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BACKGROUND: Anastatus japonicus Ashmead, a biological control agent utilized in China to control fruit bugs and forest caterpillars, is efficiently raised on large Chinese oak silkworm (Antheraea pernyi) eggs. Here, we investigated the biological parameters of non‐diapaused and diapaused Anastatus japonicus after long‐term storage within eggs of the host, Antheraea pernyi, under laboratory conditions. RESULTS: Diapaused mature larvae of Anastatus japonicus were more cold‐tolerant than non‐diapaused mature larvae, as reflected by a lower supercoiling point, lower freezing point, and higher survival rate at cold temperatures. Diapause induction enhanced the lifespan, fecundity and oviposition period of Anastatus japonicus than non‐diapaused Anastatus japonicus when refrigerated for 6 months. However, after 12 months of refrigeration, the fecundity and oviposition period of Anastatus japonicus were significantly reduced with and without diapause. No difference in the progeny sex ratio of Anastatus japonicus was observed between diapause‐induction treatment and those of non‐diapaused. With the extension of refrigeration period from 6 months to 12 months, the lifespan, fecundity and oviposition period of Anastatus japonicus which were treated with diapause induction showed a sharp decrease. No significantly difference in the lifespan, fecundity and oviposition period of Anastatus japonicus was observed between diapause‐induction treatment and those of non‐diapaused when refrigerated for 12 months. CONCLUSION: These results suggest that the induction of diapause is an applicable technique to achieve mass production of Anastatus japonicus in long‐term storage using eggs of the factitious host Antheraea pernyi, without compromising the quality of the parasitoid. The refrigeration period of diapaused Anastatus japonicus should not exceed 6 months. © 2023 Society of Chemical Industry. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Recent past has witnessed a great proliferation of sharing economy platforms with great successes, but also many failures on their journey toward institutionalization, that is, their establishment and acceptance in society. To develop insight on factors contributing to this institutionalization process, this paper relies on the literature in institutional entrepreneurship and investigates sharing economy platforms in China, highlighting institutional voids that are encountered, and suggesting ways on how they can be overcome. These insights are derived through a multiple case study approach involving 61 semi‐structured interviews with managers from eight sharing economy platforms (DiDi, Uber China, Huochebang, Yunmanman, OfO, Mobike, Evcard, and Zhida) across four sharing economy industries in China (ride‐sharing, logistics‐sharing, bike‐sharing, and car‐sharing). The findings highlight the importance of exchange and collaboration with stakeholders (allies) in the network, as well as the effective response to emerging issues through the adaptation of the business models. In addition, mergers and acquisitions, and the role of government are identified as critical components in aiding platforms in their progression toward institutionalization. Further cognitive, regulative, and normative factors are found to represent valuable institutional pillars that serve as a fertile foundation throughout the institutionalization process. Overall, the findings provide an intriguing insight into the journey of Chinese sharing economy platforms toward institutionalization. Highlights: This paper highlights institutional voids that need to be overcome on sharing economy platforms' journeys toward institutionalization in China, together with advice on how to overcome these voids.Insights were developed based on a multiple case study approach involving 61 semi‐structured interviews with managers from eight sharing economy platforms (DiDi, Uber China, Huochebang, Yunmanman, OfO, Mobike, Evcard, and Zhida,) across four sharing economy industries in China (ride‐sharing, logistics‐sharing, bike‐sharing, and car‐sharing).Chinese sharing economy platforms can overcome institutional voids on their journey from fragmentation to institutionalization by leveraging increased exchange and collaboration with stakeholders, by effectively responding to emerging issues and adjusting their business models accordingly, by leveraging capital forces in the form of mergers and acquisition, by leveraging authority forces in the form of governmental regulations, and by leveraging institutional pillars as a valuable foundation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Highlights: [•] Litchi stink bug is the most significant pest in litchi and longan orchards. [•] Anastatus japonicas is an efficient enemy of Tessaratoma papillosa. [•] A. japonicus has been mass reared and successful used as a biocontrol agent. [•] Many factors constraint the utilization of A. japonicas. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The purpose of this study is to provide empirical evidence for the sharing-based product service system (sharing-based PSS), a new type of PSS, to achieve sustainable performance in sharing economy context. A multiple case study method was applied, in which 20 semi-structured interviews were conducted with key respondents from three transport sharing economy companies (i.e., OfO, Mobike, and Man-bang) in China. We found that the structural and infrastructural aspects of the service delivery system design influence the achievement of sustainability for sharing economy platforms. Moreover, by applying contingency theory, this study identified goal congruence and application of information and communications technology as contingent factors that affect the relationship between the service delivery system design and the sustainability initiatives. This study provides insightful knowledge into the sharing-based PSS and therefore has enormous practical implications for sharing economy platforms. • We analyze sustainability of sharing-based product service systems (PSS). • 20 interviews with key people from three sharing economy companies were conducted. • Structural and infrastructural aspects affect sustainability of sharing economy firms. • Goal congruence and application of ICT as contingent factors in sharing economy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: In this paper, we present newly obtained molybdenite Re–Os ages for the Chehugou copper–molybdenum deposit and the Yuanbaoshan molybdenum mineral locality from the Chifeng area on the northern margin of the North China block, combined with U–Pb zircon ages of the host granites. The Re–Os isochron age of six molybdenite samples from the Chehugou deposit is 257.5±2.5 Ma and one molybdenite sample from the Yuanbaoshan locality yields a Re–Os model age of 248.0±2.7 Ma. These ages clearly indicate the signature latest Permian to Early Triassic Cu–Mo or Mo mineralization that has not been previously recognized. Zircon LA-ICP-MS U–Pb dating shows that the host granites of the Chehugou deposit and Yuanbaoshan locality formed in the Late Devonian (376±3 Ma) and Late Permian (269±3 Ma), respectively, and is not of Jurassic age, as previously thought. The latest Permian to Early Triassic Cu–Mo mineralization is likely related to extension due to final closure of the Paleo-Asian Ocean and amalgamation of the Mongolian arc terranes with the northern North China block. The establishment of a latest Permian to Early Triassic age for mineralization should encourage renewed exploration aimed at the discovery of new Mo or Cu–Mo resources along the northern margin of the North China block. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Objectives: To cross-sectionally explore the potential risk factors for rapid eye movement (REM) sleep behavior disorder (RBD) in a community cohort in Shanghai.Methods: Based on the validated RBD screening questionnaire (RBDSQ), we identified individuals with probable RBD (pRBD) in 3635 community-dwelling residents (≥50 years old) from an urban community of Shanghai. Potential risk factors of pRBD, including age, sex, smoking, socioeconomic status, obesity, consumption of tea (surrogate for caffeine intake) and alcohol, medications and chronic disease status, were assessed via questionnaire. We used logistic regression to investigate the associations between these studied factors and pRBD after adjusting for age, sex and other studied factors.Results: Based on the RBDSQ score ≥5, 2.70% (3.28% in men and 2.41% in women) participants were considered as pRBD. We found that lower education, presence of head injury, atrial fibrillation, hyperlipidemia, constipation, olfactory disturbance, and imbalance, use of alcoholic beverage, selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor, and benzodiazepine were associated with higher likelihood of having pRBD (P < 0.05 for all). In contrast, male sex, use of coffee or tea, smoking and other factors were not significantly association with altered risk of having pRBD. We did not find significant interaction between sex, age and these factors, in relation to pRBD risk.Conclusions: In this community-based study of older adults, we identified several potential risk factors for concurrent pRBD, including environmental factors and vascular risk factors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Asian corn borer, Ostrinia furnacalis (Guenée), is a key corn pest in the Asian-Western Pacific countries. It overwinters as full-grown larvae in plant stalks or in a spun-silk covering located in the plant debris in the temperate regions of China. Supercooling point (SCP) and survival rate after low sub-zero temperature treatment were assessed for field-collected populations in the laboratory using a cool bath with a 1°C/min cooling rate until -40°C. Mean SCPs were varied among geographical populations, with a significant decline from -22.7°C of Haikou, the multivoltine tropical population in the south, to -28.5°C of Gongzhuling, the univoltine temperate population in the northeast of China. In addition, there was more than 1°C difference in SCP between Gongzhuling univoltine and bivoltine populations that were from the same geographic origin. Mean SCPs of the Guangzhou population fluctuated over the year, with significantly lower SCPs in winter than in other seasons, which correlated with a significantly higher proportion of diapausing larvae in winter than in other seasons. Over 41% of overwintering larvae from the northeast population could withstand to be supercooled for a few minutes to the low sub-zero temperature of -40°C, but only 6.7% of their southern counterparts did so. The findings from this study suggest that O. furnacalis mostly takes advantage of freeze avoidance as diapausing larvae for overwintering in the southern region, whereas it exhibits freeze tolerance in diapause in the northeastern region., (© 2014 Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences.)