Systematic review with meta-analysis of the epidemiological evidence in Europe,Israel,America and Australasia on smoking and COVID-19

BACKGROUND Previous meta-analyses related smoking to death or severe infection from coronavirus disease 2019(COVID-19)in hospitalized patients,but considered only a few studies,did not adjust for demographics and comorbidities,and inadequately defined smoking.AIM To review and meta-analyse epidemiological evidence on smoking and COVID-19,considering a range of endpoints,populations and smoking definitions and the effect of adjustment.METHODS Studies were identified from publications in English up to 30 September,2020 involving at least 100 individuals,carried out in Europe,Israel,America or Australasia,not restricted to those with specific other diseases,and providing information relating smoking to various COVID-related endpoints.Meta-analyses were carried out for combinations of population and endpoint,with variation studied by smoking definition,adjustment level and other factors.RESULTS From 96 publications,74 studies were identified,37 in the United States,10 in the United Kingdom,with up to four in the other countries.Three involved over a million individuals,and 37 involved less than a thousand.Adjusted results for smoking were available in 42 studies,with adjustment not considered in 20 studies.Results were considered by endpoint.No significant effect of smoking on COVID-19 positivity was seen in the general population,but there was a reduced risk in those tested.Best-adjusted estimates for current(vs never)smoking were 0.87(95%confidence interval:0.52-1.47)in the general population and 0.52(0.43-0.64)in those tested.For those hospitalized due to COVID-19,unadjusted rates were significantly increased in current smokers(1.20,1.01-1.42)and ever smokers(1.64,1.41-1.91),but those adjusted for comorbidities showed no increase for current(0.82,0.52-1.30)or ever smokers(1.00,0.76-1.32).There was little evidence to suggest that smoking was associated with intensive care admission.For those hospitalized with COVID-19,best-adjusted estimates were 0.88(0.72-1.08)for current smokers and 1.10(0.99-1.22)for ever smokers.In those hospitalized with COVID-19,smoking was not significantly related to subsequent mechanical ventilation,with best-adjusted estimates of 1.12(0.60-2.09)for current smokers and 1.05(0.88-1.25)for ever smokers.For those hospitalized with severe COVID-19,best-adjusted estimates were 0.74(0.49-1.12)for current smokers and 1.15(0.87-1.51)for ever smokers;few estimates were adjusted for comorbidities.While smoking was associated with increased mortality in unadjusted analyses,the association disappeared after adjustment for comorbidities.For example,in those hospitalized with COVID-19,the unadjusted estimate for ever smokers of 1.59(1.37-1.83)reduced to 1.07(0.82-1.38)when adjusted for comorbidities.Studies on those with severe COVID-19 showed that smoking tended to be associated with worsening of the disease.However,no estimate was adjusted,even for demographics.Estimates did not clearly vary by location or study size,and there was too little evidence to usefully study variations by age,amount smoked or years quit.CONCLUSION The increased COVID-19 death rate in smokers seen in unadjusted analyses disappears following adjustment for demographics and comorbidities.Among those tested,smoking is associated with lower COVID-19 infection rates.

Naming Conventions and the Perception of Selfhood:A Cross-cultural Reflection on Women’s Surnames in the Anglosphere vs.the Hispanic Model

The naming convention in English-speaking countries(e.g.,USA and UK),and several others in the Western culture,where women traditionally have adopted their husbands’surnames,is compared with the naming convention in Spain and Latin America,where women do not relinquish their maiden surnames.From a cross-cultural perspective spanning over three centuries,from Madame de Staël and Virginia Woolf to Hillary Clinton,this essay renders instances of women who took on the surname of their spouse upon marriage.It appears that even nowadays many women,including feminists,choose to comply with this patriarchal habit.Entanglements arising upon divorce or remarriage,such as traceability and perception of selfhood,especially for women with academic and professional profiles,are discussed here.Samples collected from life and literature across a fairly representative cultural range and diverse moments in history help to reach conclusions and come up with a consistent argument.Winds of change seem to be blowing with Vice President Kamala Harris,whose case is mentioned at the end of this essay.To circumvent the confusion for individuals and families(especially“blended”ones)that could result in the discrimination between males and females,on the one hand,and on the other hand,between married and unmarried women,the Spanish naming convention is proposed as a perfect compromise.This consists in every person bearing two surnames from birth and for good:one of each parent.Thus,women would keep their name(s),and along with them their perception of their self and their social and professional identity.

