Province In Northwest China Research Articles

Internal consistency and test-retest reliability of the Chinese version of the 5-item Duke University Religion Index.

BackgroundThe Duke University Religion Index (DUREL) is a widely-used 5-item scale assessing religiosity.AimAssess the internal consistency, reliability, and factor structure of the revised Chinese version of DUREL.MethodsUsing probability proportionate to size (PPS) methods we randomly identified 3981 households with eligible occupants in 20 primary sampling sites in Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region, a province in northwest China in which 34% of the population are Muslims of the Hui ethnic group. In 3054 households a screening interview was completed and an adult family member was randomly selected; 2425 respondents completed the survey (including the DUREL) and 188 randomly selected individuals repeated the survey an average of 2.5 days later. ResultsThe internal consistency (Cronbach’s α) of the 5 items in the full sample was 0.90; it ranged from 0.70 to 0.90 in various subgroups of subjects stratified by ethnicity, urban versus rural residence, and above versus below median education. The test-retest reliability (intraclass correlation coefficient) for the total score in the full sample was 0.87; it ranged from 0.63 to 0.90 in the different subgroups of subjects. Exploratory factor analysis in a random half of the sample identified a single factor (eigen value=4.21) that explained 84% of the total variance. Confirmatory factor analysis in the second half of the sample confirmed the unidimensional model; the model fit measures of the one-factor model using the 5 item scores as observed variables were acceptable (comparative fit index [CFI] and Tucker-Lewis index [TLI]>0.99; root mean square error of approximation [RMSEA]=0.105; χ2 =70.49, df=5), but the model fit improved after adding the correlation between items 1 and 2 (that assess organized and personal religious activities, respectively) as a sixth observed variable(CFI and TLI>0.99; RMSEA=0.046; χ2 =14.32, df=4).ConclusionThe Chinese version of the DUREL is a reliable and valid measure of religiosity that can be used to assess the relationship of religiosity/spirituality to physical and psychological wellbeing in Chinese respondents. As suggested by other authors, our factor analysis results indicate that the overall score is the best measure derived from the scale, not the three dimensional scores recommended by the original authors.

Parcel-Level Land Use Decision-Making of Farmers is Influenced by Neighborhood, Kinship, and Socioeconomic Conditions

Farmers are the direct users of agricultural land and their decision-making affects the agricultural landscape pattern. The influencing factors for farmer land use decision-making were studied, and a method for elucidating the micro-mechanism of the multi-agent and cellular automata models was proposed. Mengcha village is located in Mizhi County of Shaanxi Province in northwest China. The neighborhoods in the village, as well as the kinship networks and socioeconomic conditions of the farmers, were chosen for the calculation of neighborhood similarity (NBSLY), kinship similarity (KSSLY), and socioeconomic similarity (SESLY). At the parcel level, planted crops figure importantly in farmer decision-making and are expressed by parcel similarity (PCSLY). On the basis of the similarity values and two-dimensional tables of NBSLY-PCSLY, KSSLY-PCSLY, and SESLY-PCSLY, (1) NBSLY was weakly correlated with farmer decision-making (PCSLY), which did not diminish with distance between neighboring buildings in the village. (2) For KSSLY, brotherhood accounted for a considerable proportion of decision-making with 68.92% of brotherhoods having similar or pre-similar decision-making. KSSLY imposed considerable influence on farmer decision-making. (3) Farmer decision-making was correlated with SESLY. With increasing SESLY, PCSLY showed an increasing then decreasing tendency. The 2007 results were verified using 2008 data, and the validation yielded identical results for these years. Farmer decision-making is the result of interaction among many factors, and the comprehensive exploration of this issue necessitates support by detailed micro-data.

Detection of Cryptosporidium and Giardia in agricultural and water environments in the Qinghai area of China by IFT and PCR.

