Reevaluating health metrics:Unraveling the limitations of disabilityadjusted life years as an indicator in disease burden assessment

In 1993,the World Bank released a global report on the efficacy of health promotion,introducing the disability-adjusted life years(DALY)as a novel indicator.The DALY,a composite metric incorporating temporal and qualitative data,is grounded in preferences regarding disability status.This review delineates the algorithm used to calculate the value of the proposed DALY synthetic indicator and elucidates key methodological challenges associated with its application.In contrast to the quality-adjusted life years approach,derived from multi-attribute utility theory,the DALY stands as an independent synthetic indicator that adopts the assumptions of the Time Trade Off utility technique to define Disability Weights.Claiming to rely on no mathematical or economic theory,DALY users appear to have exempted themselves from verifying whether this indicator meets the classical properties required of all indicators,notably content validity,reliability,specificity,and sensitivity.The DALY concept emerged primarily to facilitate comparisons of the health impacts of various diseases globally within the framework of the Global Burden of Disease initiative,leading to numerous publications in international literature.Despite widespread adoption,the DALY synthetic indicator has prompted significant methodological concerns since its inception,manifesting in inconsistent and non-reproducible results.Given the substantial diffusion of the DALY indicator and its critical role in health impact assessments,a reassessment is warranted.This reconsideration is imperative for enhancing the robustness and reliability of public health decisionmaking processes.

Research4Life——发展中国家可开放获取的四个生命科学研究信息源

论文详尽介绍了Research4Life项目及其旗下的四个生命科学研究信息源———医药卫生研究网际获取(HINAR-I)、全球农业研究在线获取(AGORA)、环境研究在线获取(OARE)、发展与创新研究信息在线获取(ARDI),供发展中国家的高校、科研院所、政府部门、地方非政府组织、医院和公立图书馆参考。

Patient-centric periodontal research:A pioneering application of patient-reported outcome measures

Conventional dentistry or periodontal research often ignores the human component in favor of clinical outcomes and biological causes.Clinical research is driven by the statistical significance of outcome parameters rather than the satisfaction level of the patient.In this context,patient-centric periodontal research(PCPR)is an approach that considers the patient´s feedback concerning their functional status,experience,clinical outcomes,and accessibility to their treatments.It is argued that data self-reported by the patient might have low reliability owing to the confounding effect of their personal belief,cultural background,and social and economic factors.However,literature has shown that the incorporation of“patient-centric outcome”components considerably enhances the validity and applicability of research findings.Variations in the results of different studies might be due to the use of different and non-standardized assessment tools.To overcome this problem,this editorial enlists various reliable tools available in the literature.In conclusion,we advocate that the focus of researchers should shift from mere periodontal research to PCPR so that the results can be effectively applied in clinical settings and the therapeutic strategy can also change from mere periodontal therapy to patient-centric periodontal therapy.

Crystalline and amorphous metal sulfide composite electrode materials with long cycle life:Preparation and performance of hybrid capacitors

Crystalline@amorphous NiCo_(2)S_(4)@MoS_(2)(v-NCS@MS)nanostructures were designed and constructed via an ethylene glycol-induced strategy with hydrothermal synthesis and solvothermal method,which simultaneously realized the defect regulation of crystal NiCo_(2)S_(4) in the core.Taking advantage of the flexible protection of an amor-phous shell and the high capacity of a conductive core with defects,the v-NCS@MS electrode exhibited high specif-ic capacity(1034 mAh·g^(-1) at 1 A·g^(-1))and outstanding rate capability.Moreover,a hybrid supercapacitor was assembled with v-NCS@MS as cathode and activated carbon(AC)as anode,which can achieve remarkably high specific energy of 111 Wh·kg^(-1) at a specific power of 219 W·kg^(-1) and outstanding capacity retention of 80.5%after 15000 cycling at different current densities.

