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This study explored the prevalence of peer physical aggression (PPA) and its association with aggressive beliefs, empathy, self-control, and cooperation skills among 1,719 7th-to-9th-grade students in a rural town in the central China province of Henan. The data were collected by the self-administered questionnaire anonymously. Results showed that 17.9% of the students reported that they had one or more times of physical aggressive behaviors toward their peers in the past 12 months. The reported rate of PPA was significantly higher in boys (24.7%) than in girls (10.7%). After adjusting the factors of gender and grade, result of logistic regression analysis showed that having a higher level of aggressive beliefs was PPA risk factor; a higher level of self-control was protective factor, but there were no significant association between PPA and the factors of empathy and cooperation skills. These results indicated that helping students to decrease their aggressive beliefs and to improve their self-control skill would aid in the prevention of youth violence. (Contains 3 tables and 1 figure.)

It's a pity the Gongyang theory in the late Qing Dynasty have seemingly been blow over for a long time. During the period of the Opium War, Gong Zizhen and Wei Yuan reformed the Gongyang theory, replied the urgent task in the time of an unprecedented national crisis, criticized the feudal despotism system, initiated reformation, proposed the opinion to learn from the West. At the end of 19th century, the new "Sanshi" which was from autocratic monarchy (the troubled times) to constitutional monarchy (peace times) to democracy republican (peace and tranquility) was presented by Kang Youwei who combined more the view of "Sanshi" and the bourgeoisie political theory and became the theory creed of the Reform Movement of 1898. It's a significant event and an accomplishment of the dynamic of Gongyang philosophy to integrate the progressive Gongyang theory with the searching of men of insights for saving the nation from extinction, and propelled effectively the cultural identification of Chinese people in the late Qing Dynasty.Today, the Gongyang theory is still important to consolidate the national reunification and to strengthen the national unity. This is the theory value of this project. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The reformers in late Qing dynasty were very concerned with "the declined nations" history. They used it to strengthen people' reforming awareness. During the WuXu Political Reform, books about "declined nations" history mainly emphasized changes innovation. But the books were too few and reactions were also extremely limited. After several dozens of those books were translated into Chinese and published since 1900, the social mode has experienced profound changes. However, the traditional historical mode of mirroring the past led to so much deeply limitations. The reformers generally used a specific historical case of the declined nations to justify their own present plans of political reform, as seen in the "Revolution," "Reformation," "Provincial Independence Movement, " Manchu Expelling Movement," and so on. Consequently, China's modernization manifest many more complexities to a certain extent. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The system of rehabilitation centers (Zixinsuo) was first created in the tenth year of Emperor Qianlong's reign. Its original purpose was to detain thieves in order to rehabilitate them through education. This aim, similar to that of the West's new prison system, was a good one. However, because of political and judicial corruption since the reigns of Emperors Jia Qing and Daoguang, the rehabilitation centers gradually turned into black jails abused by corrupt yamen underlings to seek profits. In addition to thieves, large numbers of innocent people were falsely accused and detained, leading to seething resentment. Therefore, most centers were either closed or destroyed in war. In the late Qing Dynasty, through the advocacy of some local officials such as Zhang Zhidong, Huang Zunxian and Zhao Erxun, the centers gradually regained their original function and were set up all around the country; furthermore, they provided indigenous resources for the transformation of the late Qing prison system. From this study we conclude that the transformation of the late Qing prison system was not simply a transplant of the Western system. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Chen Hongshou (1599-1652) is among the most outstanding figure painters of the late Ming. He not only revived this genre by incorporating the past styles of Li Gonglin (1049-1106), Zhou Fang (act. 763-804) and Gu Kaizhi (ca. 344-405), but also created a new figural style. In the subject of shinu hua (paintings of women), he initiated a solitary, lofty, scholarly-like female figure style, which differed from the earlier languid, listless mode created by Tang Yin (1470-1524) and Qiu Ying (ca. 1509-1551). With regard to the meaning of his new female type, Chen had subverted the traditional guiyuan (complaint from the inner chamber) subject associated with paintings of women, turning the passive female figure who is an object of the male gaze into a more subjective individual prone to her own feelings and desires. In addition, he created images of woman as educator, recluse, and scholar, which was unprecedented. The late Ming trend of the rise of talented and beautiful women was also duly reflected in Chen Hongshou’s paintings of women in contrast to the depiction of women as attendants, servants and entertainers in the past. In the aspect of religious image, Chen fully explored the ambiguity of Guanyin (Avalokitesvara)’s gender identity and blurred the gender lines by giving “her” a man’s face. In all, it might signal Chen’s distrust of any possibility of religious redemption for himself and an increasing de-canonization and secularization of the late Ming in general. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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Abstract Background Colorectal cancer (CRC) is one of the most common cancers worldwide. Comprehensive data on the economic burden of CRC at a population‐level is critical in informing policymaking, but such data are currently limited in China. Methods From a societal perspective, the economic burden of CRC in 2019 was estimated, including direct medical and nonmedical expenditure, disability, and premature‐death‐related indirect expenditure. Data on disease burden was taken from the GBD 2019 and analyzed using a prevalence‐based approach. The per‐person direct expenditure and work loss days were from a multicenter study; the premature‐death‐related expenditure was estimated using a human capital approach. Projections were conducted in different simulated scenarios. All expenditure data were in Chinese Yuan (CNY) and discounted to 2019. Results In 2019, the estimated overall economic burden of CRC in China was CNY170.5 billion (0.189% of the local GDP). The direct expenditure was CNY106.4 billion (62.4% of the total economic burden), 91.4% of which was a direct medical expenditure. The indirect expenditure was CNY64.1 billion, of which 63.7% was related to premature death. The predicted burden would reach CNY560.0 billion in 2030 given constant trends for disease burden; however, it would be alternatively reduced to

Abstract Background Numerous studies have examined catastrophic health expenditures (CHE) worldwide, mostly focusing on general or common chronic populations, rather than particularly vulnerable groups. This study assessed the medical expenditure and compensation of lung cancer, and explored the extent and influencing factors of CHE among households with lung cancer patients in China. Methods During 2018–2019, a hospital-based multicenter retrospective survey was conducted in seven provinces/municipalities across China as a part of the Cancer Screening Program of Urban China. CHE was measured according to the proportion of out-of-pocket (OOP) health payments of households on non-food expenditures. Chi-square tests and logistic regression analysis was adjusted to determine the factors that significantly influenced the likelihood of a household with lung cancer patient to incur in CHE. Results In total, 470 households with lung cancer patients were included in the analysis. Health insurance was shown to protect some households from the impact of CHE. Nonetheless, CHE incidence (78.1%) and intensity (14.02% for average distance and 22.56% for relative distance) were still relatively high among households with lung cancer patients. The incidence was lower in households covered by the Urban Employee Basic Medical Insurance (UEMBI) insurance, with higher income level and shorter disease course. Conclusion More attention is needed for CHE incidence among vulnerable populations in China. Households with lung cancer patients were shown to be more likely to develop CHE. Therefore, policy makers should focus on improving the financial protection and reducing the economic burden of this disease.