Qinghai Province in northwest China is strongly influenced by agricultural activities and is an important source of food and drinking water. Here, we present findings regarding the occurrence and molecular epidemiology of Cryptosporidium and Giardia species based on a large-scale investigation of areas of Qinghai Province. The diagnosis and molecular detection of Cryptosporidium oocysts and Giardia cysts was carried out using immunofluorescence microscopy (IFT), whereas nested polymerase chain reaction (PCR) in fecal smears and water samples was used for the detection and molecular characterization of the species. In total, 561 samples (260 water samples and 301 fecal samples from animals) were collected and analyzed. Of the 260 water samples, 66 samples were Cryptosporidium-positive by IFT and 71 samples were positive by nested PCR; in addition, 39 samples were Giardia-positive by IFT and 40 samples were positive by nested PCR. Of the 301 fecal samples from animals, 98 samples were Cryptosporidium-positive by IFT and 61 samples were positive by nested PCR, whereas 52 samples were Giardia-positive by IFT and 31 samples were positive by nested PCR. We showed that the water supplies and animals investigated contained Cryptosporidium and Giardia (oo)cysts. Thus, we recommend that the Chinese Government and Chinese health authorities undertake control measures to protect the food and drinking water sources in Qinghai from these pathogenic protozoa.

Complete sequencing and phylogenetic analysis of porcine kobuvirus in domestic pigs in Northwest China.

Porcine kobuvirus, a member of the genus Kobuvirus that is associated with diarrhea, has been reported in many countries. We determined the complete genome sequence and investigated the genetic evolution of the kobuvirus strain swKoV CH441, which was detected in the highland of Gansu province in Northwest China. The viral genome is 8149 nucleotides (nt) long, including a 29-nt poly(A) tail of the 3' end, and is 90 nt shorter in the 2B coding region than those of other kobuvirus strains whose sequences are available in the GenBank database. Phylogenetic analysis showed that swKoV CH441 was most closely related to porcine kobuvirus CH/HNXX-4 but more distantly related to other strains, including the strains GS-1/2012/CH and GS-2/2012/CH, which were detected in Gansu province, indicating that porcine kobuvirus may have geographic and host differences in evolution.

Pressure State Response-Based Method for Evaluating Social Benefits from Smart Grid Development

In this paper, the inherent mechanism of social benefits associated with smart grid development is examined based on the pressure state response (PSR) model from resource economics. The emerging types of technology brought up by smart grid development are regarded as pressures. The improvements of the performance and efficiency of power system operation, such as the enhanced capability of accommodating renewable energy generation, are regarded as states. The effects of smart grid development on society are regarded as responses. Then, a novel method for evaluating social benefits from smart grid development is presented. Finally, the social benefits from smart grid development in a province in northwest China are carried out by using the developed evaluation system, and reasonable evaluation results are attained.

Analysis on heat loss characteristics of a 10 kV HTS power substation

A 10kV High Temperature Superconducting power substation (10kV HTS substation), supported by Chinese State 863 projects, was developed and has been running to supply power for several factories for more than two years at an industrial park of Baiyin, Gansu province in Northwest China. The system of the 10kV HTS substation compositions, including a HTS cable, a HTS transformer, a SFCL, and a SMES, are introduced. The SMES works at liquid helium temperature and the other three apparatus operates under liquid nitrogen condition. There are mainly four types of heat losses existing in each HTS apparatus of the 10kV HTS substation, including AC loss, Joule heat loss, conductive heat, and leak-in heat from cryostat. A small quantity of AC loss still exists due to the harmonic component of the current when it carries DC for HTS apparatus. The principle and basis for analysis of the heat losses are introduced and the total heat loss of each apparatus are calculated or estimated, which agree well with the test result. The analysis and result presented are of importance for the design of the refrigeration system.

