The impact of Internet access on household dietary quality:Evidence from rural China

Over the past few decades,the Internet has rapidly diffused across China.The spread of the Internet has had a profound economic and social impact on Chinese rural areas.Existing research shows that Internet access significantly impacts agricultural production and improves smallholder farmers’income.Beyond these,the Internet can affect other dimensions of social welfare.However,research about the impact of Internet access on dietary quality in rural China remains scarce.This study utilizes multi-period panel data from Fixed Observation Point in rural China from 2009 to 2015 to estimate the impact of Internet access on dietary quality and food consumption of rural households and conducts a causal analysis.Regression models with time and household fixed effects allow robust estimation while reducing potential issues of unobserved heterogeneity.The estimates show that Internet access has significantly increased rural household dietary quality(measured by the Chinese Diet Balance Index).Further research finds that Internet access has increased the consumption of animal products,such as aquatic and dairy products.We also examine the underlying mechanisms.Internet access improves dietary quality and food consumption mainly through increasing household income and food expenditure.These results encourage the promotion of Internet access as a valuable tool for nutritional improvements,especially in rural areas.

Effect of the Particle Packing Configuration on Fixed Bed Performance

Fixed-bed reactors are generally considered the optimal choice for numerous multi-phase catalytic reactions due to their excellent performance and stability.However,conventional fixed beds often encounter challenges related to inadequate mass transfer and a high pressure drop caused by the non-uniform void fraction distribution.To enhance the overall performance of fixed beds,the impact of different packing configurations on performance was investigated.Experimental and simulation methods were used to investigate the fluid flow and mass transfer performances of various packed beds under different flow rates.It was found that structured beds exhibited a significantly lower pressure drop per unit length than conventional packed beds.Furthermore,the packing configurations had a critical role in improving the overall performance of fixed beds.Specifically,structured packed beds,particularly the H-2 packing configuration,effectively reduced the pressure drop per unit length and improved the mass transfer efficiency.The H-2 packing configuration consisted of two parallel strips of particles in each layer,with strips arranged perpendicularly between adjacent layers,and the spacing between the strips varied from layer to layer.

A Study on the Internal Control and Countermeasures of Fixed Assets in Private Universities:A Case Study of N College

Fixed assets in universities occupy an important position in university management due to their wide coverage and large amount of money.Due to insufficient funding supply,private universities mainly focus on the allocation and utilization of fixed assets,which reflects the overall characteristics of cautious allocation,maximum utilization,and delayed elimination in the actual management of fixed assets.This article aims to conduct research and analysis on the entire lifecycle process of the allocation,use,and disposal of fixed assets in private universities,summarize the problems existing in the internal control of fixed assets in private universities,and propose corresponding countermeasures and suggestions in a targeted manner.

Adsorption dynamics of ethane from air in structured fixed beds with different microfibrous composites

Adsorption dynamics of ethane in two granular fixed beds and structured fixed beds with microfibrous composites was studied.5A zeolite membrane 5A/PSSF(paper-like sintered stainless steel fiber)and microfibrous entrapped activated carbon(MEAC)composites were prepared by wet layup papermaking/sintering technique and in-situ hydrothermal method.Microfibrous composites were characterized by X-ray diffraction,scanning electron microscopy and N2 adsorption/desorption.Structured fixed beds were designed by filling granular adsorbents(5A zeolite or activated carbon)and microfibrous composites at the inlet and outlet of the beds,respectively.Effects of flow rate,bed height and structure on the breakthrough curves were investigated.The length of unused bed(LUB)was determined,and Yoon–Nelson model was used to fit the breakthrough curves.The experimental results showed ethane was effectively adsorbed on the granular adsorbents and microfibrous composites.Both composites could decrease the LUB values and enhance bed utilization.All breakthrough curves fitted well to Yoon–Nelson model,with correlation coefficient exceeding 0.89.The adsorption rate of ethane could be improved in the structured fixed beds,which showed an enhanced mass transfer efficiency for ethane adsorption.LUB values of structured fixed beds with 5A/PSSF composites were larger,the bed utilization values were lower,and the adsorption rate constants were higher than those with MEAC composites under the same conditions.

A fixed point theorem for Proinov mappings with a contractive iterate

In this paper,we consider the fixed point theorem for Proinov mappings with a contractive iterate at a point.In other words,we combine and unify the basic approaches of Proinov and Sehgal in the framework of the complete metric spaces.We consider examples to illustrate the validity of the obtained result.

Fixed-Time Consensus-Based Nash Equilibrium Seeking

Dear Editor,This letter examines the fixed-time stability of the Nash equilibrium(NE)in non-cooperative games.We propose a consensus-based NE seeking algorithm for situations where players do not have perfect information and communicate via a topology graph.The proposed algorithm can achieve NE in a fixed time that does not depend on initial conditions and can be adjusted in advance.

