Background: Self-care tasks or activities of daily living (ADL)’s performance are often disrupted after an older adult sustains an injury or illness, which can be a determining factor for discharge placement after ho...Background: Self-care tasks or activities of daily living (ADL)’s performance are often disrupted after an older adult sustains an injury or illness, which can be a determining factor for discharge placement after hospitalization, or it can determine the level of assistance required after discharge from a skilled nursing facility (SNF). We believe that comprehensive rehabilitation can improve a patient’s overall functioning during their short term stay in SNFs. The purpose of this study is to determine if an individual’s level of independence improved after admission to a skilled nursing facility and procurement of rehabilitation services. Methods: This study retrospectively reviewed 4612 nursing home patients in California who underwent rehabilitative services at skilled nursing facilities to determine how the patients responded to their environments, therapy interventions, and any other additional supportive measures. The records of patients who were admitted for short-term rehabilitation were reviewed in a blinded fashion, looking specifically at Section GG of the Minimum Data Set (MDS). Self-Care Section GG scores recorded by rehabilitative staff provide objective data and measure patients’ levels of assistance that were required. Each activity is scored from 1, being completely dependent, to 6, being entirely independent, with varying levels of assistance with scores in between. The admission scores versus the discharge scores can be compared to determine if a patient improved their level of functioning upon discharge. Results: Utilizing the Pearson’s correlation coefficient, a strong correlation of improvement in ADL performance on Section GG between the admission and discharge scores was identified, implying significant improvement in functional independence upon discharge. The average percent improvement for Managed Care patients was ~35.4% and ~39.4% for Medicare patients. Conclusions: The results support the benefits of rehabilitation services in skilled nursing facilities, and the data suggests that admission scores can be used as a predictive tool for functional outcomes.展开更多
The Rural Minimum Living Standard Guarantee(Rural Dibao)is an important unconditional cash transfer program to alleviate poverty in rural China.Despite the importance of children’s nutrition in breaking poverty cycle...The Rural Minimum Living Standard Guarantee(Rural Dibao)is an important unconditional cash transfer program to alleviate poverty in rural China.Despite the importance of children’s nutrition in breaking poverty cycles,little is known about the impact of Rural Dibao on child nutrition outcomes.Using China Family Panel Studies(CFPS),this paper examines the effects of Rural Dibao on child nutrition outcomes and investigates potential pathways and heterogeneous effects.We exploit propensity score matching and difference-in-differences techniques to evaluate the effects of the Rural Dibao program on child nutrition outcomes.Our results suggest that Rural Dibao significantly impacts the nutrition outcomes of children up to 15 years of age.Specifically,our results suggest that Rural Dibao improves child height-to-age z-scores by 1.05 standard deviations and lowers the probability of stunting by 11.9 percentage points.Additional analyses suggest that increased protein intake is the main pathway through which Rural Dibao participation contributes to better nutrition outcomes.We also find that the effect of the program is more pronounced among girls,children who are non-left-behind or live with highly educated mothers,and those from low-income families and poor areas.Our findings suggest that Rural Dibao participation helps improve child nutrition outcomes through improving diet quality.展开更多
It is common to observe the epidemic risk perception(ERP)and a decline in subjective well-being(SWB)in the context of public health events,such as Corona Virus Disease 2019(COVID-19).However,there have been few studie...It is common to observe the epidemic risk perception(ERP)and a decline in subjective well-being(SWB)in the context of public health events,such as Corona Virus Disease 2019(COVID-19).However,there have been few studies exploring the impact of individuals’ERP within living space on their SWB,especially from a geographical and daily activity perspective after the resumption of work and other activities following a wave of the pandemic.In this paper,we conducted a study with 789 participants in urban China,measuring their ERP within living space and examining its influence on their SWB using path analysis.The results indicated that individuals’ERP within their living space had a significant negative effect on their SWB.The density of certain types of facilities within their living space,such as bus stops,subway stations,restaurants,fast food shops,convenience shops,hospitals,and public toilets,had a significantly negative impact on their SWB,mediated by their ERP within living space.Additionally,participation in out-of-home work and other activities not only increased individuals’ERP within living space,but also strengthened its negative effect on their SWB.展开更多
BACKGROUND The prevalence of metabolic-associated fatty liver disease(MAFLD)is a growing public health issue in people living with human immunodeficiency virus(PLWH).However,the pathophysiology of MAFLD is still unkno...BACKGROUND The prevalence of metabolic-associated fatty liver disease(MAFLD)is a growing public health issue in people living with human immunodeficiency virus(PLWH).However,the pathophysiology of MAFLD is still unknown,and the role of genetic variables is only now becoming evident.AIM To evaluate the associations of gene-polymorphism-related MAFLD in PLWH.METHODS The study employed transient elastography with a controlled attenuation parameter≥248 dB/m to identify MAFLD in patients from a Super Tertiary Hospital in central Thailand.Candidate single-nucleotide polymorphisms(SNPs)were genotyped using TaqMan®MGB probe 5'nuclease assays for seven MAFLD-related genes.Statistical analyses included SNP frequency analysis,Fisher's Exact and Chi-square tests,odds ratio calculations,and multivariable logistic regression.RESULTS The G-allele carriers of PNPLA3(rs738409)exhibited a two-fold rise in MAFLD,increasing by 2.5 times in MAFLD with human immunodeficiency virus infection.The clinical features and genetic patterns imply that LEP rs7799039 A-allele carriers had a nine times(P=0.001)more significant chance of developing aberrant triglyceride among PLWH.CONCLUSION The current study shows an association between PNPLA3 rs738409 and LEP rs7799039 with MAFLD in PLWH.展开更多
