Differences in the influence of daily behavior on health among older adults in urban and rural areas: evidence from China.

Background: As the population of older adult in China keeps growing, the degree of aging is becoming increasingly serious and the health of older adults is a growing concern. Comparing the personal characteristics and health levels of urban and rural older adults and determining the relationship between these factors are of great significance in maintaining their health. In addition, exploring how these relationships differ between urban and rural areas is important. Method: This study conducted a literature review to examine the impact of various factors on the physical and mental health of older adults in urban and rural areas in China. Moreover, based on cross-sectional data from the 2017 Chinese General Social Survey (CGSS), urban-rural differences in the factors' degree of influence on the perceived health of older adults were studied using multiple logistic regression. Results: Regular physical exercise had a powerful protective effect on urban older adults' physical and mental health, whereas regular participation in social activities had a positive impact on rural older adults' health. Low income, low educational level, low social trust, lack of a partner, and having more than one child negatively affected the physical health of rural older people. Low socioeconomic status had a negative impact on rural people's health both in mind and body. Overall, the rural adults' health status was found to be relatively low and deserves more attention. Conclusion: This study demonstrated that older people's physical and mental health levels can be significantly affected by the frequency of daily activities and individual and family characteristics. Furthermore, urban-rural differences were observed. These findings could provide feasible suggestions for governments, communities, and older adults' family members to help alleviate health inequality.

An Evaluation of the Safety Effectiveness and Cost of Autonomous Vehicles Based on Multivariable Coupling.

There is a need for in-depth studies of autonomous vehicle safety that evaluate the effectiveness of safety functions and different "atomic" technology combinations for vehicles and roads. In this paper, we provide a crash avoidance effectiveness evaluation model for autonomous vehicles enabled with different sensor combinations based on multiple variables of 14 different "atomic" sensing technologies on the vehicle side and road side, 52 safety functions, and 14 accident types. Meanwhile, a cost-sharing model is developed based on the traveled distance during the life cycle of vehicles and based on the traffic flow over the life cycle of roads to evaluate the unit cost per km of different "atomic" technology combinations. The results clearly show that the cost increases with the addition of "atomic" sensing technologies on the vehicle side, while an increase in crash avoidance effectiveness decreases. It is necessary to switch to V2X and to introduce roadside "atomic" technology combinations to realize better safety effectiveness at a lower cost for vehicles. In addition, a map that covers the safety effectiveness and cost per kilometer of all "atomic" technology combinations is calculated for decision-makers to select combinations under the preconditions of cost and safety.

Effect and mechanism of reading habits on physical and mental health among the elderly: Evidence from China.

Responding to an aging society worldwide and ensuring the physical and mental health of the elderly are important problems that need to be addressed. Thus, this study aimed to improve the quality of providing the spiritual and cultural needs of the elderly and study the internal transmission of reading habits and its effect on the physical and mental health of the elderly. Using the data from China's comprehensive social survey in 2018, this study applied the Probit model and ordinary least squares method to comprehensively estimate the influence of reading habits of the elderly on their physical and mental health. Stepwise regression and bootstrap method were combined to explore the influencing mechanism, and an instrumental variable method was used to solve endogeneity problems. Results indicate that the reading habits of the elderly have a significantly positive effect on their own physical and mental health. Social activity is the positive conduction path, whereas social justice perception and learning willingness are the negative conduction path. Among low-income families, agricultural workers, and the elderly whose household registration is in rural areas, the benefits of reading to the body and mind are more significant. After dealing with endogeneity problems and a series of robustness tests, the conclusion of this paper still holds. Finally, reference policy suggestions are proposed for the follow-up active aging policy, such as promoting reading for all, organizing various social activities, formulating active pension policies for the elderly, and allocating more public resources for vulnerable elderly groups.

The energy cost of repairing photoinactivated photosystem II: an experimental determination in cotton leaf discs.

