DOCSLIB.ORG

Sedimentary Arsenite-Oxidizing and Arsenate-Reducing Bacteria

Total Page：16

File Type：pdf, Size：1020Kb

Download full-text PDF Read full-text
Sedimentary Arsenite-Oxidizing and Arsenate-Reducing Bacteria Journal of Applied Microbiology ISSN 1364-5072 1 ORIGINAL ARTICLE 2 3 Sedimentary arsenite-oxidizing and arsenate-reducing 4 bacteria associated with high arsenic groundwater from 5 6 Shanyin, Northwestern China 7 H. Fan1,C.Su2, Y. Wang1, J. Yao2, K. Zhao1, Y. Wang2 and G. Wang1 8 9 1 State Key Laboratory of Agricultural Microbiology, College of Life Science and Technology, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, China 10 2 Key Laboratory of Biogeology and Environmental Geology of Ministry of Education, China University of Geosciences, Wuhan, China 11 12 13 14 15 Keywords Abstract aoxB 16 , arsenate-reducing bacteria, arsenic, arsenite-oxidizing bacteria, groundwater. Aims: Shanyin County is one of the most severe endemic arsenism affected 17 areas in China but micro-organisms that potentially release arsenic from sedi- 18 Correspondence ments to groundwater have not been studied. Our aim was to identify bacteria 19 Gejiao Wang PhD, State Key Laboratory of with the potential to metabolize or transform arsenic in the sediments. 20 Agricultural Microbiology, College of Life Methods and Results: Culture and nonculture-based molecular methods were Science and Technology, Huazhong 21 performed to identify arsenite-oxidizing bacteria, arsenate-reducing bacteria Agricultural University, Wuhan 430070, 22 and arsenite oxidase genes. Arsenite-oxidizing bacteria were identified only 23 China. E-mail: [email protected]; [email protected] from the land surface to 7 metres (m)-deep underground that were affiliated to 24 a- and b-Proteobacteria. Arsenate-reducing bacteria were found in almost all 25 2007/1589: received 29 September 2007, the sediment samples with different depths (0–41 m) and mainly belong to 26 revised 18 January 2008 and accepted 19 c-Proteobacteria. Several novel arsenite oxidase genes (aoxBs) were identified 27 January 2008 from the upper layers of the sediments (0–7 m) and were found to be specific 28 for arsenite-oxidizing bacteria. doi:10.1111/j.1365-2672.2008.03790.x 29 Conclusions: The distribution of arsenite-oxidizing bacteria in upper layers and 30 arsenate-reducing bacteria in different depths of the sediments may impact the 31 arsenic release into the nearby tubewell groundwater. 32 Significance and Impact of the Study: This study provides valuable sources of 33 micro-organisms (and genes) that may contribute to groundwater arsenic 34 abnormality and may be useful to clean arsenic contaminated groundwater. 35 36 37 38 found in Shanyin county of Shanxi province where Introduction 39 groundwater is the only water supply. About 50 000 40 Arsenic (As) is widely distributed and toxic to humans people drink groundwater with arsenic concentration ) 41 and animals. Arsenic pollution has become a severe reaching up to 1Æ93 mg l 1 resulting in severe clinical 42 worldwide problem in recent years, especially in Bangla- symptoms of arsenism (Guo et al. 2003). 43 desh, India and China (Chowdhury et al. 2000; Sun There is an urgent need to develop low cost and effi- 44 2004). Chronic intake of groundwater with high levels of cient technologies to clean arsenic from groundwater in 45 arsenic has caused arsenism in several provinces of China. this region. For this goal, we first have to gain knowledge 46 The arsenic contaminated area of China was found to be of biotic and abiotic factors that contribute to the arsenic 47 larger than that of Bangladesh and new endemic regions enrichment in such environment. Shanyin is located in 48 were continuously emerging (Xia and Liu 2004). Shanxi the south of the Datong Basin. The arsenic rich metamor- 49 province is a geological abnormal region for arsenic. Well phic rocks and coal bearing strata around the margin of 50 water in all the investigated villages showed elevated con- the basin are the natural origins of arsenic sources. Lacus- 51 centration of arsenic