Secure Tracking Control via Fixed-Time Convergent Reinforcement Learning for a UAV CPS

Dear Editor,This letter is concerned with the secure tracking control problem in the unmanned aerial vehicle(UAV) system by fixed-time convergent reinforcement learning(RL). By virtue of the zero-sum game,the false data injection(FDI) attacker and secure controller are viewed as game players.

Does community-based health insurance affect lifestyle and timing of treatment seeking behavior?Evidence from Ethiopia

Objectives This paper aims to investigate the effects of enrollment in the Ethiopian community-based health insurance(CBHI)scheme on household preventive care activities and the timing of treatment-seeking behavior for illness symptoms.There is growing concern about the financial sustainability of CBHI schemes in developing countries.However,few empirical studies have identified potential contributors,including ex-ante and ex-post moral hazards.Methods We implement a household fixed-effect panel data regression model,drawing on three rounds of household survey data collected face to face in districts where CBHI scheme is operational and in districts where it is not operational in Ethiopia.Results The findings show that enrolment in CBHI does not significantly influence household behaviour regarding preventive care activities such as water treatment before drinking and handwashing before meals.However,CBHI significantly increases delay in treatment-seeking behaviour for diseases symptoms.Particularly,on average,we estimate about 4-6 h delay for malaria symptoms,a little above 4 h for tetanus,and 10-11 h for tuberculosis among the insured households.Conclusions While there is evidence that CBHI improve the utilization of outpatient or primary care services,our study suggests that insured members may wait longer before visiting health facilities.This delay could be partly due to moral hazard problems,as insured households,particularly those from rural areas,may consider the opportunity costs associated with visiting health facilities for minor symptoms.Overall,it is essential to identify the primary causes of delays in seeking medical services and implement appropriate interventions to encourage insured individuals to seek early medical attention.

A Proof of Brouwer’s Fixed Point Theorem Using Sperner’s Lemma

This article offers a simple but rigorous proof of Brouwer’s fixed point theorem using Sperner’s Lemma.The general method I have used so far in the proof is mainly to convert the n-dimensional shapes to the corresponding case under the Sperner’s Labeling and apply the Sperner’s Lemma to solve the question.

Employment and development levels in rural areas of the Russian Federation

The development of agro-industrial complex is important for ensuring national food security and national health.The development of rural areas is subject to the development of agriculture and local infrastructure,as well as the availability of various services.This study selected 15 indicators in 2021 to analyze the employment and development levels in rural areas of 71 regions of the Russian Federation using the analytical grouping method.The results indicated that 20 regions(Group 1)had the highest percentage of rural population(33.10%).The percentage of population engaged in agriculture had the highest value(12.40%)in 31 regions(Group 2).Moreover,20 regions(Group 3)had the highest investments in fixed assets at the expense of municipal budget(11.80 USD/person).Increasing the investments in fixed assets carried out from the budget of the municipality can improve the employment level in rural areas.Then,we used cluster analysis to divide 14 regions of the Volga Federal District in the Russian Federation into 3 clusters.Cluster 1 covered Kirov Region and Republic of Mari El;Cluster 2 included Ulyanovsk Region,Saratov Region,Nizhny Novgorod Region,Perm Territory,Orenburg Region,Chuvash Region,and Republic of Mordovia;and Cluster 3 contained Republic of Tatarstan,Samara Region,Udmurtian Republic,Penza Region,and Republic of Bashkortostan.Results indicated that the 2 regions of Cluster 1 need to increase the availability of resources and natural gas and improve the investment attractiveness of rural areas.The 7 regions of Cluster 2 needed to develop infrastructure,public services,and agricultural production.We found the highest employment level in rural areas,the largest investments in fixed assets at the expense of municipal budget,the largest residential building area per 10,000 persons,and the largest individual residential building area in the 5 regions of Cluster 3.This study makes it possible to draw up a comprehensive regional development program and proves the need for the development of rural areas,which is especially important for the sustainable development of the Russian Federation.

On Perron’s Formula and the Prime Numbers

The Riemann hypothesis is intimately connected to the counting functions for the primes. In particular, Perron’s explicit formula relates the prime counting function to fixed points of iterations of the explicit formula with particular relations involving the trivial and non-trivial roots of the Riemann Zeta function and the Primes. The aim of the paper is to demonstrate this relation at the fixed points of iterations of explicit formula, defined by functions of the form limT∈Ν→∞fT(zw)=zw,where, zwis a real number.

