Correlates of Consistent Condom Use Among Female Entertainment Workers in Shanghai, China: A Repeated Measures Analysis

Female entertainment workers (FEWs) in China are at increased risk of HIV and other sexually transmitted infections, but correlates of their risky sexual behaviour remain poorly understood. Using data from a series of four surveys, this paper employs repeated measures analysis to identify individual and social correlates of consistent condom use among FEWs in Shanghai. Results reveal that both individual cognitive and social influence factors are statistically significant in their bivariate relationships to consistent condom use with a stable or non-stable partner; only prevention motivation and perceived self-efficacy in condom use remain significant in the multiple regressions. When individual and social correlates are examined together, only peer support for condom use remains a significant and independent correlate of consistent condom use in sex with a non-stable partner. Behavioural intervention is urgently needed and should take a multilevel approach, emphasizing individual prevention motivation and behavioural skills training and promoting peer/social support

Delineating Interpersonal Communication Networks: A Study of the Diffusion of an Intervention Among Female Entertainment Workers in Shanghai, China

Diffusion of innovation (DOI) is widely cited in the HIV behavior change literature; however there is a dearth of research on the application of DOI in interventions for sex workers. Following a randomized-controlled trial of HIV risk reduction among female entertainment workers (FEWs) in Shanghai, China, we used qualitative approaches to delineate potential interpersonal communication networks and contributing factors that promote diffusion of information in entertainment venues. Results showed that top-down communication networks from the venue owners to the FEWs were efficient for diffusion of information. Mammies/madams, who act as intermediaries between FEWs and clients form an essential part of FEWs\u27 social networks but do not function as information disseminators due to a conflict of interest between safer sex and maximizing profits. Diffusion of information in large venues tended to rely more on aspects of the physical environment to create intimacy and on pressure from managers to stimulate communication. In small venues, communication and conversations occurred more spontaneously among FEWs. Information about safer sex appeared to be more easily disseminated when the message and the approach used to convey information could be tailored to people working at different levels in the venues. Results suggest that safer sex messages should be provided consistently following an intervention to further promote intervention diffusion, and health-related employer liability systems in entertainment venues should be established, in which employers are responsible for the health of their employees. Our study suggests that existing personal networks can be used to disseminate information in entertainment venues and one should be mindful about the context-specific interactions between FEWs and others in their social networks to better achieve diffusion of interventions

比利时

peer reviewedQuinoa is an excellent source of nutritional and bioactive components. Protein is considered a key nutritional advantage of quinoa grain, and many studies have highlighted the nutritional and physicochemical properties of quinoa protein. In addition, quinoa protein is a good precursor of bioactive peptides. This review focused on the biological properties of quinoa protein hydrolysate and peptides, and gave a summary of the preparation and functional test of quinoa protein hydrolysate and peptides. A combination of milling fractionation and solvent extraction is recommended for the efficient production of quinoa protein. The biological functionalities of quinoa protein hydrolysate, including antidiabetic, antihypertensive, anti-inflammatory, antioxidant activities, and so on, have been extensively investigated based on in vitro studies and limited animal models. Additionally, bioinformatics analysis, including proteolysis simulation, virtual screening, and molecular docking, provides an alternative or assistive approach for exploring the potential bioactivity of quinoa protein and peptides. Nevertheless, further research is required for industrial production of bioactive quinoa peptides, verification of health benefits in humans, and mechanism interpretation of observed effects

Determinants of migration intentions in Hubei province, China: individual versus family migration

The author examines the determinants of migration intentions in Hubei province in central China. The analysis suggests that temporary migrants are more likely to migrate than are comparable permanent migrants or nonmigrants. The results also indicate that males are more likely to migrate as individuals than are females. Although age has a great deterrent impact on family migration, being married shows a much greater negative effect on planning an individual migration. Also, family network proves to be more important for determining individual migration than family migration. The results lend support to the notion that temporary migrants in cities do consider themselves as temporary residents and are therefore more likely to migrate again in the near future. They also confirm the argument that different factors play significant roles in individual versus family migration, and highlight the importance in distinguishing the two in empirical studies in developing countries.

