Long-term effects of childbearing on mortality: Evidence from pre-industrial Sweden

This paper presents an analysis of the impact of childbearing history on later-life mortality for ever-married men and women using historical micro-level data of high quality for southern Sweden. The analysis uses a Cox proportional hazards model, estimating the effects on old-age mortality of number of births and timing of first and last births. By studying the effects of previous childbearing on mortality by sex and social status, we also gain important insights into the mechanisms relating childbearing to mortality in old age. The results show that number of children ever born had a statistically significant negative impact on longevity after age 50 for females but not for males. Analysis by social group shows that only landless women experienced higher mortality from having more children, which seems to indicate that the main explanations are to be found in social or economic conditions specific to females, rather than in the strictly biological or physiological effects of childbearing.     

The measurement of historical trends in fetal mortality in England and Wales

This paper critically discusses recent attempts to estimate long-term trends in the stillbirth rate for England and Wales. It assesses the available historical evidence for the level of late-fetal mortality, drawing especially on examples from Norway, Sweden, and Denmark. A theoretical fetal–infant life table for a high-mortality population is also outlined as a means of analysing the relationship between segments of the conception-to-first-birthday mortality curve. Finally, new estimates of the stillbirth rate for England and Wales are proposed, based on variations in the early neonatal and maternal mortality rates during the 1930s. These estimates are substantially lower than the earlier estimates and are more in keeping with the available evidence from northern Europe. The implications of the revised estimates for interpretations of historical changes in mortality patterns are also considered.     

How old is old? Revising the definition based on life table criteria

Sixty‐five has long been thought of as the point of entry into “old age.”; We propose a number of life table criteria for answering the following questions: If 65 was considered appropriate four decades ago, what is the corresponding age today? If 65 was (implicitly) a male‐oriented definition four decades ago, as we believe it was, what would have been the appropriate definition for women at that time, and what is it today? We address these questions by applying our criteria to Canada, using 1951 and 1991 life tables, but the criteria could be applied equally well to other countries. For other developed countries we would expect broadly similar results.     

冷却剂参数对铣槽喷管低周疲劳寿命的影响

采用有限体积流固耦合计算方法、非线性有限元热结构耦合分析方法和局部应变法研究大面积比铣槽喷管三维再生冷却槽道在循环工作条件下的热结构变形与低周疲劳寿命,并对比分析了冷却剂质量流量与入口温度对铣槽喷管疲劳使用寿命的影响。计算结果表明,铣槽喷管热结构响应呈现复杂的三维效应,应变较大位置主要分布在与肋连接的内衬区域,喷管中部的残余应变量最大;冷却槽道低周疲劳寿命分布和热结构响应基本一致,最小寿命位于喷管中部与肋相连的内衬区域燃气侧;随冷却剂质量流量增加,铣槽喷管低周疲劳寿命不断提高;随冷却剂入口温度增加喷管尾部低周疲劳寿命值不断降低,而喷管中前部的低周疲劳寿命值却不断提高,当冷却剂入口温度为280K左右时,本文的铣槽喷管总体使用寿命达到最大。      

Gender and geographic differences in Medicare service utilization during the last six months of life

ABSTRACT

End-of-life issues are important for senior women, particularly rural women, who are more likely than their urban counterparts to live alone. The role of residence as a factor for health-care utilization among Medicare beneficiaries during the last six months of life has yet to be investigated. The purpose of this study is to examine whether service utilization in the last six months of life differs across gender and rurality. The sample was restricted to fee-for-service Medicare beneficiaries who died between July 1, 2013, and December 31, 2013 (n = 39,508). The odds of rural beneficiaries using home health (aOR 0.87; 95% CI 0.81–0.93) and/or hospice (aOR 0.82; 95% CI 0.77–0.87) in the last six months of life were lower than urban beneficiaries. Female beneficiaries were more likely to use support services such as hospice (aOR 1.24; 95% CI 1.18–1.29) and/or home health services (aOR 1.07; 95% CI 1.02–1.13) than male beneficiaries. The odds of female beneficiaries using inpatient (aOR 1.14; 95% CI 1.08–1.20) and/or outpatient (aOR 1.06; 95% CI 1.01–1.12) were higher than male beneficiaries. This research is important as we examine the range of health services used during the last six months of life, by gender and rurality. Future research is needed to understand how access to health services, residential isolation, and age- and disease-related factors relate to women’s observed greater use of inpatient, outpatient, hospice, and home health services in the last six months of life.     

Change,Resources and Self-Esteem in a Community of Women Religious

The effect of change and resources to cope with that change on self-esteem is explored in a study of a community of Catholic women religious. These middle-aged and elderly women are highly educated with life long attachment to the workforce. In addition, they have all experienced a high degree of change in their lives. The amount of change was found to be related to self-esteem as were specific social and psychological coping resources. A sense of being in control of one's life was an important predictor of selfesteem, and was itself affected by the amount of change experienced. The number of close friends that could be identified was related to self-esteem. Age and physical disability were not directly related to self-esteem when other variables were controlled, but rather affected self-esteem indirectly throu h feelings of control over one's life. Similarities between these f indings and studies of elderly women in the general population are emphasized and implications for the future are presented.     

仁道与20世纪山东作家的人道主义精神

仁道是儒学和齐鲁文化的核心,强调亲亲、仁民、爱物,关注人的价值,倡导天人合一。这种关爱生命、尊重自然的仁道精神与近现代人道主义精神息息相通。深受齐鲁文化影响的现代山东作家,在小说创作中所体现的儒家人文精神与20世纪人道主义精神相融合,共同构成了山东作家特有的精神内涵和文化素质。     

论方东美生命美学的理论来源及其特色

方东美立足于20世纪中国的苦难现状,有感于民族文化生命的花果凋零,自觉深入到本民族文化的清新源头,揽取《易经》积健为雄的入世精神和道家诗意飘渺的超逸情怀,同时又广泛地吸收了现代西方生命哲学美学如尼采的超人意志和柏格森的生命冲动等理论资源,形成了兼具古典幽怀和现代豪气的独具特色的生命哲学美学形态。在现代的文化图景中,这一美学形态也有明显的局限。     

当代大学生生命教育实施途径研究

生命教育既是一切教育的前提,又是教育的最高追求.随着国内对生命教育重视程度的逐年加深,更使其成为了高等教育的重要内容之一,对于促进当代大学生健康成长发挥着积极作用.而实施当代大学生生命教育,就要通过高校、家庭、社会以及合力作用这四个途径,全面引导大学生认识生命、尊重生命、珍爱生命,最终实现自己的生命价值.     

“天籁”般的原生态自然之美——由《庄子·齐物论》观原生态自然之美

关于自然美,在美学研究中一直是一个令人关注的问题.在生态环境日益恶劣的今天,关于生态环境的讨论和研究显得更是重要.通过研究,可以发现中国传统文化中已有诸多关于原生态自然的理论见解,这些名家论述对唤起人们对于生态环境问题的重视以及对原生态自然美的欣赏都有巨大帮助.为此,在《庄子·齐物论》解读的基础上挖掘其中一些对原生态自然之美有理论支持作用的论述,旨在说明一些原生态自然的审美活动的特点,以唤起人们对原生态自然美的欣赏和重视.