Taxing sugar-sweetened beverages in China:By volume or sugar content? A consumer welfare approach

Using scanner data on the consumption of packaged liquid beverages by Chinese urban households,we estimated the price elasticity of various beverages and compared the effects of volume-based versus sugar-content-based taxation strategies on consumer welfare.Compared to the volume-based tax,the sugar-content-based beverage tax was predicted to cost less in compensating variation under the same amount of sugar reduced,indicating that taxation based on sugar content may be more efficient in preserving consumer welfare.Further comparison across different socioeconomic groups reveals that,given current beverage consumption status in China,the efficiency advantage of the sugar-content-based taxation strategy is more pronounced than that of the volume-based taxation.Our conclusions can provide insights for the food industry and the government to reduce the sugar content in beverages.

Does the provision of live black soldier fly and yellow mealworm larvae improve Muscovy duck welfare?

Background The provision of environmental enrichments to Muscovy ducks could reduce the expression of the aggressive behaviors.The aim of the present study was to evaluate the effects of black soldier fly(BSF)and yellow mealworm(YM)live larva provision on Muscovy duck performance,excreta corticosterone metabolites(ECM),behavior,and blood parameters.Methods A total of 1263-day-old female Muscovy ducklings were allotted to 18 pens(6 replicates/treatment,7 birds/pen)and assigned to 3 experimental treatments:a control group fed commercial feed,and two experimental treatments fed commercial feed plus the 5%(based on the expected daily feed intake,as fed basis)of BSF and YM live larvae(BSF and YM groups,respectively).A two-phase feeding program was applied:starter(from 3 to 31 days of age)and grower-finisher(from 32 to 55 days of age).The live weight,average daily gain,average daily feed intake,and feed conversion ratio were calculated.Larva consumption times were collected,and video recordings were performed during 3 periods(P)each day:the hour before(P1),during(P2),and after(P3)the larva administration.ECM were evaluated at 3,31,and 55-day-old.Finally,the total red and white blood cell counts,serum proteins,lipids,and liver and renal function serum enzymes were evaluated on 12 birds/treatment.Results The experimental treatment did not affect the growth performance of the birds(P>0.05).Larva consumption times were always similar between the two insect species,except at 14–18 days of age,were BSF larvae were consumed faster than YM larvae(P<0.001).The birds showed less walking activity during P2,and preening behavior increased in YM birds during P3.The C birds increased the attack behavior over the weeks(P<0.05).During weeks 1–3 the YM group reduced the attack frequency(P1>P3;P<0.05).Finally,the provision of live BSF and YM larvae significantly reduced the ECM at 55 days of age and the heterophil to lymphocyte ratio(P<0.05).Conclusions Live BSF and YM larva supplementation in Muscovy duck improves duck welfare,without impairing birds'growth performance.

Biomarkers of Stress and Inflammation in Assessing the Quality of Welfare of Conditioned Vaquejada Horses

In recent decades, the intensity of training and equestrian competitions has significantly increased, thus the assessment of the well-being of the equine athlete has become essential in all equestrian modalities. The aim of this study was to ascertain whether equine athletes submitted to a vaquejada simulation test (VqST), comprised of three races, presented changes in blood biomarkers related to stress and health status. Fourteen healthy Quarter Horses, used as pull horses in this equestrian modality, were evaluated. Ten animals were submitted to the VqST and the remaining four were used as a control group. Blood samples were collected pre-test (during fast), immediately after, and at 1, 4 and 24 hours of recovery. The assessed blood biomarkers included cortisol, interleukin (IL)-6, IL-1β, iron, urea, creatinine, and gamma-glutamyl transferase (GGT) concentrations and results were analyzed using One Way ANOVA (time) with the SigmaStat 13.0 software. No differences between sample times were detected in both groups (p > 0.05) and no differences were found between groups (p > 0.05). The results suggest that all horses were well conditioned for the level of effort imposed by the three vaquejada races. The adaptation to physical exercise may enable the regulation of the acute response to stress in the tissues involved in the exercises, with no differences being observed in stress and health biomarkers, such as IL-6, IL-1β and cortisol. In conclusion, well-conditioned vaquejada horses exhibit a balanced regulation of biological processes, which contributes an increased athletic longevity and better quality of athletic life.

