Ban yue 半月 (The Half Moon Journal) Vol 2 No 10

A bimonthly literary magazine edited by Zhou Shoujuan 周瘦鵑, featuring fiction, topical articles, and entertainment features, published from September 1921 through November 1925.

Current measure of food insecurity used in the National Health Survey may be underestimating its prevalence

Objective: Food insecurity may be associated with a number of adverse health and social outcomes however our knowledge of its public health significance in Australia has been limited by use of a single-item measure in the Australian National Health Surveys (NHS) and, more recently, the exclusion of food security items from these surveys. The current study compares prevalence estimates of food insecurity in disadvantaged urban areas of Brisbane using the one-item NHS measure with three adaptations of the United States Department of Agriculture Food Security Survey Module (USDA-FSSM). Design: Data were collected by postal survey (n= 505, 53% response). Food security status was ascertained by the measure used in the NHS, and the 6-, 10- and 18-item versions of the USDA-FSSM. Demographic characteristics of the sample, prevalence estimates of food insecurity and different levels of food insecurity estimated by each tool were determined. Setting: Disadvantaged suburbs of Brisbane city, Australia, 2009. Subjects: Individuals aged ≥ 18 years. Results: Food insecurity was prevalent in socioeconomically-disadvantaged urban areas, estimated as 19.5% using the single-item NHS measure. This was significantly less than the 24.6% (P <0.01), 22.0% (P = 0.01) and 21.3% (P = 0.03) identified using the 18-item, 10-item and 6-item versions of the USDA-FSSM, respectively. The proportion of the sample reporting more severe levels of food insecurity were 10.7%, 10% and 8.6% for the 18-, 10- and 6-item USDA measures respectively, however this degree of food insecurity could not be ascertained using the NHS measure. Conclusions: The measure of food insecurity employed in the NHS may underestimate its prevalence and public health significance. Future monitoring and surveillance efforts should seek to employ a more accurate measure.

Fine mapping and replication of genetic risk Loci in primary sclerosing cholangitis

Background and aims. Primary sclerosing cholangitis (PSC) is a chronic cholestatic liver disease characterized by progressive inflammation and fibrosis of the bile ducts eventually leading to biliary cirrhosis. Recent genetic studies in PSC have identified associations at 2q13, 2q35, 3p21, 4q27, 13q31 and suggestive association at 10p15. The aim of this study was to further characterize and refine the genetic architecture of PSC. Methods. We analyzed previously reported associated SNPs at four of these non-HLA loci and 59 SNPs tagging the IL-2/IL-21 (4q27) and IL2RA (10p15) loci in 992 UK PSC cases and 5162 healthy UK controls. Results. The most associated SNPs identified were rs3197999 (3p21 (MST1), p = 1.9 × 10 -6, OR A vs G = 1.28, 95% CI (1.16-1.42)); rs4147359 (10p15 (IL2RA), p = 2.6 × 10 -4, OR A vs G = 1.20, 95% CI (1.09-1.33)) and rs12511287 (4q27 (IL-2/IL-21), p = 3.0 × 10 -4, OR A vs T = 1.21, 95% CI (1.09-1.35)). In addition, we performed a meta-analysis for selected SNPs using published summary statistics from recent studies. We observed genome-wide significance for rs3197999 (3p21 (MST1), P combined = 3.8 × 10 -12) and rs4147359 (10p15 (IL2RA), P combined = 1.5 × 10 -8). Conclusion. We have for the first time confirmed the association of PSC with genetic variants at 10p15 (IL2RA) locus at genome-wide significance and replicated the associations at MST1 and IL-2/IL-21 loci in a large homogeneous UK population. These results strongly implicate the role of IL-2/IL2RA pathway in PSC and provide further confirmation of MST1 association. © Informa Healthcare.

