BackgroundMigrant workers are a unique phenomenon in the process of China's economic transformation. The household registration system classifies them as temporary residents in cities, putting them in a vulnerable state with an unfair share of urban infrastructure and social public welfare. The amount of pressure inflicted by migrant workers in Beijing, as one of the major migration destinations, is currently at a threshold. This study was designed to assess the factors associated with health-seeking behavior and to explore feasible solutions to the obstacles migrant workers in China faced with when accessing health-care.MethodsA sample of 2,478 migrant workers in Beijing was chosen by the multi-stage stratified cluster sampling method. A structured questionnaire survey was conducted via face-to-face interviews between investigators and subjects. The multilevel methodology (MLM) was used to demonstrate the independent effects of the explanatory variables on health seeking behavior in migrant workers.ResultsThe medical visitation rate of migrant workers within the past two weeks was 4.8%, which only accounted for 36.4% of those who were ill. Nearly one-third of the migrant workers chose self-medication (33.3%) or no measures (30.3%) while ill within the past two weeks. 19.7% of the sick migrants who should have been hospitalized failed to receive medical treatment within the past year. According to self-reported reasons, the high cost of health service was a significant obstacle to health-care access for 40.5% of the migrant workers who became sick. However, 94.0% of the migrant workers didn't have any insurance coverage in Beijing. The multilevel model analysis indicates that health-seeking behavior among migrants is significantly associated with their insurance coverage. Meanwhile, such factors as household monthly income per capita and working hours per day also affect the medical visitation rate of the migrant workers in Beijing.ConclusionThis study assesses the influence of socio-demographic characteristics on the migrant workers' decision to seek health care services when they fall ill, and it also indicates that the current health service system discourages migrant workers from seeking appropriate care of good quality. Relevant policies of public medical insurance and assistance program should be vigorously implemented for providing affordable health care services to the migrants. Feasible measures need to be taken to reduce the health risks associated with current hygiene practices and equity should be assured in access to health care services among migrant workers.

C 60 -incorporated TiO 2 nanorods were prepared in a hydrothermal process. Rhodamine B (RhB) as a model pollutant was used to probe the photocatalytic activity of products. The results showed that the photocatalytic activity of TiO 2 nanorods incorporated with C 60 under visible light irradiation markedly increased by a factor of approximately 3.3 when compared with pure TiO 2 nanorods and approximately 2.7 when compared with Degussa P25, respectively. The enhanced photocatalytic activity under visible light irradiation may be ascribed to an effective separation of the photoexcited electrons due to the addition of C 60 .

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Background Currently, population aging has been an obstacle and the spotlight for all countries. Compared with developed countries, problems caused by China’s aging population are more prominent. Beijing, as a typical example, is characterized by advanced age and high disability rate, making this capital city scramble to take control of this severe problem. The main types of care for the disabled elderly are classified as home care, institutional care, and community care. With the obvious shortage of senior care institutions, most disabled elderly people are prone to choose home care. This kind of elderly care model is in line with the traditional Chinese concept and it can save the social cost of the disabled elderly to the greatest extent. However, home care for the disabled elderly is facing bumps from the whole society, such as lack of professional medical care, social support and humanistic care, and the care resources provided by a single subject cannot meet the needs of the disabled elderly. Objective Based on the demands of the disabled elderly and their families, this study aims to explore the current status of home care service, look for what kind of care is more suitable for the disabled elderly, and try to find an appropriate elderly care mechanism which could meet the diverse needs of the disabled elderly. Methods A total of 118 disabled elderly people and their primary caregivers were selected from four districts of Beijing by using multi-stage stratified proportional sampling method. A one-to-one and semi-structured in-depth qualitative interview were conducted in the study to find out the health status of the disabled elderly, the relationship between the disabled elderly and their primary caregivers, and utilization of elderly care resources, etc. The views of the interviewees were analyzed through the thematic framework method. All the methods were carried out in accordance with relevant guidelines and regulations. Results The results showed that the average age of 118 disabled elderly is 81.38 ± 9.82 years; 86 (72.9%) are severe disability; 105 (89.0%)are plagued by chronic diseases; the average duration of disability is 5.63 ± 5.25 years; most of disabled elderly have 2 children, but the primary caregiver are their own partner (42, 35.6%), and there is an uneven sharing of responsibilities among the disabled elderly's offspring in the process of home care. The disabled elderly enjoy medical care services, rehabilitation training, daily health care, psychological and other demands. However, the disabled elderly and their families in Beijing face a significant financial burden, as well as physical and psychological issues. The care services provided by the government, family doctors, family members and social organizations fall far short of satisfying the diverse care needs of the disabled elderly. Conclusions In order to effectively provide home care services for the disabled elderly, it is therefore necessary to establish a coordination mechanism of multiple subjects and give full play to the responsibilities of each subject. This study proposes a strengthening path for the common cooperation of multiple subjects, which taking specific responsibilities and participating in the home care for the disabled elderly: (1) The government should give full play to the top-level leading responsibilities and effectively implement people-oriented measures to the disabled elderly. (2) Family doctors strengthen their responsibilities as health gatekeepers and promote continuous health management of the disabled elderly. (3) Family members assume the main responsibility and provide a full range of basic care services. (4) Social forces promote supplementary responsibilities of public welfare and expand the connotation of personalized care services. (5) The disabled elderly should shoulder appropriate personal responsibility and actively cooperate with other subjects.