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Human-to-human contact plays a leading role in the transmission of infectious diseases, and the contact pattern between individuals has an important influence on the intensity and trend of disease transmission. In this paper, we define regular contacts and random contacts. Then, taking the COVID-19 outbreak in Yangzhou City, China as an example, we consider age heterogeneity, household structure and two contact patterns to establish discrete dynamic models with switching between daytime and nighttime to depict the transmission mechanism of COVID-19 in population. We studied the changes in the reproduction number with different age groups and household sizes at different stages. The effects of the proportion of two contacts patterns on reproduction number were also studied. Furthermore, taking the final size, the peak value of infected individuals in community and the peak value of quarantine infected individuals and nucleic acid test positive individuals as indicators, we evaluate the impact of the number of random contacts, the duration of the free transmission stage and summer vacation on the spread of the disease. The results show that a series of prevention and control measures taken by the Chinese government in response to the epidemic situation are reasonable and effective, and the young and middle-aged adults (aged 18-59) with household size of 6 have the strongest transmission ability. In addition, the results also indicate that increasing the proportion of random contact is beneficial to the control of the infectious disease in the phase with interventions. This work enriches the content of infectious disease modeling and provides theoretical guidance for the prevention and control of follow-up major infectious diseases. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the era of the digital society, information has experienced rapid development, and individuals, including the elderly, are increasingly relying on various media to access the information they require. However, there has been limited research on how media usage as a behavior influences the subjective perceptions of older adults and the motivating factors driving their use of media in the digital age. Drawing on the activity theory and knowledge-gap theory, this study aims to investigate whether media use mediates the connection between social participation and subjective well-being among older adults in China. The study also pays specific attention to potential intergroup differences, such as age-group relationships and the types of media involved. We selected a nationally representative sample comprising 938 older adults aged 60 and above from the 2021 Chinese General Social Survey and incorporated them into the mediation analysis. Structural equation modeling (SEM) with path analysis and maximum likelihood procedures was used to analyze the data. Our findings revealed a positive association between social participation and media use, as well as a positive association between media use and subjective well-being. The path analysis further demonstrated that media use mediated the relationship between social participation and subjective well-being. Specifically, social participation through media use, acting as a mediating variable, accounting for 75.3% of the influence on subjective well-being. Distinct age groups exhibited significantly varied levels of social participation, with traditional media (paper-based) playing a more substantial role in our model compared to electronic media (such as television, radio, internet, social media, and mobile applications). The results suggest that older adults with a higher frequency of social participation exhibit stronger levels of media use, and high levels of media use are associated with elevated levels of subjective well-being. The results of this study highlight the positive indirect effects of social participation, media use, and subjective well-being, emphasizing the intricate interplay between these factors among older adults in China. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The health condition during childhood has been shown to influence an individual's health and socioeconomic status in adulthood. Understanding the concentration and persistence patterns in children's healthcare expenditures is crucial for providing risk protection and promoting the well-being of children. Studies regarding the concentration and persistence of health expenditures have focused mainly on elderly individuals in developed regions. To gain insights into factors that contribute to childhood health expenditures, this article examined children with high costs (that is, in the top 10% of the expenditure distribution) and explored the characteristics and spending patterns that distinguished them from other patients in the context of the largest developing economy—China. Methods: By using a unique individual-level administrative claims dataset over a 5-year observation period, this study identified spending concentrations and the proportion of children whose costs remained high over five years using a linear probability model and logit regression analysis. Results: Teenagers from 12 to 17 years old were more likely to persist in the high-cost group than any other age groups in the study. Pediatric complex chronic conditions and other