Two- and Three-Dimensional Modeling and Simulations of Grain Growth Behavior in Dual-Phase Steel Using Monte Carlo and Machine Learning.

Dual-phase (DP) steel has been widely used in automotive steel plates with a balance of excellent strength and ductility. Grain refinement in DP steel is important to improve the properties further; however, the factors affecting grain growth need to be well understood. The remaining problem is that acquiring data through experiments is still time-consuming and difficult to evaluate quantitatively. With the development of materials informatics in recent years, material development time and costs are expected to be significantly reduced through experimentation, simulation, and machine learning. In this study, grain growth behavior in DP steel was studied using two-dimensional (2D) and three-dimensional (3D) Monte Carlo modeling and simulation to estimate the effect of some key parameters. Grain growth can be suppressed when the grain boundary energy is greater than the phase boundary energy. When the volume fractions of the matrix and the second phase were equal, the suppression of grain growth became obvious. The long-distance diffuse frequency can promote grain growth significantly. The simulation results allow us to better understand the factors affecting grain growth behavior in DP steel. Machine learning was performed to conduct a sensitivity analysis of the affecting parameters and estimate the magnitude of each parameter's effects on grain growth in the model. Combining MC simulation and machine learning will provide one promising research strategy to gain deeper insights into grain growth behaviors in metallic materials and accelerate the research process.

The influence of environmental awareness and conditions on successful aging: Evidence of air and water pollution in China.

This study examines three aspects of successful aging including subjective health, cognitive ability, and social participation and their relations with environmental conditions and environmental awareness. We used the seemingly uncorrelated regression and multilevel models to estimate the joint relationship by combining the Chinese General Social Survey (2013 and 2021) (N = 5404 and 1580 accordingly) and the Chinese Statistical Yearbook and used propensity score analysis to identify potential endogenous issues. The first finding is that older people who were men, married, lived in urban areas, or received social security had an edge in aging successfully. Secondly, the adverse effects of environmental pollution on older adults' cognitive ability and social participation can be reduced by the protective effects of environmental awareness. Additionally, air pollution had more apparent effects, and water pollution was more modest in social involvement. This study offers empirical results to enhance the well-being of the older population by lifting their environmental perception and improving environmental quality.

Perceived Barriers and Social Cultural Factors Associated With Advance Care Planning Conversations Among Chinese American Older Adults.

Despite the well-documented benefits of advance care planning (ACP), persistent racial and ethnic disparities continue to exist in ACP engagement. Guided by a social ecological model, this study examined perceived barriers and sociocultural factors associated with informal ACP conversations among Chinese American older adults. A purposive sample of 281 community-dwelling older Chinese Americans aged 55 years or older in Arizona and Maryland completed a survey in 2018. Hierarchical logistic regression models were conducted. There were 26.5% of participants who engaged in advance care planning. Lower perceived barriers and sociocultural factors (i.e., length of stay in the U.S. and English language proficiency) were positively associated with ACP conversations. Social support had a significant moderation effect. Findings highlighted the importance of language services and social support in facilitating ACP discussions among older Chinese immigrants. Effective strategies are needed to reduce the barriers to ACP at various levels for older Chinese American populations.

Long-term care insurance and multidimensional poverty of middle-aged and elderly: Evidence from China.

Introduction: This paper examined the impact of public long-term care insurance (LTCI) pilots in China on the multidimensional poverty status of middle-aged and older adults. Methods: Using panel data from the China Health and Retirement Longitudinal Survey, we utilized LTCI pilots conducted in different cities from 2012 to 2018 and assessed the impact of LTCI using a difference-in-differences strategy. Results: We found that the implementation of LTCI reduces the multidimensional poverty of middle-aged and older adults and their likelihood of future multidimensional poverty. LTCI coverage was also associated with a reduction in the likelihood that middle-aged and older adults in need of care fall into income poverty, living consumption poverty, health poverty, and social participation poverty. Discussion: From a policy perspective, the findings of this paper suggest that the establishment of an LTCI system can improve the poverty of middle-aged and older adults in several ways, which has important implications for the development of LTCI systems in China and other developing countries.

The role of community factors in predicting depressive symptoms among Chinese workforce: a longitudinal study in rural and urban settings.

