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Selenium (Se) is an essential trace element for human physiological metabolism. The application of organic Se as a source to cultivate Se-rich plants for micronutrient supplementation has been receiving increasing attention. In our study, a bacterial strain named H1 was isolated from the soil in Heilongjiang Province, China, and under optimal culture conditions, the unit Se content could reach 3000 μg·g−1 and its 16S ribosomal DNA sequence seemed to be a new molecular record of an Enterobacter species. After the domestication of Se tolerance and Se-rich experiments, H1 can be used as a Se source for cultivation of Se-rich Auricularia auricula. The results showed that soluble protein, soluble sugar, free amino acid and vitamin C contents in Auricularia auricula were notably increased by 28.7%, 21.8%, 32.5% and 39.2% under the treatment of Se concentration of 0.24 mg·kg−1, respectively. These findings enhance our understanding that H1 is more conducive to Se uptake and nutrient accumulation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Paeonia ostii is an important economic oil and medicinal crop. Its anthers are often used to make tea in China with beneficial effects on human health. However, the metabolite profiles, as well as potential biological activities of P. ostii anthers and the pollen within anthers have not been systematically analyzed, which hinders the improvement of P. ostii utilization. With comprehensive untargeted metabolomic analysis using UPLC-QTOF-MS, we identified a total of 105 metabolites in anthers and pollen, mainly including phenylpropanoids, polyketides, organic acids, benzenoids, lipids, and organic oxygen compounds. Multivariate statistical analysis revealed the metabolite differences between anthers and pollen, with higher carbohydrates and flavonoids content in pollen and higher phenolic content in anthers. Meanwhile, both anthers and pollen extracts exhibited antioxidant activity, antibacterial activity, α-glucosidase and α-amylase inhibitory activity. In general, the anther stage of S4 showed the highest biological activity among all samples. This study illuminated the metabolites and biological activities of anthers and pollen of P. ostii, which supports the further utilization of them. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The tree peony, a novel woody oil crop extensively cultivated in China, necessitates further investigation into artificial pollination technology to enhance seed yield. In this study, we conducted artificial pollination experiments with 6-year-old Paeonia ostii 'Feng Dan' seedings for suitable pollen sources, pollen concentration, pollination timing, and pollination frequency. By evaluating seed yields, active ingredients, and oil quality, we derived the following significant conclusions. Firstly, compared to natural pollination, artificial pollination could significantly increase the fruit diameter by 13.94–27.58%, seed yields by 35.17–58.99%, and oil content by 6.45–7.52% in tree peonies. In active ingredients, seeds produced by pollen from Hantai County significantly enhanced starch content (by 48.64%), total phenols (by 41.18%) and antioxidant capacity (by 54.39%). In oil quality, seeds produced by pollen from Heyang County exhibited the highest α-linolenic acid and total fatty acid content with enhancements of 1.68%, 7.41%, and 8.48%. Secondly, hand pollination with pure pollen significantly increased seed yield by 58.99%, total phenol content by 40.97%, antioxidant capacity by 54.39%, and oil content by 1.53% compared to natural pollination. Thirdly, pollination at 2/3 bloom range significantly increased seed number by 63.08% and yield by 45.61% compared to natural pollination. Finally, the effect of one, two, and three pollination events had no difference in seed yield. So, to summarize, applying a 100% concentration of allochthonous pollen once is recommended when the bloom range is more than two thirds. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study aimed to explore the evolution of Jingdang and Famen towns near the Zhouyuan site, the capital city site of the Western Zhou Dynasty in China, to elucidate the relationship between township development and the essential ancient relics conservation areas. Based on the remote sensing satellite images from 1982 to 2022, combining with historical demographic data, this study used four methods, including land use classification, land use transfer matrix, landscape pattern center of gravity changes, and population count statistics, to study the spatial–temporal evolution of land, population, and ecology in the region over the past 40 years. The results showed that under the strict relic conservation regimen, these two towns are in a declining stage. To improve their decaying status, some potential strategies valuable for township development are proposed to balance the relationship between relic conservation and township development for their mutual benefit and coexistence. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Paeonia ostii 'Feng Dan' is widely cultivated in China for its ornamental, medicinal, and edible properties. The whole plant of tree peony is rich in bioactive substances, while the comprehensive understanding of metabolites in the leaves is limited. In this study, an untargeted metabolomics strategy based on UPLC-ESI-TOF-MS was conducted to analyze the dynamic variations of bioactive metabolites in P. ostii 'Feng Dan' leaves during development. A total of 321 metabolites were rapidly annotated based on the GNPS platform, in-house database, and publications. To accurately quantify the selected metabolites, a targeted method of HPLC-ESI-QQQ-MS was used. Albiflorin, paeoniflorin, pentagalloylglucose, luteolin 7-glucoside, and benzoylpaeoniflorin were recognized as the dominant bioactive compounds with significant content variations during leaf development. Metabolite variations during the development of P. ostii 'Feng Dan' leaves are greatly attributed to the variations in antioxidant activities. Among all tested bacteria, the leaf extract exhibited exceptional inhibitory effects against Streptococcus hemolytis-β. This research firstly provides new insights into tree peony leaves during development. The stages of S1–S2 may be the most promising harvesting time for potential use in food or pharmaceutical purposes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Qinling Mountains north slope region constitutes a vital terrestrial ecosystem reserve within China. This study employs land use and land cover (LULC) data spanning from 1990 to 2020. Utilizing methodologies encompassing land use classification, transfer matrix analysis, and the application of the PLUS and InVEST models, this research endeavors to elucidate the spatial-temporal dynamics of land use patterns and associated carbon storage in the region. These analyses are conducted within the context of four prospective scenarios: Natural Development Priority, Arable Land Protection Priority, Ecological Protection Priority, and Urban Development Priority, all projected onto the landscape for 2030. Notably, our findings reveal a consistent decline in carbon storage across all four scenarios for 2030 compared to the baseline year 2020. This stark reality presents substantial challenges to achieving the region's targets of carbon peaking and eventual carbon neutrality. Furthermore, this paper meticulously delineates six key drivers contributing to this decline in carbon storage. In conclusion, it proffers nine strategic recommendations aimed at augmenting carbon storage, with an overarching objective of establishing a harmonized mechanism capable of balancing urban development, safeguarding cultivated land, fortifying ecological preservation, and enhancing carbon sequestration within the area. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A high-performance liquid chromatograph with diode array detector was established for the simultaneous determination of five phenylethanoid glycosides in Syringa pubescens Turcz. The optimal chromatographic conditions were achieved on a Zorbax C18 column using gradient elution with 0.5% aqueous acetic acid and acetonitrile as the mobile phase at the flow rate of 1.0 mL/min. The detection wavelength was developed as follows: 0–10 min, 276 nm; 10–45 min, 332 nm. The validation of the method including linearity, precision, stability, accuracy, repeatability and recovery was tested. The chemometric analysis including hierarchical cluster analysis and principal component analysis was employed to investigate the similarity and difference of samples from different geographical origin. The results revealed that S. pubescens samples were divided into four clusters based on the phenylethanoid glycosides contents. Antioxidant activity of extract was measured using three different methods including α,α-diphenyl-β-picrylhydrazyl and 2,2-azino-bis(3-ethylbenzthiazoline-6-sulphonic acid) radical scavenging assays, and ferric reducing antioxidant power assay. Furthermore, different phenylethanoid glycosides exhibited different contribution to antioxidant capacities. This study provides a foundation for the quality evaluation and offers scientific data for the utilization of S. pubescens resources. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Heterogeneity among corporate governance practices in emerging economies presents new challenges to researchers and business practitioners. Prior research in international business and comparative corporate governance has considered this practice heterogeneity in emerging markets as an outcome of institutional voids or deficiencies to be addressed. In contrast, we propose viewing the variety of governance practices as the outcome of an innovation process that aims to better align the prototypical best practices and the idiosyncratic institutional or industry contexts. We argue that companies in emerging countries innovate their governance practices by combining different elements of external and internal governance systems using local embeddedness and global agency. Our examples of governance innovations in the emerging markets of China and Korea illustrate that this focus on embeddedness and agency offers insights into the salience and applicability of different types of governance innovations, from decoupling of local practices from global rules to experimentations with governance practices by change agents. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

SUMMARY: Seed oil not only provides energy for seed postgermination development but also provides essential nutrients and raw materials for human products. However, the transcriptional regulatory mechanism controlling seed oil accumulation remains largely unknown. Tree peony (Paeonia rockii) is an emerging woody oilseed crop in China that is known for its high‐quality seed oil. Here, we revealed that a tree peony nuclear factor Y transcription factor, PrNF‐YC2, is expressed predominantly in developing seeds and functions as an essential positive regulator of seed oil accumulation. PrNF‐YC2 promoted oil accumulation in both transient ectopic overexpression Nicotiana benthamiana leaves and stable transgenic Arabidopsis thaliana seeds, globally upregulating the expression of genes involved in oil accumulation. In contrast, PrNF‐YC2‐silenced tree peony leaves using a virus‐induced gene silencing system showed reduced oil content and expression of oil synthesis‐related genes, including four master positive regulators contributing to oil accumulation, namely, LEAFY COTYLEDON1 (LEC1), ABSCISIC ACID INSENSITIVE3 (ABI3), FUSCA3 (FUS3), and WRINKLED1 (WRI1). We demonstrated that PrNF‐YC2 directly activates PrLEC1 and PrABI3 alone and indirectly activates PrFUS3 and PrWRI1 by interacting with PrLEC1. Moreover, interaction with PrLEC1 also enhances the activation capacity of PrNF‐YC2. The activation of these four master positive regulators by PrNF‐YC2 triggered the upregulation of numerous oil synthesis‐related genes, thus promoting oil accumulation. These findings provide new insights into the regulatory mechanism of seed oil accumulation and manipulation of PrNF‐YC2 may be beneficial for enhancing oil yield in tree peony and other oilseed crops. Significance Statement: We show that the tree peony NF‐Y transcriptional factor PrNF‐YC2 directly activates PrLEC1 and PrABI3 alone and indirectly activates PrFUS3 and PrWRI1 by recruiting PrLEC1, thus plays an essential role in seed oil accumulation. To our knowledge, this study demonstrates for the first time that NF‐YC transcription factor is a major gene that regulates seed oil accumulation via dual modes. This study also enriches our knowledge of the transcriptional regulation of LEC1. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the past few decades, human activities have caused the emission of large amounts of carbon dioxide, which has severely impacted the Earth's ecosystem and human health. Therefore, carbon reduction has become the focus of global attention. In this study, the Zhouyuan region of China, which is rich in ancient remains, is taken as an example. Based on the land use characteristics in 1990, 2000, 2010, and 2020, the spatial-temporal evolution of land use and carbon storage in the Zhouyuan region is simulated using four methods, including land use classification, land use transfer maps, patch-level land-use simulation (PLUS), and the integrated valuation of ecosystem services and trade-offs (InVEST) models under three scenarios, including the natural development scenario, urban development priority, and heritage conservation priority in 2030. According to the results, the carbon storage in the area in 2030 under all three scenario simulations has decreased compared with 2020, indicating that the region faces great challenges in achieving its targets of carbon peak and carbon neutrality. The paper points out four causes for the decrease in carbon storage, and five suggestions for increasing carbon storage are proposed, such as developing a carbon storage master plan, applying energy-saving technologies, establishing an ecological substitution mechanism, and so on. Through the study of carbon storage in the Zhouyuan region, this paper hopes to establish a mechanism to balance urban development, heritage conservation, and carbon sinks on the one hand, and encourage more scholars to participate in the study of carbon sinks in areas rich in ancient remains, so as to to jointly promote their healthy development on the other. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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This study takes the Zhouyuan site region, which is the most representative Western Zhou Dynasty (1046 BC-771BC) large city-site in China, as an example. Based on the interpretation results of satellite remote sensing images from 1973 to 2021, the paper systematically analyzed the evolution of landscape patterns in the Zhouyuan site region spanning for about 50 years using 4 methods, including land use classification, land use transfer matrix, landscape pattern distribution gravity center model and landscape pattern index. Additionally, the results show that nowadays Zhouyuan site is still in a period of accelerated invasion and destruction by natural and human factors, which indicates that the protection of the Zhouyuan site has been inadequate or even unsuccessful for a long time. For the purpose of making more accurate and better protection of the Zhouyuan site, four challenges and six protection recommendations have been put forward. Based on remote sensing and geographic information system (GIS), this paper contributed a method combining 4 models to analyze the spatial-temporal evolution characteristics of landscape pattern of ancient large city-sites, in order to provide more basis for the formulation of cultural relic protection strategies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Pollen characteristics have some significance for plant taxonomy classification. We intend to explore a more concise index value for the subsection taxonomy with the pollen morphology and pollen viability determined from all nine wild tree peony species, including 18 populations native to China. We observed the pollen morphologic characters by scanning electron microscopy and measured the pollen viability in vitro. The results showed that the pollen polar length is the decisive characteristic in distinguishing the two subsections in section Moutan belonging to Paeoniaceae. The pollen polar length of five species belonging to subsect. Vaginatae is longer than 43 μm, while that of the four species belonging to subsect. Delavayanae is shorter than 43 μm. Meanwhile, the differences in pollen viability between the two subsections also play an auxiliary role in the classification of tree peony. The germination rate of the populations in subsect. Vaginatae is mostly greater than those of the populations in subsect. Delavayanae. The pollen germination rate of populations in subsect. Vaginatae is commonly more than 50%, while that of populations in subsect. Delavayanae less than 50%. Our study established taxonomic evidence between subsections in section Moutan and compared the pollen viability of subsect. Vaginatae and subsect. Delavayanae. