Neuroinflammatory Profiling in SIV-Infected Chinese-Origin Rhesus Macaques on Antiretroviral Therapy

The central nervous system (CNS) HIV reservoir is an obstacle to achieving an HIV cure. The basal ganglia harbor a higher frequency of SIV than other brain regions in the SIV-infected rhesus macaques of Chinese-origin (chRMs) even on suppressive combination antiretroviral therapy (ART). Since residual HIV/SIV reservoir is associated with inflammation, we characterized the neuroinflammation by gene expression and systemic levels of inflammatory molecules in healthy controls and SIV-infected chRMs with or without ART. CCL2, IL-6, and IFN-γ were significantly reduced in the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) of animals receiving ART. Moreover, there was a correlation between levels of CCL2 in plasma and CSF, suggesting the potential use of plasma CCL2 as a neuroinflammation biomarker. With higher SIV frequency, the basal ganglia of untreated SIV-infected chRMs showed an upregulation of secreted phosphoprotein 1 (SPP1), which could be an indicator of ongoing neuroinflammation. While ART greatly reduced neuroinflammation in general, proinflammatory genes, such as IL-9, were still significantly upregulated. These results expand our understanding of neuroinflammation and signaling in SIV-infected chRMs on ART, an excellent model to study HIV/SIV persistence in the CNS.

VDJ Gene Usage in IgM Repertoires of Rhesus and Cynomolgus Macaques

Macaques are frequently used to evaluate candidate vaccines and to study infection-induced antibody responses, requiring an improved understanding of their naïve immunoglobulin (IG) repertoires. Baseline gene usage frequencies contextualize studies of antigen-specific immune responses, providing information about how easily one may stimulate a response with a particular VDJ recombination. Studies of human IgM repertoires have shown that IG VDJ gene frequencies vary several orders of magnitude between the most and least utilized genes in a manner that is consistent across many individuals but to date similar analyses are lacking for macaque IgM repertoires. Here, we quantified VDJ gene usage levels in unmutated IgM repertoires of 45 macaques, belonging to two species and four commonly used subgroups: Indian and Chinese origin rhesus macaques and Indonesian and Mauritian origin cynomolgus macaques. We show that VDJ gene frequencies differed greatly between the most and least used genes, with similar overall patterns observed in macaque subgroups and individuals. However, there were also clear differences affecting the use of specific V, D and J genes. Furthermore, in contrast to humans, macaques of both species utilized IGHV4 family genes to a much higher extent and showed evidence of evolutionary expansion of genes of this family. Finally, we used the results to inform the analysis of a broadly neutralizing HIV-1 antibody elicited in SHIV-infected rhesus macaques, RHA1.V2.01, which binds the apex of the Env trimer in a manner that mimics the binding mode of PGT145. We discuss the likelihood that similar antibodies could be elicited in different macaque subgroups.

Phylogeographic Relationships among Bombyx mandarina (Lepidoptera: Bombycidae) Populations and Their Relationships to B. mori Inferred from Mitochondrial Genomes

We report 37 mitochondrial genome (mitogenome) sequences of Bombyx mori strains (Lepidoptera: Bombycidae) and four of B. mandarina individuals, each preserved and collected, respectively, in South Korea. These mitogenome sequences combined with 45 public data showed a substantial genetic reduction in B. mori strains compared to the presumed ancestor B. mandarina, with the highest diversity detected in the Chinese origin B. mori. Chinese B. mandarina were divided into northern and southern groups, concordant to the Qinling–Huaihe line, and the northern group was placed as an immediate progenitor of monophyletic B. mori strains in phylogenetic analyses, as has previously been detected. However, one individual that was in close proximity to the south Qinling–Huaihe line was exceptional, belonging to the northern group. The enigmatic South Korean population of B. mandarina, which has often been regarded as a closer genetic group to Japan, was most similar to the northern Chinese group, evidencing substantial gene flow between the two regions. Although a substantial genetic divergence is present between B. mandarina in southern China and Japan, a highly supported sister relationship between the two regional populations may suggest the potential origin of Japanese B. mandarina from southern China instead of the Korean peninsula.