BACKGROUND: The dual urban-rural division system in China has led to distinguishes in economic development, medical services, and education as well as in mental health disparities. This study examined whether community factors (community cohesion, supportive network size, foreseeable community threat, and medical insurance coverage) predict the depressive symptoms of Chinese workers and how community factors may work differently in rural and urban settings. METHODS: This secondary data analysis was conducted using data from the 2014 and 2016 China Labor-force Dynamics Survey (CLDS). The sample of this study includes 9,140 workers (6,157 rural labors and 2,983 urban labors) who took part in both the 2014 and 2016 CLDS. This study discusses the relation between community factors and depressive symptoms of Chinese workers by correlation analysis and regression analysis. All analyses were conducted using SPSS 24.0. RESULTS: The results indicate that rural workers have higher levels of depressive symptoms than urban workers. Medical benefits coverage predicts depressive symptoms of rural workforces (B = -0.343, 95%CI = -0.695 ~ 0.009, p < . 10), and community supportive network size predicts depressive symptoms of urban workforces (B = -.539, 95%CI = -0.842 ~ 0.236, p < . 01). CONCLUSIONS: Policymakers may address depressive symptoms of rural labor through improved coverage of medical benefits. In urban areas, efforts can be made to strengthen community supportive network for the urban labor force.

Adult Day Service Use Among Minority Older Adults: Facilitators, Barriers, and Outcomes From an Updated Integrative Literature Review Between 2010 to 2021.

Adult day services (ADS) are one of the more popular long-term care options for racial and ethnic minority older Americans. Focusing on minority older adults, this study aims to (a) identify both the individual and structural/organizational levels factors associated with ADS use and to (b) examine ADS' effect on health and well-being. Using the integrative review approach of Whittemore and Knafl, we found 14 studies published between 2010 to 2021. Findings concluded that individual-level needs and enabling factors were associated with ADS use and outcomes among minority older adults centered mostly on quality of life. Organizational/structural characteristics of ADS were never empirically examined in relation to service use or health outcomes. Future research should move beyond the individual level to identify and address the impact of the institutional structure, culture and practice on access, quality, and use.

Reliability assessment of the definition of ultrasound enthesitis in SpA: results of a large, multicentre, international, web-based study.

OBJECTIVES: To investigate the reliability of the OMERACT US Task Force definition of US enthesitis in SpA. METHODS: In this web exercise, based on the evaluation of 101 images and 39 clips of the main entheses of the lower limbs, the elementary components included in the OMERACT definition of US enthesitis in SpA (hypoechoic areas, entheseal thickening, power Doppler signal at the enthesis, enthesophytes/calcifications, bone erosions) were assessed by 47 rheumatologists from 37 rheumatology centres in 15 countries. Inter- and intra-observer reliability of the US components of enthesitis was calculated using Light's kappa, Cohen's kappa, Prevalence And Bias Adjusted Kappa (PABAK) and their 95% CIs. RESULTS: Bone erosions and power Doppler signal at the enthesis showed the highest overall inter-reliability [Light's kappa: 0.77 (0.76-0.78), 0.72 (0.71-0.73), respectively; PABAK: 0.86 (0.86-0.87), 0.73 (0.73-0.74), respectively], followed by enthesophytes/calcifications [Light's kappa: 0.65 (0.64-0.65), PABAK: 0.67 (0.67-0.68)]. This was moderate for entheseal thickening [Light's kappa: 0.41 (0.41-0.42), PABAK: 0.41 (0.40-0.42)], and fair for hypoechoic areas [Light's kappa: 0.37 (0.36-0.38); PABAK: 0.37 (0.37-0.38)]. A similar trend was observed in the intra-reliability exercise, although this was characterized by an overall higher degree of reliability for all US elementary components compared with the inter-observer evaluation. CONCLUSIONS: The results of this multicentre, international, web-based study show a good reliability of the OMERACT US definition of bone erosions, power Doppler signal at the enthesis and enthesophytes/calcifications. The low reliability of entheseal thickening and hypoechoic areas raises questions about the opportunity to revise the definition of these two major components for the US diagnosis of enthesitis.

Financial Maltreatment of Chinese American Elders: An Inquiry through a Cultural Lens.

This study examined financial maltreatment from the perspectives of Chinese American elders via a mixed method approach. Three focus groups of Chinese American elders and one group of service professionals recruited from Phoenix metropolitan areas shared their insights of financial maltreatment and contributed to the refinement of questions in the followed survey that included 325 elders (Mage = 75.6, SD = 7.00). Two types of financial maltreatment: Financial exploitation and financial neglect were identified from focus group discussions. About 9.2% experienced financial exploitation and 1.5% experienced financial neglect. Both financial exploitation and neglect were related to higher vulnerability scores for abuse assessed using the H-S/EAST elder abuse screening scale. Financial maltreatment needs to be understood in legal, cultural, and family contexts, incorporating the perspectives of older adults. Prevention of financial maltreatment hinges on increased awareness and knowledge of this issue among elders, families and service professionals, and the collaborative efforts of stakeholders from ethnic communities.

