Volunteering and Depression among Older Adults: An Empirical Analysis Based on CLASS 2018

Introduction:Older adults are prone to high levels of depression due to their deteriorating physical functions and shrinking social networks after retirement.Volunteering as an important social activity is essential for alleviating depression by building social network.This paper aims to examine the effect of volunteering on depression among older adults by using China Longitudinal Aging Social Survey(CLASS 2018)data.Methods:This study uses descriptive analysis and chi-square tests to show differences in demographic factors of older adults’volun-teerism participation,followed by bivariate correlation analysis to examine the correlation between the vital vari-ables.Afterward,stratified linear regression analysis is used to research the significant level and impact between volunteering and degree of expertise,frequency,and variety of participation.Results:8,459 older adults are included in study.The research reveals that older adults who are younger,live in urban areas,are married,or have a higher degree of education tend to have fewer depressive symptoms.Meanwhile,participation in volun-teering(OR=0.90,95%CI:0.8,1.1,p<0.001),as well as that demands specialized skills(OR=0.51,95%CI:0.30,0.2,p<0.001),more frequency of participation(OR=1.85,95%CI:1.53,2.18,p<0.001),and a wider variety of activities(OR=0.21,95%CI:0.12,0.29,p<0.001),all have a positive influence on depression levels.Discussion/Conclusion:Older adults who participate in voluntary services have lower depression symptoms and should be encouraged to use their professional skills and increase participation frequency and variety in this process.This article suggests that governments should help older adults participate in voluntary services by time bank which will further strengthen social ties,rebuild social networks and alleviate depression symptoms of older adults.

基于深度神经网络和逐层相关性传播技术探究“高-低”里程跑者步态模式差异

目的 通过深度神经网络(deep neural network, DNN)分类模型揭示高里程跑者(high-mileage runner, HMR)和低里程跑者(low-mileage runner, LMR)跑步步态模式差异,并探讨逐层相关性传播(layer-wise relevance propagation, LRP)技术解释DNN分类器模型的决策有效性。方法 通过DNN对HMR和LMR总计1 200组跑步步态特征数据进行训练分类识别,采用LRP计算相关变量在不同步态阶段的相关性得分(relevance score, RS),提取高相关变量对步态模式差异进行解释性分析。结果 DNN对HMR和LMR的跑步步态模式特征分类精度达到91.25%。LRP计算结果显示支撑前期(1%~47%)各变量的成功分类贡献率高于支撑后期(48%~100%)。踝关节相关轨迹变量RS的贡献率总和达到43.10%,膝、髋关节贡献率分别为37.07%、19.83%。结论 膝、踝关节相关生物力学参数对识别HMR和LMR步态特征的贡献程度最高。跑步支撑早期可能包含更多步态模式信息,能够提升步态模式识别的有效性和敏感性。LRP实现了对模型预测结果的可行性解释,从而为分析步态模式提供了更有趣的见解和更有效的信息。

Relationship between abdominal adiposity, cardiovascular fitness, and biomarkers of cardiovascular risk in British adolescents

Background:Puberty is a critical time in the development of overweight and obesity.The aim of this study was to examine relationships between measures of adiposity,cardiovascular fitness,and biomarkers of cardiovascular disease risk in adolescents.Methods:In a cross-sectional study design,129 girls and 95 boys aged 12.9-14.4 years at various stages of puberty were included,along with their mothers(n=217)and fathers(n=207).Anthropometric assessments of adiposity were made,along with cardiovascular physical fitness,using the 20-m shuttle run test,and biomarkers associated with cardiovascular risk,including glucose,insulin,triglyceride,fibrinogen,and C-reactive protein(CRP)concentrations.Results:Waist-to-height ratio values were similar in boys and girls and correlated positively with diastolic blood pressure,insulin,triglyceride,fibrinogen,and CRP concentrations,and inversely with cardiovascular fitness scores.Skinfold thickness measurements were higher in girls.High-molecular-weight adiponectin concentrations were lower in boys than girls,particularly in late puberty,and CRP levels were higher.Cardiovascular fitness,maternal body mass index(BMI),and paternal BMI contributed independently to the variance in waist measurements in girls and boys.Gender,triceps skinfold thickness,and weight-to-height ratio,but not parental BMI,contributed independently to the variance in cardiovascular fitness.Conclusion:There is a relationship between measures of adolescent adiposity and parental weight that involves factors other than cardiovascular fitness.Adolescent boys have relatively more abdominal fat than girls and a tendency to have a proinflammatory profile of biomarkers.These observations suggest that family and social environmental interventions are best undertaken earlier in childhood,particularly among boys.

Food for Thought: Have We Been Giving the Wrong Dietary Advice?

Background: Since 1984 UK citizens have been advised to reduce total dietary fat intake to 30% of total energy and saturated fat intake to 10%. The National Institute of Clinical Excellence [NICE] suggests a further benefit for Coronary Heart Disease [CHD] prevention by reducing saturated fat [SFA] intake to 6% - 7% of total energy and that 30,000 lives could be saved by replacing SFAs with Polyunsaturated fats [PUFAs]. Methods: 20 volumes of the Seven Countries Study, the seminal work behind the 1984 nutritional guidelines, were assessed. The evidence upon which the NICE guidance was based was reviewed. Nutritional facts about fat and the UK intake of fat are presented and the impact of macronutrient confusion on public health dietary advice is discussed. Findings: The Seven Countries study classified processed foods, primarily carbohydrates, as saturated fats. The UK government and NICE do the same, listing biscuits, cakes, pastries and savoury snacks as saturated fats. Processed foods should be the target of public health advice but not natural fats, in which the UK diet is deficient. With reference to the macro and micro nutrient composition of meat, fish, eggs, and dairy foods the article demonstrates that dietary trials cannot change one type of fat for another in a controlled study. Interpretation: The evidence suggests that processed food is strongly associated with the increase in obesity, diabetes, CHD, and other modern illness in our society. The macro and micro nutrients found in meat, fish, eggs and dairy products, are vital for human health and consumption of these nutritious foods should be encouraged.