Purpose: The genus Pseudomonas is a ubiquitous microorganism frequently detected from immunocompromised patients. The inherent resistance to numerous antimicrobial agents contributes to the opportunistic character of ...Purpose: The genus Pseudomonas is a ubiquitous microorganism frequently detected from immunocompromised patients. The inherent resistance to numerous antimicrobial agents contributes to the opportunistic character of this pathogen exhaustive monitoring of this pathogen is considered of critical importance to public health organizations. The reliable identification method able to distinguish genetic close Pseudomonas species is needed, because these organisms are difficult to differentiate by phenotypic or biochemical methods. The purpose of the present study was to design species-specific primers in order to identify and detect four Pseudomonas species which are frequently detected from the human oral cavities, and to investigate the distribution of these organisms in the living environment using a multiplex PCR. Methods: Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) primers were designed based on partial sequences of the rpoD gene of four Pseudomonas species. Swab samples were collected from fifty washstands, and the distribution of Pseudomonas species was investigated using a conventional PCR at genus level and a multiplex PCR at species level. Results: Multiplex PCR method developed in this study was able to distinguish four Pseudomonas species clearly. The genus Pseudomonas was detected from all samples (100%), whereas P. putida, P, aeruginosa, P. stutzeri and P. fluorescens were detected at 44%, 8%, 4% and 2% in fifty swab samples, respectively. Conclusion: Our developed one-step multiplex PCR method is accurate, specific, cost-effective, time-saving, and works without requiring DNA extraction. It was indicated that washstands were the uninhabitable environment for P. putida, P, aeruginosa, P. stutzeri and P. fluorescens.展开更多
Objectives:The relationship between eating and swallowing function,and lifestyle among community-dwelling elderly people has not been extensively studied.This study aimed to analyze the characteristics of eating and s...Objectives:The relationship between eating and swallowing function,and lifestyle among community-dwelling elderly people has not been extensively studied.This study aimed to analyze the characteristics of eating and swallowing function and their association with the lifestyle among the elderly.Methods:A self-administered questionnaire survey was conducted on 419 elderly people who participated in the oral function improvement project operated by the Community Comprehensive Support Center.A total of 288 valid responses(58 males,230 females,average age 73.6 years)were analyzed.The survey items included basic demographics,health status,lifestyle,and eating and swallowing functions.The chi-square(χ2)test was used to compare for a difference in the risk of dysphagia.Results:72 patients(25.0%)were judged to be at risk for dysphagia,and 216(75.0%)were judged to be not at risk for dysphagia using the revised dysphagia risk assessment scale.The mean score for oral preparatory dysphagia was the highest,while the mean score for pharyngeal dysphagia was the lowest.The group at risk of dysphagia had significant difficulty in chewing and had bad sleep quality as compared to the group that was not at risk.Conclusion:Concerning the risk of dysphagia,there is a need to maintain and improve masticatory function.In addition,improving the swallowing function of the elderly may prevent insomnia and improve sleep quality.展开更多
BACKGROUND Although the availability of related living donors(LDs)provides a better chance for receiving kidney transplantation(KT),the evaluation protocols for LD selection remain a safeguard for the LD’s safety.The...BACKGROUND Although the availability of related living donors(LDs)provides a better chance for receiving kidney transplantation(KT),the evaluation protocols for LD selection remain a safeguard for the LD’s safety.These protocols are variable from one center to another,resulting in variable rates of decline of the potential LDs(PLDs).The decline of willing PLDs may occur at any stage of evaluation,starting from the initial contact and counseling to the day of operation.AIM To identify the causes of the decline of PLDs,the predictors of PLD candidacy,and the effect on achieving LDKT.METHODS A retrospective study was performed on the willing PLDs who attended our outpatient clinic for kidney donation to their related potential recipients between October 2015 and December 2022.The variables influencing their candidacy rate and the fate of their potential recipients were studied.Two groups of PLDs were compared:Candidate PLDs after a completed evaluation vs non-candidate PLDs with a complete or incomplete evaluation.A multivariate logistic regression was performed to assess the factors contributing to the achievement of PLD candidacy.RESULTS Of 321 willing PLDs,257 PLDs(80.1%)accessed the evaluation to variable extents for 212 potential recipients,with a mean age(range)of 40.5±10.4(18-65)years,including 169 females(65.8%).The remaining 64 PLDs(19.9%)did not access the evaluation.Only 58 PLDs(18.1%)succeeded in donating,but 199 PDLs(62.0%)were declined;exclusion occurred in 144 PLDs(56.0%)for immunological causes(37.5%),medical causes(54.9%),combined causes(9.7%),and financial causes(2.1%).Regression and release occurred in 55 PLDs(17.1%).The potential recipients with candidate PLDs were not significantly different from those with non-candidate PLDs,except in age(P=0.041),rates of completed evaluation,and exclusion of PLDs(P<0.001).There were no factors that independently influenced the rate of PLD candidacy.Most patients who failed to have KT after the decline of their PLDs remained on hemodialysis for 6 mo to 6 years.CONCLUSION The rate of decline of willing related PLDs was high due to medical or immunological contraindications,release,or regression of PLDs.It reduced the chances of high percentages of potential recipients in LDKT.展开更多
According to the “Report on Cardiovascular Health and Diseases in China 2022” released by the National Center for Cardiovascular Diseases, the prevalence of cardiovascular diseases in China is on the rise, with appr...According to the “Report on Cardiovascular Health and Diseases in China 2022” released by the National Center for Cardiovascular Diseases, the prevalence of cardiovascular diseases in China is on the rise, with approximately 245 million people suffering from hypertension. October 8, 2023.展开更多