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In many higher plants, seed oil accumulation is governed by complex multilevel regulatory networks including transcriptional regulation, which primarily affects fatty acid biosynthesis. Tree peony (Paeonia rockii), a perennial deciduous shrub endemic to China is notable for its seed oil that is abundant in unsaturated fatty acids. We discovered that a tree peony trihelix transcription factor, PrASIL1, localized in the nucleus, is expressed predominantly in developing seeds during maturation. Ectopic overexpression of PrASIL1 in Nicotiana benthamiana leaf tissue and Arabidopsis thaliana seeds significantly reduced total fatty acids and altered the fatty acid composition. These changes were in turn associated with the decreased expression of multitudinous genes involved in plastidial fatty acid synthesis and oil accumulation. Thus, we inferred that PrASIL1 is a critical transcription factor that represses oil accumulation by down-regulating numerous key genes during seed oil biosynthesis. In contrary, up-regulation of oil biosynthesis genes and a significant increase in total lipids and several major fatty acids were observed in PrASIL1- silenced tree peony leaves. Together, these results provide insights into the role of trihelix transcription factor PrASIL1 in controlling seed oil accumulation. PrASIL1 can be targeted potentially for oil enhancement in tree peony and other crops through gene manipulation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We present detailed geochronological, geochemical, and zircon Hf isotopic data for Late Paleozoic granitic rocks from Handagai and Zhonghe plutons in the Xing'an Block, NE China, aiming to provide constraints on their origin and tectonic implications. New zircon U−Pb ages indicate they were formed in the Late Devonian (ca. 379 Ma) immediately after a striking 50 Ma magmatic lull (ca. 430–380 Ma) in the Xing'an Block. Petrological and geochemical features suggest that the Handagai monzogranites and Zhonghe alkali-feldspar granites are I- and A-type granites, respectively, although both of them have high-K calc-alkaline features and positive zircon εHf(t) values (+3.47 to +10.77). We infer that the Handagai monzogranites were produced by partial melting of juvenile basaltic crustal materials under a pressure of <8–10 kbar, whereas the Zhonghe alkali-feldspar granites were generated by partial melting of juvenile felsic crustal materials at shallower depths (P ⩽4 kbar). Our results, together with published regional data, indicate their generation involves a subduction-related extensional setting. Slab break-off of the Hegenshan-Heihe oceanic plate may account for the subduction-related extensional setting, as well as the transformation of arc magmatism from the Early-Middle Devonian lull to the Late Devonian-Early Carboniferous flare-up in the Xing'an Block. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Paeonia qiui is a wild species of tree peony native to China. Its leaves are purplish red from the bud germination to the flowering stage, and anthocyanin is the main pigment in purplish red leaves. However, the anthocyanin synthesis regulation mechanism in tree peony leaves remains unclear. In this study, an R2R3-MYB, PqMYB113 was identified from the leaves of P. qiui. Phylogenetic analysis revealed that PqMYB113 clustered with Liquidambar LfMYB113 and grape VvMYBA6. Subcellular location analysis showed that PqMYB113 was located in the cell nucleus. The transient reporter assay suggested that PqMYB113 was a transcriptional activator. The overexpression of PqMYB113 in Arabidopsis thaliana and tobacco (Nicotiana tabacum) resulted in increased anthocyanin accumulation and the upregulation of CHS , F3H , F3'H , DFR , and ANS. The dual luciferase reporter assay showed that PqMYB113 could activate the promoters of PqDFR and PqANS. Bimolecular fluorescence complementation assays and yeast two-hybrid assays suggested that PqMYB113 could form a ternary MBW complex with PqbHLH1 and PqWD40 cofactors. These results provide insight into the regulation of anthocyanin biosynthesis in tree peony leaves. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In many higher plants, seed oil accumulation is governed by complex multilevel regulatory networks including transcriptional regulation, which primarily affects fatty acid biosynthesis. Tree peony (Paeonia rockii), a perennial deciduous shrub endemic to China is notable for its seed oil that is abundant in unsaturated fatty acids. We discovered that a tree peony trihelix transcription factor, PrASIL1, localized in the nucleus, is expressed predominantly in developing seeds during maturation. Ectopic overexpression of PrASIL1 in Nicotiana benthamiana leaf tissue and Arabidopsis thaliana seeds significantly reduced total fatty acids and altered the fatty acid composition. These changes were in turn associated with the decreased expression of multitudinous genes involved in plastidial fatty acid synthesis and oil accumulation. Thus, we inferred that PrASIL1 is a critical transcription factor that represses oil accumulation by down-regulating numerous key genes during seed oil biosynthesis. In contrary, up-regulation of oil biosynthesis genes and a significant increase in total lipids and several major fatty acids were observed in PrASIL1- silenced tree peony leaves. Together, these results provide insights into the role of trihelix transcription factor PrASIL1 in controlling seed oil accumulation. PrASIL1 can be targeted potentially for oil enhancement in tree peony and other crops through gene manipulation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Tree peony (Paeonia suffruticosa Andr.) is a popular ornamental plant in China due to its showy and colorful flowers. However, yellow-colored flowers are rare in both wild species and domesticated cultivars. The molecular mechanisms underlying yellow pigmentation remain poorly understood. Here, petal tissues of two tree peony cultivars, "High Noon" (yellow flowers) and "Roufurong" (purple–red flowers), were sampled at five developmental stages (S1–S5) from early flower buds to full blooms. Five petal color indices (brightness, redness, yellowness, chroma, and hue angle) and the contents of ten different flavonoids were determined. Compared to "Roufurong," which accumulated abundant anthocyanins at S3–S5, the yellow-colored "High Noon" displayed relatively higher contents of tetrahydroxychalcone (THC), flavones, and flavonols but no anthocyanin production. The contents of THC, flavones, and flavonols in "High Noon" peaked at S3 and dropped gradually as the flower bloomed, consistent with the color index patterns. Furthermore, RNA-seq analyses at S3 showed that structural genes such as PsC4Hs, PsDFRs, and PsUFGTs in the flavonoid biosynthesis pathway were downregulated in "High Noon," whereas most PsFLSs, PsF3Hs, and PsF3'Hs were upregulated. Five