Based on the questionnaire of 80 English majors in an agricultural university,the author tries to get a better understanding of the practical situation of their pragmatic competence.After analyzing the results in the ...Based on the questionnaire of 80 English majors in an agricultural university,the author tries to get a better understanding of the practical situation of their pragmatic competence.After analyzing the results in the survey,the author finds out the reasons which may cause those failures,and then puts forward proposals for teachers in the agricultural university to improve students'pragmatic competence.展开更多
Identifying the factors influencing farmers’adoption of low-carbon technologies(FA)and understanding their impacts are essential for shaping effective agricultural policies amied at emission reduction and carbon sequ...Identifying the factors influencing farmers’adoption of low-carbon technologies(FA)and understanding their impacts are essential for shaping effective agricultural policies amied at emission reduction and carbon sequestration in China.This study employs a meta-analysis of 122 empirical studies,delves into 23 driving factors affecting FA and addresses the inconsistencies present in the existing literature.We systematically examine the effect size,source of heterogeneity,and time-accumulation effect of the driving factors on FA.We find that significant heterogeneity in the factors influencing FA,except for farming experience,sources of heterogeneity from the survey zone,methodology model,technological attributes,report source,financial support,and the sampling year.Additionally,age,farming experience,and adoption cost negatively correlate with FA.In contrast,educational level,health status,technical training,economic and welfare cognition,land contract,soil quality,terrain,information accessibility,demonstration,government promotion,government regulation,government support,agricultural cooperatives member,peer effect,and agricultural income ratio demonstrate a positive correlation.Especially,demonstration and age show a particularly strong correlation.Finally,the effect of demonstration,age,economic and welfare cognition,farming experience,land contract,soil quality,information accessibility,government promotion,and support,as well as agricultural cooperative membership and peer effects on FA,are generally stable but exhibit varying degrees of attenuation over time.The effect of village cadre,family income,farm scale,gender,health status,technical training,and off-farm work on FA show notable temporal shifts and maintain a weak correlation with FA.This study contributes to shaping China’s current low-carbon agriculture policies across various regions.It encourages policymakers to comprehensively consider the stability of key factors,other potential factors,technological attributes,rural socio-economic context,and their interrelations.展开更多
It is an important way to realize rural revitalization and sustainable development to guide rural settlement transition(RST)in an appropriate way.This paper uses actor network theory(ANT)to construct a theoretical fra...It is an important way to realize rural revitalization and sustainable development to guide rural settlement transition(RST)in an appropriate way.This paper uses actor network theory(ANT)to construct a theoretical framework for the study of RST.Taking two typical villages with different transition paths in rural areas of North China Plain as examples,this paper reveals the mechanism of RST and makes a comparative analysis.The results show that:1)after identifying problems and obligatory passage point,key actors recruit heterogeneous actors into the actor network by entrusting them with common interests,and realize RST under the system operation.2)Rural settlements under different transition paths have similarities in the problems to be solved,collective actions and policy factors,but there are differences in the transition process,mechanism and effect.The actor network and mechanism of RST through the path of new rural community construction are more complex and the transition effect is more thorough.In contrast,the degree of RST of retention development path is limited if there is no resource and location advantage.3)Based on the applicable conditions of different paths,this paper designs a logical framework of‘Situation-Structure-Behavior-Result’to scientifically guide the identification of RST paths under the background of rural revitalization.展开更多
Ploughing and fertilization practices in rice-wheat system have deteriorated the soil carbon (C) pools. Conservation agriculture (CA) based management approaches have proven to enhance C sequestration and reverse the ...Ploughing and fertilization practices in rice-wheat system have deteriorated the soil carbon (C) pools. Conservation agriculture (CA) based management approaches have proven to enhance C sequestration and reverse the loss of soil-organic-carbon (SOC), which further enhances soil fertility. Different fractions of SOC pools react to the alterations in management practices and indicate changes in SOC dynamics as compared to total C in the soil. Higher SOC levels in soil have been observed in case of reduced/no-till (NT) practices than conventional tillage (CT). However, between CT and zero tillage/NT, total SOC stocks diminished with an increase in soil depth, which demonstrated that the benefits of SOC are more pronounced in the topsoil under NT. Soil aggregation provides physical protection to C associated with different-sized particles, thus, the improvement in soil aggregation through CA is an effective way to mitigate soil C loss. Along with less soil disturbance, residual management, suitable crop rotation, rational application of manures and fertilizers, and integrated nutrient management have been found to be effective in not only improving soil C stock but also enhancing the soil health and productivity. Thus, CA can be considered as a potential method in the build-up of SOC of soil in rice-wheat system.展开更多
The peri-urban area possesses mixed characteristics of rural and urban areas,i.e.,agricultural,and built-up land.This review explains various themes and concepts of peri-urban areas and the importance of peri-urban ag...The peri-urban area possesses mixed characteristics of rural and urban areas,i.e.,agricultural,and built-up land.This review explains various themes and concepts of peri-urban areas and the importance of peri-urban agriculture(PUA)as an ecosystem service(ES)for their surrounding areas.The methodological approach is a systematic literature search and explanatory review of books and journal articles.The focus of the discussion is as follows:(1)quantification of review results,(2)urbanization pressures,peri-urban,and governance,(3)two different concepts about the peri-urban area,(4)protection of PUA and their resilience,and(5)role of PUA in providing ESs to other regions.The review shows that PUA is more crucial in urban areas than in rural areas in terms of food supply,ecology and biodiversity preservation,disaster mitigation,and recreation.One of the primary causes of PUA loss is massive urban expansion,which entails the conversion of agricultural land in peri-urban areas into built-up land.Hence,we suggest that every country should develop a peri-urban management policy.We argue that sociocultural biases in PUA have resulted in many institutional constraints on peri-urban management being incorporated within existing political and regulatory frameworks,including planning practices and longstanding laws and regulations.展开更多
