Migration from China to the EU: the challenge within Europe

At the beginning of the 21st Century, we have witnessed a rapid growth in Chinese immigration to the European Union (EU), which has had a profound impact on local Chinese communities in various ways. This chapter aims to reveal the latest developments in Chinese immigration in the EU, as well as the new dynamics, features and impacts on local Chinese communities. The above questions are addressed by a combination of secondary data analysis and our own observation in Italy and the UK in recent years. Some challenging issues facing Chinese communities are highlighted

Extending credit to small and medium size companies : relationships and conflict management

Purpose: Funding small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) may be especially valuable in China to stimulate innovation and its emerging market economy. These firms have been advised to build on the Chinese value of guanxi to manage conflicts and develop relationships with banks. This study aims to explore the nature of relationships that help SMEs inform banks and convince them to provide credit. Design/methodology/approach: As this study’s theorizing is about whether banks and firms that manage their conflicts for mutual benefit set the foundation for bank’s confidence in extending credit, therefore, both the bank officers and the company managers were asked to provide information for the study. One hundred and six pairs of bank officers in the loan department of four banks and SME managers in Shanghai, China completed a questionnaire survey for this study. Findings: Results support the argument that marketing research on customer orientation and organization behavior research on conflict management identify how to develop effective marketing relationships between SMEs and banks in China. Banks that were customer oriented laid the groundwork for managing conflict cooperatively and not competitively with borrowing firms. Cooperative conflict management in turn was found to convince banks that they could confidently provide credit and borrowers that their transaction costs will be reasonable. Originality/value: This study identifies that developing guanxi and the capacity to manage conflict cooperatively are an important foundation for providing credit to SMEs in China

Seed hairs of poplar trees as natural airborne pollen trap for allergenic pollen grains

The present article deals with the efficacy of seed hairs of poplar trees (Populus spp.) as a potent natural airborne pollen trap. Differenht species of Populus are commonly found planted along the streets in the cities of North China. The seed hairs and pericarp of poplar trees were collect6ed from the trees and on the ground in Beijing Botanical Garden of Chinese Academy of Sciences and around Miyun Reservoir during May 2005 for pollen analysis. Different pollen spectra are recorded from different smples and are characterised by dominant occurrence of pollen grains of pollen grains of arboreal and anemophilous plants. In addition, pollen grains of non-arboreal plants including grasses are also found trapped. Among the 46 trapped pollen grains, 26 are known to be allergenic. This study suggests that poplar seed hairs possibly make people feel uncomfortable due to the presence of allergenic pollen traped in the hairs

Natural Immunity Enhances the Activity of a DR5 Agonistic Antibody and Carboplatin in the Treatment of Ovarian Cancer

The tumor necrosis factorrelated apoptosis-inducing ligand (TRAIL) induces apoptosis specifically in cancer cells with little effect on normal cells. We have previously shown that TRAIL signaling is altered in most ovarian cancer patients and that resistance to TRAIL contributes to ovarian cancer progression. In this study, we investigated whether resistance to TRAIL may be overcome by a monoclonal TRAILR2 (DR5) agonistic antibody (AD5-10). We found that the joint presence of AD5-10 with TRAIL and natural killer (NK) cells expressing TRAIL resensitizes ovarian cancer cells to apoptosis in vitro and in vivo, respectively. The combination of AD5-10 with carboplatin exerts a more than additive effect in vitro, which may at least partially be explained by the fact that carboplatin triggers DR5 expression on ovarian cancer cells. Moreover, AD5-10 restores the sensitivity of platin-resistant ovarian cancer to carboplatin in vivo. In addition, we found that TRAIL expression and NK cells are abundant in the tumor microenvironment and that depletion of NK cells abolishes the antitumor activity of AD5-10. This indicates that NK-mediated immunosurveillance against ovarian cancer might be mediated by TRAIL and that apoptosis induced by AD5-10 requires the presence of NK cells. In conclusion, this study indicates a key role and strong antitumorigenic effect of DR5 and highlights a novel link between NK-mediated immunosurveillance and activation of DR5-mediated apoptosis in ovarian cancer. Mol Cancer Ther; 9(4); 100718

The gathering storm: AIDS policy in China

This article offers an overview of the AIDS situation in China and analyses the Chinese official responses to the AIDS threat since 1985. It decomposes China's AIDS policy into two phases: a period with institutional inertia featured during the initial phase; and a recent period when the official stance on AIDS demonstrates stronger political will and commitment. The article particularly examines an unusual mode of HIV transmission in China, i.e. through unsafe, unregulated blood collection, to highlight the point that vulnerability to HIV/AIDS has been aggravated in a wider context of transition and worsening inequality. The article also compares policies for tacking AIDS with those for tackling SARS, and suggests lessons that can be learnt. It argues that despite recent positive developments, AIDS needs to be confronted more forcefully through an integrated approach that incorporates broader and fundamental development issues