Fight fire with fire?Promoting physical activity and health through active video games

Physical inactivity has been identified as one of the leading causes of many chronic diseases such as cardiovascular disease,type 2 diabetes,and obesity.Technology such as video games plays a complicated role in physical inactivity—much like a double-edged sword.Traditionally,video games have contributed to the epidemic of physical inactivity and have

Statistical Algorithm for Damage Detection of Concrete Beams Based on Piezoelectric Smart Aggregate

The functional piezoelectric ceramic smart aggregate(SA) sensors and actuators,based on piezoelectric ceramic materials such as lead zirconium titanate(PZT),were embedded into the reinforced concrete beams with three-point bending under static loading for purposes of damage detection.The SA actuators generated the desired sine sweep excitation signals online and the SA sensors received and detected real-time signals before and after damage.The wavelet analysis and statistical characteristics about damage signals were used as a signal processing and analysis tool to extract the optimal damage information and establish a statistical damage detection algorithm.The damage index-based wavelet analysis and damage probability-based probability and statistics were proposed by PZT wavebased theory and active health monitoring technology.The results showed that the existence of cracks inside largely attenuated the amplitude of active monitoring signal after the damage of beam and the attenuation was related to the severity degree of damage.The innovative statistical algorithm of damage pattern detection based PZT-SA can effectively determine damage probability and damage degree,and provide a prediction for the critical damage location of reinforced concrete structures.The developed method can be utilized for the structural health comprehensive monitoring and damage detection on line of various large-scale concrete structures.

The Reference Value for Biomonitoring in Chemicals Risk Area in Thailand

The workers’biological standard value(WBSV)is generally used to assess chemicals health risks in community.It may cause the deviate biomonitoring.Therefore,this study was aimed to set the pilot reference value for exposed people to chemicals.The study was divided into three phases:the two phases for field-study method and one phase for stakeholder’s adoption.Phase I was proceeded in one industrial zone in Thailand during the years 2012-2014 to collect blood and urine samples of 402 working-age people in community accompanied with in-depth interview.The 4 heavy metals(arsenic,cadmium,lead,mercury)in blood and urine were analyzed by atomic absorption spectroscopy(AAS)analysis and inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry(ICP-MS).The metabolites of 4 volatile organic compounds(VOCs,benzene,toluene,styrene,xylenes)in urine were analyzed by high performance liquid chromatography(HPLC)analysis.The 8 chemicals concentrations of the volunteers’average chemicals concentration(VACC)were calculated.Phase II was proceeded during the years 2015-2016 to compare risk group identification between usage of VACC and usage of WBSV.The results were presented in mean value,standard deviation,percentage,and significant.The results showed approximately 90 percent of VACCs were lower than WBSV.The exceptional result was volunteers’average urinary arsenic concentration.It was clearly higher than WBSV.The comparative results showed the adjusted amount of risk people by VACC was higher than the adjusted amount risk people by WBSV.Phase III was proceeded in the year 2017 for stakeholder’s adoption.This study indicated that general people’s average chemicals concentration should be used as the reference value for biomonitoring and active health surveillance.

Review： Utilization of yeast of Saccharomyces cerevisiae origin in artificially raised calves

Yeast of Saccharomyces cerevisiae（SCY） origin has over long time been incorporated into domestic animal diets. In calves, several products have offered improved performance and health. Although several types of research have been completed, the mode of action of SCY is not clear in calves. Under this review, we have highlighted the works available in the literature on the use of SCY in calves performance, health, immunity, and the gut environment. Both active live yeast and yeast culture have positive effects on growth, rumen, small intestines, immunity and general health of the calf. Specifically, SCY can improve DMI, growth, feed efficiency and reduce diarrhea in calves. Furthermore, subtle improvements are seen in rumen fermentation（increased butyrate production） and rumen papillae growth. These positive results are, however, more pronounced in calves that are under stress or exposed to significant levels of disease-causing agents. There is a need for further research in areas such as gut morphology, gut microbiology and immunity using latest molecular methods to fully understand how SCY helps the growth and development of calves.

Relationships among Psychosocial Correlates and Stages of Change in a German-Chinese Sample

Promoting Health Enhancing Physical Activity (HEPA) behavior is an important undertaking in Germany as well as in China. In order to create successful interventions in different nations, knowledge about the relevant psychosocial correlates that may encourage successful progression through the behavior change process is necessary. Therefore, the relationships of selected psychosocial correlates of physical activity with stages of change were examined in a German-Chinese sample. In total, 2071 adults (865 Germans, 1206 Chinese) completed a questionnaire. The theoretical framework used was the FIT-model, which consists of the following stages of change: not considering, considering, preparing, exploring, fluctuating and maintaining. All data were analyzed with a two-way ANOVA. Significant main effects for the stages of change on all psychosocial correlates were found. Significant interactions between stages and nations emerged for all correlates except for social support, although these results revealed small effect sizes. To progress within the stages of inactivity, interventions should focus on outcome expectations, barriers, social support and affective attitudes. The successful initiation of physical activity depends on considerations of barriers, maintenance self-efficacy, intrinsic motivation and affective attitudes. These same correlates plus social support are relevant for long-term adherence to physical activity. In Germany, perceived barriers and emotional aspects of physical activity appear to be important for initiating and maintaining regular physical activity. Furthermore, for long-term adherence to physical activity, Germans—in contrast to Chinese adults—may not necessarily benefit from social support;however they could benefit from learning how to strengthen their physical activity outcome expectations.