Diaspore dispersal ability and degree of dormancy in heteromorphic species of cold deserts of northwest China: A review

The cold deserts of northern Xinjiang Province in northwest China are rich in diaspore-heteromorphic species, and diaspore biology has been compared in more heteromorphic species native to this biogeoclimatic region than for any other region worldwide. Our primary purpose was to compare the dispersal ability and degree of dormancy in heteromorphic diaspores in Xinjiang desert plants via a review of the Chinese and English literature. We located literature on 20 heteromorphic species native to these deserts. Fourteen of the species are chenopods (Amaranthaceae). All 20 species are heterodiasporous (dimorphic, 14; trimorphic, 4; polymorphic, 2) annuals, and none is amphicarphic sensu stricto. Thirteen of the species are heterocarpic, six heterospermic, one amphi-basicarpic and none heteroarthrocarpic. Diaspores of 19 of the species differ in seed dormancy/germination. Thirteen of the 14 species to which both diaspore dispersal ability and degree of dormancy could be assigned had at least one morph with high (or relatively high) dispersal ability and low degree of dormancy and at least one with low dispersal ability and high (or relatively high) degree of dormancy. Conceptual models of the dynamics of seed dormancy of the two morphs for each of three dimorphic species suggest the ecological significance of heterodiaspory in the cold desert annuals. However, the ecological significance of seed/fruit heteromorphism needs to be more thoroughly demonstrated via long-term field studies that compare the life history/demography of plants derived from different morphs.

Measuring, Control and Protection of HTS Magnet for a 1 MJ/0.5 MVA SMES

An 1 MJ/0.5 MVA high-Tc SMES has been developed by the Institute of Electrical Engineering, Chinese Academy of Sciences. It has been operating in a real power grid since February 16, 2011 in Baiyin City, Gansu Province in northwest China. The SMES magnet is immersed in liquid helium and cooled by four G-M cryo-coolers to keep zero helium vaporization. To ensure safe operation of the system, protection of the HTS magnet is a necessity, which, however, cannot be complemented by only single protection. In this paper, coordinate protection of the system is introduced by an online measuring and control system and a power conversion unit, and the control principle is described in detail. By means of the coordinate protection, the temperature and pressure inside the SMES Dewar are controlled in the range of 4.3-4.5 K and 0.01~0.025 MPa, respectively. Long term demonstration of the SMES during a period of more than two years shows that the coordinate protection can ensure a stable and reliable operation of the HTS magnet.

Separation of acidic compounds and determination of shikimic acid in water extracts of several conifers by HPLC

