Family History of Cancer and Smoking Cessation, Is There a Role for Physicians?

Aim: This study aims to investigate the relationships among family history of cancer, physician’s advice on quitting, and motivation to quit among smokers in the United State. Method: This study using data collected by the 2010 National Health Interview Survey. Five separate sets of multivariate logistic regression models were used to investigate the three-direction relationships among: 1) effect of family cancer history on medical doctors’ advice on quitting, 2) effect of family cancer history on motivation to quit smoking, 3) effect of doctor’s advice on smokers’ motivation to quit. Results: Smoking cessation advice given by physicians has a significant effect on both smoker’s motivation and action taken to quit smoking, but a large proportion of the smokers with family cancer history did not receive doctor’s advice on quitting. Conclusion: Family history of lung cancer or other cancer types was not found to be associated with increased motivation to quit smoking. This is at least partly due to poor collection of family cancer history by physicians. This may be ameliorated by promoting the use of a recently developed self-administered tool for the collection of patient data on family cancer history in primary care settings.

Homogenous charge distribution by free-standing porous structure for dendrite-free Li metal anode

Lithium metal has a high theoretical capacity of 3860 mAh g^-1 and a low electrochemical potential(-3.04 V vs.H2/H^+).Hence,using a lithium anode significantly improves the energy density of a secondary battery.However,the lithium dendrites generated on the lithium anode during the platingdissolution process significantly reduce its cycling life and safety.Here,we provide a simple method for lithium anode protection,by applying a free-standing porous carbon film with a high specific surface area to reduce the local current density and obtain a homogenous ion distribution.The protected lithium anode has a long cycle life over 1000 h when cycled at 3 mA cm^-2 with a lithium capacity of 2.5 mAh cm^-2.Moreover,the deposited lithium has a smoother surface than Li anode without carbon protection.This study will promote the wide application of Li-metal-based batteries with high safety levels.

Pattern of mental health service use and risk of injury: A longitudinal study

Objective: The aim of this study is to investigate the association between mental health treatment patterns and risk of injuries among a Western Australian male birth cohort. Method: A population-based birth-cohort of males born between 1980 and 1984 in Western Australia was followed up using linked health data. Results: Participants with mental health conditions were at an increased risk of injury. Those with a continuous mental health treatment pattern without interruption or window periods had lower risk of injury compared to those with treatment interruption or window periods. The adjusted incidence rate ratios (95% confidence interval) for injury among participants: 1) without a mental condition, 2) with a previous mental condition, 3) with a mental condition in the last four years and without interruption in their mental health treatment, and 4) with a mental condition in the last four years with interruptions in mental health service, were 0.38 (0.35 - 0.40), 0.77 (0.71 - 083), 1.0 (reference group) and 2.06 (1.72 - 2.47) respectively. Conclusion: Increasing resources for mental health services and enabling sufficient continuous mental health services and follow-up may reduce the risk of injury among populations with mental health conditions.

Asthma history predicts the risk of affective disorders and anxiety disorders

Background: Positive associations between asthma and a range of mental disorders have been increasingly reported in cross-sectional studies. It is important to determine whether the association between asthma and mental disorders may be causal. Objectives: We conducted a retrospective cohort study using data collected from the 2007 Australia Mental Health and Wellbeing survey (MHW) to examine whether preexisting asthma may predict the likelihood of various types of anxiety disorders and affective disorders. Design, Settings and Subjects: The 2007 MHW survey was a nationally representative household survey. Its data included 8841 Australian adults aged 18 - 85 yrs. Age at first onset of asthma and mental disorders were used to reveal the order of occurrence of asthma and mental disorders, and to define time at risk and asthma exposure. Kaplan-Meier failure function and multivariate Poisson regression models were employed in analysis. Results: Participants who had a history of asthma that lasted six months or more were at higher risk of panic disorder, obsessive compulsive disorder, posttraumatic stress disorder, bipolar disorder, mania and hypomania. The association between asthma history and risk of mental disorder subtypes differed by gender. Conclusion: The findings of this study support the hypothesis that pre-existing asthma increases the risk of a number of anxiety disorders and affective disorders. Predisposition to carbon dioxide hypersensitivity and corticosteroid therapy may partly explain the observed associations.

