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Objective: This study aimed to evaluate the efficiency of tri-ponderal mass index (TMI) in determining obesity in Chinese children aged 6-9 years, using the criteria of percentage of body fat (PBF) and body mass index z-scores (BMI-Z). Methods: The cross-sectional study included 5365 children, aged 6–9 years, who participated in the project survey “Group prevention and treatment of obesity among students and school health promotion in Shanghai” from September 2007 to September 2009. Height, weight, waist circumference, body mass index (BMI), TMI, waist-to-height ratio (WHtR), and PBF were recorded. Statistical analyses including Kolmogorov–Smirnov test, chi-square test, receiver operating characteristics curve, and kappa chi-square test were performed. Results: TMI for both sexes was relatively constant with increasing age, and statistically significant differences were not observed at some ages (P > 0.05 at 6, 7, 8, and 9 years). WHtR showed subtle changes, while BMI and PBF increased significantly with age in boys and girls (P < 0.01). Using BMI-Z criteria as the measure of general obesity, the results indicated that TMI cutoff values for 6–9 years were 14.60 kg/m³ for boys and 14.84 kg/m³ for girls (P < 0.001). Analysis of the agreement between TMI and BMI-Z showed that the kappa statistic was 0.826 in boys and 0.709 in girls (P < 0.001). Conclusion: TMI, as a constant tool, holds great potential as an alternative screening method for identifying children aged 6-9 years who may be at risk of obesity at an early stage. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Seismic liquefaction affects badly the safety of the underground structures. For the dynamic responses of the tunnel in liquefied watered sandy stratum in one of the rail transit projects in Shanghai, this paper proposes a tunnel-foundation shaking table model test and analyses the dynamic responses of electrolytic desaturation technology on surrounding soil, which provides some theoretical guidance for seismic designs of Shanghai rail transit projects. The test result shows that the excess pore pressure ratio of soil decreases gradually with the increase of buried depth; sand is easier to liquefy than silt so the tunnel liquefaction and uplift during the sandy section should be paid more attention to; electrolytic desaturation technology works significantly on improving the liquefaction resistance abilities of sand and silt which can effectively reduce the damage caused by tunnel uplift due to seismic liquefaction. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• A new construction method for metro stations in soft ground was investigated. • The merits in underground space utilization and environment impact were analyzed. • Challenges, relevant key techniques, and lessons learnt were summarized. At present, the metro station constructions in dense urban areas face significant challenges during the rapid urban metro network expansion. The repeating disturbances to city traffic, commerce, and residents' daily life induced by conventional open-cut metro station constructions can no longer be accepted in dense urban areas. To solve these problems, some underground excavation methods, such as enlarging shield tunnels, shallow tunnelling method and pipe-roof mining method, have been attempted, but it is difficult for them to be adapted to the strict limitation of urban space in soft ground. In this paper, the planning, construction, challenges, and relevant key techniques of an innovative type of metro station – open-cut shafts combined with quasi-rectangular jacking boxes (SCJB) were introduced and investigated. The main conclusions are as follows: (1) For the advantages of efficient underground space utilization and little impact on traffic and environment, the SCJB method is recommended for the constructions of metro stations that need to traverse the heavy traffic roads and express-way viaducts. The flexible combinations of open-cut shafts and jacking boxes can form various layouts of underground space to adapt to various complex surrounding environment. (2) Steel-concrete composite lining was designed for jacking boxes considering the transportation convenience and bearing capacity enhancement, and the corresponding earth pressure balanced box jacking machines were developed. (3) By applying thick thixotropic slurry with small filtration loss, the jacking resistance of the large-section box culverts was effectively reduced to 4–6 kPa and the total jacking force was kept at 30,000 kN. (4) By surveying with laser guiding system and performing timely rectifications, the trajectory deviations induced by two large adjacent box jacking were controlled within ±50 mm. The horizontal convergence of east line box segments caused by the west line jacking was controlled within 1.5 mm, through strict trajectory control. The surface settlement induced by the crossing of three box jacking tunnels was effectively controlled within 15 mm. The experiences learnt from this project can provide valuable references for the planning and construction of metro stations in dense urban areas in soft ground. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Waste separation at source is a critical method for waste management, yet understanding of its human dimension, especially the social embeddedness, has been underestimated. Grounded in the perspective of innovation diffusion, we viewed the recent policy of mandatory source separation in Shanghai as an eco-innovation for citizens and investigated the role of opinion leaders in its diffusion process. Using a novel theoretical and methodological approach, social network analysis, we examined the relationships between opinion leaders' centralities in the information exchange networks and their competence in source separation–knowledge and attitude. Results showed that opinion leaders' higher level of knowledge in waste source separation was associated with their central network positions in terms of reaching out to others in person and providing information on social media. However, most participants generally had supportive attitudes toward source separation; their attitudes did not vary with the positions in the information networks. Findings highlight the importance of knowledge in eco-innovation and the role of opinion leaders in the diffusion process. The study contributes to a theoretical application of diffusion to a unique context, i.e., eco-innovation, and findings can be applied to effective policy implementations for future waste management programming. [Display omitted] [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Although government withdrawal from business has traditionally been considered a key reform in developing a market economy, the Chinese government remains active. This study uses the social psychological theory of cooperation and competition to analyze the interdependence between government and business. Structural equation results of interviews of specific incidents collected from 105 government officials and business people in Shanghai, China, support the model that cooperative, but not competitive or independent, goals induce open-minded discussions that in turn strengthen their relationships, accomplish tasks, foster confidence they will work productively in the future, and develop their industry and the marketplace. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article discusses the highlights of a leadership training course organized by the Shanghai Mental Health Center and the Pacific-Rim College of Psychiatrists (PRCP), held at the Shanghai Mental Health Center in China on October 14 and 15, 2011. The event tackled issues concerning leadership in psychiatry including quality assurance in research, the challenges in psychiatric education and training in China, and the role of public officials in developing community-wide response systems.