The plants of Coniferae are rich resources that have been found to be of important medicinal value in recent years. The medicinal importance of pine needles prompted us to carry out phytochemical investigations on it [1]. In the past work, we isolated a variety of active compounds from the needles of Cedrus deodara (Roxb.) Loud [2]. In the present work, four small subclasses of acidic compounds have been isolated from the needles of Cedrus deodara (Roxb.) Loud; these were shikimic acid (1), vanillic acid (2), 3,4-dihydroxybenzoic acid (3), and p-hydroxybenzoic acid (4). Shikimic acid (1) is an important intermediate in the biosynthesis of aromatic amino acids in plants and microorganisms [3–6], which is the starting compound utilized for the manufacture of the drug Oseltamivir [3]. Although most autotrophic organisms produce shikimic acid, the isolation yield is low [7]. Shikimic acid is mostly obtained from the fruits of star anise [8]. Only one Chinese paper reported the determination of shikimic acid in the fruit of Illiciaceae plants by LC with diode-array detection [9]. Mardones et al. reported in 2005 [10] a CZE method for determination of shikimic acid in red wines. Garcia Romero et al. [11] described the LC method for the determination of organic acids in grape musts and vinegars. Fang et al. [12] characterized the phenolic constituents in dried plums by LC-MS/MS, and Bylund et al. [13] analyzed the organic acids in natural waters by tandem mass spectrometry. In the present work, we developed a simple and highly precise RP-HPLC method for the analysis of the bioactive molecules of shikimic acid in seven different conifers, viz. Cedrus deodara (Roxb.) Loud, Platycladus orientalis (Linn.) Franco, Pinus massoniana Lamb., Picea crassifolia Kom., Pinus tabulaeformis Carr., Juniperus chensis L., and Sabinacentrasiatica Kom. The method can also be used for quality control and standardization of the species and to identify the species used in a formulation. Pine leaves and branches of seven different conifers were obtained from Gansu Province in northwest China. The samples were identified by Prof. Fujiang He (Gansu Academy of Medical Science, Lanzhou, China). The specimens were authenticated and a voucher specimen of each (YKY0915) was deposited in the Herbarium. The pine needles of Cedrus deodara (3.5 kg) were extracted with 95% ethanol (10 times volume) twice to afford the ethanol extract (390 g), which was suspended in water and extracted with petroleum ether, ethyl acetate, and n-butanol, separately. The n-butanol extract (130 g) was chromatographed over Diaion HP-20 with H2O containing increasing amounts of MeOH. The 20% MeOH eluate (3.4 g) was chromatographed on Toyopearl HW-40 (coarse grade) developing with 20% MeOH 50% MeOH. The 20% MeOH eluate (1.5 g) was rechromatographed on silica gel to yield compound 1 (46 mg), compound 2 (11 mg), compound 3 (16 mg), and compound 4 (13 mg). Samples of air-dried (45–55 C) powdered pine leaves from the seven different conifer species (1.0 g) were sonicated in 100 mL of water for 20 min followed by centrifugation for 15 min at 3500 rpm. The clear supernatant solution was transferred to a 100 mL volumetric flask. The procedure was repeated thrice and the respective supernatants combined. The final volume was adjusted to 100 mL with water and mixed thoroughly. Quantitative analysis of shikimic acid by HPLC with UV detection showed that the amounts of shikimic acid were largest in Cedrus deodara (Roxb.) Loud. The mobile phase was methanol containing aqueous phosphoric acid (pH 3); the amount of the latter component was 90%. The flow rate was 1.0 mL·min–1. The results are summarized in Table 1.

Early Permian Tarim Large Igneous Province in northwest China

Tarim Large Igneous Province (TLIP) is the second Late Paleozoic LIPs in China after the recognition of Emeishan LIP, and is a hot research topic in geosciences. On the basis of the analysis of research history about TLIP, this paper summarizes the research result during last twenty years and suggests the key research area in the future. The residual distribution range of TLIP is up to 250000 km2, and the largest residual thickness is 780 m. The eruption of basalt happened during 290–288 Ma and belongs to LIPs magmatic event with fast eruption of magma. The lithological units of the TLIP include basalt, diabase, layered intrusive rock, breccia pipe mica-olivine pyroxenite, olivine pyroxenite, gabbro, ultramafic dyke, quartz syenite, quartz syenite porphyry and bimodal dyke. The basalt and diabase of TLIP exhibit OIB-like trace element patterns and enrichment of LILE and HFSE, and mainly belong to high TiO2 series. There is an obvious difference in isotope among the basalt from Keping and the basalt and dibase from the northern Tarim Basin. The basalt from Keping with negative ɛ Nd and high REE value derives from enriched mantle, and the diabase and basalt from the northern Tarim Basin with positive ɛ Nd and low REE value are related to depleted mantle. The crust uplifting in the Early Permian and the development of picrite and large scale dyke and formation of large scale V-Ti-Magnetite deposit in Wajilitag area support the view that the TLIP is related to mantle plume. The TLIP has a temporal-spatial relationship with Permian basic to ultra-basic igneous rock, which is distributed widely in Central Asia, and they represent a tectono-magmatic event with very important geodynamic setting. This paper also suggests that the deep geological process, the relation with mantle plume, mineralization, the relation with environmental change and biological evolution, and the geodynamics of the TLIP will be the key research topics in the future.