Oral Hygiene in the Presence of Orthodontic Therapy

Orthodontic treatment offers great advantages in improving facial and smile aesthetics, self-confidence and the function of the stomatognathic apparatus. The pursuit of these advantages makes use of orthodontic appliances that could be fixed or removable. However, it’s worth stating that these appliances interfere with tooth brushing, making it more difficult to brush teeth effectively. Orthodontics appliances therefore promote the accumulation of dental plaque, which results in both quantitative and qualitative changes in the oral microbiota, hence, exposing patients to several adverse effects such as White spot lesions, dental caries, periodontal pathologies and halitosis. For this reason, oral assessment of patients before, during and after treatment is necessary as well as oral hygiene instructions and motivation. Orthodontists therefore, should educate patients on oral and periodontal hygiene in order to control dental and periodontal complications. Prescriptions of plaque control materials adapted to each patient are done in order to optimize the final result and minimize unwanted complications.

A Bioequivalence Study of Empagliflozin/Metformin Fixed-Dose Combination in Healthy Subjects under Fasting Conditions

Background: This study evaluated the bioequivalence of empagliflozin 12.5 mg/metformin 1000 mg tablets compared to Synjardy® (Empagliflozin 12.5 mg/metformin 1000 mg) tablets in healthy male subjects under fasting conditions. Methods: This was a phase I, randomized, single-dose, two-period, two-sequence, crossover study to evaluate the bioequivalence (BE) profiles of two fixed-dose combinations (FDCs) of empagliflozin/metformin. Cmax, AUC0-t and AUC0-∞ from test and reference formulations were evaluated to access BE. The plasma concentrations were measured using a validated liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) method. Of the 24 subjects enrolled, 23 completed both periods of the study. The two formulations test and reference were considered bioequivalent if 90% confidence interval (CI) fell within 80.00% - 125.00% for Cmax, AUC0-t and AUC0-∞. Tolerability and safety were assessed throughout the study. Results: The pharmacokinetic (PK) parameters were similar between the test product (T) and reference product (R) Synjardy®. The 90% CI of the test/reference ratios of log-transformed PK parameters point estimates was Cmax: 89.87% (85.68% - 94.27%), AUC0-t: 87.91% (83.65% - 92.39%) and AUC0-∞: 87.16% (82.80% - 91.75%) to empagliflozin and Cmax: 92.19% (87.95% - 96.65%), AUC0-t: 91.38% (84.42% - 98.91%) and AUC0-∞: 93.78% (83.82% - 104.93%) to metformin respectively (90% CI for all PK parameters fell within 80.00% - 125.00%). Conclusion: Our results demonstrated BE between the test and reference formulations of oral tablets of empagliflozin 12.5 mg/metformin 1000 mg (FDC) in healthy male subjects under fasting conditions.

The Impact of Nitrogen-Fixing Bacteria, Iron, and Zinc Foliar Application on Dry Land Yellow Mustard (Brassica juncea) Grain and Oil Production

The study, conducted at the Research Farm of the College of Agriculture, University of Tabriz in 2021, focused on the effects of various nitrogen-fixing bacterial isolates, biofertilizers containing nitrogen and phosphorus, as well as iron and zinc foliar applications on mustard growth under rainfed conditions. The results indicated that biofertilizers, whether used alone or in combination with chemical fertilizers, produced comparable grain and oil outputs compared to chemical fertilizers alone. Additionally, the application of iron and zinc through foliar spraying significantly enhanced both grain and oil production. These findings suggest that integrating nitrogen-fixing bacteria and biofertilizers could reduce reliance on chemical nitrogenous fertilizers, leading to decreased production expenses, improved product quality, and minimized environmental impact. This study highlights the potential for sustainable agricultural practices in dry land farming as a viable alternative to traditional chemical-intensive methods. Substituting chemical nitrogenous fertilizers with nitrogen-fixing bacteria or biofertilizers could result in cost savings in mustard grain and oil production while promoting environmental sustainability.

Simultaneous Adsorption of Aqueous Pb2+, Cu2+, Zn2+, and Cd2+ Using Surfactant-Modified and Unmodified Activated Carbon in a Fixed Bed Column

