Abstract. Post-treatment soil-transmitted helminth re-infection patterns were studied as part of a randomized controlled trial among school-aged children from an ethnic minority group in Yunnan province, People's Republic of China. Children with a soil-transmitted helminth infection (N = 194) were randomly assigned to triple-dose albendazole or placebo and their infection status monitored over a 6-month period using the Kato-Katz and Baermann techniques. Baseline prevalence of Trichuris trichiura, Ascaris lumbricoides, hookworm, and Strongyloides stercoralis were 94.5%, 93.3%, 61.3%, and 3.1%, respectively, with more than half of the participants harboring triple-species infections. For the intervention group (N = 99), the 1-month post-treatment cure rates were 96.7%, 91.5%, and 19.6% for hookworm, A. lumbricoides, and T. trichiura, respectively. Egg reduction rates were above 88% for all three species. Rapid re-infection with A. lumbricoides was observed: the prevalence 4 and 6 months post-treatment was 75.8% and 83.8%, respectively. Re-infection with hookworm and T. trichiura was considerably slower.

BackgroundChronic soil-transmitted helminth (STH) infections have been associated with reduced physical fitness, but available evidence is limited. The aim of this cross-sectional survey was to assess the feasibility of measuring children's physical fitness and to relate it to STH infections. Our study was carried out among school-aged children of the Bulang ethnic group in rural southwest People's Republic of China (P.R. China). Standardized, quality-controlled methods were employed to determine STH infections (Kato-Katz technique), haemoglobin levels, anthropometry (body weight and height) and physical fitness (20-m shuttle run test).ResultsA compliance of 87% suggested good acceptance of the methods used. Among 69 children with complete data records, infection prevalence of Trichuris trichiura, Ascaris lumbricoides and hookworm were 81%, 44% and 6%, respectively. The maximum volume of oxygen that can be utilized within 1 min during exhaustive exercise (VO2 max estimate) of T. trichiura-infected children was 1.94 ml kg-1 min-1 lower than that of their non-infected counterparts (P = 0.005). Until exhaustion, T. trichiura-infected children had completed 6.14 20-m laps less (P = 0.004). Additionally, the mean VO2 max estimate of stunted children was lowered by 1.63 ml kg-1 min-1 (P = 0.002) and they completed 5.32 20-m laps less (P = 0.001) compared to children of normal stature. No significant association between stunting and infection with any STH species could be established.ConclusionsImplementation of physical fitness tests in rural, resource-constraint settings is feasible. The physical fitness of children who are stunted or infected with STHs, particularly T. trichiura, is significantly impaired. We have launched a larger study and will determine the dynamics of school-aged children's physical fitness over a 7-month period after administration of anthelminthic drugs.

BackgroundThere is considerable debate on the health impacts of soil-transmitted helminth infections. We assessed effects of deworming on physical fitness and strength of children in an area in Yunnan, People's Republic of China, where soil-transmitted helminthiasis is highly endemic.MethodologyThe double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled trial was conducted between October 2011 and May 2012. Children, aged 9–12 years, were treated with either triple-dose albendazole or placebo, and monitored for 6 months post-treatment. The Kato-Katz and Baermann techniques were used for the diagnosis of soil-transmitted helminth infections. Physical fitness was assessed with a 20-m shuttle run test, where the maximum aerobic capacity within 1 min of exhaustive exercise (VO2 max estimate) and the number of 20-m laps completed were recorded. Physical strength was determined with grip strength and standing broad jump tests. Body height and weight, the sum of skinfolds, and hemoglobin levels were recorded as secondary outcomes.Principal FindingsChildren receiving triple-dose albendazole scored slightly higher in the primary and secondary outcomes than placebo recipients, but the difference lacked statistical significance. Trichuris trichiura-infected children had 1.6 ml kg−1 min−1 (P = 0.02) less increase in their VO2 max estimate and completed 4.6 (P = 0.04) fewer 20-m laps than at baseline compared to non-infected peers. Similar trends were detected in the VO2 max estimate and grip strength of children infected with hookworm and Ascaris lumbricoides, respectively. In addition, the increase in the VO2 max estimate from baseline was consistently higher in children with low-intensity T. trichiura and hookworm infections than in their peers with high-intensity infections of all soil-transmitted helminths (range: 1.9–2.1 ml kg−1 min−1; all P<0.05).Conclusions/SignificanceWe found no strong evidence for significant improvements in physical fitness and anthropometric indicators due to deworming over a 6-month follow-up period. However, the negative effect of T. trichiura infections on physical fitness warrants further investigation.