Mobile communication and the Internet of Things(IoT)technologies have recently been established to collect data from human beings and the environment.The data collected can be leveraged to provide intelligent services...Mobile communication and the Internet of Things(IoT)technologies have recently been established to collect data from human beings and the environment.The data collected can be leveraged to provide intelligent services through different applications.It is an extreme challenge to monitor disabled people from remote locations.It is because day-to-day events like falls heavily result in accidents.For a person with disabilities,a fall event is an important cause of mortality and post-traumatic complications.Therefore,detecting the fall events of disabled persons in smart homes at early stages is essential to provide the necessary support and increase their survival rate.The current study introduces a Whale Optimization Algorithm Deep Transfer Learning-DrivenAutomated Fall Detection(WOADTL-AFD)technique to improve the Quality of Life for persons with disabilities.The primary aim of the presented WOADTL-AFD technique is to identify and classify the fall events to help disabled individuals.To attain this,the proposed WOADTL-AFDmodel initially uses amodified SqueezeNet feature extractor which proficiently extracts the feature vectors.In addition,the WOADTLAFD technique classifies the fall events using an extreme Gradient Boosting(XGBoost)classifier.In the presented WOADTL-AFD technique,the WOA approach is used to fine-tune the hyperparameters involved in the modified SqueezeNet model.The proposedWOADTL-AFD technique was experimentally validated using the benchmark datasets,and the results confirmed the superior performance of the proposedWOADTL-AFD method compared to other recent approaches.展开更多
Profound understanding on the diversity of local residents’willingness to pay(WTP)for ecosystem services(ESs)may aid evaluation of policy impacts by uncovering trade-offs and synergies for achieving sustainable envir...Profound understanding on the diversity of local residents’willingness to pay(WTP)for ecosystem services(ESs)may aid evaluation of policy impacts by uncovering trade-offs and synergies for achieving sustainable environmental resource management.However,the reasons for the spatial preference heterogeneity of WTP are still unclear.In this study,an extensive survey with 4,580 residents in the Yangtze River Middle Reaches Megalopolis(YRMRM),central China,was carried out to investigate the public’s WTP to maintain and improve ESs.We identified key influencing factors and explored how they shaped the preference heterogeneity in WTP by random forest model and surface fitting method.Our results showed that 81.4% of residents reported WTP for ESs greater than zero.Water supply,waste treatment,food supply and raw material supply were the preferred ESs for residents.Living environment factors(i.e.,extent of farmland,water and forest near the residence)were found as the key drivers of WTP.Proximity to farmland,water and forests resulted in high WTP values for a series of specific ESs.The reasons for the heterogeneity of WTP are(1)the difference in proximity to farmland,water and forest(i.e.,the contributor to ESs),(2)the divergence of local residents’preferences for ESs.This study disclosed the heterogeneity and causes of public preferences in YRMRM,which could help policy and decision makers to develop eco-compensation initiatives towards conservative and sustainable use of the environmental resources.展开更多
BACKGROUND The outcomes of liver transplantation(LT)from different grafts have been studied individually and in combination,but the reports were conflicting with some researchers finding no difference in both short-te...BACKGROUND The outcomes of liver transplantation(LT)from different grafts have been studied individually and in combination,but the reports were conflicting with some researchers finding no difference in both short-term and long-term outcomes between the deceased donor split LT(DD-SLT)and living donor LT(LDLT).AIM To compare the outcomes of DD-SLT and LDLT we performed this systematic review and meta-analysis.METHODS This systematic review was performed in compliance with the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis guidelines.The following databases were searched for articles comparing outcomes of DD-SLT and LDLT:PubMed;Google Scholar;Embase;Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials;the Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews;and Reference Citation Analysis(https://www.referencecitationanalysis.com/).The search terms used were:“liver transplantation;”“liver transplant;”“split liver transplant;”“living donor liver transplant;”“partial liver transplant;”“partial liver graft;”“ex vivo splitting;”and“in vivo splitting.”RESULTS Ten studies were included for the data synthesis and meta-analysis.There were a total of 4836 patients.The overall survival rate at 1 year,3 years and 5 years was superior in patients that received LDLT compared to DD-SLT.At 1 year,the hazard ratios was 1.44(95%confidence interval:1.16-1.78;P=0.001).The graft survival rate at 3 years and 5 years was superior in the LDLT group(3 year hazard ratio:1.28;95%confidence interval:1.01-1.63;P=0.04).CONCLUSION This meta-analysis showed that LDLT has better graft survival and overall survival when compared to DD-SLT.展开更多
Background: Little is known about what the experience of “taking antipsychotics” means in a patient’s life. Therefore, this study aims to identify what it means for patients with schizophrenia living in the communi...Background: Little is known about what the experience of “taking antipsychotics” means in a patient’s life. Therefore, this study aims to identify what it means for patients with schizophrenia living in the community to remain on medication. Methods: The participants were five residents of communities, who had been discharged from a psychiatric hospital, but were currently visiting a private psychiatric hospital. In this study, we used participants’ narratives as data and analyzed them according to the procedures described in “An Application of Phenomenological Method in Psychology” (Giorgi, 1975), and “Practice of analyzing materials describing experiences” (Giorgi, 2004). Results: The study results are as follows. 1) The drug may be effective, but Subject (below, S) still wants to take it as little as possible. Meanwhile, S has people who care about S and a person who S can rely on nearby, to manage S’s life. The people above tell S to take medicine, and S takes it. 2) S does not know what kind of medication S is consuming, but recently S has been having a hard time walking;S has people who care for S’s foot and look after S. S thinks taking medicine is for living. 3) S feel some drugs is ineffective. However, S met some people S could trust who passionately recommended the medication to S. S started being careful in remembering to take it. 4) S does not think drugs are necessary for S, but S can interact with people and spend S’s days. S has people who accept S as S is. S continues living in the community while taking medicine that a doctor offers. 5) S was skeptical about the drugs. However, S has a person S can trust, who recommended a way to take the medication in a way that S does not feel overwhelmed. S thinks that it may be a good idea to take it. Conclusions: Based on the analysis of the narratives of each of the five participants, the essential structure was read from the perspective of a third party regarding participants’ medication adherence. A generalized reading of the structure common to the above five essential structures reveals a structure that includes the following three opportunities: 1) Patients realize the importance of people;2) They sometimes entrust themselves to people or follow people’s opinions when taking actions;3) They have come to terms with their initial negative feelings about antipsychotic drugs, subsequently continuing to take antipsychotic drugs. This suggests that the following are important attitudes of supporters of patients with schizophrenia who continue to live in the community: To accept what is happening to the patients, to talk to them with encouragement and compassion, and to be there for them. It is also important for supporters to make patients feel comfortable in opening up while the patients reside in the community and to support patients in making decisions.展开更多
