Social Capital in Cooperative Memberships and Farmers' Access to Bank Credit-Evidence from Fujian, China

For rural communities in poor countries to develop, farmers need money to invest in their farms. However, with limited assets of their own and poor conditions for obtaining loans, the farmers' operations suffer. This study explores how farmers' chances of obtaining a bank loan are related to the social capital that they receive from their cooperative membership. The data originated from 743 farmers in Fujian province, China, and was analyzed with the help of the instrumental variable probit (IV-probit) regression model. The results show that (a) cooperative members have a higher chance of obtaining a bank loan compared to non-members; (b) cooperative membership positively influences the chances of obtaining a bank loan for farmers with no acquaintances in banks and government or off-farm work; and (c) among farmers with higher financial knowledge, cooperative members are more likely to receive a bank loan than non-members are. Therefore, the conclusion provides empirical evidence for the financial function of cooperatives to farmers. The findings are especially relevant for cooperatives in developing countries, and they call for farmers and cooperatives to establish cooperative financial institutions. Moreover, the research conclusions point out the direction for further improving the financial effect of cooperatives

Tripotassium (bis­{[bis­(carboxyl­atometh­yl)amino]­meth­yl}phosphinato)cuprate(II) dihydrate

In the title compound, K3[Cu(C10H12N2O10P)]·2H2O, the CuII ion, one potassium cation and a P atom are situated on a twofold rotation axis. The CuII ion is coordinated by two N and four O atoms from one bis­{[bis­(carboxyl­atometh­yl)amino]­meth­yl}phosphinate ligand in a distorted octa­hedral coordination geometry. The two crystallographically independent potassium ions exhibit different coordination environments. The potassium ion in a general position is hepta­coordinated by five carboxyl­ate O atoms, one phosphinate O atom and one water mol­ecule [K—O = 2.718 (3)–3.040 (3) Å], and the potassium ion situated on the twofold rotation axis is hexa­coordinated by four carboxyl­ate O atoms and two water mol­ecules [K—O = 2.618 (3)–2.771 (3) Å]. The water mol­ecules are also involved in formation of inter­molecular O—H⋯O hydrogen bonds

Review of CHINARE chemical oceanographic research in the Southern Ocean during 1984–2016

Between 1984 and 2016, China executed 33 Antarctic cruises with the icebreaker R/V Xuelong, which have provided opportunities for Chinese scientists to investigate the status and changes of the Southern Ocean. Research in chemical oceanography constitutes one of the primary missions of the Chinese National Antarctic Research Expedition (CHINARE). This paper reviews nearly 30 years of Chinese Antarctic expeditions, focusing on the major progress achieved in chemical oceanographic research. Specifically, the sea-surface distributions and air–sea fluxes of CO2 and N2O are considered, and the transport, flux, and budget of organic matter are investigated based on isotopes in the Southern Ocean, especially in Prydz Bay. In addition, the nutrient distribution and deep-water particle export in Prydz Bay and the study of aerosol heavy metal characteristics are considered. Finally, the prospects for future Chinese Antarctic chemical oceanographic research are outlined

Genomic Analyses Reveal Mutational Signatures and Frequently Altered Genes in Esophageal Squamous Cell Carcinoma

Esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC) is one of the most common cancers worldwide and the fourth most lethal cancer in China. However, although genomic studies have identified some mutations associated with ESCC, we know little of the mutational processes responsible. To identify genome-wide mutational signatures, we performed either whole-genome sequencing (WGS) or whole-exome sequencing (WES) on 104 ESCC individuals and combined our data with those of 88 previously reported samples. An APOBEC-mediated mutational signature in 47% of 192 tumors suggests that APOBEC-catalyzed deamination provides a source of DNA damage in ESCC. Moreover, PIK3CA hotspot mutations (c.1624G>A [p.Glu542Lys] and c.1633G>A [p.Glu545Lys]) were enriched in APOBEC-signature tumors, and no smoking-associated signature was observed in ESCC. In the samples analyzed by WGS, we identified focal (<100 kb) amplifications of CBX4 and CBX8. In our combined cohort, we identified frequent inactivating mutations in AJUBA, ZNF750, and PTCH1 and the chromatin-remodeling genes CREBBP and BAP1, in addition to known mutations. Functional analyses suggest roles for several genes (CBX4, CBX8, AJUBA, and ZNF750) in ESCC. Notably, high activity of hedgehog signaling and the PI3K pathway in approximately 60% of 104 ESCC tumors indicates that therapies targeting these pathways might be particularly promising strategies for ESCC. Collectively, our data provide comprehensive insights into the mutational signatures of ESCC and identify markers for early diagnosis and potential therapeutic targets

Review of advanced road materials, structures, equipment, and detection technologies

As a vital and integral component of transportation infrastructure, pavement has a direct and tangible impact on socio-economic sustainability. In recent years, an influx of groundbreaking and state-of-the-art materials, structures, equipment, and detection technologies related to road engineering have continually and progressively emerged, reshaping the landscape of pavement systems. There is a pressing and growing need for a timely summarization of the current research status and a clear identification of future research directions in these advanced and evolving technologies. Therefore, Journal of Road Engineering has undertaken the significant initiative of introducing a comprehensive review paper with the overarching theme of “advanced road materials, structures, equipment, and detection technologies”. This extensive and insightful review meticulously gathers and synthesizes research findings from 39 distinguished scholars, all of whom are affiliated with 19 renowned universities or research institutions specializing in the diverse and multidimensional field of highway engineering. It covers the current state and anticipates future development directions in the four major and interconnected domains of road engineering: advanced road materials, advanced road structures and performance evaluation, advanced road construction equipment and technology, and advanced road detection and assessment technologies

