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Exposure to severe air pollution produces neuroinflammation and structural brain alterations in children. We tested whether patterns of brain growth, cognitive deficits and white matter hyperintensities (WMH) are associated with exposures to severe air pollution. Baseline and 1 year follow-up measurements of global and regional brain MRI volumes, cognitive abilities (Wechsler Intelligence Scale for Children-Revised, WISC-R), and serum inflammatory mediators were collected in 20 Mexico City (MC) children (10 with white matter hyperintensities, WMH[superscript +], and 10 without, WMH[superscript -]) and 10 matched controls (CTL) from a low polluted city. There were significant differences in white matter volumes between CTL and MC children--both WMH[superscript +] and WMH[superscript -]--in right parietal and bilateral temporal areas. Both WMH[superscript -] and WMH[superscript +] MC children showed progressive deficits, compared to CTL children, on the WISC-R Vocabulary and Digit Span subtests. The cognitive deficits in highly exposed children match the localization of the volumetric differences detected over the 1 year follow-up, since the deficits observed are consistent with impairment of parietal and temporal lobe functions. Regardless of the presence of prefrontal WMH, Mexico City children performed more poorly across a variety of cognitive tests, compared to CTL children, thus WMH[superscript +] is likely only partially identifying underlying white matter pathology. Together these findings reveal that exposure to air pollution may perturb the trajectory of cerebral development and result in cognitive deficits during childhood. (Contains 2 figures and 4 tables.)

This study presents the results of an efficacy evaluation of a web-based brief motivational alcohol prevention/intervention program called "Michigan Prevention and Alcohol Safety for Students" (M-PASS). Four on-line sessions providing individually-tailored feedback were delivered to first-year college students over 9 weeks. Non- and low-risk drinking participants received risk prevention, while high-risk drinking participants received a risk-reduction intervention. Both intervention and control groups were surveyed at baseline and at a 3-month follow-up. Analysis showed positive effects for both men and women on stage of change, drinking behavior, drinking motivation and attitudes, and use of risk-reduction strategies. These results provided evidence of efficacy and found that M-PASS had both intervention and prevention effects, making it unique among currently developed brief alcohol interventions for college students. (Contains 1 figure and 2 tables.)

Objective: Reduce college student at-risk drinking (ARD) using a Web-based brief motivational alcohol prevention/intervention called "Michigan Prevention and Alcohol Safety for Students" (M-PASS). Participants: Participants included 1,137 randomly sampled first-year college students, including 59% female, 80% white, and averaged age 18.1 years. Methods: Intervention group participants (n = 616) attended 4 online M-PASS sessions, receiving feedback tailored to individual drinking patterns and concepts from 4 behavior change theories. Control group participants (n = 521) completed a mid-phase survey, and both groups were surveyed at baseline and posttest. Results: Evidence of M-PASS's efficacy was found. The intervention was associated with advanced stage of change, lower tolerance of drinking and drink/driving, fewer reasons to drink, and use of more strategies to avoid ARD. Preliminary evidence of behavioral change was also found. Efficacy was greater for women than men. Conclusions: Web-based programs may be useful in reducing alcohol-related risk among college students. Further evaluation is needed. (Contains 2 tables.)

Background: This study investigated potential opportunities or challenges for plant‐based meat in the Chinese market. A quantitative framework was applied to determine the current level of familiarity and experience with plant‐based meat among Chinese consumers, the proportion of consumers who would try or purchase plant‐based meat, which demographics within China are most likely to buy plant‐based meat and which attitudes are important in driving the purchase intent of plant‐based meat. Methods: A pre‐registered cross‐sectional online survey (N = 1206) was distributed to respondents (matched to China's adult population for gender and age). Results: Respondents reported a variety of dietary identities, with 43.4% reporting that they were reducing or avoiding meat. The majority of respondents (60.1%) said they had eaten plant‐based meat at least once before. Of those who said they had never eaten plant‐based meat, 41.9% intended to try it and 31.4% intended to purchase it. The strongest attitudinal predictor of plant‐based meat purchase intent was perceived healthiness (β = 0.235, p < 0.001), whereas the strongest demographic predictor of plant‐based meat purchase intent was age (β = −0.248, p < 0.001). Conclusions: The findings of this study suggest that an approach based on increasing opportunities for trial, as well as appealing to specific attitudinal and demographic predictors of plant‐based purchase intent, could prove successful in increasing adoption of plant‐based and alternative meat products. Key points: Chinese consumers are open to trying and purchasing plant‐based meat, despite low existing familiarity with modern plant‐based meat products.Perception of plant‐based meat as healthy was the strongest attitudinal predictor for plant‐based meat acceptance followed by the perception of plant‐based meat as having a good mouthfeel and food safety advantages.Younger respondents were more likely to intend to purchase plant‐based meat, and age was the strongest demographic predictor of plant‐based meat acceptance.Respondents responsible for preparing food for children; those who were married, living with a partner, divorced or widowed; and those living in bigger cities were also significantly more likely to intend to purchase plant‐based meat.Potential strategies for driving greater adoption include increasing opportunities for potential consumers to try plant‐based meat products, strengthening and appealing to positive perceptions of plant‐based meat in marketing and public engagement campaigns and targeting demographics with high levels of acceptance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]