Alternative Low-Input Agriculture Systems (ALIAS) center advocates organic and sustainable food production system through farm/field demonstration and piloting. The center undertakes activities, including research a...Alternative Low-Input Agriculture Systems (ALIAS) center advocates organic and sustainable food production system through farm/field demonstration and piloting. The center undertakes activities, including research and development, extension and training, technology dissemination, linkaging and promotional activities. The study established a campus-based demonstration technology showcasing ALIAS to facilitate easy technology diffusion. The objectives of this research were to promote: (1) bio-fertilizers and plant-based pesticides in managing insect pests and diseases of organic vegetables and fruit crops; (2) lotus-tilapia integration as a new modality of farming system in frequently flooded areas; (3) honeybee as pollinators to enhance productivity of organic vegetable and fruit crops; (4) Adlai as intercrop to organic vegetable and fruit crops in support to rice sufficiency; (5) native chicken-coffee integration. The results show that: (1) microbial inoculants and plant-based pesticides are effective in controlling diseases and insect pest, respectively; (2) lotus integration in tilapia production system have no negative effect on the tilapia yield; (3) honeybees as pollinators enhances fruit setting by 42%-68% in different crops; (4) Adlai is a viable intercrop for organic vegetable and fruit crops; (5) native chicken integration was found to be beneficial in terms of soil fertility, insect pest control, natural weeding practices and cultivation in the coffee plantation.展开更多
By studying high-quality development process of Henan agriculture and rural areas empowered by digital inclusive finance,it is found that the construction of digital financial infrastructure in Henan Province is relat...By studying high-quality development process of Henan agriculture and rural areas empowered by digital inclusive finance,it is found that the construction of digital financial infrastructure in Henan Province is relatively complete,and the level of deposit and loan of rural enterprises and farmers is constantly improving,and the market and government are constantly upgrading the financial risk insurance compensation mechanism.At the same time,there are also problems such as insufficient demand and supply of digital finance,single digital financial products,and weak market supervision.Based on this,some implementation paths are proposed,such as continuing to strengthen the construction of rural financial infrastructure in Henan Province,improving farmers’financial literacy,and enriching digital financial products and services.The government should continue to improve the construction of market system,and broaden the market supervision and management,to actively promote the digitalization of agricultural finance to enable the high-quality development of agriculture and rural areas in Henan Province.展开更多
Taking the flower art major in Tianjin Agricultural University as an example,the paper discusses and practices series courses of flower art in agricultural universities and colleges,strengthens the integration of cour...Taking the flower art major in Tianjin Agricultural University as an example,the paper discusses and practices series courses of flower art in agricultural universities and colleges,strengthens the integration of courses and highlights the characteristics.The teaching quality of flower art series courses has been significantly improved by optimizing high-level teaching team,constructing scientific course system,improving teaching methods and teaching means,using network teaching platform to assist teaching,compiling high-quality teaching materials and implementing whole process assessment mode.展开更多
Taking the practice status of professional master’s degree candidates for agriculture in Anhui Agricultural University as an example,this paper analyzes the key factors affecting the practical training of graduate st...Taking the practice status of professional master’s degree candidates for agriculture in Anhui Agricultural University as an example,this paper analyzes the key factors affecting the practical training of graduate students in this major,and puts forward some strategies for improving the practice quality of professional master’s degree candidates.In terms of training professional master’s degree candidates,it is considered that agricultural colleges and universities should start with collaborative education,supervision and assessment mechanism,practice content and form,make full use of a large number of agricultural enterprise resources owned by colleges and universities and a good cooperation foundation in enterprises,so as to achieve the purpose of improving the practice quality of professional master’s degree candidates.展开更多
In order to study the restoration of road landscape space,subjective evaluation method was adopted to visually evaluate different road spaces in Tianjin University with college students as the research objects.Using r...In order to study the restoration of road landscape space,subjective evaluation method was adopted to visually evaluate different road spaces in Tianjin University with college students as the research objects.Using random block design,9 plots were quantitatively studied by Perceived Restorativeness Scale(PRS)from four dimensions:alienation,compatibility,richness and attractiveness.The results show that gray space has the worst restorative effect in the dimension of alienation,and can not bring people the feeling of being away from daily trivialities;in terms of compatibility dimension,green and blue spaces have better restorative effects;richness dimension has no obvious influence on the restoration of plots;in terms of attraction dimension,blue space has strong restorative ability and can easily attract people’s attention,while gray space has low attraction.There are differences in environmental restoration among different types of road space,and gray space,blue space and green space show weak,strong,and relatively stable restorative effects,respectively.展开更多
The principle of“poverty alleviation first helps the poor”is fundamental to poverty alleviation through education in rural areas.It serves as an important foundation for improving the soft power of rural culture and...The principle of“poverty alleviation first helps the poor”is fundamental to poverty alleviation through education in rural areas.It serves as an important foundation for improving the soft power of rural culture and promoting the development of rural cultural construction.However,college students,being one of the main participants in educational poverty alleviation,have not been equipped with a well-established institutionalized participation mechanism and a sufficient awareness of participation.To enhance college students’awareness and participation in rural education and poverty alleviation and to improve the institutionalization,this research focuses on college students as a group,delves into the current situation and willingness of college students to participate in rural education and poverty alleviation,and analyzes the influencing factors affecting college students’participation in rural education and poverty alleviation by means of a questionnaire and a computerized statistical algorithm.Lastly,based on mathematical and statistical analysis,the research puts forward corresponding optimization countermeasures and suggestions from the perspectives of the government,colleges and universities,and villages,so as to provide decision-making guidelines for solving the problems of rural education development and talent constraints.展开更多
Background Ginkgo biloba extract(GBE)is evidenced to be effective in the prevention and alleviation of metabolic disorders,including obesity,diabetes and fatty liver disease.However,the role of GBE in alleviating fatt...Background Ginkgo biloba extract(GBE)is evidenced to be effective in the prevention and alleviation of metabolic disorders,including obesity,diabetes and fatty liver disease.However,the role of GBE in alleviating fatty liver hemorrhagic syndrome(FLHS)in laying hens and the underlying mechanisms remain to be elucidated.Here,we investigated the effects of GBE on relieving FLHS with an emphasis on the modulatory role of GBE in chicken gut microbiota.Results The results showed that GBE treatment ameliorated biochemical blood indicators in high-fat diet(HFD)-induced FLHS laying hen model by decreasing the levels of TG,TC,ALT and ALP.The lipid accumulation and pathological score of liver were also relieved after GBE treatment.Moreover,GBE treatment enhanced the antioxidant activity of liver and serum by increasing GSH,SOD,T-AOC,GSH-PX and reducing MDA,and downregulated the expression of genes related to lipid synthesis(FAS,LXRα,GPAT1,PPARγand Ch REBP1)and inflammatory cytokines(TNF-α,IL-6,TLR4 and NF-κB)in the liver.Microbial profiling analysis revealed that GBE treatment reshaped the HFD-perturbed gut microbiota,particularly elevated the abundance of Megasphaera in the cecum.Meanwhile,targeted metabolomic analysis of SCFAs revealed that GBE treatment significantly promoted the production of total SCFAs,acetate and propionate,which were positively correlated with the GBE-enriched gut microbiota.Finally,we confirmed that the GBE-altered gut microbiota was sufficient to alleviate FLHS by fecal microbiota transplantation(FMT).Conclusions We provided evidence that GBE alleviated FLHS in HFD-induced laying hens through reshaping the composition of gut microbiota.Our findings shed light on mechanism underlying the anti-FLHS efficacy of GBE and lay foundations for future use of GBE as additive to prevent and control FLHS in laying hen industry.展开更多
