Southern Part Of China Research Articles

Mother-derived trans-generational immune priming in the red palm weevil, Rhynchophorus ferrugineus Olivier (Coleoptera, Dryophthoridae).

Rhynchophorus ferrugineus (Coleoptera, Curculionidae) is the most destructive pest of palm trees worldwide containing it invasive areas, such as the southern part of China. It is always emphasized to develop integrated pest management based on biological agents, but their success is not very exciting. Presently, the immune defenses of this pest against biological agents attract scarce attention. It is still unclear whether immune priming also generally occurs in insect pests and in response to different pathogens. Our results indicated that previous challenge of bacteria pathogen enhanced the magnitude of phenoloxidase activity and antibacterial activity in R. ferrugineus larvae against the secondary infection. Furthermore, trans-generational immune priming was also determined in this pest, and only challenged R. ferrugineus mothers transferred the immune protection to their offspring which suggested males and females of this pest might have evolved different strategies on the investment of delivering immune protection to their offspring. Importantly, our data provide the evidence to suggest that different kinds of biological control agents might be used alternatively or in combination to fight against R. ferrugineus because of the existence of immune priming with low species-specific level. On the other hand, for this invasive pest, the immune priming may also facilitate its adaptation and dispersal in the new regions.

Genetic and chemical characterization of white and red peony root derived from Paeonia lactiflora.

Two kinds of peony roots—white peony root (WPR) and red peony root (RPR)—are used for different remedies in traditional Chinese medicine; however, most of them are derived from the same botanical origin, Paeonia lactiflora. The difference between WPR and RPR has been debated for a long time. This study attempted to clarify the genetic and chemical characteristics of WPR and RPR in order to provide a scientific dataset for their identification and effective use. The nucleotide sequence of nrDNA internal transcribed spacer (ITS) and the contents of 8 main bioactive constituents were analyzed from specimens of P. lactiflora, P. veitchii and two related species as well as crude drug samples of WPR, RPR and peony root produced in Japan. Of the samples derived from P. lactiflora, the WPR produced in the southern parts of China and the RPR produced in the northern parts of China were clearly divided into two subgroups within the P. lactiflora group based on similarity of the ITS sequences. The nucleotides at positions 69, 458 and 523 upstream of the ITS sequence served as molecular markers to discriminate between WPR and RPR. Quantitative analysis indicated that the RPR samples obviously contained a higher content of paeoniflorin and paeonol, but a lower content of albiflorin than the WPR produced in the southern parts of China and peony root produced in Japan. The WPR available from Chinese markets was usually processed by sulfur fumigation, which resulted in an extremely low content of paeoniflorin. This study indicated that WPR and RPR were not only geographically isolated, but also genetically and chemically separated. The ITS sequence provided a genetic index for their identification.

Relationship between tropical cyclone activities in the Northwest Pacific area and the summer monsoon rainfall in the Northeast Asian region

The study surveys the tropical cyclone (TC) activities in the Northwestern Pacific region during the summer monsoon season (SMS) (June–July) in the Northeast Asian region (North China, Korea, and Japan). The positive (negative) SMS rainfall years in the region show that not only the TC genesis frequency, but also the TC frequency which affects the Northeast Asian countries, are low (high) in the tropical and subtropical northwest Pacific. That is, the TCs mainly move to the southern part of China or up to the east sea far from Japan in the positive SMS rainfall years. The study analyzes the difference between the two groups in the 500 hPa streamline to investigate TC activities for the groups. The large-scale anomalous anticyclone and the anomalous cyclone were enlarged in the tropical and subtropical Northwestern Pacific and from Manchuria to the eastern Japan, respectively. Due to such anomalous pressure system patterns being strengthened during the positive SMS rainfall years, the tropical Northwestern Pacific below 20°N fortified anomalous easterlies, causing a lot of TCs during those years to move to the southern part of China along with these anomalous steering flows (anomalous easterlies). In addition, the anomalous anticyclone that is located in the tropical and subtropical Northwestern Pacific caused a low TC genesis frequency during the positive SMS rainfall years.