Self-Rated Health Among Older Chinese Americans: The Roles of Acculturation and Family Cohesion.

Background: Previous research has established the influence of acculturation and family cohesion on Chinese Americans' mental health and health behavior; however, the influence of acculturation and family cohesion on self-rated health among this population has not been examined. The purpose of this study is to examine the association between family cohesion, acculturation, and self-rated health among older Chinese Americans. Method: Data came from structured interviews with 385 Chinese Americans aged 55 and older living in a large metropolitan area in Southwest. We used logistic regression to examine the association between acculturation, family cohesion, and self-rated health. Results: Acculturation was positively associated with self-rated health only among those with medium (odds ratio [OR] = 2.27, p < .05) and high (OR = 1.93, p < .05) family cohesion, but not among those with low family cohesion. Discussion: Findings highlight the significance of involving family members and strengthening family support in the acculturation and supportive services provided to older Chinese Americans.

Quality Assessment of Different Species and Differently Prepared Slices of Zedoray Rhizome by High-Performance Liquid Chromatography and Colorimeter with the Aid of Chemometrics.

In this study, high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) and colorimeter were applied to evaluate the quality of different species and differently prepared slices of Zedoray Rhizome samples with the aid of chemometric tools. Fifty batches of Zedoray Rhizome samples from different species and forty-two batches of Zedoray Rhizome samples from differently prepared slices were collected. The quantitative method was developed using HPLC to simultaneously determine the contents of twelve chemical ingredients in Zedoray Rhizome. The colour parameters L, a, and b were measured by a colorimeter. Then, the collected data were analyzed by the principal component analysis and Pearson correlation analysis. The results showed that the proposed method was capable of accurately determining the contents of the twelve chemical ingredients and the colour parameters for the collected samples. There was a dramatic difference in the contents of the chemical ingredients and in the colour parameters among different species and differently prepared slices of Zedoray Rhizome samples. This study reveals that combining HPLC, colorimeter, and chemometric tools can provide a new approach to comprehensively evaluate the quality of Zedoray Rhizome samples.

National policy actions on dementia in the Americas and Asia-Pacific: Consensus and challenges.

Alzheimer's disease and related dementias (ADRD) affect over 50 million persons globally, and the number is expected to rise. In response, health ministries are developing and implementing policies and programs to systemically address the needs of individuals and families affected by ADRD. While national plans of action on ADRD are advancing among European Member States of World Health Organization (WHO), those in the Asia-Pacific and Americas are lagging behind. Since previous studies have largely ignored the Americas and Asia-Pacific-where approximately two-thirds of the global ADRD population resides-this study sought to identify (a) the socioeconomic factors associated with the likelihood of having a national dementia policy, and (b) to examine common and differing features among the national plans in these regions. Employing the dementia policy guidelines of WHO and the Pan American Health Organization as an extraction guide for data collection and analysis, the national dementia plans and available socioeconomic data of 10 Member States were analyzed with comparative and qualitative analyses. Findings suggested at least a 14-fold increase in the likelihood of having a national dementia plan if a Member State had one of the following: a universal health care system, more than 14% of the population 65 years of age or older, or high-income. All the Member States in the study identified dementia as a public health priority, but priorities differed. Inconsistencies included development of information systems, training for health care professionals, and long-term care systems.

La enfermedad de Alzheimer y otras demencias relacionadas afectan a más de 50 millones de personas a nivel mundial y se espera que esta cifra aumente. En respuesta, los ministerios de salud están elaborando y ejecutando políticas y programas para abordar de manera sistemática las necesidades de las personas y familias afectadas. Si bien los planes nacionales de acción sobre la enfermedad de Alzheimer y otras demencias progresan en los Estados Miembros europeos de la Organización Mundial de la Salud (OMS), los de las regiones de Asia y el Pacífico y las Américas están a la zaga. Puesto que en anteriores estudios se ha pasado por alto en gran parte a las regiones de las Américas y Asia y el Pacífico, donde residen aproximadamente dos terceras partes de la población mundial con estas enfermedades, en este estudio se ha tratado de: a) determinar los factores socioeconómicos relacionados con la probabilidad de contar con una política nacional en materia de demencia, y b) examinar las características comunes y distintas de los planes nacionales en esas regiones. Se examinaron los planes nacionales sobre demencia y los datos socioeconómicos disponibles de diez Estados Miembros mediante análisis comparativos y cualitativos en los que se emplearon las directrices para la formulación de políticas en materia de demencia de la OMS y la Organización Panamericana de la Salud a modo de guía de extracción para la recopilación y el análisis de datos. Los resultados indicaron que había un aumento de las probabilidades de al menos 14 veces de disponer de un plan nacional en materia de demencia siempre que el estado miembro contase con al menos uno de los siguientes elementos: un sistema de atención de salud universal, más de 14% de su población en la edad de 65 años o más, o ingresos elevados. Todos los Estados Miembros del estudio establecían la demencia como una cuestión prioritaria de salud pública, si bien las prioridades diferían. Entre las diferencias se encontraban el desarrollo de los sistemas de información, la capacitación de los profesionales de la salud y los sistemas de cuidados a largo plazo.