and 52% of the tubewell water is trine deposits with high organic materials are the second- 52 unsafe (Sun 2004). Endemic arsenism cases caused by ary media containing arsenic. High arsenic is mainly 53 drinking arsenic contaminated groundwater were mainly found in tubewell groundwater between 10 and 50 m ª 2008 The Authors Journal compilation ª 2008 The Society for Applied Microbiology, Journal of Applied Microbiology 1 JAM 3790 Dispatch: 14.3.08 Journal: JAM CE: Ulagammal Journal Name Manuscript No. B Author Received: No. of pages: 11 PE: Karuppiah Arsenic resistant bacteria in groundwater H. Fan et al. 1 below land surface (Pei et al. 2005). A previous study tion of groundwater (Islam et al. 2004). The effect of 2 showed that chemical reducing condition was a key factor microbial oxidation on groundwater environment is still 3 affecting the dissolution of arsenic from sediments to unclear. Especially in China, there is no study of micro- 4 groundwater and the authors pointed out that the trans- bial species related to the enrichment and transportation 5 formation of arsenic may mainly caused by microbial of arsenic in groundwater. 6 metabolisms (Guo et al. 2003). The aim of this study was to investigate sedimentary 7 Many micro-organisms that interact and transform arsenite-oxidizing bacteria, arsenate-reducing bacteria and 8 inorganic arsenic species have been identified. Certain arsenite oxidase genes (aoxBs) from a well characterized 9 bacteria could oxidize arsenite [As(III)] to arsenate arsenic rich site of Shanyin County. Results of this study 10 [As(V)] and they are termed arsenite-oxidizing bacteria will provide both valuable information on microbial spe- 11 or arsenite oxidizers. Such oxidation process is considered cies with arsenic redox metabolisms that may contribute 12 as a detoxification metabolism because As(V) is much less to the arsenic abnormality of groundwater in this region 13 toxic than As(III). Furthermore, As(V) is negative charged and valuable sources of arsenic resistant micro-organisms 14 and easy to be absorbed, thus arsenite-oxidizing bacteria that may be useful for bioremediation of arsenic contami- 15 have been used in cleaning system of arsenic contami- nated groundwater. 16 nated water (Lie`vremont et al. 2003). Some arsenite- 17 oxidizing bacteria have been isolated from arsenic Materials and methods 18 contaminated environments and classified as Achromo- 19 bacter, Agrobacterium, Alcaligenes, Hydrogenophaga, Pseu- Site description and sampling 20 domonas and Thermus etc. (Osborne and Enrlich 1976; 21 Philips and Taylor 1976; Abdrashitova et al. 1985; Santini Sediment and water samples were collected at Gucheng 22 et al. 2000; Oremland et al. 2002; Salmassi et al. 2002). Village, Shanyin County (Fig. 1). Shanyin is an arid- 23 The As(III) oxidation reaction was catalysed by a peri- semiarid region which is located in the south of Datong 24 plasmic arsenite oxidase. This enzyme contains two Cenozoic Basin, Shanxi Province. Alluvial and lacustrine 25 subunits encoded by the genes aoxA (small Fe-S Rieske sediments were accumulated in the Basin. It was reported 26 subunit) and aoxB (large Mo-pterin subunit) respectively that arsenic is concentrated in the bottomland between 27 (Mukhopadhyay et al. 2002; Silver and Phung 2005). Shangan River and Huangshui River (Fig. 1), as well as in 28 Recently the aoxB gene encoding the large subunit of the downfold connecting with pluvial plain and alluvial- 29 arsenite oxidase has been found in different soil and laustrine plain (Pei et al. 2005). Aquifers in the sediments 30 water systems containing arsenic (Inskeep et al. 2007), are mainly composed of alluvial–lacustrine silty sands and 31 but has not been identified in Chinese arsenic contami- silts that are rich in organic matters and arsenic in such 32 nated groundwater environments so far. enclosed-semienclosed geological environment (Guo et al. 33 Many arsenate-reduction bacteria (or arsenate reducers) 2003). 