The development of modern agriculture requires the reduction of water and chemical N fertilizer inputs.Increasing the planting density can maintain higher yields,but also consumes more of these restrictive resources.H...The development of modern agriculture requires the reduction of water and chemical N fertilizer inputs.Increasing the planting density can maintain higher yields,but also consumes more of these restrictive resources.However,whether an increased maize density can compensate for the negative effects of reduced water and N supply on grain yield and N uptake in the arid irrigated areas remains unknown.This study is part of a long-term positioning trial that started in 2016.A split-split plot field experiment of maize was implemented in the arid irrigated area of northwestern China in 2020 to 2021.The treatments included two irrigation levels:local conventional irrigation reduced by 20%(W1,3,240 m^(3)ha^(-1))and local conventional irrigation(W2,4,050 m^(3)ha^(-1));two N application rates:local conventional N reduced by 25%(N1,270 kg ha^(-1))and local conventional N(360 kg ha^(-1));and three planting densities:local conventional density(D1,75,000 plants ha^(-1)),density increased by 30%(D2,97,500 plants ha-1),and density increased by 60%(D3,120,000 plants ha^(-1)).Our results showed that the grain yield and aboveground N accumulation of maize were lower under the reduced water and N inputs,but increasing the maize density by 30% can compensate for the reductions of grain yield and aboveground N accumulation caused by the reduced water and N supply.When water was reduced while the N application rate remained unchanged,increasing the planting density by 30% enhanced grain yield by 13.9% and aboveground N accumulation by 15.3%.Under reduced water and N inputs,increasing the maize density by 30% enhanced N uptake efficiency and N partial factor productivity,and it also compensated for the N harvest index and N metabolic related enzyme activities.Compared with W2N2D1,the N uptake efficiency and N partial factor productivity increased by 28.6 and 17.6%under W1N1D2.W1N2D2 had 8.4% higher N uptake efficiency and 13.9% higher N partial factor productivity than W2N2D1.W1N2D2 improved urease activity and nitrate reductase activity by 5.4% at the R2(blister)stage and 19.6% at the V6(6th leaf)stage,and increased net income and the benefit:cost ratio by 22.1 and 16.7%,respectively.W1N1D2 and W1N2D2 reduced the nitrate nitrogen and ammoniacal nitrogen contents at the R6 stage in the 40-100 cm soil layer,compared with W2N2D1.In summary,increasing the planting density by 30% can compensate for the loss of grain yield and aboveground N accumulation under reduced water and N inputs.Meanwhile,increasing the maize density by 30% improved grain yield and aboveground N accumulation when water was reduced by 20% while the N application rate remained constant in arid irrigation areas.展开更多
Electromagnetic wave(EMW)absorbing materials have an irreplaceable position in the field of military stealth as well as in the field of electromagnetic pollution control.And in order to cope with the complex electroma...Electromagnetic wave(EMW)absorbing materials have an irreplaceable position in the field of military stealth as well as in the field of electromagnetic pollution control.And in order to cope with the complex electromagnetic environment,the design of multifunctional and multiband high efficiency EMW absorbers remains a tremendous challenge.In this work,we designed a three-dimensional porous structure via the salt melt synthesis strategy to optimize the impedance matching of the absorber.Also,through interfacial engineering,a molybdenum carbide transition layer was introduced between the molybdenum selenide nanoparticles and the three-dimensional porous carbon matrix to improve the absorption behavior of the absorber.The analysis indicates that the number and components of the heterogeneous interfaces have a significant impact on the EMW absorption performance of the absorber due to mechanisms such as interfacial polarization and conduction loss introduced by interfacial engineering.Wherein,the prepared MoSe_(2)/MoC/PNC composites showed excellent EMW absorption performance in C,X,and Ku bands,especially exhibiting a reflection loss of−59.09 dB and an effective absorption bandwidth of 6.96 GHz at 1.9 mm.The coordination between structure and components endows the absorber with strong absorption,broad bandwidth,thin thickness,and multi-frequency absorption characteristics.Remarkably,it can effectively reinforce the marine anticorrosion property of the epoxy resin coating on Q235 steel substrate.This study contributes to a deeper understanding of the relationship between interfacial engineering and the performance of EMW absorbers,and provides a reference for the design of multifunctional,multiband EMW absorption materials.展开更多
The juvenile-to-adult phase change with first flowering as the indicator plays a crucial role in the lifecycle of fruit trees. However, the molecular mechanisms underlying phase change in fruit trees remain largely un...The juvenile-to-adult phase change with first flowering as the indicator plays a crucial role in the lifecycle of fruit trees. However, the molecular mechanisms underlying phase change in fruit trees remain largely unknown. Shikimic acid (ShA) pathway is a main metabolic pathway closely related to the synthesis of hormones and many important secondary metabolites participating in plant phase change. So,whether ShA regulates phase change in plants is worth clarifying. Here, the distinct morphological characteristics and the underlying mechanisms of phase change in jujube (Ziziphus jujuba Mill.), an important fruit tree native to China with nutritious fruit and outstanding tolerance abiotic stresses, were clarified. A combined transcriptome and metabolome analysis found that ShA is positively involved in jujube(Yuhong’×Xing 16’) phase change. The genes in the upstream of ShA synthesis pathway (ZjDAHPS, ZjDHQS and ZjSDH), the contents of ShA and the downstream secondary metabolites like phenols were significantly upregulated in the phase change period. Further, the treatment of spraying exogenous ShA verified that ShA at a very low concentration (60 mg·L^(-1)) can substantially speed up the phase change and flowering of jujube and other tested plants including Arabidopsis, tomato and wheat. The exogenous ShA (60 mg·L^(-1)) treatment in jujube seedlings could increase the accumulation of endogenous ShA, enhance leaf photosynthesis and the synthesis of phenols especially flavonoids and phenolic acids, and promote the expression of genes (ZjCOs, ZjNFYs and ZjPHYs) involved in flowering pathway. Basing on above results, we put forward a propose for the underlying mechanism of ShA regulating phase change, and a hypothesis that ShA could be considered a phytohormone-like substance because it is endogenous, ubiquitous, movable and highly efficient at very low concentrations. This study highlights the critical role of ShA in plant phase change and its phytohormone-like properties.展开更多