Catholicism among the Chinese Diaspora in Europe

In Paris, as in Milan, the establishment of Catholic communities of Chinese origin, which developed throughout the twentieth century, has followed the rhythms of migration from Asia. The French and Italian ecclesiastical authorities have welcomed these migrants and have set up a number of special structures for them. Based on a comparative ethnographic study carried out over several years in the Chinese parishes of Paris and Milan, this article analyzes the ways in which the family environment of Chinese believers shapes their faith and durably anchors their religious practices. In particular, it examines how this spiritual family tradition is significant in the trajectory and vocation of Chinese Catholic priests and church members. This article also addresses the challenge represented by the transmission of the Catholic faith from Chinese migrants to the younger generations who grew up in Europe. Finally, it looks at the role of the sociocultural support that parishes provide for migrants far from their country of origin and roots.

Dominance of the residential sector in Chinese black carbon emissions as identified from downwind atmospheric observations during the COVID-19 pandemic

Emissions of black carbon (BC) particles from anthropogenic and natural sources contribute to climate change and human health impacts. Therefore, they need to be accurately quantified to develop an effective mitigation strategy. Although the spread of the emission flux estimates for China have recently narrowed under the constraints of atmospheric observations, consensus has not been reached regarding the dominant emission sector. Here, we quantified the contribution of the residential sector, as 64% (44–82%) in 2019, using the response of the observed atmospheric concentration in the outflowing air during Feb–Mar 2020, with the prevalence of the COVID-19 pandemic and restricted human activities over China. In detail, the BC emission fluxes, estimated after removing effects from meteorological variability, dropped only slightly (− 18%) during Feb–Mar 2020 from the levels in the previous year for selected air masses of Chinese origin, suggesting the contributions from the transport and industry sectors (36%) were smaller than the rest from the residential sector (64%). Carbon monoxide (CO) behaved differently, with larger emission reductions (− 35%) in the period Feb–Mar 2020, suggesting dominance of non-residential (i.e., transport and industry) sectors, which contributed 70% (48–100%) emission during 2019. The estimated BC/CO emission ratio for these sectors will help to further constrain bottom-up emission inventories. We comprehensively provide a clear scientific evidence supporting mitigation policies targeting reduction in residential BC emissions from China by demonstrating the economic feasibility using marginal abatement cost curves.

Strategic planning and its relationship with the competitiveness and permanence of chinese family SMEs in Mexicali / La planeación estratégica y su relación con la competitividad y permanencia de las PYMEs familiares chinas en Mexicali

Family SMEs of Chinese origin in Mexicali, Baja California, are part of a dynamic and transcendental sector due to their participation in economic activity and development, having a favorable impact on the development of the State, having as a characteristic that the owner is the pillar and central axis of the administrative exercise, being the image as an organization, and the natural leader within, being the center of the organizational dynamics. The research is descriptive, non-experimental, cross-sectional, considering the commercial segment with a wide potential due to its ability to face problems that concern it and because it constitutes the most important sector, with the aim of identifying whether among the factors of closure and lack of consolidation of this type of companies, is the low implementation of strategic planning. The instrument applied was a questionnaire to a sample of 30 companies, the information obtained was processed and statistically analyzed. The results show that there is a considerable tendency towards resistance to investing time and effort in carrying out the design of strategic planning, concluding that actions should be generated, designed and implemented to help carry out the operation, achieving competitiveness and sustainability. permanence in the market.

China’s technological performance as reflected in patents

Various concepts for the comparison of countries by patent indicators have been developed for the comparison of countries based on patent indicators. These concepts are generally based on the application of patents in several important markets or the family size of patent applications. A specific observation is the limited transfer of PCT applications of Chinese origin, affecting all these concepts. Transnational patents prove to be a convenient and appropriate tool for making country comparisons by technology, particularly with respect to adequately consider China’s specific patent behaviour. Therefore the phenomenon of limited transfer of China’s PCT applications is analysed for transnational patents. This observation can be associated with lower patent values or with a decreasing export dynamic. The Chinese transfer rates vary considerably by technology as well as by the reason for lower transfer rates. It proves to be more adequate to take limited transfer rates into account.

Frame Narratives Concerning the Chinese Origin of Divination and Geomancy in Mongolian Manuscript Texts

This paper introduces three Mongolian texts of various genres linked together by their frame narratives which all refer to Mongolian notions regarding the Chinese origin of divination, geomancy and related rituals. The frame narratives represent a rare component of Mongolian texts of these genres. The texts are published in transcription, with a translation, and compared to the corresponding textual tradition as well as to wider cultural context illustrated by instances from oral tradition.