A doença de Alzheimer e demências relacionadas (DADR) afetam mais de 50 milhões de pessoas em todo o mundo, e este número deverá aumentar no futuro. Em resposta, os ministérios da saúde estão desenvolvendo e implementando políticas e programas para atender sistematicamente às necessidades das pessoas e famílias afetadas pela DADR. Embora os planos de ação nacionais para a DADR estejam avançando entre os Estados Membros europeus da Organização Mundial da Saúde (OMS), os das regiões das Américas e Ásia-Pacífico estão ficando para trás. Estudos anteriores ignoraram amplamente as regiões das Américas e Ásia-Pacífico, onde encontram-se aproximadamente dois terços da população mundial com DADR; por isso, este estudo procurou (a) identificar os fatores socioeconômicos associados à probabilidade de que um país conte com uma política nacional para demência e (b) examinar as características comuns e diferentes dos planos nacionais existentes nessas regiões. Empregando as diretrizes para políticas sobre demência da OMS e da Organização Pan-Americana da Saúde como um guia para a coleta e análise de dados, examinamos os planos nacionais para demência e os dados socioeconômicos disponíveis em 10 Estados Membros, realizando análises comparativas e qualitativas. Os resultados sugeriram um aumento de pelo menos 14 vezes na probabilidade de que um Estado Membro conte com um plano nacional para demência quando esse Estado Membro apresenta um dos seguintes fatores: um sistema de atenção universal à saúde, mais de 14% da população com 65 anos de idade ou mais, ou alta renda. Todos os Estados Membros incluídos no estudo identificaram a demência como uma prioridade de saúde pública, mas com prioridades distintas. As diferenças incluíram o desenvolvimento de sistemas de informação, a formação oferecida aos profissionais da saúde e os sistemas de atenção à saúde de longa duração.

National policy actions on dementia in the Americas and Asia-Pacific: Consensus and challenges

[ABSTRACT]. Alzheimer’s disease and related dementias (ADRD) affect over 50 million persons globally, and the number is expected to rise. In response, health ministries are developing and implementing policies and programs to systemically address the needs of individuals and families affected by ADRD. While national plans of action on ADRD are advancing among European Member States of World Health Organization (WHO), those in the Asia-Pacific and Americas are lagging behind. Since previous studies have largely ignored the Americas and Asia-Pacific—where approximately two-thirds of the global ADRD population resides—this study sought to identify (a) the socioeconomic factors associated with the likelihood of having a national dementia policy, and (b) to examine common and differing features among the national plans in these regions. Employing the dementia policy guidelines of WHO and the Pan American Health Organization as an extraction guide for data collection and analysis, the national dementia plans and available socioeconomic data of 10 Member States were analyzed with comparative and qualitative analyses. Findings suggested at least a 14-fold increase in the likelihood of having a national dementia plan if a Member State had one of the following: a universal health care system, more than 14% of the population 65 years of age or older, or high-income. All the Member States in the study identified dementia as a public health priority, but priorities differed. Inconsistencies included development of information systems, training for health care professionals, and long-term care systems.

[RESUMEN]. La enfermedad de Alzheimer y otras demencias relacionadas afectan a más de 50 millones de personas a nivel mundial y se espera que esta cifra aumente. En respuesta, los ministerios de salud están elaborando y ejecutando políticas y programas para abordar de manera sistemática las necesidades de las personas y familias afectadas. Si bien los planes nacionales de acción sobre la enfermedad de Alzheimer y otras demencias progresan en los Estados Miembros europeos de la Organización Mundial de la Salud (OMS), los de las regiones de Asia y el Pacífico y las Américas están a la zaga. Puesto que en anteriores estudios se ha pasado por alto en gran parte a las regiones de las Américas y Asia y el Pacífico, donde residen aproximadamente dos terceras partes de la población mundial con estas enfermedades, en este estudio se ha tratado de: a) determinar los factores socioeconómicos relacionados con la probabilidad de contar con una política nacional en materia de demencia, y b) examinar las características comunes y distintas de los planes nacionales en esas regiones. Se examinaron los planes nacionales sobre demencia y los datos socioeconómicos disponibles de diez Estados Miembros mediante análisis comparativos y cualitativos en los que se emplearon las directrices para la formulación de políticas en materia de demencia de la OMS y la Organización Panamericana de la Salud a modo de guía de extracción para la recopilación y el análisis de datos. Los resultados indicaron que había un aumento de las probabilidades de al menos 14 veces de disponer de un plan nacional en materia de demencia siempre que el estado miembro contase con al menos uno de los siguientes elementos: un sistema de atención de salud universal, más de 14% de su población en la edad de 65 años o más, o ingresos elevados. Todos los Estados Miembros del estudio establecían la demencia como una cuestión prioritaria de salud pública, si bien las prioridades diferían. Entre las diferencias se encontraban el desarrollo de los sistemas de información, la capacitación de los profesionales de la salud y los sistemas de cuidados a largo plazo.

