Allele-specific induction of IL-1beta expression by C/EBPbeta and PU.1 contributes to increased tuberculosis susceptibility

Mycobacterium tuberculosis infection is associated with a spectrum of clinical outcomes, from long-term latent infection to different manifestations of progressive disease. Pro-inflammatory pathways, such as those controlled by IL-1beta, have the contrasting potential both to prevent disease by restricting bacterial replication, and to promote disease by inflicting tissue damage. Thus, the ultimate contribution of individual inflammatory pathways to the outcome of M. tuberculosis infection remains ambiguous. In this study, we identified a naturally-occurring polymorphism in the human IL1B promoter region, which alters the association of the C/EBPbeta and PU.1 transcription factors and controls Mtb-induced IL-1beta production. The high-IL-1beta expressing genotype was associated with the development of active tuberculosis, the severity of pulmonary disease and poor treatment outcome in TB patients. Higher IL-1beta expression did not suppress the activity of IFN-gamma-producing T cells, but instead correlated with neutrophil accumulation in the lung. These observations support a specific role for IL-1beta and granulocytic inflammation as a driver of TB disease progression in humans, and suggest novel strategies for the prevention and treatment of tuberculosis

Learning from your neighbours: How spatial interactions affect the adoption of drought-tolerant varieties in China?

The adoption of improved crop varieties, such as drought-tolerant varieties, plays a crucial role in addressing climate change. In this study, we explore how and to what extent spatial interactions between farmers affect farmers’ decision to adopt drought-tolerant wheat varieties (DTWVs), using data collected from rural households in China. A spatial Durbin probit model is utilized to identify the spatial patterns in DTWVs adoption. Results show that spatial dependence exists in DTWVs adoption. Spatial dependence significantly increases wheat farmers’ decision of DTWVs adoption, and the spatial effects mainly arise from the neighbors’ adoption decision and information spillover via smartphone use and extension service contacts. Further analysis reveals that DTWVs adoption improves farm performance by increasing both wheat yields and farm profits significantly. Our findings underscore the necessity of considering spatial interactions between farmers when designing and promoting innovative agricultural technologies in rural areas

Draft animals, farm machines and sustainable agricultural production: Insight from China

Although draft animals have been playing an essential role in agricultural production worldwide, in recent decades there has been a trend towards replacing draft animals with farm machines. In the areas facing labour shortage due to rural-to-urban migration, the use of farm machines is especially expected to enhance agricultural production and productivity. However, little is known about the extent to which the farm machine use substitutes draft animal use and how the two production activities jointly affect agricultural performance. To fill this gap, this paper attempts to examine the long-run and short-run effects of farm machine use on draft animal use using a pooled mean group estimator, and to estimate the joint effects of farm machine use and draft animal use on agricultural productivity using a panel production function model. The empirical results show that a 1% increase in farm machine use rate tends to decrease draft animal use by 2.82% in the long-run, but it does not have a statistically significant impact on draft animal use in the short-run. In addition, we find that output elasticity of farm machine use has increased from -0.161 in 1978 to 0.170 in 2012, while that of draft animal use has decreased from 0.185 to -0.129 over the same time period. Our findings highlight the importance of government's efforts in promoting an agricultural transition from animal power to machine power in order to increase sustainable agricultural production

Adoption of organic soil amendments and its impact on farm performance: evidence from wheat farmers in China

This study examines the determinants of adoption of organic soil amendments (OSAs) such as organic fertiliser and farmyard manure and its impact on crop yields and net returns, using household survey data of 558 wheat farmers in China. We employ an endogenous switching regression model to account for selection bias stemming from both observable and unobservable factors. The empirical results show that household size, dependency ratio, machine ownership and non-paid labour are main factors that determine farmers’ decision to adopt OSA, and the OSA adoption has a positive and statistically significant impact on wheat yields and net returns. In particular, the treatment effects of OSA adoption are to increase wheat yields and net returns by appropriately 22 and 24 per cent, respectively. Moreover, disaggregated analysis by farm size reveals that large-scale households tend to obtain higher wheat yields and net returns than their small-scale counterparts

Public Interest, Risk, Trust, and Personal Protective Equipment Purchase and Usage: Face Masks Amid the COVID-19 Pandemic

This analysis considers public interest in COVID-19-related issues as well as individuals’ risk perception and trust in society in their demand for face masks during the pandemic. Through a national survey, we examine demand during both the outbreak and the recovery stage of the pandemic and differentiate demand into purchasing and usage. The examination allows us to observe the evolvement of demand over time and stockpiling. We find that public interest and risk perception had a more significant association with mask demand during the outbreak stage, and trust was more connected with mask demand during the recovery stage. While stocking was evident in both stages, consumers were much less price sensitive in the outbreak stage. Overall, the relationship between most factors and mask demand was smaller in the recovery stage. Our research is useful for policymakers to assess the creation and termination of temporary legislation to help manage the value chain of personal protective equipment during a major public health crisis

Adoption of organic soil amendments and its impact on farm performance: evidence from wheat farmers in China

This study examines the determinants of adoption of organic soil amendments (OSAs) such as organic fertiliser and farmyard manure and its impact on crop yields and net returns, using household survey data of 558 wheat farmers in China. We employ an endogenous switching regression model to account for selection bias stemming from both observable and unobservable factors. The empirical results show that household size, dependency ratio, machine ownership and non-paid labour are main factors that determine farmers’ decision to adopt OSA, and the OSA adoption has a positive and statistically significant impact on wheat yields and net returns. In particular, the treatment effects of OSA adoption are to increase wheat yields and net returns by appropriately 22 and 24 per cent, respectively. Moreover, disaggregated analysis by farm size reveals that large-scale households tend to obtain higher wheat yields and net returns than their small-scale counterparts