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As China continues to face severe environmental degradation as a side effect of torrid economic growth and rise in population, the Chinese government has promulgated numerous environmental laws over the past few decades to address this critical issue. The efficacy of these laws, however, has been highly questionable. Although the laws themselves—modeled substantially on United States and European environmental laws—are relatively complete and comprehensive, difficulties in implementation and particularly enforcement have led to the continued deterioration of China's environment. These failures in implementation and enforcement of environmental laws emerge from numerous factors, most notably from the decentralized structure of China's environmental protection agency, from China's underdeveloped legal system, and from the country's insistent prioritization of continued economic growth over environmental protection. These factors constitute significant obstacles to effective environmental protection, but approaches based in public interest litigation and public participation currently provide the most viable methods for increasing the efficacy of Chinese environmental laws. Accordingly, an approach that incorporates both public participation and public interest litigation, similar to the qui tam system used in the United States, may prove especially effective in bolstering Chinese environmental protection. In essence, qui tam actions combine both citizen assistance and government-led litigation to prosecute wrongdoings. Under such a system that combines elements of public participation with government-led public interest litigation, China's central government will have the authority to prosecute civil environmental lawsuits filed by private citizens on behalf of the government, thereby creating a potentially powerful tool for Chinese environmental protection. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Juvenile Tachypleus tridentatus and Carcinoscorpius rotundicauda with prosomal widths of between 17.1 and 91.1 mm were obtained from their nursery beaches in Hong Kong. They were kept in the laboratory and fed a mixture of squid, prawn and fish. Prosomal width and wet weight were measured weekly to obtain growth data. Over half of the individuals molted during a five and a half month captivity period. After every ecdysis, prosomal width and wet weight of T. tridentatus grew by averages of 24.2% and 71.5% over pre-molt measurements, respectively. Similar values were obtained for C. rotundicauda, i.e. 24.0% and 77.3%, respectively. Three T. tridentatus with prosomal widths of between 26.5 and 35.0 mm molted twice between 89 and 149 days, leading to an average growth rate of 0.1 mm·day−1 and 0.04 g·day−1 in terms of prosomal width and wet weight, respectively. A positive growth allometry (b coefficient=2.97) was identified, indicating that weight gain for T. tridentatus, and possibly C. rotundicauda, was faster than prosomal width growth after each ecdysis. The effect of temperature on growth was also determined by comparing the percentages of T. tridentatus which molted at ∼28 °C and ∼18 °C. Fifty percent of individuals molted at the former, but only 10% at the latter. This study indicates that Hong Kong horseshoe crabs take a shorter time to reach sexual maturity, as compared with conspecifics in Japan, because they can molt more frequently at higher sediment/water temperatures (∼28 °C) if food is available. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

The systematic excavation, long term storage, inventory, and analysis of complete human skeletal remains is a new concept in East Asia. This study examined four problematic cases where there was a demonstrated need for the implementation of conservation techniques. The first case included several naturally mummified skulls from Xinjiang, Province, China. Salt crystals were found to be solidifying on the outer table. The second case involved four naturally mummified cave burials from southwestern Mongolia. Once removed from the dry environment, they began to decompose again. The two last cases were permafrost burials in northern Mongolia. The skeletons were wrapped and stored in a manner which encouraged mold growth. This study will give recommendations for thorough archaeological recovery, cleaning, packaging for transport, reconstruction, and long-term storage of human skeletal remains. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]