[RESUMO]. A doença de Alzheimer e demências relacionadas (DADR) afetam mais de 50 milhões de pessoas em todo o mundo, e este número deverá aumentar no futuro. Em resposta, os ministérios da saúde estão desenvolvendo e implementando políticas e programas para atender sistematicamente às necessidades das pessoas e famílias afetadas pela DADR. Embora os planos de ação nacionais para a DADR estejam avançando entre os Estados Membros europeus da Organização Mundial da Saúde (OMS), os das regiões das Américas e Ásia-Pacífico estão ficando para trás. Estudos anteriores ignoraram amplamente as regiões das Américas e Ásia-Pacífico, onde encontram-se aproximadamente dois terços da população mundial com DADR; por isso, este estudo procurou (a) identificar os fatores socioeconômicos associados à probabilidade de que um país conte com uma política nacional para demência e (b) examinar as características comuns e diferentes dos planos nacionais existentes nessas regiões. Empregando as diretrizes para políticas sobre demência da OMS e da Organização Pan-Americana da Saúde como um guia para a coleta e análise de dados, examinamos os planos nacionais para demência e os dados socioeconômicos disponíveis em 10 Estados Membros, realizando análises comparativas e qualitativas. Os resultados sugeriram um aumento de pelo menos 14 vezes na probabilidade de que um Estado Membro conte com um plano nacional para demência quando esse Estado Membro apresenta um dos seguintes fatores: um sistema de atenção universal à saúde, mais de 14% da população com 65 anos de idade ou mais, ou alta renda. Todos os Estados Membros incluídos no estudo identificaram a demência como uma prioridade de saúde pública, mas com prioridades distintas. As diferenças incluíram o desenvolvimento de sistemas de informação, a formação oferecida aos profissionais da saúde e os sistemas de atenção à saúde de longa duração.

National policy actions on dementia in the Americas and Asia-Pacific: Consensus and challenges / Medidas políticas nacionales sobre la demencia en las regiones de las Américas y el Asia y el Pacífico: consenso y retos / Ações de políticas nacionais sobre demência nas regiões das Américas e Ásia-Pacífico: consenso e desafios

ABSTRACT Alzheimer's disease and related dementias (ADRD) affect over 50 million persons globally, and the number is expected to rise. In response, health ministries are developing and implementing policies and programs to systemically address the needs of individuals and families affected by ADRD. While national plans of action on ADRD are advancing among European Member States of World Health Organization (WHO), those in the Asia-Pacific and Americas are lagging behind. Since previous studies have largely ignored the Americas and Asia-Pacific—where approximately two-thirds of the global ADRD population resides—this study sought to identify (a) the socioeconomic factors associated with the likelihood of having a national dementia policy, and (b) to examine common and differing features among the national plans in these regions. Employing the dementia policy guidelines of WHO and the Pan American Health Organization as an extraction guide for data collection and analysis, the national dementia plans and available socioeconomic data of 10 Member States were analyzed with comparative and qualitative analyses. Findings suggested at least a 14-fold increase in the likelihood of having a national dementia plan if a Member State had one of the following: a universal health care system, more than 14% of the population 65 years of age or older, or high-income. All the Member States in the study identified dementia as a public health priority, but priorities differed. Inconsistencies included development of information systems, training for health care professionals, and long-term care systems.(AU)

