Steam reforming of toluene as biomass tar model compound in a gliding arc discharge reactor

Non-thermal plasma is considered a promising and attractive approach for the removal of tars from biomass gasification to deliver a clean and high quality syngas (a mixture of H2 and CO). In this study, an AC gliding arc discharge (GAD) reactor has been developed for the conversion of toluene as a tar model compound using nitrogen as a carrier gas. The presence of steam in the plasma reaction produces OH radicals which open a new reaction route for the conversion of toluene through a stepwise oxidation of toluene and intermediates, resulting in a significant enhancement in both the conversion of toluene and the energy efficiency of the plasma process. The effects of steam-to-carbon (S/C) molar ratio, toluene feed rate and specific energy input (SEI) on the performance of the plasma steam reforming of toluene have been investigated. The optimal S/C molar ratio was found to be between 2 and 3 for high toluene conversion and energy efficiency. The maximum toluene conversion of 51.8% was achieved at an optimal S/C molar ratio of 2, a toluene feed flow rate of 4.8 ml/h and a SEI of 0.3 kWh/m3, while the energy efficiency of the plasma process reached a maximum (∼46.3 g/kWh) at a toluene feed flow rate of 9.6 ml/h and a SEI of 0.19 kWh/m3. H2, CO and C2H2 were identified as the major gas products with a maximum syngas yield of 73.9% (34.9% for H2 and 39% for CO). Optical emission spectroscopy (OES) has been used to understand the role of steam on the formation of reactive species in the plasma conversion of toluene. The possible reaction pathways in the plasma conversion of toluene have also been proposed by combined means of the analysis of gas and liquid samples and OES diagnostics

The Mechanism of Theory-based HIV Behavioral Intervention on Condom Use among Rural-to-urban Migrants in China: The Mediating Roles of HIV Knowledge and Condom Use Self-efficacy

Previous studies have suggested HIV knowledge and self-efficacy are important cognitive factors that might influence condom use behaviors. However, data were limited regarding their mediating effects on condom use during behavioral interventions. This study examined the mechanistic roles of these two factors on the effect of a community-based intervention aiming to increase condom use behaviors and intention among young rural-to-urban migrants in China. Data were derived from a community-based HIV behavioral intervention trial among 639 young sexually active rural-to-urban migrants in Beijing, China. Path analyses were used to examine the direct and indirect effects of the intervention program on condom use behaviors and intention over a 12-month follow-up. HIV knowledge and condom use self-efficacy at 6-month follow-up served as mediators in models. Path analyses revealed that intervention program increased condom use behaviors at 12 months through the increase of HIV knowledge at 6 months. Likewise, the intervention program increased condom use intention through the increases of HIV knowledge and condom use self-efficacy. The results suggested HIV knowledge played an important mediating role on the effect of the intervention program on condom use behaviors and intention. Additionally, condom use self-efficacy played an important role in increasing condom use intention. To increase condom use behaviors and intention among migrants, future studies are warranted that focus on improving HIV knowledge and helping migrants overcome cognitive barriers of condom use. Other efforts targeting structural and environmental barriers, such as limited healthcare access due to household registration status, are also needed to increase HIV protective behaviors

Self-Esteem, Resilience, Social Support, and Acculturative Stress as Predictors of Loneliness in Chinese Internal Migrant Children: A Model-Testing Longitudinal Study

The present study examined the risk and protective factors of loneliness among Chinese internal migrant children (CIMC) in Beijing, China, including self-esteem, resilience, social support, and acculturative stress. Longitudinal survey data were collected from a large sample of 4th, 5th, and 6th grade CIMC from three schools in Beijing, at four time points (N=862 at T1 to N=837 at T4) over a 20-month period. Grounded in the Cultural and Contextual Model of Coping and the Acculturation Theory, two predictor models of loneliness were tested with path analysis. The results yielded the following: a) the two predictor models fit the data well; b) CIMC’s T1 self-esteem and T1 resilience protected them against loneliness at T4; and c) CIMC’s T2 social support seeking was a significant mediator between self-esteem and loneliness, and between resilience and loneliness; and d) similarly, CIMC’s T3 acculturative stress was a significant mediator between self-esteem and loneliness, and between resilience and loneliness. The study’s results highlight the merit and importance of implementing theoretically-guided, model-testing research grounded in a prospective research design, to help advance CIMC research. Implications for future research on and practical support for CIMC are discussed

Depression and Sexual Risk Behaviors among Rural-to-urban Migrants in China: The Moderating Roles of Acculturation and Social Capital