Renal transplantation is the treatment of choice for end stage kidney disease.However,despite all the efforts to expand the donor pool,the shortage of donors is increasing and as a consequence,there has been a signifi...Renal transplantation is the treatment of choice for end stage kidney disease.However,despite all the efforts to expand the donor pool,the shortage of donors is increasing and as a consequence,there has been a significant increase in the number of patients on transplant waiting lists globally.Societies worldwide have employed different methods to address this,each with specific ethical concerns surrounding them.Over three decades ago,a governmentally regulated program of kidney transplantation from living unrelated donors was introduced in Iran and since practiced which has been the subject of hot debate in the literature.Nevertheless,despite all these extensive discussions and publications,several key aspects of the program have still not been properly elucidated and addressed.In this article,the author aims to illuminate some dark corners related to this issue that have largely escaped the notice of ethicists.展开更多
In the first-tier cities,subway has become an important carrier and life focus of people’s daily travel activities.By studying the distribution of POIs of public service facilities around Metro Line 10,using GIS to q...In the first-tier cities,subway has become an important carrier and life focus of people’s daily travel activities.By studying the distribution of POIs of public service facilities around Metro Line 10,using GIS to quantitatively analyze the surrounding formats of subway stations,discussing the functional attributes of subway stations,and discussing the distribution of urban functions from a new perspective,this paper provided guidance and advice for the construction of service facilities.展开更多
Living heritage bridge is a part of living heritage,which not only plays a traffic function in today's society,but also has historical,cultural and artistic value of heritage bridge,and has gradually become an imp...Living heritage bridge is a part of living heritage,which not only plays a traffic function in today's society,but also has historical,cultural and artistic value of heritage bridge,and has gradually become an important part of world heritage protection.In this paper,the living heritage bridges in Hangzhou are taken as samples,which are divided into four categories:“use value”,“landscape value”,“social and cultural value”and“historical value”.Different protection schemes are put forward for different types of bridges,aiming at classifying and protecting the living heritage bridges in Hangzhou and providing reference for the protection of living heritage bridges in China.展开更多
This paper reports"the fourth set"of drilling tillage after"ploughing(hoeing)"by manpower,animal power and tractor——Fenlong tillage technology(referred to as"Fenlong technology").It mak...This paper reports"the fourth set"of drilling tillage after"ploughing(hoeing)"by manpower,animal power and tractor——Fenlong tillage technology(referred to as"Fenlong technology").It makes the cultivated land and saline alkali land transformed into"sponge"farmland through"drill bit"vertically digging into the soil,one-time deep cultivation,not disturbing soil layer,and granulating the soil,to bring about the effects of"expanding the land,releasing the natural force,water conservation,disaster reduction,carbon reduction,tillage saving,fertilizer saving and grain increasing",and can broaden the space for human survival and development.It has been applied to more than 50 crops in 28 provinces,including Guangxi,Hebei and Tibet.Without increasing the use of fertilizer and water,the yield of varieties in cultivated land increased by 10%-50%,while that in saline and alkaline land increased by 20%-100%.The storage of natural precipitation increased by 100%,and drought,high temperature and low temperature decreased by 20%-30%,and carbon sequestration and emission reduction reached 20%.It is proposed that China can implement the"dual strategy"platform of farmland,saline alkali land,rivers and water bodies constructing the"incremental""five new warehouses"of grain,water,fish,sugar,etc.and"increased grain return"abroad,to ensure national security.展开更多
Objective: To establish a prediction model of activities of daily living (ADL) as an auxiliary evaluation scheme of hospitalized Parkinson’s disease patients. Methods: The hospitalization data of Parkinson’s disease...Objective: To establish a prediction model of activities of daily living (ADL) as an auxiliary evaluation scheme of hospitalized Parkinson’s disease patients. Methods: The hospitalization data of Parkinson’s disease in patients in the Department of Neurology, Affiliated Brain Hospital of Guangzhou Medical University were collected. Firstly the NSE values and each BI item were analyzed by Pearson correlation analysis. Secondly, The NSE, Age, Body weight and Education level related to the total score of Barthel index were obtained by correlation analysis. At last, a multiple linear regression model was established with NSE, Age, Body weight and Education level as independent variables and BI as dependent variables. Results: A total of 95 patients with PD were enrolled in this study, including 53 males (55.8%) and 42 females (44.2%). The effects of the four independent variables incorporated in the model on the total score of Barthel index were statistically significant, as well as the regression model (F = 9.531, P Conclusion: The prediction model established in this research can effectively predict the activities of daily living of Parkinson’s patients and can be used as an auxiliary evaluation scheme of the hospitalized PD patients.展开更多
