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Copyright of Canadian Journal of Agricultural Economics is the property of Wiley-Blackwell and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Background: Acupuncture is effective in symptom and quality of life improvement of chronic asthma, but the efficacy differences between different acupoints are uncertain. In terms of the theory of Meridian-viscera Association, the study aims to investigate the different effectiveness between acupoints in Lung meridian and the acupoints in Heart meridian, so as to provide the evidence to develop a better prescription of the acupuncture treatment of chronic persistent asthma.Methods: This study is a multicentral randomized controlled trial. A total of 68 chronic persistent asthma patients will be randomly allocated into two groups: the Lung meridian group and the Heart meridian group. This trial will include a 2-week baseline period, a 4-week treatment period with 12 sessions' acupuncture, and an 8-week follow-up period. The primary outcome is the Asthma Quality of Life Questionnaire (AQLQ). Secondary outcomes are the Asthma Control Test (ACT), Peak Expiratory Flow (PEF), and Forced Expiratory Volume in 1 s (FEV1). The AQLQ and ACT will be collected at baseline, week 4, week 8, and week 12 after randomization. PEF, FEV1, the Self-rating Anxiety Scale (SAS), and the Self-rating Depression Scale (SDS) will be assessed at baseline and week 4.Discussion: The results will provide evidence for acupuncture prescription selection and the clinical efficacy improvement. The results of this trial will also be used to determine whether or not a full definitive trial will go ahead, which will further confirm the theory of Meridian-viscera Association.Trial Registration: Chinese Clinical Trial Registry ( http://www.chictr.org.cn/showproj.aspx?proj=43803 ) ChiCTR1900027284. Registered on 7 November 2019. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: Obesity, dyslipidemia and diabetes have been recognized as risk factors of hypertension in the general population. This study focused on college students and correlations between serum lipids, serum uric acid, fasting plasma glucose, serum creatinine, body mass index, brachial-ankle pulse wave velocity and hypertension. The results suggested that there was no relevance between serum lipids and hypertension. However, it came out that hypertension is associated with normal fasting plasma glucose, BMI (thinness and normal weight), normal serum creatinine. Methods: A total of 5185 students were enrolled, and their blood pressure, height and weight were measured. 285 of the students were selected to take physical examinations including serum uric acid, total cholesterol, low-density lipoprotein cholesterol, triglyceride, high-density lipoprotein cholesterol, fasting plasma glucose, serum creatinine, blood urea nitrogen, ankle-brachial index and brachial-ankle pulse wave velocity measured. Results: The values of systolic blood pressure(SBP), diastolic blood pressure(DBP), serum uric acid, fasting plasma glucose(FPG), serum creatinine, body mass index(BMI), and brachial-ankle pulse wave velocity(baPWV) were higher in hypertension group than those in non-hypertension group (P < .001, <0.001, <0.001, = 0.009, = 0.07, <0.001, <0.001, respectively ). Logistic regression showed correlations between hypertension and hyperuricemia ( OR = 2.975, 95%CI: 1.672-5.291 ), obesity ( OR = 2.814, 95%CI: 1.297-6.105 ), fasting plasma glucose ( OR = 2.184, 95%CI: 1.090-4.378 ) and brachial-ankle pulse wave velocity ( OR = 1.005, 95%CI: 1.003-1.007 ). The AUC was 0.786 (95%CI: 0.729-0.842, P < .0001) . We can draw a conclusion that hyperuricemia, obesity, fasting plasma glucose and brachial-ankle pulse wave velocity, listed in descending order of influence, are risk factors for hypertension in college students.

Two new genera of the tribe Sarimini are described from south of China. They are Sarimissus gen. nov. with a new species S. maculifrons sp. nov. from Hainan province and Duplexissus gen. nov. with a new species D. punctatulus sp. nov. from Yunnan province. The photos of habitus and the male genitalia of the new species are provided. The biology, distribution and origin of the tribe Sarimini are discussed.

Biomphalaria straminea is native to Brazil but has established a population in Guangdong Province, China. Its potential of expanding and transmitting Schistosoma mansoni is of great concern. We seek to map S. mansoni transmission potential by predicting ecological dimensions and potential distributions of B. straminea using state-of-the-art ecological niche model approaches. Two environmental datasets were selected to fit individual and ensemble niche models, together with the evaluation of niche conservatism during B. straminea invasion in China. A small area is still occupied by the introduced population compared to that in Brazil. A vast space with suitable climate remains unfilled and might be available to B. straminea. Contrasting results of niche conservatism evaluation were attained based on the two environmental datasets. The coastal areas in southern China, together with south-western Yunnan and southern Hainan and Taiwan were consistent supported by multiple model approaches, showing high climate suitability for B. straminea. Attention should be paid to the possibility of S. mansoni epidemic in these identified areas, as high pressure due to propagation and future climate change may further complicate conditions. Our results call for rigorous monitoring and supervising along these areas in China.

A new genus Connelicita gen. nov. with 2 new species (C. backyensis sp. nov. and C. haiphongensis sp. nov.) of Tropiduchidae Elicini from Vietnam are described and illustrated. The Chinese species C. lungchowensis (Chou et Lu, 1977) comb. nov. is transferred into this new genus from the genus Sassula (Nogodinidae). A key to species of the new genus distributed in North Vietnam and China (Guangxi) is provided.

A new genus Tetricodissus gen. nov. with one new species Tetricodissus pandlineus sp. nov. from Yunnan Province, China, is described and illustrated in the tribe Parahiraciini of planthopper family Issidae. Fortunia jianfenglingensis Chen, Zhang & Chang, 2014 is transferred into the genus Bardunia Stål, 1863. A key to genera of the tribe Parahiraciini is provided and the taxonomic position of the new genus in Parahiraciini is discussed.

Goniopsarites gen. nov. is described from China in the tribe Pisachini with G. fronticonvexus sp. nov. as the type species. The genus Pisacha is revised, four new species P. yinggensis sp. nov., P. baculiformis sp. nov., P. falcata sp. nov., P. balteiformis sp. nov. are described, and P. encaustica (Jacobi, 1916) comb. nov. & stat. rev. is reestablished which has been treated as P. naga according to specimens from Taiwan. Identification keys to three genera of the tribe Pisachini and to all species of Pisacha are presented.

The genus Loxocephala Schaum, 1850 is reviewed. Three new species: L. rugosa sp. nov., L. verticalis sp. nov. and L. mangkangensis sp. nov. are described from China. L., perpunctata Jacobi, 1944 and L. sinica Chou & Huang, 1985 are given supplementary descriptions. In addition, according to the male genitalia, L. sinica sichuanensis Chou & Huang, 1985 is upgraded to species level: L. sichuanensis Chou & Huang, 1985 stat. nov. A key to all the known species of the genus is provided.