severe health ailments were predictive factors for entry into and persistence in the high-cost category. More than half of the total health expenditures were attributed to children in the top 10% expenditure group. In addition, risk protection and healthcare insurance support for high-cost children was found to be inadequate, particularly for children from low-income families. Conclusions: Healthcare support for children impacts individual development and family financial status. This study described the characteristics and spending patterns of children patients in the largest developing country. The fact that over half of total expenditures are concentrated toward 10% of patients makes it valuable to consider relevant support for this group, especially for families whose medical costs are higher than income. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Age heterogeneity in influenza transmission leads to significant differences in infection risk among different age groups. In this paper, an influenza model with vaccination and discrete age structure is constructed. First, we obtain the basic reproduction number R0$$ {R}_0 $$ and prove that the disease‐free equilibrium E0$$ {E}_0 $$ is globally stable at R0<1$$ {R}_0<1 $$. When R0>1$$ {R}_0>1 $$, the disease will persist uniformly, and there is a unique positive equilibrium, which is globally asymptotically stable under certain conditions. The model is used to analyze influenza data from 2016 to 2017 in China. By comparing various prevention and control measures, it can be found that by wearing masks to reduce contact between different age groups, while increasing vaccine coverage and reducing vaccine failure rates, the prevention and control goals can be achieved in the shortest time. However, if only the vaccine coverage rate is increased and the vaccine protection rate is strengthened, the time to reach the control target is 8 months later than the above case, and the cost is the lowest. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Adults living alone represent a growing population group in China. Understanding the prevalence of body mass index (BMI) categories and their associations with demographic and lifestyle factors among this group is essential for informing targeted interventions and public health policies. Methods: In this population-based cross-sectional study, we used individual-level data from the 2011–2021 China General Social Survey. Main outcomes were prevalence of BMI categories adjusted for gender and age, using logistic regression and model-predicted marginal prevalence to estimate BMI categories prevalence. Results: We analyzed 9,077 single-living Chinese adult participants. The primary-adjusted prevalence of BMI categories varied across different genders and age groups. Underweight was more prevalent in females (12.73%; 95% CI: 12.31% - 13.14%) than in males (7.54%; 95% CI: 7.19% - 7.88%), while overweight and obesity were higher in males. Primary-adjusted underweight prevalence was highest among the 18–24 years age group (22.09%; 95% CI: 20.17% - 24.01%) and decreased with age. Primary-adjusted overweight prevalence increased with age, peaking in the 45–54 years age group (41.94%; 95% CI: 40.96% - 42.93%). Primary-adjusted obesity prevalence exhibited a fluctuating pattern across age groups, with the highest prevalence observed in the 45–54 years age group (9.81%; 95% CI: 9.19% - 10.44%). Conclusion: Our findings reveal significant associations between BMI categories and demographic and lifestyle factors among adults living alone in China. These results can inform targeted interventions and public health policies aimed at promoting healthy weight management and addressing the unique health challenges faced by single-living individuals in China. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

An analysis of risk perceptions during public health emergencies is crucial for effective risk management and policy-making. This paper examines risk perceptions in China during the early coronavirus pneumonia (COVID-19) outbreak using first-hand data. It reveals that residents experienced heightened perceived severity and vulnerability towards COVID-19. Moreover, substantial heterogeneity in risk perceptions existed between social groups based on age, education, employment status, and hukou type. Specifically, higher risk perception was observed among young adults, the well-educated, those outside formal employment systems, and urban hukou-holders. Furthermore, external factors like residential environment, information disclosure satisfaction, and COVID-19 exposure significantly influenced risk perceptions. Notably, homeownership was linked to higher general risk perception compared to renting. Individuals in informal settlements like Chengzhongcun exhibited greater risk perception than those in commodity housing. The residential environment contributed significantly to perceived severity, but not vulnerability. These findings demonstrate the complex factors influening risk perception, emphasizing the need for tailored policies addressing the unique concerns of various social groups and residential settings. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Burns cause serious physical and psychological harm to patients, placing a heavy burden on the global healthcare system. Our previous study detailed the epidemiological characteristics of burn injuries in Chinese inpatients from 2009 to 2018. Interestingly, the anatomic locations of burn injuries vary by gender, age, provinces, and outcomes among different causes. Therefore, this current study aims to analyze the characteristics of burn injuries in inpatients with various burn sites by collecting data in China from 2009 to 2018. This analysis will inform future healthcare system decisions and provide effective strategies. Methods: Burns inpatients from 196 hospitals across 31 provinces in China were included in the study, covering the period from 2009 to 2018. The data collected encompassed information on gender, age, etiology, regions, clinical outcomes, and anatomical locations of the injuries. Data analysis was conducted using Microsoft Excel 2007. Results: From 2009 to 2018, a total of 333,995 burns inpatients were recorded. The most vulnerable parts to burns were multiple burn sites (230,090, 68.89%). Women were more susceptible to lower limb burns (15,608, 14%), while men were more prone to eye injuries (8,387, 3.37%) and hand burns (6,119, 2.75%). The age group of 0–10 years was the most vulnerable to burns across all body areas, including internal organs. In China, individuals aged 20–50 years were at a higher risk of head and neck burns compared to other age groups. The Han population showed increased vulnerability to eye injuries (2.12 times higher than minorities), respiratory tract issues (2.09 times higher than minorities), and trunk burns (1.83 times higher than minorities), while being less susceptible to internal organ injuries (0.23 times fewer than minorities) and lower limb burns (0.78 times fewer than minorities). The southwest region had the highest proportion of burns inpatients with burns affecting single body parts, whereas the eastern area had the highest rates of respiratory tract burns (0.85%) and multiple burn sites (80.64%). Scalding was identified as the most common cause of burns, while flame burns (769, 55.81%) and chemical burns (438, 47.35%) were the main causes of respiratory tract and internal organ injuries, respectively. Conclusions: This study provides an initial description of characteristics of burns inpatients with various anatomic locations of burns in China over the past decade. Our findings will contribute to the most up-to-date clinical evidence database for healthcare planning and prevention initiatives in both China and other countries. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

"Exercise is the best medicine" is well known, but the optimal dose of physical activity (PA) for males and females across different age groups is still unknown. This study, using data from the four waves of CHARLS, aimed to determine the optimal PA dose that reduces frailty risks among older adults across various age groups and both sexes. We created a frailty index score using 63 health-related variables and used 0.21 as the frailty cut point. Binary logistic regression was used to compare the effect of vigorous, moderate, and light intensity PA under IPAQ criteria on frailty risk. The study found that regardless of whether males or females, the optimal effect of vigorous-intensity PA in reducing the risk of frailty is consistently observed throughout the entire old age career. Moreover, the age groups at which moderate-intensity PA reduces the risk of frailty were from age 70 for males and from age 80 for females. And light-intensity PA had no effect on reducing the risk of frailty. Moderate and vigorous intensity of PA in older adults should be promoted, but guidelines and recommendations must account for optimal associations with PA dose across genders and age groups. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: With the appearance and aggravation of the aging society, cancer has become one of the major problems that threaten the life and health of Chinese residents seriously. Objective: To explore the cancer epidemiological characteristics among the elderly in China from 2005 to 2016, and to provide strategies for cancer prevention and treatment. Methods: Stratified analysis was conducted on the cancer mortality data of the elderly aged ≥60 years in China, which were selected from the Chinese Cancer Registry Annual Report. Joinpoint regression model was used to calculted average annual percentage change (AAPC) to estimate the time trends. Age-period-cohort (APC) model was used to explore the age, period and birth cohort effect on the risk of cancer death. Bayesian age-period-cohort (BAPC) model was used to predict trends in cancer mortality among elderly by gender and region to 2035. Results: 2005–2016, cancer mortality in the elderly in China showed a decreasing trend (AAPC = -1.2%, P<0.001). Cancer mortality in rural areas was higher than that in urban areas, but the urban-rural difference gradually narrowed (t = 6.1, P<0.01). The APC model showed that cancer mortality increased with age. The relative risk (RR) for the period effect decreased. RR was lower for the later- born cohort than that for the earlier-born cohort in rural areas. Lung cancer mortality ranked first in both male and female, and showed an increasing trend among female in the 60–64, 80–84 and ≥85 age groups (AAPC60-64 = 1.0%, AAPC80-84 = 0.8%, AAPC≥85 = 2.0%, all P<0.05). By 2035, cancer mortality for the elderly was predicted to decline nationally, by sex and in rural areas, while rising in urban areas. Conclusion: Cancer mortality in the elderly in China showed a decreasing trend from 2005 to 2016, but it was still higher than the world average. Early cancer screening is important, especially in the elderly male and in rural areas. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Regional population mortality correlates with regional socioeconomic development. This study aimed to identify the key socioeconomic factors influencing mortality patterns in Chinese provinces. Using data from the Seventh Population Census, we analyzed mortality patterns by gender and urban‒rural division in 31 provinces. Using a functional regression model, we assessed the influence of fourteen indicators on mortality patterns. Main findings: (1) China shows notable gender and urban‒rural mortality variations across age groups. Males generally have higher mortality than females, and rural areas experience elevated mortality rates compared to urban areas. Mortality in individuals younger than 40 years is influenced mainly by urban‒rural factors, with gender becoming more noticeable in the 40–84 age group. (2) The substantial marginal impact of socioeconomic factors on mortality patterns generally becomes evident after the age of 45, with less pronounced differences in their impact on early-life mortality patterns. (3) Various factors have age-specific impacts on mortality. Education has a negative effect on mortality in individuals aged 0–29, extending to those aged 30–59 and diminishing in older age groups. Urbanization positively influences the probability of death in individuals aged 45–54 years, while the impact of traffic accidents increases with age. Among elderly people, the effect of socioeconomic variables is smaller, highlighting the intricate and heterogeneous nature of these influences and acknowledging certain limitations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The prevalence of neoplastic polyps in gallbladder polyps (GPs) increases sharply with age and is associated with gallbladder carcinoma (GBC). This study aims to predict neoplastic polyps and provide appropriate treatment strategies based on preoperative ultrasound features in patients with different age level. Methods: According to the age classification of WHO, 1523 patients with GPs who underwent cholecystectomy from January 2015 to December 2019 at 11 tertiary hospitals in China were divided into young adults group (n=622), middle-aged group (n=665) and elderly group (n=236). Linear scoring models were established based on independent risk variables screened by the Logistic regression model in different age groups. The area under ROC (AUC) to evaluate the predictive ability of linear scoring models, long- and short- diameter of GPs. Results: Independent risk factors for neoplastic polyps included the number of polyps, polyp size (long diameter), and fundus in the young adults and elderly groups, while the number of polyps, polyp size (long diameter), and polyp size (short diameter) in the middle-aged groups. In different age groups, the AUCs of its linear scoring model were higher than the AUCs of the long- and short- diameter of GPs for differentiating neoplastic and non-neoplastic polyps (all P<0.05), and Hosmer-Lemeshow goodness of fit test showed that the prediction accuracy of the linear scoring models was higher than the long- and short- diameter of GPs (all P>0.05). Conclusion: The linear scoring models of the young adults, middle-aged and elderly groups can effectively distinguish neoplastic polyps from non-neoplastic polyps based on preoperative ultrasound features. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study identifies the health effect of rising housing prices on individual physical health using the Chinese General Social Survey (CGSS) data. Exploiting exogenous housing prices, I find that rising housing prices adversely affect physical health status. Heterogeneity analyses yield interesting findings. First, the adverse effects of high housing prices are pronounced in the group owning only one house. Second, significant effects of housing prices on health for the group aged 20 to 45 are observed, with no effects for the elderly group above 45. Third, males are more sensitive to high housing prices due to the intensified competition and traditional gender norm in marriage markets. I also further investigate the channel through which housing prices affect individual physical health. The findings indicate that rising housing prices can damage individual physical health via lowering social status, reducing physical exercise time and increasing mental health risk. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The current study seeks to investigate digital inequality among older adults in China, specifically examining two socially defined age groups: young-old adults (aged 60–74) and old-old adults (aged 75+). Descriptive statistics and multiple regression were used to examine the prevalence of and identify the factors associated with Internet access, usage (frequency and breadth containing 11 activities), skills, and social support. The study used data from the 2018 China Longitudinal Ageing Social Survey (CLASS) which consisted of 11,419 respondents aged 60 years and older. We found that 40.22% of older adults had access to the Internet, and 18.27% used it regularly. Socioeconomic factors played a crucial role in determining Internet access and usage, with young-old adults with higher education using the Internet more frequently, deliberately, and competently. Those with higher economic status had greater social support to use it, and the old-old adults with higher socioeconomic status were more likely to have Internet access. This study has implications for prioritizing targeted policies and interventions aimed at supporting socioeconomically disadvantaged older adults and ensuring equal opportunities for all to access and benefit from the digital world. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

