Community centers for older adults and psychosocial factors: Evidence from the German Ageing Survey.

INTRODUCTION: There is a dearth of studies examining the association between the use of community centers for older adults and psychosocial factors. Thus, our aim was to examine the association between the use of community centers for older adults and psychosocial factors (in terms of loneliness, perceived social isolation, and life satisfaction; also stratified by sex)-which is important for successful aging. METHODS/DESIGN: Data were taken from a nationally representative sample-the German Ageing Survey-including older community-dwelling individuals. The De Jong Gierveld tool was used to measure loneliness, the Bude and Lantermann tool was used to measure perceived social isolation, and the Satisfaction with Life Scale was used to quantify life satisfaction. Multiple linear regressions were used to evaluate the hypothesized associations. RESULTS: In the analytical sample, n equaled 3246 individuals (mean age was 75 years, 65-97 years). After adjusting for various socioeconomic, lifestyle-related, and health-related covariates, multiple linear regressions showed that the use of community centers was associated with higher life satisfaction among men (ß = 0.12, p < 0.01), but not women. The use of community centers was not associated with loneliness or perceived social isolation for either gender. CONCLUSIONS: The use of community centers was positively associated with satisfaction with one's own life among male older adults. Thus, encouraging older men to use such services may be beneficial. This quantitative study provides an initial basis for further research in this neglected area. For example, longitudinal studies are required to confirm our present findings.

[Hydro-chemical Characteristics and Ion Origin Analysis of Surface Groundwater at the Shengjin Lake and Yangtze River Interface].

The interface between Shengjin Lake and Yangtze River was selected as the study area. The water chemical composition and hydrogen and oxygen isotope values of different types of water bodies were tested, and their seasonal variation characteristics were analyzed to explore the sources of chemical ions in the surface and groundwater. Finally, the contribution of mixed water sources to chemical ions in groundwater was estimated. The results show the following ① The concentration of chemical ions in the surface and groundwater of the study area is higher than that of atmospheric precipitation, and the physical and chemical parameters exhibit seasonal variation. ② Surface water mainly belongs to the Ca-HCO3 type, but the proportion of the Ca-SO4 type in summer is significantly lower than that in other seasons; Groundwater primarily belongs to Ca-HCO3 and Ca-SO4 types, with proportions of 46% and 27%, respectively, and the seasonal difference is not significant. ③ Ca2+ and Mg2+ in the surface and groundwater mainly come from the dissolution of carbonate rocks, carbonic acid and sulfate ions participate in the dissolving process of carbonate minerals. Na+and Cl- are partly derived from atmospheric precipitation and partly sourced from agricultural fertilization and manure sewage. ④ Mixed water sources is also an important source of chemical ions in groundwater, with the average contribution 28% to Cl-, showing a seasonal trend.

Evaluation of the smoking ban in public places in France one year and five years after its implementation: Findings from the ITC France survey.

France implemented a comprehensive smoke-free policy in public places in February 2007 for workplaces, shopping centres, airports, train stations, hospitals and schools. On January 2008, it was extended to meeting places (bars, restaurants, hotels, casinos, nightclubs). This paper evaluates France's smoke-free law based on the International Tobacco Control Policy Evaluation Project in France (the ITC France Project), which conducted a cohort survey of approximately 1,500 smokers and 500 non-smokers before the implementation of the laws (Wave 1, conducted December 2006 to February 2007) and two waves after the implementation (Wave 2, conducted between September-November 2008; and Wave 3, conducted between September-December 2012). Results show that the smoke-free law led to a very significant and near total elimination of indoor smoking in key venues such as bars (from 95.9% to 3.7%) and restaurants (from 64.7% to 2.3%) at Wave 2, which was sustained four years later at Wave 3 (1.4% in restaurants; 6.6% in bars). Smoking in workplaces declined significantly after the law (from 42.6% to 19.3%), which continued to decline at Wave 3 (to 12.8%). Support for the smoke-free law increased significantly after their implementation and continued to increase at Wave 3 (among smokers for bars and restaurants; among smokers and non-smokers for workplaces). The findings demonstrate that smoke-free policies that are implemented in ways consistent with the Guidelines for Article 8 of the WHO Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (WHO FCTC) lead to substantial and sustained reductions in tobacco smoke in public places while also leading to high levels of support by the public.