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Customers' reactions towards the separation of service from production are investigated using quantitative and qualitative studies of various services. Results show that perceptions of benefit convenience, access convenience, psychological risk, and performance risk are increased due to service separation. Separation is also preferred by customers when it comes to experience services.

Based on the MAP-CGE model, this paper simulated the impacts on the output, energy consumption and pollutant emissions of different cement production processes when implementing a low carbon cement standard in China. It also calculated the impacts on the marginal abatement cost and equilibrium price of the cement industry, and analyzed the co-abatement effects of different pollutants. The results showed that implementing the low carbon cement standard will be beneficial in promoting an upgrading of cement production processes, and strengthening the energy conservation and emission reduction in the cement industry. If there is no change in the existing technology, the cement industry will reduce SO2emissions by 1.17 kg and NOxemissions by 4.44 kg per ton of CO2emission reduction. Implementing low carbon cement standard can also promote NOxabatement in the cement industry. However, the cement industry will bear the abatement costs, and their equilibrium price will increase slightly.

The Zulinqi acupuncture point (GB.41), on the dorsal surface of the foot, is reported traditionally to be effective for treating disorders that occur along the course of the Gall bladder channel. The authors describe its beneficial use in five, widely differing indications and give supporting case histories. The indications discussed are: metatarsal fracture, bruised finger, headache, pain in the hypochondrium, and abdominal Herpes zoster. Its use in these cases is shown to illustrate four important principles of treatment: select lower points for upper diseases, use points on the right for symptoms on the left and vice versa, restrict needling to few but effective points, and apply one point to many purposes.

Point-penetration is a traditional acupuncture method, described in early Chinese texts and developed through the ages, in which a needle is inserted at one point and advanced internally to reach a second point. It is thus characterised by the use of fewer points but stronger stimulation: resulting in improved efficacy. Through clinical observation four types of point-penetration have been identified with different therapeutic indications: perpendicular, horizontal, oblique and perimeter. Each method is described, with prescriptions forspecific diseases and case reports giving insertion and manipulation techniques. Point-penetration acupuncture appearsto be an acceptable, viable therapy for a variety of conditions.

Abstract: Unicellular gametophytes ofUndaria pinnatifida (Harv.) Sur. were isolated in Qingdao, P. R. China in April 1993 and in Tokushima, southern Japan in March 1995. Different intraspecific crossings by using unicellular male and female gametophytes were successfully undertaken in Sept. of 1995 in Qingdao. Sporophytes were transplanted to two different locations for open sea cultivation. One was at Zhanqiao (ZQ) Bay where the water current was slower than that of another location—Taipingjiao(TPJ). A total of 218 adult sporophytes were harvested on January 12 and 18 from TPJ and ZQ respectively. For eacn combination, 10 sporophytes were cultivated. Analysis of the morphological characteristics of adult sporophytes indicated that the longest length between two bases of the serration of pinnate blades (W2) is a morphological characteristic that can be transferred from the parent plant to the next generations regardless of environmental variations. There was evidence that W2 was apparently determined by sex-linked factors, i.e., by male parental gametophyte. Sporophytes from certain crossing combinations showed more vigorous growth than those from other crossing combinations. It is therefore possible to select gametophyte strains which can be used as parental gametophytes for the seedling production of sporophytes with more vigorous growth within shorter cultivation period. The morphology of hybrids from a Qingdao strain and a Tokushima cultivated strain resembled that of both parental plants in frond features (wrinkled or smooth) and W2. Sporophyll formation also varied with strains. The fact that adult sporophytes resulting from the same crossing combinations have identical morphological characteristics under the same environmental conditions indicates the possibility of a new way to select strains which are expected to be ideal for commerical production by purposely selecting, propagating, and seeding unicellular gametophytes for sporeling production through freeliving techniques of gametophytes.

Abstract: When cultured under certain environmental conditions (25°C, light intensity 80 μmol/m2·s, LD 12/12, in enriched seawater medium with 7×10−4 mol/L NO3−N, 1.56×10−4 mol/L, PO4−P and supplements of other elements like Mn, Fe, I, etc.), male and female gametophytes ofU. pinnatifida kept growing vegetatively and propagated fast at average daily fresh weight increase rate of about 20%. The empirical formulaG m=G o·3m was established to estimate the output of vegetative gametophytes. Vigorous vegetative gametophyte cells began to form reproductive structures (oogonium and spermatangium, when the temperature was lower than 25°C and other environmental factors were kept optimal. The sufficient supply of gametophyte cells provided enough seeds for raisingUndaria sporelings on production scale. Controlled cross-breeding experiments using selected male and female gametophyte clones which increase their cell number by mitosis instead of meiosis were also carried out in vitro. Juvenile sporophytes from the cross-breeding had almost the same length and width increase rates as those of the control. The fact that vegetative gametophytes can be purposely selected, propagated quickly, cross-bred, with the resulting sporophytes having almost the same characteristics leads to a new way to select desiredUndaria strains for long time use without losing the desired economic characteristics.

Gout is a disorder of purine metabolism in which a high serum uric acid is found and there is deposit of urate crystals within joints causing exquisite pain and tenderness. The pharmacological treatment relies upon non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs in the acute stage, and prophylactic drugs in the chronic state to control the level of circulating uric acid.In traditional Chinese medicine an over-rich diet is thought to cause a build-up of damp and heat internally that causes phlegm to stagnate. There is also disturbance of the Spleen and Kidney. Treatment thus involves Spleen and Stomach acupuncture points (SP.3 and 6, and ST.36 and 40) to control heat and damp and reduce phlegm. Other local points are used according to the joint involved.A case history is discussed illustrating the treatment and a series of 10 patients is reported in which there is a 70% success in reducing the chronic level of serum uric acid and the frequency of acute attacks.