Pontibacter toksunensis sp. nov., isolated from soil, and emended descriptions of Pontibacter roseus and Pontibacter akesuensis

A Gram-reaction-negative, rod-shaped, non-motile, red-pigmented bacterial strain, designated ZLD-7(T), was isolated from a soil sample collected from an arid area in Xinjiang Province in north-west China, and characterized by using a polyphasic taxonomic approach. 16S rRNA gene sequence analysis showed that strain ZLD-7(T) was a member of the genus Pontibacter in the family Cytophagaceae, with sequence similarities of 93.7-96.2 % to type strains of other Pontibacter species. The only isoprenoid quinone of strain ZLD-7(T) was MK-7, and its major cellular fatty acids were summed feature 4 (anteiso-C17 : 1 B and/or iso-C17 : 1 I), iso-C15 : 0, iso-C17 : 0 3-OH and summed feature 3 (C16 : 1ω7c and/or C16 : 1ω6c). The polar lipid profile consisted of phosphatidylethanolamine, one unidentified aminolipid and four unidentified polar lipids. The DNA G+C content was 47.8 mol%. On the basis of the evidence presented, it is proposed that strain ZLD-7(T) represents a novel species of the genus Pontibacter, for which the name Pontibacter toksunensis sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain is ZLD-7(T) ( = CCTCC AB 208003(T) = KCTC 23984(T)). Emended descriptions of Pontibacter roseus and Pontibacter akesuensis are also proposed.

Estimating near future regional corn yields by integrating multi-source observations into a crop growth model

Regional crop yield estimations play important roles in the food security of a society. Crop growth models can simulate the crop growth process and predict crop yields, but significant uncertainties can be derived from the input data, model parameters and model structure, especially when applied at the regional scale. Abundant observational information provides the relative true value of surface conditions, and this information includes those areal data from remote sensors and ground observations. Data fusion technology integrates the advantages of crop growth models and multi-source observations, and it provides an innovative means for making precise regional corn yield estimations. A regional corn yield estimation framework based on two types of observation-model fusion methods is recounted in this paper. First, a 2008 application of the WOrld FOod Studies (WOFOST) growth model to the Yingke Oasis of Gansu province in northwest China suggested this method of simulating corn growth trends and yields, with attention to carbon absorption in particular. Second, this study applied a simulated annealing algorithm to obtain an optimized vector of parameters for the WOFOST model by using local multi-source data. After parameter estimation, the root mean square error (RMSE) of the simulated yield decreased from 1676.00kgha−1 to 4.00kgha−1. Moreover, the correlation coefficients between simulated and observed gross primary production (GPP) from 2009 to 2011 were 0.941, 0.967 and 0.962. Validation showed that a parameter estimation algorithm can reduce parameter uncertainties. Afterwards, the optimized model was used in a sequence data assimilation algorithm together with regional CHRIS leaf area index (LAI) data to incorporate spatial heterogeneity and evaluate model performance in estimating the near future regional corn yields. The general crop growth curve and final yield prediction were adjusted by using a real-time LAI variable update of the WOFOST model in each simulation unit. Numerical experiments on the sequence filter showed that the assimilation process can provide accurate regional estimations of crop growth and final yield on the basis of yield statistics from 50 sample points. The RMSE of the regional yield estimation at 50 sample points was 339.14kgha−1. Finally, by fusing a whole CHRIS-LAI image over the corn planting region of Yingke Oasis, a precise spatial distribution map of the estimated corn yield was obtained.