Endothelium-dependent and -independent relaxation of rat aorta induced by extract of Schizophyllum commune

Schizophyllum commune (SC) is widely consumed by Chinese, especially in southern part of China. The aim of the present study was to assess the extract of SC on vascular tone and the mechanisms involved. Experiments were performed on aorta of 18-week-old male Sprague-Dawley rats. Dried SC was extracted with 50% ethanol, 90% ethanol and deionized water, respectively. The effects of SC on the isometric tension of rat aortic rings were measured. Protein expression for the endothelial nitric oxide synthase (eNOS) was also determined in the primarily cultured rat aortic arterial endothelial cells (RAECs). The results showed that the water extract of SC induced a marked relaxation in aortic rings with or without endothelium. After the pretreatments of Nω-nitro-l-arginine methyl ester, indomethacin, RP-cAMP, and methylene blue, the SC-induced relaxation was significantly decreased. In addition, the contraction due to Ca2+ influx and intracellular Ca2+ release was also inhibited by SC. Furthermore, expression of the eNOS protein was significantly elevated in RAECs after treatment of SC. In conclusion, the water extract of SC induces an endothelium-dependent and -independent relaxation in rat aorta. The relaxing effect of SC involves the modulation of NO-cGMP-dependent pathways, PGI2-cAMP-depedent pathways, Ca2+ influx though calcium channels and intracellular Ca2+ release.

Vaccine mediates protection against penicilliosis in BALB/c mice (MPF2P.810)

Abstract Dimorphic pathogenic fungus Penicillium marneffei can cause penicilliosis which is a common infectious disease in AIDS patients in Southeast Asia and southern parts of China. Mp1p is a highly antigenic cell wall mannoprotein encoded by MP1 gene of P. marneffei and it is a pivotal factor for the pathogen infection and survival. Recombinant protein Mp1p produced in E.coli and Pichia pastors was used as an antigen vaccine against penicilliosis. While administered with different adjuvants and injection routes to BALB/c mice, this vaccine protein combination with Sigma Adjuvant System by intraperitoneal injection elicited a strong immunoglobulin G antibody response and conferred protection against a lethal P. marneffei challenge. These results showed that protein Mp1p could protect BALB/c mice in a dose, adjuvant and injection dependent manner. Protein vaccine Mp1p induced resistance was assessed in terms of survival, fungal growth (CFU) and histopathological examination. Immunised BALB/c mice could be protected against P. marneffei with 100% survival. CFU and histopathological analysis implied that fungal growth was systemically restricted at target organ of vaccinated mice, especially in liver where there was a significant lower value of CFU than non-vaccinated mice. Our results support the further development of an effective vaccine against penicilliosis.

Form of Existence and Socio-Political Trends of the Ethnic Chinese Living in Busan in the Colonial Period

Ethnic Chinese who have entered into Korean peninsula in the first half of the 20th century have repeated an exodus escaping to China and coming back to Korea whenever there aredomestic or international political ups and downs. However, they have been living in our society as a minor and a stranger in us based on their unique diligence and distinct business ability from the colonial period to the present day. Migration and settlement of ethnic Chinese who were the ‘Diaspora in the Northeast’ in the 20th century is an issue that can be reappeared in any time in accordance with the changes of situation in Northeast Asia accompanied by the unification of Korean peninsula. This is the very fact that the importance and necessity to study the lives of Chinese, not only those who are currently living in Korea, but also those who had lived during the colonial period, raised. This paper can confirm the following things about ethnic Chinese lived in Busan. First, there were about 300 Chinese during the Japanese colonial period on average. This was less than 1% of the whole Chinese population of 42,275 in Korea. However, Chinese in Busan had land equivalent to that of in Incheon, and paid twice more business taxes than those in Gunsan in which there were similar number of Chinese. In addition, in the midst of reduced influences of Chinese due to Manbosan incident in 1931, economic power of Chinese merchants had not been diminished to the extent of having five and six fabric stores in Busanpossessed by Chinese; such as Dukchuihwa and Youpungdeok in 1934. Second, Chinese merchants in Busan who had the influences were mostly from Guandong or southern part of China. Those from Shandong were fallen behind in terms of sustainability of economic activities due to the small scaled capital. Youpungdoek(裕豊德), who were the representative figure of Shandong merchants, distinguished himself since the late 1920s. As can be seen from this, leadership of merchants from Guandong and southern parts of China was solidified and lasted for a long time. Third, in terms of housing situation, 63.7% of Chines in Busan in 1928 lived in old Cheonggwan(淸館) residents (54.5%) and adjacent Youngjujeong(9.15%). The rest were scattered in Busan city. They had better conditions than Korean in terms of housing and economics. This can be seen from the fact that they paid 10 times more house tax than Korean. 75% of them were lending other’s houses. 54.8% of them were lending houses from Japanese. Thus, there must be a significant amount of burden for them to pay the rent for the houses. Economic supremacy of Chinese in Busan can naturally become a subject of jealousy from Korean. As a result, an anti-Chinese protest had occurred in Busan in July 1931 and caused damages. Fourth, from 1933 to 1934, their economic activities had significantly been reduced and fabric stores had to close up their stores or changed the business into restaurants. This was not just a phenomena limited in Busan, but a nationwide one. The one who represented Busan in Seoul meeting for organizing Yeoseon Central Store Association(旅鮮中華商會聯合會) in February 1938 was a person named Yang Mo Min(楊牟民), who runs a high class Korean-style restaurant called Bongraegak. The fact that he was representing Busan symbolically presented the collapse of Guandong merchants and surfacing of Shandong merchants. At the late colonial period, Chines in Busan had to force into praise Japan. As a result, they were demanded the friendship between Japan, Manchuria and China at Yongdu Mountain Shrine. They had become a subject of surveillance and suspicion despite the cooperation. They sometimes had to face difficult times to be violated their property right in the process.

