Search

There is a rapid transformation afoot in the rice value chain in Asia. The upstream is changing quickly-farmers are undertaking capital-led intensification and participating in burgeoning markets for land rental, fertilizer and pesticides, irrigation water, and seed, and shifting from subsistence to small commercialized farms; in some areas landholdings are concentrating. Midstream, in wholesale and milling, there is a quiet revolution underway, with thousands of entrepreneurs investing in equipment, increasing scale, diversifying into higher quality, and the segments are undergoing consolidation and vertical coordination and integration. Mills, especially in China, are packaging and branding, and building agent networks in wholesale markets, and large mills are building direct relationships with supermarkets. The downstream retail segment is undergoing a 'supermarket revolution,' again with the lead in change in China. In most cases the government is not playing a direct role in the market, but enabling this transformation through infrastructural investment. The transformation appears to be improving food security for cities by reducing margins, offering lower consumer rice prices, and increasing quality and diversity of rice. This paper discusses findings derived from unique stacked surveys of all value chain segments in seven zones, more and less developed, around Bangladesh, China, India, and Vietnam. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

As the world's largest developing country, quantifying China's CO2 contribution to global warming is important for assessing the climate effects of anthropogenic and natural factors. We used global CO2 assimilation data from 2000 to 2015 and a carbon-climate parameterized scheme to analyze anthropogenic carbon emissions and their climatic effects while considering the climate effects of the terrestrial ecosystem carbon sink. Three results are notable: (1) From 2000 to 2015, global anthropogenic emissions increased from 2.48 to 3.45 mol m-2, and net emission (sum of anthropogenic and natural emissions) rose from 1.24 to 2.51 mol m-2; China's contribution of anthropogenic emissions to global anthropogenic emission was 34.78% and to net emission 39.65%. (2) By 2015, radiative forcing (RF) caused by CO2 absorption in the global terrestrial ecosystem was -0.18Wm-2, and this offset accounts for 30.96% of the warming effect of global anthropogenic carbon emissions; in China, RF caused by the terrestrial ecosystem was -0.04Wm-2, and this offset accounts for 20.27% of the warming effect of China's anthropogenic carbon emissions. (3) Using CO2 assimilation data and sectoral inventory data, China's contribution of carbon emissions to global RF was 10.02% and 9.73%, respectively, and China's contribution of net RF to global RF was 7.93%. Our findings highlight the importance of ecosystems on mitigating climate warming. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Evidence from previous coronavirus outbreaks has shown that infected patients are at risk for developing psychiatric and mental health disorders, such as depression, anxiety, and sleep disturbances. To construct a comprehensive picture of the mental health status in COVID‐19 patients, we conducted a systematic review and random‐effects meta‐analysis to assess the prevalence of depression, anxiety, and sleep disturbances in this population. We searched MEDLINE, EMBASE, PubMed, Web of Science, CINAHL, Wanfang Data, Wangfang Med Online, CNKI, and CQVIP for relevant articles, and we included 31 studies (n = 5153) in our analyses. We found that the pooled prevalence of depression was 45% (95% CI: 37–54%, I2 = 96%), the pooled prevalence of anxiety was 47% (95% CI: 37–57%, I2 = 97%), and the pooled prevalence of sleeping disturbances was 34% (95% CI: 19–50%, I2 = 98%). We did not find any significant differences in the prevalence estimates between different genders; however, the depression and anxiety prevalence estimates varied based on different screening tools. More observational studies assessing the mental wellness of COVID‐19 outpatients and COVID‐19 patients from countries other than China are needed to further examine the psychological implications of COVID‐19 infections. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The prevalence of maternal and child overweight/obesity and gestational hyperglycemia has increased greatly in China in recent years. However, studies examining the relationship between maternal hyperglycemia, maternal prepregnancy body mass index (ppBMI), and offspring obesity in China are limited. Here, we conducted a prospective study of 6684 mother−child pairs in Wuhan, China in 2012–2015. Maternal glucose concentrations were measured at approximately 24–28 weeks of gestation; children's weight and length were measured at birth and at 6, 12, and 24 months of age; and BMI‐for‐age Z‐scores (BMIZ) were calculated for different time points. We found that maternal fasting plasma glucose (FPG) concentrations were positively associated with offspring ponderal index and the risk of macrosomia at birth, but not with BMIZ or the risk of overweight/obesity at 6, 12, and 24 months of age. By contrast, maternal ppBMI was positively associated with both an increased risk of macrosomia at birth and overweight/obesity at 6, 12, and 24 months of age. Here, we observed an interaction effect of the association of FPG and ppBMI on offspring macrosomia and a mediating effect of gestational diabetes mellitus on the pathway between ppBMI and macrosomia. Our findings suggest that maternal ppBMI is a more pronounced predictor than gestational FPG concentrations in both the relation to BMIZ and the risk of overweight/obesity in early childhood. