Evaluation of anti-smoking television advertising on tobacco control among urban community population in Chongqing, China

Background China is the largest producer and consumer of tobacco in the world. Considering the constantly growing urban proportion, persuasive tobacco control measures are important in urban communities. Television, as one of the most pervasive mass media, can be used for this purpose. Methods The anti-smoking advertisement was carried out in five different time slots per day from 15 May to 15 June in 2011 across 12 channels of Chongqing TV. A cross-sectional study was conducted in the main municipal areas of Chongqing. A questionnaire was administered in late June to 1,342 native residents aged 18–45, who were selected via street intercept survey. Results Respondents who recognized the advertisement (32.77 %) were more likely to know or believe that smoking cigarettes caused impotence than those who did not recognize the advertisement (26.11 %). According to 25.5 % of smokers, the anti-smoking TV advertising made them consider quitting smoking. However, females (51.7 %) were less likely to be affected by the advertisement to stop and think about quitting smoking compared to males (65.6 %) (OR = 0.517, 95 % CI [0.281–0.950]). In addition, respondents aged 26–35 years (67.4 %) were more likely to try to persuade others to quit smoking than those aged 18–25 years (36.3 %) (OR = 0.457, 95 % CI [0.215–0.974]). Furthermore, non-smokers (87.4 %) were more likely to find the advertisement relevant than smokers (74.8 %) (OR = 2.34, 95 % CI [1.19–4.61]). Conclusions This study showed that this advertisement did not show significant differences on smoking-related knowledge and attitude between non-smokers who had seen the ad and those who had not. Thus, this form may not be the right tool to facilitate change in non-smokers. The ad should instead be focused on the smoking population. Gender, smoking status, and age influenced the effect of anti-smoking TV advertising on the general population in China

Frequent alterations in cytoskeleton remodelling genes in primary and metastatic lung adenocarcinomas

The landscape of genetic alterations in lung adenocarcinoma derived from Asian patients is largely uncharacterized. Here we present an integrated genomic and transcriptomic analysis of 335 primary lung adenocarcinomas and 35 corresponding lymph node metastases from Chinese patients. Altogether 13 significantly mutated genes are identified, including the most commonly mutated gene TP53 and novel mutation targets such as RHPN2, GLI3 and MRC2. TP53 mutations are furthermore significantly enriched in tumours from patients harbouring metastases. Genes regulating cytoskeleton remodelling processes are also frequently altered, especially in metastatic samples, of which the high expression level of IQGAP3 is identified as a marker for poor prognosis. Our study represents the first large-scale sequencing effort on lung adenocarcinoma in Asian patients and provides a comprehensive mutational landscape for both primary and metastatic tumours. This may thus form a basis for personalized medical care and shed light on the molecular pathogenesis of metastatic lung adenocarcinoma

Application of predictive model for vaginal birth after caesarean delivery

Medical practitioners are concerned with the selection of delivery mode after caesarean delivery. Several researchers have developed numerous models for predicting vaginal birth after caesarean delivery. This study selected seven widely used and representative advanced models, such as those of Grobman, Troyer and Parisi, Schoorel, Flamm, Gonen, Weinstain and Smith et al., analysed the constitutions and clinical applications of the models and identified the factors associated with patients to provide midwives a scientific reference for vaginal delivery evaluation of pregnant women after caesarean delivery. Keywords: Predictive model, Vaginal birth after caesarean deliver

Secondary bending effects in progressively damaged single-lap, single-bolt composite joints

Static tensile experiments and progressive failure simulations of single-bolt, single- and double-lap joints were carried out to comparatively investigate secondary bending effects, which present significant eccentric-loading phenomena in single-lap joints but are almost non-existent in symmetric double-lap joints. Progressive damage models of single-lap and double-lap joints were established, from which the numerical predictions were found to be in good agreement with the experimental outcomes. Experimental macro-scope failure patterns and seven numerical micro-scope failure modes obtained from the progressive damage analyses were presented for the two types of joints. The effects of secondary bending on the mechanical degradation and failure mechanism of single-lap joints were revealed. Some characterizations of secondary bending in the joints, such as a characterized parameter on the AGARD points, joint deformations and contact states, were quantitatively traced during the total progressive damage process. All these characterizations increased the understanding of the effects of secondary bending on the failure process of a single-bolt, single-lap joint. Keywords: Composite, Bolted joint, Secondary bending, Progressive damage analysi

Timing and Spatial Distribution of Loess in Xinjiang, NW China.

Central Asia is one of the most significant loess regions on Earth, with an important role in understanding Quaternary climate and environmental change. However, in contrast to the widely investigated loess deposits in the Chinese Loess Plateau, the Central Asian loess-paleosol sequences are still insufficiently known and poorly understood. Through field investigation and review of the previous literature, the authors have investigated the distribution, thickness and age of the Xinjiang loess, and analyzed factors that control these parameters in the Xinjiang in northwest China, Central Asia. The loess sediments cover river terraces, low uplands, the margins of deserts and the slopes of the Tianshan Mountains and Kunlun Mountains and are also present in the Ili Basin. The thickness of the Xinjiang loess deposits varies from several meters to 670 m. The variation trend of the sand fraction (>63 μm) grain-size contour can indicate the local major wind directions, so we conclude that the NW and NE winds are the main wind directions in the North and South Xinjiang, and the westerly wind mainly transport dust into the Ili basin. We consider persistent drying, adequate regional wind energy and well-developed river terraces to be the main factors controlling the distribution, thickness and formation age of the Xinjiang loess. The well-outcropped loess sections have mainly developed since the middle Pleistocene in Xinjiang, reflecting the appearance of the persistent drying and the present air circulation system. However, the oldest loess deposits are as old as the beginning of the Pliocene in the Tarim Basin, which suggests that earlier aridification occurred in the Tarim Basin rather than in the Ili Basin and the Junggar Basin