RESUMEN La enfermedad de Alzheimer y otras demencias relacionadas afectan a más de 50 millones de personas a nivel mundial y se espera que esta cifra aumente. En respuesta, los ministerios de salud están elaborando y ejecutando políticas y programas para abordar de manera sistemática las necesidades de las personas y familias afectadas. Si bien los planes nacionales de acción sobre la enfermedad de Alzheimer y otras demencias progresan en los Estados Miembros europeos de la Organización Mundial de la Salud (OMS), los de las regiones de Asia y el Pacífico y las Américas están a la zaga. Puesto que en anteriores estudios se ha pasado por alto en gran parte a las regiones de las Américas y Asia y el Pacífico, donde residen aproximadamente dos terceras partes de la población mundial con estas enfermedades, en este estudio se ha tratado de: a) determinar los factores socioeconómicos relacionados con la probabilidad de contar con una política nacional en materia de demencia, y b) examinar las características comunes y distintas de los planes nacionales en esas regiones. Se examinaron los planes nacionales sobre demencia y los datos socioeconómicos disponibles de diez Estados Miembros mediante análisis comparativos y cualitativos en los que se emplearon las directrices para la formulación de políticas en materia de demencia de la OMS y la Organización Panamericana de la Salud a modo de guía de extracción para la recopilación y el análisis de datos. Los resultados indicaron que había un aumento de las probabilidades de al menos 14 veces de disponer de un plan nacional en materia de demencia siempre que el estado miembro contase con al menos uno de los siguientes elementos: un sistema de atención de salud universal, más de 14% de su población en la edad de 65 años o más, o ingresos elevados. Todos los Estados Miembros del estudio establecían la demencia como una cuestión prioritaria de salud pública, si bien las prioridades diferían. Entre las diferencias se encontraban el desarrollo de los sistemas de información, la capacitación de los profesionales de la salud y los sistemas de cuidados a largo plazo.(AU)

RESUMO A doença de Alzheimer e demências relacionadas (DADR) afetam mais de 50 milhões de pessoas em todo o mundo, e este número deverá aumentar no futuro. Em resposta, os ministérios da saúde estão desenvolvendo e implementando políticas e programas para atender sistematicamente às necessidades das pessoas e famílias afetadas pela DADR. Embora os planos de ação nacionais para a DADR estejam avançando entre os Estados Membros europeus da Organização Mundial da Saúde (OMS), os das regiões das Américas e Ásia-Pacífico estão ficando para trás. Estudos anteriores ignoraram amplamente as regiões das Américas e Ásia-Pacífico, onde encontram-se aproximadamente dois terços da população mundial com DADR; por isso, este estudo procurou (a) identificar os fatores socioeconômicos associados à probabilidade de que um país conte com uma política nacional para demência e (b) examinar as características comuns e diferentes dos planos nacionais existentes nessas regiões. Empregando as diretrizes para políticas sobre demência da OMS e da Organização Pan-Americana da Saúde como um guia para a coleta e análise de dados, examinamos os planos nacionais para demência e os dados socioeconômicos disponíveis em 10 Estados Membros, realizando análises comparativas e qualitativas. Os resultados sugeriram um aumento de pelo menos 14 vezes na probabilidade de que um Estado Membro conte com um plano nacional para demência quando esse Estado Membro apresenta um dos seguintes fatores: um sistema de atenção universal à saúde, mais de 14% da população com 65 anos de idade ou mais, ou alta renda. Todos os Estados Membros incluídos no estudo identificaram a demência como uma prioridade de saúde pública, mas com prioridades distintas. As diferenças incluíram o desenvolvimento de sistemas de informação, a formação oferecida aos profissionais da saúde e os sistemas de atenção à saúde de longa duração.(AU)

The Efficacy of General Practitioner Assessment of Cognition in Chinese Elders Aged 80 and Older.

OBJECTIVES: This study examined the efficacy of the General Practitioner Assessment of Cognition-Chinese version (GPCOG-C) in screening dementia and mild cognitive impairment (MCI) among older Chinese. METHODS: Survey questionnaires were administered to 293 participants aged 80 or above from a university hospital in mainland China. Alzheimer disease and MCI were diagnosed in light of the National Institute on Aging and the Alzheimer's Association (NIA/AA) criteria. The sensitivity and specificity of GPCOG-C and Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE) in screening dementia and MCI were compared to the NIA/AA criteria. RESULTS: The GPCOG-C had the sensitivity of 62.3% and specificity of 84.6% in screening MCI, which had comparable efficacy as the NIA/AA criteria. In screening dementia, GPCOG-C had a lower sensitivity (63.7%) than the MMSE and a higher specificity (82.6%) higher than the MMSE. CONCLUSIONS: The GPCOG-C is a useful and efficient tool to identify dementia and MCI in older Chinese in outpatient clinical settings.

Assessment of Molecular Subtypes in Thyrotoxic Periodic Paralysis and Graves Disease Among Chinese Han Adults: A Population-Based Genome-Wide Association Study.