Background Adequate level of carbohydrates in aquafeeds help to conserve protein and reduce cost. However, studies have indicated that high-carbohydrate(HC) diet disrupt the homeostasis of the gut–liver axis in large...Background Adequate level of carbohydrates in aquafeeds help to conserve protein and reduce cost. However, studies have indicated that high-carbohydrate(HC) diet disrupt the homeostasis of the gut–liver axis in largemouth bass, resulting in decreased intestinal acetate and butyrate level.Method Herein, we had concepted a set of feeding experiment to assess the effects of dietary sodium acetate(SA) and sodium butyrate(SB) on liver health and the intestinal microbiota in largemouth bass fed an HC diet. The experimental design comprised 5 isonitrogenous and isolipidic diets, including LC(9% starch), HC(18% starch), HCSA(18% starch;2 g/kg SA), HCSB(18% starch;2 g/kg SB), and HCSASB(18% starch;1 g/kg SA + 1 g/kg SB). Juvenile largemouth bass with an initial body weight of 7.00 ± 0.20 g were fed on these diets for 56 d.Results We found that dietary SA and SB reduced hepatic triglyceride accumulation by activating autophagy(ATG101, LC3B and TFEB), promoting lipolysis(CPT1α, HSL and AMPKα), and inhibiting adipogenesis(FAS, ACCA, SCD1 and PPARγ). In addition, SA and SB decreased oxidative stress in the liver(CAT, GPX1α and SOD1) by activating the Keap1-Nrf2 pathway. Meanwhile, SA and SB alleviated HC-induced inflammation by downregulating the expression of pro-inflammatory factors(IL-1β, COX2 and Hepcidin1) through the NF-κB pathway. Importantly, SA and SB increased the abundance of bacteria that produced acetic acid and butyrate(Clostridium_sensu_stricto_1). Combined with the KEGG analysis, the results showed that SA and SB enriched carbohydrate metabolism and amino acid metabolism pathways, thereby improving the utilization of carbohydrates. Pearson correlation analysis indicated that growth performance was closely related to hepatic lipid deposition, autophagy, antioxidant capacity, inflammation, and intestinal microbial composition.Conclusions In conclusion, dietary SA and SB can reduce hepatic lipid deposition;and alleviate oxidative stress and inflammation in largemouth bass fed on HC diet. These beneficial effects may be due to the altered composition of the gut microbiota caused by SA and SB. The improvement effects of SB were stronger than those associated with SA.展开更多
China removed fertilizer manufacturing subsidies from 2015 to 2018 to bolster market-oriented reforms and foster environmentally sustainable practices.However,the impact of this policy reform on food security and the ...China removed fertilizer manufacturing subsidies from 2015 to 2018 to bolster market-oriented reforms and foster environmentally sustainable practices.However,the impact of this policy reform on food security and the environment remains inadequately evaluated.Moreover,although green and low-carbon technologies offer environmental advantages,their widespread adoption is hindered by prohibitively high costs.This study analyzes the impact of removing fertilizer manufacturing subsidies and explores the potential feasibility of redirecting fertilizer manufacturing subsidies to invest in the diffusion of these technologies.Utilizing the China Agricultural University Agri-food Systems model,we analyzed the potential for achieving mutually beneficial outcomes regarding food security and environmental sustainability.The findings indicate that removing fertilizer manufacturing subsidies has reduced greenhouse gas(GHG)emissions from agricultural activities by 3.88 million metric tons,with minimal impact on food production.Redirecting fertilizer manufacturing subsidies to invest in green and low-carbon technologies,including slow and controlled-release fertilizer,organic-inorganic compound fertilizers,and machine deep placement of fertilizer,emerges as a strategy to concurrently curtail GHG emissions,ensure food security,and secure robust economic returns.Finally,we propose a comprehensive set of government interventions,including subsidies,field guidance,and improved extension systems,to promote the widespread adoption of these technologies.展开更多
Despite the growing recognition of women’s increasing role in the household and corresponding empowerment programs in sub-Saharan Africa,intensive research on the relationship between women’s influence and household...Despite the growing recognition of women’s increasing role in the household and corresponding empowerment programs in sub-Saharan Africa,intensive research on the relationship between women’s influence and household food consumption is minimal.Using the most recent(2017-2018)national household survey data from Tanzania,this study examined the influence of women’s empowerment on household food consumption.First,we compared the monthly consumption of eight food categories between female-headed households(FHHs)and male-headed households(MHHs)using both descriptive statistics and the propensity score matching(PSM)method.Furthermore,we adopted the two-stage Linear Expenditure System and Almost Ideal Demand System model(LES-AIDS)to estimate income and price elasticities for the two household types.The results show that FHHs consume bread and cereals,fish,oils and fats,vegetables,and confectionery(sugar,jam,honey,chocolate,etc.)more than MHHs.Moreover,FHHs have a significantly higher income elasticity of demand for all food groups than MHHs.They are also more price elastic than MHHs in meat,fish,oils,fats,sugar,jam,honey,chocolate,etc.展开更多
Over the past few decades,the Internet has rapidly diffused across China.The spread of the Internet has had a profound economic and social impact on Chinese rural areas.Existing research shows that Internet access sig...Over the past few decades,the Internet has rapidly diffused across China.The spread of the Internet has had a profound economic and social impact on Chinese rural areas.Existing research shows that Internet access significantly impacts agricultural production and improves smallholder farmers’income.Beyond these,the Internet can affect other dimensions of social welfare.However,research about the impact of Internet access on dietary quality in rural China remains scarce.This study utilizes multi-period panel data from Fixed Observation Point in rural China from 2009 to 2015 to estimate the impact of Internet access on dietary quality and food consumption of rural households and conducts a causal analysis.Regression models with time and household fixed effects allow robust estimation while reducing potential issues of unobserved heterogeneity.The estimates show that Internet access has significantly increased rural household dietary quality(measured by the Chinese Diet Balance Index).Further research finds that Internet access has increased the consumption of animal products,such as aquatic and dairy products.We also examine the underlying mechanisms.Internet access improves dietary quality and food consumption mainly through increasing household income and food expenditure.These results encourage the promotion of Internet access as a valuable tool for nutritional improvements,especially in rural areas.展开更多
Agrobacterium-mediated plant transformation is widely used in plant genetic engineering.However,its efficiency is limited by plant immunity against Agrobacterium.Chili pepper(Capsicum annuum L.)is an important vegetab...Agrobacterium-mediated plant transformation is widely used in plant genetic engineering.However,its efficiency is limited by plant immunity against Agrobacterium.Chili pepper(Capsicum annuum L.)is an important vegetable that is recalcitrant to Agrobacterium-mediated transformation.In this work,Agrobacterium was found to induce a strong immune response in pepper,which might be the reason for T-DNA being difficult to express in pepper.An Agrobacterium mutant screen was conducted and a point mutation in the hisI gene was identified due to a weak immune response and enhanced transient expression mediated by this Agrobacterium mutant in pepper leaves.Further genetic analysis revealed that histidine biosynthesis deficiency caused by mutations in many genes of this pathway led to reduced pepper cell death,presumably due to reduced bacterial growth.However,mutation analysis of threonine and tryptophan biosynthesis genes showed that the biosynthesis of different amino acids may play different roles in Agrobacterium growth and stimulating the pepper immune response.The possible application of Agrobacterium amino acid biosynthesis mutations in plant biology was discussed.展开更多
文摘Based on the questionnaire of 80 English majors in an agricultural university,the author tries to get a better understanding of the practical situation of their pragmatic competence.After analyzing the results in the survey,the author finds out the reasons which may cause those failures,and then puts forward proposals for teachers in the agricultural university to improve students'pragmatic competence.
