In order to save energy consumption for the downstream processes, consecutive very-high-gravity batch fermentation was developed for ethanol production with the self-flocculating yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae flo. The fermentation system exhibited a high ethanol productivity of 8.2 g/(L x h) with average ethanol concentration around 120 g/L. However, deterioration of the sedimentation performance of yeast flocs was observed as the consecutive fermentation process was prolonged, which significantly extended the time required for yeast flocs to separate from fermentation broth, and exaggerated the inhibition of high ethanol concentration on the yeast flocs, making them quickly lost viability and the fermentation system interrupted after 11 consecutive batches. Experimental results illustrated that decrease of the size of yeast flocs was the main reason, which could be prevented by stimulating the propagation of the yeast flocs. Thus, yeast was purged from the fermentation system at the end of each batch, and the concentration of yeast flocs within the fermentor was maintained at a relatively low level to stimulate their propagation. Although the ethanol productivity was decreased to 4.0 g/(L x h), the size of yeast flocs was stabilized after 10 consecutive batches and maintained for another 14 batches without further decrease, indicating the fermentation system could be operated reliably.
Ethanol ; analysis ; metabolism ; Fermentation ; Flocculation ; Industrial Microbiology ; economics ; methods ; Saccharomyces cerevisiae ; growth & development ; metabolism

OBJECTIVETo analyze the current situation about Glycyrrhiza resources, summarize the research achievements on Glycyrrhiza relative industries, and indentify the importance of developing Glycyrrhiza industries to promote the three-dimensional rural economic development in the Three-North areas.

METHODLiteratures and documents were referred to, in combination with overview and analysis of the outcomes and achievements of our group.

RESULT AND CONCLUSIONThe gap between supply and demand of resources is enlarged continuously. To develop high-quality Glycyrrhiza cultivation is the most powerful and effective measure to protect wild resources and the environment and promote the three-dimensional rural economic development in the Three-North areas.

China ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; economics ; Economic Development ; Glycyrrhiza ; Social Planning

Distribution channel of Chinese herbal medicines has been changing. From Han to Ming Dynasty, Chinese herbal medicine were mainly trafficked to urban by dealers or farmers; From the Ming Dynasty to the foundation of new China, distribution channels are primarily intermediated with township "bazaar" and national distribution center with fixed place and regularly trading hours. In the planned economy period, the state-owned herbal medicine company was the sole medium with monopoly nature. From the mid1980s to the end of last century, planned economy and market economy have been co-existing. Stepping into 21st century, producing area highlighted in the distribution channels. Presence or absence and rise or fall of different types of distribution market went throughout the changing process of distribution channels, which became an important clue. Changes were motivated by economical consideration of channel subject, which originated from commodity characteristic and social environment changes.
Cities ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; economics ; supply & distribution ; Economic Development ; Marketing

The investigation was conducted in one rural commune. Information was gathered about socio-economic status (SES) and food consumption of 544 households with 3 categories of SES. The results showed that the energy intake of household increased with higher socio-economic conditions. Rice, fat/oil, nut and sesame were most consumed in the households of the medium socio-economic status. The consumption of meat, fish, eggs and fruits tend to increase with better higher SEC. Vegetables consumption was low at all studied households.
Economics ; Food

Industrial Accident Compensation Insurance (IACI) has a history of about 50 yr, and is the oldest social insurance system in Korea. After more than 20 times of revision improvements in benefits, its contents and claim systems have been upgraded. It became the protector of injured workers and their families, and at the same time became the system which could cope with both financial burden of employers and their responsibilities. However, there are some issues to be reformed to upgrade the IACI: 1) the problems in the approval system of occupational diseases, 2) quality improvement of workers' compensation medical care, 3) vocational rehabilitation and return to work, 4) workers' compensation premiums and out-of-pocket money of injured workers, 5) issues in application of IACI. Growth of IACI cannot be achieved by an effort of an individual. Efforts by workers, owners, and government, in addition to physicians and welfare professionals toward the same goal are required for the next level improvement of IACI.
Humans ; Industry/economics ; Insurance, Accident/*economics ; Occupational Diseases/economics ; Rehabilitation, Vocational/economics ; Workers' Compensation/*economics

OBJECTIVETo describe the impact of the global economic crisis on the nutritional status of children in China during and after the crisis.