Sleep Duration and Its Links to Psychological Distress, Health Status, Physical Activity and Body Mass Index among a Large Representative General Population Sample

This study aimed to investigate associations between: (a) psychological distress, self-perceived health status and sleep duration among a large representative general population sample;and (b) patterns of sleep duration, physical activity and Body Mass Index among a subgroup of participants who self-reported as being in good health with low psychological distress. Data collected from six waves of the Nation Health Interview Surveys (NHISs) was employed. The results indicated that both psychological distress and self-perceived health status were strong predictors of sleep duration. Participants with high serious psychological distress scores reported sleeping 7 - 8 hours less often than those in low or moderate psychological distress and were also most likely to sleep for less than 6 hours or 9 or more hours. Similar patterns were observed for sleep duration by self-reported health status. Subgroup analysis including only participants in self-reported excellent or very good physical health with low mental distress scores showed that participants who engaged in higher frequencies of vigorous and strengthening exercises were more likely to sleep less than six hours, and participants with a BMI of 25 or higher were also more likely to sleep less than six hours.

Asthma and Injury Risk: A Large Scale Population-Based Study

Purpose: Clinical data suggest that asthma impairs sleep quality and further impairs cognitive performance during the daytime, while there is a causal relationship between impaired sleep quality and injuries. Therefore asthma patients may have increased risk of injury, and this is supported by our recent population-based studies conducted in Australia. This study is to investigate the effect of asthma on the risk of injury at the population level using data from the U.S. National Health Interview Survey collected in 2008, 2009, and 2010. Method: Data from the 2008, 2009 and 2010 National Health Interview Surveys were combined and analyzed together. Results: U.S. adults with current or previous asthma had significantly greater risk of injury compared to those without asthma. The risk of injury was also significantly higher among children with current asthma. Conclusion: This population-based study provided further evidence on the positive association between asthma and risk of injury among both adults and children. The increased risk of injury among asthma patients is at least partly due to impaired sleep quality and quantity caused by asthma symptoms and asthma medications.

Motives for romantic relationships and the risk of heavy alcohol use, regular smoking and cannabis use during adolescence and early adulthood: A longitudinal study

Background: Engaging in sexual activities at a younger age is associated with higher risk of substance misuse among adolescents. It could be hypothesized that substance misuse and certain romantic relationship related behaviors may be influenced by similar hormone and other inner physiological factors that are affected by related motives. This study investigated the association between motives for romantic relationships and the risk of heavy alcohol use, regular smoking and cannabis use from adolescence through to early adulthood. Method: A population-based longitudinal study using data collected from Wave I and Wave III of the National Longitudinal Study of Adolescent Health. Characteristics of romantic relationship ideals (as the proxy of motives) measured in Wave I (mean age: 16 yrs) were applied to predict substance use indicated at Wave III (mean age: 22 yrs) using multivariate analyses. Results: Adolescents who included sexual activities as part of their romantic relationship ideals were at significantly higher risk of cannabis use among males and heavy alcohol use among females. Romantic ideals that included, gift giving (female) or receiving (male), declaration of love (male), marriage (male) and becoming pregnant (female) were associated with reduced risk of one or more types of substance use. Conclusion: In adolescence, sexual motives for romantic relationships were associated with higher risk of substance use and misuse, while motives related to intimacy and commitment in romantic relationships were associated with lower risk.