The subject of medical ethics is usually considered within the binary doctor-patient relationship.In the context of V.I.Vernadsky’s teaching about the Earth’s biosphere and living matter,this relationship turns into...The subject of medical ethics is usually considered within the binary doctor-patient relationship.In the context of V.I.Vernadsky’s teaching about the Earth’s biosphere and living matter,this relationship turns into a tripartite relationship.The third party is the natural environment around us,primarily the Earth’s biosphere.Thus,the problem of developing and improving medical ethics is connected with entropy-ecological issues.Against the background of this issue,the article draws attention to three issues:the issue of maintaining the chiral purity of living matter,the issue of coexistence and the fight against the world of viruses,and the issue of the danger of degradation of human intelligence under the influence of digitalization and robotization.All three questions relate to the physical and mental health of a person and correspond to what is included in the content of the concept of medical ethics.展开更多
文摘Background: Self-care tasks or activities of daily living (ADL)’s performance are often disrupted after an older adult sustains an injury or illness, which can be a determining factor for discharge placement after hospitalization, or it can determine the level of assistance required after discharge from a skilled nursing facility (SNF). We believe that comprehensive rehabilitation can improve a patient’s overall functioning during their short term stay in SNFs. The purpose of this study is to determine if an individual’s level of independence improved after admission to a skilled nursing facility and procurement of rehabilitation services. Methods: This study retrospectively reviewed 4612 nursing home patients in California who underwent rehabilitative services at skilled nursing facilities to determine how the patients responded to their environments, therapy interventions, and any other additional supportive measures. The records of patients who were admitted for short-term rehabilitation were reviewed in a blinded fashion, looking specifically at Section GG of the Minimum Data Set (MDS). Self-Care Section GG scores recorded by rehabilitative staff provide objective data and measure patients’ levels of assistance that were required. Each activity is scored from 1, being completely dependent, to 6, being entirely independent, with varying levels of assistance with scores in between. The admission scores versus the discharge scores can be compared to determine if a patient improved their level of functioning upon discharge. Results: Utilizing the Pearson’s correlation coefficient, a strong correlation of improvement in ADL performance on Section GG between the admission and discharge scores was identified, implying significant improvement in functional independence upon discharge. The average percent improvement for Managed Care patients was ~35.4% and ~39.4% for Medicare patients. Conclusions: The results support the benefits of rehabilitation services in skilled nursing facilities, and the data suggests that admission scores can be used as a predictive tool for functional outcomes.
基金The authors are grateful for support from the National Social Science Fund of China(21AJL015).
文摘The Rural Minimum Living Standard Guarantee(Rural Dibao)is an important unconditional cash transfer program to alleviate poverty in rural China.Despite the importance of children’s nutrition in breaking poverty cycles,little is known about the impact of Rural Dibao on child nutrition outcomes.Using China Family Panel Studies(CFPS),this paper examines the effects of Rural Dibao on child nutrition outcomes and investigates potential pathways and heterogeneous effects.We exploit propensity score matching and difference-in-differences techniques to evaluate the effects of the Rural Dibao program on child nutrition outcomes.Our results suggest that Rural Dibao significantly impacts the nutrition outcomes of children up to 15 years of age.Specifically,our results suggest that Rural Dibao improves child height-to-age z-scores by 1.05 standard deviations and lowers the probability of stunting by 11.9 percentage points.Additional analyses suggest that increased protein intake is the main pathway through which Rural Dibao participation contributes to better nutrition outcomes.We also find that the effect of the program is more pronounced among girls,children who are non-left-behind or live with highly educated mothers,and those from low-income families and poor areas.Our findings suggest that Rural Dibao participation helps improve child nutrition outcomes through improving diet quality.
基金Under the auspices of the National Natural Science Foundation of China(No.42271234,42101246,42101223)Hong Kong Research Grants Council General Research Fund Grant(No.14605920,14611621,14606922)+1 种基金Hong Kong Research Grants Council Collaborative Research Fund Grant(No.C4023-20GF)Hong Kong Research Grants Council Research Matching Grants RMG(No.8601219,8601242)。
文摘It is common to observe the epidemic risk perception(ERP)and a decline in subjective well-being(SWB)in the context of public health events,such as Corona Virus Disease 2019(COVID-19).However,there have been few studies exploring the impact of individuals’ERP within living space on their SWB,especially from a geographical and daily activity perspective after the resumption of work and other activities following a wave of the pandemic.In this paper,we conducted a study with 789 participants in urban China,measuring their ERP within living space and examining its influence on their SWB using path analysis.The results indicated that individuals’ERP within their living space had a significant negative effect on their SWB.The density of certain types of facilities within their living space,such as bus stops,subway stations,restaurants,fast food shops,convenience shops,hospitals,and public toilets,had a significantly negative impact on their SWB,mediated by their ERP within living space.Additionally,participation in out-of-home work and other activities not only increased individuals’ERP within living space,but also strengthened its negative effect on their SWB.
基金Supported by the Faculty of Medicine,Ramathibodi Hospital,Mahidol University。
文摘BACKGROUND The prevalence of metabolic-associated fatty liver disease(MAFLD)is a growing public health issue in people living with human immunodeficiency virus(PLWH).However,the pathophysiology of MAFLD is still unknown,and the role of genetic variables is only now becoming evident.AIM To evaluate the associations of gene-polymorphism-related MAFLD in PLWH.METHODS The study employed transient elastography with a controlled attenuation parameter≥248 dB/m to identify MAFLD in patients from a Super Tertiary Hospital in central Thailand.Candidate single-nucleotide polymorphisms(SNPs)were genotyped using TaqMan®MGB probe 5'nuclease assays for seven MAFLD-related genes.Statistical analyses included SNP frequency analysis,Fisher's Exact and Chi-square tests,odds ratio calculations,and multivariable logistic regression.RESULTS The G-allele carriers of PNPLA3(rs738409)exhibited a two-fold rise in MAFLD,increasing by 2.5 times in MAFLD with human immunodeficiency virus infection.The clinical features and genetic patterns imply that LEP rs7799039 A-allele carriers had a nine times(P=0.001)more significant chance of developing aberrant triglyceride among PLWH.CONCLUSION The current study shows an association between PNPLA3 rs738409 and LEP rs7799039 with MAFLD in PLWH.
