Briefly

Authorities continue to take on hedonism

China's top anti-graft bodies continued their tough stance against officials participating in hedonism and extravagance with the exposure of typical cases of such wrongdoing. Since the start of the year, 270 such cases have been published on the Communist Party of China Central Commission for Discipline Inspection and the National Supervisory Commission website, a news release said on Saturday. Of the published cases, 46.8 percent happened during major Chinese holidays including the Spring Festival, the news release noted.

Coverage of social relief to be expanded

China has issued revised guidelines that will allow more vulnerable people to qualify for social relief, the Ministry of Civil Affairs said on Saturday. Apart from including more people living with disabilities, China's social relief network will provide support to poor families that have legal caregivers over 70 years old and earn less than the local average disposable household income from the previous year, according to the guidelines. Minors supported by the social relief scheme will continue to receive assistance until they are 18, instead of 16 under the previous rules, the document said, adding that the support will continue if those coming of age are enrolled in compulsory education or senior high schools or vocational schools. The revised guidelines will go into effect on July 1, nullifying the current version that was adopted in October 2016, the ministry said.

Scientists discover gene tied to epilepsy

Chinese scientists have recently discovered a gene responsible for epilepsy, a neurological disorder of the brain. The new study published in the international journal Brain described the gene as UNC13B, which has the loss-of-function variants that can cause intractable seizures and abnormal sensations and behaviors. Using gene screening methods, a research team led by the Second Affiliated Hospital of Guangzhou Medical University in Guangdong province found novel UNC13B variants in eight unrelated families from 446 cases with partial epilepsy. According to researchers, in some patients, partial epilepsy has variable causes such as trauma, infection, immune abnormalities or neoplasm. However, in most cases the cause was previously unknown.

Patent processing time to be reduced

China will further improve its intellectual property services to promote high-quality IP development, an official said on Saturday. The processing time for patent examinations and trademark registrations will be further shortened while patent transfers will be fostered, said He Zhimin, deputy director of the National Intellectual Property Administration, at a news conference in Beijing. He cited a notice approved by the State Council in late April, which says that the processing time for examinations of high-value patents will be reduced to less than 14 months by the end of this year.

Xinhua