Studies on friction and formation of transfer layer when Al-4Mg alloy pins slid at various numbers of cycles on steel plates of different surface texture

In the present investigation, various kinds of textures, namely, unidirectional, 8-ground, and random were attained on the die surfaces. Roughness of the textures was varied using different grits of emery papers or polishing powders. Then pins made of Al-4Mg alloys were slid against steel plates at various numbers of cycles, namely 1, 2, 6, 10 and 20 under both dry and lubricated conditions using an inclined pin-on-plate sliding tester. The morphologies of the worn surfaces of the pins and the formation of transfer layer on the counter surfaces were observed using a scanning electron microscope. Surface roughness parameters of the plate were measured using an optical profilometer. It was observed that the coefficient of friction and formation of transfer layer during the first few cycles depend on the die surface textures under both dry and lubricated conditions. It was also observed that under lubricated condition, the coefficient of friction decreases with number of cycles for all kinds of textures. However, under dry condition, it ecreases for unidirectional and 8-ground surfaces while for random surfaces it increases with number of cycles

Studies in sesquiterpenes-XVI. Zerumbone, a monocyclic sesquiterpene ketone

The structure, previously assigned to zerumbone, has been found to be untenable. The ketone has been shown to be monocyclic containing three ethylenic linkages, and has been further correlated with humulene. Results from ozonolysis, and base-catalysed cleavage allowed the compound to be formulated as 2,6,9,9-tetramethyl-2,6,10-cyclo-undecatrien-1-one.

dc reactive magnetron sputtering of titanium‐structural and optical characterization of TiO2 films

This paper deals with the reactive sputtering of titanium in an argon and oxygen mixture. The variation in cathode potential as a function of oxygen partial pressure has been explained in terms of cathode poisoning effects. The titania films deposited during this process have been studied for their structural and optical characteristics. The effect of substrate temperature (from 25 to 400 °C) and annealing (from 250 to 700 °C) on the packing density, refractive index, extinction coefficient, and crystallinity has been investigated. The refractive index varied from 2.24 to 2.46 and extinction coefficient from 2.6 × 10-3 to 10.4× 10-3 at 500 nm as the substrate temperature increased from 25 to 400 °C. The refractive index increased from 2.19 to 2.35 and extinction coefficient changed from 3.2× 10-3 to 11.6 × 10-3 at 500 nm as the annealing temperature was increased from 250 to 700 °C. Anatase and rutile phases have been observed in the films deposited at 400 °C substrate temperature and annealed at 300 °C. The changes in the optical constants at higher substrate temperature have been attributed to an increase in packing density, oxygen content, and crystallinity of the films.

Prebreakdown Current and Sparking Potential in a Nonuniform Electric Field with a Crossed Magnetic Field

Prebreakdown currents in a coaxial cylindrical geometry in nitrogen have been measured with and without a crossed magnetic field. The range of parameters used in the investigation are 2.6 ÿ p ÿ 14.5 torr, 50 ÿ (E/p) ÿ 420 V cm-1 torr-1, and 43.0 ÿ H/p ÿ 1185 Oe torr-1 (p is the pressure, E is the electric field, and H is the magnetic field). The initial photoelectric current is obtained by allowing photons produced in an auxiliary glow discharge to strike the cathode. Ions and electrons produced in the auxiliary discharge are prevented from reaching the main gap by suitable shielding. By modifying the Rice equation for back diffusion, the measured ionization current multiplication without a crossed magnetic field is compared with the multiplication predicted by the Townsend growth equation for nonuniform electric fields. It is observed that over the range of 50 Ã�¿ (E/P)max Ã�¿ 250 [(E/P)max is the value of E/p at the central electrode of the coaxial system] measured and calculated multiplication of current agree with each other. With a crossed magnetic field the prebreakdown currents have been measured and compared with the theoretically calculated currents using the equivalent pressure concept. Agreement between the calculated and measured currents is not satisfactory, and this has been attributed more to the uncertainty in the collision frequency data available than nonuniformity of the electric field. Sparking potentials have been measured with and without a crossed magnetic field.