Life History Research in Education

Life history research,as one of the most powerful research methods in sociology,brings some re-freshened air into interpretive research.In this paper,the development of life history research,from modernism to postmodernism,from life story to life history,is firstly illustrated.Then the process of conducting life history research is analyzed specifically,which is followed by its unique strengths.Finally,its issues,its general issues and its special issues in Chinese context,are critically examined.

Research and Practice on the Training Mode of Innovative and Entrepreneurial Talents in Colleges and Universities:A Case Study of Academic Association of"Federation of Life Science Research and Innovation"

Taking the academic association of the Federation of Life Science Research and Innovation of the College of Life Science and Biotechnology of Heilongjiang Bayi Agricultural University as the research platform,it is necessary to organically combine personalized education with the cultivation of innovative and entrepreneurial ability.On the basis of unified teaching ideas,we should pay attention to the individual differences of educational objects,eliminate the disadvantages of traditional education,and break the conventional"spoon-feeding"teaching mode.It is necessary to shift from only paying attention to one-way indoctrination to paying attention to the cultivation of students'innovative quality,and to enhance students'interest in scientific research and practical ability of innovation and entrepreneurship through the rich scientific research activities of academic associations.

Impact of endoscopy-based research on quality of life in healthy volunteers

AIM:To study the impact of an endoscopy-based long-term study on the quality of life in healthy volunteers(HV).METHODS:Ten HV were included into a long-term prospective endoscopy-based placebo-controlled trial with 15 endoscopic examinations per person in 5 different drug phases.Participants completed short form-36(SF-36) and visual analog scale-based questionnaires(VAS) for different abdominal symptoms at days 0,7 and 14 of each drug phase.Analyses wereperformed according to short-and long-term changes and compared to the control group.RESULTS:All HV completed the study with duration of more than 6 mo.Initial quality of life score was comparable to a general population.Analyses of the SF-36 questionnaires showed no significant changes in physical,mental and total scores,either in a short-term perspective due to different medications,or to potentially endoscopic procedure-associated long-term cumulative changes.Analogous to SF-36,VAS revealed no significant changes in total scores for pathological abdominal symptoms and remained unchanged over the time course and when compared to the control population.CONCLUSION:This study demonstrates that quality of life in HV is not significantly affected by a longterm endoscopy-based study with multiple endoscopic procedures.

Progress in Research of Nutrition and Life Expectancy

Life expectancy is an important indicator to evaluate the social development of a country. Health and longevity can not only improve people＇s life quality but also ensure them to have more time to pursue their life goal. A one-year increase in life expectancy during ＇China＇s Twelfth Five-Year Economic and Social Development Plan＇ period has been used as an indicator to evaluate whether the goal of improving people＇s living standards continuously is met. Nutrition is one of the important factors affecting people＇s health. Both malnutrition and overnutrition are risk factors for disease and death. Many studies of the relationship between nutrition and life expectancy have been conducted in the world, and the results of them are quite valuable for China to improve people＇s life expectancy by targeted nutrition intervention strategy. This paper summarizes the progress in research of nutrition and life expectancy in the world.

Research on spirit and culture of the elderly life under the multiple responsibility

With the transformation of population age structure and the extension of life expectancy, China has entered a rapid aging period. With development of social economy and the social security systcn~ the elderly spiritual and cultural needs is becoming more and more importantly. To the government, enterprise, society community, family and themselves, enriching the spirit and culture of the elderly life is a higher level of challenge.

Laboratory Life:Twenty Years of Experimental Research with Locals and New Comers in Remote Rural Areas

Through the Latour concept of philosophy of science of laboratory life,the life course of a(geo)ethnographer researcher is analyzed,in order to establish the emotional or more personal dimensions that do not usually appear in research papers,but that have notable relevance in qualitative research.The text is structured in three large parts:A conceptual vision of the new experimental geography;the experimental geo-ethnography in old social,new social and place scenarios;and finally,the most personal and emotional dimension of the research.The first part establishes the geo-ethnographic experimental context and the assumptions in fieldwork,in addition to the geo-ethnographic reconciliation process.In the second part,the main qualitative research problems related to mobility,resistance and dynamics in place are established.Finally,in the third part the research perceptions,the personal experiences,and the emotional dimension of the research in remote rural areas are established.The laboratory life of a researcher,allows one to establish scalar conclusions and rigor in qualitative research.

