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This article introduces various definitions and criteria for the astronomical phenomena of "encroachments" (close lunar and planetary conjunctions) in pre-modern China. With improvements in observations and mathematical astronomy, the standard of encroachments began to undergo many changes leading to more precise explanations of the phenomena. Before the adoption of Huihui Lifa (Islamic-Chinese calendrical astronomy), traditional Chinese methods could not predict the phenomena of encroachments, and records of encroachments were mainly based on actual observations. These records abound in Chinese dynastic histories, and they play an essential role in the interpretation of astrological omens. In the first half of the seventeenth century, the prediction of encroachments became an effective approach for examining the accuracy of different elements of calendrical astronomy besides solar and lunar eclipses. In the meantime, with the introduction of western astronomical knowledge into China, people had a better understanding of the principle of encroachments, and they began to question its rationality in astrology. Moreover, new knowledge of encroachments also brought new insights and inspired some philosophical discussions on the structure of the cosmos. However, these new astronomical methods still served the old astrology, due to the continued requirements that astronomers interpret astrological omens. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Wetlands together with forest and ocean are considered as the three most important ecosystems on our planet, which can provide the most valuable ecosystem services. But with the development of human society, overuse of wetland resource has lead to more and more environmental problems, such as resource degradation, losses of biodiversity, rapid decrease of habitat for endangered and important species and so on. People also developed some measures to alleviate the trends, but not all of them were helpful and effective. So it is a pressing task to evaluate the existent modes for wetland resource protection and utilization and find out the most effective ways to solve these problems. The Dongting Lake is the second biggest freshwater lake in china, which was once the first, and its wetland resources are facing severe degradation because of overuse, which is typical in China. In this paper, we selected this region as our study area, benefits evaluation of wetland resource in the region with 36 modes of wetlands protection and utilization, such as hydrophyte cultivation, fishery products aquaculture, cropland cultivation, natural reserves and so on, were conducted using economic evaluation methods. 12 indices were selected, including runoff adjustment and flood control, water resource supply, transfer and fixation of nutriments, toxicants and deposits, local climate regulation, habitat for endangered and important species, maintaining the existent ecosystem and natural processes, animal and plant products supply, places for tourism, research, and education, and species diversity conservation, which were the main functions, uses, and attributes of wetland resource. Experts Grading Method was used to decide if the benefits of the wetlands resources with different modes of protection and utilization could be fully realized, if it was, the mark was 1, if not, less than 1 and larger than or equal to 0. The evaluation results were expressed with monetary values and sorted by the values, which could clearly show direct use value, indirect use value and non- use value of different types of wetland resource pre ha. with 36 modes of wetlands protection and utilization in the Dongting lake region, we can compare these values directly and objectively, and find out the optimal modes for wetland protection and utilization easily. So the research will provide scientific references for the future plan of wetlands sustainable development. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

To resolve the contradictions between cosmology and computation in the previous planetary theory Mei Wending devised a new system according to which the five planets are fixed to their annual circles Suilun) whose centers are situated on planetary deferent (Bentian) while they revolve figuratively on the circle centered on the Sun. Providing a set of solutions for cosmological and computational problems, this theory was widely appreciated among Mei's successors and was even adopted in the Imperial Compendium of Observational and Computational Astronomy (Lixiang Kaocheng). But Mei's descriptions remained on the technical level and did not touch the physical reality of planetary motions. Although mid-Qing literati using mathematical astronomy for the purpose of evidential studies proposed that “the reasons why” (Suoyiran) celestial bodies moved in the manner observed could not be known, they still believed in Mei's authority on planetary theory. After the Newtonian gravitational theory was introduced into China during the late Qing, some literati still believed that Mei's theory of the planetary motions was true. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In late February and early March of 1524 there occurred in Aquarius-Pisces an impressive massing of all five planets normally visible to the naked eye. This was the densest such gathering in centuries. In both China and the West such phenomena had long loomed large because of their astrological association with world-changing events on the grandest scale. Events in 1524 in China and Europe in response to the phenomenon provide insight into the widely divergent Chinese and Western responses to such "millennial" events. The following discussion contrasts the astrological background and contemporary impact of this signal event in late Ming China and Reformation Europe. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Anthropogenic environmental change will heavily impact cities, yet associated health risks will depend significantly on decisions made by urban leaders across a wide range of non-health sectors, including transport, energy, housing, basic urban services, and others. A subset of planetary health researchers focus on understanding the urban health impacts of global environmental change, and how these vary globally and within cities. Such researchers increasingly adopt collaborative transdisciplinary approaches to engage policy-makers, private citizens, and other actors in identifying and evaluating potential policy solutions that will reduce environmental impacts in ways that simultaneously promote health, equity, and/or local economies-in other words, maximising 'co-benefits'. This report presents observations from a participatory workshop focused on challenges and opportunities for urban planetary health research. The workshop, held at the 16th International Conference on Urban Health (ICUH) in Xiamen, China, in November 2019, brought together 49 participants and covered topics related to collaboration, data, and research impact. It featured research projects funded by the Wellcome Trust's Our Planet Our Health (OPOH) programme. This report aims to concisely summarise and disseminate participants' collective contributions to current methodological practice in urban planetary health research.

SiTian is an ambitious ground-based all-sky optical monitoring project, developed by the Chinese Academy of Sciences. The concept is an integrated network of dozens of 1-m-class telescopes deployed partly in China and partly at various other sites around the world. The main science goals are the detection, identification and monitoring of optical transients (such as gravitational wave events, fast radio bursts, supernovae) on the largely unknown timescales of less than 1 day; SiTian will also provide a treasure trove of data for studies of AGN, quasars, variable stars, planets, asteroids, and microlensing events. To achieve those goals, SiTian will scan at least 10,000 square deg of sky every 30 min, down to a detection limit of $V \approx 21$ mag. The scans will produce simultaneous light-curves in 3 optical bands. In addition, SiTian will include at least three 4-m telescopes specifically allocated for follow-up spectroscopy of the most interesting targets. We plan to complete the installation of 72 telescopes by 2030 and start full scientific operations in 2032.

Ant Forest, a mobile app developed by the monolithic Alibaba Group, is greening individuals' daily activities and transforming human capacity to reverse global environmental degradation. Over 500 million e-trees are being cultivated every day in China using Ant Forest, and over 122 million real trees have been planted over more than 112 000 ha of degraded land. Ant Forest showcases how internet technology innovation combined with digital financing and philanthropy is contributing to solving environmental issues while attracting and retaining customer loyalty. This powerful business model has the potential to spread to all manner of environmental outcomes., (© 2020 John Wiley & Sons Ltd.)

In this article the author discusses the Global Green New Deal, an initiative taken by the United Nations Environment Programme for the revival of global economy. It informs that China and South Korea, member countries of Group of Twenty (G 20) have invested in environmental stimulus projects but other member countries of this group still need to invest in order to save the planet and the economy. He feels members of G 20 should take a global leadership in promoting green recovery. He says that the biggest failure of the G 20 is that it has neglected to address the economic and environmental vulnerability of the world's poor.

The article reports that Fang Shi-min, science essayist from China, has been accused of academic misconduct. A Beijing intermediate court ruled on November 21 that an article of Fang defamed late Liu Zihua, a government employee from Sichun Province. During 1930s, Liu predicted the existence of a 10th major planet in the solar system. Fang, in his article labeled Liu's prediction "pseudoscience" and wrote that a Chinese astronomer discredited in the 1940s. Xiao Chuan-guo, a urology professor, has sued Fang as he has accused the professor in an essay of counting conference abstracts as publications in international journals.