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Due to the effects of uncertain factors such as seasonal weather and plant/animal diseases, the output of agricultural production is uncertain given certain agricultural inputs. This paper addresses the issue of coordinating agri-food chain with perishable goods by revenue-sharing (RS) contract when both output and demand are random. Following a RS contract, a supplier decides on agricultural input (e) and deliveries all goods with a price (ω) lower than unit production cost to the retailer while a retailer decides on the retail price (p) and return 1–Φ share (percentage) of its revenue to the supplier. For such a contract, the necessary condition of coordinating the chain is that the expected revenue function is concave. Under the channel coordination, the relationship between RS contract parameters ω and Φ as well as the range of Φ are given. For both output and demand random factor with uniform distribution, the concavity of the expected revenue function is presented. A numerical example illustrates the correctness of our analysis. The results of numerical example show that RS contract is able to coordinate the agri-food chain when the expected revenue function is concave. The results also show that the optimal decisions of p and e are closely related to the demand price elasticity and the range of Φ is widened when the expected output increases.

a b s t r a c tThis paper evaluates the potential production of non-food biofuels in China. The evaluation is conducted for ethanol and biodiesel. The ethanol production is predicted based on the available amounts of energy crops, agricultural and forest residues and waste molasses, while the biodiesel is predicted to be produced from wood energy plants and waste cooking oil. The results indicate that China's potential capacity on non-food biofuels from 2015 to 2030 will be in the range between 75.60 and 152.13 million metric tons. In order to exploit this potential capacity, there is a long way to march.

Background Enterocytozoon bieneusi is the most common microsporidian species causing diarrhea and other intestinal disorders in humans and animals. Like other infectious diseases, microsporidiosis usually disproportionately affects poor populations. In China, some ethnic minority areas remain poor. Currently, no information of E . bieneusi infection is available in minority populations. The present aims were to understand occurrence and genetic characterizations of E . bieneusi in ethnic minority groups from a poverty-stricken ethnic township in Yunnan Province, and to assess risk factors for E . bieneusi infection. Methodology/Principal findings 289 fecal specimens were collected from Yao people (one specimen each) with and without diarrhea, in Yunnan Province. E . bieneusi was identified and genotyped by PCR and sequence analysis of the ITS region of the rRNA gene. An average prevalence of 8.30% (24/289) was observed and four genotypes were identified—genotype Peru6 (n = 21) and three novel genotypes (one each). Genotype Peru6 was detected in two family members in each of three families. In a phylogenetic analysis, all of four genotypes fell into group 1 with zoonotic potential. The people owning individual pit toilets had a statistically higher prevalence of E . bieneusi (16.67%, 12/72) than those using public pit toilets (6.06%, 12/198). Conclusions/Significance This is the first report on occurrence and genetic characteristics of E . bieneusi in ethnic minority groups in China. Genotype Peru6 was found in humans in China for the first time and showed dominance in Yao people. The same genotype was found in some family members and all the genotypes fell into group 1, suggesting the possibility of anthroponotic and zoonotic transmissions. The majority (83.33%, 20/24) of E . bieneusi positive individuals did not present diarrhea. In any case, it is important to recognize their existence and the importance that asymptomatic individuals to E . bieneusi may have from an epidemiological point of view, as transmitters of this pathogen. The analysis of risk factors provides scientific evidence for the development of effective strategies for prevention and control of E . bieneusi infection.

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