How do the non-cognitive skills affect retirees’ reemployment? Evidence from China

IntroductionPromoting the reemployment of retirees is important to effectively recognize the capacity of older adults and to help governments cope with an aging global population. Existing research on the factors that impact reemployment has mainly focused on the role of traditional forms of human capital, like education and experience, while ignoring non-cognitive skills.MethodsBased on 3,693 samples, this study examines the impact of non-cognitive skills on the reemployment of Chinese retirees using the Logit model through the lens of human capital theory.ResultsThe results show that non-cognitive skills incentivize retirees to seek reemployment. The incentive effect is greater for retirees who are male, live in a rural household, and are of lower age and education level. Further, the mediation effect model reveals the mediating role of social capital between non-cognitive skills and the reemployment of retirees. Social capital is important to the promotion of retiree reemployment.DiscussionThis study ultimately sheds light on the relationship between non-cognitive skills and the reemployment of retirees. Findings will help improve governments’ understandings of non-cognitive skills so that they may develop better policies on retiree reemployment

Effects of Working Memory, Strategy Use, and Single-Step Mental Addition on Multi-Step Mental Addition in Chinese Elementary Students

The aim of this paper was to examine the roles of working memory, single-step mental addition skills, and strategy use in multi-step mental addition in two independent samples of Chinese elementary students through different approaches to manipulate two dimensions of task characteristics (the primary task). In Study 1, we manipulated strategy types through the dimension of schema automaticity (whether intermediate sums were 10s) and the dimension of working memory load (WML, two steps versus four steps). A hierarchical linear model (HLM) analysis was conducted at case level, strategy level, and individual level. In Study 2, we manipulated task characteristics through schema automaticity (one-time versus two-time regrouping) and the WML (partial versus complete decomposition). A three-level HLM analysis was applied. The general findings of Study 1 and Study 2 suggested that shorter response time on single-step mental addition corresponded to shorter response time on multi-step mental addition. The use of strategies (from easier to more difficult strategies) negatively predicted response time on multi-step mental addition. Easier strategy was associated with shorter response time on multi-step mental addition. Better phonological loop was associated with shorter response time on multi-step mental addition. The findings in both studies highlighted the important role of phonological loop in mental addition in Chinese children, suggesting that the involvement of a specific subcomponent of working memory in mental arithmetic might be subject to linguistic, instructional, and contextual factors

Simultaneous Determination of 49 Antibiotics Residues in Pork by a Modified QuEChERS Method Based on Silanized Melamine Sponge Coupled with Ultra-high Performance Liquid Chromatography-Tandem Mass Spectrometry

Two new types of elastic porous silanized melamine sponges (MeS) were prepared by silylation reaction using octadecyltrichlorosilane (OTS) and N-[3-(trimethoxysilyl)propyl]ethylenediamine (ATS), which were respectively designated as OTS@MeS and ATS@MeS. The silanized sponges were used to develop a modified quick, easy, check, effective, rugged, and safe (QuEChERS) method that can quickly and efficiently separate interfering matrices from the extract through spontaneous solution infiltration and physical extrusion. In this study, an analytical method using the modified QuEChERS procedure combined with ultra-high performance liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (UPLC-MS/MS) was established for the simultaneous determination of 49 antibiotic residues in pork. Samples were extracted with 10 mL of acetonitrile containing 0.1% acetic acid, and then salted out with 2.0 g of Na2SO4 and 0.5 g of NaCl. After centrifugation, a 1 mL aliquot of the supernatant was cleaned up with a mixture of OTS@MeS and ATS@MeS. The chromatographic separation was conducted on an Agilent ZORBAX Eclipse Plus C18 column with gradient elution using a mobile phase comprised of methanol and aqueous solution (methanol/water, 5:95, V/V) containing 0.1% formic acid and 5 mmol/L ammonium acetate. The qualitative and quantitative detection were performed by multiple-reaction monitoring (MRM) using an electrospray ionization source in the positive ion mode. The results showed that the correlation coefficients for all analytes were greater than 0.999. The matrix effects (ME) were in the range of −13.5%−10.9%. The limits of detection (LOQ) and quantitation (LOQ) were 0.1–10.0 and 0.3–33.3 μg/kg, respectively. The recoveries at three spiked levels ranged from 65.0% to 112.7%, with intra- and interday relative standard deviations (RSDs) of 0.3%–11.8% and 2.4%–18.4%, respectively. The developed method was simple, rapid, highly sensitive and accurate, and could be used for the efficient and rapid determination of the 49 antibiotics residues in pork

Dynamic distribution and expression in vivo of the human interferon gamma gene delivered by adenoviral vector