Analysis of Influential Factors on Agricultural Surplus Labor Professionalization During China's Economic Downturn

This paper contributed to the pool of studies about agricultural surplus labor in China, also acted as the root to the imminent settlement of the issues concerning agriculture, countryside and farmers. Using data from survey of agricultural surplus labor in 2012, which covered three provinces in northern, midwestern and southern parts of China, this paper analyzed the influential factors on agricultural surplus labor professionalization by adoption of a logistic regression model. It showed that agricultural surplus labor shortage could be explained by low-quality professionalization. It was a feasible and effective way to solve the issue of workforce shortage during economic downturn by improving agricultural surplus labor's professionalization.

Avian influenza H9N2 seroprevalence among swine farm residents in China

In parts of southern China, some large-scale swine farms are adjacent to lakes and ponds that are home to many types of birds. Some swine farms will also raise poultry for consumption and sale. Swine farms in rural China may be the source of the AIV outbreak. A seroepidemiological study was conducted among swine farm residents to understand the prevalence of antibodies against avian influenza virus (AIV) H9N2 in southern China. A total of 2,006 swine farm residents were sampled. Serum samples were tested for the presence of antibodies against H9N2 AIV by hemagglutination inhibition (HI) and microneutralization assays. A total of 37 serum samples from swine farm residents were HI positive for A/chicken/Guangdong/V/2008(H9N2), and 24 serum samples (all of which were also HI positive) were microneutralization assays positive for A/chicken/Guangdong/V/2008(H9N2). Due to the special pig farming model in southern China, the residents are in close contact with different kinds of birds. Thus, controlling bird-to-human transmission of AIV in swine farms with poultry may be an important means of preventing widespread AIV infection in humans.

Historical industrial emissions of non-methane volatile organic compounds in China for the period of 1980–2010

This paper presents a new classification of industrial sector on basis of a source-tracing method for the historical industrial emissions of non-methane volatile organic compounds (NMVOCs). The industrial sources were divided into four major source categories: production of NMVOCs, storage and transport, industrial processes using NMVOCs as raw materials, and processes using NMVOCs-containing products. Multiyear emission inventories of NMVOCs from industrial sources were established for the period of 1980–2010 in China, covering 98 contributing industrial sources. The inventories were developed by the emission factor method, and further gridded at a spatial resolution of 50 km × 50 km based on GIS methodology, using population data as spatial surrogate. The result showed that China's industrial NMVOCs emissions had increased by 11.6 times at an average annual rate of 8.5% from 1.15 Tg in 1980 to 13.35 Tg in 2010. The four major source categories generated 19.6% (2.63 Tg, production of NMVOCs), 9.6% (1.295 Tg, storage and transport), 13.2% (1.769 Tg, industrial processes using NMVOCs as raw materials), and 57.4% (7.662 Tg, processes using NMVOCs-containing products) of the total emissions from China in 2010. Moreover, the top four industrial emissions sources were oil refinery, architectural decoration, machinery equipment and printing, accounted for 48.3% all together. With respect to the spatial distribution, the emissions mostly occurred in the eastern, northern and southern parts of China, all being much higher than that in the western part. The top four emission provinces were Shandong, Jiangsu, Guangdong, and Zhejiang, accounting for 38.3% of the national emissions. As for the past 30 years, the national industrial NMVOCs emissions increased year-by-year, being in pace with the accelerated industrialization process and the sharp economic growth, especially the rapid expansion of the high-emission industries. Particularly, the oil refinery, product oil and solvent distribution, architectural decoration, and mechanical equipment manufacture became the four largest contributors, accounting for 15.9–34.3%, 6.5–10.2%, 7–8%, and 6–7% of national industrial NMVOCs.

