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Background: Sleep problems are common in the general population. Cigarette smoking is common in the general population of China. Examinations of the prevalence of poor sleep quality among Chinese smokers and nonsmokers are still lacking. This study was designed to examine sleep quality and sleep disturbances among cigarette smokers and nonsmokers in the general population in central China.Methods: In this population-based sampling project, we used a multi-stage sampling method to recruit survey participants from September 2012 to October 2012 in rural and urban areas of Hunan province, China. A total of 27,300 subjects were sampled from the general population and 26,282 completed the self-report of cigarette smoking characteristics. Cigarette smoker was defined as having smoked ≥100 cigarette in a lifetime and smoked during the last 28 days. Cigarette smoking characteristics were obtained from smokers, including cigarettes per day, years of smoking, quit attempts, and smoking cravings. The Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI) was applied to assess quality of sleep and sleep disturbances (PSQI score > 5).Results: Significantly more smokers than nonsmokers demonstrated poor sleep quality and sleep disturbances. Among smokers, linear regression analyses showed that poor sleep was inversely associated with cigarettes per day, and positively associated with years of smoking, quit attempts, and smoking craving. Logistic regression analysis showed that quit attempts and smoking cravings were associated with higher odds of sleep disturbances.Conclusions: Sleep disturbances were more prevalent among cigarette smokers than nonsmokers. Smokers also varied in sleep problems on the basis of the characteristics of their smoking. Smokers should be informed about the link between cigarette smoking and poor sleep quality, and should be advised that one of several important health benefits from smoking cessation could be the improvement of sleep quality. Sleep therapy should be recommended as an adjunctive treatment for smoking cessation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aim: To evaluate the prevalence of mild cognitive impairment (MCI) within the empty‐nest older adults population in poor rural areas of the Hunan province of China, and to explore the effects of resilience and affective balance on cognitive functioning within this specific population. Methods: A cross‐sectional, multistage, random cluster survey was administered to participants from March 2013 to December 2014 in the Hunan province. There were a total of 1164 participants. These participants were empty‐nest older adults who were residing in poor rural areas of the Hunan province. The data was collected in two stages. In stage 1, the participants were administered the Montreal Cognitive Assessment for screening cognitive impairment. In stage 2, the participants were screened for any potential cognitive impairment, were administered a series of neuropsychological tests and received a definitive diagnosis for MCI, if the criteria were met. Resilience and affect balance were assessed by the Chinese modified version of the Stress Resilience Quotient and the Affect Balance Scale. Results: The prevalence of MCI was 38.40% within this empty‐nest older adult population. Significant differences were found between MCI and non‐MCI empty‐nest older adults specific to resilience and affect balance. Path analysis showed that resilience mediated the relationship between MCI and affect balance. Conclusions: Resilience and affect balance were less prominent within the MCI empty‐nest older adults than those in the non‐MCI group. The results suggest that resilience is a mediating variable between MCI and affect balance. Geriatr Gerontol Int 2019; 19: 222–227. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Technology learning effects induce energy efficiency improvement of coal power generation in China. • Novel concepts of learning-by-manufacturing (LBM) and learning-by-operating (LBO) are proposed. • Learning rates are estimated at 1.1–1.8% for LBM and 1.7–2.1% for LBO. • Learning effects contribute 1.87 billion tonnes of CO 2 mitigation during 2000–2017. • They explain 26% of the decrease in the national average coal consumption rate of power generation. The mechanisms behind energy efficiency improvement of coal-fired power generation in China have not been well investigated. We proposed new concepts of learning-by-manufacturing (LBM) and learning-by-operating (LBO) to explain the reduced coal consumption rate of coal-fired power generation. The former results in lower initial coal consumption rates for newly commissioned electric generating units (EGUs) as manufacturers produce better equipment through knowledge accumulation, and the latter leads to a continuous decline in fuel intensity as power plant operators gain experiences in energy conservation. The learning rates of LBM and LBO are estimated at 1.1–1.8% and 1.7–2.1% for different EGUs, respectively. They contributed 662 million tonnes of standard coal equivalent (tce) of energy conservation and correspondingly 1.87 billion tonnes of CO 2 mitigation (36% by LBM and 64% by LBO) during 2000–2017 in China, and can explain 25.8% of the decrease in the national average coal consumption rate. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Triassic Chang 7 Formation is a rich lacustrine source rock in the Ordos Basin, central China. Petrographic and geochemical analyses were performed in order to research the mechanism of organic matter (OM) enrichment in the Chang 7 shales. Bulk geochemical data indicate that the OM-rich shales were formed in a fresh and brackish water, which is not usually the case for high TOC (Total Organic Carbon Content) sediments. Therefore, there must be some special conditions favorable for OM enrichment in Chang 7 shales. Petrography and element geochemistry show that the Chang 7 OM-rich shales are abundant in OM-enriched laminae, framboidal pyrites, collophanes, and some elements including iron (Fe), diphosphorus pentoxide (P 2 O 5 ), copper (Cu), vanadium (V), molybdenum (Mo), and uranium (U). High bio-productivity (algae blooming) and anoxic depositional environments are critical for OM enrichment. As the organic carbon contents increase, the Fe, P 2 O 5 , Cu, V, Mo, and U element contents increase as well and the ratios of U/Th and V / (V + Ni) are growing. Many geochemical data demonstrate that the water was oxic, while the environment under the sediment-water interface was anoxic as a result of a high organic supply that sufficiently consumed oxygen. Taking into account the geological settings and our previous studies, we propose that the frequent volcanic events and hydrothermal activity caused by the collision of the North China landmass with the Yangtze landmass and consequential formation of the Qingling Mountains had a significant role in the OM enrichment in the fresh and brackish lacustrine shales. Deposition of volcanic ash into aqueous environments might lead to the increase of some key nutrients, such as Fe and P 2 O 5 , which might enhance primary bio-productivity. New evidence for hydrothermal activity, the reddingite, was demonstrated in this study. Not only can the hydrothermal activity provide elements necessary for life, but is also favorable for formation of anoxic settings. The deposition of the Chang 7 lacustrine OM-rich shales can be explained using the High-Bio-Productivity-Driven Model, which is related to volcanic events and hydrothermal activity as a consequence of regional tectonic movements. An anoxic depositional setting is beneficial for OM preservation and slow sedimentation rates in the deep lacustrine environments are favorable for OM enrichment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper analyzes the development strategy of population health informatization in China, and summarizes the measurement direction and evaluation elements of population health informatization. Methods: Literature and field investigation, expert consultation and PEST analysis were used to determine the development level measurement and evaluation framework. Results: Based on the PEST analysis framework, the development level measurement and evaluation factors were defined, and the evaluation framework was established, which included system construction, IT application, information financing, information personnel, information policy and management, and information application effect. The information from hospitals and grass- roots medical and health institutions was also provided. From the perspective of the level of development, the framework of informatization evaluation is further refined.

In order to improve the level of health decision-making, based on health information resources and decision support function types, this study summarized five core functions of health decision support system: information support, monitoring and early warning, analysis and evaluation, trend prediction, comprehensive optimization; And from the perspective of business functions, business processes and business activities of business domains, the demand of Health Decision Support System is refined in to six parts, such as public health, medical care, drug management, medical insurance, comprehensive management, grass-roots health. On this basis, the overall design of the system is carried out.