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>We previously found that r-hu-IFNγ exerts a potent anti-tumor effect on human nasopharyngeal carcinoma xenografts <it>in vivo</it>. Considering the fact that the clinical use of recombinant IFNγ is limited by its short half-life and systemic side effects, we developed a recombinant adenovirus, Ad-IFNγ.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>Dynamic distribution of the adenovirus vector and expression of IFNγ were evaluated by Q-PCR and ELISA after intratumoral administration of Ad-IFNγ into CNE-2 xenografts.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>Ad-IFNγ DNA was mainly enriched in tumors where the Ad-IFNγ DNA was injected (<it>P </it>< 0.05, compared to blood or parenchymal organs), as well as in livers (<it>P </it>< 0.05). Concentrations of Ad-IFNγ DNA in other organs and blood were very low. Intratumoral Ad-IFNγ DNA decreased sharply at high concentrations (9 × 10⁵copies/μg tissue DNA), and slowly at lower concentrations (1.7–2.9 × 10⁵copies/μg tissue DNA). IFNγ was detected in the tumors and parenchymal organs. The concentration of IFNγ was highest in the tumor (<it>P </it>< 0.05), followed by the liver and kidney (<it>P </it>< 0.05). High-level intratumoral expression of IFNγ was maintained for at least 7 days, rapidly peaking on day 3 after injection of Ad-IFNγ DNA.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>An IFNγ gene delivered by an adenoviral vector achieved high and consistent intratumoral expression. Disseminated Ad-IFNγ DNA and the transgene product were mainly enriched in the liver.</p

Comparison of Diagnostic Values of Maternal Arginine Concentration for Different Pregnancy Complications: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

Abnormal arginine metabolism contributes to the development of intrauterine growth restriction (IUGR), preeclampsia (PE), and gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM), which increase the health burden of mothers and induce adverse birth outcomes. However, associations between maternal arginine concentration and different pregnancy complications have not been systematically compared. The PubMed, ScienceDirect, and Web of Science databases were searched for peer-reviewed publications to evaluate the diagnostic value of plasma arginine concentration in complicated pregnancies. Standardized mean difference (SMD) of the arginine concentration was pooled by a random effects model. The results show that increased maternal arginine concentrations were observed in IUGR (SMD: 0.48; 95% CI: 0.20, 0.76; I2 = 47.0%) and GDM (SMD: 0.46; 95% CI: 0.11, 0.81; I2 = 82.3%) cases but not in PE patients (SMD: 0.21; 95% CI: −0.04, 0.47; I2 = 80.3%) compared with the normal cohorts. Subgroup analyses indicated that the non-fasting circulating arginine concentration in third trimester was increased significantly in GDM and severe IUGR pregnancies, but the change mode was dependent on ethnicity. Additionally, only severe PE persons were accompanied by higher plasma arginine concentrations. These findings suggest that maternal arginine concentration is an important reference for assessing the development of pregnancy complications

Polymorphism of the methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase gene association with homocysteine and ischemic stroke in type 2 diabetes

Background : Ischemic stroke is a frequent heterogeneous multifactorial disease. A number of genetic mutations and environmental factors have been implicated. A polymorphism in the gene for methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase (MTHFR) has been reported to be associated with hyperhomocysteinemia a risk for atherosclerotic vascular diseases. Aim : A cross-sectional study was performed to determine the relationship between the gene polymorphism for MTHFR and ischemic stroke in type 2 diabetes mellitus. Materials and Methods : Of the 215 unrelated patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus recruited, 119 patients had ischemic stroke, Control group included 142 healthy subjects. The genotype of the subjects for the C677T polymorphism of MTHFR was analyzed by using polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism (PCR-RFLP) followed by HinfI digestion. Plasma total homocysteine (Hcy) levels were measured using high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) with fluorescence detection. Results : The genotype distribution did not differ between the control subjects and type 2 diabetic patients (P > 0.05). Plasma homocysteine levels were markedly higher in diabetic patients with TT genotype than those with CC or CT genotype (P > 0.05). Ischemic stroke was more frequently observed in type 2 diabetic patients with the TT genotype than in those with the CT and CC genotype (odds ratio=4.04, 95% CI=1.95-8.34, P=0.0036). Logistic regression analysis revealed that the C677T mutation of MTHFR gene was independently associated with ischemic stroke in type 2 diabetes. Conclusion : MTHFR C677T gene polymorphism associated with a predisposition to hyperhomocysteinemia could constitute a useful predictive marker for ischemic stroke in type 2 diabetic Chinese patients