Background The study was conducted to examine changes in diagnostic and staging imaging methods for lung cancer in China over a 10‐year period and to determine the relationships between such changes and socioeconomic development. Methods This was a hospital‐based, nationwide, multicenter retrospective study of primary lung cancer cases. The data were extracted from the 10‐year primary lung cancer databases at eight tertiary hospitals from various geographic areas in China. The chi‐squared test was used to assess the differences and the Cochran–Armitage trend test was used to estimate the trends of changes. Results A total of 7184 lung cancer cases were analyzed. Over the 10‐year period, the utilization ratio of diagnostic imaging methods, such as chest computed tomography (CT) and chest magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), increased from 65.79% to 81.42% and from 0.73% to 1.96%, respectively, while the utilization ratio of chest X‐ray declined from 50.15% to 30.93%. Staging imaging methods, such as positron emission tomography‐CT, neck ultrasound, brain MRI, bone scintigraphy, and bone MRI increased from 0.73% to 9.29%, 22.95% to 47.92%, 8.77% to 40.71%, 42.40% to 62.22%, and 0.88% to 4.65%, respectively; abdominal ultrasound declined from 83.33% to 59.9%. These trends were more notable in less developed areas than in areas with substantial economic development. Conclusion Overall, chest CT was the most common radiological diagnostic method for lung cancer in China. Imaging methods for lung cancer tend to be used in a diverse, rational, and regionally balanced manner.

Background: Although numerous studies have examined catastrophic health expenditures (CHE) worldwide, most focus on the general population, not on specific vulnerable groups. We aimed to analyse the extent and the influencing factors of CHE in households with breast cancer patients in China, and explore the ability of different insurances to protect these households from CHE.Methods: A multicentre, cross-sectional interview surveys was conducted in households with breast cancer patients across seven provinces/municipalities in China. CHE were defined as out-of-pocket expenditures ≥ 40% of households' non-food expenditures. Chi-square tests and logistic regression analysis were performed to identify the determinants of CHE in household with breast cancer patients.Results: In the 639 participating households with breast cancer patients, the mean out-of-pocket (OOP) expenditure accounted for ~55.20% of the mean households' non-food expenditures. The overall incidence of CHE was 87.95 and 66.28% before and after insurance compensation, respectively. The logistic regression model revealed that education, disease course, health insurance, treatment method, and income were significant predictors of CHE.Conclusions: The results indicated that medical insurance protects some households with breast cancer patients from the impact of CHE. However, their reimbursement rates were relatively low. Therefore, breast cancer still had a significant catastrophic effect on the economy of households. Policy efforts should focus on improving insurance compensation rates and relieving the economic burden of critical illnesses such as breast cancer.

Abstract Background Thus far, the incidence, mortality, and temporal trend data of oropharyngeal cancers (OPC) in China were few. We estimated the incidence, mortality, and temporal patterns of OPC in China during 2008–2012 according to the data from 135 population-based cancer registries to better understand the epidemiological pattern of OPC and to provide more precise information for OPC control in China. Methods According to the data of diagnosed OPC reported to 135 cancer registries during 2008–2012, we calculated age-standardized rate of incidence and mortality by 2000 Chinese standard population (ASRIC and ASRMC) and by 1985 Segi’s world standard population (ASRIW and ASRMW) by age, sex, and geographic regions; annual percentage changes of OPC incidence and mortality were calculated using Joinpoint trend analysis. Results ASRIW and ASRMW were 2.22/100,000 person-years and 0.94/100,000 person-years, respectively. The incidence and mortality in urban areas were higher than those in rural areas. ASRIC and ASRIW of males were higher than those of females. The overall ASRIC of OPC was significantly increased by 6.2% annually between 2003 and 2006 (P = 0.038), but remained stable between 2007 and 2012 (P = 0.392). ASRIC and ASRMC of males and in rural areas were significantly increased in the last decade (P 0.05). Conclusions Across multiple cancer registries in China, there was an obvious increase in OPC in the recent decade, especially for incidence and mortality of males and in rural areas, whereas the rates of females remained stable. A healthy lifestyle should be advocated and early diagnosis and early treatment of OPC should be enhanced.

Abstract Background We estimated the incidence and mortality of nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) in China in 2010 according to the data of 145 domestic population-based cancer registries in 2014, and no such reports since then. Hence, to further and better understand its epidemiology in China and to provide more precise scientific information for its control and prevention in China, we analyzed the NPC incidence and mortality of 255 domestic population-based cancer registries, and estimated the national rates in 2013 again. Methods NPC incidence and mortality data of 255 domestic cancer registries in 2013, accepted by the 2016 National Cancer Registry Annual Report, were collected and collated, and the indices of NPC such as the numbers of new cases and deaths, crude rates, age-standardized rates, and truncated rates of incidence and mortality were calculated and analyzed. The incidence and mortality in China and its constituent areas were estimated according to the national population in 2013. Results An estimated 42,100 new cases and 21,320 deaths were attributed to NPC in China in 2013, accounting for 1.14% of all new cancer cases and 0.96% of all cancer-related deaths that year in China. Crude incidence and mortality of NPC were 3.09/100,000 and 1.57/100,000, respectively. World age-standardized incidence and mortality were 2.17/100,000 and 1.08/100,000, respectively. The incidence and mortality of males were obviously higher than those of females and slightly higher in urban areas than in rural areas. Among seven Chinese administrative regions, NPC incidence and mortality were obviously higher in South China than in other regions and lowest in North China. Top 3 incidence and mortality provinces and registering areas all located in South China. The age-specific incidence and mortality rose quickly from age 25–29 and 35 to 39 years, respectively, peaked at different ages and varied by location. Conclusions These results demonstrated that NPC incidence and mortality in China in 2013 were also at high levels worldwide, which suggested that its control and prevention should be enhanced.