基金supported by the National Social Science Fund of China(19BGL152)the Sichuan Technology Planning Project,China(2022JDTD0022)the Provincial College Student Innovation and Entrepreneurship Training Program of Sichuan Province,China(S202310626018).
文摘Identifying the factors influencing farmers’adoption of low-carbon technologies(FA)and understanding their impacts are essential for shaping effective agricultural policies amied at emission reduction and carbon sequestration in China.This study employs a meta-analysis of 122 empirical studies,delves into 23 driving factors affecting FA and addresses the inconsistencies present in the existing literature.We systematically examine the effect size,source of heterogeneity,and time-accumulation effect of the driving factors on FA.We find that significant heterogeneity in the factors influencing FA,except for farming experience,sources of heterogeneity from the survey zone,methodology model,technological attributes,report source,financial support,and the sampling year.Additionally,age,farming experience,and adoption cost negatively correlate with FA.In contrast,educational level,health status,technical training,economic and welfare cognition,land contract,soil quality,terrain,information accessibility,demonstration,government promotion,government regulation,government support,agricultural cooperatives member,peer effect,and agricultural income ratio demonstrate a positive correlation.Especially,demonstration and age show a particularly strong correlation.Finally,the effect of demonstration,age,economic and welfare cognition,farming experience,land contract,soil quality,information accessibility,government promotion,and support,as well as agricultural cooperative membership and peer effects on FA,are generally stable but exhibit varying degrees of attenuation over time.The effect of village cadre,family income,farm scale,gender,health status,technical training,and off-farm work on FA show notable temporal shifts and maintain a weak correlation with FA.This study contributes to shaping China’s current low-carbon agriculture policies across various regions.It encourages policymakers to comprehensively consider the stability of key factors,other potential factors,technological attributes,rural socio-economic context,and their interrelations.
基金Under the auspices of the Taishan Scholars Project Special FundsNational Natural Science Fundation of China(No.42077434,42001199)Youth Innovation Technology Project of Higher School in Shandong Province(No.2019RWG016)。
文摘It is an important way to realize rural revitalization and sustainable development to guide rural settlement transition(RST)in an appropriate way.This paper uses actor network theory(ANT)to construct a theoretical framework for the study of RST.Taking two typical villages with different transition paths in rural areas of North China Plain as examples,this paper reveals the mechanism of RST and makes a comparative analysis.The results show that:1)after identifying problems and obligatory passage point,key actors recruit heterogeneous actors into the actor network by entrusting them with common interests,and realize RST under the system operation.2)Rural settlements under different transition paths have similarities in the problems to be solved,collective actions and policy factors,but there are differences in the transition process,mechanism and effect.The actor network and mechanism of RST through the path of new rural community construction are more complex and the transition effect is more thorough.In contrast,the degree of RST of retention development path is limited if there is no resource and location advantage.3)Based on the applicable conditions of different paths,this paper designs a logical framework of‘Situation-Structure-Behavior-Result’to scientifically guide the identification of RST paths under the background of rural revitalization.
文摘Ploughing and fertilization practices in rice-wheat system have deteriorated the soil carbon (C) pools. Conservation agriculture (CA) based management approaches have proven to enhance C sequestration and reverse the loss of soil-organic-carbon (SOC), which further enhances soil fertility. Different fractions of SOC pools react to the alterations in management practices and indicate changes in SOC dynamics as compared to total C in the soil. Higher SOC levels in soil have been observed in case of reduced/no-till (NT) practices than conventional tillage (CT). However, between CT and zero tillage/NT, total SOC stocks diminished with an increase in soil depth, which demonstrated that the benefits of SOC are more pronounced in the topsoil under NT. Soil aggregation provides physical protection to C associated with different-sized particles, thus, the improvement in soil aggregation through CA is an effective way to mitigate soil C loss. Along with less soil disturbance, residual management, suitable crop rotation, rational application of manures and fertilizers, and integrated nutrient management have been found to be effective in not only improving soil C stock but also enhancing the soil health and productivity. Thus, CA can be considered as a potential method in the build-up of SOC of soil in rice-wheat system.
基金the research program of ITB’s flagship research in 2023(Grant No.62/IT1.C08/SK-TA/2023).
文摘The peri-urban area possesses mixed characteristics of rural and urban areas,i.e.,agricultural,and built-up land.This review explains various themes and concepts of peri-urban areas and the importance of peri-urban agriculture(PUA)as an ecosystem service(ES)for their surrounding areas.The methodological approach is a systematic literature search and explanatory review of books and journal articles.The focus of the discussion is as follows:(1)quantification of review results,(2)urbanization pressures,peri-urban,and governance,(3)two different concepts about the peri-urban area,(4)protection of PUA and their resilience,and(5)role of PUA in providing ESs to other regions.The review shows that PUA is more crucial in urban areas than in rural areas in terms of food supply,ecology and biodiversity preservation,disaster mitigation,and recreation.One of the primary causes of PUA loss is massive urban expansion,which entails the conversion of agricultural land in peri-urban areas into built-up land.Hence,we suggest that every country should develop a peri-urban management policy.We argue that sociocultural biases in PUA have resulted in many institutional constraints on peri-urban management being incorporated within existing political and regulatory frameworks,including planning practices and longstanding laws and regulations.
文摘Alternative Low-Input Agriculture Systems (ALIAS) center advocates organic and sustainable food production system through farm/field demonstration and piloting. The center undertakes activities, including research and development, extension and training, technology dissemination, linkaging and promotional activities. The study established a campus-based demonstration technology showcasing ALIAS to facilitate easy technology diffusion. The objectives of this research were to promote: (1) bio-fertilizers and plant-based pesticides in managing insect pests and diseases of organic vegetables and fruit crops; (2) lotus-tilapia integration as a new modality of farming system in frequently flooded areas; (3) honeybee as pollinators to enhance productivity of organic vegetable and fruit crops; (4) Adlai as intercrop to organic vegetable and fruit crops in support to rice sufficiency; (5) native chicken-coffee integration. The results show that: (1) microbial inoculants and plant-based pesticides are effective in controlling diseases and insect pest, respectively; (2) lotus integration in tilapia production system have no negative effect on the tilapia yield; (3) honeybees as pollinators enhances fruit setting by 42%-68% in different crops; (4) Adlai is a viable intercrop for organic vegetable and fruit crops; (5) native chicken integration was found to be beneficial in terms of soil fertility, insect pest control, natural weeding practices and cultivation in the coffee plantation.
