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Modern food retailers in China use both intrinsic quality cues (IQCs) (e.g., umami and flavorfulness) and extrinsic quality cues (EQCs) (e.g., antibiotics-free) to market pork products. However, Chinese consumers trust IQCs over EQCs when judging the quality of pork. This study explored the reasons for this phenomenon and developed strategies for improving consumer trust in EQCs. This research engaged two focus groups and conducted 41 in-depth interviews, including consumers and managers of a leading fresh food retailer in Guangzhou. It was determined that the failure of linking EQCs with familiar IQCs was a key reason for their strong IQC preference. Food retailers enhanced EQC acceptance by integrating it into the existing IQC-based knowledge system, and highlighted transparency in production and distribution processes to build consumer trust in EQCs.The proximity of content and form between EQCs and IQCs will eventually improve consumers' acceptance of EQCs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A new aeschnidiid dragonfly, Gansuaeschnidia hongi gen. et sp. nov., is established based on three hind wings from the Lower Cretaceous Chijinpu Formation of the Jiuquan Basin, northwestern China. The new taxon is characterised by the strongly closed Ax1 and Ax2, only one row of cells in the lower and middle parts of the discoidal triangle, and subdiscoidal area not divided by a clear AAspl vein. This new discovery indicates that the Chijinpu Formation can be correlated with the Yixian Formation, i.e. the second evolution stage of the Jehol Biota, adding to the diversity of the aeschnidiid dragonflies in China during Early Cretaceous. All taxonomic acts established in the present work have been registered in ZooBank (see below), together with the electronic publication LSID: [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A new brominated polyacetylene, xestonariene I (1), along with three known related analogues (2–4), was obtained from Chinese marine spongeXestospongia testudinaria. Its structure was determined on the basis of detailed spectroscopic analysis and by comparison with literature data. Compound4exhibited significant inhibitory activity against pancreatic lipase, which plays a key role in preventing obesity, with an IC50value of 0.61 μM, being comparable to that of the positive control orlistat (IC50 = 0.78 μM). [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

Objective: To determine the prevalence of pregnancies with neural tube defects (NTDs) in China between 2006 and 2008 and to find a better representative monitoring gestational age for total prevalence of NTDs by comparing the prevalence at or greater than 20, 22 or 28 weeks of gestation (abbreviated as P20, P22 and P28, respectively). Methods: The data were retrieved from the National Birth Defects Monitoring Network in China (the Network). All births were monitored on the prevalence of NTDs during the entire gestation period of 2006-2008. Results: The P28 only represents 34.6% of anencephaly, 70.8% of spina bifida, 53.3% of encephalocele and 53% of the combination of the three types of NTDs during the entire pregnancy. The P20 represents 75.8%, 94.7%, 86% and 85.4% in the above-mentioned categories, respectively. Of the NTDs diagnosed prenatally before 28 weeks of gestation, 45.3% were terminated electively. Conclusions: The P28 underrepresented 65.4% of anencephaly, 29.2% of spina bifida, 46.7% of encephalocele and 47% of the combined NTDs. The prevalence of NTDs that occurred at or greater than 20 weeks of gestation was more accurate than that at or greater than 28 weeks of gestation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Soil testing is widely adopted as an essential diagnostic tool for identifying soil nutrient factors that limit sustained crop production. A systematic approach for rapid soil testing and fertilizer recommendation has been introduced and widely used in China by Agro Services International (ASI), USA. To verify the usefulness and reliability of the ASI method in soil testing and fertilizer recommendation in comparison with other commonly used traditional soil testing methods, 294 soil samples from major agricultural regions and soil types in China with a wide range of soil pH, from 5.1 to 8.9, were taken and analyzed for available phosphorus (P) and potassium (K) by the ASI multielement extraction solution and selected traditional methods, Olsen extractant for P, ammonium acetate (NH4OAc) extractant for K, and multielement extractant Mehlich 3 for P and K. Also, 46 soils were selected from northern China regions for a greenhouse trial with sorghum seedlings to determine if the soil testing values correlate well with plant response. Results indicated that the amount of soil P extracted by the ASI method (ASI P) was correlated to both soil extractable P tested by the Olsen extractant (Olsen P) and Mehlich 3 extractant (Mehlich 3 P). The correlation coefficient of ASI P with Mehlich 3 P (R2 = 0.86) was greater than that of ASI P with Olsen P (R2 = 0.74) across all selected soils. A good correlation was also found between the exchangeable K from the ASI method with the traditional ammonium acetate method (R2 = 0.81) and the Mehlich 3 method (R2 = 0.85). The results from the greenhouse trial showed that the extractable P and exchangeable K by the ASI multielement extraction solution could be used to represent the fertility status of soil P and K for the selected soils. Regression analysis indicated that the relative dry-matter yield of the sorghum plants can be predicted with either ASI P and ASI K values with the correlation coefficients (R2) values of 0.78 and 0.72 respectively and could be a good measure for soil testing and fertilizer recommendation in the selected soils and regions in China. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]