Impact of rural-to-urban migration on family and gender values in China

Drawing on data from the 2006 China General Social Survey, propensity score matching was used to investigate the impact of rural-to-urban migration on family and gender values in China at distinct stages of the migratory process. Little evidence of ideational difference is found between rural natives who intend to migrate to urban areas and those who intend to stay in rural China. However, rural-to-urban migration has significant, diverse and gendered impacts on various domains of family and gender values at distinct migratory stages. The results also cast light on the important roles played by hukou status and various forms of socioeconomic and cultural status, such as education and occupation, in mediating the impact of rural-to-urban migration on family and gender values. The ideational impact of migration is shown to be shaped by China’s distinctive institutional features

When does place attachment lead to climate change adaptation and when does it not? A quantitative review and thematic analysis

The urgent need for climate change adaptation is becoming more pronounced as climate impacts pervade across all scales. To overcome growing constraints on adaptation, research on the social dimensions of adaptation behaviour is of increasing importance. In this respect, there is an expanding body of literature exploring how place attachment influences climate adaptation. However, studies on this relationship have thus far been sporadic and disconnected. We set out to evaluate existing literature with the goal of seeking a comprehensive perspective of current trends and gaps in research practice, and to identify whether place attachment aided or constrained adaptation. A systematic review was undertaken which identified 72 relevant research articles. We quantitatively assessed the research focus of these studies including the type of climate impact and type of adaptation being studied, as well as, study location, methods used and findings. We also conducted a thematic analysis of studies to elicit major emerging links related to attachment and adaptation. Our findings affirm the complex and dynamic nature of this relationship; specifically, we find that effect of place attachment on climate adaptation action are subject to the climate risk perceptions and personal values of the individual, contextual manifestations of climate change impacts, and local sociocultural processes. We identify several gaps in current research, particularly in terms of geography and demography which has implications for equitable climate adaptation. We highlight the need for longitudinal studies, especially from the perspective of successful climate planning and policy and changing environments; and emphasise the importance of incorporating comprehensive insight on place attachment in climate adaptation planning and decision-making processes.</p

Family and Gender Values in China

Previous research has reported on structural changes in Chinese families. However, questions remain as to whether/how social change has influenced family and gender values and how this differs across generations, regions, and gender in China. Drawing on 2006 data from the China General Social Survey, we find that values pertaining to filial piety are traditional, whereas patrilineal and gender values are less traditional. Historic events/policies provide the context for how social change can shape differential generational, geographic, and gender perspectives. Our hypothesis that generation, region, and gender associations will differ across the various ideational domains is confirmed. We find significant interaction effects in how generation and geography differ by gender in patrilineal, filial piety, and gender values; and higher education erodes patrilineal and traditional gender values but enhances filial piety. Such findings indicate that family values should be understood in the specific sociocultural contexts governing Chinese families across time and place.</jats:p

Auditory and cognitive training for cognition in adults with hearing loss: a systematic review and meta-analysis

This systematic review and meta-analysis examined the efficacy of auditory training and cognitive training to improve cognitive function in adults with hearing loss. A literature search of academic databases (e.g., MEDLINE, Scopus) and gray literature (e.g., OpenGrey) identified relevant articles published up to January 25, 2018. Randomized controlled trials (RCTs) or repeated measures designs were included. Outcome effects were computed as Hedge’s g and pooled using random-effects meta-analysis (PROSPERO: CRD42017076680). Nine studies, five auditory training, and four cognitive training met the inclusion criteria. Following auditory training, the pooled effect was small and statistically significant for both working memory (g = 0.21; 95% CI [0.05, 0.36]) and overall cognition (g = 0.19; 95% CI [0.07, 0.31]). Following cognitive training, the pooled effect for working memory was small and statistically significant (g = 0.34; 95% CI [0.16, 0.53]), and the pooled effect for overall cognition was large and significant (g = 1.03; 95% CI [0.41, 1.66]). However, this was dependent on the classification of training approach. Sensitivity analyses revealed no statistical difference between the effectiveness of auditory and cognitive training for improving cognition upon removal of a study that used a combined auditory–cognitive approach, which showed a very large effect. Overall certainty in the estimation of effect was “low” for auditory training and “very low” for cognitive training. High-quality RCTs are needed to determine which training stimuli will provide optimal conditions to improve cognition in adults with hearing loss