34 capable to reduce As(V) to As(III) have also been identi- Sediment samples were collected using the rotary dril- 35 fied and classified as Bacillus, Clostridium, Citrobacter, ling method to make a borehole between two ground- 36 Desulfomicrobium, Sulfurospirillum and Wolinella etc. water tubewells (W1 and W2) that were 6 and 10 m away 37 (Silver and Phung 2005). The reduction of arsenate by respectively (Table1). The water surfaces of W1 and W2 38 micro-organisms occurs via two mechanisms, dissimila- were about 34 and 59 m deep underground respectively. 39 tory reduction and detoxification. Dissimilatory reduc- The borehole was drilled from the surface to 41 m under- 40 tions of arsenate are carried out by microbes either strict ground. The water and sediments were kept in sealed 41 anaerobic or facultative anaerobic that couple growth plastic bags at 4°C during transport and storage. The ) 42 with arsenate as the terminal electron acceptor (Malasarn water samples were filtered through 0Æ45 lmol l 1 mem- 43 et al. 2004). The arsenic detoxification was first catalysed branes for chemical analysis using AFS (AFS-830, Titan 44 by the cytoplasmic arsenate reductase ArsC to reduce Instruments, Beijing, China). Analyses of the sediment 45 As(V) to As(III) and later used an efflux pump to extrude samples were performed as described by Guo et al. 46 As(III) outside the cell (Silver and Phung 2005). (2003). Sediment samples were stored at 4°C for 1 week 47 The impacts of microbial arsenite oxidation and arse- before bacterial and DNA isolation. 48 nate reduction have been reported to associate with 49 arsenic cycle of soil and saline lakes (Ahmann et al. 1997; Isolation and characterization of As(III)-oxidizing 50 Macur et al. 2004; Oremland et al. 2004). It was reported bacteria and As(V)-reducing bacteria 51 that in Bengal delta plain sediments, dissimilatory arse- 52 nate reduction caused arsenic transformation from solid A total of nine arsenic contaminated sediment samples 53 phase into aqueous phase, resulting in arsenic contamina- with different depths were used in this study (4–41 m, ª 2008 The Authors 2 Journal compilation ª 2008 The Society for Applied Microbiology, Journal of Applied Microbiology H.
Load more

Recommended publications
  • RPD: People's Republic of China: Shanxi Small Cities and Towns
    Resettlement Planning Document Updated Resettlement Plan Document Stage: Final Project Number: 42383 January 2011 People’s Republic of China: Shanxi Small Cities and Towns Development Demonstration Sector Project– Youyu County Subproject Prepared by Youyu County Project Management Office (PMO) The updated resettlement plan is a document of the borrower. The views expressed herein do not necessarily represent those of ADB’s Board of Directors, Management, or staff, and may be preliminary in nature. Resettlement Plan Shanxi Small Cities & Towns Development Demonstration Project Resettlement Plan For Youyu County Subproject Youyu County Development and Reform Bureau 30 September， 2008 Shanxi Urban & Rural Design Institute 1 Youyu County ADB Loan Financed Project Management Office Endorsement Letter of Resettlement Plan Youyu County Government has applied for a loan from the ADB to finance the District Heating, Drainage and wastewater network, River improvement, Roads and Water supply Projects. Therefore, the projects must be implemented in compliance with the guidelines and policies of the Asian Development Bank for Social Safeguards. This Resettlement Plan is in line with the key requirements of the Asian Development Bank and will constitute the basis for land acquisition, house demolition and resettlement of the project. The Plan also complies with the laws of the People’s Republic of China, Shanxi Province and Youyu County regulations, as well as with some additional measures and the arrangements for implementation and monitoring for the purpose of achieving better resettlement results. Youyu County ADB Loan Project Office hereby approves the contents of this Resettlement Plan and guarantees the implementation of land acquisition, house demolition, resettlement, compensation and fund budget will comply with this plan.