Social Capital in Cooperative Memberships and Farmers&rsquo; Access to Bank Credit&ndash;Evidence from Fujian, China

For rural communities in poor countries to develop, farmers need money to invest in their farms. However, with limited assets of their own and poor conditions for obtaining loans, the farmers&rsquo; operations suffer. This study explores how farmers&rsquo; chances of obtaining a bank loan are related to the social capital that they receive from their cooperative membership. The data originated from 743 farmers in Fujian province, China, and was analyzed with the help of the instrumental variable probit (IV-probit) regression model. The results show that (a) cooperative members have a higher chance of obtaining a bank loan compared to non-members; (b) cooperative membership positively influences the chances of obtaining a bank loan for farmers with no acquaintances in banks and government or off-farm work; and (c) among farmers with higher financial knowledge, cooperative members are more likely to receive a bank loan than non-members are. Therefore, the conclusion provides empirical evidence for the financial function of cooperatives to farmers. The findings are especially relevant for cooperatives in developing countries, and they call for farmers and cooperatives to establish cooperative financial institutions. Moreover, the research conclusions point out the direction for further improving the financial effect of cooperatives

Social Capital in Cooperative Memberships and Farmers’ Access to Bank Credit–Evidence from Fujian, China

For rural communities in poor countries to develop, farmers need money to invest in their farms. However, with limited assets of their own and poor conditions for obtaining loans, the farmers’ operations suffer. This study explores how farmers’ chances of obtaining a bank loan are related to the social capital that they receive from their cooperative membership. The data originated from 743 farmers in Fujian province, China, and was analyzed with the help of the instrumental variable probit (IV-probit) regression model. The results show that (a) cooperative members have a higher chance of obtaining a bank loan compared to non-members; (b) cooperative membership positively influences the chances of obtaining a bank loan for farmers with no acquaintances in banks and government or off-farm work; and (c) among farmers with higher financial knowledge, cooperative members are more likely to receive a bank loan than non-members are. Therefore, the conclusion provides empirical evidence for the financial function of cooperatives to farmers. The findings are especially relevant for cooperatives in developing countries, and they call for farmers and cooperatives to establish cooperative financial institutions. Moreover, the research conclusions point out the direction for further improving the financial effect of cooperatives

Sugar Transporters in Plasmodiophora brassicae: Genome-Wide Identification and Functional Verification

Plasmodiophora brassicae, an obligate intracellular pathogen, can hijack the host&rsquo;s carbohydrates for survival. When the host plant is infected by P. brassicae, a large amount of soluble sugar accumulates in the roots, especially glucose, which probably facilitates the development of this pathogen. Although a complete glycolytic and tricarboxylic acid cycle (TCA) cycle existed in P. brassicae, very little information about the hexose transport system has been reported. In this study, we screened 17 putative sugar transporters based on information about their typical domains. The structure of these transporters showed a lot of variation compared with that of other organisms, especially the number of transmembrane helices (TMHs). Phylogenetic analysis indicated that these sugar transporters were far from the evolutionary relationship of other organisms and were unique in P. brassicae. The hexose transport activity assay indicated that eight transporters transported glucose or fructose and could restore the growth of yeast strain EBY.VW4000, which was deficient in hexose transport. The expression level of these glucose transporters was significantly upregulated at the late inoculation time when resting spores and galls were developing and a large amount of energy was needed. Our study provides new insights into the mechanism of P. brassicae survival in host cells by hijacking and utilizing the carbohydrates of the host

Nicotine activates YAP1 through nAChRs mediated signaling in esophageal squamous cell cancer (ESCC).

Cigarette smoking is an established risk factor for esophageal cancers. Yes-associated protein 1 (YAP1), the key transcription factor of the mammalian Hippo pathway, has been reported to be an oncogenic factor for many cancers. In this study, we find nicotine administration can induce nuclear translocation and activation of YAP1 in ESCC. Consistently, we observed nuclear translocation and activation of YAP1 by knockdown of CHRNA3, which is a negative regulator of nicotine signaling in bronchial and esophageal cancer cells. Nicotine administration or CHRNA3 depletion substantially increased proliferation and migration in esophageal cancer cells. Interestingly, we find that YAP1 physically interacts with nAChRs, and nAChRs-signaling dissociates YAP1 from its negative regulatory complex composed with α-catenin, β-catenin and 14-3-3 in the cytoplasm, leading to upregulation and nuclear translocation of YAP1. This process likely requires PKC activation, as PKC specific inhibitor Enzastaurin can block nicotine induced YAP1 activation. In addition, we find nicotine signaling also inhibits the interaction of YAP1 with P63, which contributes to the inhibitory effect of nicotine on apoptosis. Using immunohistochemistry analysis we observed upregulation of YAP1 in a significant portion of esophageal cancer samples. Consistently, we have found a significant association between YAP1 upregulation and cigarette smoking in the clinical esophageal cancer samples. Together, these findings suggest that the nicotine activated nAChRs signaling pathway which further activates YAP1 plays an important role in the development of esophageal cancer, and this mechanism may be of a general significance for the carcinogenesis of smoking related cancers