Photosystem II (PSII), which splits water molecules at minimal excess photochemical potential, is inevitably photoinactivated during photosynthesis, resulting in compromised photosynthetic efficiency unless it is repaired. The energy cost of PSII repair is currently uncertain, despite attempts to calculate it. We experimentally determined the energy cost of repairing each photoinactivated PSII in cotton (Gossypium hirsutum) leaves, which are capable of repairing PSII in darkness. As an upper limit, 24 000 adenosine triphosphate (ATP) molecules (including any guanosine triphosphate synthesized at the expense of ATP) were required to repair one entire PSII complex. Further, over a 7-h illumination period at 526-1953 µmol photons m-2 s-1 , the ATP requirement for PSII repair was on average up to 4.6% of the ATP required for the gross carbon assimilation. Each of these two measures of ATP requirement for PSII repair is two- to three-fold greater than the respective reported calculated value. Possible additional energy sinks in the PSII repair cycle are discussed.

Combined Acoustic Radiation Force Impulse and Conventional Ultrasound in the Quantitative Assessment of Immunoglobulin a Nephropathy.

We investigated the value of combined acoustic radiation force impulse (ARFI) imaging and conventional ultrasound (US) in identifying renal histopathological fibrosis with immunoglobulin A nephropathy. A total of 146 patients with immunoglobulin A nephropathy, pathologically confirmed by renal biopsy were grouped according to Oxford classification and Katafuchi grading, were included in the test group, and 39 healthy volunteers were included in the control group. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves were constructed to compare the diagnostic accuracy of ARFI, renal lengths, parenchymal thicknesses and interlobular arterial resistance index (RI) and their combinations in identifying Katafuchi grading at renal biopsy. Shear wave velocity (SWV), renal length, renal parenchyma thickness and the interlobular arterial RI were correlated with Katafuchi grading, mesangial hypercellularity (M) and tubular atrophy/interstitial fibrosis (T) (r = -0.504 to -0.407, p < 0.01) but were not correlated with endocapillary hypercellularity (E) or segmental glomerulosclerosis (S). The area under the curves of SWV value + conventional US index (renal length, renal parenchyma thickness and interlobular arterial RI) was higher than those of the SWV value or of the conventional US index alone. The combination of ARFI imaging and conventional US can improve the diagnostic performance in quantitative evaluation pathologic damage in patients with immunoglobulin A nephropathy.

[Soil quality assessment under different cropping system and straw management in farmland of arid oasis region]. / 干旱区绿洲农田不同种植模式和秸秆管理下土壤质量评价.

To reveal the regulatory mechanism of agricultural management practices on soil quality, an experiment was carried out to study the different cropping system and straw management on soil organic carbon and fractions and soil enzyme activity in farmland of arid oasis region, which would provide a scientific basic for enhancing agricultural resources utilization and sustainable development. In crop planting planning area, we took the mainly crop (cotton, wheat, maize) as research objects and designed long-term continues cropping and crop rotation experiments. The results showed that the soil organic carbon (SOC), soil microbial biomass C, labile C, water-soluble organic C, and hot-water-soluble organic C content were increased by 3.6%-9.9%, 41.8%-98.9%, 3.3%-17.0%, 11.1%-32.4%, 4.6%-27.5% by crop rotation compared to continues cropping, and 12%-35.9%, 22.4%-49.7%, 30.7%-51.0%, 10.6%-31.9%, 41.0%-96.4% by straw incorporated compared to straw removed, respectively. The soil catalase, dehydrogenase, ß-glucosidase, invertase glucose, cellulase glucose activity were increased by 6.4%-10.9%, 6.6%-18.8%, 5.9%-15.3%, 10.0%-27.4%, 28.1%-37.5% by crop rotation compared to continues cropping, and 31.4%-47.5%, 19.9%-46.6%, 13.8%-20.7%, 19.8%-55.6%, 54.1%-70.9% by straw incorporated compared to straw removed, respectively. There were significant positive linear correlations among SOC, labile SOC fractions and soil enzyme. Therefore, we concluded that labile SOC fractions and soil enzyme were effective index for evaluating the change of SOC and soil quality. Based on factor analysis, in arid region, developing agricultural production using cropland management measures, such as straw-incorporated and combined short-term continues cotton and crop rotation, could enhance SOC and labile SOC fractions contents and soil enzyme activity, which could improve soil quality and be conducive to agricultural sustainable development.

