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Carbon footprint (CF) and inequality reductions were two of the most important sustainable development goals. However, there was a lack of understanding of the latest equality of carbon footprint across regions. Based on the multi-regional input-output table and the China Family Panel Studies survey data of 17 provinces, this paper examined the evolution of carbon footprint and inequality in China. The results showed a stark disparity between regions and a declined inequality in the last few years. Specifically, the CF per capita in northern provinces (Liaoning, Shanxi, Heilongjiang, Shandong and Shaanxi) exceeded the average level in 2017. From 2015 to 2017, the carbon inequality showed a downward trend, with a national CF-Gini coefficient decrease from 0.31 to 0.28. Meanwhile, the gap between CF per capita in urban areas and rural areas was declining, with a growth rate at 18% and 32% from 2015 to 2017, respectively. In addition, CF per capita from various consumption categories indicated that household equipment and daily necessities, residential, transportation and communication were the three most important sources, with a downward trend from 2015 to 2017. This study would provide policymakers with deep insights into policies to achieve just transition. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Isolates of potato virus Y (PVY) have been divided into several strains. We determined the genomic sequences of PVY isolates AQ4 and FZ10 from tobacco in China. AQ4 and FZ10 had genome of 9700 and 9698 nucleotides, respectively. In phylogenetic analysis of complete genome sequences, AQ4 was clustered with strain N-Wi, and FZ10 with NTN. AQ4 had two recombination sites within the P1 and P3 genes, while FZ10 had three within the P1, P3 and NIa-Pro genes. When compared to typical NTN isolates, FZ10 lacked a recombination site within the CP gene and, thus, represents a novel recombination type of PVY. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Summary: Pine wilt disease (PWD) is a devastating pine disease caused by Bursaphelenchus xylophilus and its main host in China is Pinus massoniana. The relationship between endophytic bacteria and disease resistance in P. massoniana remains unclear. In this paper, the leaves, roots, stems and treetops of different disease-resistant P. massoniana were studied as the research objective and Illumina MiSeq sequencing was used to analyse whether there were significant differences in the composition and diversity of endophytic bacterial communities between different disease-resistant P. massoniana. The results showed that at the genus level there were no obvious differences in the composition of the endophytic bacterial community of different disease-resistant P. massoniana in the leaves, but there were obvious differences in the roots, stems and treetops. The richness and diversity of endophytic bacteria in P. massoniana had no significant impact on its disease resistance, whilst the structure of endophytic bacterial community in stems and treetops may be related to its disease resistance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Based on the observation data of 115 weather stations of mango planting areas in South China (Guangdong, Guangxi and Fujian) from 1961 to 2016, combined with mango cold and freezing injury index, the weighted comprehensive evaluation method was used to determine the cold and freezing injury hazard index of each meteorological station in the planting area, and then established a multiple linear regression model between the cold and freezing injury hazard index and geographical factors. Finally, the regionalization of cold and freezing injury to mango in South China was made based on GIS technology. The results showed that there was a close relationship between the risk of cold and freezing injury and geographical factors in South China mango planting areas, and an overall trend was that the risk of mango cold and freezing injury gradually increased from coast to inland. In addition, with the increase of latitude and altitude, the risk of cold and freezing injury gradually increased from south to north. The slight risk areas were mainly distributed in the southern coastal areas and the low altitude areas of some inland cities of South China mango planting areas, accounting for 56.85% of the planting area, which was suitable for large-scale mango planting. The moderate risk areas were mainly distributed in the inland low and middle altitude areas of the mango planting area in South China, and the high latitude coastal areas in the north, accounting for 37.03% of the planting area. Furthermore, the severe and over severe hazard areas were mainly distributed in the inland high altitude areas of mango planting areas in South China, accounting for 6.12% of the planting area. Through the verification of historical disaster and annual production information of each county, the zoning result was consistent well with the actual situation. The results of this study could provide reference for the optimal layout and disaster prevention and mitigation of mango in South China mango planting area. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aim The aim of this study was to detect the role of osteoprotegerin ( OPG) gene variants in early-onset severe pre-eclampsia. Material and Methods The associations of 163 A/ G (rs3102735) and 950 T/ C (rs2073617) polymorphisms of OPG with pre-eclampsia (60 cases of early-onset severe pre-eclampsia and 91 cases of late-onset pre-eclampsia), as well as with the clinical manifestations of individuals, were evaluated. Results Data showed lower frequencies of TC and TC + CC genotypes and C allele of 950 T/ C in the early-onset group than those of the control and late-onset groups ( P = 0.003; P = 0.002; P = 0.005; P = 0.031; P = 0.021; P = 0.022). However, no significant differences were found in genotype and allele frequencies between the late-onset and control groups. Moreover, no significant differences were observed in the genotype and allele frequencies of 163 A/ G polymorphism among the three groups. In the early-onset group, 950 T/ C TC + CC genotype carriers exhibited significantly lower systolic blood pressure ([147.25 ± 11.89] mmHg) and 24-h urine protein ([2.46 ± 0.92] g) than the TT carriers ([165.88 ± 20.39] mmHg, [3.64 ± 0.81] g) ( P = 0.003; P = 0.001, respectively). Serum creatinine was significantly higher in women with the 163 A/ G AG + GG genotypes ([82.31 ± 11.66] μmol/L) than in those with the AA genotype ([71.90 ± 16.85] μmol/L) ( P = 0.003). Conclusion This study implicates that OPG gene variants may be associated with early-onset severe pre-eclampsia. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