Future of Public Relations Curriculum： Searching for the Ideal Undergraduate Public Relations Curriculum

This study analyzes the public relations curricula of 44 American colleges that have a Public Relations （PR） Student Society of America （PRSSA） chapter. Through content analysis, this study examines general requirements, core public relations courses, requirements of public relations programs and strategic communication programs, and optional public relations courses offered by the colleges. The findings of this study reveal that very few public relations programs offer courses involving new media, crisis communication, and PR ethics. In order to keep in touch with the fast-changing public relations landscape, more PR programs should require and integrate new media, crisis communication and ethics courses.

Youth and Employment： The Effectiveness of the Youth Guarantee Plan in Emilia Romagna and Sicily

The paper presents a comparative analysis of the ＂Youth Guarantee Plan＂ implemented by two Italian regions： Emilia Romagna and Sicily. Within the tradition of the sociology of public action, the study proposes a deepening of the institutional and cognitive analysis of public policies. From the comparison, two distinct models of public action emerge： The first model that implemented by the Emilia Romagna Region, appears more procedural and more founded on the involvement of institutions present in the territory （employment centres, universities, chambers of commerce, professional bodies）, whilst the second model, implemented by the Sicily Region, seems founded mainly on the emphasis placed on the economistic definition of the policy. From the study, most of all, the processes through which the distinct regional public actions succeed in interpreting the innovative potential of the Youth Guarantee Plan and the relations existing between the effectiveness of the policies and the collective meanings that institutions and individuals assign to them, emerge.

Politics and the Science of COVID-19;Global Lessons

Politics is essentially about who gets what,when,and how.It involves realization of power relations and activities for impartial welfare of a populace.The varied human appeals invariably demand that politicians or institution advocate for means that meet physical and related needs of the public.Science is distinctly about experiential truths and how these truths distress human lives.It is broadly an intellectual activity about the systematic study of the structure and behavior of the corporeal and the natural world through observation and experiment leading to uncovering germane truths.The correlation between the dual disciplines is consequently symbiotic and relates to the welfare of the populace.This relationship is deepened in times of calamities as well as in times of natural disasters like medical tragedies,famine,draught,and social obliteration.While politics seeks to ameliorate such crisis by seeking short-term remedies for partisan contentment or as long as politicians have power,science demands caution and empirical truths regarding the causes for such misfortunes and proposes scientific solutions to the crisis.These scientific veracities are timeless,meant to provide remedies to such emerging calamities.The contemporary case of COVID-19 has validated how these two fields have either complemented or controverted each other occasioning weighty apprehensions regarding human lives around the globe.This paper is descriptive in nature and seeks to isolate the global lessons learnt since COVID-19 as politics encounters science.It has relied on obtainable and emerging literature regarding the subject.

The Latest Status and Progress of Domestic and Foreign Regulations on Cosmetic Efficacy Claims

The supervision and administration of cosmetics and its two supporting documents related to efficacy,cosmetics classification rules and classification catalogue and evaluation standard of cosmetic efficacy claims,have been successively introduced and implemented,making China’s cosmetics industry officially enter the era of efficacy evaluation.In the time window when the new era is coming,the definitions of cosmetics in China and other countries are compared.The latest status and progress of regulations on cosmetic efficacy claims in China and other countries are summarized,and the standard methods or guidance of cosmetic efficacy evaluation at home and abroad are introduced.The enlightenment from the supervision systems of cosmetic efficacy in other cosmetic consumer markets around the world are discussed.In addition,the opportunities and challenges for cosmetic enterprises under the background of cosmetic law reform in China are also prospected.

