Trends in Obesity and Metabolic Status in Northern and Southern China Between 2012 and 2020

Background: The trends of obesity-associated metabolic status in Chinese are lacking, especially those from different regions.Objectives: To examine the trends of obesity and metabolic status among Chinese population in 2012–2020.Methods: In a series cross-sectional study, data on 256,782 participants surveyed between 2014 and 2020 in Beijing, northern China, and 697,170 participants surveyed between 2012 and 2020 in Hunan, southern China were analyzed. Anthropometrics, blood pressure measurements, and blood tests were performed according to standard protocols. Trends in obesity and metabolic status were evaluated using the Joinpoint software.Results: Based on age- and sex-standardized values, the mean BMI values in northern and southern participants were 23.94 (95% CI: 23.93, 23.95) and 23.68 (95% CI: 23.67, 23.69) kg/m2, respectively. Between 2014 and 2020, the overall obesity prevalence among northern participants increased from 12.70% (95% CI: 12.17, 13.23%) to 14.33% (95% CI: 13.97, 14.70%) (P = 0.009), mainly derived by the 20–39 and 40–59 age groups. Moreover, the prevalence of metabolically healthy obese significantly increased from 2.07% (95% CI: 1.84, 2.30%) to 4.33% (95% CI: 4.13, 4.53%) in Northerners. Between 2012 and 2020, no significant trend in obesity was found among overall southern participants, but the prevalence of metabolically unhealthy obese significantly increased from 5.36% (95% CI: 5.18, 5.54%) to 7.35% (95% CI: 7.11, 7.58%), mainly derived by the 20–39 and 40–59 age groups.Conclusions: The trends in obesity and metabolic status were different between southern and northern Chinese. A national weight control plan is needed in China, focusing on young and middle-aged population.

The Italian strategy to fight illegal treatment with growth promoters: Results of the 2017-2019 histological monitoring plan

The Histological Control Plan has been introduced in Italy in 2008 as an indirect monitoring tool of illicit administration of sexual hormones and corticosteroids in bovine. Analysis of 2008-2016 results permitted to draw a new plan targeting risk category. This work presents the results of the histopathological monitoring plan that was carried out from 2017 to 2019. The overall prevalence of samples suspected of treatment with corticosteroid was 11.3% [95% confidence interval (CI) 6.6-17.8] in 2017; 10.2% (95% CI 6.6-16.9) in 2018 and 8.9% (95% CI 4.6-15.4) in 2019. The overall prevalence of samples suspected of treatment with sexual hormones was 2.3 % (95% CI 0.5-6.6) in 2017; 6.2% (95% CI 2.7-11.8) in 2018 and 12.4% (95% CI 7.4- 19.1) in 2019. Although not targeting and measuring specific molecules, this strategy allows to verify the trend of illicit treatments and identify farms to be submitted to further check.

Rear boot swing door closing effort: Calculations, objective and subjective evaluations in an LCV model

The prediction model for the energy contributors is studied to define the effect of door components. The model is validated by experimental measurements on produced vehicles. The correlation of the control results and the evaluation methods among the representative customers, appraisers and senior experts are performed and compared by objective energy measurements. The subjective evaluation aims to clarify real customer expectations in door closing process and carry it to new product development phase. This will also improve the competency of appraisers in final assembly approval zones. The energy contributors for boot swing door is numerically calculated and validated by experimental measurements in easy and hard-closing doors. Subjective evaluations in 45 vehicles with different closing energies were performed by three different groups as representative customers, appraisers, and senior experts. The results were evaluated by statistical tools. The major energy contributors were found as air binding, seal resistance and check strap both in the calculations and in the experiments. The results demonstrated good correlation between numerical model and objective measurements. Besides, the subjective evaluations showed parallel trends with objective energy measurements. The variation in customer evaluations is more than appraisers and experts. Customers are severer in the evaluations of hard-closing doors and more sensitive in 10° door closing angle. This is a unique study for rear boot swing door closing effort in an LCV model. The study contains both definitions of factors, components that contributes in door closing energy and subjective evaluations to correlate the closing behaviors of representative customers, appraisers, and senior experts. The output of the study would be used to improve the vehicle control plan (VCP) and design standards in new model development phase.