    [Show full text]
  • Internal Ex-Post Evaluation for Technical Cooperation Project Conducted by China Office
    Internal Ex-Post Evaluation for Technical Cooperation Project conducted by China Office: Month, 201X Country Name The Project on Eco-environment Rehabilitation and Poverty Reduction in Yanmenguan Region, People’s Republic of China Shanxi Province I. Project Outline Yanmenguan Region, Shanxi Province, is located in the Loess Plateau in the Northern China. It is a region of arid sandy terrace where rain-fed farming is the major style of agriculture and poor population is concentrated. In lands where reclamation reached to mountain summits, soil eroded after every heavy rainfall in summer, and this reduced land productivity further accelerated poverty. In 2001, the Shanxi provincial government proposed the Yanmenguan Ecological Livestock Economic Zone Construction Background Plan with the goal of improving ecological environment and of farmers’ livelihood. By mobilizing budget at the state, provincial and county levels, this plan intended to increase the share of livestock farming, protect soil surface through cultivation of perennial plants and promote grass-fed livestock farming. Nevertheless, this region lacked human resources capable of initiating and implementing the above-mentioned plan, as well as grass seeds, livestock, and initial investment cost for livestock-house construction, causing major delays on transition from agriculture to livestock farming. 1. Overall Goal: To diffuse the model system created in the project, improve the ecological environment, and to improve livelihood of the farmers in the Yanmenguan Region. Objectives of the 2. Project Purpose: To construct a model system(Note) for improvement of both ecological environment Project and livelihood of farmers and to establish a system for diffusion in the Yanmenguan Region.
    [Show full text]
  • A Review of High Arsenic Groundwater in Mainland and Taiwan, China
    Applied Geochemistry 41 (2014) 196–217 Contents lists available at ScienceDirect Applied Geochemistry journal homepage: www.elsevier.com/locate/apgeochem Review A review of high arsenic groundwater in Mainland and Taiwan, China: Distribution, characteristics and geochemical processes ⇑ Huaming Guo a,b, , Dongguang Wen c, Zeyun Liu b, Yongfeng Jia a,b, Qi Guo a,b a State Key Laboratory of Biogeology and Environmental Geology, China University of Geosciences, Beijing 100083, PR China b School of Water Resources and Environment, China University of Geosciences, Beijing 100083, PR China c China Geological Survey, 24 Huangsi Dajie, Xicheng District, Beijing 100037, PR China article info abstract Article history: China is a typical high-As region, where 20 provinces have high As groundwaters among 34 provinces. Received 15 October 2013 These groundwaters usually occur in both arid–semiarid inland basins and river deltas. In the inland Accepted 23 December 2013 basins, mainly distributed in the northwest of China, shallow groundwaters usually have high As concen- Available online 28 December 2013 trations in alluvial lacustrine or lacustrine sediment aquifers, while high As groundwater mainly occurs in Editorial handling by M. Kersten fluvial–marine sedimentary aquifers in the river deltas, which have been affected by transgression. In both the inland basins and the river deltas, high As groundwaters, mainly occurring in reducing condi- À tions, are characterized by high Fe and Mn concentrations, high pH and HCO3 concentration, and rela- À 2À tively low NO3 and SO4 concentrations. Although As contents are well correlated to Fe/Mn contents in the aquifer sediments, groundwater As concentrations are generally independent of sediment As con- tents.