Temporary migration and HIV risk behaviors in China

The link between migration and HIV/AIDS is well documented. Theoretical work to understand the behavioral mechanisms underlying migrants’ HIV risk behaviors is limited. In most studies migration is viewed as a virus carrier and population mixer. In this paper I present a framework conceptualizing the link between temporary migration and migrants’ heightened HIV risk behaviors. Data from a large and population-based survey conducted in 2003 in southwestern China are used to empirically test the proposed framework. Results suggest that temporary migrants are more likely to use drugs than nonmigrants; they are also more likely to have had unprotected casual sex and a greater number of casual-sex partners than comparable nonmigrants. Postmigration economic marginalization, social isolation, and lax social control contribute to migrants’ elevated risk behaviors, so do migration selectivity and social influences from family and peers. Temporary migrants are at risk of HIV; intervention needs to target migrants’ postmigration milieus and their social network of family and peers.

Migration, urbanization, and drug use and casual sex in China: a multilevel analysis

Using data from a survey conducted in 2003 and employing multilevel modeling, this paper examines the impact of migration and urbanization on drug abuse and casual sex in China. The results suggest that being a migrant predicts significantly higher odds of having casual sex but lower odds of drug abuse. Living in an urban place is a significant risk factor for both illicit drug use and casual sex. There are significant cross-community (primary sampling unit) variances in the random intercept component, suggesting that the likelihood of drug abuse and casual sex is influenced by where one lives. After controlling for differences in individual demographic and psychosocial characteristics, social influences, and community factors, the intracommunity correlation is higher for drug use (0.32) than for casual sex (0.11). The results of random coefficient models further suggest that the impact of migration on drug use and casual sex also varies across communities.

Improved antibacterial effects of alkali-transformed saponin from quinoa husks against halitosis-related bacteria

Abstract Background Quinoa is a food crop native to the Andes. The process of dehulling quinoa can produce approximately 8–12% husk, which is often discarded because it contains bitter saponin. Saponin derived from quinoa has been reported to exhibit anti-inflammatory and antifungal activity. However, the antibacterial effects of quinoa saponin against halitosis-related bacteria are still unclear. Methods In this study, quinoa saponin (QS) and alkali-transformed saponin (ATS) were separated by AB-2 resin to obtain QS-30, QS-80, ATS-30 and ATS-80. Halitosis-related bacteria included Porphyromonas gingivalis (P. gingivalis), Clostridium perfringens (C. perfringens) and Fusobacterium nucleatum (F. nucleatum). The MIC and MBC were determined using gradient dilutions in 96-well plates, and the saponins were identified by HPLC and mass spectrometry. The changes in membrane integrity were tested using a microplate reader, the membrane potential was tested by spectrofluorometry, and the morphological characteristics were examined using a transmission electron microscope to explore the antibacterial mechanisms. Results Antibacterial assays indicated that QS-80 and ATS-80 showed inhibitory activity. In addition, ATS-80 exerted a stronger inhibitory effect than QS-80, especially against Fusobacterium nucleatum, with a lower minimum inhibitory concentration (31.3 μg/mL) and a lower minimum bactericidal concentration (125 μg/mL). ATS-80 destroyed the bacterial membrane structure, leading to bacterial death. Conclusions Based on the excellent antibacterial activity and economic prospects of quinoa husk, ATS-80 could be used as an antibacterial agent to treat halitosis

Variation and trends in dough rheological properties and flour quality in 330 Chinese wheat varieties

The objective of this study was to investigate variation and trends in dough rheological properties and flour quality traits in 330 Chinese wheat varieties. The dough rheological properties of development time (DT), stability time (ST), and farinograph quality number (FQN) were evaluated, as well as the flour quality traits of protein (PC), wet gluten content (WGC), and sedimentation value (SV). The coefficients of variation of DT (40.5%), ST (58.1%), and FQN (42.4%) were higher than those of PC (9.1%), WGC (10.1%), and SV (15.3%). Normal distributions were observed for the flour quality indices but not for the rheological parameters. SV was strongly correlated with the three rheological parameters and accordingly might be used as a primary indicator for dough rheological property evaluation. Our results showed that there has been marked improvement in dough rheological properties for Chinese wheat varieties released since 1986, while flour quality has remained stable