The goal of this work is to improve the simultaneous removal of Pb2+, Cu2+, Zn2+, and Cd2+ ions from synthetic wastewater in a fixed bed column by incorporating sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS) onto the surface of activated carbon made from coconut shells. The activated carbons were characterized using Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR) and scanning electron microscopy-energy dispersive x-ray (SEM-EDX). The adsorption column dynamics were studied by varying the flow rates (5, 10 and 15 mL/min), bed heights (10, 15 and 20 cm), and initial concentrations (50, 150, and 250 mg/L). The activated carbon has a pore volume of 0.715 cm3/g and a BET-specific surface area of 1410 m2/g. Sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS) surfactant incorporation onto the surface of the activated carbon enhances its capacity for simultaneous adsorption of Pb2+, Cu2+, Zn2+, and Cd2+ from the aqueous medium. The affinity of the heavy metals to both unmodified (AC) and modified (AC-SDS) activated carbons followed the order of Pb2+ > Cu2+ > Zn2+ > Cd2+. The dynamic adsorption of the column depends on the flow rate, bed height, initial metal concentration, and SDS surface modification. With a 5 mL/min flow rate, a 20 cm bed height, and a 50 mg/L initial metal concentration, a maximum break-through time of 150 minutes for the unmodified activated carbon (AC) and 180 minutes for the SDS-modified activated carbon (AC-SDS) was reached.

Effectiveness of Hypertension Therapy by Using Fixed Combinations and Monocomponent Drugs A Prospective Study from Croatia

Arterial hypertension is the leading risk mortality factor in the world according to the report by the World Health Organization. The aim of this research was to compare fixed-dose combination with free-drug combination therapy and prove that fixed-dose combination improve patient compliance and persistence, measuring blood pressure among hypertensive patients in a Croatian Adriatic city. Methods： The study included 202 patients, 101 women and 101 men, mean age 66.8 4- 9.4 with previous diagnosis of hypertension. Results： Mean blood pressure was 152.8 4- 18.8/87.3 4- 10.3 mmHg. Blood pressure control 140/90 mmHg） was achieved in 24.8% of patients, 13.9% of women and 10.9% of men. Mean blood pressure in the group with fixed-dose combination was 149.2 4- 17.9/86.2 4- 8.5 mmHg, and 156.7 4- 18.9/88.4 4- 11.8 mmHg in the group with free-drug combination therapy. Conclusions： Results suggest that blood pressure control was better in patients with fixed-dose combinations than in patients with free-drug combinations. Fixed-drug combination improved compliance and adherence in patients with antihypertensive therapy. Results of the study indicate that fixed-drug combination should be considered in patients with hypertension according to the guidelines.

The Dynamical Properties of a Class of Discrete Smith Diffusion Model

In this paper, the dynamical properties of Smith type diffusion model with Dirichlet boundary conditions are studied. The properties of hyperbolic fixed points and non-hyperbolic fixed points of the model are analyzed. By using the central manifold theorem, the bifurcation phenomenon of the model is studied. The results show that flip, transcritical, pitchfork and Fold-flip bifurcations exist at non-hyperbolic fixed points.

A Generalization of Caristi Fixed Point Theorem

Let X be a metric space with an ordering structure,A: X→X is a operator and x≤Ax for any x∈X. In this paper we prove a new fixed point theorem, which generalizes famous caristi fixed point theorem.

Common Fixed Point Theorems for Commuting Maps on a Complete Metric Space

The concept of w distance on a metric space is introduced and three common fixed points theorems for commuting maps on a complete metric space are proved. These results extended fixed point theorems of Jungck and Ciric.

Distributions of chlorophyll a and carbon fixed strength of phyto-plankton in autumn of the southern Huanghai Sea waters

Chlorophyll a （Chl a） concentration and primary productivity （PP）, namely, carbon fixed strength of phytoplankton along four transects in the southern Huanghai Sea （SHS） were studied for their distribution features and controlling mechanisms based on the investigations from 17 October to 3 November 2005. The Chl a concentration in the study waters dynamically changed spatially. Surface Chl a concentrations ranged from 0.11 to 2.38 mg/m^3 with higher and lower values observed in the nutrient-laden inshore waters and central part of the SHS occupied by oligotrophic current, respectively. The vertical distribution of Chl a concentration showed a predominant pattern of subsurface concentration maximum profile. It followed the previous result of the deep dissolved oxygen concentration maximum profile, which was significantly correlated with phytoplankton and regional water mass. The primary productivity of carbon in autumn of the SHS, ranging from 95 to 1 634 rag/（ m^2· d） mainly varied with nutrient condition, especially phosphate concentration in seawater and hydrological condition. Furthermore, associating the present study results together with previous studies, the annual value of carbon fixed production of phytoplankton in the entire marginal seas of East China （including the Bohai Sea, the Huanghai Sea and the East China Sea） was estimated to be 222 Mt, which accounted for 2% of that in the global margins. Besides, it was as 16.2 times as the annual value of apparent carbon sink strength （ 13.96 Mt） in the marginal seas of East China. This multiple was different in different sea areas （ 3.0 in the Bohai Sea, 6. 7 in the Huanghai Sea and 81.6 in the East China Sea）.