文摘By studying high-quality development process of Henan agriculture and rural areas empowered by digital inclusive finance,it is found that the construction of digital financial infrastructure in Henan Province is relatively complete,and the level of deposit and loan of rural enterprises and farmers is constantly improving,and the market and government are constantly upgrading the financial risk insurance compensation mechanism.At the same time,there are also problems such as insufficient demand and supply of digital finance,single digital financial products,and weak market supervision.Based on this,some implementation paths are proposed,such as continuing to strengthen the construction of rural financial infrastructure in Henan Province,improving farmers’financial literacy,and enriching digital financial products and services.The government should continue to improve the construction of market system,and broaden the market supervision and management,to actively promote the digitalization of agricultural finance to enable the high-quality development of agriculture and rural areas in Henan Province.
基金Sponsored by Key Social Science Project of Tianjin Education Commission(2020JWZD51)Education Reform Project of Tianjin Agricultural University(2021-A-18)Foreign Language Teaching Research Project of Colleges and Universities in Xinjiang(XJGXWYJG2022A04)。
文摘Taking the flower art major in Tianjin Agricultural University as an example,the paper discusses and practices series courses of flower art in agricultural universities and colleges,strengthens the integration of courses and highlights the characteristics.The teaching quality of flower art series courses has been significantly improved by optimizing high-level teaching team,constructing scientific course system,improving teaching methods and teaching means,using network teaching platform to assist teaching,compiling high-quality teaching materials and implementing whole process assessment mode.
基金Supported by 2021 Graduate Education and Teaching Quality Engineering Project(2021yjsjd03)Provincial New Era Education Quality Project in 2022(2022lhpysfjd023,2022cxcyjs010)+2 种基金2020 School-level Teaching Quality Engineering Project of Anhui Agricultural University(2020aujyxm58)Project of Research on Intelligent Agriculture Seminar and Research-based Teaching Model and Practice Research for New Agriculture(2021yjsjy09)Collaborative Innovation Project(22108101)。
文摘Taking the practice status of professional master’s degree candidates for agriculture in Anhui Agricultural University as an example,this paper analyzes the key factors affecting the practical training of graduate students in this major,and puts forward some strategies for improving the practice quality of professional master’s degree candidates.In terms of training professional master’s degree candidates,it is considered that agricultural colleges and universities should start with collaborative education,supervision and assessment mechanism,practice content and form,make full use of a large number of agricultural enterprise resources owned by colleges and universities and a good cooperation foundation in enterprises,so as to achieve the purpose of improving the practice quality of professional master’s degree candidates.
基金Special Research Program of Tianjin Municipal Education Commission(Psychological Health Education)(2020ZXXL-GX03G)2022 School-level Cultivation Project of Hetian Polytechnic(HZ202310).
文摘In order to study the restoration of road landscape space,subjective evaluation method was adopted to visually evaluate different road spaces in Tianjin University with college students as the research objects.Using random block design,9 plots were quantitatively studied by Perceived Restorativeness Scale(PRS)from four dimensions:alienation,compatibility,richness and attractiveness.The results show that gray space has the worst restorative effect in the dimension of alienation,and can not bring people the feeling of being away from daily trivialities;in terms of compatibility dimension,green and blue spaces have better restorative effects;richness dimension has no obvious influence on the restoration of plots;in terms of attraction dimension,blue space has strong restorative ability and can easily attract people’s attention,while gray space has low attraction.There are differences in environmental restoration among different types of road space,and gray space,blue space and green space show weak,strong,and relatively stable restorative effects,respectively.
文摘The principle of“poverty alleviation first helps the poor”is fundamental to poverty alleviation through education in rural areas.It serves as an important foundation for improving the soft power of rural culture and promoting the development of rural cultural construction.However,college students,being one of the main participants in educational poverty alleviation,have not been equipped with a well-established institutionalized participation mechanism and a sufficient awareness of participation.To enhance college students’awareness and participation in rural education and poverty alleviation and to improve the institutionalization,this research focuses on college students as a group,delves into the current situation and willingness of college students to participate in rural education and poverty alleviation,and analyzes the influencing factors affecting college students’participation in rural education and poverty alleviation by means of a questionnaire and a computerized statistical algorithm.Lastly,based on mathematical and statistical analysis,the research puts forward corresponding optimization countermeasures and suggestions from the perspectives of the government,colleges and universities,and villages,so as to provide decision-making guidelines for solving the problems of rural education development and talent constraints.
基金funded by the National Key Research and Development Program of China(2022YFA1304201)the Beijing Natural Science Foundation(6222032)+2 种基金the Starting Grants Program for Young Talents at China Agricultural Universitythe 2115 Talent Development Program of China Agricultural UniversityChinese Universities Scientific Fund。
文摘Background Ginkgo biloba extract(GBE)is evidenced to be effective in the prevention and alleviation of metabolic disorders,including obesity,diabetes and fatty liver disease.However,the role of GBE in alleviating fatty liver hemorrhagic syndrome(FLHS)in laying hens and the underlying mechanisms remain to be elucidated.Here,we investigated the effects of GBE on relieving FLHS with an emphasis on the modulatory role of GBE in chicken gut microbiota.Results The results showed that GBE treatment ameliorated biochemical blood indicators in high-fat diet(HFD)-induced FLHS laying hen model by decreasing the levels of TG,TC,ALT and ALP.The lipid accumulation and pathological score of liver were also relieved after GBE treatment.Moreover,GBE treatment enhanced the antioxidant activity of liver and serum by increasing GSH,SOD,T-AOC,GSH-PX and reducing MDA,and downregulated the expression of genes related to lipid synthesis(FAS,LXRα,GPAT1,PPARγand Ch REBP1)and inflammatory cytokines(TNF-α,IL-6,TLR4 and NF-κB)in the liver.Microbial profiling analysis revealed that GBE treatment reshaped the HFD-perturbed gut microbiota,particularly elevated the abundance of Megasphaera in the cecum.Meanwhile,targeted metabolomic analysis of SCFAs revealed that GBE treatment significantly promoted the production of total SCFAs,acetate and propionate,which were positively correlated with the GBE-enriched gut microbiota.Finally,we confirmed that the GBE-altered gut microbiota was sufficient to alleviate FLHS by fecal microbiota transplantation(FMT).Conclusions We provided evidence that GBE alleviated FLHS in HFD-induced laying hens through reshaping the composition of gut microbiota.Our findings shed light on mechanism underlying the anti-FLHS efficacy of GBE and lay foundations for future use of GBE as additive to prevent and control FLHS in laying hen industry.
