Urban-rural disparities in mild cognitive impairment and its functional subtypes among community-dwelling older residents in central China.

BACKGROUND: Substantial variations in the prevalence of mild cognitive impairment (MCI) and its subtypes have been reported, although mostly in geographically defined developed countries and regions. Less is known about MCI and its subtypes in rural areas of less developed central China. AIMS: The study aimed to compare the prevalence of MCI and its subtypes in residents aged 65 years or older in urban and rural areas of Hubei Province, China. METHODS: Participants aged 65 years or older were recruited between 2018 and 2019. Inperson structured interviews and clinical and neuropsychological assessments were performed at city health community centres and township hospitals. RESULTS: Among 2644 participants without dementia, 735 had MCI, resulting in a prevalence of 27.8% for total MCI, 20.9% for amnestic MCI (aMCI) and 6.9% for non-amnestic MCI (naMCI). The prevalence of MCI in urban and rural areas was 20.2% and 44.1%, respectively. After adjusting for demographic factors, the prevalence of total MCI, aMCI and naMCI differed significantly between rural and urban areas (adjusted odds ratio (OR) 2.10, 1.44 and 3.76, respectively). Subgroup analysis revealed an association between rural socioeconomic and lifestyle disadvantage and MCI and its subtypes. CONCLUSIONS: Our findings suggest that the prevalence of MCI among urban residents in central China is consistent with that in other metropolis areas, such as Shanghai, but the prevalence in rural areas is twice that in urban areas. Prospective studies and dementia prevention in China should focus on rural areas.

A new approach for biogas slurry disposal by adopting CO2-rich biogas slurry as the flower fertilizer of Spathiphyllum: Feasibility, cost and environmental pollution potential.

A new approach for biogas slurry disposal was put forward in this study through converting biogas slurry to the organic fertilizer of Spathiphyllum. The biogas slurry was firstly concentrated by vacuum distillation to reduce its volume by 80% who is called 5CBS, and then CO2 saturated to reduce its pH to about 6.50 ± 0.20. With or without adding the exogenetic Ca, Mg and P nutrients, CO2-rich 5CBS (i.e., CR-5CBS) was adopted as the root or foliar fertilizer to cultivate Spathiphyllum. Additionally, the commercial Spathiphyllum fertilizer was also experimented as a control. Results showed that the cases adopting CR-5CBS as the root or foliar fertilizer can obtain the agronomic traits and ornamental values of Spathiphyllum better those irrigated by the commercial fertilizer. Exogenetic nutrients added into CR-5CBS can lead to a decreased dead leaf number of Spathiphyllum, an enhanced N assimilation performance, however only a slightly improved assimilation performance of Ca, Mg and P. In terms of the fertilizer economy, CR-5CBS without exogenetic nutrient addition may be a promising for replacing the commercial Spathiphyllum fertilizer in the future. Economic and environmental pollution potential (EPP) analyses indicated that treating biogas slurry as the organic flower fertilizer can achieve a high net profit with about $ 28.89/m3-biogas slurry and a negative EPP value (-3.9), showing its profitability and environmental friendliness.