Importance: Thyrotoxic periodic paralysis (TPP) is a potentially lethal complication of hyperthyroidism. However, only 1 specific susceptibility locus for TPP has been identified. Additional genetic determinants should be detected so that a prediction model can be constructed. Objective: To investigate the genetic architecture of TPP and distinguish TPP from Graves disease cohorts. Design, Setting, and Participants: This population-based case-control study used a 2-stage genome-wide association study to investigate the risk loci of TPP and weighted genetic risk score to construct a TPP prediction model with data from a Chinese Han population recruited in hospitals in China from March 2003 to December 2015. The analysis was conducted from November 2014 to August 2016. Main Outcomes and Measures: Loci specifically associated with TPP risk and those shared with Graves disease and prediction model of joint effects of TPP-specific loci. Results: A total of 537 patients with TPP (mean [SD] age, 35 [11] years; 458 male) 1519 patients with Graves disease and no history of TPP (mean [SD] age, 38 [13] years; 366 male), and 3249 healthy participants (mean [SD] age, 46 [10] years; 1648 male) were recruited from the Han population by hospitals throughout China. Two new TPP-specific susceptibility loci were identified: DCHS2 on 4q31.3 (rs1352714: odds ratio [OR], 1.58; 95% CI, 1.35-1.85; P = 1.24 × 10-8) and C11orf67 on 11q14.1 (rs2186564: OR, 1.50; 95% CI, 1.29-1.74; P = 2.80 × 10-7). One previously reported specific locus was confirmed on 17q24.3 near KCNJ2 (rs312729: OR, 2.08; 95% CI, 1.83-2.38; P = 8.02 × 10-29). Meanwhile, 2 risk loci (MHC and Xq21.1) were shared by Graves disease and TPP. After 2 years of treatment, the ratio of persistent thyrotropin receptor antibody positivity was higher in patients with TPP than in patients with Graves disease and no history of TPP (OR, 3.82; 95% CI, 2.04-7.16; P = 7.05 × 10-6). The prediction model using a weighted genetic risk score and 11 candidate TPP-specific single-nucleotide polymorphisms had an area under the curve of 0.80. Conclusions and Relevance: These findings provide evidence that TPP is a novel molecular subtype of Graves disease. The newly identified loci, along with other previously reported loci, demonstrate the growing complexity of the heritable contribution to TPP pathogenesis. A complete genetic architecture will be helpful to understand the pathophysiology of TPP, and a useful prediction model could prevent the onset of TPP.

Differences in depressive symptoms between rural and urban Chinese labor force: The mediating effects of community factors.

PURPOSE: This study aimed to examine differences in depressive symptoms between urban and rural workers in mainland China and to identify community factors that could contribute to such residential differences. METHODS: This study used nationally representative data from the 2014 China's Labor Force Dynamic Survey. Data were collected through face-to-face interviews on a sample of 22,073 participants from 29 provinces of China, including 15,098 rural workers (Mage = 44.92, standard deviation ( SD) = 14.85) and 6,975 urban workers (Mage = 43.28, SD = 13.62). Mediators included community cohesion, foreseeable community threat, supportive network size and medical benefit coverage. Mediation analyses were conducted using Hayes' SPSS Macro Process for multiple mediators. RESULTS: Urban participants reported fewer depressive symptoms than their rural counterparts. Lower levels of community cohesion, higher community foreseeable threat and poorer medical coverage were related to fewer depressive symptoms. Rural-urban differences were mediated by community cohesion ( B = -0.12, p < .01), foreseeable community threat ( B = -0.08, p < .01) and medical benefit coverage ( B = 0.25, p < .01). CONCLUSION: This study sheds light on distinctive roles of community factors in explaining rural-urban differences in depressive symptoms. Policies or programs should be designed to promote strengths and address weaknesses in rural communities.

Assessment of intracranial pressure with ultrasonographic retrobulbar optic nerve sheath diameter measurement.