    [Show full text]
  • Predicting the Risk of Arsenic Contaminated Groundwater in Shanxi Province, Northern China
    Environmental Pollution 165 (2012) 118e123 Contents lists available at SciVerse ScienceDirect Environmental Pollution journal homepage: www.elsevier.com/locate/envpol Predicting the risk of arsenic contaminated groundwater in Shanxi Province, Northern China Qiang Zhang a, Luis Rodríguez-Lado b, C. Annette Johnson b, Hanbin Xue b, Jianbo Shi c, Quanmei Zheng a, Guifan Sun a,* a Department of Occupational and Environmental Health, College of Public Health, China Medical University, No. 92 Bei Er Road, Heping District, 110001 Shenyang, China b Eawag, Swiss Federal Institute of Aquatic Science and Technology, 8600 Dubendorf, Switzerland c State Key Laboratory of Environmental Chemistry and Ecotoxicology, Research Center for Eco-Environmental Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, 100085 Beijing, China article info abstract Article history: Shanxi Province is one of the regions in northern China where endemic arsenicosis occurs. In this study, Received 9 July 2011 stepwise logistic regression was applied to analyze the statistical relationships of a dataset of arsenic (As) Received in revised form concentrations in groundwaters with some environmental explanatory parameters. Finally, a 2D spatial 20 February 2012 model showing the potential As-affected areas in this province was created. We identified topography, Accepted 21 February 2012 gravity, hydrologic parameters and remote sensing information as explanatory variables with high potential to predict high As risk areas. The model identifies correctly the already known endemic areas of Keywords: À arsenism. We estimate that the area at risk exceeding 10 mgL 1 As occupies approximately 8100 km2 in Geogenic pollution Arsenicosis 30 counties in the province. Ó Logistic regression 2012 Published by Elsevier Ltd. Spatial modeling 1.
    [Show full text]
  • Minimum Wage Standards in China August 11, 2020
    Minimum Wage Standards in China August 11, 2020 Contents Heilongjiang ................................................................................................................................................. 3 Jilin ............................................................................................................................................................... 3 Liaoning ........................................................................................................................................................ 4 Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region ........................................................................................................... 7 Beijing......................................................................................................................................................... 10 Hebei ........................................................................................................................................................... 11 Henan .......................................................................................................................................................... 13 Shandong .................................................................................................................................................... 14 Shanxi ......................................................................................................................................................... 16 Shaanxi ......................................................................................................................................................
    [Show full text]
  • Arsenic, Fluoride and Iodine in Groundwater of China
    GEXPLO-05242; No of Pages 21 Journal of Geochemical Exploration xxx (2013) xxx–xxx Contents lists available at ScienceDirect Journal of Geochemical Exploration journal homepage: www.elsevier.com/locate/jgeoexp Arsenic, fluoride and iodine in groundwater of China☆ Dongguang Wen a, Fucun Zhang b,EryongZhanga,c, Cheng Wang b, Shuangbao Han b, Yan Zheng c,d,e,⁎ a China Geological Survey, Beijing 100037, China b Center for Hydrogeology and Environmental Geology Survey, China Geological Survey, Baoding 071051, Hebei, China c Peking University Water Center, Beijing 100871, China d Queens College, City University of New York, Flushing, NY 11367, USA e Lamont-Doherty Earth Observatory of Columbia University, Palisades 10964, USA article info abstract Article history: Arsenicosis and fluorosis, two endemic diseases known to result from exposure to their elevated concentrations Received 28 May 2013 in groundwater of north China used by many rural households for drinking, have been major public health con- Accepted 19 October 2013 cerns for several decades. Over the last decade, a large number of investigations have been carried out to delin- Available online xxxx eate the spatial distribution and to characterize the chemical compositions of high As and F groundwaters with a focus on several inland basins in north China. Findings from these studies, including improved understanding of Keywords: the hydrogeological and geochemical factors resulting in their enrichments, have been applied to guide develop- Arsenic Fluorine ment of clean and safe groundwater in these endemic disease areas. Survey efforts have led to the recognition of Iodine iodine in groundwater as an emerging public health concern. This paper reviews the new understandings gained Groundwater through these studies, including those published in this special issue, and points out the direction for future re- China search that will shed light on safe guarding a long-term supply of low As and F groundwater in these water scarce Inland basins semi-arid and arid inland basins of north China.
