An Optimization Model for Offline Scheduling Policy of Low-density Parity-check Codes

In this study, an optimization model for offline scheduling policy of low-density parity-check (LDPC) codes is proposed to improve the decoding efficiency of the belief propagation (BP). The optimization model uses the number of messages passed (NMP) as a metric to evaluate complexity, and two metrics, average entropy (AE), and gap to maximum a posteriori (GAP), to evaluate BP decoding performance. Based on this model, an algorithm is proposed to optimize the scheduling sequence for reduced decoding complexity and superior performance compared to layered BP. Furthermore, this proposed algorithm does not add the extra complexity of determining the scheduling sequence to the decoding process

Is an ecological school-based nutrition intervention effective to improve adolescents? nutrition-related knowledge, attitudes and behaviour in rural areas of China?

Purpose: The purpose of this article is to examine the effect of a school-based nutrition intervention using an ecological approach to improve adolescents’ nutrition-related knowledge, attitudes and behaviour in rural China. Methods: A cluster-randomised intervention trial design was employed. Two middle schools were randomly selected and assigned to the school that was conducting a holistic school-based intervention using health-promoting school (HPS) framework, ‘HPS School’, or to the ‘Control School’ in Mi Yun County, Beijing. From each school we randomly selected 65 seventh-grade students to participate in the study. Their nutrition-related knowledge, attitudes and behaviour were measured by pre- and post-intervention surveys with the same instrument. The nutrition intervention lasted for six months. Results: Adolescents in the intervention school were more likely to know the nutrition knowledge items, with an odds ratio (OR) ranging from 1.86 (95% confidence interval (CI): 1.11–3.09) to 6.34 (95% CI: 3.83–10.47); more likely to think nutrition is very important to health, developing healthy dietary habits is very important, and that expired foods should be thrown away, with ORs of 3.03 (95% CI: 1.60–5.76), 2.76 (95% CI: 1.66–4.59) and 2.35 (95% CI: 1.33–4.17) respectively, and more likely to consume no soft drinks, desserts or fried food, and to eat vegetables every day of the last week, with ORs of 1.99 (95% CI: 1.31–3.04), 3.96 (95% CI: 2.43–6.46), 3.63 (95% CI: 2.26–5.85), and 2.51 (95% CI: 1.41–4.48) respectively, as compared with those in the control school after interventions. Conclusions: Our intervention using the HPS framework, an ecological approach, was an appropriate model to promote nutrition among adolescents in rural China and its use should be advocated in future school-based nutrition promotion programmes for adolescents.This work was supported by the Griffith University, School of Public Health (Grant for Higher Research Degree Students: AUS$3000)

Effect of a school-based nutrition education program on adolescents? nutrition-related knowledge, attitudes and behaviour in rural areas of China

Objectives This study aimed at examining the effect of the nutrition education program on adolescents’ knowledge, attitudes and behaviour in relation to nutrition in rural China. Methods A cluster-randomised intervention trial design was employed. Two middle schools were randomly selected and assigned to the school conducting nutrition education (NE school), or to the Control school, in Mi Yun County, Beijing. From each school 65 seventh-grade students were randomly selected to participate in the study. Nutrition-related knowledge, attitudes and behaviour were measured at pre- and post-intervention surveys with the same instrument. The nutrition education lasted for 6 months. Results After the intervention, more students in NE school knew the main function of dairy products and vegetables, which micronutrient is rich in dairy products and beans, and in meat, and the symptom of food poisoning, than those in Control school. The rate of students who thought nutrition is very important to health, and foods with an expired date should be thrown away in NE school was higher than that in Control school (93.8 vs. 80.3 and 92.3 vs. 78.7 %, respectively). The rate of students who ate vegetables and breakfast everyday in NE school was higher than that in Control school (96.9 vs. 80.3, and 89.2 vs. 75.4 %, respectively). (p < 0.05). Conclusions This nutrition education programme is effective in improving adolescents’ knowledge, attitudes, and behaviour in relation to nutrition; therefore, the nutrition education with interactive and innovative intervention components is strongly recommended for future nutrition promotion programmes for adolescents

Domestic Regional Synergy in Achieving National Climate Goals—The Role of Comparative Advantage in Emission Reduction

Domestic regional synergistic emission reduction is important in achieving national climate goals. This study constructed a game theory-based model for regional synergistic emission reduction, modified the Basic Climate Game using the exact-hat algebra method, and expanded the game model using a general spatial equilibrium model to incorporate cross-regional economic impacts generated by emission reduction actions through factors and product flows. The formation of regional comparative advantages in emission reductions and their impact on synergistic emission reductions were revealed through regional characteristics such as emission elasticity, sectoral structure, regional trade shares, and green total factor productivity. A form of synergy was then proposed that utilizes the comparative advantages of different regions, allowing for synergistic emission reductions across different income regions and engagement with regions that are still at the carbon-peaking stage in cooperation. Moreover, the model was created to be as close to the economic reality as possible to provide a trade, industry, and economic growth policy that complements emission-reduction policies

Do health-promoting schools improve nutrition in China?

To demonstrate the effectiveness of health-promoting school framework to promoting healthy eating behaviours and nutrition knowledge among Chinese middle school students, their parents and school staff. Three schools were randomly selected from 15 rural middle schools, then were randomly assigned to either (i) school using HPS framework (HPS school), (ii) school with improved health education only (HE school) or (iii) school received no intervention (control school). Nutrition knowledge and eating behaviours were measured at baseline and 3-month after interventions, using the same instrument. Students and parents in the HPS school had the largest improvement in nutrition knowledge, from 4.92 to 8.23 and 4.84 to 7.74, followed by those in the HE school, from 4.98 to 8.09 and 4.78 to 5.80. School staff in the HE school had the largest improvement in nutrition knowledge (from 4.40 to 8.45), followed by those in the HPS school (from 5.20 to 9.15). Students in the HPS school had the largest improvement in eating behaviours (from 3.16 to 4.13), followed by those in the HE school (from 2.78 to 3.54). There was a statistical difference in the improvement of nutrition knowledge of all target population and of eating behaviours of students after interventions across three schools (p &lt; 0.05). Both HPS framework and health education can increase nutrition knowledge among Chinese middle school students, their parents and school staff. However, HPS framework was more effective than health education only. Noticeably, HPS framework had a positive impact on students&apos; eating behaviours, which should be in the subject of further research.? The Author (2013). Published by Oxford University Press. All rights reserved. For Permissions, please email: [email protected]@163.com2359-683

Performance Enhancement of Ionic Polymer-Metal Composite Actuators with Polyethylene Oxide

Current ionic polymer-metal composite (IPMC) always proves inadequate in terms of large attenuation and short working time in air due to water leakage. To address this problem, a feasible and effective solution was proposed in this study to enhance IPMC performance operating in air by doping polyethylene oxide (PEO) with superior water retention capacity into Nafion membrane. The investigation of physical characteristics of membranes blended with varying PEO contents revealed that PEO/Nafion membrane with 20 wt% PEO exhibited a homogeneous internal structure and a high water uptake ratio. At the same time, influences of PEO contents on electromechanical properties of IPMCs were studied, showing that the IPMCs with 20 wt% PEO presented the largest peak-to-peak displacement, the highest volumetric work density, and prolonged stable working time. It was demonstrated that doping PEO reinforced electromechanical performances and restrained displacement attenuation of the resultant IPMC