transcription factor (TF) genes related to flavonoid biosynthesis were also upregulated in "High Noon." One of these TFs, PsMYB111, was overexpressed in tobacco, which led to increased flavonols but decreased anthocyanins. Dual-luciferase assays further confirmed that PsMYB111 upregulated PsFLS. These results improve our understanding of yellow pigmentation in tree peony and provide a guide for future molecular-assisted breeding experiments in tree peony with novel flower colors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article investigates how firms' use of social capital criteria in staffing practices has been affected by China's transitional institutional environment and explores the impacts of person-job fit in the social capital dimension on employees' performance. Empirical results show that non-state-owned enterprises set a higher social capital standard in the hiring process than state-owned enterprises. Foreign-invested enterprises outperform other firms in promoting a better match between individuals rich in social capital and the positions that need such resources. In places with intensive market competition, foreign and private enterprises pay even more attention to employees' social capital when making HR decisions. Moreover, a better match between people and positions from a social capital aspect has a positive impact on employees' performance. Theoretical and managerial implications are discussed. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The discoveries of oil and gas reservoirs in the volcanic rocks of the Songliao Basin (SB) have attracted the attention of many researchers. However, the lack of studies on the genesis of the volcanic rocks has led to different opinions being presented for the genesis of the SB. In order to solve this problem, this study selected the volcanic rocks of the Yingcheng Formation in the Southern Songliao Basin (SSB) as the research object, and determined the genesis and tectonic setting of the volcanic rocks by using LA‐ICP‐MS zircon U‐Pb dating and a geochemical analysis method (major elements, trace elements, and Hf isotopes). The volcanic rocks of the Yingcheng Formation are mainly composed of rhyolites with minor dacites and pyroclastic rocks. Our new zircon U‐Pb dating results show that these volcanic rocks were erupted in the Early Cretaceous (113–118 Ma). The primary zircons from the rhyolites have ∊Hf (t) values of +4.70 to +12.46 and two‐stage model age (TDM2) of 876–374 Ma. The geochemical data presented in this study allow these rhyolites to be divided into I‐type rhyolites and A‐type rhyolites, both of which were formed by the partial melting of the crust. They have SiO2 contents of 71.62 wt.%–75.76 wt.% and Al2O3 contentsof 10.88 wt.% to 12.92 wt.%. The rhyolites have distinctively higher REE contents than those of ordinary granites, with obvious negative Eu anomalies. The light to heavy REE fractionation is not obvious, and the LaN/YbN (average value = 9.78) is less than 10. The A‐type rhyolites depleted in Ba, Sr, P, and Ti, with relatively low Nb/Ta, indicating that the rocks belong A2 subtype granites formed in an extensional environment. The adakitic dacites are characterized by high Sr contents (624 to 1,082 ppm), low Y contents (10.6 to 12.6 ppm), high Sr/Y and Sr/Yb ratios, and low Mg# values (14.77 to 36.46), indicating that they belong to "C" type adakites. The adakitic dacite with high Sr and low Yb were likely generated by partial melting of the lower crust under high pressure conditions at least 40 km depth. The I‐type rhyolites with low Sr and high Yb, and the A‐type rhyolites with very low Sr and high Yb, were formed in the middle and upper crust under low pressure conditions, respectively. In addition, the formation depths of the former were approximately 30 km, whereas those of the latter were less than 30 km. The geochemical characteristics reveal that the volcanic rocks of Yingcheng Formation were formed in an extensional environment which was related to the retreat of subducted Paleo‐Pacific Plate. At the late Early Cretaceous Period, the upwelling of the asthenosphere mantle and the lithosphere delamination caused by the retreat of the subducted Paleo‐Pacific Plate, had resulted in lithosheric extension in the eastern part of China. Subsequently, a large area of volcanic rocks had formed. The SB has also been confirmed to be a product of the tectonic stress field in that region. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives: This study advances the theoretical perspective in studying economic globalization that emphasizes the moderating role of local institutions on the potential benefits brought by foreign investments on host nations. Methods: We use mixed‐effects regression models to analyze a longitudinal data set of China's publicly listed firms between 1996 and 2012, examining how foreign share affects firm performance independently and how domestic ownerships moderate foreign share's effects on firm profitability. Results: Our results show partial evidence for the positive role of foreign ownership on firm performance. We find that private share positively moderates the effects of foreign share on firm profitability whereas state share plays a negative moderating role. As a progressive state ownership, state institutional share appears to cooperate with foreign share more effectively than state share. Conclusion: We suggest that the global‐local partnership plays a critical role in assessing the consequences of foreign capital on local firm outcomes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Summary Previous literature suggests that social capital at the individual and community levels can contribute significantly to poverty reduction. In this paper we empirically investigate the relationship between social capital and households’ probability of living under poverty. We used a large-scale cross-sectional survey in western Chinese provinces to explore the impact of households’ social capital on four different poverty measures. Our results indicate that in addition to the structural and relational properties of households’ social networks, the types of resources embedded in these networks such as business ties, political ties, and appropriable social organizations can contribute significantly to poverty reduction. Moreover, since our study is situated in China’s emerging economy context, we can thus further explore how variations in macrolevel institutions affect the usefulness of various social resources in reducing poverty. We discovered that the quality of local institutions as measured by local residents’ trust toward the institutions can modulate the effectiveness of political ties and appropriable social organizations, such that the impacts of political ties and appropriable social organizations tend to diminish in communities with higher level of institutional trust than they are in communities with lower level of institutional trust, while business ties turn out to be effective in alleviating poverty in both high- and low-trust communities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Drawing insights from the institutional embeddedness perspective, this article explores the changing patterns and significance of two types of strategic networking along with the institutional transformation in China. Using two-wave survey data on Chinese private firms, we find that after the state relaxed its control of resources the importance of networking with the state tends to decline, while ties with market actors become increasingly important. Determinants of network investment have shifted from managers’ perceived importance of different types of network ties to a firm's immediate institutional environment. Finally, the impact of networking on firm growth has also altered over time. These findings advance our understanding of the crucial role of the institutional environment in shaping firms’ networking strategies and have important theoretical and practical implications. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