    [Show full text]
  • Linking Morphological Spatial Pattern Analysis and Circuit Theory to Identify Ecological Security Pattern in the Loess Plateau: Taking Shuozhou City As an Example
    land Article Linking Morphological Spatial Pattern Analysis and Circuit Theory to Identify Ecological Security Pattern in the Loess Plateau: Taking Shuozhou City as an Example Ronglei Yang 1, Zhongke Bai 1,2,* and Zeyu Shi 1 1 School of Land Science and Technology, China University of Geosciences, Beijing 100083, China; [email protected] (R.Y.); [email protected] (Z.S.) 2 Key Laboratory of Land Consolidation and Rehabilitation, The Ministry of Land and Resources, Beijing 100035, China * Correspondence: [email protected] Abstract: Located in an ecologically fragile area in China’s eastern part of the Loess Plateau, Shuozhou City has faced environmental challenges imposed by frequent urban expansion and mining activities in recent years. As ecological security patterns (ESP) identification and optimization are significant to regional biodiversity and ecosystem services, this study combined morphological spatial pattern analysis (MSPA) and circuit theory to construct and optimize regional ESP. Results show the number and area of ecological sources in the study area decreased from 21 to 20 between 2010 and 2017. The total area of ecological sources fell from 1923.35 km2 to 1869.37 km2, with their proportion in the study area dropped from 18.14% to 17.64%. From 2010 to 2017, the number of obstacles increases from 63 to 80, mainly consisting of farmland, unused land, transportation land, and construction land. The area of obstacles reached 10.17 km2 in 2017. A framework of “one protection area, two Citation: Yang, R.; Bai, Z.; Shi, Z. regulation areas, and three restoration areas” is proposed to optimize the ESP of the study zone.
    [Show full text]
  • Spatio-Temporal Cluster and Distribution of Human Brucellosis In
    www.nature.com/scientificreports OPEN Spatio-temporal cluster and distribution of human brucellosis in Shanxi Province of China between Received: 30 April 2018 Accepted: 29 October 2018 2011 and 2016 Published: xx xx xxxx Ting Wang1, Xiang Wang2,3, Ping Tie1, Yongfei Bai1, Yuhua Zheng1, Changfu Yan1, Zhikai Chai1, Jing Chen1, Huaxiang Rao4, Lingjia Zeng5, Limin Chen1 & Lixia Qiu3 In recent years, the incidence of human brucellosis (HB) in the Shanxi province has ranked to be the top fve among the 31 China provinces. HB data in Shanxi province between 2011 and 2016 were collected from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Spatial and temporal distribution of HB was evaluated using spatial autocorrelation analysis and space-time scan analysis. The global Moran’s I index ranged from 0.37 to 0.50 between 2011 and 2016 (all P < 0.05), and the “high-high” clusters of HB were located at the northern Shanxi, while the “low-low” clusters in the central and southeastern Shanxi. The high-incidence time interval was between March and July with a 2-fold higher risk of HB compared to the other months in the same year. One most likely cluster and three secondary clusters were identifed. The radius of the most likely cluster region was 158.03 km containing 10,051 HB cases. Compared to the remaining regions, people dwelling in the most likely region were reported 4.50-fold ascended risk of incident HB. HB cases during the high-risk time interval of each year were more likely to be younger, to be males or to be farmers or herdsman than that during the low-risk time interval.
    [Show full text]
  • Environmental Science Processes & Impacts Accepted Manuscript
    Environmental Science Processes & Impacts Accepted Manuscript This is an Accepted Manuscript, which has been through the Royal Society of Chemistry peer review process and has been accepted for publication. Accepted Manuscripts are published online shortly after acceptance, before technical editing, formatting and proof reading. Using this free service, authors can make their results available to the community, in citable form, before we publish the edited article. We will replace this Accepted Manuscript with the edited and formatted Advance Article as soon as it is available. You can find more information about Accepted Manuscripts in the Information for Authors. Please note that technical editing may introduce minor changes to the text and/or graphics, which may alter content. The journal’s standard Terms & Conditions and the Ethical guidelines still apply. In no event shall the Royal Society of Chemistry be held responsible for any errors or omissions in this Accepted Manuscript or any consequences arising from the use of any information it contains. rsc.li/process-impacts Page 1 of 41 Environmental Science: Processes & Impacts Environmental impact Fluorosis is a widespread problem in the Datong Basin, northern China, where groundwater is the Manuscript most important water supply source for domestic, agricultural, and industrial demands. There are 82,095 and 8,620 people suffering from severe dental and skeletal fluorosis in Shanyin county and Yingxian county, the most seriously fluorosis-affected areas in Datong basin. The hydrochemical characteristics of high fluoride groundwaters and some Factors influencing F levels in sedimentary Accepted aquifers in Datong Basin have been investigated by us. In this study, the hydrochemical and isotope investigation was carried out to reveal the water–rock interaction, ion exchange and hydrogeochemical processes of high fluoride groundwater at Datong.
