A New Cold War? Causes and Future of the Emerging US-China Rivalry

The Trump Administration declared China a strategic competitor and a revisionist power. It escalated a trade war to a fullfrontal clash with China. Some experts qualified it as a new Cold War between the US and China. Both countries are undergoing dramatic transformation. Their destinations will determine the course and outcome of the emerging US-China rivalry. This article argues that while engagement is now defined by competitive interests, the profound interdependence continues underpinning the bilateral relationship. Although there is no precedent to guide economic and geostrategic competition between the two largest and deeply intertwined economies and heavily militarized superpowers, the US and China must find some balance of interests with each other and avoid violent confrontation that serves neither’s interest. This level of engagement requires vision and flexibility. With strong economic interdependence, the existence of an international institutional order, limited ideological confrontation, and nuclear second-strike capability, leaders of two countries have no choice but find ways to manage their competition and continue futher engagement with each other. Authors conclude that the stronger China grows, the harder it gets for Washington to force it back down. Driving PRC into a corner is the way to make China even tougher. So it could cause more severe consequences for both countries

Angelica sinensis polysaccharide promotes apoptosis by inhibiting JAK/STAT pathway in breast cancer cells

Purpose: To determine whether Angelica polysaccharide (APS) induced apoptosis via regulation of the Janus kinase (JAK)/signal transducers and activators of transcription (STAT) pathway in breast cancer cells. Methods: Human MCF-7 cells were treated with APS. Cell proliferation, apoptosis, expression of apoptotic proteins, and the phosphorylation level of Janus kinase (JAK) and STAT were measured, respectively. For further analysis, MCF-7 cells were transfected with a JAK2 overexpression plasmid or treated with a classical JAK inhibitor, ruxolitinib. Results: Treatment with APS dose-dependently reduced cell proliferation, induced apoptosis, and downregulated the levels of phosphorylated JAK and STAT in MCF-7 cells. JAK inhibitor, ruxolitinib, blocked JAK/STAT pathway and induced cell apoptosis in MCF-7 cells. Besides, JAK2 overexpression reversed the effects of APS on cell viability and apoptosis. Conclusion: The results indicate that polysaccharide isolated from Angelica sinensis promotes apoptosis by inhibiting JAK/STAT pathway in breast cancer cells. Thus, APS may be useful as a potential therapeutic agent for breast cancer

Empirical Study on Formation Path of Family Farms in Different Environments from the Perspective of ANT

Family farm is an essential modern agricultural micro economic organization. With accelerated advance of rural land circulation and large-scale management, family farm gradually becomes an important choice for modern agricultural management. With ANT as theoretical basis, this paper analyzed formation of family farms in the joint action of endogenous and exogenous forces. Besides, it analyzed Fengsheng Tobacco Family Farm of Guyue Town in Zhucheng City of Shandong Province and Li Chunfeng’s Family Farm in Songjiang District of Shanghai. Research indicates that different regional environments bring about different actors and also different formation paths for family farms