Social network types have been proved to have significant impacts on older population's health outcomes. However, the existing discoveries are still inconsistent, which may be attributed largely to the heterogeneous measures and methods scholars used and to the unidirectional causalities presumed in most research. This study addresses these gaps by using more-refined measures to explore whether the network types have differential impacts on older adults' health outcomes, and whether a reverse causal relationship exists between older adults' health conditions and the network types they adopted. Using data from three recent waves (2005, 2008, and 2012) of the Chinese Longitudinal Healthy Longevity Survey (n = 4190), we constructed four network types using the K-means clustering method (i.e., diverse, friend, family, and restricted), and examined their impacts on a variety of health outcomes (i.e., physical, cognitive, psychological, and overall well-being). Our results demonstrate that there are strong reciprocal associations between these two factors. On the one hand, a diverse network type yielded the most beneficial health outcomes as measured by multiple health indicators, and the friend-focused network type is more beneficial than the family-focused network type in physical outcomes but not in psychological outcomes. On the other hand, we found that a decrease in all health indicators leads to withdrawal from more-beneficial network types such as a diversified network type, and a shift to less-beneficial network types such as family-focused or restricted networks. The understanding of this reciprocal association could encourage programs designed to enhance healthy aging to focus on improving the bridging social capital of older adults so that they can break the vicious cycle between network isolation and poor health conditions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Summary Public–private partnership (PPP) has gained popularity during the market-oriented reforms in China’s urban infrastructure sectors. This paper explores how city characteristics, spatial pressures, and other institutional forces condition the extent of liberalization reforms in local infrastructure markets. The findings advance the policy diffusion literature by suggesting that the different diffusion mechanisms not only function independently, but also moderate each other’s effects under certain conditions. Specifically, this research finds that the effects of peer pressure undermine the effects of spatial exposure, and the influence of provincial government reduces the effectiveness of peer pressure and epistemic influences. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Encephalitozoon cuniculi is a microsporidian parasite that infects a wide range of vertebrates, including primates. It has recently emerged as an opportunistic parasite of patients infected with the human immunodeficiency virus. The blue fox ( Alopex lagopus; also known as the arctic fox) is one of the most susceptible species for encephalitozoonosis. Here, we report an outbreak of encephalitozoonosis at a fox farm in China. The isolated parasites displayed the typical morphology of E. cuniculi as assessed by Masson's trichrome staining. Analysis of the internal transcribed spacer sequence indicated that the isolated parasite is a genotype III strain of E. cuniculi. Furthermore, phylogenetic analysis of the PTP1 gene verifies classification of this new strain (termed LN-1) with other genotype III E. cuniculi strains, though the PTP3 and SWP1 sequences diverge from the reference strain. This is the first report of encephalitozoonosis in farmed blue foxes in China. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Age and nature of the Budate Group in the Hailar Basin are of great significance in studying the evolution of the Hailar Basin and the Xing'an-Mongolian Orogenic Belt (XMOB). Zircon U-Pb ages of eight volcanic rocks from the Budate Group and two basement granites in the Hailar Basin were reported in this study. The dating results indicated that the formation of these volcanic rocks was consistent with the emplacement of Late Paleozoic basement granite in age (356-290 Ma), i.e., Early Carboniferous to Early Permian rather than Early Mesozoic. Combined with regional geology, it was concluded that the Budate Group is the component of the basement of the Hailar Basin, and these volcanic rocks were formed at an active continental margin, which is related to the closure of the Hegen Mountains suture zone. The captured Neoproterozoic zircons (814-873 Ma) were probably derived from the Neoproterozoic basement materials in the Ergun Block, implying the close genetic relationships between the Ergun Block (including the Hailar Basin) and the Siberian Block. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

abstract An important change in China's urban land management system is the diffusion of land banking systems - official agencies that govern local land conversions, preparation, and transactions. In this article, I draw on neoinstitutional theory in organizational studies to explore the forces that promote this transformation. I propose, besides rational calculations and indigenous impetus for reform, institutional forces that play a crucial role in accelerating the diffusion process. Event history analysis shows that, over time, local economic characteristics have a declining effect on the adoption of land banking systems and gradually yield to pressure from peer cities, provincial governments, policy professionals, and policy-making communities. Moreover, intergovernmental fiscal arrangements and political status moderate the effect of provincial pressure. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: We argue that households’ choice of financial intermediary is conditioned by households’ social network structures and socioeconomic status. Analyses show that households’ social network size and network composition affect their choices by limiting the quality and quantity of information, resources, and social influence one can access through social ties. Moreover, we find that high-SES families favor formal intermediaries due not only to their richer financial knowledge, higher affordability, and greater capacity to repay loans, but also to their high demands and special types of financial needs that can hardly be satisfied by embedded resources. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

This article investigates the current status of the livestock industry (cattle, pigs, sheep, and poultry) in China and assesses the potential for biogas production from anaerobically digested livestock manure. According to calculation results based on the latest data of livestock released by the National Bureau of Statistics of China in 2018, China produced 2 × 1012 kg of manure pollution in 2017, with pig waste representing the largest single manure source. Biogas that can be converted from high organic containing manure is a kind of clean bioenergy with low carbon footprint. In 2017, the energy potential from manure-produced biogas was about 5.74 × 1012–6.73 × 1012 MJ, which corresponds to 4–5% of China's total energy demand. Correlation analysis between biogas production and the livestock industry showed that crop production had significant effects on manure-generated biogas production. However, it is necessary to address the challenges when applying AD technology. Bioenergy potential from manure will be lost during material collection and transportation. Although large-scale livestock farming remains controversial, this type of farming can improve the energy recovery rate of livestock manure. How to gain benefits and maintain sustainable development is also a bottleneck for AD promotion. Reducing energy input in AD projects as well as enhancing the efficiency of methanogenesis of livestock manure are key factors for achieving a high net output of biogas projects. More inclusive strategies and a broader vision should be adopted to allow stakeholders to benefit from manure-generated biogas projects. [Display omitted] • The energy recovery potential from livestock manure in China was estimated. • Worldwide anaerobic digestion applications for livestock waste were summarized. • The bottlenecks of biogas project promotion in the whole chain were assessed. • Large-scale farming is the key for reducing biogas energy potential loss. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Ecosystem service (ES) supply and human needs are often spatially conflicting. Although the synergy between them is crucial for global sustainability, little is known about the real human needs for ES (RHN) and their integration with actual ES supply. This study established a novel hierarchy of human needs for ES. Taking China and the United States as case studies, multiple types of actual ES supplies and multi-dimensional human needs were integrated to calculate the value of effective ecosystem service supply (EFS). The results suggested that the overall EFS in the United States is higher than that in China. There was a significant gap between the United States and China in areas with the first grade of EFS (F-EFS); the United States accounted for 68% of the total in such areas in the two countries combined. Whereas China accounted for 32%, mainly concentrated in the Yangtze River Delta urban group. China exhibited a gradually decreasing trend from the east coast to the northwest. Moreover, the F-EFS in China displayed more spatial concentration than in the United States. It was also discovered that the reason for the gap was a sharp spatial mismatch between actual ES supply and RHN in China. Nevertheless, China was specifically found to have the potential to enhance its EFS. This paper proposes some solutions to mitigate the gap and also offers guidance on the realization of Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). [Display omitted] • A novel hierarchy of human needs for ecosystem services was proposed. • A large-scale analysis integrated actual ES supply and real human needs. • Actual ES supply embodying goods-based and non-goods-based ES flows were assessed. • The overall effective ecosystem service supply in the US was higher than in China. • A sharp spatial mismatch between ES supply and human needs was discovered in China. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Paeonia qiui is a wild tree peony native to China. Its leaves show a clear purple-red color from the germination to the flowering stage, and it has high leaf-viewing value. A MYB transcription factor gene, designated as PqMYB4, was isolated from leaves of P. qiui based on transcriptome datas. The full-length cDNA of PqMYB4 was 693 bp, encoding 230 amino acids. Sequence alignment and phylogenetic analysis revealed that PqMYB4 was a R2R3-MYB transcription factor clustered with AtMYB4 in Arabidopsis thaliana. Moreover, it contained a C1 motif, an EAR repression motif and a TLLLFR motif in the C-terminal domains, which were unique in transcription repression MYB. Subcellular location analysis showed that PqMYB4 was located in the cell nucleus. PqMYB4 was highly expressed in the late stage of leaf development, and was negatively correlated with the anthocyanin content. The petiole of wild-type Arabidopsis seedlings was deeper in color than the transgenic lines of PqMYB4 and showed a little purple-red color. The seed coat color of Arabidopsis seeds that overexpressed PqMYB4 gene was significantly lighter than that of wild-type seeds. In transgenic Arabidopsis, the expression level of AtCHS, AtCHI, AtDFR and AtANS were down-regulated significantly. These results showed that PqMYB4 was involved in the negative regulation of anthocyanin biosynthesis in tree peony leaves, which can control the anthocyanin pathway genes. Together, these findings provide a valuable resource with which to further study the regulatory mechanism of anthocyanin biosynthesis in the leaf of P. qiui. They also benefit the molecular breeding of tree peony cultivars with colored leaf. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study examined the patterns of social-network types and their relative survival benefits among Chinese older adults. We examined how macro-level social factors such as cultural norms and unbalanced regional economic development shaped older people's network behaviors, and whether these factors could moderate the association between network types and mortality. Using data from the Chinese Longitudinal Healthy Longevity Survey (2008–2014), we identified four network types—diverse, friend-focused, family-focused, and restricted—based on individuals' social network measures. Multinomial logistic analyses revealed that older people situated in an area with a deeply rooted family culture or a more advanced economy tend to be less likely to enroll in a diverse network than a family-focused one. This prevents them from achieving the best adaptive survival, as Cox regression analyses showed that the family-focused network type was less beneficial than the diverse one for the survival of older adults. Furthermore, while the survival advantage of the diverse-network type over the family-focused type did not change with cultural contexts, economic development attenuated the deleterious effects of the friend-focused network type. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract Few studies have investigated the respiratory morbidity burden due to ambient air pollution in China, especially in a multi-city setting. This study aimed to estimate the short-term effects of ambient air pollutants (PM 10 , PM 2.5 , NO 2 and SO 2) on hospital admissions (HAs) for overall and cause-specific respiratory diseases, as well as the associated burden in 17 cities of Sichuan Basin, China during 2015–2016. Firstly, city-specific effect estimates for each pollutant on respiratory HAs were obtained using generalized additive model with quasi-Poisson link, and then random- or fixed-effects meta-analysis was applied to pool the effect estimates at the regional level. Subgroup analyses by sex, age, season and region were also performed. A total of 757,712 respiratory HAs were collected from all the tertiary and secondary hospitals located in the 17 cities. Risks of HAs for overall and cause-specific respiratory diseases were elevated following increased PM 10 , PM 2.5 , NO 2 and SO 2 exposure. An increase of 10 μg/m3 in PM 10 at lag01, PM 2.5 at lag01, NO 2 at lag0 and SO 2 at lag02 was associated with a 0.43% (95% CI: 0.33%, 0.53%), 0.53% (95% CI: 0.39%, 0.68%), 2.36% (95% CI: 1.75%, 2.98%) and 2.54% (95% CI: 1.51%, 3.59%) increases in total respiratory HAs, respectively. Children (≤ 14 years) and elderly (≥ 65 years) appeared to be more vulnerable to the effects of ambient air pollutants. Comparing to the WHO's air quality guidelines, we estimated that 1.84% (95%CI: 1.42%, 2.25%), 1.73% (95%CI: 1.27%, 2.19%) and 0.34% (95%CI: 0.21%, 0.48%) of respiratory HAs were due to PM 10 , PM 2.5 and SO 2 exposure, respectively. This study suggests that air pollution might be an important trigger of respiratory admissions, and result in substantial burden of HAs for respiratory diseases in Sichuan Basin. Highlights • We assess the burden of respiratory HAs due to air pollution in Southwest China. • Risks of respiratory HAs were elevated following increased PM 10 , PM 2.5 , NO 2 and SO 2. • The effect estimates might be modified by age, season and region. • 1.84% of respiratory HAs were attributed to PM 10 , 1.73% to PM 2.5 and 0.34% to SO 2. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper, we present zircon U Pb dating, elemental geochemistry, and Sr–Nd–Hf isotopic compositions for Late Carboniferous intrusive rocks in the northern Great Xing'an Range, northeast China. We decipher the mechanisms which triggered lithospheric thinning under microblock-microblock collision and provide a new perspective on the Late Paleozoic evolution of the eastern Central Asian Orogenic Belt. Zircon U Pb dating indicates that Jifeng gabbroic diorites and Xinlin granites were formed during a short time interval at 322–321 Ma, whereas the Xinlin gabbros were crystallized at 300 ± 2 Ma. The Jifeng gabbroic diorites exhibit typical arc characteristics, depleted in HFSEs and enriched in Pb and have positive ε Nd (t) (+1.88 to +2.00) and ε Hf (t) (+6.6 to +10.7) values, suggesting they originated from the partial melting of depleted lithospheric mantle modified by slab fluids. The Xinlin gabbros belong to alkaline series and are characterized by the enrichment in HFSEs with positive Nb and Ta anomalies and depleted Nd Hf isotopic compositions (zircon ε Hf (t) = +12.5 to +18.9, whole rock ε Nd (t) = +8.0 to +8.1). High Nb concentrations and low La/Nb (0.81–0.83) and La/Ta (12.50–14.61) ratios of the Xinlin gabbros indicate an origin from a depleted asthenospheric mantle. The Xinlin granites have high-K calc-alkaline compositions, belonging to I-type granites. These granites have positive ε Hf (t) values (+0.2 to +15.1) and juvenile two-stage model ages (1314–506 Ma) with low Sr and high Yb contents, indicating they were formed by the partial melting of a juvenile lower crust under low-pressure conditions. These data, together with the temporal and spatial distribution and the geochemistry characteristics of the Carboniferous igneous rocks in the Great Xing'an Range, suggest that the amalgamation between the Erguna–Xing'an and Songnen blocks occurred before the Late Carboniferous. The occurrence of asthenospheric mantle-derived mafic rocks indicates localized thinning process of lithosphere. Late Carboniferous magmatism on the Erguna–Xing'an Block attributed to dripping or piece removal of the lithosphere due to asthenospheric fluctuation triggered by slab break-off. • Lithospheric and asthenospheric sources of mafic rocks represent the different stage of post-collisional magmatism. • The amalgamation of the Xing'an and Songnen blocks occurred before late Early Carboniferous. • Lithospheric dripping triggered by slab break-off generated the planar Late Carboniferous post-collisional magmatism. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Tree peony is an economically important plant with nine wild species distributed in China. Among them, Paeonia ostii T. Hong ＆ J. X. Zhang is one of the most cultivated wild species for its ornamental, medicinal, and edible oil values. However, the biochemical composition and biological activities of hydrolate extracts from P. ostii are largely unknown. In this study, we investigated the potentials of various P. ostii organs for being used as antibacterial agents. The single-factor optimization and Box-Behnken Design (BBD) experiments were performed to determine the optimal hydrosol extraction conditions as follows: extraction duration of 4 h, temperature of 90 °C, pressure of 0.35 MPa, and ratio of 6:1. In total, 150 volatile chemicals were identified and quantified from P. ostii through gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS). The antibacterial activities against eight Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacterial were examined. Among the volatile substances, mono-terpenoids (31.36–77.28 %) was of the highest content in P.ostii , followed by alcohols (17.69–26.82 %). The quantitative test demonstrated the P. ostii hydrosols being significantly effective against Staphylococcus aureus and Streptococcus hemolytis - β. In particular, the newly-grown leaf hydrosols displayed more pronounced antibacterial effects than those from other organ, with the inhibition zones and minimal inhibitory concentrations (MICs) being 10.65–17.5 mm and 0.78–12.5 mg/mL, respectively. The results indicate that the hydrolate extracts from P. ostii possessed remarkable antibacterial activities against some common skin-infecting and food-borne bacterial pathogens, implying that P. ostii could be a potential source for antibacterial agents for food, pharmaceutical, and cosmetics. [Display omitted] • Volatile chemical composition of hydrosols from different organs of Paeonia ostii was systematically identified. • Optimal hydrosol extraction conditions were determined by single-factor optimization and Box-Behnken Design experiments. • Antibacterial activities of P.ostii hydrosols against eight Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria were verified. • Antibacterial assay suggests that P. ostii may serve as a source of antibacterial agents for food, pharmaceutical, and cosmetic applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Paeoniflorin was detected in all samples, and was abundant in the Sect. Paeonia. • Calcium was dominated in mineral elements of the wild peony roots. • Wild peony roots had significant bacteriostatic effects against Gram-positive bacteria. • P. rockii. subsp. rockii and P. delavayi showed strongest antioxidant activities. • P. anomala subsp. veitchii and P. lactiflora showed outstanding medical values. Peony as an important medicinal material is widely cultivated in China, which is one of the natural distribution centers of wild peony species. So far, however, there has not been a systematic study of the roots from China's wild peonies. In this study, the total phenolic (TPC), total flavonoid (TFC), other secondary metabolites, and microelement content, as well as the antioxidant, antibacterial, anticholinesterase, and antitumor activities of peony roots from 15 species and 2 subspecies were measured. Thirteen secondary metabolites were detected, with Paeoniflorin and Paeonol being the highest content bio-activities compounds. Additionally, the peony roots had a significant antioxidant activities and bacteriostatic effect against Gram-positive bacteria, with MIC varying from 0.063 to 1 mg/mL. P. anomala subsp. veitchii and P. lactiflora showed outstanding anticholinesterase capacities and cytotoxic activities. Taken together, the data presented here provide new insights into both the medicinal and edible potential of roots from wild peony species. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Post-traumatic related limb osteomyelitis (PTRLO) is a complex bone infection. Currently, there are no available microbial data on a national scale that can guide appropriate antibiotic selection, and explore the dynamic changes in dominant pathogens over time. This study aimed to conduct a comprehensive epidemiological analysis of PTRLO in China., Methods: The study was approved by the Institutional Research Board (IRB), and 3526 PTRLO patients were identified from 212 394 traumatic limb fracture patients at 21 hospitals between 1 January 2008 and 31 December 2017. A retrospective analysis was conducted to investigate the epidemiology of PTRLO, including changes in infection rate (IR), pathogens, infection risk factors and antibiotic resistance and sensitivity., Results: The IR of PTRLO increased gradually from 0.93 to 2.16% (Z=14.392, P <0.001). Monomicrobial infection (82.6%) was significantly higher than polymicrobial infection (17.4%) ( P <0.001). The IR of Gram-positive (GP) and Gram-negative (GN) pathogens showed a significant increase from the lowest 0.41% to the highest 1.15% (GP) or 1.62% (GN), respectively. However, the longitudinal trend of GP vs. GN's composition did not show any significance (Z=±1.1918, P >0.05). The most prevalent GP strains were Methicillin-sensitive Staphylococcus aureus (MSSA) (17.03%), Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) (10.46%), E. faecalis (5.19%) and S. epidermidis (4.87%). In contrast, the dominant strains GN strains were Pseudomonas Aeruginosa (10.92%), E. cloacae (10.34%), E. coli (9.47%), Acinetobacter Baumannii (7.92%) and Klebsiella Pneumoniae (3.33%). In general, the high-risk factors for polymicrobial infection include opened-fracture (odds ratio, 2.223), hypoproteinemia (odds ratio, 2.328), and multiple fractures (odds ratio, 1.465). It is important to note that the antibiotics resistance and sensitivity analysis of the pathogens may be influenced by complications or comorbidities., Conclusions: This study provides the latest data of PTRLO in China and offers trustworthy guidelines for clinical practice. (China Clinical Trials.gov number, ChiCTR1800017597)., (Copyright © 2023 The Author(s). Published by Wolters Kluwer Health, Inc.)