[Net anthropogenic nitrogen input to Huaihe River Basin, China during 1990-2010].

Social economy in Huaihe River Basin had undergone enormous changes during 1990-2010. The grain yield had increased by 58%, from 64.14 million tons to 101.21 million tons, and the urbanization rate had increased by 22%, from 13% to 35%. Assessing the negative impacts of these high intensive human activities caused by rapid social development on terrestrial ecosystem would serve as a scientific basis for quantitative management of regional ecology. This paper estimated the spatial and temporal distribution of net anthropogenic nitrogen input (NANI) in Huaihe River Basin during 1990-2010. The results showed that there was an increasing trend in NANI in the period of 1990-2001, and after that this trend was slower. The NANI increased from approximately 17232 kg N · km(-2) · a(-1) in 1990 to a peak of 28771 kg N · km(-2) · a(-1) in 2003, and then declined to 26415 kg N · km(-2) · a(-1) in 2010. Chemical fertilizer and atmospheric deposition were the largest two sources of NANI, followed by food & feed import and biological nitrogen. Contributions from both chemical fertilizer and atmospheric deposition had been increasing continuously, respectively from 64% and 16% in 1990 to 77% and 19%. Our findings implied that the shift from fertilizer-supported agriculture and fossil fuel-supported industry to sci-tech lead economic development is urgently needed.

Clinical and Translational Assessment of VEGFR1 as a Mediator of the Premetastatic Niche in High-Risk Localized Prostate Cancer.

Preclinical studies have suggested that VEGFR1-positive cells potentially foster the development of metastases by establishing a "premetastatic niche." We sought to test this hypothesis in high-risk localized prostate cancer and assess potential niche modulation by the VEGFR1-targeting drug axitinib. Formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded tissue derived from benign lymph nodes was collected and VEGFR1-positive cell clustering was assessed in benign lymph nodes via IHC. Recursive partitioning was used to define a threshold for VEGFR1 clustering that could segregate patients based on time to biochemical recurrence (TTBR). Multivariate analyses were used to determine whether VEGFR1 clustering, age, pathologic T-stage, Gleason score, or baseline PSA could independently predict TTBR. A randomized, phase II clinical trial comparing axitinib for 28 days followed by radical prostatectomy and pelvic lymph node dissection (RP/PLND) to RP/LND alone was then conducted, with the primary endpoint of demonstrating downregulation of VEGFR1-positve cell clustering in benign lymph nodes. Our retrospective analysis assessed a cohort of 46 patients. A threshold of 1.65 VEGFR1-positive cells per high power field was identified, below which TTBR was delayed. VEGFR1 clustering was an independent predictor of TTBR in a multivariate analysis. Only 11 out of the planned 44 patients were accrued to the phase II trial. While preoperative axitinib was safe and well tolerated, there was no sign of clinical activity or VEGFR1 downregulation. Our results validate previous findings that suggest VEGFR1-positive cells in benign lymph nodes can predict clinical outcome. Further work is needed to develop a viable clinical strategy for modulating VEGFR1 in these tissues.

Prognostic evaluation of categorical platelet-based indices using clustering methods based on the Monte Carlo comparison for hepatocellular carcinoma.

OBJECTIVES: To evaluate the performance of clustering methods used in the prognostic assessment of categorical clinical data for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) patients in China, and establish a predictable prognostic nomogram for clinical decisions. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A total of 332 newly diagnosed HCC patients treated with hepatic resection during 2006-2009 were enrolled. Patients were regularly followed up at outpatient clinics. Clustering methods including the Average linkage, k-modes, fuzzy k-modes, PAM, CLARA, protocluster, and ROCK were compared by Monte Carlo simulation, and the optimal method was applied to investigate the clustering pattern of the indices including platelet count, platelet/lymphocyte ratio (PLR) and serum aspartate aminotransferase activity/platelet count ratio index (APRI). Then the clustering variable, age group, tumor size, number of tumor and vascular invasion were studied in a multivariable Cox regression model. A prognostic nomogram was constructed for clinical decisions. RESULTS: The ROCK was best in both the overlapping and non-overlapping cases performed to assess the prognostic value of platelet-based indices. Patients with categorical platelet-based indices significantly split across two clusters, and those with high values, had a high risk of HCC recurrence (hazard ratio [HR] 1.42, 95% CI 1.09-1.86; p<0.01). Tumor size, number of tumor and blood vessel invasion were also associated with high risk of HCC recurrence (all p<0.01). The nomogram well predicted HCC patient survival at 3 and 5 years. CONCLUSIONS: A cluster of platelet-based indices combined with other clinical covariates could be used for prognosis evaluation in HCC.