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Ambient air pollution has been linked to cardiovascular and respiratory morbidity and mortality in epidemiology studies. Frequently, oxidative and nitrosative stress are hypothesized to mediate these pollution effects, however precise mechanisms remain unclear. This paper describes the methodology for a major panel study to examine air pollution effects on these and other mechanistic pathways. The study took place during the drastic air pollution changes accompanying the 2008 Olympics in Beijing, China. After a general description of air pollution health effects, we provide a discussion of panel studies and describe the unique features of this study that make it likely to provide compelling results. This study should lead to a clearer and more precise definition of the role of oxidative and nitrosative stress, as well as other mechanisms, in determining acute morbidity and mortality from air pollution exposure. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The relationship between species diversity and ecotope diversity has long been debated. But these debates seem meaningless because most of them were based on different definitions. In this paper, diversity has two components: richness based on the total number and evenness based on the relative abundance. Species diversity is distinguished into individual-counting diversity and biomass-based diversity. Ecotope diversity is divided into individual ecotope-counting diversity and ecotope-area based diversity. Under this definition, we make a comprehensive investigation into Dongzhi tableland of Loess Plateau by cooperating with local technicians. We find that individual-counting diversity is significantly correlated with biomass-based diversity in grassland ecosystems; individual ecotope-counting diversity and ecotope-area based diversity have a significant correlation. Therefore, it is unnecessary to divide species diversity into individual-counting diversity and biomass-based diversity in grassland ecosystems and to distinguish ecotope diversity into individual ecotope-counting and ecotope-area based diversity for the issues that have no special requirement for accuracy. But the analyses of the investigation data demonstrate that species diversity has no significant correlation with ecotope diversity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The following, from the 12th OESO World Conference: Cancers of the Esophagus, includes commentaries on the evolution of Barrett’s dysplasia to early cancer; the early detection of esophageal cancer in China; new technologies of treatment for dysplasia; the prognostic value of molecular markers expression in esophageal squamous cell carcinoma; the follow-up schedule after ablation of high-grade dysplasia; intramucosal cancers; and tubular widespread endoscopic esophageal submucosal dissection with high-dose steroid stricture prevention. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

As one branch of industrial ecology, the ecoindustrial park (EIP) concept is being accepted and implemented in many parts of the world. In order to pursue a sustainable industrial development, China's government is forging this concept into a new strategy of industrial development and regional practices. This article aims to depict a picture of current China's experiences on EIP. It first presents two stages of EIP development at national level. Then more details at individual level are provided by three cases studies, that is, Dafeng, Lubei, and Nanhai, in which three points are addressed: (1) the industrial and environmental backgrounds of EIP projects; (2) specific resource sharing; and (3) benefits and challenges in these projects. The case studies show that the government acts as a key role player, facilitating multiple functions in the development of EIP projects. The case studies also suggest that many factors including holistic, economic, social, and technical aspects need to be taken into account to develop a successful EIP project. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Landscape planning is clearly ecologically and socially relevant. Concern about sustainability between human and environment is now a driving paradigm for this professional. However, the explosion of the sustainable landscape in China is a very recent phenomenon. What is the sustainable landscape? How is this realized in practice? In this article, on the basis of the reviews of history and perplexities of Chinese landscape and nature analysis of sustainable landscape, the ecothinking model, an implemental tool for sustainable landscape, was developed, which applies ecothinking in vision, culture, conservation and development of site, and the process of public participation for a harmonious relationship between human and environment. And a case study of the south entrance of TongNiuling Scenic Area was carried out, in which the most optimum scenario was chosen from among three models according to the ecothinking model, to illustrate the construction of the ecothinking model and how to achieve a sustainable landscape. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A previous study investigated metal contamination in farmland and the air in a typical mining town of Guangxi, South China. In this study, the health risks associated with exposure to this contamination that were evaluated for the following routes of exposure are reported: inhalation, dermal contact, ingestion of dust, and ingestion of homegrown vegetables. The findings demonstrated that the inhabitants were at high risk for noncancer effects posed by some of the metals. The total hazard index (THI) of all the pathways was 145 for adults and 560 for children, which were far higher than the normative level 1. The noncancer risk mainly came from air PM10 pollution through inhalation and ingestion routes of exposure. However, vegetable ingestion also made a noticeable contribution to HI of about 7 for adults and 22 for children. The metals that posed the greatest noncancer risks were Mn for inhalation, and ingestion of dust and vegetables. The total cancer risks of the inhabitants were 1 × 10−1 (adult) and 3 × 10−1 (child), which far exceeded the acceptable carcinogen risk of 10−4∼10−6 for regulatory purposes. The cancer risk in the village is mainly (97%) associated with As exposure by inhalation and ingestion of dust. However, consumption of vegetables is also associated with a significant cancer risk of up to 2 × 10−3 for adults and 8 × 10−3 for children. The cancers associated with this exposure are estimated to be lung cancer and skin cancer. Air particulate-matter pollution was the main source of noncancer risk and cancer risk and originated from vehicular transport of ore through the community. The risk could be tested by a specifically designed epidemiological study. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Arsenic exposures contribute significantly to the burden of preventable disease worldwide, specifically related to increased risks of cancer, diabetes, and cardiovascular disease. Most exposures are associated with natural contamination of groundwater, which is difficult to mitigate when these sources are used for drinking water. An anthropogenic source of arsenic exposure stems from the widespread use of arsenical drugs in food-animal production in the United States and China, among many countries. This use results in residual contamination of food products from animals raised with the drugs, as well as environmental contamination associated with disposal of wastes from these animals. Land disposal of these wastes can contaminate surface and ground water, and the conversion of animal wastes into fertilizer pellets for home use as well as the introduction of animal waste incinerators may increase opportunities for exposure. As an intentional additive to animal feed, use of arsenical drugs is a preventable source of human exposure. The domestic practice of using these drugs in poultry production has been the subject of media attention and limited research, though the use of these drugs in domestic swine production and in the rapidly growing foreign animal production industry remains largely uncharacterized. This continued expansion of arsenical drug use may likely increase the burden of global human arsenic exposure and risk. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Anembryonic pregnancy (AP; blighted ovum is the clinical term) is a common presentation of first-trimester abortion in China and affected women usually miscarry at 8–13 weeks. The association of plasma lead and the risk of AP in women from Shanxi Province, China, was examined. A case–control study was conducted, and plasma concentrations of lead were measured in blood obtained from women ( n= 40) with AP and controls ( n= 40) of normal pregnancy at their prenatal examination. AP was diagnosed by ultrasound scanning. The controls were identified and qualified by following up until a normal neonate was born. The mean concentration of lead in patients (53 μg/L, 95%CI: 4.3–6.3 μg/L) was slightly greater than the normal reference (50 μg/L, P < 0.01). The mean concentration of lead was higher in patients than in controls (53 versus 45 μg/L, P= 0.03). The lead concentration may be associated with the risk of AP, and should be paid more attention. Lead concentration that is slightly more than the standard limit may increase the risk of AP, but there may also be some other factors assisting lead to cause the occurrence of AP. Additional studies will be needed to confirm the findings and to find which factors were associated with the risk of AP when plasma lead is present. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Economic reforms since the late 1970s have made China one of the world's fastest growing economies but have also led to greater unmet social welfare needs and growing income inequality. This article describes social policy trends in urban and rural China and reviews recent empirical evidence on the transitions and impacts of its social benefit system. The evidence reveals that although urban social benefits experienced significant cutbacks, they are still much more generous than the minimal social benefits for rural residents and migrants. This extremely inequitable situation calls for a larger, progressive social benefit system in China. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

China's ongoing economic growth is accompanied by a large amount of air pollution that exacts significant health and economic costs on its people. Following up on some earlier work focusing upon general mortality and child-specific health effects, this article uses a larger data set, covering more than 90 Chinese cities, along with a set of China-based epidemiological functions, to estimate some of the adult health benefits of reducing urban air pollution. Projecting future air pollution based upon current conditions, it calculates the averted mortality and morbidity effects that would result from the cleanup of particulates, sulfur dioxide, and nitrogen dioxide. The inclusion of nitrogen dioxide in our analysis is particularly important because it is a growing problem and has not been included in most of the more widely known studies that examine Chinese air pollution. Finally, the economic valuation of these pollution-related health effects is developed, using a number of recent, China-based valuation studies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article discusses administrative obstacles in China that hinder the full integration of the rural population into the mainstream of development during a period of rapid industrialization. The Chinese household registration only for urban residents with its golden contents of cradle-to-grave security has become a formidable stumbling block that perpetuates the status of rural migrants as second-class citizens in their own country. Rural migrant workers are excluded from certain types of jobs and are not eligible for many benefits that urbanites have, such as health, education, and unemployment protection. These workers must also pay a number of fees and work for lower minimum wages than the local residents. With a precarious legal existence in urban areas, they are easy prey to unscrupulous officials and employers. Because they are not allowed to form independent trade unions, their best option is to vote with their feet and leave the firms with the worst conditions; this is exactly what they did from 2004. Given this situation, the debate on Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) took a new turn with not only nongovernmental organizations (NGOs) pushing it but with a wider range of employers and, of late, Chinese officials promoting their version of CSR. In the campaign to promote minimum labor standards, the norms set down in the Social Accountability 8000 were included in the CSR, recognizing the right to free collective bargaining and free trade unions but were excluded in the Chinese version even though the World Trade Organization (WTO) agreements recognized these rights. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The drug problem in China reappeared in the late 1980s. At that time, most drug abusers used opium only, with heroin accounting for a very small proportion and its use being limited to border areas in the southwest and rural areas in the northwest. Beginning in the early 1990s, drug abuse spread quickly. The number of registered drug addicts increased from 70,000 in 1990 to one million by the end of 2002. Besides opioids, some "new" kinds of drugs including amphetamines and ketamine have penetrated the country through various channels since 1997. Drug abuse has caused severe problems for both the abusers and society. Three types of treatment settings for detoxification and rehabilitation are available: compulsory detoxification institutions, rehabilitation units through labor, and voluntary detoxification institutions run by sections of public security, justice, and health, respectively. Medical treatment is often combined with psychological counseling and physical training. Pharmaceutical therapy, traditional Chinese medicine, and nonpharmaceutical therapy are utilized for opioid addiction. Drug prevention, especially for young people, is emphasized. NGOs at different levels have all joined in this work. Intervention work was also started in regions where drug abuse and HIV/AIDS problems are serious. Drug abusers are helped to keep drug free after being released from detoxification settings by their communities. Different levels of institutions engaged in research on drug abuse are found in all parts of China. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]