areas where no anthropogenic influence was apparent. All the surveys were performed using portable LUMEX RA-915 series atomic absorption spectrometers. The results for cities fall within a low GEM concentration range that rarely exceeds 30 ng m, that is, 6.6 times lower than the restrictive ATSDR threshold (200 ng m) for chronic exposure to this pollutant. We also observed this behavior in the former mercury mining districts, where few data were above 200 ng m. We noted that high concentrations of GEM are localized phenomena that fade away in short distances. However, this does not imply that they do not pose a risk for those working in close proximity to the source. This is the case of the artisanal gold miners that heat the Au-Hg amalgam to vaporize mercury. In this respect, while GEM can be truly regarded as a hazard, because of possible physical-chemical transformations into other species, it is only under these localized conditions, implying exposure to high GEM concentrations, which it becomes a direct risk for humans. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The world economy is going through a testing time and Europe's concerns are understandable. Much attention has been focused on the rise of Asia, especially the economic performance of China during the past decades. There seems to be anxiety about the loss of economic dynamism in the West when compared with the growing confidence in Asia. This essay surveys some of the reasons for anxiety, from those that are common to the global economy to those that arise specifically from the problem of China. It identifies the source as the perceived power shifts in the Pacific and Indian oceans that affect American interests and indirectly those of Europe. While future generations of Europeans need to know Asia better, this is no different from the need for Asians to understand the West, something Asians have been trying to do for over a century. There is no reason why Europeans cannot do that quickly and well. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Critical care doctors are frequently faced with clinical problems that have important ethical and moral dimensions. While Western attitudes and practice are well documented, little is known of the attitudes or practice of Chinese critical care doctors. Methods: An anonymous, written, structured questionnaire survey was translated from previously reported ethical surveys used in Europe and Hong Kong. A snowball method was used to identify 534 potential participants from 21 regions in China. Results: A total of 315 (59%) valid responses were analysed. Most respondents (66%) reported that admission to an intensive care unit (ICU) was commonly limited by bed availability, but most (63%) would admit patients with a poor prognosis to ICU. Only 19% of respondents gave complete information to patients and family, with most providing individually adjusted information, based on prognosis and the recipient's educational level. Only 28% disclosed all details of an iatrogenic incident, despite 62% stating that they should. The use of do not resuscitate orders or limitation of life-sustaining therapy in terminally ill patients reported as uncommon and according to comparable reports, both are more common practice in Hong Kong or Europe. In contrast to European practices, doctors were more acquiescent to families in decision-making at the end of life. Conclusions: A number of differences in ethical attitudes and related behaviour between Chinese, Hong Kong and European ICU doctors were documented. A likely explanation is differing cultural background, and doctors should be aware of likely expectations when treating patients from a different culture. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

While, historically, sovereignty is what Europeans invented and what the Chinese were forced to accept, today it is what Europeans try to bury and what the Chinese hold dear. A conceptual gap on sovereignty clearly exists between China and Europe which more often than not exerts a negative impact on their relationship. It breeds misunderstandings and disputes, makes it more difficult to reach agreements on many bilateral issues, and complicates China-Europe cooperation in third countries. But the conceptual gap on sovereignty does not prevent China and Europe from building a strategic partnership. Given that strengthening or weakening national sovereignty means totally different things to China and Europe, the two parties should jointly and proactively manage their divergence on sovereignty issues by mutual avoidance, mutual assurance, and mutual accommodation, in order to unlock sovereignty-related impasses in China-Europe relations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

ASTROD I is a planned interplanetary space mission with multiple goals. The primary aims are: to test general relativity with an improvement in sensitivity of over three orders of magnitude, improving our understanding of gravity and aiding the development of a new quantum gravity theory; to measure key solar system parameters with increased accuracy, advancing solar physics and our knowledge of the solar system; and to measure the time rate of change of the gravitational constant with an order of magnitude improvement and the anomalous Pioneer acceleration, thereby probing dark matter and dark energy gravitationally. It is an international project, with major contributions from Europe and China and is envisaged as the first in a series of ASTROD missions. ASTROD I will consist of one spacecraft carrying a telescope, four lasers, two event timers and a clock. Two-way, two-wavelength laser pulse ranging will be used between the spacecraft in a solar orbit and deep space laser stations on Earth, to achieve the ASTROD I goals. A second mission, ASTROD (ASTROD II) is envisaged as a three-spacecraft mission which would test General Relativity to 1 ppb, enable detection of solar g-modes, measure the solar Lense–Thirring effect to 10 ppm, and probe gravitational waves at frequencies below the LISA bandwidth. In the third phase (ASTROD III or Super-ASTROD), larger orbits could be implemented to map the outer solar system and to probe primordial gravitational-waves at frequencies below the ASTROD II bandwidth. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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A systematic study on the structure and function of Glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase (G6PD) variations was carried out in China. A total of 155,879 participants were screened for G6PD deficiency by the G6PD/6PGD ratio method and 6,683 cases have been found. The prevalence of G6PD deficiency ranged from 0 to 17.4%. With informed consent, 1,004 cases from 11 ethnic-based groups were subjected to molecular analysis. Our results showed the followings: (1) The G6PD variants are consistent across traditional ethnic boundaries, but vary in frequencies across ethnic-based groups in Chinese population, (2) The G6PD variants in Chinese population are different from those in African, European, and Indian populations, (3) A novel G6PD-deficiency mutation, 274C→T, has been found, and (4) Denaturing high performance liquid chromatography is of great advantage to detecting G6PD-deficient mutations for diagnosis and genetic counseling. Moreover, functional analysis of the human G6PD variants showed the following: (1) The charge property, polarity, pK-radical and side-chain radical of the substituting amino acid have an effect on G6PD activity, (2) The G6PDArg459 and Arg463 play important roles in anchoring NADP+ to the catalytic domain to maintain the enzymatic activity, and (3) The sequence from codon 459 to the carboxyl terminal is essential for the enzymatic function. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Hierarchical cluster analyses of a trait sorting task were used to investigate social representations (and cultural stereotypes) of elderly New Zealanders (NZers) of Chinese and European origin, held by young (mean age = 17) and middle-aged (mean age = 46) NZers from both ethnic groups. Consistent with cultural theories of aging in Chinese societies, organizational features for NZ Chinese were: evaluative simplicity, role-governed representations (e.g., division between socio-emotional and task-oriented elders), little differentiation as a consequence of the ethnicity of elders or age group of subject, and an overall structure dominated by good/bad. NZ Europeans' social representations were more evaluatively complex, had fewer subtypes and more differences as a consequence of target person ethnicity. The Curmudgeon and the Nurturant were the most consensual stereotypes across the 8 cluster analyses (2 subject ethnicity x 2 target ethnicity x 2 subject age group), with the most power to organize stereotypical perceptions of elders across cultural groups. Only the majority group, NZ Europeans, displayed out-group homogeneity effects by creating more categories of elderly Europeans than Chinese. Both ethnic groups held representations of elderly Europeans as higher status in society, and both had more contact with European than Chinese elders outside the family. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article presents abstracts of topics related to organized crime which include the organized crime in Europe, the scope of cross-border crime in Europe, and the expansion of Chinese triads in Europe.