Life′s Simple 7干预减轻Her⁃2阳性乳腺癌患者化疗相关心血管系统损害的研究

目的探讨Life′s Simple 7(LS7)干预减轻Her⁃2阳性乳腺癌患者根治术后化疗相关心血管系统损害的作用。方法将120例Her⁃2阳性并接受标准化乳腺癌化疗的患者随机等量分为对照组及LS7组,对照组为标准化疗方案,LS7组为对照组基础上给予LS7干预12个月,后续通过比较两组治疗前后心血管系统损伤程度、焦虑、抑郁及生活质量等指标评价其对心血管系统损害的改善作用。结果相较于对照组,LS7组LS7总评分及7项心血管健康指标均优于对照组(P<0.05),LS7组LVEF较高(P<0.05)、NT⁃proBNP较低(P<0.05),焦虑和抑郁评分较低(P<0.05)、生活质量评分较高(P<0.05)。结论LS7干预可显著减轻Her⁃2阳性乳腺癌化疗相关心血管系统损害并改善乳腺癌患者的心理状况和生活质量,值得在临床推广。

基于nCode Design-Life的某车架疲劳可靠性分析

针对某型半挂牵引车车架局部出现裂纹或者断裂现象,通过有限元理论和疲劳分析理论相结合进行了车架的有限元分析和疲劳可靠性分析。首先对该车架进行了建模和有限元静态特性分析,然后定义了特定的时间载荷序列数据和材料参数,选用了S-N疲劳设计和静态疲劳分析方法,利用疲劳分析软件nCode Design-Life对该车架进行疲劳可靠性分析,得出该车架的疲劳结果云图和各节点的疲劳寿命,并从相关云图中确定出车架容易破坏的位置和其寿命之后再进行样车实验验证。

ADVANCES OF EXPERIMENTAL RESEARCH ON ACUPUNCTURE AND MOXIBUSTION FOR TREATMENT OF WOMEN'S CLIMACTERIC SYNDROME

To introduce the advances of experimental research on acupuncture and moxibustion for treatment of Women＇s Climacteric Syndrome.The recent years experimental research literature of acupuncture and moxibustion for treatment of Women＇s Climacteric Syndrome were reviewed.The research literatures on acupuncture treatment were major,focusing on the field of acupuncture and moxibustion regulating hypothalamic-pituitary-gonad axis and nerval-endocritic-immune net.Acupuncture and moxibustion could regulate the endocrine environment of menopausal women.Taking advantage of combination biomedicine with multi-sciences,to improve the acupuncture and moxibustion curative effct and probe the mechanism of menopausal pathology and acupuncture and moxibustion function to Women＇s Climacteric Syndrome,is the research direction afterward.

A Model of the Fatigue Life Distribution of Composite Laminates Based on Their Static Strength Distribution

The reasons of the static strength dispersion and the fatigue life dispersion of composite laminates are analyzed in this article. It is concluded that the inner original defects, which derived from the manufacturing process of composite laminates, are the common and major reason of causing the random distributions of the static strength and the fatigue life. And there is a correlative relation between the two distributions. With the study of statistical relationship between the fatigue loading and the fatigue life in the uniform confidence level and the same survival rate S-N curves of material, the relationship between the static strength distribution and the fatigue life distribution through a material S-N curve model has been obtained. And then the model which is used to describe the distributions of fatigue life of composites, based on their distributions of static strength, is set up. This model reasonably reflects the effects of the inner original defects on the static strength dispersion and on the fatigue life dispersion of composite laminates. The experimental data of three kinds of composite laminates are employed to verify this model, and the results show that this model can predict the random distributions of fatigue life for composites under any fatigue loads fairly well.