China is one of countries with the highest mercury production in the world. The Guizhou Province in Southwestern China is currently one of the world's most important mercury production areas. In order to study the neurotoxicity of rice from Qingzhen Chemical Plant area and probe into the signal transduction molecular mechanism of injury in rat brain stimulation by mercury contaminated rice. The rats were exposed to mercury contaminated rice for 20 d. Both of the measurements of NO and NOS were processed according to the protocol of the kit. The effect of Hg contaminated rice on the expression of c-fos mRNA in rat brain and the expression of c-FOS protein in cortex, hippocampus were observed using reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) and immunocytochemical methods.The results showed the neural transmitter NO and NOS in brain were significantly change between exposure groups and control group; the mercury polluted rice induced significantly the expression of c-fos mRNA; the c-FOS positive cells in hippocampus and cortex of exposure groups were significant different from control group (p < 0.01). It could be concluded that nitric oxide was involved in mercury contaminated rice induced immediate early gene c-fos expressions in the rat brain. Through food chain, local ecosystem and health of local people iave been deteriorated seriously by mercury. This serious situation will last a long period. In order to alleviate mercury pollution, more work needs to do. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Hypertension is a common chronic disease in middle-aged and elderly people and is an important risk factor for many cardiovascular diseases. Its pathogenesis remains unclear. Epidemiological studies have found that the loss of telomere length in peripheral blood cells can increase the risk of coronary heart disease, myocardial infarction, and other diseases. However, a correlation between loss of telomere length and hypertension has not been established. In this study, we aimed to explore the association between telomere length and the risk of essential hypertension (EH) in Chinese coal miners. A case-control study was performed with 215 EH patients and 222 healthy controls in a large coal mining group located in North China. Face-to-face interviews were conducted by trained staff with the necessary medical knowledge. Relative telomere length (RTL) was measured by a quantitative real-time PCR assay using DNA extracted from peripheral blood. In the control group, the age-adjusted RTL was statistically significantly lower in miners performing hard physical labour compared with nonphysical labour (P = 0.043). A significantly shorter age-adjusted RTL was found in the control group of participants who consumed alcohol regularly compared with those who do not consume alcohol (P = 0.024). Age-adjusted RTL was negatively correlated with body mass index (BMI) and alcohol consumption. Hypertension was also found to be significantly correlated with factors such as age, BMI, alcohol consumption, smoking, and tea consumption. Our results suggest that RTL is associated with hypertension in coal miners. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background & objectives: Hypertension is a major risk factor for cardiovascular and renal diseases. In PR China, the prevalence of hypertension has substantially increased during the past four decades. Information on prevalence as well as awareness regarding treatment and prevention of hypertension is scarce particularly in rural settings. The objective of this study was therefore to estimate the prevalence and distribution of hypertension and to determine the status of hypertension awareness, treatment, and control in the general rural adult population in northeast China. Methods: During 2005-2007, in Liaoning province of northeast China a probability proportional to size sampling method was used to select a nationally representative sample. A total of 45,925 adults (aged >35 yr) were examined. Three blood pressure measurements were obtained by trained observers using a standardized sphygmomanometer after a 5-minute sitting rest. Information on history of hypertension and use of antihypertensive medications was obtained. Hypertension was defined as a mean systolic blood pressure >140 mm Hg, diastolic blood pressure >90 mm Hg, and/or use of antihypertensive medications. Results: Overall, 37.8 per cent of the rural adult population from northeast China aged 35 to 85 yr had hypertension. Among hypertensives, only 29.5 per cent were aware of their high blood pressure, 20.2 per cent were taking antihypertension medication and 0.9 per cent achieved blood pressure control (<140/90 mm Hg). Of all subjects, 43.9 per cent did not think that high blood pressure would endanger their lives. The reasons why not taking antihypertensive medication in hypertensives aware of having hypertension was 40.2 per cent for their lack of knowledge about the fatalness of hypertension and 32.3 per cent for financial straits. Interpretation & conclusion: Our results indicated that hypertension is highly prevalent in rural areas of northeast China. The percentages of those with hypertension who were aware, treated and controlled were unacceptably low. These results underscore the urgent need to take comprehensive controlling measures and improve the awareness of hypertension at the same time to control hypertension in rural population of Liaoning province. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Overall, SES have significant effects on HPI. • Families with different SES have different HPI strategies. • PE and PA mediate the effects of SES on some types of HPI. • The improvement of HPI in low-SES families may be hindered by low PE and PA. • From the perspective of mediating effect, PE contributes more than PA. Improving parental involvement is an effective way to narrow the achievement gap between families with low and high socioeconomic status (SES). However, the parental involvement of low-SES families is insufficient. In previous studies, the explanation for the insufficient parental involvement in low-SES families focused on the objective factors, ignoring the differences of subjective factors. Using data from the 2014 China Education Panel Survey (CEPS), this study examined relationships between family SES and four types of home-based parental involvement (HPI), as well as the mediating effects of parental attitudes (PA) and parental expectations (PE). The results showed that different families have different HPI strategies. Families with high-SES tend to improve parental homework support, parent–child communication, and parental time with children, while those with low-SES tend to improve strict discipline. Our research shows that PA and PE have significant mediating effects, which significantly reduce the HPI of low-SES families, mainly in strict discipline and parent–child communication. Besides, PE's effects are more significant than PA's. The findings of the study underline the necessity to focus on the problems of insufficient HPI caused by parental attitudes and expectations in low-SES families. It is of significance to explore comprehensive and effective ways to improve HPI for low-SES families. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]