水平动载下桶型基础周围土体软化的离心机模拟

为了探讨海洋平台桶形基础在水平动载荷下的响应特性,为实际工程设计提供依据,本文以等效动冰载作用为例,对饱和砂土地基上桶形基础的动力响应进行了离心机实验研究。通过实验发现,沿深度方向,孔隙水压力从土体表层到土体下部逐渐减小,当土体表层已液化,下部土体(桶底面高程位置)的孔隙水压力增加还很小,桶的总承载力降低约17%。;沿水平方向,孔隙水压力发展从桶壁近区到远处逐渐衰减,在离桶壁3%桶直径处,液化指数(孔隙水压力除以初始有效应力)已为1.0,在离桶壁23%桶直径处,液化指数为0.4。随载荷幅值增加,土体软化、液化发展加快;在实验范围内,随压重增加,上部土体影响增加;在桶直径一定条件下,土体响应随桶高的减小而增加。

甘木通治疗心血管疾病的研究

自1972年9月至1975年5月，共收治高血压病人101例，其中显效81例，占80.2％；有效6例，占5％；基本无效14例，占14％，总有效率为85.2％。并对由于高血压所引起的症状如头痛、头昏、脑胀、四肢麻木、失眠等有较好疗效，其总有效率为91.7％。同时也初步观察到对冠心病患者和脑血管意外引起的偏瘫患者均有治疗作用。

大气污染植物实验装置

本装置参照人工气候室原理加上可控有毒气体，在国内首次自行设计、安装调试而成，主要用于抗性、净化、指示植物筛选试验研究，不加毒气可作一般人工气候箱应用。本装置由双层玻璃室、内外环恒降温系统、净化、配气及检测等8部分组成。装置内采用自然光，为自然光照的50％-60％，自然光照在10万勒克斯以下时，可控温在低于最高温5℃内，精度±0.5℃；在10万勒克斯以上时，控温会出现超标1-2℃；相对湿度75％时，±10％；可控毒气浓度相对标准误差为5％，室内空间均匀度相对标准误差为18％。本装置适用于二氧化硫、氯气等对玻璃无腐蚀性的有毒气体试验，已投入试验多年，进行了二氧化硫、氯气两种气体、100多种植物试验，并取得良好试验效果。

Evaluation of the carcass and commercial characteristics of carps

The role of carcass evaluation techniques in aquaculture research programs, especially in genetics, breeding, production management, feeding and nutrition, cannot be overemphasized. Knowledge of production efficiencies and growth potentials in relation to desired carcass attributes has provided an impetus to improvements in genetic selection techniques and management of aquatic food animals. Accurate, standard and uniform methods of carcass evaluation are critically important. A standard format developed for collection of data on carps is presented in this paper.

Acute toxicity of unionized ammonia to milkfish (Chanos chanos Forsskal) fry

The study was conducted to determine the effects of varying concentrations of ammonia to milkfish fry. Two runs of static 96h bioassays were conducted to determine the median lethal concentration (LC 50) of unionized ammonia (NH₃) to milkfish fry. Test concentrations were based on exploratory 24h and 48h bioassays and were made in three replicates. Reagent grade ammonium chloride (NH₄Cl) was used to adjust the level of unionized ammonia. The 96h median lethal concentration, determined by the Reed Muench method was calculated at 28.029 ppm NH₃ 29.69 ppm. Even at high concentrations of unionized ammonia, most of the fry mortality occurred after 48 to 96 hours exposure. Severe gill damage occurs only at concentrations above 20 ppm, especially above the LC 50. The high LC 50 value obtain shows that milkfish fry has great tolerance to ammonia, that even fry with severely-damaged gills can still recover days after it is returned to favorable culture condition. The result suggest that observed mortalities of milkfish fry under culture conditions are not due to ammonia toxicity.

三角帆蚌死亡情况的调查研究

<正> 当前淡水珍珠生产大多是采用三角帆蚌育珠。作为育珠生产用的三角帆蚌,在生产过程中常大批死亡,造成重大经济损失,为广大蚌珠生产者及有关科研人员所关注。作者曾在1982年报道了三角帆蚌细菌性疾病的研究,认为点状产气单胞菌的一新亚种—帆蚌点状产气单胞菌(Aeromonas punctata