Utility of Landsat Image in the Study of Land Cover and Land Surface Temperature Change

AbstractScientists have aimed at exploring land use and land cover (LULC) and their environmental influence in order to improve our understanding of the causes and consequences of these phenomena. This study addresses and use and land cover change (LUCC) in the upper reaches of Pearl River Delta, China, from 1990 to 2008. Based on remotely sensed images of Landsat, LUCC and land surface temperature were assessed. Results showed that land surface temperature was highly influenced by the LUCC from 1990 to 2008. An examination of the relationship between the LULC and LST maps was finally conducted to comprehension their interactions. Results indicated that Landsat image was effective for quantifying the heat environment and providing reliable measurements of land use change. LST was found to be positively correlated with impervious surface but negatively correlated with vegetated land. Each temperature zone was associated with a dominant LULC category

一家三甲医院吸烟与控烟工作状况调查

Objective: To master the hospital smoking status and distribution, for providing a scientific basis for tobacco control measures in hospitals. Methods: A questionnaire was designed. Given a uniform standards, the synchronization investigation was carried out after the implementation of staff training. Results:  The overall smoking rate was 9.66% in the hospital, and smoking rate among males was 25.78%. The smoking rate among administrative and support staffs is higher than the medical staff. Conclusion: Hospital overall smoking rate is lower than average, but smoking rate among males is still high. The hospitals should vigorously strengthen tobacco control training system, and create a smoke-free hospital environment to drive the smoking rates decline.目的  了解医院吸烟现状情况分布，为医院控烟措施提供科学依据。方法  自行设计调查表，对实施调查人员集中培训，统一标准，然后分组同步调查。结果  总吸烟率为9.66%，男性吸烟率为25.78%，行政后勤人员吸烟率高于医务人员。结论  总吸烟率低于平均水平，但男性吸烟率较高。应大力加强系统的控烟培训，创建无烟医院环境，带动居民吸烟率下降

Performance and interaction of sodium silicate activated slag with lignosulfonate superplasticiser added at different mixing stages

This paper investigated the effect of adding lignosulfonate (LS) superplasticiser at the different stages of mixing on the workability and rheological behaviour of sodium silicate activated slag (SSAS) in order to find a practically feasible approach to tackling the incompatibility issue between superplasticiser and alkaline activator. In addition to rheology and minislump tests, adsorption, zeta potential and environmental scanning electron microscopy tests were also undertaken to understand the interactions between the lignosulfonate and the fresh SSAS in order to reveal the mechanisms behind the observation. The results show that adding the LS and the activator separately at the different stages of mixing can significantly improve both the initial minislump and 60-min minislump retention due to the increased adsorption of LS and the improved dispersion of slag particles, with the prior addition of LS better than the delayed addition. However, a nonlinear rheological behaviour of SSAS was observed in the LS-superplasticised SSAS under separate addition and, consequently, modified Bingham model was found to be more suitable for describing this kind of rheological behaviour

Relationship between TNF-<alpha> Gene Promoter Polymorphisms and Outcomes of Hepatitis B Virus Infections: A Meta-Analysis

Background: The clearance of hepatitis B virus (HBV) is a complex process which may be influenced by many factors including polymorphisms in the tumor necrosis factor,alpha. (TNF-,alpha.) gene promoter. However, previous reports regarding the relationship between polymorphisms in the TNF-,alpha. promoter and HBV clearance have been inconsistent. Therefore, we performed a meta-analysis on a large population to address this inconsistency. Methods: A meta-analysis was performed to examine the association between TNF-,alpha. promoter polymorphisms (-1031T/C,-863C/A,-857C/T,-308G/A and-238G/A) and chronic hepatitis B infection. Odds ratio (OR) and its 95 % confidence interval (CI) were used. Results: Twelve studies were chosen in our meta-analysis, involving 2,754 chronic HBV infection cases and 1,630 HBV clearance cases. The data showed that TNF-,alpha.-863 CC genotype was significantly associated with HBV clearance (-863 CC vs. AA: OR, 0.64; 95 % CI, [0.42, 0.97]; p = 0.04) while patients carrying-308 GG genotype had a significantly increased risk of HBV persistence compared with those with GA or AA genotype (GG vs. GA+AA: OR, 1.35; 95 % CI, [1.08, 1.70]; p = 0.01). For the other polymorphisms, no association with HBV infection outcome was found. Conclusions: The data showed that polymorphisms-863 A and-308 G in the TNF-,alpha. gene promoter region might be risk factors for HBV persistence. Furthermore, ethnicity might play an important role in HBV infection outcome, leading t