Optimal social welfare:A many-to-many data transaction mechanism based on double auctions

With the development of Big Data and the Internet of Things(IoT),the data value is more significant in both academia and industry.Trading can achieve maximal data value and prepare data for smart city services.Due to data's unique characteristics,such as dispersion,heterogeneity and distributed storage,an unbiased platform is necessary for the data trading market with rational trading entities.Meanwhile,there are multiple buyers and sellers in a practical data trading market,and this makes it challenging to maximize social welfare.To solve these problems,this paper proposes a Social-Welfare-Oriented Many-to-Many Trading Mechanism(SOMTM),which integrates three entities,a trading process and an algorithm named Many-to-Many Trading Algorithm(MMTA).Based on the market scale,market dominated-side and market fixed-side,simulations verify the convergency,economic properties and efficiency of SOMTM.

Environmental Enrichment and Its Effect on the Welfare of Two Asian Elephants in Africam Safari Wildlife Conservation Park (Puebla, Mexico)

Animal welfare is important in zoos to maintain the physical well-being and psychological health of individuals. An animal is considered to have welfare if it has good nutrition and also expresses its innate behavior, including sensations and feelings experienced as a result of physical health. The objective of this study was to evaluate the effect of environmental enrichment on the behaviors of two Asian elephants in a wildlife conservation park. The behavior of two Asian elephants, a 46-year-old male and a 59-year-old female, was observed. Behavior was measured by quantifying the frequency, latency, and duration of behavioral actions. Measurements were done with ad libitum sampling during 5 days of testing, then observations were recorded with focal sampling for 25 days with environmental enrichment and 25 days without enrichment. Data were analyzed with the Chi-square statistical test using the statistical program SPSS 20, observing significant differences (P the application of environmental enrichment. The frequency of maintenance behaviors was higher when environmental enrichment was provided, and the frequency of social conducts (affiliative and agonistic) decreased. In fact, the behaviors most frequently presented by elephants with and without environmental enrichment were definitely maintenance behaviors. The environmental enrichment program helped to reduce the duration of abnormal behaviors and increase the frequency of typical behaviors of the species. It also increased independent movements within the exhibition area and helped to know each of the elephants individually in order to apply each enrichment combination according to their needs.

Geochemical and Isotopic Techniques Constraints on the Origin,Evolution,and Residence Time of Low-enthalpy Geothermal Water in Western Wugongshan,SE China

Geothermal resources are increasingly gaining attention as a competitive,clean energy source to address the energy crisis and mitigate climate change.The Wugongshan area,situated in the southeast coast geothermal belt of China,is a typical geothermal anomaly and contains abundant medium-and low-temperature geothermal resources.This study employed hydrogeochemical and isotopic techniques to explore the cyclic evolution of geothermal water in the western Wugongshan region,encompassing the recharge origin,water-rock interaction mechanisms,and residence time.The results show that the geothermal water in the western region of Wugongshan is weakly alkaline,with low enthalpy and mineralization levels.The hydrochemistry of geothermal waters is dominated by Na-HCO_(3)and Na-SO_(4),while the hydrochemistry types of cold springs are all Na-HCO_(3).The hydrochemistry types of surface waters and rain waters are NaHCO_(3)or Ca-HCO_(3).The δD and δ^(18)O values reveal that the geothermal waters are recharged by atmospheric precipitation at an altitude between 550.0 and 1218.6 m.Molar ratios of maj or solutes and isotopic compositions of^(87)Sr/^(86)Sr underscore the significant role of silicate weathering,dissolution,and cation exchange in controlling geothermal water chemistry.Additionally,geothermal waters experienced varying degrees of mixing with cold water during their ascent.Theδ^(13)C values suggest that the primary sources of carbon in the geothermal waters were biogenic and organic.Theδ^(34)S value suggests that the sulfates in geothermal water originate from sulfide minerals in the surrounding rock.Age dating using 3H and^(14)C isotopes suggests that geothermal waters have a residence time exceeding 1 kaBP and undergo a long-distance cycling process.

Ophthalmic exam and ophthalmology residents’ subspecialty preference

AIM:To evaluate residents’perceptions and attitudes toward the various aspects of a comprehensive ophthalmic examination,and to determine if these factors correlate with their choices for fellowship and future career plans.METHODS:This is a cross-sectional study.A questionnaire on the perception of the ophthalmic exam was sent via SurveyMonkey to ophthalmology residents throughout Israel.Eighty of them(one-half of all ophthalmology residents in 2019)completed it.The first part related to how they perceived each component of the ophthalmic evaluation.The second part related to their future fellowship plans.The Chi-squared test was used to compare categorical variables and Student’s t-test and One-way ANOVA were used to compare continuous variables.Multivariate logistic regression analysis was applied as needed to detect interactions between variables and to exclude confounder effects.RESULTS:Slit-lamp examination of the anterior and posterior segments ranked as the most likeable aspects,whereas gonioscopy,ocular motility examination and visual acuity assessment were least likeable.Anterior segment and retina subspecialties were the ones most sought after.Forty-nine respondents(61.3%)noted a direct correlation between their preferred parts of comprehensive ophthalmic evaluations and their choice of subspecialty.Perceptions of selected components of those evaluations were significantly associated with responders’intentions to pursue anterior segment,retina,or oculoplastic fellowships(P<0.05).CONCLUSION:Perspectives of residents toward the ophthalmic examination,and most specifically its individual components,play an important role in their choice of subspecialty training.