Advanced Pt hollow nanospheres/rubrene nanoleaves coupled with M-shaped DNA walker for ultrasensitive electrochemiluminescence bioassay

Herein,an intense electrochemiluminescence(ECL)was achieved based on Pt hollow nanospheres/rubrene nanoleaves(Pt HNSs/Rub NLs)without the addition of any coreactant,which was employed for ultrasensitive detection of carcinoembryonic antigen(CEA)coupled with an M-shaped DNA walker(M-DNA walker)as signal switch.Specifically,in comparison with platinum nanoparticles(Pt NPs),Pt HNSs revealed excellent catalytic performance and pore confinement-enhanced ECL,which could significantly amplify ECL intensity of Rub NLs/dissolved O_(2)(DO)binary system.Then,the tracks and M-DNA walker were confined on the Pt HNSs simultaneously to promote the reaction efficiency,whose M-structure boosted the interaction sites between walking strands and tracks and reduced the rigidity of their recognition.Once the CEA approached the sensing interface,the M-DNA walker was activated based on highly specific aptamer recognition to recover ECL intensity with the assistance of exonucleaseⅢ(ExoⅢ).As proof of concept,the“on-off-on”switch aptasensor was constructed for CEA detection with a low detection limit of 0.20 fg/m L.The principle of the constructed ECL aptasensor also enables a universal platform for sensitive detection of other tumor markers.

A short note on extractive foraging behavior in gray snub-nosed monkeys

Extractive foraging(EF)involves the exploitation of hidden or embedded foods,generally any food that is not visible to the naked eye.Therefore,EF is particularly important for survival in marginal habitats as it provides seasonal fallback foods in low food availability seasons.Although many studies consider primates’EF behavior and category,colobine species are usually categorized as non-extractive foragers and few studies quantitatively examine their EF behavior.In this study,we examined the EF behavior of one colobine species,the gray snub-nosed monkey(Rhinopithecus brelichi),at Yangaoping in Fanjingshan National Nature Reserve,Guizhou.We recorded 6 categories of EF behaviors.The most frequently sought-out foods were seeds,young bamboo and invertebrates.Extracted foods accounted for an average of 26.02%of feeding records.As the monkey engages in little EF behavior in the winter when the food availability is low,these results seem to do not support the hypothesis that EF serves to secure additional resources during lean times in marginal or seasonal habitats.According to these findings,we suggest R.brelich should be considered as an extractive forager.Our study also highlights the need for increased representation of colobines in the EF literature to better inform the discussion concerning its link to primate brain evolution.

Effect of vacuum-carbonization treatment of soft carbon anodes derived from coal-based mesophase pitch for lithium-ion batteries

Development of new power anode material with both high capacity and high-rate capability for lithium-ion batteries is highly desired.In this paper,a novel soft carbon anode for rechargeable lithium-ion batteries was developed using coal-based mesophase pitch.The structures of the materials were characterized by X-ray diffraction(XRD),Raman,N2 adsorption-desorption,Scanning Electron Microscopy(SEM)and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy(XPS).The electrochemical characteristics of the new anode material were investigated.It was found that the soft carbon anode from coal-based mesophase pitch carbonized under vacuum conditions can deliver higher energy density and higher rate capability compared to soft carbon carbonized under a nitrogen atmosphere.The enhanced electrochemical properties are attributed to smaller nanocrystallites,more porosity,defects and carbon species of the resulting anode material.

Design and simulation analysis of high-temperature heat-storage combined-circulation system

In view of the continuous increase in the proportion of renewable energy connected to the grid in China and the increasing peak-to-valley difference in electricity demand on the power grid,this paper proposes a high-temperature thermal-storage combined-cycle power-generation system.Using Thermoflex thermal simulation analysis software,a high-temperature thermal-storage combined-cycle simulation analysis system model was established,and the influence of different initial temperatures and pressure ratios on the combined-cycle system was analysed.Sensitivity analysis of factors such as electricity cost,annual operating hours,initial equipment investment,unit efficiency and other factors that affect the net income of the system was carried out.According to the current power-peak-shaving auxiliary service market in China,it is pointed out that high-temperature thermal-storage combined-cycle projects must be profitable and obtain good economic benefits.The results obtained,on the one hand,provide suggestions for the flexibility and transformation of current gas-fired steam generators for peak shaving and,on the other hand,provide references for the subsequent development of high-temperature thermal-storage combined-cycle demonstration projects.