Multiple Micronutrient Supplementation Reduces Anemia and Anxiety in Rural China's Elementary School Children

AbstractDespite growing wealth and a strengthening government commitment to improve livelihoods and welfare, many students across rural China have inadequate access to micronutrient-rich diets. Poor diets can lead to nutritional problems, such as iron-deficiency anemia, that can adversely affect health, attention, learning, and mental health. The overall goal of this paper is to assess the impact of multiple micronutrient supplementation (MMS) on anemia and anxiety among students in poor areas of rural China. To achieve this goal, we conducted a randomized controlled trial in 54 randomly chosen elementary schools in 8 of the poorest counties in Shaanxi Province in Northwest China. Study participants were 2730 fourth-grade students, mostly aged 10–12 y. Schools were randomly assigned to 1 of 2 groups: a control group that received no intervention and an intervention group that received a daily MMS with 5 mg of iron (ferrous sulfate) for 5 mo. Our primary outcome measures were hemoglobin (Hb) concentrations (assessed by HemoCue 201+ technology), anemia prevalence (defined as Hb) concentrations ≤120 g/L), and anxiety (using a written mental health test). The results showed that 42.4% of students were anemic at baseline. The Hb concentration was 121.7 ± 10.7 g/L in the treatment group and 123.4 ± 11.4 g/L in the control group. MMS increased Hb concentrations by 1.7 g/L ± 0.15 and reduced anemia rates by 7.0 percentage points (P < 0.05). Anxiety was reduced by 0.30 SDs (P < 0.01). MMS reduced both anemia and anxiety. Our results should encourage further research on the linkages between nutrition and mental health in a development context.

Evolution of flavonols in berry skins of different grape cultivars during ripening and a comparison of two vintages

Evolution of flavonols from the onset of ripening to commercial harvest was compared in seven grape cultivars (Vitis vinifera L.) in Qilian region of Gansu Province in northwest China for two consecutive years. The cultivars were three white-skinned (Chardonnay, Semillon, Italian Riesling), one pink-skinned (Gewurztraminer) and three red-skinned (Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Gernischt and Merlot). Isorhamnetin-3-O-glucoside was found in the pink ‘Gewurztraminer’ grape and the three red cultivars, but not in the whites, while myricetin derivatives were found to be specific to the red grapes. Our results indicate that the flavonol synthesis in Gewurztraminer should be similar to that in white cultivars that do not have a flavonoid 3′,5′-hydroxylase-mediated branch pathway. In comparison with the white and pink grapes, the type and level of quercetin and kaempferol derivatives detected in red grapes were relatively variable, which may be attributable to the presence of an additional myricetin branch in flavonol biosynthesis pathway of red grape cultivars, consequently expanding the range of metabolite variation. We also consider that rain during the sampling period may be a major factor causing these changes in the flavonol profile found between the two vintages.

Stable carbon and nitrogen isotope signatures of root-holoparasitic Cynomorium songaricum and its hosts at the Tibetan plateau and the surrounding Gobi desert in China

We first measured the δ13C and δ15N values of root holoparasite Cynomorium songaricum and its hosts from 19 sites across four provinces in northwest China, in an attempt to investigate their nutritional relationship at the Tibetan plateau and the surrounding Gobi desert. Our study showed that the δ13C of C. songaricum closely mirrored the values of its hosts, Nitraria tangutorum and N. sibirica across all sampling sites. C. songaricum was significantly depleted in 13C compared to host plants at the Tibetan plateau, showing an average parasite/host δ13C difference of−0.6 ‰. In contrast, 15N of C. songaricum was significantly enriched by+1.3 ‰ compared to the hosts, implying that these holoparasites had other nitrogen resources. Although no difference in the δ13C and δ15N values between holoparasites and hosts was detected, the δ13C and δ15N values of holoparasites were significantly correlated with those of their hosts at the Gobi desert. The δ13C versus δ15N values were significantly but negatively correlated for the hosts; however, holoparasite/host variation in δ13C was not correlated with the variation in δ15N. The δ13C versus δ15N values were negatively correlated in C. songaricum, and this relationship tended to be magnified along the increasing elevations independent of the host plants. C. songaricum at the Tibetan plateau exhibited different δ13C and δ15N signatures compared with those at the Gobi desert. Furthermore, both δ13C and δ15N values of C. songaricum and its host plants in salt marshes at the Tibetan plateau were different from those in sand sites at the Tibetan plateau and the Gobi desert. Our results indicate that the isotopic difference depends on the different altitudes and habitats and is host-specific.