Disparities across the CREOG Districts —Variations of Wellness and Inclusivity Efforts in Obstetrics & Gynecology Residency Websites between Two Consecutive Years

Background: Few studies have focused on the geographic and chronologic assessment of inclusivity and wellness in Obstetrics and Gynecology residency websites across the US. Objective: To identify variations in wellness and inclusivity website depictions across CREOG districts over the past two years. Methods: This is a cross-sectional analysis of the websites of ACGME-accredited OB/GYN residency programs across the United States between April 2022 and April 2023. The assessment was based on a compilation of 22 attributes devised and piloted by 49 medical students. A racially, geographically, and gender-diverse cohort of 11 students performed data collection. Results: A total of 560 websites were analyzed over two years. Wellness efforts remained unchanged in both years (website content, dedicated support personnel, and group activities). In 2023, a reduction in referencing of wellness (22%) and inclusivity (30%) occurred in leadership messaging. However, a 7% increase in the use of inclusive pronouns was noted. A reduction in gender diversity was identified (9% in faculty, 5% in residents), with programs favoring female-only teams. Similarly, a 7% reduction in the number of underrepresented in medicine faculty and residents was noted. A 15% reduction was noted in curricula referencing inclusivity in their mission statement and inclusivity focused research. Conclusions: This study suggests the variations across websites relative to inclusivity and wellness over the past two years. Updated websites may provide an accurate reflection of the offerings of programs and their investment in wellness and inclusivity across the nation.

Post competency training in standardized training of resident physicians and integrated postgraduates

We focus on the importance and necessity of post-competency-based training in medical education alongside its current challenges and opportunities.Integrating post competency training into standardized educational frameworks is increasingly recognized as a critical component of preparing residents and postgraduates for real-world clinical practice.Post competency training represents a commitment to excellence in medical education,striving to produce competent,skilled practitioners to meet the challenges of modern healthcare.

Particle residence time distribution and axial dispersion coefficient in a pressurized circulating fluidized bed by using multiphase particle-in-cell simulation

The particle residence time distribution(RTD)and axial dispersion coefficient are key parameters for the design and operation of a pressurized circulating fluidized bed(PCFB).In this study,the effects of pressure(0.1-0.6 MPa),fluidizing gas velocity(2-7 m·s^(-1)),and solid circulation rate(10-90 kg·m^(-2)·s^(-1))on particle RTD and axial dispersion coefficient in a PCFB are numerically investigated based on the multiphase particle-in-cell(MP-PIC)method.The details of the gas-solid flow behaviors of PCFB are revealed.Based on the gas-solid flow pattern,the particles tend to move more orderly under elevated pressures.With an increase in either fluidizing gas velocity or solid circulation rate,the mean residence time of particles decreases while the axial dispersion coefficient increases.With an increase in pressure,the core-annulus flow is strengthened,which leads to a wider shape of the particle RTD curve and a larger mean particle residence time.The back-mixing of particles increases with increasing pressure,resulting in an increase in the axial dispersion coefficient.

Analysis of Influencing Factors on Fruit Consumption of Urban and Rural Residents in Beijing

In light of the rapid expansion of China s economy,there has been a notable shift in the consumption patterns of urban and rural residents.This is evident in the increased consumption of agricultural products,with fruit consumption representing a particularly pronounced trend.The 2023 Beijing Consumption Statistics indicate that demand for fruit is increasing,accompanied by heightened competition for quality and brands.The paper is based on research that examines the current situation of fruit consumption among urban and rural residents in Beijing.The results indicate that when urban and rural residents in Beijing purchase fruits,price is the most significant factor influencing fruit consumption.Taste,appearance,and variety are also considered to be important influencing factors,while the influence of factors such as fruit type,consumption pattern,and fruit brand is relatively minor.