Background: Cryptococcosis is a severe fungal infection with a high mortality rate among solid-organ transplant recipients. Today, China is among the countries performing the most kidney transplants worldwide, however data on the association of cryptococcosis with kidney transplantation in mainland China remain scarce and fragmented. Methods: We retrospectively analyzed cases of culture-confirmed cryptococcosis following kidney transplantation that have occurred at our hospital and reviewed the published cases in China over the last 30 years. Results: Cryptococcosis in kidney transplant recipients was mainly caused by Cryptococcus neoformans var. grubii VNI strains and occurred most frequently in patients aged 41–50 years (37.9%, 11/29). The average time to infection after kidney transplantation was 5.16 ± 3.97 years. The clinical manifestations were found to be diverse, with slight to moderate headache and fever, meningeal irritation, and high cerebrospinal fluid pressure being relatively common. Physicians should be alert to these symptoms among kidney transplant recipients. Conclusions: Cryptococcosis is a serious infection among kidney transplant recipients in mainland China. It has unique characteristics, such as a relatively long time to onset after kidney transplantation, and diverse clinical manifestations. Treatment with intrathecal injection of amphotericin B is considered effective for central nervous system involvement. The findings of this study also highlight the urgent need for multicenter, prospective, and multidisciplinary clinical studies and education on cryptococcosis in kidney transplant recipients in China.

Background: Numerous studies have examined catastrophic health expenditures (CHE) worldwide, mostly focusing on general or common chronic populations, rather than particularly vulnerable groups. This study assessed the medical expenditure and compensation of lung cancer, and explored the extent and influencing factors of CHE among households with lung cancer patients in China.Methods: During 2018-2019, a hospital-based multicenter retrospective survey was conducted in seven provinces/municipalities across China as a part of the Cancer Screening Program of Urban China. CHE was measured according to the proportion of out-of-pocket (OOP) health payments of households on non-food expenditures. Chi-square tests and logistic regression analysis was adjusted to determine the factors that significantly influenced the likelihood of a household with lung cancer patient to incur in CHE.Results: In total, 470 households with lung cancer patients were included in the analysis. Health insurance was shown to protect some households from the impact of CHE. Nonetheless, CHE incidence (78.1%) and intensity (14.02% for average distance and 22.56% for relative distance) were still relatively high among households with lung cancer patients. The incidence was lower in households covered by the Urban Employee Basic Medical Insurance (UEMBI) insurance, with higher income level and shorter disease course.Conclusion: More attention is needed for CHE incidence among vulnerable populations in China. Households with lung cancer patients were shown to be more likely to develop CHE. Therefore, policy makers should focus on improving the financial protection and reducing the economic burden of this disease. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Within the massive collection of the newly published "Collected Anthologies of Qing Poems and Other Writings," one can discern the characteristics of the early, middle, and late Qing periods. Reflective of progressive thinking in the late Qing period are a set of writings by Gong Zhizhen (1792 to 1841) and Wei Yuan (1794 to 1857). The inclusion of their writings is an opportunity to understanding the politics, economics, military, and intellectual culture of their times. The first part of the article describes social transformations after the high Qing period of the Kangxi and Qianlong emperors. The second part describes Gong Zhizhen as a thinker in more detail. The third part describes Wei Yuan’s interest in Western knowledge. The fourth part discusses the position these two held in Qing dynasty.

This article presents a report on a symposium on the 110th anniversary of the Hundred Days Reform, sponsored by the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences and Institute of Qing History of Renmin University of China in Beijing. Entitled "Hundred Days Reform and Social Change in the Late Qing Dynasty," the symposium was held on 11-12 October 2008. Over 30 scholars from Beijing, Shanghai, Tianjin, Wuhan, Guangzhou, and Hong Kong presented 30 academic papers on history, politics, journalism, and other fields. The author summarizes the topics under the following categories: new perspectives on the study of the Hundred Days Reform, reasons for its failure, the relationship between the Hundred Days Reform and modern Chinese thought, research on historical figures relating to the Hundred Days Reform, and the future of new research. [ABSTRACT FROM CONTRIBUTOR]

Background: The study was conducted to examine changes in diagnostic and staging imaging methods for lung cancer in China over a 10‐year period and to determine the relationships between such changes and socioeconomic development. Methods: This was a hospital‐based, nationwide, multicenter retrospective study of primary lung cancer cases. The data were extracted from the 10‐year primary lung cancer databases at eight tertiary hospitals from various geographic areas in China. The chi‐squared test was used to assess the differences and the Cochran–Armitage trend test was used to estimate the trends of changes. Results: A total of 7184 lung cancer cases were analyzed. Over the 10‐year period, the utilization ratio of diagnostic imaging methods, such as chest computed tomography (CT) and chest magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), increased from 65.79% to 81.42% and from 0.73% to 1.96%, respectively, while the utilization ratio of chest X‐ray declined from 50.15% to 30.93%. Staging imaging methods, such as positron emission tomography‐CT, neck ultrasound, brain MRI, bone scintigraphy, and bone MRI increased from 0.73% to 9.29%, 22.95% to 47.92%, 8.77% to 40.71%, 42.40% to 62.22%, and 0.88% to 4.65%, respectively; abdominal ultrasound declined from 83.33% to 59.9%. These trends were more notable in less developed areas than in areas with substantial economic development. Conclusion: Overall, chest CT was the most common radiological diagnostic method for lung cancer in China. Imaging methods for lung cancer tend to be used in a diverse, rational, and regionally balanced manner. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: To analyze the incidence and mortality of laryngeal cancer in cancer registration areas of China in 2010.Materials and Methods: Until June 1, 2013, 219 population-based cancer registries submitted data of 2010 to the National Central Cancer Registry of China covering about 207,229,403 population, and 120 cancer registries were selected after quality evaluation for this analysis. Laryngeal cancer cases were selected from the database according to International Classification of Diseases 10th Revision coded as "C32." We calculated the crude incidence and mortality rates of laryngeal cancer by sex, age, and location (urban/rural). The China population in 2000 and Segi's population were used as standardized populations for the calculation of age-standardized rates.Results: In 2010, it was estimated that there were 20,272 new cases diagnosed as laryngeal cancer in China, including 17,703 males and 2569 females. The crude incidence rate of laryngeal cancer was 1.54/100,000 in 2010, accounting for 0.66% of overall new cancer cases. The age-standardized by China population (ASRcn) and by world population (ASRwld) were 1.18/100,000 and 1.20/100,000, respectively. Cumulative rate (0-74 years old) and truncated age-standardized rate (35-64 years old) were 0.15% and 1.98/100,000, respectively. Moreover, it was estimated that there were 11 914 cases died in laryngeal cancer in China, including 10,038 males and 1876 females. The crude mortality rate was 0.91/100,000, accounting for 0.61% of overall cancer deaths. The ASRcn and ASRwld were 0.68/100,000 and 0.69/100,000, respectively. Cumulative rate and truncated age-standardized rates were 0.08% and 0.88/100,000, respectively.Conclusions: Both incidence and mortality of laryngeal cancer in China were still low in 2010. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: To analyze the incidence and mortality of oral cavity cancer in the cancer registration areas of China in 2010.Materials and Methods: Until June 1, 2013, 219 population-based cancer registries submitted the data of 2010 to the National Central Cancer Registry of China covering about 207,229,403 population, and 120 cancer registries were selected after the quality evaluation for this analysis. Oral cavity cancer cases were selected from the database according to the International Classification of Diseases-10 coded as "C00-C10, C11-C12." We calculated the crude incidence and mortality rates of oral cavity cancer by sex, age, and location (urban/rural). The China population in 2000 and Segi's population were used as standardized populations for the calculation of age standardized rates.Results: In 2010, it was estimated that there were 34,319 new cases diagnosed as oral cavity cancer in China, including 23,096 males and 11,223 females. The crude incidence rate of oral cavity cancer was 2.61/100,000 in 2010, accounting for 1.11% of overall new cancer cases, ranked the 20th in all cancer sites. The age standardized by China population (ASRcn) and by world population (ASRwld) were 2.06/100,000 and 2.02/100,000, respectively. Cumulative rate (0-74 years old) and truncated age standardized rate (35-64 years old) were 0.23% and 3.82/100 000, respectively. In 2010, it was estimated that there were 14,652 cases died in oral cavity cancer in China, including 10,363 males and 4289 females. The crude mortality rate of oral cavity cancer was 1.11/100,000 in 2010, accounting for 0.75% of overall cancer deaths, ranked the 20th in all cancer sites. The ASRcn and ASRwld were 0.86/100,000 and 0.85/100,000, respectively. Cumulative rate and truncated age standardized rates were 0.10% and 1.30/100,000, respectively.Conclusions: Both the incidence and mortality of oral cavity cancer in China were still low in 2010. Primary prevention such as smoking control, reducing alcohol consumption, changing the habit of chewing betel nut, and chemical prevention should be enhanced in the general population. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract China's rapid urbanization has aggravated its air pollution problems and subsequently results in increased interests in the relationship between urbanization and PM 2.5 concentrations. Currently, research on the ways that urbanization directly influences air quality are comparatively mature; however, quantification of the spillover effect of urbanization on PM 2.5 concentrations in adjacent regions remains understudied. Additionally, urbanization is a multi-dimensional phenomena in China and it is important to distinguish the ways in which the multiple aspects of urbanization influence PM 2.5 concentrations. Taking the Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei Urban agglomeration of China as an example, this study explored the spatio-temporal change and spatial dependence pattern of PM 2.5 concentrations, and further examined and compared the unique impacts of the multiple dimensions of urbanization on PM 2.5 concentrations. The results showed that spatial dependence of PM 2.5 generally took place over the range of 200 km in the study area. Economic urbanization had a much stronger influence on air quality than land urbanization or population urbanization; it was determined to be the best indicator to represent the impact of urbanization, especially the spillover effect of urbanization on PM 2.5 concentrations in adjacent regions. Over the period 2000–2010, the impacts from both local and neighboring economic urbanization on PM 2.5 concentrations increased significantly. In contrast, land urbanization mainly exerted influence on air quality in focal regions. Population urbanization showed no significant direct or spillover effects on PM 2.5 concentrations in the whole urban agglomeration. This study provides evidence that the influence of urbanization within and across cities must be considered when conducting joint air pollution control in an urban agglomeration. PM 2.5 taxes based on the diffusion and transfer of environment pressures are one possible policy mechanism that could help to account for the spillover effect of economic urbanization on air quality. System-based approaches and flow-centered governance are two suggested ways to coordinate the management of both urbanization and air quality. Highlights • Spatial dependence of PM 2.5 concentrations occurs over the range of 200 km in BTH. • Spillover effect of urbanization on PM 2.5 occurs through various approaches. • Development of economic, land, population urbanization is inconsistent in BTH. • Economic urbanization can best indicate the impact of urbanization on PM 2.5. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Historically low breast cancer incidence rates among Asian women have risen worldwide; purportedly due to the adoption of a 'Western' life style among younger generations ( i.e., the more recent birth cohorts). However, no study has simultaneously compared birth cohort effects between both younger and older women in different Asian and Western populations. Using cancer registry data from rural and urban China, Singapore and the United States (1990-2008), we estimated age-standardized incidence rates (ASR), annual percentage change (EAPC) in the ASR, net drifts, birth cohort specific incidence rates and cohort rate ratios (CRR). Younger (30-49 years, 1943-1977 birth cohorts) and older women (50-79 years; 1913-1957 birth cohorts) were assessed separately. CRRs among Chinese populations were estimated using birth cohort specific rates with US non-Hispanic white women (NHW) serving as the reference population with an assigned CRR of 1.0. We observed higher EAPCs and net drifts among those Chinese populations with lower ASRs. Similarly, we observed the most rapidly increasing cohort-specific incidence rates among those Chinese populations with the lowest baseline CRRs. Both trends were more significant among older than younger women. Average CRRs were 0.06-0.44 among older and 0.18-0.81 among younger women. Rapidly rising cohort specific rates have narrowed the historic disparity between Chinese and US NHW breast cancer populations particularly in regions with the lowest baseline rates and among older women. Future analytic studies are needed to investigate risk factors accounting for the rapid increase of breast cancer among older and younger women separately in Asian populations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study aimed to examine the reproducibility and validity of a new food frequency questionnaire (FFQ) used in a birth cohort study to estimate the usual consumption frequencies of foods during pregnancy. The reference measure was the average of three inconsecutive 24 h diet recalls (24 HR) administrated between two FFQs, and the reproducibility was measured by repeating the first FFQ (FFQ1) approximately eight weeks later (FFQ2). A total of 210 pregnant women from the Born in Guangzhou Cohort Study (BIGCS) with full data were included in the analysis. The Spearman's correlation coefficients of FFQ1 and FFQ2 ranged from 0.33 to 0.71. The intraclass correlation coefficients of the two FFQs ranged from 0.22 to 0.71. The Spearman's correlation coefficients of the 24 HR and FFQ2 ranged from 0.23 to 0.62. Cross-classification analysis showed 65.1% of participants were classified into same and contiguous quintiles, while only 3.2% were misclassified into the distant quintiles. Bland-Altman methods showed good agreement for most food groups across the range of frequencies between FFQ1 and FFQ2. Our findings indicated that the reproducibility and validity of the FFQ used in BIGCS for assessing the usual consumption frequencies of foods during pregnancy were acceptable. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Few studies have explored the relationship between dietary patterns and the risk of gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM). Evidence from non-Western areas is particularly lacking. In the present study, we aimed to examine the associations between dietary patterns and the risk of GDM in a Chinese population. A total of 3063 pregnant Chinese women from an ongoing prospective cohort study were included. Data on dietary intake were collected using a FFQ at 24–27 weeks of gestation. GDM was diagnosed using a 75 g, 2 h oral glucose tolerance test. Dietary patterns were determined by principal components factor analysis. A log-binomial regression model was used to examine the associations between dietary pattern and the risk of GDM. The analysis identified four dietary patterns: vegetable pattern; protein-rich pattern; prudent pattern; sweets and seafood pattern. Multivariate analysis showed that the highest tertile of the vegetable pattern was associated with a decreased risk of GDM (relative risk (RR) 0·79, 95 % CI 0·64, 0·97), compared with the lowest tertile, whereas the highest tertile of the sweets and seafood pattern was associated with an increased risk of GDM (RR 1·23, 95 % CI 1·02, 1·49). No significant association was found for either the protein-rich or the prudent pattern. The protective effect of a high vegetable pattern score was more evident among women who had a family history of diabetes (P for interaction = 0·022). These findings suggest that the vegetable pattern was associated with a decreased risk of GDM, while the sweets and seafood pattern was associated with an increased risk of GDM. These findings may be useful in dietary counselling during pregnancy. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

Background Female breast cancer incidence and mortality data for the duration of 2008, in China, retrieved from the National Central Cancer Registry, was analyzed. Methods In 2008, there were 56 registries that submitted cancer registration data. Based on the criteria of data quality, a total of 41 registries' data met the requirement and were accepted for analysis. The incidence and mortality rates of breast cancer in females were calculated, including age specific rates, age-standardized rates, proportions, and cumulative rates, stratified by areas (urban/rural). Results The number of cases included from 41 registries was 66 138 784, with 32 798 187 of these cases found in women (25 898 251 in urban areas and 6 899 936 in rural areas). There were 15 625 new cases reported and 3414 deaths of women with breast cancer, resulting in a mortality to incidence ratio of 0.22. The morphological verified rate was 91.96%, and 0.43% of cases were identified by death certificate only. The crude cancer incidence rate in all areas was 47.64/100 000, and the Age- Standardized Incidence Rates by Chinese standard population, ( ASIRC) and World standard population ( ASIRW) were 25.26/100 000 and 31.71/100 000, respectively. The cumulative incidence rate (0-74 years old) was 3.44%. Both crude and adjusted incidence rates in urban areas were much higher than those in rural areas. The crude cancer mortality was 10.41/100 000, and the Age- Standardized Mortality Rates by Chinese standard population ( ASMRC) and by World population ( ASMRW) were 4.90/100 000 and 6.48/100 000, respectively. The cumulative mortality rate (0-74 years old) was 0.071%. Age-adjusted mortality rates in urban areas were also higher than in rural areas. Age specific incidence rates peaked in age group 50-54 in all areas (108.27/100 000) and in urban areas (119.68/100 000). It reached the peak in the 55-59 age group for rural women. Age specific mortalities rose with the increase of age for both women in urban and rural areas, with mortality rates of 76.16/100 000 and 23.73/100 000 in age groups of 85 and above, respectively. Conclusions Breast cancer is the most common cancer diagnosed in Chinese women. Preventative measures, such as health education and screening, are needed in the general population, but especially for those in the high-risk group found in urban areas. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aims: To evaluate the difference in maternal circulating leptin profile between pregnant women with and without gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM).Methods: This is a nested case-control study embedded in the Born in Guangzhou Cohort Study in Guangzhou Women and Children's Medical Center, with 198 GDM cases and 192 controls included. Maternal plasma leptin profile was defined as leptin concentrations measured at early (baseline) and late pregnancy, as well as a ratio of concentration at late to that at early pregnancy (RL1L0). General linear regression was used to assess the associations between GDM and log-transformed leptin measurements.Results: Women with GDM had a higher baseline leptin concentration and lower RL1L0 compared to those without GDM. The log leptin concentration at baseline (β: 0.19, 95%CI: 0.04, 0.34) and the log RL1L0 (β: -0.22, 95%CI: -0.41, -0.03) were associated with GDM status. The RL1L0 decreased significantly along with the increase of 1-hour glucose and the difference between 1-hour and fasting glucose levels in both GDM and non-GDM women.Conclusions: Women with GDM had a certain profile of circulating leptin, with higher baseline concentration but less increase during pregnancy, suggesting an impaired compensatory response to increasing insulin resistance along with the progress of pregnancy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background Breast cancer is the most common cancer among women. Population-based cancer registration data from the National Central Cancer Registry were used to analyze and evaluate the incidence and mortality rates in China in 2013, providing scientific information for cancer prevention and control. Methods Pooled data were stratified by area (urban/rural), gender, and age group. National new cases and deaths were estimated using age-specific rates and the corresponding population in 2013. The Chinese population in 2000 and Segi's world population were used to calculate age-standardized rates. Results The estimated number of new breast cancer cases was about 278 800 in China in 2013. The crude incidence, age-standardized rate of incidence by Chinese standard population, and age-standardized rate of incidence by world standard population were 42.02/100 000, 30.41/100 000, and 28.42/100 000, respectively. The estimated number of breast cancer deaths was about 64 600 in China in 2013. The crude mortality, age-standardized rate of mortality by Chinese standard population, and age-standardized rate of mortality by world standard population were 9.74/100 000, 6.54/100 000, and 6.34/100 000, respectively. Both incidence and mortality were higher in urban than in rural areas. Age-specific breast cancer incidence significantly increased with age, particularly after age 20, and peaked at 50-55 years, while age-specific mortality increased rapidly after 25 years, peaking at 85+ years. Conclusions Breast cancer is the most common cancer in Chinese women, especially women in urban areas. Comprehensive measures are needed to reduce the heavy burden of breast cancer. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Photography—what Barthes called "the living image of a dead thing"—is often overlooked in discussions of cultural heritage decolonization. This paper focuses on a historical photograph attributed to the Hong Kong commercial photographer Lai Fong 黎芳, also known as Afong, that documents the aftermath of the Tianjin massacre of 1870. A photographic print of the image is held in the Robert Hart collection, a little‐known collection of historical photographs accumulated by the Irishman Robert Hart during his half‐century as an administrator in China. Like many such collections—and like Tianjin itself in the late Qing period—the photography collection resists easy categorization, and sits uneasily between Europe and Asia, Chinese and foreign, imperial and anti‐imperial. This essay proposes a "photoanthropocene" perspective, drawing on theoretical writing by Mirzoeff, Zylinska, and others to locate colonial photography within the early anthropocene. The photoanthropocene offers new ways to understand, interpret, and decolonize colonial photography. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Studies on Chinese nationalist discourse in the late Qing era rarely consider the role of settler-colonialism in the development of nationalism, instead assuming that anti-colonialism was the dominant ideological source. This article transcends the traditional binary discourse of the colonised and the coloniser by exploring how settler-colonialism helped to project a borderless China in late Qing utopian fiction. I argue that this body of literature, as exemplified by Lü Sheng's A Madman's Dream, is a useful lens for exploring how Chinese settler-colonialism developed a (trans)national imagination. China, as a non-Western settler-colonist, had a dual identity: its experience of being colonised by the West resulted in its acting as a settler-colonist, while its efforts to promote a 'new China' overseas were intended to create solidarity with others who had suffered from colonisation. This article thus contributes to the growing body of scholarship about Qing expansionism as an instance of colonialism by demonstrating the internal tensions within Chinese discourse on colonialism in that era. I illustrate that Chinese settler-colonialism displayed a unique blend of discourse about expansion in the past, the experience of suffering in the present, and imagining the future. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article examines the branding, retail and consumer acceptance of condensed milk in Asian markets during the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries. The two giants of the trade, Borden in the United States and Nestlé & Anglo-Swiss in Europe, each carved out distinct new markets in colonial Southeast Asia, but only the latter was committed to maintaining a long term presence, investing in local production and marketing, and taking over rights to Borden's well-known Eagle brand after the Great War. As Nestlé expanded into Japan and China, its brand-led strategy faced new challenges of protectionism and a wave of lower priced knockoff products. Lacking a dedicated local partner, Nestlé lost ground, but remained focussed on retaining the integrity of its premium brands, a strategy that served it well over the long term. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study examines the impact of a large‐scale censorship campaign in Qing China (1644–1911) on intellectuals' writings. Using a Difference‐in‐Difference approach and analysing 23,000 poems, the study reveals a significant decrease in the frequency of censored words in poems written by censored intellectuals. There was no room to circumvent censorship by adopting homophones, split words, and variant characters. The machine learning analyses uncover some indication that the censorship campaign influenced intellectuals' writing styles, with intellectuals shifting away from the censored poetry. The campaign created intense political pressures, leading to self‐censorship, but its long‐term impact on word choices was minimal. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

At the end of the nineteenth century, the first generation of Chinese intellectuals to advocate parliamentarianism re-appropriated terms and concepts from China's own lengthy history of debates about political selection. The terms that they chose—the phrase 'local recommendation' in particular—brought with them their own associations and implications about the nature of parliamentary elections. This article traces the intellectual lineage of Chinese discourse on 'local recommendation' during the dynastic era and argues that the conflation of this classical practice with voting for parliamentary representatives created a series of misaligned expectations for elections in China and thus contributed to the failure of experiments with competitive elections during the first years of the twentieth century. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Most appraisals of representations of history in the philosophy of Kang Youwei 康有為 (1858-1927) tend to concentrate on depictions of linear historical transformations that were characteristic of some of his most renowned works, such as The Book of Great Unity (Datong shu 大同書). However, this approach tends to overlook the multifaceted nature of Kang's thought in general, and how the early phases of its development continued to have an impact on later ideas. This article analyses a relatively overlooked text written by Kang during his formative years, 'On Human Nature and Learning' ('Xing xue pian' 性學篇), in which he expounds a cyclical understanding of history. In this text, Kang describes the creation of civilisational forms based on the most natural traits of human nature; followed by a period of decline resulting from human agency and reasoning which have gradually lost their footing in such traits. After such a process of decline and destruction, Kang posits the re-emergence of the aforementioned civilisational forms in a process that is continually repeated; and associates the dynamics of development and decline with Confucianism and Buddhism respectively. 'On Human Nature and Learning' not only represents a fascinating object of study in its own right but also an extremely useful perspective from which to reflect upon and nuance the true import of Kang's later linear visions of history. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of RumeliDE Journal of Language & Literature Research / RumeliDE Dil ve Edebiyat Araştırmaları Dergisi is the property of RumeliDE Uluslararasi Hakemli Dil & Edebiyat Arastirmalari Dergisi and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Background: Asthma is one of the most prevalent chronic respiratory diseases worldwide. This study aimed to determine the updated prevalence of and risk factors for asthma among individuals aged 45 and older in mainland China.Methods: The data for this study came from the fourth wave of the China Health and Retirement Longitudinal Study (CHARLS) conducted by the National School of Development of Peking University in 2018. The CHARLS is a nationally representative survey targeting populations aged 45 and over from 28 provinces/cities in mainland China. A representative sample of 19,816 participants was recruited for the study using a multistage stratified sampling method. The prevalence of asthma was determined across different characteristics. The potential risk factors were examined by multivariable logistic regressions.Results: A total of 18,395 participants (8744 men and 9651 women) were eligible for the final data analysis. The estimated prevalence of asthma among Chinese people aged ≥ 45 years in 2018 was 2.16% (95% CI 1.96-2.38). The prevalence of asthma significantly differed according to race (P = 0.002), with an overall rate of 2.07% (95% CI 1.86-2.29) in Han paticipants and 3.32% (95% CI 2.50-4.38) in