Flavitalea gansuensis sp. nov., isolated from soil from an arid area, and emended descriptions of the genus Flavitalea and Flavitalea populi

A gram-reaction-negative, rod-shaped, gliding and bright-yellow-pigmented bacterial strain, designated JCN-23(T), was isolated from a soil sample collected from an arid area in Gansu Province in north-west China, and characterized by using a polyphasic taxonomic approach. This isolate grew optimally at 30 °C and in the absence of NaCl. The only respiratory quinone was menaquinone-7 and the major cellular fatty acids were iso-C(15 : 0), iso-C(17 : 0) 3-OH, summed feature 9 (iso-C(17 : 1)ω9c and/or C(16 : 0) 10-methyl) and summed feature 3 (C(16 : 1)ω7c and/or C(16 : 1)ω6c). The only polyamine was homospermidine and the major polar lipid was phosphatidylethanolamine. The DNA G+C content was 47.1 mol%. Comparative 16S rRNA gene sequence analysis showed that strain JCN-23(T) was a member of the phylum Bacteroidetes, exhibiting the highest 16S rRNA gene sequence similarity to Flavitalea populi CCTCC AB 208255(T) (97.6 %). No other recognized bacterial species showed more than 93.4 % 16S rRNA gene sequence similarity to the novel isolate. DNA-DNA hybridization experiments showed a low level (26 %) of DNA-DNA relatedness between strain JCN-23(T) and F. populi CCTCC AB 208255(T). On the basis of the phenotypic and genotypic data and phylogenetic inference, strain JCN-23(T) is considered to represent a novel species of the genus Flavitalea, for which the name Flavitalea gansuensis sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain is JCN-23(T) ( = ACCC 05418(T) = KCTC 23071(T)). Emended descriptions of the genus Flavitalea and Flavitalea populi are also proposed.

Relationships between musk extraction, social rank and tail-rubbing in male Alpine musk deer, Moschus sifanicus

Musk deer (Moschus spp.) are small, solitary forest ruminants well-known for the musk secreted by adult males. Because of illegal hunting and habitat degradation and loss, the five species of musk deer are classified as endangered. Musk deer farming has been a positive example of ex situ conservation, maintaining deer numbers whilst sustaining musk production. This study was conducted at the Xinglongshan Musk Deer Farm in Gansu Province in northwest China, and was designed to explore the relationships among musk extraction, fighting ability and social rank in captive, male alpine musk deer (Moschus sifanicus). Results showed that musk production was related to a male’s rank in the dominance hierarchy. Males in the middle rank of the dominance hierarchy tended to produce more musk than deer of higher and lower ranks. This is due to the time-energy budgeting patterns and captive stress of males with different status in the dominance hierarchy. That is, high-ranking males need to budget more time and energy to maintain their higher rank, while low-ranking males are exposed to more aggression from higher-ranking individuals, thus limiting their access to resources such as food and shelter. Accordingly, high-ranking and low-ranking males endured more stress than middle-ranking males, negatively affecting their annual musk production. Supporting the correlation between musk production and the frequency of tail-rubbing behavior was not significant, average musk extraction could not be predicted based on the frequency of tail-rubbing alone. Status in the dominance hierarchy, however, was positively correlated with tail-rubbing frequency, with males of higher rank tending to tail-rub more frequently. Conflict winners tended to initiate tail-rubbing after the conflict; tail-rubbing accounted for 83.33% of the post-conflict behavior expressed by the winner. Tail-rubbing was one of the behavioral rewards of winning a conflict and was also related to releasing aggression; not solely for scent marking territory and trails. Based on the results of this study, there was no direct relationship between musk production and captive males’ status in the dominance hierarchy (and, therefore, in the intensity of aggression displayed). If the sole aim of musk deer farms is to domesticate musk deer for maximum production of musk, we suggest that highly aggressive males be removed from the population. Musk production will remain unchanged, however, aggression level and intensity of fighting could be lessened thus reducing farming costs.