Characterization of aroma profiles and volatile organic compounds in silver carp surimi gel by GC-IMS, SPME-GC-MS, and sensory evaluation: Affected by okara insoluble dietary fiber with varied particle sizes

This study aimed to investigate the effects of okara insoluble dietary fiber (IDF) with different particle sizes on the volatile organic compounds (VOCs) and characteristic aroma compounds of silver carp surimi gel. VOCs of nano-sized IDF (NIDF), micro-sized IDF (MIDF), and silver carp surimi gels with 0.8% (w/w) NIDF or 0.8% (w/w) MIDF were analyzed by electronic nose, gas chromatography-ion mobility spectrometry (GC-IMS) and Solid-phase microextraction-gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (SPME-GC–MS) combined with sensory evaluation. Results revealed that the addition of NIDF and MIDF could affect the VOCs of surimi gels. NIDF reduced the odor activity value of some fishy aroma compounds, such as hexanal, nonanal, (E,E)-2,4-heptadienal, and 1-octen-3-ol. Moreover, NIDF increased the concentrations of VOCs with branched chains or a benzene ring, such as 2-methylbutanal, 3-methylbutanal, benzaldehyde, and phenylacetaldehyde. The overall sensory preference of surimi gel could be improved with the addition of NIDF. This study provides new ideas for the applications of okara in aroma regulation of surimi products

Associations between nighttime eating and total caloric intake in college-aged students

Background: Obesity is a nationwide concern across all age groups including the college-aged population. Approximately 35% of college students are reported to be overweight or obese in America, as defined by a body mass index (BMI) over 25 kg/m2. Increased caloric intake has shown to be associated with an elevated BMI. Nighttime eating may be a contributing factor to increased total caloric intake, and it has been associated with higher total caloric intake and weight gain in shift workers and older adults. However, research has not examined whether an association exists between nighttime eating and total daily caloric intake in college-aged students. Nighttime eating has been identified by college students as a potential concern for weight gain, thus making this an important and novel investigation. Objective: The primary objective was to examine possible relationships between nighttime eating and total caloric intake amongst college-aged undergraduate students at the University of Rhode Island (URI) during three consecutive semesters. The secondary objectives were to investigate associations between nighttime eating and dietary quality and sleep patterns. The exploratory objectives were to consider associations between nighttime eating and metabolic syndrome (MetS) risk and body composition. The primary hypothesis was that nighttime eaters would have a higher caloric intake. Design and Methods: This cross-sectional data analysis was an add-on study to an ongoing secondary data analysis project that examines the relationship between diet and chronic disease risk in college-aged students, referred to as the Nutrition Assessment Secondary Data Analysis Project. Undergraduate students (n=173, 72.25% females; BMI=23.7kg/m2) completed the Nutrition Assessment Survey (NAS) to categorize nighttime eaters and assess quantitative sleep patterns. Statistically controlled for confounding variables included, gender and smoking status. The International Physical Activity Questionnaire (IPAQ) assessed activity levels. The Diet History Questionnaire (DHQ II), a web-based food frequency questionnaire, estimated total caloric intake. The DHQ II was also used to calculate the total and component scores of the Healthy Eating Index-2010 (HEI-2010), an indicator of dietary quality. Anthropometric and biochemical measures were taken to determine the students’ number of risk factors for MetS and body weight status. Results: In this population, caloric intake within 2 hours of sleep or after 10:00PM provided more accurate definitions of nighttime eating than in other populations. Caloric intake after 10:00PM and within 2 hours (p=.015, r2=.034) of sleep onset was related to higher caloric consumption (+235.56 - 543.07kcals), lower HEI-2010 total scores (-4.78 – 5.91), and more MetS risk factors. Conclusion: This analysis aimed to determine if nighttime eating was associated with differential total daily caloric intake, along with dietary quality, sleep patterns, MetS risk, and BMI status. This study identified previously uninvestigated information regarding the prevalence of nighttime eating, along with differences in several health-related variables between students who engage in nighttime eating and those who do not. Nighttime eating was associated with increased caloric intake and a poorer diet quality in college students

Analysis of energy consumption prediction for office buildings based on GA-BP and BP algorithm

To gain building energy consumption information during the design phase, the variance analysis to identify significant factors affecting energy consumption in China cold-region office buildings are carried out in this study. Key factors are selected, and prediction models for energy consumption in cold-region office buildings are established using BP and GA-BP algorithms. Three prediction model evaluation indexes are introduced to evaluate the prediction accuracy of the models. The results show that the maximum RMSE of the BP neural network prediction model is 0.498, and the maximum MAPE is 0.797%. Furthermore, the GA algorithm is used to optimize the BP neural network, resulting in a prediction model with a maximum RMSE of 0.359 and a maximum MAPE of 0.289%. The prediction accuracy of the GA-BP algorithm is better than that of the BP algorithm

8 data: Timing and spatial distribution of loess in Xinjiang, NW China

<p>The data of Figure 8.</p> <p>Figure 8 Map showing the contours of the >63 μm particle component of topsoil in Xinjiang: (A) the Junggar Basin; (B) the Tarim Basin; and (C) the Ili Basin. Cross symbols represent our sampling sites, dots represent the city/county, and arrows represent the possible wind direction.</p