The Impact of the Digital Economy on Rural Residents’Working Hours:Mechanisms and Empirical Evidence

The rapid development of the digital economy has provided a new impetus for rural residents to extend their working hours.Based on the data collected by the China Labor-force Dynamics Survey(CLDS)in 2014,2016,and 2018,this paper measured the development level of the digital economy in China from the perspectives of internet development and digital financial inclusion,and tested the mechanisms of how the digital economy affected rural residents’working hours.The results showed that the digital economy extended rural residents’working hours by expanding information channels and enhancing human capital,and this mechanism was affected by heterogeneity in rural residents’educational background,age,and social capital.Building on these findings,this paper holds that to increase rural residents’income by extending their working hours and achieving common prosperity for all,it is necessary to expand the opportunities for rural residents to participate in skills training and promote their accumulation of human capital.

Assessment of Online Transgender Healthcare Teaching Modules for Internal Medicine Residents and Fellows

Background: Transgender healthcare is not a formal learning requirement in Internal Medicine residency or fellowship. The National LGBTQ Task Force appealed to urgently train clinicians on the effective care of transgender patients. Few studies address the successful implementation of transgender healthcare teaching and education in graduate medical education. Purpose: The purpose was to design an online asynchronous curriculum to address the need for improved transgender healthcare education in graduate medical education and assess change in knowledge and comfort in transgender healthcare for residents and fellow learners. Methods: A 6-module curriculum was developed using established guidelines and ACGME competencies as a framework for content. To assess curriculum effectiveness, participants received anonymous pre- and post-curriculum surveys which included a multiple-choice knowledge assessment, Likert scale comfort questions focusing on healthcare skills, and open-ended feedback questions. Results: Twenty-six internal medicine residents and fellows participated in the curriculum (2022-2023). There was a 69% post-survey response rate. Participants improved their gender-affirming knowledge after completing the curriculum (p Conclusion: This online curriculum was successful in increasing knowledge and comfort in transgender care for IM residents and fellows. It provides a promising framework to address this gap in curricular content.

The Prediction for the Consumer Price Index of Residents in Perspective of Time Series Method in Case of Chongqing

The consumer price index (CPI) measures the relative number of changes in the price level of consumer goods and services over time, reflecting the trend and degree of changes in the price level of goods and services purchased by residents. This article uses the ARMA model to analyze the fluctuation trend of the CPI (taking Chongqing as an example) and make short-term predictions. To test the predictive performance of the model, the observation values from January to December 2023 were retained as the reference object for evaluating the predictive accuracy of the model. Finally, through trial predictions of the data from May to August 2023, it was found that the constructed model had good fitting performance.

Logistics,Supply Chain Management,and Taiwan residents Immigration Assessed in Light of Globalization

Organizations regardless of size can take advantage of the market dynamics brought about by globalization.Supply chain management is crucial for large organizations,especially with regard to the costs,complexity,and risks of its large,often global,supply chains.From technology to risk management,learning what it takes to navigate transportation and logistics business management in today’s volatile world is critical.Human migration has accelerated in light of globalization and rapid advances in transportation(particularly aviation)technology.This study investigated the connection between logistics and supply chain management in the age of globalization;reviewed the migration,settlement,and naturalization of Taiwan residents immigrants along the West Coast of the United States;and theoretically analyzed the forces that have led to the construction of the Taiwan residents immigrant community.Taiwan residents immigrants and their settlement are affected by global forces,and factors such as their cross-cultural trade,the characteristics of diasporic communities,and their national identity can provide scholarly and pedagogical insights.

Spatial Morphology Evolution Characteristics Analysis of the Resident Population Distribution in Henan, China

The population spatial distribution pattern and its evolving pattern play an important role in regional allocation of social resources and production factors, formulation of regional development plans, construction of a better life society, and promotion of regional economic development. Based on the resident population statistics data of Henan province from 2006 to 2021, with county as the basic study unit, the paper studies the spatial morphology characteristics and its evolution patterns of resident population distribution, by using spatial analysis methods such as population distribution center, standard deviation ellipse, and spatial auto correlation analysis. The results show that: the resident population spatial distribution shows unbalanced state, the population agglomeration areas mainly distribute in the northeast part and north part, where the resident population growth rate is significantly higher than other regions, over time, this trend is gradually becoming significant. The resident population distribution has a trend of centripetal concentration, with the degree and trend of centripetal gradually strengthening. The resident population distribution has obvious directional characteristics, but the significance is not high, the weighted resident population average center is approximately located at (4.13740˚N, 113.8935˚E), and the azimuth of the distribution axis is approximately 11.19˚. The population distribution has obvious agglomeration characteristics, with the built-up areas of Zhengzhou and Luoyang as their centers, where have a significant siphon effect on the surrounding population. The southern and southwestern regions in the province form a relatively stable belt area of Low-Low agglomeration areas.