A brief history of the Rheic Ocean

The Rheic Ocean was one of the most important oceans of the Paleozoic Era. It lay between Laurentia and Gondwana from the Early Ordovician and closed to produce the vast Ouachita- Alleghanian-Variscan orogen during the assembly of Pangea. Rifting began in the Cambrian as a continua- tion of Neoproterozoic orogenic activity and the ocean opened in the Early Ordovician with the separation of several Neoproterozoic arc terranes from the continental margin of northern Gondwana along the line of a former suture. The rapid rate of ocean opening suggests it was driven by slab pull in the outboard Iapetus Ocean. The ocean reached its greatest width with the closure of Iapetus and the accretion of the peri- Gondwanan arc terranes to Laurentia in the Silurian. Ocean closure began in the Devonian and continued through the Mississippian as Gondwana sutured to Laurussia to form Pangea. The ocean consequently plays a dominant role in the Appalachian-Ouachita orogeny of North America, in the basement geology of southern Europe, and in the Paleozoic sedimentary, structural and tectonothermal record from Middle America to the Middle East. Its closure brought the Paleozoic Era to an end.

Review of the Permian Camptoneuritidae(Insecta:Grylloblattida)

The Permian family Camptoneuritidae （Insecta： Grylloblattida） is reviewed. New synonymies are proposed： Camptoneuritidae Martynov, 1930 = Demopteridae Carpenter, 1950, syn. nov., = Jabloniidae Kukalova, 1964, syn. nov. Key to genera of Camptoneuritidae is given. All genera are redescribed and illustrated. Camptoneurites soyanensis sp. nov. from Soyana locality （Middle Permian, Kazanian Stage; Arkhangelsk Region, Russia） and Tyulkinia bashkuevi gen. et sp. nov. from Tyulkino locality （Lower Permian, Kungurian Stage; Perm Region, Russia） are described.

Why Is Global History Important for the Study of Slavery?

The article evaluates the significance of global history in the study of slavery.This topic has been researched and understood by several researchers,who have analyzed various points of view on it.This article will explore how global history pertains to the study of slavery by collecting different instances from the worldwide history of slavery(Europe,Africa,and the Americas)by using the case study technique.Through the case study of slavery in a global context,the article seeks to have a clear impression of learning about slavery in greater depth.The article’s result illustrates that global history is important in understanding slavery since it shows a wide variety of slavery’s development in different locations.Finally,the article will broaden our understanding of slavery as a worldwide uneven process.Furthermore,the article may be used as a reference to comprehend how to evaluate slavery by taking different approaches into account,which encourages more individuals to explore new viewpoints and thinking concepts to contribute to the study of slavery.To some extent,the article is limited,because it only emphasizes the history of slavery after the medieval period,and it is worth mentioning that early slavery is not global circulation,which is not the main focus in this article.Future studies can investigate early history of slavery and compare with global history of slavery after 1500.

An Empirical Analysis of the Determinants of the Performance of the Global Private Equity Funds Markets

Over the last decade, the private equity （PE） industry, primarily venture capital and leveraged buyout investments, has matured massively. Consequently, public interest towards that particular asset class has increased rapidly. This study seeks to empirically assess the determinants of private equity funds＇ （PEFs） performance around the world. The study comprises a panel data of 103 publicly traded PEFs globally for the period of 2007-2013. Generalized least squares （GLS） technique is employed to regress the explanatory variables. The objective is accentuated on the major contributing factors that make a PEF successful. The analysis, in this paper, examines the effect of fund size, investment size, geographical focus, and industrial specialization on return. The empirical results provide evidence that： （1） Fund size and industrial specialization were observed to have an insignificant influence on the funds＇ returns in our panels; （2） Investment size is positively related to fund performance, indicating that larger deal sizes exhibited superior performance level; and （3） Geographical focus exhibited a negative association with fund performance, leading to the conclusion that limited geographical deployment of funds or absence of market diversification resulted in a fall in funds＇ returns. Consequently, to proxy for return of funds, stock prices of listed PEFs under LPEQ listings were employed.