文摘Purpose: The genus Pseudomonas is a ubiquitous microorganism frequently detected from immunocompromised patients. The inherent resistance to numerous antimicrobial agents contributes to the opportunistic character of this pathogen exhaustive monitoring of this pathogen is considered of critical importance to public health organizations. The reliable identification method able to distinguish genetic close Pseudomonas species is needed, because these organisms are difficult to differentiate by phenotypic or biochemical methods. The purpose of the present study was to design species-specific primers in order to identify and detect four Pseudomonas species which are frequently detected from the human oral cavities, and to investigate the distribution of these organisms in the living environment using a multiplex PCR. Methods: Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) primers were designed based on partial sequences of the rpoD gene of four Pseudomonas species. Swab samples were collected from fifty washstands, and the distribution of Pseudomonas species was investigated using a conventional PCR at genus level and a multiplex PCR at species level. Results: Multiplex PCR method developed in this study was able to distinguish four Pseudomonas species clearly. The genus Pseudomonas was detected from all samples (100%), whereas P. putida, P, aeruginosa, P. stutzeri and P. fluorescens were detected at 44%, 8%, 4% and 2% in fifty swab samples, respectively. Conclusion: Our developed one-step multiplex PCR method is accurate, specific, cost-effective, time-saving, and works without requiring DNA extraction. It was indicated that washstands were the uninhabitable environment for P. putida, P, aeruginosa, P. stutzeri and P. fluorescens.
文摘Objectives:The relationship between eating and swallowing function,and lifestyle among community-dwelling elderly people has not been extensively studied.This study aimed to analyze the characteristics of eating and swallowing function and their association with the lifestyle among the elderly.Methods:A self-administered questionnaire survey was conducted on 419 elderly people who participated in the oral function improvement project operated by the Community Comprehensive Support Center.A total of 288 valid responses(58 males,230 females,average age 73.6 years)were analyzed.The survey items included basic demographics,health status,lifestyle,and eating and swallowing functions.The chi-square(χ2)test was used to compare for a difference in the risk of dysphagia.Results:72 patients(25.0%)were judged to be at risk for dysphagia,and 216(75.0%)were judged to be not at risk for dysphagia using the revised dysphagia risk assessment scale.The mean score for oral preparatory dysphagia was the highest,while the mean score for pharyngeal dysphagia was the lowest.The group at risk of dysphagia had significant difficulty in chewing and had bad sleep quality as compared to the group that was not at risk.Conclusion:Concerning the risk of dysphagia,there is a need to maintain and improve masticatory function.In addition,improving the swallowing function of the elderly may prevent insomnia and improve sleep quality.
文摘BACKGROUND Although the availability of related living donors(LDs)provides a better chance for receiving kidney transplantation(KT),the evaluation protocols for LD selection remain a safeguard for the LD’s safety.These protocols are variable from one center to another,resulting in variable rates of decline of the potential LDs(PLDs).The decline of willing PLDs may occur at any stage of evaluation,starting from the initial contact and counseling to the day of operation.AIM To identify the causes of the decline of PLDs,the predictors of PLD candidacy,and the effect on achieving LDKT.METHODS A retrospective study was performed on the willing PLDs who attended our outpatient clinic for kidney donation to their related potential recipients between October 2015 and December 2022.The variables influencing their candidacy rate and the fate of their potential recipients were studied.Two groups of PLDs were compared:Candidate PLDs after a completed evaluation vs non-candidate PLDs with a complete or incomplete evaluation.A multivariate logistic regression was performed to assess the factors contributing to the achievement of PLD candidacy.RESULTS Of 321 willing PLDs,257 PLDs(80.1%)accessed the evaluation to variable extents for 212 potential recipients,with a mean age(range)of 40.5±10.4(18-65)years,including 169 females(65.8%).The remaining 64 PLDs(19.9%)did not access the evaluation.Only 58 PLDs(18.1%)succeeded in donating,but 199 PDLs(62.0%)were declined;exclusion occurred in 144 PLDs(56.0%)for immunological causes(37.5%),medical causes(54.9%),combined causes(9.7%),and financial causes(2.1%).Regression and release occurred in 55 PLDs(17.1%).The potential recipients with candidate PLDs were not significantly different from those with non-candidate PLDs,except in age(P=0.041),rates of completed evaluation,and exclusion of PLDs(P<0.001).There were no factors that independently influenced the rate of PLD candidacy.Most patients who failed to have KT after the decline of their PLDs remained on hemodialysis for 6 mo to 6 years.CONCLUSION The rate of decline of willing related PLDs was high due to medical or immunological contraindications,release,or regression of PLDs.It reduced the chances of high percentages of potential recipients in LDKT.
文摘According to the “Report on Cardiovascular Health and Diseases in China 2022” released by the National Center for Cardiovascular Diseases, the prevalence of cardiovascular diseases in China is on the rise, with approximately 245 million people suffering from hypertension. October 8, 2023.
基金The authors extend their appreciation to the King Salman Center for Disability Research for funding this work through Research Group no KSRG-2022-030.