    [Show full text]
  • Minimum Wage Standards in China June 28, 2018
    Minimum Wage Standards in China June 28, 2018 Contents Heilongjiang .................................................................................................................................................. 3 Jilin ................................................................................................................................................................ 3 Liaoning ........................................................................................................................................................ 4 Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region ........................................................................................................... 7 Beijing ......................................................................................................................................................... 10 Hebei ........................................................................................................................................................... 11 Henan .......................................................................................................................................................... 13 Shandong .................................................................................................................................................... 14 Shanxi ......................................................................................................................................................... 16 Shaanxi .......................................................................................................................................................
    [Show full text]
  • Annual Development Report on China's Trademark Strategy 2013
    Annual Development Report on China's Trademark Strategy 2013 TRADEMARK OFFICE/TRADEMARK REVIEW AND ADJUDICATION BOARD OF STATE ADMINISTRATION FOR INDUSTRY AND COMMERCE PEOPLE’S REPUBLIC OF CHINA China Industry & Commerce Press Preface Preface 2013 was a crucial year for comprehensively implementing the conclusions of the 18th CPC National Congress and the second & third plenary session of the 18th CPC Central Committee. Facing the new situation and task of thoroughly reforming and duty transformation, as well as the opportunities and challenges brought by the revised Trademark Law, Trademark staff in AICs at all levels followed the arrangement of SAIC and got new achievements by carrying out trademark strategy and taking innovation on trademark practice, theory and mechanism. ——Trademark examination and review achieved great progress. In 2013, trademark applications increased to 1.8815 million, with a year-on-year growth of 14.15%, reaching a new record in the history and keeping the highest a mount of the world for consecutive 12 years. Under the pressure of trademark examination, Trademark Office and TRAB of SAIC faced the difficuties positively, and made great efforts on soloving problems. Trademark Office and TRAB of SAIC optimized the examination procedure, properly allocated examiners, implemented the mechanism of performance incentive, and carried out the “double-points” management. As a result, the Office examined 1.4246 million trademark applications, 16.09% more than last year. The examination period was maintained within 10 months, and opposition period was shortened to 12 months, which laid a firm foundation for performing the statutory time limit. —— Implementing trademark strategy with a shift to effective use and protection of trademark by law.
    [Show full text]
  • Trans)Culturally Transgendered
    (Trans)Culturally Transgendered: Reading Transgender Narratives in (Late) Imperial China by Wenjuan Xie A thesis submitted in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy Department of Comparative Literature University of Alberta © Wenjuan Xie, 2015 Abstract This dissertation takes as its subject of study transcultural and historical investigations of the production and meanings of transgender in imperial China. I see this dissertation as part of the Chinese transgender studies scholarship pioneered by “beginning” works, such as Transgender China, that try to respond to this “transcultural turn” facing contemporary Anglophone-dominant transgender scholarship. My dissertation takes as its task not only to sketch out, for the first time in the English language, the largely understudied body of transgender existences in the Chinese texts of premodern China, but to systematically reexamine the lives of some transgendered individuals that survived its time via these texts and their significance in shaping a premodern Chinese transgender history, and to open up new approaches to world transgender experience of existences and formations as a whole. Throughout my analysis, I specify “transgender in imperial China” as an analytical term to describe people whose sex identity, gender identity or expression is perceived and/or interpreted to be ambiguous or transformable. For more effective discussion and for concerns of length, this dissertation will organize the discussion around three major types of transgender existences in imperial China, particularly in the later imperial Ming-Qing era: erxing (two-shaped), nü hua nan (FTM), and nan hua nü (MTF), as exemplifications of the historical Chineseness of transgender in global transgender history.
    [Show full text]