BACKGROUND: Ultrasonograpic retrobulbar optic nerve sheath diameter (ONSD) measurement is considered to be an alternative noninvasive method to estimate intracranial pressure,but the further validation is urgently needed. The aim of the current study was to investigate the association of the ultrasonographic ONSD and intracranial pressure (ICP) in patients. METHODS: One hundred and ten patients whose intracranial pressure measured via lumbar puncture were enrolled in the study. Their retrobulbar ONSD with B-scan ultrasound was determined just before lumber puncture. The correlation between the ICP and the body mass index (BMI), ONSD or age was established respectively with the Pearson correlation coefficient analysis. The discriminant analysis was used to obtain a discriminant formula for predicting ICP with the ONSD、BMI、gender and age. Another 20 patients were recruited for further validation the efficiency of this discriminant equation. RESULTS: The mean ICP was 215.3 ± 81.2 mmH2O. ONSD was 5.70 ± 0.80 mm in the right eye and 5.80 ± 0.77 mm in the left eye. A significant correlation was found between ICP and BMI (r = 0.554, p < 0.001), the mean ONSD (r = 0.61, P < 0.001), but not with age (r = -0.131, p = 0.174) and gender (r = 0.03, p = 0.753). Using receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis, the critical value for the risk mean-ONSD was 5.6 mm from the ROC curve, with the sensitivity of 86.2% and specificity of 73.1%. With 200 mmH2O as the cutoff point for a high or low ICP, stepwise discriminant was applied, the sensitivity and specificity of ONSD predicting ICP was 84.5%-85.7% and 86.5%-92.3%. CONCLUSIONS: Ophthalmic ultrasound measurement of ONSD may be a good surrogate of invasive ICP measurement. This non-invasive method may be an alternative approach to predict the ICP value of patients whose ICP measurement via lumbar puncture are in high risk. The discriminant formula, which incorporated the factor of BMI, had similar sensitivity and higher specificity than the ROC curve.

Prevalence and socio-demographic characteristics of disability in older adults in China: Findings from China Comprehensive Geriatric Assessment Study.

OBJECTIVE: Disability affects older adults' quality of life. This study aimed to examine the socio-demographic characteristics of disability in older adults in China. METHOD: Data was obtained from the China Comprehensive Geriatric Assessment Study (CCGAS). The sample comprised 6864 people aged 60 years and above from seven provinces in China. A door-to-door survey was conducted by formally trained interviewers using a unified questionnaire. Disability was assessed with physical health assessment comprising activities of daily living (ADL), and independent activities of daily living (IADL). For the purpose of this study, we analyzed only disability and some socio-demographic dimensions. The rates were standardized based on China's Sixth National Census population distribution. RESULTS: The disability rate in older adults was 7.0%. The disability rate was significantly higher in women than men, significantly higher in rural areas than urban areas, and higher in northern China than southern China. Urban disability rates ranged from 5.7% to 1.2%. The differences were statistically significant, with Beijing having the highest and Shanghai the lowest disability rates. Disability increased with age. CONCLUSION: In China, the disability rate in older adults is 7.0%, and increases with age. The disability rate is significantly higher in women, rural area, and northern China. This is the first study to report the epidemiology of disability in older adults in China in recent years and indicates the need for further epidemiological data on disability in China to facilitate long-term care and care policy formulation.

Use of the frailty index in evaluating the prognosis of older people in Beijing: A cohort study with an 8-year follow-up.

OBJECTIVE: Frailty is a significant healthcare challenge in China. However, the relationship between frailty and the prognosis of older people in China remains unclear. The present study aimed to evaluate the prevalence of frailty and determine if the frailty index, a comprehensive geriatric assessment, was associated with the prognosis of older people in a Chinese population. METHODS: Data were drawn from the Beijing Longitudinal Study of Aging, a representative cohort study with an 8-year follow-up. Evaluations based on the use of the frailty index were performed in a cohort of 1808 people aged 60 years and over residing in Beijing urban and rural areas. The initial survey was conducted in 2004, with follow-up surveys at 3, 5, and 8 years. Mortality data for all individuals were collected and analyzed. RESULTS: The frailty index and the age of individuals showed the same trend, with a higher frailty index expected as age increased. Respondents with the same frailty index level differed across factors such as sex and location. Male individuals, rural dwellers, and older individuals showed higher frailty rates than female individuals, urban dwellers, and younger individuals. CONCLUSIONS: Frailty is a condition associated with problems across multiple physiological systems. The frailty index increases with age, and may be a significant tool for evaluation of the prognosis of older people in China.

Nurses' health behaviours and physical activity-related health-promotion practices.

Many registered nurses (RNs) are not achieving the recommended daily levels of physical activity. This study collected data from 623 RNs about their personal health behaviours and their professional, physical activity-related health-promotion practices. The findings showed that 75% of the sample reported engaging in personal physical activity, 25% were at risk of hazardous drinking or active alcohol use disorders, 17% were past smokers and 11% were current smokers, 47% reported having a normal body weight-size, and 73% desired to be a normal body weight-size. Nearly half of the sample reported that they were promoting physical activity within their clinical practice. Personal physical activity behaviour, perceived health status, length of clinical practice, clinical specialty, and actual body weight-size were significantly related to the RNs' professional, physical activity-related practices. This study highlights a need for training on physical activity-related counselling, including awareness of the latest recommendations and strategies to promote physical activity. Health-care employers should also consider addressing nurses' barriers to the promotion of physical activity within their clinical practice so that all health-care contacts are able to maximise opportunities to promote active ageing.