基于断裂力学的腐蚀钢丝疲劳S-N曲线研究

高强冷拔钢丝因其优异的力学性能被广泛应用于缆索承重结构,服役过程中钢丝腐蚀与断裂威胁着结构安全。钢丝腐蚀后表面的蚀坑因应力集中效应易产生疲劳裂纹,因此腐蚀钢丝剩余疲劳寿命主要取决于裂纹的扩展阶段,且裂纹扩展受到腐蚀程度(初始损伤)的显著影响。精确表征腐蚀程度并准确评估服役期钢丝腐蚀后的剩余寿命,仍是亟待解决的维修难题。首先采用蚀坑最大深度表征钢丝腐蚀程度,以应力强度因子幅作为裂纹扩展驱动力指标,基于断裂力学的Paris公式建立受拉钢丝裂纹扩展理论模型,进而推导腐蚀钢丝的疲劳S-N曲线。大量既有的腐蚀钢丝疲劳试验结果与理论预测值的比较验证了所提理论模型及疲劳S-N曲线的合理性和有效性。含多个蚀坑的钢丝裂纹扩展有限元模拟表明,等效单裂纹适用于多腐蚀坑钢丝疲劳寿命的简化分析。参数分析表明,蚀坑深度和腐蚀环境是腐蚀钢丝疲劳强度的关键影响因素,而应力比和疲劳加载频率影响较小,所提出的S-N曲线在钢丝常规服役条件下适用于评估其剩余寿命,可得到合理的预测结果。基于断裂力学所提的理论方法和疲劳S-N曲线可为腐蚀钢丝的疲劳强度和寿命评估提供参考。

基于nCode Design-Life的电动客车车架疲劳寿命分析

针对某型电动客车车架疲劳及寿命问题,本文以有限元理论和疲劳分析理论相结合的方法,对电动客车车架进行静强度分析和疲劳寿命校核,建立有限元模型并进行受力分析,定义特定的载荷谱和材料疲劳数据;同时利用S-N静态疲劳设计方法,选用疲劳分析软件nCode Design-Life对该车架进行疲劳可靠性分析。分析结果表明,该车架的疲劳寿命为1.558×106次,许用行驶里程为650 000km,与公交客运车行驶里程参考值约为400 000km相比,结果满足要求。该研究实现了电动车减重节能,增加了续驶里程,为车架优化设计及寿命模型的建立提供了理论依据。

Qualitative Research on Learner's Beliefs about Learning English

In the ESOL/SLA field, qualitative studies try to explain the language learning process not merely from psychological points of view, but also from social and cultural perspectives. In this study, a Chinese learner's perceptions of mainstream English instruction in China has been investigated through the interview, and the problem was explained from social and cultural perspectives.

继承与突破:Second Life中的教育问题研究

作为最典型、最流行的多用户虚拟环境(Multi-user Virtual Environment,简称MUVE)系统,SecondLife(第二人生,简称SL)正受到越来越多的教育研究者的关注,Second Life的教育研究已经成为教育技术领域研究热点之一。一方面,SL的教育研究继承了e-Learning尤其是协作虚拟环境(Collaborative Virtual Environ-ment,简称CVE)的研究成果,例如,三大学习理论仍作为SL中学习活动设计的基本指导理论;ADDIE模式仍适用于SL中的教学设计;SL同样面临着CVE的不流畅用户协作问题。另一方面,SL的教育研究又在寻求突破,例如,SL作为学习支持环境呈现独特的功能;SL中用户的个体认知行为和群体交互行为呈现新的特征;传统的多媒体教学设计原理面临新的挑战;联接主义学习观、语言学、社会文化学等成为研究SL的新视角。目前SL的教育研究在国内尚处于起步阶段,研究资料较少。本文主要基于外文文献调查的方法,梳理了国外SL的教育研究脉络,综合介绍了SL中各种教育问题的研究状况和成果,主要内容包括:SL中的学习环境、SL中的学习理论、SL中的教学设计、SL中的学习者、SL的教育实践效果,旨在为国内同行进一步研究SL提供思路、拓宽视野。

