Attitudes towards Italian wine of practitioners in the Chinese distribution

China’s economy has grown at an impressive rate after the integration into the global trading system (WTO) in 2001, a major turning point in the Chinese economic history. The opening policy has increased business opportunities for both local and foreign operators; however, in spite of the great appeal of such cooperation, many obstacles yet exist: language, culture, education, business practices, and industrial development. Food products supply and access to the market are mastered by a relatively small group of businessmen: international buyers, purchasing agents, retailers and representatives of large-scale distribution chains. The perception they have of a potential source country is a key factor for a successful market approach. The present study aims at understanding the attitudes of distribution practitioners in the Chinese market towards imported Italian quality wine, as well as the current communication, marketing, strategic and organizational advantages or deficiencies of Italian producers, compared to other European counterparts. The primary data were collected through personal interviews with key informants in Shanghai, Beijing and Guangzhou. Such information has been completed with an analysis of the existing literature, meetings with sector operators as well as with talks and presentations of experts attending the “International Workshop on Chinese Wine Market”, held in Beijing on August 8-10, 2007. The interviews have been administered as conversation-like dialogues, on the base of a semi-structured interview outline, providing also the framework for a qualitative content analysis. This paper is aimed at giving an insight on import and distribution of Italian wine in China, highlighting both positive and negative feedbacks on the effectiveness of marketing strategies of Italian wine trading companies.wine, international trade, distribution, China, "Made in Italy"

Literature review on the perception of agro-foods quality cues in the international environment

Consumers look for the highest affordable food quality, given their household budgets and perceptions of product quality. Such perception is however strictly related to culturally linked variables, and the importance attached to each component of the overall quality vary greatly among countries. Different perceptions lead to different purchase decisions. This concept is even clearer for the aspects of quality that cant be tested directly. Consumer goods may be divided into search, experience and credence goods, depending on when the consumer is capable of assessing their quality (before buying, after consuming or in the very long term). Most quality agro-food products, such as food with geographical indications (GIs) and low input food (LIFs), fall into the credence good category. The aim of this paper is to point out how much attention is currently paid in literature (both scientific and popular: articles, papers, reports, marketing studies etc.) to the evaluation of the perceived value of such credence goods attributes for the quality food sector, and which relationships are mainly explored. A special attention will be paid to the situation in China.quality, agro-food, perception, Agribusiness,

Production costs of pears and apples in Xinjiang (China)

China is the most important pear producing country in the world, and one of the most important as far as it concerns apples. Nevertheless, its international role is not so relevant: traded volume in relation to production is relatively small yet growing fast. Xinjiang is a large and mainly deserted region in northwest China that covers one-sixth of China's land. However, thanks to abundant water resources, good lighting conditions and altitude, this area represents an ideal setting for pomefruit production, and has in fact a very long tradition. Unfortunately, due to a disadvantaged location and a poor economy this province do not attract enough capitals, passing unnoticed despite of its valuable resources. Economic analysis are therefore necessary to assess to which extent this market turns out to be approachable. The aim of this paper is to describe in detail the situation of the fruit growing industry in Xinjiang, as far as it concerns two important pomefruit varieties: Xiang Li pear, a local and very appreciated variety, and Fuji apple. After locating the most vocated producing areas for both species and identifying the productive standards, we then proceed on counting up the production costs, using a well-established methodology adapted to the particular situation. The target of the analysis are small and mid-size farms, since they represent the vast majority of the orchards of the area. The costs aggregates are: base orchard management cost (BOMC), farm full cost (FFC) and total production cost (TPC). These aggregates group together costs related to similar productive factors. The picture of the situation outlined by this survey is that of a marginal area, where however fruit growing, compared to other agricultural activities, grants a good income. It also emerges that fruit growers in Xinjiang (and in China), are hardly coming out of a situation of general backwardness, striving to adapt to a larger business mainly through exportation to other provinces. Farms are however mainly familiar and small, and only a few big local enterprises seem to possess the right requirements to give local production the right impetus to reach successfully outside markets.Xiang Li fragrant pear, Fuji apple, Production cost, China, Fruit growing