Application Effect of Remote Ultrasound Teaching in Standardized Residency Training

Objective:To explore the application effect of remote ultrasound teaching in the standardized training of residents.Methods:42 students who participated in the standardized residency training in the Department of Ultrasonography of our hospital from August 2022 to August 2023 were selected and divided into the control group(n=21)and the observation group(n=21)by using the random number table method.The control group was taught routinely,and the observation group was taught with remote ultrasound on the basis of the control group.The general data,teaching effect,ultrasound diagnostic compliance rate,and teaching satisfaction of the participants in the two groups were observed.Results:The baseline data of the two groups were not statistically significant(P>0.05);the theoretical and practical assessment scores of the observation group were significantly better than those of the control group(t=2.491,t=2.434,P=0.05);the ultrasound diagnostic compliance rate of the participants in the observation group was significantly higher than that of the control group(78.33%)(χ2=33.574,P=0.000<0.001);the overall satisfaction rate of students in the observation group(20/95.24%)was significantly higher than that of the control group(14/66.67%)(χ2=3.860,P=0.049<0.05).Conclusion:In standardized residency training,remote ultrasound teaching can effectively improve the comprehensive ability of students,enhance diagnostic accuracy,and improve students’teaching satisfaction.

Application of BOPPPS + Mind Maps to Improve Clinical Competence of General Practitioner Residents: Taking Cough as an Example

Objective:To analyze the importance of general practitioner residents using the combined teaching method(BOPPPS+mind maps).Methods:From September 2023 to August 2024,a study was conducted with 6 control group participants receiving traditional teaching and 6 observation group participants receiving the combined teaching method(BOPPPS+mind maps).The study analyzed various indicators between the two groups(including mind map scores and assessment results).Results:Compared with the control group,the assessment scores of the observation group were significantly higher(P<0.05).Conclusion:The application of the combined teaching method(BOPPPS+mind maps)by general practitioner residents can significantly improve their comprehensive abilities.

Study on the Impacts of Tourism Development in Letong Ancient Town:A Resident Perception-Based Approach

Residents constitute the principal elements of regional tourism deveopment,and their behavioral cognition will play a certain role in promoting local tourism development.In recent years,although tourism along the Sichuan-Tibet Line(318 and 317 routes)has made some progress,there are some problems,such as homogenization of products,a single local culture,and inconspicuous brand characteristics.At the same time,due to the remote geographical location,living conditions,health conditions,and other imperfections,resulting in greater constraints on tourism development.This article employs Letong Ancient Town as a representative case study,and discusses the impact of tourism development on the local economy,environment,society,and culture from the perspective of residents’perception through field research and data analysis,thereby providing a reference for regional tourism development.

Associations between residence and cognitive function among Chinese older adults: the mediating role of leisure activity

Background:Cognitive function is a current research hotspot,residence may be related to differences in cognitive function,and the mediating role of leisure activities are limited in Chinese research.This study used leisure activities as a mediating variable to investigate the mediating role of leisure activity between place of residence(city-town-rural)and cognitive function among Chinese older,this is where the innovation of the article comes in.Methods:Using cross-sectional data from the 2018 Chinese Longitudinal Healthy Longevity Survey,Pearson correlation analyses were employed to examine the relationships among various indicators.Mediation analyses were conducted using the SPSS PROCESS macro program,version 3.5,written by Hayes,to explore the mediating effects of leisure activity between place of residence and cognitive function in older adults.Results:A total of 10955 older adults were included in this study,with a mean age of(84.23±11.57)years.Among them,2739(24.8%)lived in the city,3627(33.1%)in town,and 4615(42.1%)in rural areas;their leisure activity score was(5.34±3.77),and their cognitive function score was(24.69±6.65).Place of residence,leisure activities,and cognitive function were significantly correlated(P<0.01).Using city as a reference,place of residence is negatively associated with cognitive function,and place of residence not only had a direct effect on cognitive function in older adults:town-cognitive function(effect=–0.399;95%confidence interval(CI)=(–0.685,–0.113));rural-cognitive function(effect=–0.42;95%CI=(–0.698,–0.141)).There were also indirect effects on cognitive function through the pathway of leisure activity:town-leisure activity-cognitive function(effect=–0.17;95%CI=(–0.246,–0.1)),rural-leisure activity-cognitive function(effect=–0.199;95%CI=(–0.272,–0.13)).Conclusion:Leisure activities play a partially mediating role between the impact of place of residence and cognitive function in Chinese older adults,and it is vital to pay attention to the impact of place of residence on the cognitive function of older adults in various aspects,and to increase the participation rate of older adults in leisure activities,which is beneficial to the prevention of cognitive decline and the protection of older adult’s physical and mental health.