Quality of life after laparoscopic vs open sphincter-preserving resection for rectal cancer

AIM: To compare quality of life (QoL) outcomes in Chinese patients after curative laparoscopic vs open surgery for rectal cancer. METHODS: Eligible Chinese patients with rectal cancer undergoing curative laparoscopic or open sphincterpreserving resection between July 2006 and July 2008 were enrolled in this prospective study. The QoL outcomes were assessed longitudinally using the validated Chinese versions of the European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer QLQ-C30 and QLQCR38 questionnaires before surgery and at 4, 8, and 12 mo after surgery. The QoL scores at the different time points were compared between the laparoscopic and open groups. A higher score on a functional scale indicated better functioning, whereas a higher score on a symptom scale indicated a higher degree of symptoms.RESULTS: Seventy-four patients (49 laparoscopic and 25 open) were enrolled. The two groups of patients were comparable in terms of sociodemographic data, types of surgery, tumor staging, and baseline mean QoL scores. There was no significant decrease from baseline in global QoL for the laparoscopic group at different time points, whereas the global QoL was worse compared to baseline beginning at 4 mo but returned to baseline by 12 mo for the open group (P = 0.019, Friedman test). Compared to the open group, the laparoscopic group had significantly better physical (89.9±1.4 vs 79.2±3.7, P = 0.016), role (85.0±3.4 vs 63.3±6.9, P = 0.005), and cognitive (73.5±3.4 vs 50.7±6.2, P = 0.002) functioning at 8 mo, fewer micturition problems at 4-8 mo (4 mo: 32.3±4.7 vs 54.7±7.1, P = 0.011; 8 mo: 22.8±4.0 vs 40.7±6.9, P = 0.020), and fewer male sexual problems from 8 mo onward (20.0±8.5 vs 76.7±14.5, P = 0.013). At 12 mo after surgery, no significant differences were observed in any functional or symptom scale between the two groups, with the exception of male sexual problems, which remained worse in the open group (29.2±11.3 vs 80.0±9.7, P = 0.026). CONCLUSION: Laparoscopic sphincter-preserving resection for rectal cancer is associated with better preservation of QoL and fewer male sexual problems when compared with open surgery in Chinese patients. These findings, however, should be interpreted with caution because of the small sample size of the study.

Value of quality of life analysis in liver cancer: A clinician's perspective

Health related quality of life(HRQOL) is increasingly recognized as an important clinical parameter and research endpoint in patients with hepatocellular carcinoma(HCC). HRQOL in HCC patients is multifaceted and affected by medical factor which encompasses HCC and its complications, oncological and palliative treatment for HCC, underlying liver disease, as well as the psychological, social or spiritual reaction to the disease. Many patients presented late with advanced disease and limited survival, plagued with multiple symptoms, rendering QOL a very important aspect in their general well being. Various instruments have been developed and validated to measure and report HRQOL in HCC patients, these included general HRQOL instruments, e.g., Short form(SF)-36, SF-12, Euro Qo L-5D, World Health Organization Quality of Life Assessment 100(WHOQOL-100), World Health Organization Quality of Life Assessment abbreviated version; general cancer HRQOL instruments, e.g., the European Organisation for Research and Treatment of Cancer(EORTC) QLQ-C30, Functional Assessment of Cancer Therapy(FACT)-General, Spitzer Quality of Life Index; and liver-cancer specific HRQOL instruments, e.g., EORTC QLQ-HCC18, FACT-Hepatobiliary(FACT-Hep), FACT-Hep Symptom Index, Trial Outcome Index. Important utilization of HRQOL in HCC patients included description of symptomatology and HRQOL of patients, treatment endpoint in clinical trial, prognostication of survival, benchmarking of palliative care service and health care valuation. In this review, difficulties regarding the use of HRQOL data in research and clinical practice, including choosing a suitable instrument, problems of missing data, data interpretation, analysis and presentation are examined. Potential solutions are also discussed.