Association analysis between HLA-A, -B, -C, -DRB1, and -DQB1 with nasopharyngeal carcinoma among a Han population in Northwestern China

BackgroundMost HLA association studies with NPC focus on Southern part of China. Thus, little is known about the genetic association of HLA with NPC in people from Northern China where the genetic background, environmental factors, and lifestyle are very different. Methods132 NPC patients and 168 normal controls of Han ethnic in Xinjiang Province were genotyped for HLA-A, -B, -C, -DRB1, and -DQB1 using the PCR-sequence specific primer technique. ResultsOur results confirm previous findings that the HLA-B∗46 and HLA-A∗02B∗46 haplotypes are strongly associated with NPC, but we did not observe HLA-A∗11 and -B∗35 association with resistance to NPC. Instead, we found that HLA-B∗51 and -A∗30 are strongly associated with resistance to NPC. In addition, HLA-A∗24 was also strongly associated with susceptibility to NPC. ConclusionA unique pattern of HLA association with NPC susceptibility and resistance was found in patients from Xinjiang Province compared to the published data based on patients from Southern China and Taiwan. HLA-B∗46 is most significantly associated with NPC, and its frequency in endemic areas such as Guangdong Province, Taiwan, and Thailand is much higher than in Xinjiang Province and other areas with much less NPC occurrence. Interestingly, HLA-A∗30 is in contrast with the resistant allele, whose frequency is much lower in endemic areas but higher in Xinjiang and other areas with little NPC.

Inhibition of SARS Coronavirus Helicase by Baicalein

The severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) occurred in the southern part of China in the late 2002 and rapidly spread to Canada and Southeast Asian countries, including Singapore, Vietnam, Hong Kong, and Taiwan. During the outbreak, clinicians were unaware of which treatments were appropriate to treat SARS patients because they had no prior experience in dealing with this disease. Therefore, they prescribed the SARS patients with general antiviral medications, such as ribavirin, type-I interferon and corticosteroids. The SARS pandemic was finally controlled within a year of outbreak through progressive global efforts, including patient quarantine. A retrospective case-controlled analysis showed that these antiviral agents had minimal beneficial effects or even worsened the symptoms of SARS patients, suggesting that it is necessary to develop effective anti-SARS agents for another SARS outbreak in the future. A novel coronavirus (CoV) was identified as a causal factor for the SARS. Coronaviruses are members of a family of enveloped viruses that replicate in the cytoplasm of host cells. Analysis of the full sequence of the SARS coronavirus (SCV) revealed that it is a large, single-stranded, and positive-sense RNA virus, which bears a moderate resemblance with other human coronaviruses, HCoV-OC43 and HCoV229E. Notably, the first 2/3 of the SCV genome consists of the viral replicase genes that encode 16 non-structural proteins (nsPs), including the NTPase/helicase (nsP13). The SCV helicase, nsP13 is a critical component for viral replication and currently regarded as a feasible drug target for potential SCV chemical inhibitors. Helicase is a molecular motor protein that separates double-stranded nucleic acid (NA), using the free energy generated from nucleoside triphosphate (NTP) hydrolysis during translocation on singlestranded NA. The nsP13 is considered as a RNA helicase because SCV is a positive-strand ssRNA virus and comprise three major domains: Zn ion binding domain, hinge domain and NTPase/helicase domain. Previous studies have identified numerous natural or synthetic chemicals that suppress the nsP13 activity with different modes of actions. For example, Tanner et al. have demonstrated that the bananin derivatives are non-competitive inhibitors of the ATPase activity of nsP13. Yang et al. have demonstrated that bismuth complexes compete for the Zn ion binding sites, thereby exhibiting significant inhibitory effects on both the ATPase and DNA duplex-unwinding activities of nsP13. Lee et al. have found that aryl diketoacid (ADK) analogs suppress the nsP13 activity. Because ADKs are well-known metal chelators, authors initially speculated that ADKs would inhibit the activity of nsP13 in an analogous manner to the bismuth complexes: ADKs bind to Zn ion binding site, thereby inhibiting both the ATPase and DNA duplex-unwinding activities. Contrary to their expectations, however, they observed that ADKs selectively inhibited the duplex DNA-unwinding activity, but not the ATPase activity of nsP13 and the anti-SCV helicase activities of ADKs were dependent on regiochemistry as well as the substituent of ADKs, leading to the conclusion that alternative inhibitory mechanism(s) of the nsP13 activity by ADKs might exist. In accordance with the above observations, we have recently conducted in vitro biochemical experiments to find out dietary or medicinal compounds that possess significant inhibitory effects on the nsP13 helicase activity. As a result, we found that both myricetin and scutellarein (Fig. 1) strongly inhibited the ATPase activity, but not the DNA unwinding activity of nsP13. IC50 values of myricetin and scutellarein against the ATPase activity of nsP13 were observed to be 2.71 ± 0.19 μM and 0.86 ± 0.48 μM, respectively. It is notable that myricetin and scutellarein are natural flavonoids. Flavonoids are secondary plant metabolites that

