Effects of provisioning on the activity budget and foraging strategies of black-and-white snub-nosed monkeys (Rhinopithecus bieti) in the Baima Snow Mountain Nature Reserve, Yunnan, China.

Provisioning can significantly affect the ranging patterns, foraging strategies, and time budget of wild primates. In this study, we document for the first time, the effects of provisioning on the activity budget and foraging effort in an Asian colobine. Over 3-years, we used an instantaneous scanning method at 10-min intervals to collect data on the activity budget of a semiprovisioned breeding band (SPB) of black-and-white snub-nosed monkeys (Rhinopithecus bieti) (42-70 individuals) at Xiangguqing (Tacheng), Yunnan, China. We then compared the effects of provisioning in our study band with published data on a sympatric wild nonprovisioned breeding band (NPB) of R. bieti (ca. 360 monkeys) at the same field site. The SPB spent 25.6% of their daytime feeding, 17.1% traveling, 46.9% resting, and 10.3% socializing. In comparison, the NPB devoted more time to feeding (34.9%) and socializing (14.1%), less time to resting (31.3%), and was characterized by a greater foraging effort (1.74 versus 0.96, foraging effort = (feeding + traveling)/resting; see Methods). There was no difference between bands in the proportion of their activity budget devoted to traveling (15.7% vs. 17.1%). In addition, the SPB exhibited a more consistent activity budget and foraging effort across all seasons of the year compared to the NPB. These findings suggest that the distribution, availability, and productivity of naturally occurring feeding sites is a major determinant of the behavioral strategies and activity budget of R. bieti. Finally, a comparison of our results with data on six nonprovisioned R. bieti bands indicates that caution must be raised in meta-analyses or intraspecific comparisons of primate behavioral ecology that contain data generated from both provisioned and nonprovisioned groups.

Multimorbidity resilience and health behaviors among older adults: A longitudinal study using the Canadian Longitudinal Study on Aging.

Objective: There has been a growing interest in examining why some individuals adapt and bounce back from multimorbidity (resilience) better than others. This paper investigates the positive role of protective health behaviors on multimorbidity resilience (MR) among older adults focusing on older persons with two or more concurrent chronic conditions, and separately for three multimorbidity chronic illness clusters. Methods: Using Baseline and Follow-up One data from the Comprehensive Cohort of the Canadian Longitudinal Study on Aging, we studied 10,628 participants aged 65 years and older who reported two or more of 27 chronic conditions, and three multimorbidity clusters: Cardiovascular/metabolic, Musculoskeletal, and Mental health. Associations between health behaviors and MR were evaluated using Linear Mixed Models, adjusting for socio-demographic, social/environmental, and illness context social determinants of health. Results: Among older adults with two or more illnesses, smoking, satisfaction with sleep, appetite, and skipping meals were associated with MR in the expected direction. Also, obesity (compared to normal weight) and skipping meals showed longitudinal interaction effects with survey wave. Most of the results were replicated for the physical multimorbidity clusters (Cardiovascular/metabolic and Musculoskeletal) compared to the full 2+ multimorbidity analyses; however, for the Mental health cluster, only satisfaction with sleep was supported as a lifestyle predictor of MR. Discussion: Several modifiable health behaviors identified in the broader health and aging literature are important in affecting levels of multimorbidity resilience in older age. These factors are important strength-based areas to target. Additionally, several social determinants of health are also supported and parallel research on multimorbidity risk. The effects of lifestyle factors for resilience among older adults is dependent on the type of multimorbidity measured. We conclude that the results have significant public health, program intervention, and clinical implications for healthy aging among persons coping with multimorbidity.

Progress and challenges of network meta-analysis.

In the past years, network meta-analysis (NMA) has been widely used among clinicians, guideline makers, and health technology assessment agencies and has played an important role in clinical decision-making and guideline development. To inform further development of NMAs, we conducted a bibliometric analysis to assess the current status of published NMA methodological studies, summarized the methodological progress of seven types of NMAs, and discussed the current challenges of NMAs.

RESEARCH ON DOSE MONITORING IN BACKSCATTERING NEUTRON HALL IN CHINA SPALLATION NEUTRON SOURCE.