Ambient particulate matter (PM) pollution has been linked to elevated hospital admissions (HAs), especially from respiratory and cardiovascular diseases. However, few studies have estimated the associations between PM pollution and HAs for a wider range of broad disease categories. This study aimed to evaluate the effects of PM with aerodynamic diameter ≤ 2.5 μm (PM 2.5 ) and ≤10 μm (PM 10 ) on a range of broad and specific causes of HAs in Chengdu, China during 2015-2016, using a generalized additive model (GAM). Age-, gender- and season-specific analyses were also performed on the broad categories. We further calculated the corresponding morbidity burden due to PM exposure. During the study period, the daily mean level for PM 2.5 and PM 10 was 57.3 μg/m 3 and 94.7 μg/m 3 , respectively. For broad disease categories, each 10 μg/m 3 increase in PM 10 at lag06 was associated with increments of 0.65% (95% CI: 0.32%-0.99%) in HAs from respiratory, 0.49% (95% CI: 0.04%-0.95%) from circulatory and 0.91% (95% CI: 0.15%-1.69%) from skin and subcutaneous tissue diseases. By contrast, only respiratory HAs showed a significant positive association with elevated PM 2.5 at lag06 (1.03% increase per 10 μg/m 3 , 95% CI: 0.50%-1.56%, p < 0.001). Increased HAs risks for several more refined specific causes within respiratory, circulatory, skin and subcutaneous tissue, nervous and genitourinary diseases were also observed. Subgroup analyses indicated that effect estimates were modified by age, gender and season. Overall, the largest morbidity burden was observed in myocardial infarction, about 11.27% (95% CI: 3.45%-18.07%) and 11.11% (95% CI: 4.07%-17.27%) of HAs for myocardial infarction could be attributable to PM 2.5 and PM 10 levels exceeding the WHO's air quality guidelines (24-h mean: 25 μg/m 3 for PM 2.5 and 50 μg/m 3 for PM 10 ). Our study suggests that both PM 2.5 and PM 10 increase risks of morbidity from broad range of causes of HAs in Chengdu, and result in substantial morbidity burden., (Copyright © 2018 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

Evidence on the burden of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) morbidity attributable to the interaction between ambient air pollution and temperature has been limited. This study aimed to examine the modification effect of temperature on the association of ambient air pollutants (including particulate matter (PM) with aerodynamic diameter <10 μm (PM 10 ) and <2.5 μm (PM 2.5 ), nitrogen dioxide (NO₂), sulfur dioxide (SO₂), carbon monoxide (CO) and ozone (O₃)) with risk of hospital admissions (HAs) for COPD, as well as the associated morbidity burden in urban areas of Chengdu, China, from 2015 to 2016. Based on the generalized additive model (GAM) with quasi-Poisson link, bivariate response surface model and stratification parametric model were developed to investigate the potential interactions between ambient air pollution and temperature on COPD HAs. We found consistent interactions between ambient air pollutants (PM 2.5 , PM 10 and SO₂) and low temperature on COPD HAs, demonstrated by the stronger associations between ambient air pollutants and COPD HAs at low temperatures than at moderate temperatures. Subgroup analyses showed that the elderly (≥80 years) and males were more vulnerable to this interaction. The joint effect of PM and low temperature had the greatest impact on COPD morbidity burden. Using WHO air quality guidelines as reference concentration, about 17.30% (95% CI: 12.39%, 22.19%) and 14.72% (95% CI: 10.38%, 19.06%) of COPD HAs were attributable to PM 2.5 and PM 10 exposures on low temperature days, respectively. Our findings suggested that low temperature significantly enhanced the effects of PM and SO₂ on COPD HAs in urban Chengdu, resulting in increased morbidity burden. This evidence has important implications for developing interventions to reduce the risk effect of COPD morbidity., Competing Interests: The authors declare no conflict of interest.

The sequence encoding SWP1 was cloned from the genome of Encephalitozoon cuniculi. Recombinant SWP1 (rSWP1) was expressed in Escherichia coli and used to detect E. cuniculi infections in farmed foxes and dogs with an indirect enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) in the present study. The sera of foxes infected with E. cuniculi could be distinguished from the sera of foxes infected with Toxoplasma gondii, Neospora caninum, and Cryptosporidium parvum using the ELISA. In total, 198 fox samples collected in Liaoning were used to determine the prevalence of antibodies against this disease. The results showed that 16.7% of the fox serum samples were positive according to the ELISA using rSWP1, which agreed with the ELISA results based on recombinant PTP2 (rPTP2). The sensitivity and specificity of the ELISA based on rSWP1 suggest that this could be an alternative method for the diagnosis of E. cuniculi infections in foxes. In addition, 298 dog samples collected in Beijing, Shanghai, and Hunan were also detected in this study, of which six dog samples (2%) were positive according to the ELISA using rSWP1. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first study to demonstrate the serological prevalence of E. cuniculi infections in dogs and foxes in China., (Copyright © 2014 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

The present study was undertaken to identify and characterize integrons and integrated resistance gene cassettes among multidrug resistant Escherichia coli isolates from a captive population of Amur tigers (Panthera tigris altaica) in China. In addition, the prevalence of antimicrobial resistance and class I integrons was assessed in E. coli strains (n = 61) isolated from a captive population of Amur tigers in Heilongjiang Amur Tiger Park, China. Among the isolates, 52.46% (32 of 61) were positive for intI1, but no isolates carried intI2 or intI3. Most isolates were susceptible to amoxicillin/clavulanic acid, aztreonam, and polymyxin B, while they also exhibited high incidence rates of resistance to ampicillin, doxycycline, chloramphenicol, tetracycline, and dihydrofolate reductase. Sequencing analysis revealed three gene cassettes, which encoded resistance to dihydrofolate reductase (dfrA15), dihydrofolate reductase (dfrA12), and adenyltransferase (aadA2). The gene cassette arrays dfrA15 (31%) and dfrA12-aadA2 (19%) were most prevalent among these isolates.

Aleutian mink disease parvovirus (AMDV) is a non-enveloped virus with a single-stranded DNA genome that causes a fatal, usually persistent immune complex disease in minks. In this study, a total of 18,654 serum samples were collected from minks that were farmed in China from 2009 to 2011. After testing by counter-current immunoelectrophoresis (CIE), the seroprevalence of AMDV was found to be 68.67 %. The results show that there is a serious epidemic among Chinese minks used for breeding. To gain detailed information regarding the molecular epidemiology of AMDV in China, nine strains of AMDV were isolated from mink samples that were collected from four of the primary mink farming areas in China. The full-length capsid protein VP2 gene from each strain was sequenced after PCR amplification, and a phylogenetic analysis was performed on the VP2 gene sequence, including the VP2 genes from the other 10 AMDV strains available in the GenBank database, which were submitted from the 1970s to 2009. The phylogenetic analysis showed that the AMDV isolates were divided into five independent clades. The Chinese AMDV strains were distributed among all five groups and showed a high level of genetic diversity. Over 50 % of the Chinese AMDV strains were classified into two clades that consisted only of isolates from China and that were distinct from AMDV strains found in other countries. This finding indicated that both local and imported ADMV species are prevalent in the Chinese mink farming population.