文摘Mobile communication and the Internet of Things(IoT)technologies have recently been established to collect data from human beings and the environment.The data collected can be leveraged to provide intelligent services through different applications.It is an extreme challenge to monitor disabled people from remote locations.It is because day-to-day events like falls heavily result in accidents.For a person with disabilities,a fall event is an important cause of mortality and post-traumatic complications.Therefore,detecting the fall events of disabled persons in smart homes at early stages is essential to provide the necessary support and increase their survival rate.The current study introduces a Whale Optimization Algorithm Deep Transfer Learning-DrivenAutomated Fall Detection(WOADTL-AFD)technique to improve the Quality of Life for persons with disabilities.The primary aim of the presented WOADTL-AFD technique is to identify and classify the fall events to help disabled individuals.To attain this,the proposed WOADTL-AFDmodel initially uses amodified SqueezeNet feature extractor which proficiently extracts the feature vectors.In addition,the WOADTLAFD technique classifies the fall events using an extreme Gradient Boosting(XGBoost)classifier.In the presented WOADTL-AFD technique,the WOA approach is used to fine-tune the hyperparameters involved in the modified SqueezeNet model.The proposedWOADTL-AFD technique was experimentally validated using the benchmark datasets,and the results confirmed the superior performance of the proposedWOADTL-AFD method compared to other recent approaches.
基金financially supported by the National Key Research and Development Plan,Ministry of Science and Technology of the People’s Republic of China(Grant No.2020YFC1908704)the Innovative Foundation of Huazhong University of Science and Technology(Grant No.2018KFYYXJJ133).
文摘Profound understanding on the diversity of local residents’willingness to pay(WTP)for ecosystem services(ESs)may aid evaluation of policy impacts by uncovering trade-offs and synergies for achieving sustainable environmental resource management.However,the reasons for the spatial preference heterogeneity of WTP are still unclear.In this study,an extensive survey with 4,580 residents in the Yangtze River Middle Reaches Megalopolis(YRMRM),central China,was carried out to investigate the public’s WTP to maintain and improve ESs.We identified key influencing factors and explored how they shaped the preference heterogeneity in WTP by random forest model and surface fitting method.Our results showed that 81.4% of residents reported WTP for ESs greater than zero.Water supply,waste treatment,food supply and raw material supply were the preferred ESs for residents.Living environment factors(i.e.,extent of farmland,water and forest near the residence)were found as the key drivers of WTP.Proximity to farmland,water and forests resulted in high WTP values for a series of specific ESs.The reasons for the heterogeneity of WTP are(1)the difference in proximity to farmland,water and forest(i.e.,the contributor to ESs),(2)the divergence of local residents’preferences for ESs.This study disclosed the heterogeneity and causes of public preferences in YRMRM,which could help policy and decision makers to develop eco-compensation initiatives towards conservative and sustainable use of the environmental resources.
文摘BACKGROUND The outcomes of liver transplantation(LT)from different grafts have been studied individually and in combination,but the reports were conflicting with some researchers finding no difference in both short-term and long-term outcomes between the deceased donor split LT(DD-SLT)and living donor LT(LDLT).AIM To compare the outcomes of DD-SLT and LDLT we performed this systematic review and meta-analysis.METHODS This systematic review was performed in compliance with the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis guidelines.The following databases were searched for articles comparing outcomes of DD-SLT and LDLT:PubMed;Google Scholar;Embase;Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials;the Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews;and Reference Citation Analysis(https://www.referencecitationanalysis.com/).The search terms used were:“liver transplantation;”“liver transplant;”“split liver transplant;”“living donor liver transplant;”“partial liver transplant;”“partial liver graft;”“ex vivo splitting;”and“in vivo splitting.”RESULTS Ten studies were included for the data synthesis and meta-analysis.There were a total of 4836 patients.The overall survival rate at 1 year,3 years and 5 years was superior in patients that received LDLT compared to DD-SLT.At 1 year,the hazard ratios was 1.44(95%confidence interval:1.16-1.78;P=0.001).The graft survival rate at 3 years and 5 years was superior in the LDLT group(3 year hazard ratio:1.28;95%confidence interval:1.01-1.63;P=0.04).CONCLUSION This meta-analysis showed that LDLT has better graft survival and overall survival when compared to DD-SLT.
文摘Background: Little is known about what the experience of “taking antipsychotics” means in a patient’s life. Therefore, this study aims to identify what it means for patients with schizophrenia living in the community to remain on medication. Methods: The participants were five residents of communities, who had been discharged from a psychiatric hospital, but were currently visiting a private psychiatric hospital. In this study, we used participants’ narratives as data and analyzed them according to the procedures described in “An Application of Phenomenological Method in Psychology” (Giorgi, 1975), and “Practice of analyzing materials describing experiences” (Giorgi, 2004). Results: The study results are as follows. 1) The drug may be effective, but Subject (below, S) still wants to take it as little as possible. Meanwhile, S has people who care about S and a person who S can rely on nearby, to manage S’s life. The people above tell S to take medicine, and S takes it. 2) S does not know what kind of medication S is consuming, but recently S has been having a hard time walking;S has people who care for S’s foot and look after S. S thinks taking medicine is for living. 3) S feel some drugs is ineffective. However, S met some people S could trust who passionately recommended the medication to S. S started being careful in remembering to take it. 4) S does not think drugs are necessary for S, but S can interact with people and spend S’s days. S has people who accept S as S is. S continues living in the community while taking medicine that a doctor offers. 5) S was skeptical about the drugs. However, S has a person S can trust, who recommended a way to take the medication in a way that S does not feel overwhelmed. S thinks that it may be a good idea to take it. Conclusions: Based on the analysis of the narratives of each of the five participants, the essential structure was read from the perspective of a third party regarding participants’ medication adherence. A generalized reading of the structure common to the above five essential structures reveals a structure that includes the following three opportunities: 1) Patients realize the importance of people;2) They sometimes entrust themselves to people or follow people’s opinions when taking actions;3) They have come to terms with their initial negative feelings about antipsychotic drugs, subsequently continuing to take antipsychotic drugs. This suggests that the following are important attitudes of supporters of patients with schizophrenia who continue to live in the community: To accept what is happening to the patients, to talk to them with encouragement and compassion, and to be there for them. It is also important for supporters to make patients feel comfortable in opening up while the patients reside in the community and to support patients in making decisions.