The Zika epidemic and abortion in Latin America:a scoping review

Background:Latin America presently has the world’s highest burden of Zika virus,but there are unexplained differences in national rates of congenital malformations collectively referred to as Congenital Zika Syndrome(CZS)in the region.While Zika virulence and case detection likely contribute to these differences,policy-related factors,including access to abortion,may play important roles.Our goal was to assess perspectives on,and access to,abortion in Latin America in the context of the Zika epidemic.Methods:We conducted a scoping review of peer-reviewed and gray literature published between January 2015 and December 2016,written in English,Spanish,Portuguese,or French.We searched PubMed,Scielo,and Google Scholar for literature on Zika and/or CZS and abortion,and used automated and manual review methods to synthesize the existing information.Results:36 publications met our inclusion criteria,the majority of which were qualitative.Publications were generally in favor of increased access to safe abortion as a policy-level response for mitigating the impact of CZS,but issues with implementation were cited as the main challenge.Aside from the reform of abortion regulation in Colombia,we did not find evidence that the Zika epidemic had triggered shifts in abortion policy in other countries.Conclusion:Abortion policy in the region remained largely unchanged following the Zika epidemic.Further empirical research on abortion access and differential rates of CZS across Latin American countries is required.

Public Perceptions and Support of Renewable Energy in North America in the Context of Global Climate Change

There is substantial interest in developing a coherent and effective North American renewable energy policy as a way to secure energy but also to mitigate global climate change. Based on surveys of the public in Canada,Mexico, and the United States, the article shows the levels of concern over climate change threats, perceived risk,knowledge of climate change policies, levels of uncertainty, and other perception factors to help understand the relationships between public perceptions and policy preferences for renewable energy. Results show national differences between the three countries in nearly all climate change perceptions, with Mexico reflecting the highest levels of concern and the United States the lowest. Mexico also shows the greatest support for renewable energy sources. However, the results show very high levels of uncertainty about climate change dimensions concerning risk, science, and knowledge and the effectiveness of policy approaches. The data demonstrate strong statistical correlations between risk perception factors and preferences for mitigation policies in the form of renewable energy policies.

欧美新污染物监测进展及启示

新污染物监测是新污染物环境和健康风险评估及管控的重要基础。欧美发达国家环保部门在20世纪70年代就开展了新污染物监测工作,并且2000年后形成了相应的监测制度,而我国新污染物监测工作正处于业务化起步阶段。通过深入调研欧美国家水中新污染物监测为主的发展历程、监测清单、监测要求等内容,总结出3个特点:建立动态更新的新污染物清单监测机制;将规范的新污染物监测方法作为开展监测的重要前提;充分考虑监测可行性和经济成本。结合我国现阶段新污染物监管需求及监测现状,提出我国新污染物监测工作的3点建议:明晰国家、地方新污染物监测的职责分工,建立优先监测新污染物清单动态更新机制;加强新污染物监测能力建设,建立新污染物监测标准体系;循序渐进开展新污染物监测,注重监测的可行性和可持续性。

项目驱动下的工程教育人才培养模式:欧美高校的实践与启示

当前新一轮科技革命和产业变革正在加速演进,在迈向中国式现代化的征程中,我国高等工程教育正肩负重要使命并迫切需要深化改革。项目驱动的人才培养模式作为工程教育改革的重要抓手,其影响力和应用范围正不断扩大。本文通过遴选三所工程教育具有传统优势并走在工程教育改革前沿的代表性欧美高校:麻省理工学院、代尔夫特理工大学和欧林工学院,从工程教育改革历程、人才培养理念和课程体系设置三个方面系统分析了三所高校的项目驱动人才培养模式,总结和分析了该模式以学生为中心的理念,在打破学科壁垒、培养工程技能、增强团队协作、体现人文素养等方面的特点,以及对我国工程教育改革的启示。

2022年欧美地区中密度纤维板产能概况

通过分析2022年欧美地区国家中密度纤维板工厂产能变化情况,探讨了该地区2022年中密度纤维板产能情况。2022年,欧洲地区中密度纤维板产能为3 002.2万m^(3),同比上年增幅为1.68%;北美地区中密度纤维板产能较为稳定,为581.8万m^(3),与上年持平。

