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This paper explores the short-run impact of work resumption, extensively launched on February 10, 2020 in China, on air quality after the subsiding of COVID-19. Utilizing the data of 1012 air-quality monitoring sites in 233 cities derived from the Real-time Release Air Quality Platform and the difference-in-differences method, we find that alternative measures of air quality index in non-Hubei provinces increase significantly, compared with those in Hubei province which was temporarily not allowed work resumption due to the severity of epidemic. Specifically, our results reveal a rise in AQI of 11.28 per cent, in PM2.5 of 12.47 per cent, in PM10 of 10.49 per cent, and in NO2 of 23.64 per cent, relative to the baseline mean. Moreover, the deterioration of air quality is found to be caused by intracity rather than intercity migration. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Several theories document the positive effect of younger population on economic growth due to the larger size of the labour force. However, the evidence shows no such positive relationship. This paper argues that an increase in the youthful fraction of the population increases the demand for income taxes rather than expenditure taxes, as expenditure taxes are shared by three generations whilst income taxes are mainly afforded by the working-age population who increasingly dislikes being double-taxed at consumption when they raise their dependent children. This then reduces growth since the extent of distortionary relative to non-distortionary taxes rises and investment is constrained. International panel evidence supports this hypothesis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Feeding intolerance of enteral nutrition (EN) frequently occurs in patients with severe acute pancreatitis (SAP) because of intestinal motility disorders. Soluble dietary fiber (SDF) modulates the intestinal motility. The present study examined whether SDF can improve intestinal motility and permeability, and thereby reduce feeding intolerance, in patients with SAP.Methods: This study was a single-blind, randomized, controlled, single-center trial. Forty-nine patients with SAP were included. The control and SDF groups received the same EN solution via a nasojejunal tube. The SDF group additionally received 20-g/d polydextrose. The primary outcome was the time to reach the energy goal. Follow-up was continued for 28 days after admission or until discharge from the hospital.Results: Among 49 randomized patients, 46 patients (n = 22, control group; n = 24, SDF group) were included in the intent-to-treat analysis. The time to reach the energy goal was 7.00 (6.00, 8.25) days and 5.00 (4.25, 6.00) days in the control and SDF groups, respectively (P < 0.001). The rates of feeding intolerance were significantly reduced in the SDF group (59.09% vs 25.00%, P < .05). SDF was associated with decreases in the incidence of abdominal distension (72.73% vs 29.17%, P < .01), diarrhea (40.91% vs 8.33%, P < .05), and constipation (72.73% vs 12.50%, P < .001). The time to first flatus and first defecation were significantly shorter in the SDF group (P < .001). The intestinal mucosal barrier function and levels of gastrointestinal hormone were improved by SDF, as evidenced by significantly reduced blood levels of diamine oxidase, D-lactic acid, endotoxin, and vasoactive intestinal peptide (P < .05).Conclusions: SDF shortens the time to reach the energy goal during EN and improves intestinal permeability and motility disorders, thus reducing the incidence of feeding intolerance in SAP patients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

With the quasi-natural experiment of state-owned enterprises reform in China, this paper analyzes the relationship between state ownership and innovation. Utilizing difference-in-differences method, this paper estimates the effects of privatization on innovation in terms of R&D expenditure (innovation input), the number of patents, patents for invention (innovation output) and expenditure per patent (innovation efficiency) with Annual Survey of Industrial Enterprises in China over the period of 1998 and 2007. This paper finds that the privatization of state ownership does not significantly raise the R&D expenditure but does increase the innovation output by 2.5% as well as innovation efficiency by 50%. The results are robust to controlling for other types of ownership change and the industry-time disturbances. We also find that state ownership mainly influences firm innovation performance through the channels of increasing wages and financial constraints. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