Screening orchardgrass (Dactylis glomerata L.) germplasm for high rust resistance and high summer survival rate in a subtropical climate

AbstractOrchardgrass (Dactylis glomerata L.) is one of the most important cool‐season forage grasses around the world, and is among the fourth top selling grass seed behind Lolium, Festuca and Phleum. However, the available orchardgrass varieties have low summer survival rates and are susceptible to rust caused by Puccinia graminis Pers., resulting in lower yields and poor quality growth in subtropical regions of China. The summer survival rate, degree of rust resistant, and the correlation of rust resistance with summer survival rate of 242 germplasm resources of D. glomerata, from five continents of the world, were investigated in a field screening for 2 years (2011 and 2012) at the southern part of China. Results showed that 13 accessions were scored high disease resistance for the 2 years, and 36 were scored a summer survival rate of 100%. Thirteen accessions of orchardgrass were screened for disease resistance and high summer survival rate (≥80%), including two accessions named PI325293 and PI308794 with a high disease resistance and summer survival rate of 100% in the 2‐year studies. The correlation between rust resistance and summer survival rate was low (r = 0.111 P = 0.295 in 2011, r = 0.112 P = 0.674 in 2012). These two accessions may serve as potential genetic materials to plant breeders for developing orchardgrass varieties that contain high rust resistance and summer survival rate. These results will also contribute to the conservation and utilization of orchardgrass germplasm.

Four New Species of Olidiana McKamey (Hemiptera: Cicadellidae: Coelidiinae) from Southern China

Abstract Four new species of the genus Olidiana are described and illustrated from the southern part of China (Oriental Region): Olidiana clavispinata Fan and Dai, new species, O. dendritica Fan and Dai, new species, O.longa Fan and Dai, new species, O. longiforma Fan and Dai, new species.

Transplantation of Icefish (Salangidae) in China: Glory or Disaster?

AbstractChina has a long history of aquaculture, and it contributes the largest aquaculture production worldwide. Aside from expanding aquaculture area and maximizing unit yield, introducing new potential species is greatly encouraged. Icefish (Salangidae) from Taihu Lake have been introduced into other lakes and reservoirs throughout the country since 1979. Neosalanx tangkahkeii was introduced into the southern part of China, and Protosalanx chinensis was introduced into the northern part of China, and both species have been introduced into a small part of central China and Yunnan Province in southwest China. Only one‐third of the transplantation was successful, and most of their yields experienced a burst‐down course. Intrinsic traits of icefish including annual life cycle, higher fecundity, lower trophic level, together with sufficient environment capacity supported the population forming and burst, while overfishing, pollution and short of food could result in the failure of the transplantation. The introduction of icefish brought in economic benefits, but severely threatened biodiversity, especially in plateau lakes in Yunnan Province, caused possible hybridization and carried diseases. According to different environmental conditions and economic needs at regional scale, further transplantation of icefish would face respective fate as resource conservation, rapid development, limitation and insignificance. Increasing attentions on environmental protection and sustainable resource utilization require a fresh evaluation and adjustment of icefish transplantation to achieve an ecologically healthy aquaculture.