[Research progress on phosphorus budgets and regulations in reservoirs].

Phosphorus is an important limiting factor of water eutrophication. A clear understanding of its budget and regulated method is fundamental for reservoir ecological health. In order to pro- mote systematic research further and improve phosphorus regulation system, the budget balance of reservoir phosphorus and its influencing factors were concluded, as well as conventional regulation and control measures. In general, the main phosphorus sources of reservoirs include upstream input, overland runoff, industrial and domestic wastewater, aquaculture, atmospheric deposition and sediment release. Upstream input is the largest phosphorus source among them. The principal output path of phosphorus is the flood discharge, the emission load of which is mainly influenced by drainage patterns. In addition, biological harvest also can export a fraction of phosphorus. There are some factors affecting the reservoir phosphorus balance, including reservoirs' function, hydrological conditions, physical and chemical properties of water, etc. Therefore, the phosphorus budgets of different reservoirs vary greatly, according to different seasons and regions. In order to reduce the phosphorus loading in reservoirs, some methods are carried out, including constructed wetlands, prefix reservoir, sediment dredging, biomanipulation, etc. Different methods need to be chosen and combined according to different reservoirs' characteristics and water quality management goals. Thus, in the future research, it is reasonable to highlight reservoir ecological characteristics and proceed to a complete and systematic analysis of the inherent complexity of phosphorus budget and its impact factors for the reservoirs' management. Besides, the interaction between phosphorus budget and other nutrients in reservoirs also needs to be conducted. It is fundamental to reduce the reservoirs' phosphorus loading to establish a scientific and improved management system based on those researches.

[Effects of water storage in deeper soil layers on the root growth, root distribution and economic yield of cotton in arid area with drip irrigation under mulch].

Taking cotton cultivar Xinluzao 13 as test material, a soil column culture expenment was conducted to study the effects of water storage in deeper (> 60 cm) soil layer on the root growth and its relations with the aboveground growth of the cultivar in arid area with drip irrigation under mulch. Two levels of water storage in 60-120 cm soil layer were installed, i. e., well-watered and no watering, and for each, the moisture content in 0-40 cm soil layer during growth period was controlled at two levels, i.e., 70% and 55% of field capacity. It was observed that the total root mass density of the cultivar and its root length density and root activity in 40-120 cm soil layer had significant positive correlations with the aboveground dry mass. When the moisture content in 0-40 cm soil layer during growth season was controlled at 70% of field capacity, the total root mass density under well-watered and no watering had less difference, but the root length density and root activity in 40-120 cm soil layer under well-watered condition increased, which enhanced the water consumption in deeper soil layer, increased the aboveground dry mass, and finally, led to an increased economic yield and higher water use efficiency. When the moisture content in 0-40 cm soil layer during growth season was controlled at 55% of field capacity and the deeper soil layer was well-watered, the root/shoot ratio and root length density in 40-120 cm soil layer and the root activity in 80-120 cm soil layer were higher, the water consumption in deeper soil layer increased, but it was still failed to adequately compensate for the negative effects of water deficit during growth season on the impaired growth of roots and aboveground parts, leading to a significant decrease in the economic yield, as compared with that at 70% of field capacity. Overall, sufficient water storage in deeper soil layer and a sustained soil moisture level of 65% -75% of field capacity during growth period could promote the downward growth of cotton roots, which was essential for achieving water-saving and high-yielding cultivation of cotton with drip irrigation under mulch.