The back-n project in China Spallation Neutron Source (CSNS) was launched primarily for nuclear data measurements. In the backscattering neutron hall, the neutron and gamma monitors were used for dose monitoring. Because of the dead time problem of monitors, performance of the monitors in such pulsed radiation field needs to be analyzed. In this research, experiments with dose monitors and personal dosemeters were conducted, and simulation by Monte Carlo code FLUKA was performed. Results showed that the values by monitors are smaller, and the larger the dose, the larger the difference. The reasons in term of energy response and dead time have been analyzed, and corrections were discussed. After corrections, the measured value can agree with the simulation results in the range of about a factor 3. Totally speaking, the values recorded by neutron and gamma monitors can be a reference for radiation safety management in CSNS.

[Values of Body Mass Index and Chest CT Features in the Assessment of Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease].

Objective To investigate the clinical values of nutritional status and chest CT phenotypes in the assessment of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease(COPD). Methods A total of 256 patients with stable COPD were enrolled from Peking Union Medical College Hospital and Civil Aviation General Hospital from June 2017 to June 2018.Demographic data,height,weight,smoking history,and number of exacerbations were collected.Pulmonary function tests and COPD assessment test(CAT)questionnaire-based survey were performed.The correlations of Goddard score with pulmonary function,CAT score,and number of exacerbations were analyzed.The clinical features of COPD patients with different body mass index(BMI)grades and CT phenotype were analyzed. Results The forced expiratory volume in one second as percentage of predicted value(FEV1%pred)was significantly higher in normal body mass group(t=-2.701,P=0.0080),overweight group(t=-3.506,P=0.001),and obese group(t=-4.323,P=0.000)than in low body mass group and was significantly higher in obese group than in normal body mass group(t=-3.096,P=0.002).The forced vital capacity as percentage of predicted value(FVC%pred)of normal body mass group(t=-3.081,P=0.002)and overweight group(t=-2.766,P=0.006)were significantly higher than that of low body mass group.The forced expiratory volume in one second(FEV1)/forced vital capacity(FVC)was significantly higher in overweight group than in normal body mass group(t=-3.702,P=0.001)and significantly higher in obese group than in low body mass group(t=-4.742,P=0.000),normal body mass group(t=-5.785,P=0.000),and overweight group(t=-2.984,P=0.003).In addition,the carbon monoxide diffusing capacity as percentage of predicted value(DLco%pred)was significantly higher in overweight group than in underweight(t=-3.042,P=0.003)and normal body mass groups(t=-3.128,P=0.002)and significantly higher in obese group than in underweight group(t=-4.742,P=0.000)and normal body mass group(t=-5.785,P=0.000).The Goddard scores of overweight(Z=4.535,P=0.000)and obese groups(Z=5.422,P=0.000)were significantly lower than that of normal body mass group.Partial correlation analysis showed that Goddard score was negatively correlated with FEV1/FVC(r =-0.230,P = 0.022)and DLco%pred(r =-0.531,P = 0.000)and positively correlated with CAT score(r = 0.244,P = 0.021).BMI of phenotype E(t=3.467,P=0.001)and M(t=3.031,P=0.003),FEV1/FVC of phenotype E(t=2.484,P=0.015)and M(t=2.969,P=0.004)as well as DLco%pred of phenotype E(t=4.928,P=0.000)and M(t=2.489,P=0.0163)were significantly lower than those of phenotype A.Patients with phenotype M had worse FEV1%pred,FVC%pred,residual volume/total lung capacity and number of acute exacerbations than patients with phenotypes A and E,but the differences were not statistically significant(all P >0.05). Conclusions The nutritional status is closely related to lung function,severity of emphysema,and number of exacerbations in COPD patients.Chest CT phenotype is clinically valuable in the assessment of COPD.

The crisis of patient-physician trust and bioethics: lessons and inspirations from China.