Previous studies have documented that depression is positively associated with sexual risk behaviors (SRB) among rural-to-urban migrants. Existing literature has also suggested that acculturation and social capital might moderate this positive relationship. However, data regarding the moderating effects of acculturation and social capital have been inconsistent. The current study aims to examine the relationship between depression and SRB, as well as the moderating roles of acculturation and social capital in this relationship. A sample of 641 young rural-to-urban migrants was recruited through a venue-based sampling approach in Beijing, China. Results indicated that depression was positively associated with SRB. Both acculturation and social capital moderated this relationship, but they showed different moderating effects. Specifically, the level of acculturation was protective against SRB among migrants with a higher level of depression but not among migrants with a lower level of depression. Social capital played a protective role among migrants with a lower level of depression but became a risk factor for those with a higher level of depression. These findings suggested that targeted interventions aiming to reduce depression, improve acculturation stress management skills, and utilize social capital are needed to reduce SRB among rural-to-urban migrants

Discrimination, Perceived Social Inequity, and Mental Health Among Rural-to-Urban Migrants in China

Status-based discrimination and inequity have been associated with the process of migration, especially with economics-driven internal migration. However, their association with mental health among economy-driven internal migrants in developing countries is rarely assessed. This study examines discriminatory experiences and perceived social inequity in relation to mental health status among rural-to-urban migrants in China. Cross-sectional data were collected from 1,006 rural-to-urban migrants in 2004-2005 in Beijing, China. Participants reported their perceptions and experiences of being discriminated in daily life in urban destination and perceived social inequity. Mental health was measured using the symptom checklist-90 (SCL-90). Multivariate analyses using general linear model were performed to test the effect of discriminatory experience and perceived social inequity on mental health. Experience of discrimination was positively associated with male gender, being married at least once, poorer health status, shorter duration of migration, and middle range of personal income. Likewise, perceived social inequity was associated with poorer health status, higher education attainment, and lower personal income. Multivariate analyses indicate that both experience of discrimination and perceived social inequity were strongly associated with mental health problems of rural-to-urban migrants. Experience of discrimination in daily life and perceived social inequity have a significant influence on mental health among rural-to-urban migrants. The findings underscore the needs to reduce public or societal discrimination against rural-to-urban migrants, to eliminate structural barriers (i.e., dual household registrations) for migrants to fully benefit from the urban economic development, and to create a positive atmosphere to improve migrant\u27s psychological well-being

Family and Individual Risk and Protective Factors of Depression among Chinese Migrant Children with Oppositional Defiant Disorder Symptoms

Migrant children reached 35.81 million in China and were vulnerable to serious emotional problems including depression. The present study aimed to identify the family and individual risk and protective factors for depression in an at-risk sample of Chinese migrant children. Participants were 368 children (9.47 ± 1.46 years old, 73.4% boys) who had at least one symptom of Oppositional Defiant Disorder symptoms (ODD) and their parents in Mainland China. Risk and protective factors within both family (i.e., family maltreatment and family functioning) and individual (i.e., automatic thoughts and resilience) perspectives. Family maltreatment and negative automatic thoughts served as risk factors in relation to children's depression. Further, automatic thoughts mediated the relationship between family maltreatment and children's depression. Family functioning (cohesion, but bot adaptability) and individual resilience could buffer the effects of risk factors in the Structure Emotion Model such that both cohesion and resilience moderated the relationship between family maltreatment and children's automatic thoughts only. Our findings highlighted the urgent need to decrease risk factors and increase protective factors of both family and child individual characteristics in prevention and intervention depression among migrant children with ODD symptoms in China

Associations between Leisure Activities and HIV Risk Behaviors among Rural Migrants in Urban China

Although much has been documented on factors affecting HIV risk behavior among rural-to-urban migrants in China, data are lacking on the impact of leisure activities. In this study, we examined the association between leisure activities and HIV risk behavior among a sample of rural-to-urban migrants from two large cities (Beijing and Nanjing) in China. Cross-sectional data were analyzed for a sample of 4,085 participants aged 18 to 30 years (40.5% females). Findings from the analysis indicated that although the migrants worked long hours, they engaged in a number of activities when they did not work, including watching television (60.2%), reading (59.1%), sleeping (55.6%), and chatting with friends and co-workers (45.0%). Multiple regression analysis indicated that reading, doing chores (females only), listening to radio programs/audio CDs (male only) were associated with reduced likelihood of HIV risk behavior while playing cards in groups, visiting entertaining installments, watching videos (including Xrated, males only), and wondering around (females only) were associated with increased likelihood of HIV risk behavior. Findings of this study suggest that constructive and individualized activities (e.g., reading, listening to radios, and doing chores) may prevent migrants from engage in HIV risk behaviors while group and entertaining activities related to drugs and sex may increase the odds for migrants to engage in HIV risk behaviors. Prevention research should consider leisure activities as both an influential factor (including time trends and gender differences) for program development and an important venue for program delivery