基金financial support of the National Natural Science Foundation of China(U21A20218 and 32101857)the‘Double First-Class’Key Scientific Research Project of Education Department in Gansu Province,China(GSSYLXM-02)+1 种基金the Fuxi Young Talents Fund of Gansu Agricultural University,China(Gaufx03Y10)the“Innovation Star”Program of Graduate Students in 2023 of Gansu Province,China(2023CXZX681)。
文摘The development of modern agriculture requires the reduction of water and chemical N fertilizer inputs.Increasing the planting density can maintain higher yields,but also consumes more of these restrictive resources.However,whether an increased maize density can compensate for the negative effects of reduced water and N supply on grain yield and N uptake in the arid irrigated areas remains unknown.This study is part of a long-term positioning trial that started in 2016.A split-split plot field experiment of maize was implemented in the arid irrigated area of northwestern China in 2020 to 2021.The treatments included two irrigation levels:local conventional irrigation reduced by 20%(W1,3,240 m^(3)ha^(-1))and local conventional irrigation(W2,4,050 m^(3)ha^(-1));two N application rates:local conventional N reduced by 25%(N1,270 kg ha^(-1))and local conventional N(360 kg ha^(-1));and three planting densities:local conventional density(D1,75,000 plants ha^(-1)),density increased by 30%(D2,97,500 plants ha-1),and density increased by 60%(D3,120,000 plants ha^(-1)).Our results showed that the grain yield and aboveground N accumulation of maize were lower under the reduced water and N inputs,but increasing the maize density by 30% can compensate for the reductions of grain yield and aboveground N accumulation caused by the reduced water and N supply.When water was reduced while the N application rate remained unchanged,increasing the planting density by 30% enhanced grain yield by 13.9% and aboveground N accumulation by 15.3%.Under reduced water and N inputs,increasing the maize density by 30% enhanced N uptake efficiency and N partial factor productivity,and it also compensated for the N harvest index and N metabolic related enzyme activities.Compared with W2N2D1,the N uptake efficiency and N partial factor productivity increased by 28.6 and 17.6%under W1N1D2.W1N2D2 had 8.4% higher N uptake efficiency and 13.9% higher N partial factor productivity than W2N2D1.W1N2D2 improved urease activity and nitrate reductase activity by 5.4% at the R2(blister)stage and 19.6% at the V6(6th leaf)stage,and increased net income and the benefit:cost ratio by 22.1 and 16.7%,respectively.W1N1D2 and W1N2D2 reduced the nitrate nitrogen and ammoniacal nitrogen contents at the R6 stage in the 40-100 cm soil layer,compared with W2N2D1.In summary,increasing the planting density by 30% can compensate for the loss of grain yield and aboveground N accumulation under reduced water and N inputs.Meanwhile,increasing the maize density by 30% improved grain yield and aboveground N accumulation when water was reduced by 20% while the N application rate remained constant in arid irrigation areas.
基金the Surface Project of Local Development in Science and Technology Guided by Central Government(No.2021ZYD0041)Natural Science Foundation of Shandong Province(No.ZR2019YQ24)+2 种基金Taishan Scholars and Young Experts Program of Shandong Province(No.tsqn202103057)the Qingchuang Talents Induction Program of Shandong Higher Education Institution(Research and Innovation Team of Structural-Functional Polymer Composites)Special Financial of Shandong Province(Structural Design of High-efficiency Electromagnetic Wave-absorbing Composite Materials and Construction of Shandong Provincial Talent Teams).
文摘Electromagnetic wave(EMW)absorbing materials have an irreplaceable position in the field of military stealth as well as in the field of electromagnetic pollution control.And in order to cope with the complex electromagnetic environment,the design of multifunctional and multiband high efficiency EMW absorbers remains a tremendous challenge.In this work,we designed a three-dimensional porous structure via the salt melt synthesis strategy to optimize the impedance matching of the absorber.Also,through interfacial engineering,a molybdenum carbide transition layer was introduced between the molybdenum selenide nanoparticles and the three-dimensional porous carbon matrix to improve the absorption behavior of the absorber.The analysis indicates that the number and components of the heterogeneous interfaces have a significant impact on the EMW absorption performance of the absorber due to mechanisms such as interfacial polarization and conduction loss introduced by interfacial engineering.Wherein,the prepared MoSe_(2)/MoC/PNC composites showed excellent EMW absorption performance in C,X,and Ku bands,especially exhibiting a reflection loss of−59.09 dB and an effective absorption bandwidth of 6.96 GHz at 1.9 mm.The coordination between structure and components endows the absorber with strong absorption,broad bandwidth,thin thickness,and multi-frequency absorption characteristics.Remarkably,it can effectively reinforce the marine anticorrosion property of the epoxy resin coating on Q235 steel substrate.This study contributes to a deeper understanding of the relationship between interfacial engineering and the performance of EMW absorbers,and provides a reference for the design of multifunctional,multiband EMW absorption materials.
基金partially supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (Grant No.31772285)the National Key R&D Program Project Funding (Grant No.2018YFD1000607)Foundation for 100 Innovative Talents of Hebei Province(Grant No.SLRC2019031)。
文摘The juvenile-to-adult phase change with first flowering as the indicator plays a crucial role in the lifecycle of fruit trees. However, the molecular mechanisms underlying phase change in fruit trees remain largely unknown. Shikimic acid (ShA) pathway is a main metabolic pathway closely related to the synthesis of hormones and many important secondary metabolites participating in plant phase change. So,whether ShA regulates phase change in plants is worth clarifying. Here, the distinct morphological characteristics and the underlying mechanisms of phase change in jujube (Ziziphus jujuba Mill.), an important fruit tree native to China with nutritious fruit and outstanding tolerance abiotic stresses, were clarified. A combined transcriptome and metabolome analysis found that ShA is positively involved in jujube(Yuhong’×Xing 16’) phase change. The genes in the upstream of ShA synthesis pathway (ZjDAHPS, ZjDHQS and ZjSDH), the contents of ShA and the downstream secondary metabolites like phenols were significantly upregulated in the phase change period. Further, the treatment of spraying exogenous ShA verified that ShA at a very low concentration (60 mg·L^(-1)) can substantially speed up the phase change and flowering of jujube and other tested plants including Arabidopsis, tomato and wheat. The exogenous ShA (60 mg·L^(-1)) treatment in jujube seedlings could increase the accumulation of endogenous ShA, enhance leaf photosynthesis and the synthesis of phenols especially flavonoids and phenolic acids, and promote the expression of genes (ZjCOs, ZjNFYs and ZjPHYs) involved in flowering pathway. Basing on above results, we put forward a propose for the underlying mechanism of ShA regulating phase change, and a hypothesis that ShA could be considered a phytohormone-like substance because it is endogenous, ubiquitous, movable and highly efficient at very low concentrations. This study highlights the critical role of ShA in plant phase change and its phytohormone-like properties.