minority participants. Furthermore, the minority ethnicities (OR = 1.55 [95% CI 1.12-2.14], P = 0.008), older age (60-69 years group: OR = 1.85 [95% CI 1.17-2.92], P = 0.008; ≥ 70 years group: OR = 2.63 [95% CI 1.66-4.17], P < 0.001), an education level of middle school or below (middle-school education: OR = 1.88 [95% CI 1.15-3.05], P = 0.011; primary education: OR = 2.48 [95% CI 1.55-3.98], P < 0.001; literate: OR = 2.53 [95% Cl 1.57-4.07], P < 0.001; illiterate: OR = 2.78 [95% CI 1.72-4.49, P < 0.001]), smoking (OR = 1.37 [95% CI 1.11-1.68], P = 0.003), and residence in North (OR = 1.52 [95% CI 1.11-2.09], P = 0.01) or Northwest China (OR = 1.71 [95% CI 1.18-2.49], P = 0.005) were associated with prevalent asthma.Conclusions: Asthma is prevalent but underappreciated among middle-aged and elderly people in China. A number of risk factors were identified. These results can help to formulate correct prevention and treatment measures for asthma patients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The discussion on Chinese cultural heritage started to emerge as a result of inspiration coming from foreign travels of Chinese scholars-officials and as protective measures against looting of artifacts in the 19th and 20th centuries. The most spectacular robberies were carried out by Anglo-French forces in the Old Summer Palace (Yuanming Yuan) during the Second Opium War in 1860. That event became one of the cornerstones of the “century of humiliation” (bainian guochi) in the Chinese historical narrative. Even though the Communist Revolution classified historical sites as remnants of feudalism, today the Communist Party of China has assumed the role of a defender of the Chinese heritage. In contemporary China, its cultural heritage is a phenomenon of both domestic and international significance. The Chinese emphasize the antiquity of the Chinese nation, pointing to the origins of Chinese civilization as early as five thousand years ago. In contemporary China, recovering cultural treasures is important for the political legitimacy of a government and for erasing the national humiliation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Colorectal cancer (CRC) is the third most common cancer in China, however, publicly available, descriptive information on the clinical epidemiology of CRC is limited.Methods: Patients diagnosed with primary CRC during 2005 through 2014 were sampled from 13 tertiary hospitals in 9 provinces across China. Data related to sociodemographic characteristics, the use of diagnostic technology, treatment adoption, and expenditure were extracted from individual medical records.Results: In the full cohort of 8465 patients, the mean ± SD age at diagnosis was 59.3 ± 12.8 years, 57.2% were men, and 58.7% had rectal cancer. On average, 14.4% of patients were diagnosed with stage IV disease, and this proportion increased from 13.5% in 2005 to 20.5% in 2014 (P value for trend < .05). For diagnostic techniques, along with less use of x-rays (average, 81.6%; decreased from 90.0% to 65.7%), there were increases in the use of computed tomography (average, 70.4%; increased from 4.5% to 90.5%) and magnetic resonance imaging (average, 8.8%; increased from 0.1% to 20.4%) over the study period from 2005 to 2014. With regard to treatment, surgery alone was the most common (average, 50.1%), but its use decreased from 51.3% to 39.8% during 2005 through 2014; and the use of other treatments increased simultaneously, such as chemotherapy alone (average, 4.1%; increased from 4.1% to 11.9%). The average medical expenditure per patient was 66,291 Chinese Yuan (2014 value) and increased from 47,259 to 86,709 Chinese Yuan.Conclusions: The increasing proportion of late-stage diagnoses presents a challenge for CRC control in China. Changes in diagnostic and treatment options and increased expenditures are clearly illustrated in this study. Coupled with the recent introduction of screening initiatives, these data provide an understanding of changes over time and may form a benchmark for future related evaluations of CRC interventions in China. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

What has made it so difficult for Chinese journalism to gain autonomy ever since it first came into existence more than two hundred years ago up until the present day? The reasons for such difficulty are complicated; however, this study seeks to recontextualize Chinese journalism in terms of current conflicts between the dual mandate of nation-building and urban community-making in modern Chinese history, which is an integral part of the two contradictory dimensions of modernity that have continuously dominated the practice. This study posits the parallel concepts of the 'state newspaper' and the 'urban newspaper' to examine the long-standing concept of 'state newspaper' in China's journalism industry, and how this concept has become so deeply rooted in people's minds with such great persistence that up to the present day it is still part of the collective subconscious of journalists to the extent that it affects their daily practice. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article establishes a link between Qing-dynasty official Deng Huaxi (1826–1916) and comprador Zheng Guanying's (1842–1922) political treatise Shengshi weiyan (Warnings to a Prosperous Age). It suggests that Deng Huaxi's reforms as provincial governor of Anhui and Guizhou were inspired by Shengshi weiyan. The work did not come to be applied in the 1898 Hundred Days Reform but saw at least partial success in the modernization of the two landlocked provinces. This interpretation supports the scholarly consensus that the geographical extent of the late Qing self-strengthening reforms was contingent on various persons and places and being far more focused on coastal provinces. It also suggests that the nature, pace, and scope of reforms lay at the discretion of governors-general and provincial governors, many of whom possessed few resources with which to implement them fully. The story of Deng Huaxi challenges a common idea about late Qing China: that meaningful reforms relied only on men with deep political connections to the central court and access to private fortunes. It also shows how effectively messages by Zheng Guanying and other theorists could reach local administrators and leaders and how, in provinces not so dominated by conservative literati elites, Western-style reforms garnered much appeal without too much resistance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the light of 19th-century attempts to universalize history and international law, the purpose of this article is to show how the theory of an Ancient Chinese international law matured and disseminated within one politics of history and helped generate another at the end of the Qing Dynasty. On the one hand, the middleman William Alexander Parsons Martin, who as part of his Christian mission and in order to make international law more acceptable to the Chinese, translated systematically international law into Chinese and attempted to universalize it by finding a proto-international law in Ancient China. On the other hand, Chinese scholars and officials sought to use Martin's theory to universalize Confucianism and rectify international law according to what they believed to be their own superior morality and history. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article examines change and continuity in the selection, conceptualisation and state-sponsorship of 'famine foods' in late Qing, Nationalist and Maoist China. It employs as case studies the following severe famines that struck North China under three markedly different regimes: the North China Famine of 1876-79, the Henan Famine of 1942/43 and the Great Leap Famine of 1958-62. Continuities that cut across the three periods include the particular non-grain foods - beginning with tree bark and wild plants and extending to Bodhisattva earth (Guanyin tu) - consumed at the local level, and a tradition of elite involvement in identifying and endorsing items that could relieve starvation. The terms used to describe survival foods changed significantly, however, as did the rationale for promoting such foods. Moreover, as twentieth-century Chinese modernisers joined their Western counterparts in championing the use of science and technology to address food crises and other disasters, staterun health and scientific agencies played an increasingly active role in testing and promoting recipes for non-grain foods. This trend reached its zenith during the Great Leap Famine, when the government launched a 'food substitute' (daishipin) campaign that aimed to address food shortages without reducing grain quotas by encouraging the mass-production of food substitutes such as chlorella and artificial meat. This campaign can be understood as a sharp departure from Qing China's grain-centred famine relief policies, a radical extension of rhetoric and priorities laid out during the Nationalist period, and a case of high modernism gone badly awry. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: The impact of participating in breast cancer screening programmes on health-related quality of life (HRQoL)is poorly understood.Methods: Based on a national breast cancer screening programme in China, a multicentre cross-sectional survey was conducted covering 12 provinces from September 2013 to December 2014. HRQoL of participants in the screening population and general population was evaluated by the three-levelEuroQol-five-Dimensions (EQ-5D-3L) instrument, and utility scores were generated through the Chinese value set. Univariate and multivariate regression analyses were performed to explore determinants of utility scores and anxiety/depression problems.Results: For screening group and general population (n = 4756, mean age = 51.6 year old), the corresponding utility scores were 0.937 (95% CI, 0.933-0.941) and 0.953 (0.949-0.957) (P < .001). Pain/discomfort and anxiety/depression were the most common reported in both groups (51.4% and 34.3%, P < .001). Utility scores at prescreening, in-screening, and postscreening interview timings were 0.928 (0.921-0.935), 0.958 (0.948-0.969), and 0.938 (0.933-0.943), respectively (P < .001); the corresponding proportions of anxiety/depression reporting were 25.9%, 16.3%, and 21.1%, respectively (P = .004). Interview timing, geographical region, and insurance status were associated with HRQoL and anxiety/depression in women at high-risk of breast cancer.Conclusions: Utility scores of screening participants were significantly lower than that of general population in China, but the difference may be clinically insignificant. Further cohort studies using HRQoL measurements are needed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Journal of Constitutional History / Giornale di Storia Costituzionale is the property of Giornale di Storia Costituzionale (Journal of Constitutional History) and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

The turn of the twentieth century saw a growing number of works of pseudotranslation in China. Pseudotranslation engages with authentic translation on three levels: textual, generic and discursive. It engages with authentic translations on the textual level because sometimes authors of pseudotranslation borrow various semantic units, such as words, phrases or passages, from authentic translations to construct their own disguised works. More importantly, pseudotranslation can be considered to be referring intertextually to the genre of translation, where genre is conceived as the specific norms and stylistic characteristics of literary translation. Pseudotranslation may also refer to specific discourses, that is, it makes use of certain discourses embodied in and represented by translations, as well as the source texts they represent. These three levels of intertextual engagement foreground the metafictional nature of pseudotranslation, that is, the way it reflects on and refracts authentic translations and domestic cultural and literary traditions. Three case studies of pseudotranslation in China at the beginning of the twentieth century are provided to illustrate and explore the three levels of intertextual engagement. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article examines Chinese leftist intellectuals’ visions of China’s future as they were published in a special issue of Dongfang zazhi (Eastern Miscellany) in 1933. It places their texts in the international tradition of socialism and in particular the tensions between Marxism and “utopian socialism.” Two variants of socialism can be identified in the Chinese texts: “Datong socialism,” the moral vision of a society of freedom and equality, and Soviet socialism, the vision of an industrialized society with features and institutions as in the Soviet Union. Supporters of both variants identified with the “masses,” but remained elitist in that they spoke on behalf of these masses and claimed an intellectual niche in the proletarian society of the future. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper investigates the literary translation between China and Brazil from 1952, when Jorge Amado visited China for the first time, to 1964, when the Brazilian military government detained and expelled Chinese diplomats after the coup d'état. It is mainly focused on Chinese and Brazilian writers who traveled between the two countries, and the role they played in literary translation as part of the hot battles in the cultural Cold War. I will show how important literary translation, assisted by writers' lectures and travel writing, were in the construction of a revolutionary China and Brazil that were sympathetic with each other in their struggles, which aimed at creating viable alternatives to not only the existing bipolar world order but also the discursive practices of the dominant colonial/imperial powers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article examines the image of the child and play in the Mengxue bao (The Children's Educator, 1897–1902), an important but largely neglected children's periodical established by Chinese reformers in the late-nineteenth century, a time when intellectuals who were concerned about China's future began to question dominant educational practices. It focuses on articles that were unusual in illustrating the importance of learning to cultivating ethical behaviour and stimulating resourcefulness through play. The Children's Educator noted the importance of studying, but also encouraged children to play. This recognition that play is a significant part of childhood marks a shift in attitudes towards Chinese children and their relationship with play in the early twentieth century. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Qing China represents a counterfactual to the early modern European history of fiscal expansion in the wake of warfare. In response to the staggering costs of suppressing the White Lotus Rebellion (1796–1804), the Jiaqing Emperor sought to solve the empire's fiscal problems by tightening bureaucratic control over an overstretched system of treasury finance. However, Jiaqing's policy of austerity and retrenchment was not simply an expedient in times of fiscal strain, but deeply rooted in ideological struggles over taxation that began in the eighteenth century. It was an expression of hardline fiscal conservatism, which held fixed revenue quotas sacrosanct and which I call quota-ism. This policy had dire consequences for the ability of the Qing regime to respond to external shocks and to fulfill its sovereign tasks – war, river conservancy and famine relief. It contributed to the bankruptcy of Qing government finance by the time of the Opium War. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]