METHODSData from 1990 to 2010 were sourced from the National Food and Nutrition Surveillance System. Approximately 16 000 children under 5 years old were selected using a stratified random cluster method from 40 surveillance sites. Anthropometric and hemoglobin measurements for children under 5 were conducted. Nutritional status was determined according to WHO child growth standards.

RESULTSPrevalence of underweight and stunting in children under 5 had a downward trend. Underweight prevalence was close to normal (less than 5%), with prevalence of stunting 12.6% in 2009 and 12.1% in 2010 in rural areas. Prevalence of stunting in infants under 6 months and 6-12 months old in poorer rural areas increased from 5.7%-9.1% and 6.7%-12.5%, respectively, in 2008-2009. This trend also continued post-crisis in 2010. Prevalence of stunting in children left behind by mothers was 20%-30% higher than in children the same age in general and poorer rural areas. Prevalence of anemia in children did not change in rural areas, but prevalence of anemia in all age groups increased in poorer rural areas, especially in children under 24 months old. Level reached 30%-40% in 2009, and fluctuated in 2010.

CONCLUSIONThe nutritional status of children under 5 was comparatively stable during and after the global economic crisis, attributable to the Chinese government's policy response. The nutritional status in poorer rural areas fluctuated in response to the economic crisis and, thus, relevant action and intervention must be taken immediately to help the most vulnerable population in poorer rural areas. A proper national nutritional strategy for children under 2 years old, including nutrition supplementation for pregnant women and in-home fortification for complementary feeding, should be initiated.

Aging ; Anemia ; economics ; epidemiology ; Child Development ; physiology ; Child Nutrition Disorders ; economics ; epidemiology ; Child, Preschool ; China ; epidemiology ; Economic Recession ; Female ; Humans ; Infant ; Infant Nutrition Disorders ; economics ; epidemiology ; Male ; Nutritional Status ; physiology ; Population Surveillance ; Poverty ; Pregnancy ; Prevalence ; Rural Population ; Thinness ; Time Factors

AIDS Serodiagnosis ; economics ; Counseling ; economics ; Humans ; Mass Screening ; economics

Humans ; Mass Screening ; economics ; Research ; economics

OBJECTIVETo understand the projects completion and research progresses in pediatrics which were funded by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (NSFC), and evaluate the accomplishment objectively and justly.

METHODSThe completion status of projects in pediatrics funded by department of clinical medicine II from 2002 to 2006 was analysed retrospectively, and important research achievement and outstanding development in some projects were reported.

RESULTSDuring the period between 2002 and 2006, 420 articles were published, and the average was 8.1 papers per project, which included 56 papers that were published in journals indexed by SCI (the average was 1.1 papers per project). The completion of general project was better than that of "the Young Researchers Fund" and small grant project. Ten post-doctors, 102 doctors and 109 masters were trained. Two projects were awarded with the first grade prize and another 2 with the second grade prize at the provincial and ministerial level, 4 items applied for patent and 1 was granted. These completed projects, which were mainly related to 7 of 12 subspecialties in the field of pediatrics, such as the respiratory disease, nephrology, neurology, cardiology, endocrinology, hematology, neonatology, are the major portion of the application projects and subsidized projects funded by NSFC, and achieved great research progresses.

CONCLUSIONDuring the period between 2002 and 2006, the 52 completed projects in pediatrics showed difference in the distribution and quality of accomplishment among subspecialties and among types of supported projects; there are some gaps between pediatrics and some other clinical basic subspecialties II, this situation released the research status and problems in development of pediatrics in China. The general projects completion was good, and many projects obtained research achievements, which reflect the leading function of NSFC in pediatric research.

Foundations ; Pediatrics ; Periodicals as Topic ; economics ; Research ; economics

Humans ; Physicians ; economics