基金supported by the Double Support Project (035–2221993229)。
文摘Background Adequate level of carbohydrates in aquafeeds help to conserve protein and reduce cost. However, studies have indicated that high-carbohydrate(HC) diet disrupt the homeostasis of the gut–liver axis in largemouth bass, resulting in decreased intestinal acetate and butyrate level.Method Herein, we had concepted a set of feeding experiment to assess the effects of dietary sodium acetate(SA) and sodium butyrate(SB) on liver health and the intestinal microbiota in largemouth bass fed an HC diet. The experimental design comprised 5 isonitrogenous and isolipidic diets, including LC(9% starch), HC(18% starch), HCSA(18% starch;2 g/kg SA), HCSB(18% starch;2 g/kg SB), and HCSASB(18% starch;1 g/kg SA + 1 g/kg SB). Juvenile largemouth bass with an initial body weight of 7.00 ± 0.20 g were fed on these diets for 56 d.Results We found that dietary SA and SB reduced hepatic triglyceride accumulation by activating autophagy(ATG101, LC3B and TFEB), promoting lipolysis(CPT1α, HSL and AMPKα), and inhibiting adipogenesis(FAS, ACCA, SCD1 and PPARγ). In addition, SA and SB decreased oxidative stress in the liver(CAT, GPX1α and SOD1) by activating the Keap1-Nrf2 pathway. Meanwhile, SA and SB alleviated HC-induced inflammation by downregulating the expression of pro-inflammatory factors(IL-1β, COX2 and Hepcidin1) through the NF-κB pathway. Importantly, SA and SB increased the abundance of bacteria that produced acetic acid and butyrate(Clostridium_sensu_stricto_1). Combined with the KEGG analysis, the results showed that SA and SB enriched carbohydrate metabolism and amino acid metabolism pathways, thereby improving the utilization of carbohydrates. Pearson correlation analysis indicated that growth performance was closely related to hepatic lipid deposition, autophagy, antioxidant capacity, inflammation, and intestinal microbial composition.Conclusions In conclusion, dietary SA and SB can reduce hepatic lipid deposition;and alleviate oxidative stress and inflammation in largemouth bass fed on HC diet. These beneficial effects may be due to the altered composition of the gut microbiota caused by SA and SB. The improvement effects of SB were stronger than those associated with SA.
基金The authors acknowledge the financial support received from the National Natural Science Foundation of China(72061147002).
文摘China removed fertilizer manufacturing subsidies from 2015 to 2018 to bolster market-oriented reforms and foster environmentally sustainable practices.However,the impact of this policy reform on food security and the environment remains inadequately evaluated.Moreover,although green and low-carbon technologies offer environmental advantages,their widespread adoption is hindered by prohibitively high costs.This study analyzes the impact of removing fertilizer manufacturing subsidies and explores the potential feasibility of redirecting fertilizer manufacturing subsidies to invest in the diffusion of these technologies.Utilizing the China Agricultural University Agri-food Systems model,we analyzed the potential for achieving mutually beneficial outcomes regarding food security and environmental sustainability.The findings indicate that removing fertilizer manufacturing subsidies has reduced greenhouse gas(GHG)emissions from agricultural activities by 3.88 million metric tons,with minimal impact on food production.Redirecting fertilizer manufacturing subsidies to invest in green and low-carbon technologies,including slow and controlled-release fertilizer,organic-inorganic compound fertilizers,and machine deep placement of fertilizer,emerges as a strategy to concurrently curtail GHG emissions,ensure food security,and secure robust economic returns.Finally,we propose a comprehensive set of government interventions,including subsidies,field guidance,and improved extension systems,to promote the widespread adoption of these technologies.
基金This study was supported by the Chinese University Scientific Fund(2023TC105)the National Nature Science Foundation of China(72361147521&72061147002).
文摘Despite the growing recognition of women’s increasing role in the household and corresponding empowerment programs in sub-Saharan Africa,intensive research on the relationship between women’s influence and household food consumption is minimal.Using the most recent(2017-2018)national household survey data from Tanzania,this study examined the influence of women’s empowerment on household food consumption.First,we compared the monthly consumption of eight food categories between female-headed households(FHHs)and male-headed households(MHHs)using both descriptive statistics and the propensity score matching(PSM)method.Furthermore,we adopted the two-stage Linear Expenditure System and Almost Ideal Demand System model(LES-AIDS)to estimate income and price elasticities for the two household types.The results show that FHHs consume bread and cereals,fish,oils and fats,vegetables,and confectionery(sugar,jam,honey,chocolate,etc.)more than MHHs.Moreover,FHHs have a significantly higher income elasticity of demand for all food groups than MHHs.They are also more price elastic than MHHs in meat,fish,oils,fats,sugar,jam,honey,chocolate,etc.
基金This study was supported in part by the National Natural Science Foundation of China(71973136 and 72061147002)the 2115 Talent Development Program of China Agricultural University.
文摘Over the past few decades,the Internet has rapidly diffused across China.The spread of the Internet has had a profound economic and social impact on Chinese rural areas.Existing research shows that Internet access significantly impacts agricultural production and improves smallholder farmers’income.Beyond these,the Internet can affect other dimensions of social welfare.However,research about the impact of Internet access on dietary quality in rural China remains scarce.This study utilizes multi-period panel data from Fixed Observation Point in rural China from 2009 to 2015 to estimate the impact of Internet access on dietary quality and food consumption of rural households and conducts a causal analysis.Regression models with time and household fixed effects allow robust estimation while reducing potential issues of unobserved heterogeneity.The estimates show that Internet access has significantly increased rural household dietary quality(measured by the Chinese Diet Balance Index).Further research finds that Internet access has increased the consumption of animal products,such as aquatic and dairy products.We also examine the underlying mechanisms.Internet access improves dietary quality and food consumption mainly through increasing household income and food expenditure.These results encourage the promotion of Internet access as a valuable tool for nutritional improvements,especially in rural areas.
基金supported by the National Key Research and Development Program of China(Grant No.2018YFD1000800)National Natural Science Foundation of China(Grant No.32172600)。
文摘Agrobacterium-mediated plant transformation is widely used in plant genetic engineering.However,its efficiency is limited by plant immunity against Agrobacterium.Chili pepper(Capsicum annuum L.)is an important vegetable that is recalcitrant to Agrobacterium-mediated transformation.In this work,Agrobacterium was found to induce a strong immune response in pepper,which might be the reason for T-DNA being difficult to express in pepper.An Agrobacterium mutant screen was conducted and a point mutation in the hisI gene was identified due to a weak immune response and enhanced transient expression mediated by this Agrobacterium mutant in pepper leaves.Further genetic analysis revealed that histidine biosynthesis deficiency caused by mutations in many genes of this pathway led to reduced pepper cell death,presumably due to reduced bacterial growth.However,mutation analysis of threonine and tryptophan biosynthesis genes showed that the biosynthesis of different amino acids may play different roles in Agrobacterium growth and stimulating the pepper immune response.The possible application of Agrobacterium amino acid biosynthesis mutations in plant biology was discussed.