Trust is indispensable not only for interpersonal relationships and social life, but for good quality healthcare. As manifested in the increasing violence and tension in patient-physician relationships, China has been experiencing a widespread and profound crisis of patient-physician trust. And globally, the crisis of trust is an issue that every society, either developing or developed, has to face in one way or another. Yet, in spite of some pioneering works, the subject of patient-physician trust and mistrust - a crucial matter in healthcare especially because there are numerous ethical implications - has largely been marginalized in bioethics as a global discourse. Drawing lessons as well as inspirations from China, this paper demonstrates the necessity of a trust-oriented bioethics and presents some key theoretical, methodological and philosophical elements of such a bioethics. A trust-oriented bioethics moves beyond the current dominant bioethical paradigms through putting the subject of trust and mistrust in the central agenda of the field, learning from the social sciences, and reviving indigenous moral resources. In order for global bioethics to claim its relevance to the things that truly matter in social life and healthcare, trust should be as vital as such central norms like autonomy and justice and can serve as a potent theoretical framework.

Factors Influencing Suicide Behaviours in Immigrant and Ethno-Cultural Minority Groups: A Systematic Review.

This paper reviews recent literature on factors influencing suicide behaviours, including thoughts, plans, and attempts, in immigrant and ethno-cultural minority groups, to inform a more comprehensive understanding of suicide behaviours in increasingly culturally diverse populations. Thirty-three studies published between 2002 and 2013 were identified through digital databases searches and included in this review. Analysis of study findings focused on impacts of ethno-cultural identity and acculturation, other cultural and immigration influences, and family and community supports on suicide behaviours. Policy, practice, and research recommendations are identified, to inform relevant suicide prevention efforts and enhance mental health supports for immigrant and ethno-cultural minority populations.

Epidemiology Characteristics, Methodological Assessment and Reporting of Statistical Analysis of Network Meta-Analyses in the Field of Cancer.

Because of the methodological complexity of network meta-analyses (NMAs), NMAs may be more vulnerable to methodological risks than conventional pair-wise meta-analysis. Our study aims to investigate epidemiology characteristics, conduction of literature search, methodological quality and reporting of statistical analysis process in the field of cancer based on PRISMA extension statement and modified AMSTAR checklist. We identified and included 102 NMAs in the field of cancer. 61 NMAs were conducted using a Bayesian framework. Of them, more than half of NMAs did not report assessment of convergence (60.66%). Inconsistency was assessed in 27.87% of NMAs. Assessment of heterogeneity in traditional meta-analyses was more common (42.62%) than in NMAs (6.56%). Most of NMAs did not report assessment of similarity (86.89%) and did not used GRADE tool to assess quality of evidence (95.08%). 43 NMAs were adjusted indirect comparisons, the methods used were described in 53.49% NMAs. Only 4.65% NMAs described the details of handling of multi group trials and 6.98% described the methods of similarity assessment. The median total AMSTAR-score was 8.00 (IQR: 6.00-8.25). Methodological quality and reporting of statistical analysis did not substantially differ by selected general characteristics. Overall, the quality of NMAs in the field of cancer was generally acceptable.

Controllable synthesis of monodispersed silver nanoparticles as standards for quantitative assessment of their cytotoxicity.

Silver nanoparticles (Ag NPs) are appealing due to their excellent antibacterial/antivirus properties. At the meantime, the wide applications of Ag NPs as antibacterial/antivirus agents arise the concern of Ag NPs' toxicity. However, quantitative understanding of the cytotoxicity of Ag NPs is minimum since that the Ag NPs in current studies have wide size distributions, in which the size effect of Ag NPs on cytotoxicity was unable to be accurately evaluated. In this work, unprecedentedly monodispersed Ag NPs with sizes of 25, 35, 45, 60 and 70 nm were obtained, respectively, by using an optimized polyol method with poly(vinyl pyrrolidone) (PVP) as surfactant. It was found that the reaction temperature, reaction time, concentration of the surfactant and reactants are playing important roles in determining the size and size distribution of Ag NPs. With the monodispersed Ag NPs as standard samples, the size- and dose- dependent cytotoxicity of Ag NPs against Human lung fibroblast (HLF) cells was accurately accomplished in terms of cell viability, apoptosis and necrosis, reactive oxygen species, etc. We expect that the monodispersed Ag NPs will act as the standard samples for quantitatively characterizing the toxicity of Ag NPs in vitro and in vivo.