Age of Information in a SWIPT and URLLC enabled Wireless Communications System

This paper estimates the freshness of the information in a wireless relay communication system that employs simultaneous wireless information and power transfer (SWIPT) operating under ultra-reliable low-latency communication (URLLC) constraints. The Age of Information (AoI) metric calculates the time difference between the current time and the timestamp of the most recent update received by the receiver is used here to estimate the freshness of information. The short packet communication scheme is used to fulfil the reliability and latency requirements of the proposed wireless network and its performance is analysed using finite block length theory. In addition, by utilising novel approximation approaches, expressions for the average AoI (AAoI) of the proposed system are derived. Finally, numerical analysis is used to evaluate and validate derived results

Study and development of low density polyethylene (LDPE) based biodegradable polymer materials using Kitul flour

Natural and synthetic polymers play a huge role in everyday life  and a life without polymers might actually not exist today.  Unfortunately,  these useful products make a real menace to the environment after the usage.  The environmental impact of persistent plastic wastes is raising general global concern and disposal methods are limited. Therefore, biodegradable polymers can provide a clear solution to the polymer waste generation problem. Polymers  are made of petroleum-based materials (i.e Low Density Polyethylene [LDPE]) that are not readily biodegradable.  One of the viable alternatives to accelerate the attack of microorganisms  to LDPE is the addition of natural polymers; like Kitul flour (starch), to guarantee at least a partial biodegradation. The objective of this research was to develop a biodegradable polymer material with the help LDPE and Kitul flour.  Kitul is a majestic  palm tree found in Sri Lanka. The botanical name of the tree is Caryota urens. Kitul tree has been providing several uses and thus a multipurpose tree including the kitul flour. Kitul flour was extracted using pith of the trunk in this research. Extracted  product was  analysed and characterized using Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR). The well-dried kitul flour less than 3%wt moisture was incorporated into the LDPE and melt blended using laboratory scale internal mixture at 150oC for 10 minutes  and the speed of the mixing unit set to 30 rpm. Mixing process was performed by varying the kithul flour concentration. In this study, kitul flour was physically blended with LDPE via internal mixture to produce LDPE  -  kitul flour biodegradable products.  The blended samples were then pressed in ordered to form thin sheets by hydraulic press. Soil burial test was done to analyse the biodegradability of the product. The tensile strength and elongation at break of samples were determined by using tensile tes ting machine.  Weight loss in kitul flour containing samples gradually increased with time during the soil burial test. Experimental results showed that biodegradability of the products increased as the kitul flour content increased. The mechanical properties such as tensile strength and elongation also decreased as the kitul flour content increased. The main reason of the reduction of tensile strength and elongation properties might be due to weakness of interfacial bond attributed by incompatibility of hydrophilic nature of kitul flour and hydrophobic nature of LDPE. These results showed that addition of kitul flour in LDPE is a good way to increase the biodegradability of the LDPE  –  kitul flour blends. It can conclude that these biodegradable products can be used to create a green environment.Key words: kitul flour, LDPE, biodegradabl

Discovery of Mer kinase inhibitors by virtual screening using Structural Protein–Ligand Interaction Fingerprints

Mer is a receptor tyrosine kinase implicated in acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL), the most common malignancy in children. The currently available data provide a rationale for development of Mer kinase inhibitors as cancer therapeutics that can target both cell autologous and immune-modulatory anti-tumor effects. We have previously reported several series of potent Mer inhibitors and the objective of the current report is to identify a chemically dissimilar back-up series that might circumvent potential, but currently unknown, flaws inherent to the lead series. To this end, we virtually screened a database of ∼3.8 million commercially available compounds using high-throughput docking followed by a filter involving Structural Protein-Ligand Interaction Fingerprints (SPLIF). SPLIF permits a quantitative assessment of whether a docking pose interacts with the protein target similarly to an endogenous or known synthetic ligand, and therefore helps to improve both sensitivity and specificity with respect to the docking score alone. Of the total of 62 experimentally tested compounds, 15 demonstrated reliable dose-dependent responses in the Mer in vitro kinase activity assay with inhibitory potencies ranging from 0.46 μM to 9.9 μM

Upper limb muscle strength and endurance in Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease

Introduction: Skeletal muscle weakness is an overlooked effect of chronic obstructive pulmonarydisease (COPD).Objectives: In this case-control study we compared skeletal muscle strength and endurance of a groupof patients with COPD with a comparable group of healthy volunteers.Methods: Upper limb muscle strength and endurance of 18 males and 12 females from a medical clinicof a tertiary care hospital with diagnosed COPD was measured by a handgrip dynamometer usingprescribed protocol and was compared with muscle strength and endurance of 30 healthy age, genderand body mass index (BMI) matched volunteers. Patients with concomitant severe cardiac, neurologicaland rheumatological conditions were excluded. Data were analyzed using SPSS version 16. Two sampleT-test was used to identify the statistical significance.Results: There was no significant difference in BMI of cases and controls (males mean BMI: cases19.8kgm2, controls 20.4kgm2; p = 0.73; females mean BMI: cases 20.4kgm2, controls 18.6kgm2; p =0.19). Muscle strength and endurance were significantly lower in cases when compared with controls,both in males (mean muscle strength: cases 19.8kg, controls 29.3kg, p<0.001. mean endurance: cases80.6s, controls 190.2s, p<0.001) and females (mean muscle strength; cases 11.8kg, controls 23.3kg,p<0.001, mean endurance: cases 49.3s, controls 111.3s, p<0.001).Conclusions: In this study a population of patients with COPD had significantly lower muscle strengthand endurance. Since muscle weakness contributes to poor ventilation and quality of life, programmesto improve muscle strength and endurance should be considered in the management of COPD

EVerT: Cryotherapy versus salicylic acid for the treatment of verrucae - a randomised controlled trial

OBJECTIVE: To compare the clinical effectiveness and cost-effectiveness of cryotherapy using liquid nitrogen versus patient daily self-treatment with 50% salicylic acid for the treatment of verrucae (plantar warts). DESIGN: A multicentre, pragmatic, open, two-armed randomised controlled trial with an economic evaluation. Randomisation was simple, with the allocation sequence generated by a computer in a 1 : 1 ratio. SETTING: Podiatry clinics, university podiatry schools and primary care in England, Scotland and Ireland. PARTICIPANTS: Patients were eligible if they presented with a verruca which, in the opinion of the health-care professional, was suitable for treatment with both salicylic acid and cryotherapy, and were aged 12 years and over. INTERVENTIONS: Cryotherapy using liquid nitrogen delivered by a health-care professional compared with daily patient self-treatment with 50% salicylic acid (Verrugon, William Ransom & Son Plc, Hitchin, UK) for a maximum of 8 weeks. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: The primary outcome was complete clearance of all verrucae at 12 weeks. Secondary outcomes were complete clearance of all verrucae at 12 weeks, controlling for age, whether or not the verrucae had been previously treated and type of verrucae, with a second model to explore the effect of patient preferences, time to clearance of verrucae, clearance of verrucae at 6 months, number of verrucae at 12 weeks and patient satisfaction with the treatment RESULTS: In total, 240 eligible patients were recruited, with 117 patients allocated to the cryotherapy group and 123 to the salicylic acid group. There was no evidence of a difference in clearance rates between the treatment groups in the primary outcome [17/119 (14.3%) in the salicylic acid group vs 15/110 (13.6%) in the cryotherapy group; p = 0.89]. The results of the study did not change when controlled for age, whether or not the verrucae had been previously treated and type of verrucae, or when patient preferences were explored. There was no evidence of a difference in time to clearance of verrucae between the two groups [hazard ratio (HR) 0.80, 95% confidence interval (CI) 0.51 to 1.25; p = 0.33] or in the clearance of verrucae at 6 months (33.7% cryotherapy vs 30.5% salicylic acid). There was no evidence of a difference in the number of verrucae at 12 weeks between the two groups (incidence rate ratio 1.08, 95% CI 0.81 to 1.43; p = 0.62). Nineteen participants reported 28 adverse events, 14 in each group, with two treatment-related non-serious adverse events in the cryotherapy group. Cryotherapy was also associated with higher mean costs per additional healed patient (£101.17, 95% bias-corrected and accelerated CI £85.09 to £117.26). The probability of cryotherapy being cost-effective is 40% for a range of willingness-to-pay thresholds of £15,000-30,000 per patient healed. CONCLUSIONS: There is no evidence for a difference in terms of clearance of verrucae between cryotherapy and salicylic acid (at both 12 weeks and 6 months), number of verrucae at 12 weeks and time to clearance of verrucae. Cryotherapy was associated with higher mean costs per additional healed patient compared with salicylic acid. TRIAL REGISTRATION:Current Controlled Trials ISRCTN18994246. FUNDING: This project was funded by the NIHR Health Technology Assessment programme and will be published in full in Health Technology Assessment; Vol. 15, No. 32. See the HTA programme website for further project information