End-of-life decision making precedes many deaths in intensive care units (ICUs). In China, there are no guidelines for end-of-life decision making, and information on the frequency of such decisions is scarce. This article aimed to understand the end-of-life decision-making experiences and the influencing factors of 15 medical and nursing staff members from the general ICU department of a grade 3 hospital of Luzhou, Sichuan. We used the phenomenological method of qualitative research to explore the factors influencing end-of-life decision making through the experiences of participants. Data collection continued until information saturation was achieved. The factors affecting the end-of-life decision-making experience of ICU medical and nursing staff members included a negative physician-patient relationship associated with mistrust and potential conflict, a lack of awareness of palliative care, restrictive health policies, and economic factors. The main factors affecting the end-of-life decision making of ICU medical and nursing staff members were the economic conditions of the patient and current health care legislation. An effective coping mechanism should be established based on medical, economic, legal, and educational fields to normalize end-of-life decision making on the basis of a standard procedure and laws to effectively protect the interests of medical and nursing staff members as well as patients and their families. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: To examine the application effect of body mechanics principles in the process of health workers doffing personal protective equipment (PPE)., Methods: A total of 360 health workers from a Fangcang shelter hospital, also known as alternate care site, in Shanghai were involved in a centralized 1-day training concerning essential skills for taking off PPE. The training was focused on integrating body mechanics principles, including expanding the support surface, lowering the center of gravity, reducing the shift in the the center of gravity, using the principle of leverage, and creating the appropriate operating space, in the PPE doffing process. Through remote video monitoring and recording, observations were made of the physical stability, pollution risks, and operational smoothness of the health workers when they applied body mechanics principles in their actions., Results: The results of binary logistic regression showed that, compared with the actions taken without applying body mechanics principles, performing the operation of the body leaning forward and then slightly leaning backward was positively correlated with stability in the doffing process (odds ratio [O R ]=3.291, 95% confidence interval [ CI ]: 1.627-6.656), negatively correlated with pollution risks ( OR =0.203, 95% CI : 0.100-0.412), and positively correlated with operational smoothness ( OR =20.847, 95% CI : 8.061-53.916); performing the operation of taking off the boot sleeve in a horse-riding stance, with one foot standing ahead of the other, was positively correlated with stability ( OR =5.299, 95% CI : 1.041-26.957), negatively correlated with pollution risks ( OR =0.079, 95% CI : 0.009-0.692), and positive correlated with operational smoothness ( OR =16.729, 95% CI : 1.238-226.077); performing the operation of taking off the boot sleeve by lifting the heel and then the toes was positively correlated with stability ( OR =19.361, 95% CI : 8.391-44.671), negatively correlated with pollution risks ( OR =0.181, 95% CI : 0.084-0.393), and positively correlated with operational smoothness ( OR =10.977, 95% CI : 3.764-32.008); performing the operation of the leaning forward and keeping the face looking forward when taking off the mask was positively correlated with stability ( OR =2.935, 95% CI : 1.412-6.101), negatively correlated with pollution risks ( OR =0.123, 95% CI : 0.059-0.258), and positively correlated with operational smoothness ( OR =18.126, 95% CI : 6.665-49.297)., Conclusion: In the process of medical staffs doffing PPE, correct and proper mechanical postures and actions can effectively assist medical staffs to maintain balance and stability and reduce the risks of infection, which has major significance and should be widely incorporated in personal protection skills training and applied in clinical practice., (Copyright© by Editorial Board of Journal of Sichuan University (Medical Sciences).)

The objective of this study is to investigate the factors associated with the willingness for old-aged care and the demands for health care among elders, which might provide a reference for the establishment of health care strategies. A cross-sectional study was conducted via questionnaires among 1553 randomly selected residents aged 65 or older from Chongqing, China during 2016. Data of demographics, and demands for old-age care and health care services were collected. Descriptive analysis was used to examine the characteristics of the respondents. A chi-squared test and multiple logistic regression were performed to explore the relevant factors associated with the preference of old-age care among older people in Chongqing. We found that 85.4% of the respondents were willing to select home-based care: family old age care (55.9%), and its combination form for old-age care: family old age care plus community old age care (29.5%) old age care. Multivariable logistic regression analysis showed that willingness to choose family old age care for old-age care was associated with lower monthly income, more children, worse commercial insurance, better health status, and shorter distance to their children. Most older adults had the demands for health-related services, including regular check-up, regular health seminars, establishment of health files. Hospital was the most acceptable provider for care services, and there was a preference for long-term care and emergency call among the elders. The majority of older Chinese prefer the family old age care and its combination form with community old age care for old-age care, and demand for a variety of health-related services. Home- and community-based care with sound and perfect medical and health mechanism should be the main pattern of old-age care system in China.