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Promoting passive buildings is of great significance in the large-scale development of China. In this study, system dynamics theory is used to divide the ramp-up of the passive construction system into four subsystems, including the market demand subsystem, the government policy subsystem, the developers' economic benefits subsystem, and energy conservation and environmental protection consciousness subsystem. The passive construction production promotion model is built, and analysis of each subsystem is conducted. Then, the internal relations of passive construction hoisting system of the output feedback loop are built to draw the stock flow chart. After that, the key factors influencing the passive construction propulsion are found, and a sensitivity analysis is conducted to propose several passive construction production promoting strategies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cerasus serrulata (Rosaceae) is an important flowering cherry resource which is valuable for developing new cultivars of flowering cherries. It is broadly distributed and possesses abundant variations. In this study, phylogeographic analysis was conducted to reveal the evolutionary history to better understand the genetic diversity and genetic structure of C. serrulata so as to provide more accurate molecular insights into better conservation and utilization of the germplasm resources. A total of 327 individuals from 18 wild populations were collected. Three chloroplast DNA (cpDNA) fragments (matK, trnD‐E, and trnS‐G) and the nuclear internal transcribed spacer (ITS) were utilized. The results showed a high genetic diversity at both species level and population level of C. serrulata. High genetic differentiation and the existence of the phylogeographic structure were detected. No significant expansion events were discovered. Two geographic lineages were inferred. One was confined to the Qinling Mountains and the Taihang Mountains. The other was from the Wuling Mountains to the Jiangnan Hilly Regions and then went northeast to the coast of Asia. In addition, some taxonomic treatments of the C. serrulata complex are discussed and reconsidered. Conservation and utilization strategies of wild C. serrulata germplasm resources were recommended. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cerasus dielsiana (Rosaceae) is one of the most characteristic wild flowering cherry species endemic to subtropical China, with high conservation value from ornamental, economic, and ecological perspectives. To verify its spatial genetic structure and phylogeographic history, evaluation of nuclear (ITS) sequence variation in 203 individuals from 25 wild populations across its natural distribution ranges was conducted. High levels of ribotypes and nuclear diversity (Hd = 0.879 ± 0.012, π = 3.56 ± 0.16) were detected at the species level. Spatial analysis of molecular variation (SAMOVA), median-joining network and phylogenetic Neighbour-joining tree assigned the populations into four genetically distinct groups. Meanwhile, high levels of genetic differentiation among populations and strong phylogeographic patterns (Nst = 0.837 > Gst = 0.585; P < 0.05) were revealed based on the analysis of molecular variance (AMOVA). Results of neutrality tests, mismatch distribution analyses, Mantel test, barrier analyses, together with ecological niche modelling (ENM) simulation and BEAST analysis suggest a long-term demographic history (95% HPD: 3.64–8.83 Mya) of C. dielsiana, and at least three potential in situ glacial refugia as well as recent demographic expansion in eastern region have been detected. Collectively, we highlight that the combined effect of natural selection and random genetic drift under complex topography and palaeoclimatic oscillations since the Last Glacial Maximum (LGM) in subtropical China might have been the main driver to the species' allopatric differentiation. Scientific conservation and sustainable utilization for wild C. dielsiana germplasm resources were subsequently proposed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract Rotavirus gastroenteritis is an important pediatric disease in China. In a survey of rotavirus infection at two sentinel hospitals in China (Beijing Friendship Hospital and Changchun Children’s Hospital), 296 cases were detected. A total of 283 (95.6%) cases of rotavirus infection occurred in children under 5 years of age. Serotype G1 (62%) was most prevalent followed by G2 (28.5%), G3 (5%) and G4 (2%). Mixed infections (n=8, 3%) were rare, and 16 isolates (5.5%) remained non-typeable. A consistent epidemic occurred during the winter. Rotavirus was responsible for about 61.8% of diarrhea-related hospitalizations in children under 5 years of age, with a mean hospital stay of 5.6 days (1.0–21 days). The estimated rate of rotavirus-attributed hospitalizations was 16/1000 children under 5 years of age per year. Rotavirus-related death is rare in Changchun and Beijing. The present findings suggest that a rotavirus vaccine for the prevention of severe disease and a reduction of treatment costs would be of significant benefit to China. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Based on the 1974-2008 forest fire and meteorological data in Tahe County of Great Xing' an Mountains region, and with the help of Canadian Forest Fire Weather Index System (CFFWIS), this paper qualitatively and quantitatively analyzed the dynamics of forest fire weather indices in the region. In 1974-2008, the mean annual fire occurrence in the region showed an increasing trend, and the increment in 2000-2008 was 72.2%, compared with that in 1974-1999. The fuel moisture codes, fire behavior indices, and fire severity indices in 1974-2008 had an overall increasing trend, which was more evident with time extended. In the future, the probability of forest fire occurrence in the region would be increasing, fuels would be getting drier, fire intensity would be increased, fire weather would be more serious, and fire control would be more difficult. Therefore, more efforts should be made to improve the capability of forest fire control, especially in summer. As a fundamental technique, prescribed burning should be applied to reduce the fuel load. From this doing, the probability of fire occurrence and the fire potential intensity could be reduced.