试论美国K-12公立学校课程中的种族批判理论之争

近年来,种族批判理论开始走进美国K-12公立学校课程,成为培育学生社会情感能力、维护教育公平的一种路径。然而,伴随种族矛盾加剧和民粹主义抬头,美国社会围绕种族批判理论在K-12公立学校课程中的存废问题展开激烈争论。反对者指责该理论妨害学生的种族身份认知,曲解美国历史,破坏社会共识;支持者则认为该理论能够提升学生多元文化意识,增强种族和历史问题的课堂对话。这场以种族批判理论为核心的课程博弈,反映了当前美国两党在公共教育领域对意识形态主导权的竞争。美国K-12公立学校需要认清既有课程治理措施的缺失,及时清除影响课程设置的认知偏见,进一步拓展具有文化相关性的课程空间。

欧美月球GNSS规划现状分析综述

月球是地球最重要的天然卫星,当前国际上正在迎来新一轮月球探索高潮,数十个机构和商业团队正在规划月球探索任务,并设想在未来实现航天员长期驻月,围绕月球的“太空竞赛”刚刚开始。月球GNSS(基于现有的地球GNSS以及新的环月卫星通信导航基础设施的月球卫星通信导航定位技术)是空间基准科研的基础,能够提供航天器着陆定位以及月面(及其覆盖空间)定位、导航与授时等服务,同时可以将月球作为试验场,将导航工具包扩展到更远的目的地(如火星)。对欧美近期发布的月球GNSS规划进行了整理归纳,其中包括美国月球GNSS接收机实验(LuGRE)计划和欧洲月光(MoonLight)计划,以及美国中远期月球通信中继和导航系统(LCRNS)计划,这些计划可以为我国开展月球GNSS规划提供参考。

中美公共图书馆健康信息服务对比分析与启示

文章调研和分析中美公共图书馆健康信息服务现状,从服务主体、服务对象、服务资源、服务方式、服务支持五个维度对中美12所公共图书馆的健康信息服务实践情况进行对比分析,提出增加健康信息服务合作主体、细分健康信息服务对象、强化健康信息资源建设、拓展健康信息服务方式与支撑等建议,以期为我国公共图书馆健康信息服务优化发展提供参考。

欧盟与北约关系的演进逻辑及发展趋势

作为跨大西洋关系的重要组成部分,欧盟与北约关系的实质是欧美关系,属于跨大西洋同盟的派生和延伸。依托于跨大西洋同盟框架,欧盟与北约关系以欧美关系的调整与变化为主轴,经历了一个从派生性关系走向“战略伙伴关系”并继而浮现“联盟化”趋势的渐进发展过程。特定国际形势下的美国对欧政策、欧洲一体化进程以及欧美关系是影响欧盟与北约关系演进的重要因素。“联盟化”趋势的浮现反映了欧盟与北约关系的新变化,但由于多种因素的制约,其局限性依然明显。今后,竞合并存、合作性竞争将是欧盟与北约关系的基本特征与主要互动模式,“联盟化”趋势中竞合同步深化或将是一个突出特点。欧盟与北约关系的演进不仅关涉跨大西洋关系的未来,而且深刻影响全球政治与安全格局,给构建均衡有效可持续的欧洲安全架构带来严峻挑战。

在历史变迁和多维比较中探寻职业教育立法的规律——《欧美四国职业教育立法:路径·机制·模式》评介

法制建设是保障职业教育改革发展的重要基石。《欧美四国职业教育立法:路径·机制·模式》(荣艳红著)一书立足于民族国家,从现象和历史视角展现了德、法、英、美四国职业教育立法“是什么”“从哪里来”,从文化和制度层面揭示了四国职业教育立法的发展动力和运行逻辑,从共同特征和差异比较中归纳了四国职业教育立法的基本规律和镜鉴启示。该书对于我国职业教育政策和法律体系的完善,以及开展相关的职业教育制度比较和历史研究具有一定的理论和实践价值。