Professional identities and emotions of teachers in the context of curriculum reform: a Chinese perspective

This study explores the changing professional identities of teachers and their emotional experiences during curriculum reform in Shenzhen in the southern part of China. A qualitative approach to research was adopted. Findings reveal that the informants display several teaching behaviours and diverse emotions ranging from pain and helplessness, fulfilment and anxiety, and other mixed emotions. The three types of influential factors that influence teachers' professional identities are also discussed in this study.

New Species of Stactobia McLachlan (Trichoptera: Hydroptilidae) from China

Three species in the genus Stactobia are previously known from China, Stactobia salmakis Malicky & Chantaramongkol, 2007, from Zhejiang, S. parva Wells & Dudgeon, 1990, from Hong Kong, and S. semele Malicky & Chantaramongkol, 2007, from Taiwan. Examination of materials collected from Jiangxi and Sichuan Provinces in the southern part of China has revealed 4 new species of Stactobia, bringing the number of Chinese Stactobia species to 7. Newly described species include S. forcipata, new species, S. rhombica, new species, S. leptoclada new species, and S. spicifera, new species. Previously described species S. salmakis and S. semele, along with all the new species belong to the Stactobia martynovi diagnostic species group; S. parva belongs to the Stactobia nielseni diagnostic species group. The diagnostic characters for the new species and for these two species groups are summarized. Genus Stactobia (Trichoptera: Hydroptilidae, Stactobiinae) includes 144 extant species worldwide (Morse, 2013), predominantly distributed in the Oriental Region (OL, 91 spp.) and the West Palearctic Region (WP, 35 spp.), with a few species found in the East Palearctic (EP, 10 spp.) and Afrotropical (AT, 4 spp.) biogeographic regions. In addition, 2 species are distributed in both EP and WP, 1 species is distributed in both OL and WP and 1 species is distributed in both AT and WP. The Chinese fauna presently includes 3 species (Wells and Dudgeon, 1990; Malicky and Chantaramongkol, 2007). From 1990 to 2005, the junior authors organized 5 expeditions in the southeastern, southwestern, northwestern and central parts of China. As a result, 4 new Chinese species of Stactobia are discovered, bringing the total to 7 Chinese species of Stactobia. We did not identify any of the 3 previously known Chinese species of Stactobia in our expeditions, suggesting that many more undescribed species of this genus may occur in China. Four diagnostic species groups were recognized in Stactobia by Schmid (1959); Marshall (1979) further confirmed these species groups and provided some distinguishing morphological characters for each group. Neither author provided explicit synapomorphies or other evidence that the groups are monophyletic. All the Chinese species fall into two diagnostic species groups: The S. martynovi group and the S. nielseni group.

The variability of the Southeast Asian summer monsoon

ABSTRACTIn this article, we focus on the analysis of the climate variability of the Southeastern Asian Summer Monsoon (SEAM) region encompassing Myanmar, Thailand, Cambodia, Vietnam, Laos and parts of southern China. This region is climatologically found to have one of the longest wet seasons in the Asian monsoon region (of nearly 160 d) and also exhibits one of the strongest interannual variations in the length of the monsoon (wet) season. The interannual variations of the length of the SEAM are characterized by corresponding variations in the onset and demise pentad dates of the wet season, with the former dominating slightly over the latter except over Myanmar. Our study reveals that the pentad of late onset of SEAM is characterized by anomalous increase in remote moisture source from Bay of Bengal and Arabian Sea while a substantial decrease of moisture source from the near Andaman Sea and Gulfs of Martaban and Thailand. Furthermore, anomalously strong June–August Somali Jet is found to be associated with earlier than normal onset of the SEAM. Similarly, the pentad of late demise of the SEAM features excess moisture source from the South China Sea associated with a slow eastward withdrawal of the north Pacific subtropical high.We suggest on the basis of the findings of this study that careful monitoring of the onset the SEAM season will provide important information on the evolution of an ongoing SEAM. Likewise observing low level winds over the northern equatorial Indian Ocean, Bay of Bengal, Gulfs of Martaban and Thailand and South China Sea could be very useful in understanding the seasonal variability of the SEAM. Finally, monitoring of the demise would be equally helpful in characterizing the variation of the concluded SEAM as the length of the wet season seems to be a very robust climate feature of the region. © 2013 Royal Meteorological Society