Study on the scope for reconstruction of the grazing livestock sector of Xinjiang based on organic farming methods

This paper explores the feasibility of developing organic livestock farming in the pastoral area of Xinjiang, in order to address the problems of grassland degradation and to promote the sustainable development of the grazing livestock sector. Research shows that organic grazing farming may reduce the stocking rate of grassland and relieve the strained relationship between animal and grassland, as well between man and nature. As a result, the value of multifunctional grazing systems may be more widely recognized. As well as including production and economic objectives, cultural, social and environmental implications will also be taken into account. Additionally, herders may also have an improved source of income to poor rural people. The potential markets for organic products are very big and the traditional ruminant livestock husbandry systems in Xinjiang are very close to organic livestock farming. It is considered necessary to change from a production-oriented approach to farming system research to a wider consideration of the systems and policies needed to support the development of organic grazing livestock alongside consideration of how to fund the relevant research and training and establish the systems of quality guarantee associated with organic production.Grazing Livestock, Organic Farming, Xinjiang, China

TRICHOPHYTON SCHEONLEINII MOLECULAR TYPING BY PCR-RFLP OF THE RIBOSOMAL DNA NON-TRANSCRIBED SPACER REGION

Objective: Tinea capitis is a common children’s disease in the southern part of Xinjiang province, China. Trichophyton schoenleinii is the only causative agent of tinea favosa, which is a relatively common infection in southern Xinjiang. Materials: In the previous study, the molecular epidemiological study of Trichophyton schoenleinii showed that the strains from Xinjiang have different genotypes compared to the strains from mainland China. In this study, we investigated the genetic diversity of 33 T. schoenleinii strains isolated from favus children in Hotan, a famous area in old SilkRoad, which is located at southern Xinjiang. Results: The sequences of rDNA NTS regions of 33 strains were identical. Genotyping study of these strains by PCR-restriction fragment length polymorphism (RFLP) of ribosomal dna (rDNA) non-transcribed spacer (NTS) region used restriction enzyme Ddel showed that 33 strains divided into 10 genotypes. Conclusion: Our result indicated that different geno typicstrains of T. schoenleinii were prevalent among the children in Hotan, and PCR-RFLP analysis of DNA NTS region is a reliable tool for geno typing study of T. schoenleinii. Keywords: Trichophyton scheonleinii; NTS region; PCR-RFLP; Phylogeny; Sequencing

Clinical Distribution and Drug Susceptibility Characterization of Invasive Candida Isolates in a Tertiary Hospital of Xinjiang Province

Songdi Zhang,* Lijuan Zhang,* Aikedai Yusufu,* Hadiliya Hasimu, Xiaodong Wang, Paride Abliz Department of Dermatology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Xinjiang Medical University, Urumqi, People’s Republic of China*These authors contributed equally to this workCorrespondence: Xiaodong Wang; Paride Abliz, Department of Dermatology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Xinjiang Medical University, No. 393, Xinyi Road, Urumqi, Xinjiang, People’s Republic of China, Email [email protected]; [email protected]: This study aims to investigate the clinical distribution characteristics and drug susceptibility profiles of invasive Candida isolates in a tertiary hospital in Urumqi.Methods: The examination was conducted on samples obtained from patients who were clinically diagnosed with invasive candidiasis in this hospital. A total of 109 strains of Candida strains were identified through the use of internal transcribed spacer (ITS) sequencing and fungal cultivation methods.The clinical distribution of the strains was analyzed. Antifungal drug susceptibility tests were performed using the Sensititre YO10 fungal drug susceptibility plate based on the micro-broth dilution method.Results: Candida albicans had the highest percentage (51.38%) among 109 Candida isolates, followed by C. glabrata (18.35%) and C. tropicalis (15.60%). The isolates were predominantly found in the respiratory department (41.28%), intensive care unit (ICU) (31.19%), and infection department (9.17%).The results of drug susceptibility tests indicated that amphotericin B, 5-fluorocytosine, and echinocandins exhibited good in vitro antifungal activity, with a susceptibility rate of over 96%. However, the azoles demonstrated low antifungal activity, especially posaconazole and voriconazole, which had high resistance rates of 64.71% for C. tropicalis and 70% for C. glabrata, respectively.Conclusion: In our hospital, Candida albicans was identified as the primary causal agent of invasive candidiasis. In terms of in vitro antifungal activity, echinocandins, amphotericin B, and 5-fluorocytosine demonstrated efficacy against invasive Candida infections. However, it was important to note that C. glabrata and C. tropicalis exhibited low susceptibility to azoles. Keywords: Candida isolates, clinical distribution, antifungal drug susceptibility tests, drug resistanc