Water resources assessment in the Minqin Basin: an arid inland river basin under intensive irrigation in northwest China

The Minqin Basin is at the lower reach of the Shiyang River of Gansu province in northwest China. Dramatic decline in groundwater level has resulted from over-abstraction of groundwater since the late 1950s to satisfy increasing irrigation and other demands. Severe water shortage led to environmental degradation. To better understand the spatial-temporal variation of groundwater levels and to evaluate the groundwater resources in the region, a three-dimensional regional groundwater flow model was built and calibrated under transient condition. The MODFLOW program was used and the research area was discretized as a square network with cell size of 400 9 400 m. The model showed that the aquifer was under destructive stress, with a groundwater resource def- icit of 260 million cubic meters per year (Mm 3 /year) on average. Since the inflow of surface water from the upstream basin has declined to about 100-150 Mm 3 /year in recent decades, the irrigation return flow had become the main recharge and accounted for 60.6% of total recharge; meanwhile, abstraction by pumping wells took 99.2% from the total groundwater discharge.

Toward a U.S.-China Comparative Critique: Indigenous Rights and National Expansion in Alex Kuo's Panda Diaries

In his novel Panda Diaries (2006), Chinese American author Alex Kuo juxtaposes the Indian policies of the nineteenth-century U.S. with the Chinese government's efforts to integrate ethnic minorities into the project of socialist modernization during the Cultural Revolution. This comparison highlights the colonization of minority space that has occurred in the process of national expansion in both countries, thus constituting a form of double critique. The novel brings Native Americans and ethnic minorities in China into a virtual dialogue, laying a theoretical foundation for comparative studies of their experiences and possible strategies to build political alliances between them. It also intervenes in an emerging discourse in China that parallels the Chinese government's ongoing campaign to develop its western regions, which have a high concentration of minorities, with the American westward expansion, a parallel that largely serves as a justification for prioritizing the state's conception of economic and social development over minority interests.

Bacillus deserti sp. nov., a novel bacterium isolated from the desert of Xinjiang, China

A Gram-positive, rod-shaped, motile and spore-forming bacterium, designated ZLD-8(T), was isolated from a desert soil sample collected from Xinjiang Province in north-west China, and subjected to a polyphasic taxonomic analysis. This isolate grew optimally at 30°C and pH 7.0. It grew with 0-4% NaCl (optimum, 0-1%). Comparative 16S rRNA gene sequence analysis showed that strain ZLD-8(T) was closely related to members of the genus Bacillus, exhibiting the highest 16S rRNA gene sequence similarity to Bacillus kribbensis DSM 17871(T) (98.0%). The levels of 16S rRNA gene sequence similarity with respect to other Bacillus species with validly published names were less than 96.3%. The DNA G+C content of strain ZLD-8(T) was 40.1mol%. The strain contained MK-7 as the predominant menaquinone. The diagnostic diamino acid in the cell-wall peptidoglycan was meso-diaminopimelic acid. The major polar lipids were diphosphatidylglycerol, phosphatidylglycerol and phosphatidylethanolamine. The major fatty acids (>5% of total fatty acids) were anteiso-C15:0 (39.56%), iso-C14:0 (25.69%), C16:1 ω7c alcohol (10.13%) and iso-C15:0 (5.27%). These chemotaxonomic results supported the affiliation of strain ZLD-8(T) to the genus Bacillus. However, low DNA-DNA relatedness values and distinguishing phenotypic characteristics allowed genotypic and phenotypic differentiation of strain ZLD-8(T) from recognized Bacillus species. On the basis of the polyphasic evidence presented, strain ZLD-8(T) is considered to represent a novel species of the genus Bacillus, for which the name Bacillus deserti sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain is ZLD-8(T) (=CCTCC AB 207173(T)=KCTC 13246(T)).