With the rapid development of China's urbanization process and the promotion of the 'double carbon' strategy, green buildings will become an inevitable trend in the future development of the construction industry. Among the various building evaluation criteria, it is important to discuss how to promote the development of green buildings more efficiently and adaptively according to the characteristics of personnel needs. This study constructed a questionnaire to assess building use satisfaction based on China's national standards. Field research was conducted on 23 projects in six cities in Hubei Province, China, and a total of 2251 questionnaires were collected. The survey evaluated satisfaction with the current use of green buildings across different age groups and genders. A new satisfaction evaluation model is constructed through fuzzy comprehensive evaluation to provide guidance for the differentiated development of green buildings in different cities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: This study aims to explore the observable distribution of serum uric acid levels in healthy adults residing in China's coastal areas and to assess the suitability of current reference intervals. Methods: The study incorporated 20,786 participants. The overall uric acid level displayed a skewed distribution, leading to the division of subjects into six groups based on gender and age. The analysis was conducted to comprehend the distribution of UA in various groups and seasons, establish and validate the reference intervals for the surface healthy population in this region, and analyze the abnormality rates using different reference intervals. Results: Statistically significant differences were observed between the uric acid levels of males and females across all age groups (ALL p < 0.05). Furthermore, there were statistical differences in uric acid levels among different age groups for both genders (H = 69.593 and 326.348, all p < 0.001). The overall reference interval was determined as 238 - 488 µmol/L for males and 155 - 364 µmol/L for females, based on the 95% confidence interval (P2.5 - P97.5). The established reference intervals, grounded on gender and age group, were validated, showing statistically significant disparities in UA levels among groups. The abnormality rate in males decreased by 56.90% following the adjustment of the reference interval. Conclusions: The study revealed that UA levels at all ages exhibited varying degrees of "right shift". Additionally, the low-value population should not be overlooked in the clinical evaluation of UA test results. Setting a reasonable reference interval and clinical decision level is crucial for clinical diagnosis and treatment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Waist-to-height ratio (WHtR) is considered an important summary indicator for assessing the health of children and adolescents. However, there are fewer studies addressing the association between WHtR and cardiorespiratory fitness (CRF). Deriving an optimal WHtR would play an important role in promoting CRF in children and adolescents. Our aim was to analyze the association between WHtR and CRF and determine the optimal value of WHtR. Methods: In this study, 37,081 (19,125 boys, 51.6%) children and adolescents aged 7–18 years in five regions of China were tested for WHtR and 20-m shuttle run test (20 m SRT). One-way ANOVA was used to compare maximum oxygen uptake (VO2max) among children and adolescents with different WHtRs and effect sizes were used to analyze differences between groups. Curvilinear regression was used to analyse the curvilinear relationship that exists between WHtR and VO2max. Results: In Chinese children and adolescents, the WHtR of boys was higher than that of girls by 0.01, and the difference was statistically significant (P < 0.001). Overall, in the age groups of 7–9, 10–12, 13–15, and 16–18 years old, the differences in VO2max comparisons between different WHtR groups were statistically significant (P < 0.001). In Chinese children and adolescents in the age groups of 7–9, 10–12, 13–15, and 16–18 years old, VO2max levels were highest when the WHtR was 0.34, 0.32, 0.39, and 0.41, respectively. Conclusions: There is a curvilinear association between WHtR and CRF in Chinese children and adolescents. Both lower and higher WHtR led to a decrease in VO2max in children and adolescents. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Dietary diversity is an indicator of nutrient intake among the elderly. Previous researches have primarily examined dietary diversity and the risks with chronic and infectious disease and cognitive impairment, limited evidence shows the association between dietary diversity and the overall health status of specific populations with a heterogeneity analysis. This study aimed to probe the effects of dietary diversity on health status among Chinese older adults. Methods: There were 5740 sample participants aged 65 and above selected from the Chinese Longitudinal Healthy Longevity Survey, among which 3334 samples in 2018 wave and 2406 samples in 2011 wave. Dietary diversity was assessed by Dietary Diversity Score ranged from 0 to 9, the higher the score, the better dietary diversity. Health status was assessed into healthy, impaired and dysfunctional state by three indicators: Activities of Daily Living, Instrument Activities of Daily Living and Mini-Mental State Examination. Multinomial logistic regression was employed to assess the effects of dietary diversity on the health status among the elderly. Heterogeneity analysis between different groups by age was further discussed. Results: Older adults with better dietary diversity are in better health status, the mean dietary diversity score for healthy group was higher than that of impaired and dysfunctional groups (In 2018 wave, the scores were 6.54, 6.26 and 5.92, respectively; and in 2011 wave, they were 6.38, 5.93 and 5.71, respectively). Heterogeneity analysis shows that the younger groups tend to have more diversified dietary and be in better health status. Dietary diversity was more significantly associated with health status of the younger elderly (OR, 1.22, 95% CI, 1.04–1.44, p < 0.05) than the older elderly (OR, 1.01, 95% CI, 0.37–2.78, p > 0.05) in 2018 wave; and in 2011 wave, dietary diversity was more significantly related to health status among the younger elderly (OR, 1.62, 95% CI, 1.26–2.08, p < 0.001) than the older elderly (OR, 0.08, 95%CI, 0.31–1.94, p > 0.05). Conclusions: Better dietary diversity has positive effects on health status and is more significantly related to the younger elderly than the older elderly. So interventions including available dietary diversity assessment, variety of dietary assistance services in daily life, keeping nutrient digestion and absorption capacity for the venerable age might benefit to ensure the effects of dietary diversity on health status among older adults especially in maintaining intrinsic ability and physical function. In addition, healthy lifestyle should also be recommended. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Using a natural experiment in Taiwan, we show that, for men, exposure to male-biased sex ratios at a marriageable age is associated with a greater likelihood of death in later life. In the late 1940s, more than half a million soldiers from mainland China retreated to Taiwan after a civil war and were initially subjected to a marriage ban. When the ban was lifted in 1959, the great influx of mostly male soldiers into the marriage market suddenly tipped the balance in favor of women. We have found that men subjected to this massive marriage market squeeze exhibited higher mortality rates at ages 50–64. We offer several possible explanations. Surprisingly, an elevated mortality rate, albeit of a much smaller magnitude, was also observed among the women of the relevant age groups. We show that this is likely driven by the widowhood effect, as women's mortality rate increased after their husbands' deaths. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Evaluating the carbon storage of forests and identifying the factors that influence it are essential in working towards the "dual carbon" goal. This assessment will facilitate research on carbon neutrality and promote regional ecological protection and development. This study utilized the "One Map" data of forest resources (2020) and the first year (2017) of the establishment of the national park in Wuyi Mountain National Park (WMNP). The continuous biomass expansion factor method, in conjunction with the vegetation carbon content coefficient, was employed to estimate the forest carbon storage within the park's forested areas. Subsequently, the distribution of forest carbon storage was analyzed using remote sensing estimation methods, and a comparison was made between the forest carbon storage of these two years. Finally, correlation analysis and path analysis were conducted to identify the primary factors influencing forest carbon storage. The study findings reveal that in 2020, the total carbon storage in forests reached 4.851 × 106 t C, with an average carbon density of 49.55 t C·hm−2. Furthermore, the study identified positive correlations between dominant tree species, age groups, and elevation with carbon storage, whereas slope length and aspect were found to have negative correlations. Dominant tree species were observed to have the greatest impact on forest carbon storage in both 2017 and 2020, followed by age groups. These findings offer valuable scientific insights for the implementation of forest carbon storage pilot projects in WMNP. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Understanding others' thoughts and feelings is a social-cognitive capacity known as the theory of mind (ToM). Previous studies have attempted to explore children's ToM from a specific domain (personal or moral) while lacking comprehensive evidence across domains. Based on the social domain theory, the present study is the first in our knowledge to explore the developmental characteristics of the ToM within different domains of left-behind preschoolers in rural China. This study used a mixed experimental design of 3 (age groups: 4-, 5-, 6-year-old) × 2 (left-behind status: left-behind, non-left-behind) × 3 (domain types: moral, conventional, personal) with 231 rural children aged 4–6 years, combined with a story–question approach to explore the developmental characteristics of their ToM in moral, conventional, and personal domains through tasks, such as rule awareness and false beliefs. The results showed significant main effects of age group, left-behind status, and domain type. Moreover, the interaction effect of age group and domain type was significant. The following conclusions were obtained: (1) The developmental level of the ToM in moral, conventional, and personal domains of rural preschoolers increased with age and the older preschoolers had a more accurate and comprehensive understanding of the ToM in each domain; (2) The experience of being left behind was detrimental to the development of preschoolers' ToM in each domain; (3) There were differences in children's development in the moral-, conventional-, and personal-related ToM tasks, with the personal domain ToM developing more slowly; (4) The younger preschoolers showed a clear differentiation between the domains of ToM, with a higher level of development in domains of morality and convention. As preschoolers get older, their performance in the domains becomes more comparable. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: With the increasing number of children's publications that integrate new media technologies in the global publishing community, understanding the adoption and use of these publications from a child's perspective is of great significance for both children's education practitioners and the publishing industry. Methods: This article integrates a dual-effect path based on the utilitarianmotivation system (UMS) and hedonic-motivation system (HMS) on information technology adoption via a questionnaire, systematically demonstrating the psychological mechanism of children's reading with respect to integrated books. Results: This study finds that children's willingness to use integrated children's books is related to UMS and HMS except for facilitating conditions. In addition, this study also reveals the structural differences existing in the adoption psychology of children from various age groups and home education backgrounds. Discussion: This study provides a systematic explanation for understanding the adoption psychology of integrated children's books. Based on these findings, it is suggested that publishers should balance the concepts of education orientation and child orientation when producing children's books, conduct technical innovation of children's books according to individual children, and constantly innovate the service mode to avoid the risk of children's bad reading. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The common chronic non-communicable diseases and epidemiological characteristics of the forsaken elders over 60 in Guangling and Tianzhen were investigated and analyzed to provide reference for health resource allocation, hospital capacity establishing and health management of the forsaken elders in county-level regions. Materials and Methods: The data of 10,331 resident elderly over 60 in Guangling and Tianzhen of Datong Civil Affairs Bureau in the management system for disabled and semi-disabled elderly was collected. The gender, age, main diagnosis and coding of diseases, common chronic non-communicable diseases, and system diseases of the respondents were retrospectively analyzed. Results: The prevalence of the forsaken elders aged over 60 in Guangling and Tianzhen were different. Hypertension, arthritis, type 2 diabetes, hyperlipidemia and cerebral infarction are the top five common chronic non infectious diseases in Guangling, Tianzhen and the two counties. Among the top five common diseases in Guangling, Tianzhen and the two counties, arthritis or rheumatism, hypertension, diabetes or elevated blood sugar were found, which were different in the 60– 65, 66– 70, 71– 75 and 76– 80 groups, with the prevalence increasing with age. The top five diseases in Guangling, Tianzhen and the two counties were consistent, while the ranking changed slightly. The proportion of circulatory diseases, musculoskeletal diseases, connective tissue diseases and endocrine/nutritional and metabolic diseases in 60– 65, 66– 70 and 71– 75 groups increased with age, and was much higher than that in other groups. Conclusion: The prevalence and disease spectrum order of common chronic non-communicable diseases and systemic diseases in Guangling and Tianzhen are diverse, also in gender and age groups. As China's county-level local administrative divisions have relatively independent administrative autonomy, medical and health resources can be better configured according to the information mined, accurately maintaining and promoting residents' health. It is suggested to explore the disease management mechanism with county-level administrative divisions as database management units under the background of big data, so as to implement the interconnection and sharing of information among health-related departments in county-level regions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]