A Study into the Causes of Floods and its Socio-economic Effects on the People of Sawaba in the Bolgatanga Municipality, Upper East, Ghana

ABSTRACT Flooding is a phenomenon which can occur if the amount of precipitation in an area exceeds the evaporation rate and infiltration capacity of the soil and it i

Involvement of toll-like receptor 9 polymorphism in cervical cancer development

The role played by the polymorphism located in Toll-like Receptor 9 (TLR9) as a risk factor of cervical cancer remains elusive. Therefore, we studied the association of the TLR9 −1486 T/C (rs187084) and C2848T (rs352140) polymorphisms with cervical cancer. The TLR9 −1486 T/C and C2848T polymorphism was genotyped in 426 patients and 460 unrelated healthy females from the Polish population. Logistic regression analysis adjusting for age, pregnancy, oral contraceptive use, tobacco smoking, and menopausal status showed that both the TLR9 −1486 T/C and C2848T polymorphisms could be a genetic risk factor for cervical cancer. For the TLR9 −1486 T/C polymorphism, the adjusted OR for patients with the C/T genotype versus T/T genotype was 1.371 (95 % CI 1.021–1.842, p = 0.0361), the adjusted OR for the C/C genotype vs the T/T genotype was 1.300 (95 % CI 1.016–1.507, p = 0.0096), and the adjusted OR for the C/T or C/C genotype vs the T/T genotype was 1.448 (95 % CI 1.099–1.908, p = 0.0083). For the C2848T polymorphism, the adjusted OR for patients with the C/T genotype vs C/C genotype was 1.443 (95 % CI 1.019–2.043, p = 0.0380), the adjusted OR for the T/T genotype vs the C/C genotype was 1.237 (95 % CI 1.016–1.507, p = 0.0328), and the adjusted OR for the T/C or T/T genotype vs the C/C genotype was 1.345 (95 % CI 0.976–1.855, p = 0.0700). Our studies suggest that the TLR9 −1486 T/C and C2848T polymorphisms may be a genetic risk factor for cervical cancer

Partisipasi Politik Masyarakat Nelayan di Pulo Madu Kabupaten Kepulauan Selayar

Studi ini membahas tentang partisipasi politik masyarakat nelayan yang ada di Desa Pulo Madu Kecamatan Pasilambena Kabupaten Kepulauan Selayar. Tujuan penelitian ini adalah untuk mengetahui partisipasi politik, pandangan dan sikap politik serta strategi politik masyarakat nelayan untuk mempengaruhi anggotanya. Penelitian ini menggunakan metode kualitatif deskriptif. Adapun teori yang digunakan dalam penelitian ini yaitu teori partisipasi politik, teori  strategi politik, dan teori perilaku politik. Kesimpulan umum pada penelitian ini adalah bahwa masyarakat nelayan Desa Pulo Madu sangat berinisiatif dalam ikut-serta pada pemilihan umum. Masyarakat tidak mengenal kata Golput, yang mereka tahu adalah ikut berpartisipasi memberikan suaranya pada pemilihan umum dikarenakan tuntutan beberapa hal seperti karena uang, harapan pada perbaikan hidup, karena keluarga atau karena untuk melunasi hutang. Pandangan dan sikap politiknya sangat ditentukan oleh fakta yang terjadi di lapangan sehingga wajah politik tergantung daripada perilaku para politikus