ABSTRACT
With the abrupt and significant drop of PM2.5 concentrations during the lockdown in 2020, hourly direct radiation (Rdir) at surface substantially increased in East China, such as Zhengzhou, Wuhan and Baoshan, with the maximum enhancement of 86% at Wuhan. Most of these stations had decreased diffuse radiation (Rdif) except Zhengzhou. Zhengzhou had both enhanced Rdir and Rdif, as well as reduced but still high PM2.5 concentrations, indicating atmospheric particles were more scattering in this region. At Beijing and Harbin in North and Northeast China, intensification of aerosol pollution led to hourly Rdir (Rdif) falling (rising) up to −28% (59%) and −23% (40%), respectively. By contrast, surface solar radiation (SSR) in West China was also greatly influenced by the elevated dust/smoke layers, revealed by aerosol layer vertical distribution and the reduction of SSR and PM2.5 concentrations. This study highlighted the importance of aerosol optical properties and vertical structures in aerosol–radiation interactions. © 2023. The Authors.
ABSTRACT
During the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) epidemics, universities take responsibility for the health of their students and epidemic control. Our urgent recommendation focuses on four key questions of emergency management in universities following rigorous evidence-based approaches and provides timely suggestions to university managers, academic faculties and student affairs managers. We recommend universities during the COVID-19 epidemics should: 1) suspend offline lectures;2) provide proper health education on the disease;3) encourage face masks, however oppose using N95 masks on the campus;4) encourage hand hygiene and provide sanitizing products on the campus. Copyright © 2020 West China University of Medical Science. All rights reserved.
ABSTRACT
OBJECTIVES: To identify the prevalence, lifestyle factors, chronic disease status, and assessing the metabolic profile, comparing key differences in a cohort of subjects aged at least 50 years old among depression combined anxiety, depression and anxiety in a multi-ethnic population in west China. METHODS: A large multi-ethnic sample of 6838 participants aged 50 years old (mean age 62.4 ± 8.3 years) from West China Health and Aging Trend (WCHAT) study was analyzed. We categorized all participants into four groups: (a) comorbid anxiety and depression symptomology (CAD), (b) anxiety only, (c) depression only, or (d) neither depression nor anxiety. Different variables like anthropometry measures, life styles, chronic disease and blood test were collected. Depressive symptoms were assessed using the 15-item Geriatric Depression Scale (GDS-15). GDS-15 scores ≥5 indicate depression. Anxiety status was assessed using Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD-7) instrument and the scores ≥5 was considered as having anxiety. Different variables like anthropometry measures, life styles, cognitive function and chronic disease comorbidities were collected and serum parameters were tested. Multivariable logistic regression adjusted for age, sex, and ethnicity was done to compare between those with the mental outcomes and without. RESULTS: The proportions of CAD, anxiety and depression were 9.0%, 12.8% and 10.6% respectively with ethnic diversity. The 'comorbid' group shown greater frequency of being female, having a lower educational level, higher prevalence of being single/divorced/widowed, drinking alcohol and smoking, more chronic disease profile and cognitive decline compared with individuals with only one disorder. And the metabolic profile showed differences in albumin, total protein, creatinine, uric acid, thyroid hormones in comparing CAD symptomology and the 'neither symptomology'. CONCLUSIONS: Yi, Qiang and Uyghur ethnic groups have a higher prevalence of mental disease compared with Han in west China. And these mental disease had a distinct risk factor profile in age, sex, educational level, chronic disease and cognitive function. Vitamin D levels were lower among those with mental disease compared to those without.