文摘Renal transplantation is the treatment of choice for end stage kidney disease.However,despite all the efforts to expand the donor pool,the shortage of donors is increasing and as a consequence,there has been a significant increase in the number of patients on transplant waiting lists globally.Societies worldwide have employed different methods to address this,each with specific ethical concerns surrounding them.Over three decades ago,a governmentally regulated program of kidney transplantation from living unrelated donors was introduced in Iran and since practiced which has been the subject of hot debate in the literature.Nevertheless,despite all these extensive discussions and publications,several key aspects of the program have still not been properly elucidated and addressed.In this article,the author aims to illuminate some dark corners related to this issue that have largely escaped the notice of ethicists.
基金Beijing Municipal Social Science Foundation(22GLC062)Research on service function renewal of Beijing subway station living circle driven by multiple big data.Beijing Municipal Education Commission Social Science Project(KM202010009002)Young YuYou Talents Training Plan of North China University of Technology.
文摘In the first-tier cities,subway has become an important carrier and life focus of people’s daily travel activities.By studying the distribution of POIs of public service facilities around Metro Line 10,using GIS to quantitatively analyze the surrounding formats of subway stations,discussing the functional attributes of subway stations,and discussing the distribution of urban functions from a new perspective,this paper provided guidance and advice for the construction of service facilities.
基金Sponsored by Youth Fund for Humanities and Social Sciences Research of the Ministry of Education(20YJC850017)。
文摘Living heritage bridge is a part of living heritage,which not only plays a traffic function in today's society,but also has historical,cultural and artistic value of heritage bridge,and has gradually become an important part of world heritage protection.In this paper,the living heritage bridges in Hangzhou are taken as samples,which are divided into four categories:“use value”,“landscape value”,“social and cultural value”and“historical value”.Different protection schemes are put forward for different types of bridges,aiming at classifying and protecting the living heritage bridges in Hangzhou and providing reference for the protection of living heritage bridges in China.
基金Supported by the Guangxi Innovation Driven Development Project(GUIKE AA20302020)Basic Scientific Research Business of Guangxi Academy of Agricultural Sciences(GUINONGKE 2021YT056)。
文摘This paper reports"the fourth set"of drilling tillage after"ploughing(hoeing)"by manpower,animal power and tractor——Fenlong tillage technology(referred to as"Fenlong technology").It makes the cultivated land and saline alkali land transformed into"sponge"farmland through"drill bit"vertically digging into the soil,one-time deep cultivation,not disturbing soil layer,and granulating the soil,to bring about the effects of"expanding the land,releasing the natural force,water conservation,disaster reduction,carbon reduction,tillage saving,fertilizer saving and grain increasing",and can broaden the space for human survival and development.It has been applied to more than 50 crops in 28 provinces,including Guangxi,Hebei and Tibet.Without increasing the use of fertilizer and water,the yield of varieties in cultivated land increased by 10%-50%,while that in saline and alkaline land increased by 20%-100%.The storage of natural precipitation increased by 100%,and drought,high temperature and low temperature decreased by 20%-30%,and carbon sequestration and emission reduction reached 20%.It is proposed that China can implement the"dual strategy"platform of farmland,saline alkali land,rivers and water bodies constructing the"incremental""five new warehouses"of grain,water,fish,sugar,etc.and"increased grain return"abroad,to ensure national security.
文摘Objective: To establish a prediction model of activities of daily living (ADL) as an auxiliary evaluation scheme of hospitalized Parkinson’s disease patients. Methods: The hospitalization data of Parkinson’s disease in patients in the Department of Neurology, Affiliated Brain Hospital of Guangzhou Medical University were collected. Firstly the NSE values and each BI item were analyzed by Pearson correlation analysis. Secondly, The NSE, Age, Body weight and Education level related to the total score of Barthel index were obtained by correlation analysis. At last, a multiple linear regression model was established with NSE, Age, Body weight and Education level as independent variables and BI as dependent variables. Results: A total of 95 patients with PD were enrolled in this study, including 53 males (55.8%) and 42 females (44.2%). The effects of the four independent variables incorporated in the model on the total score of Barthel index were statistically significant, as well as the regression model (F = 9.531, P Conclusion: The prediction model established in this research can effectively predict the activities of daily living of Parkinson’s patients and can be used as an auxiliary evaluation scheme of the hospitalized PD patients.
文摘The subject of medical ethics is usually considered within the binary doctor-patient relationship.In the context of V.I.Vernadsky’s teaching about the Earth’s biosphere and living matter,this relationship turns into a tripartite relationship.The third party is the natural environment around us,primarily the Earth’s biosphere.Thus,the problem of developing and improving medical ethics is connected with entropy-ecological issues.Against the background of this issue,the article draws attention to three issues:the issue of maintaining the chiral purity of living matter,the issue of coexistence and the fight against the world of viruses,and the issue of the danger of degradation of human intelligence under the influence of digitalization and robotization.All three questions relate to the physical and mental health of a person and correspond to what is included in the content of the concept of medical ethics.