Tuberculosis in the middle of COVID-19 in Morocco: efforts, challenges and recommendations

Tuberculosis (TB) is a deadly infectious disease that kills approximately 1.5 million people per year and is among the most frequent respiratory infections in developing countries. Morocco has made significant progress in the control and management of TB during the past 30 years thanks to its National Plan for Tuberculosis and the continuous support of national and international partners. While tremendous efforts were undertaken to tilt the balance against the COVID-19 pandemic, new challenges resurfaced with regard to long-standing health problems amongst which is TB. The spill-over effect of the COVID-19 pandemic disrupted health service delivery globally, threatening to reverse years of progress made on the TB control front. In Morocco, this crisis highlighted deep shortcomings within the national health system and in the adopted approach to TB control. This article discusses national efforts to get back on track with regard to TB management, the multitude of challenges that co-emerged with the onset of COVID-19 and lays down key recommendations to implement in order to build back a TB control plan that is resilient in the face of health hazards.

Study on Time Factors in the Smoke Control Process of Highway Tunnel Fires

Fire is the most deadly risk during tunnel operation. Early rapid response and a reasonable smoke control plan are very important to evaluate tunnel fire performance. In order to study the relevant time factors for smoke management in a highway tunnel, firstly, the logical sequence and time of the fire alarm system (FAS) startup are investigated and analyzed. Then, according to the one-dimensional fluid mechanics model, the time rule of adjusting the airflow field in the tunnel from the normal operation stage to the emergency ventilation state is analyzed theoretically. Finally, the abovementioned theoretical formulas are verified through the employment of model experiments. The analysis shows that the time that passes from the start of the fire to when the exhaust fan is activated is close to 3 minutes. The time required to form a stable critical wind speed, however, is close to 7 minutes, which is longer than the 5 minutes it takes for the fire to reach its maximum temperature. Due to inertia, it takes about 0.5 to 2 minutes for the air velocity in tunnels of different lengths to drop from the traffic piston wind speed to the critical wind speed. If reverse smoke extraction is required, however, the duration is between 3 and 8 minutes. The conclusion is of guiding significance for the preparation of the emergency linkage control scheme for tunnels, as well as for the setting of initial boundary conditions for CFD fire simulations.

Structure, composition and carbon stocks of woody plant community in assisted and unassisted ecological succession in a Tamaulipan thornscrub, Mexico

Background Ecological restoration is a process that helps the recovery of an ecosystem that has been degraded, damaged or destroyed. The success of restoration actions depend on the understanding of the processes, mechanisms and factors that guide vegetation dynamics. The restoration of plant communities can be made by unassisted (passive restoration, where the community recover by itself) and assisted (active restoration) ecological succession. It is imperative to know the scope of both types of activities to guide future restoration actions by evaluating the properties and functioning of the intervened communities. Methods Variance analysis of the carbon (C) stocks, basal area, canopy area, Shannon–Weaver index values, specific richness and abundance of three Tamaulipan thornscrub communities (assisted natural succession area, unassisted natural succession area and control area) was performed. Furthermore, a similarity analysis between the sampling areas using the floristic composition (abundance) was performed. Results In total, 11 families, 17 genera and 20 species of vascular plants were registered. The richness of species and abundance ranked as follows per area: assisted ecological natural succession > control > unassisted ecological natural succession. The species composition between sampling areas showed a low number of common species between plant communities. Conclusions The values of species richness, diversity, abundance, basal area, and canopy area of the assisted natural succession vegetal community was statistical similar to the control plan community. The values of C stocks showed that assisted ecological succession could recover not only structure and composition attributes but also this key ecosystem property.

A Review of the Implementation Status of and National Plans on HPV Vaccination in 17 Middle-Income Countries of the WHO Western Pacific Region

The World Health Organization’s Western Pacific Region is responsible for one-fourth of the global cervical cancer burden, and nearly 90% of that burden is concentrated in middle-income countries (MICs). Applying a conceptual model of implementation of population-based interventions, we synthesized the current implementation status of human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccination and national plans that form the basis of its implementation in 17 MICs. We gathered information from a range of governmental documents, published studies, and global databases. For all available national cancer-related plans and immunization plans, we examined the description of HPV vaccination. We found that, as of July 2021, only four countries (24%) had a mature HPV vaccination program with a high first-dose coverage; three (18%) had introduced HPV vaccination, but needed further efforts to scale it up, seven (41%) had not been able to introduce it after conducting demonstration projects, and three (18%) did not have any experience in HPV vaccination. In the national plans, most of the countries recognized the importance of HPV vaccination, but only 10 (59%) provided an implementation strategy on how it would be introduced or scaled up. Countries with a mature program were more likely to have their implementation strategy detailed in their national cancer control plan. Successful implementation of HPV vaccination requires overcoming known challenges and having a clear national plan. Positioning HPV vaccination clearly in the overall national cancer control plan may be key to accelerating its nationwide implementation.