Muslim Networks, Religious Economy, and Community Survival: The Financial Upkeep of Mosques in Late Imperial China

This paper seeks to show how geographically isolated yet historically and culturally significant southern mosques survived in late Imperial China. Long-distance donations to mosques in the Qing dynasty (1644 – 1911) in the forms of remittance payments, charitable donations, and real estate investments help to explain the continuous existence of Muslims in parts of southern China. Mosques in late imperial China could raise funds in a variety of ways, from Islamic teachers who went out on fundraising trips to scholars who emphasized the pivotal role of a particular mosque in the history of Chinese Islam, to Muslim officials who generously donated to mosques. This paper provides insight into how Islam survived in China throughout the imperial period, reveals the degree of interconnectivity between distant Muslim communities, and highlights the role that sacred geographies and circulatory networks played within the history of Islam in China.

Spatial and temporal trend of Chinese manure nutrient pollution and assimilation capacity of cropland and grassland

Dynamics of livestock and poultry manure nutrient was analyzed at a provincial scale from 2002 to 2008. The nutrient capacity of 18 kinds of croplands and grasslands to assimilate nutrients was assessed in the same temporal-spatial scale. Manure nitrogen (N) had increased from 5.111 to 6.228 million tons (MT), while manure phosphorus (P) increased from 1.382 to 1.607 MT. Manure N and P share similar spatial patterns of yields, but proportion of specialized livestock husbandry and contribution of leading livestock categories (swine, cattle, cow, sheep, layer chicken, broiler chicken) were different. The nutrients generated from dominant seven provinces took more than about half of total manure N in China. After subtracting the chemical fertilizers, there were some manure nutrient capacities in western part of China. Risk analysis of manure nutrient pollution overload in eastern and southern parts of China was serious, which should restrict livestock's developments. Amount of chemical fertilizers applied should be reduced to make room for manure nutrients. For the sake of greenhouse effects, the emission of methane (CH4) and nitrous oxide (NO x ) emissions in China is serious for the global change, thus merits further statistics and studies. The spatial and temporal pattern of Chinese manure nutrient pollution from livestock and the assimilation capacity of cropland and grassland can provide useful information for policy development on Chinese soil environment and livestock.

The fifth paleosol layer in the southern part of China's Loess Plateau and its environmental significance

Through field investigations, dark red–brown lumpy ferruginous argillans (LFAs) and an underlying weathered loess layer under the fifth layer (S5 paleosol) were discovered in the Guanzhong Plain in the southern part of the Loess Plateau in northwest China's Shaanxi Province. The ultramicrotexture of the LFAs and their mineral and chemical compositions were analyzed. Experimental results showed that mixed illite–smectite minerals comprise about 90% of the LFAs in mineral composition, with 40% SiO2 content and high Fe2O3 (about 10.0%) and Al2O3 (about 22.5%) contents in chemical composition. Neo-formed microcrystalline grains of clay minerals dominated the LFAs. The micromineral crystal grains in the LFAs were mainly plates with some degree of alignment, giving the argillans crystalline optical properties. Red LFAs and weathered loess layers under the S5, and the depth to which Fe2O3 and CaCO3 from the S5 have been removed, indicate that chemical weathering was much stronger when the paleosol layers formed than that at present. While the S5 paleosol was developed, a subtropical climate prevailed in the southern Loess Plateau, with a mean annual temperature and rainfall about 4 °C and 500 mm higher respectively than that at present. The adequacy in moisture in at least 4.2 m of the gravitational water zone during the formation of S5 was suitable for forest growth. During the warmest and moistest climate span of growth for 2.5 million years when S5 was formed, the Qinling Mountains lost its function as a climatic boundary between the subtropical and temperate zones of East Asia, when the summer air masses crossed the Qinling Mountains and reached the Guanzhong Plain, bringing rich precipitation.