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As the primary source of innovation in science and technology, the gathering of creative talent plays a significant role in fostering regional innovation and providing the impetus needed to realize the Chinese people's aspiration of a great national rejuvenation. Using panel data from 31 provinces over a 12-year period between 2009 and 2020, the spatial Durbin model is constructed to examine the spatial spillover impact of talent agglomeration on the advancement of regional innovation performance, and the panel threshold model is identified and set up to consider whether the nonlinear effect between talent agglomeration and regional achievements in innovation is significant. The analysis demonstrates that: talent pooling has a non-linear effect on the level of innovation performance development, within a certain scale, talent pooling produces an increasing marginal contribution to innovation performance, but after exceeding the limit, it produces a diminishing marginal contribution; the double threshold effect of talent pooling on regional innovation performance is more significant, and government support as a moderating variable confirms that there is a structural mutation between talent pooling and innovation capability. The structural mutation, within a certain threshold range, plays the role of efficient promotion, providing reference for improving regional innovation level. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A large volume of evidence indicates that only high-class students attend extracurricular activities (Art, music, sport, dancing). On the other hand, this evidence intensively underlines the substantial importance of such extracurricular activities, particularly in visual art, in promoting children's cognitive and non-cognitive well-being. Adolescents' participation in visual art was always interrelated with enhancing their emotional affection towards the Art and cognitive skill in making one, which ultimately built solid efficacy that allows them to interact with their society. The present cross-sectional study sought to shed light on the potential impact of visual art on adolescents' emotional, cognition, and self-efficacy development, which needs to be improved in the Chinese context. Hence, randomly sampled (N = 2139) junior secondary school students were recruited from the rural province of Guizhou in Southwest China to attain the aim of the study. The study's finding affirms that students engaged in artistic activities start to develop a habit of communicating with their peers, showing their work, and commenting on works made by their peers or observed in art exhibitions or museums; such a process makes them self-efficacious. Ultimately, this paper extends the application of visual art activities from educational benefits to nonacademic development, which are the primary agents for children's well-being. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

It was recently reported that men self-cite >50% more often than women across a wide variety of disciplines in the bibliographic database JSTOR. Here, we replicate this finding in a sample of 1.6 million papers from Author-ity, a version of PubMed with computationally disambiguated author names. More importantly, we show that the gender effect largely disappears when accounting for prior publication count in a multidimensional statistical model. Gender has the weakest effect on the probability of self-citation among an extensive set of features tested, including byline position, affiliation, ethnicity, collaboration size, time lag, subject-matter novelty, reference/citation counts, publication type, language, and venue. We find that self-citation is the hallmark of productive authors, of any gender, who cite their novel journal publications early and in similar venues, and more often cross citation-barriers such as language and indexing. As a result, papers by authors with short, disrupted, or diverse careers miss out on the initial boost in visibility gained from self-citations. Our data further suggest that this disproportionately affects women because of attrition and not because of disciplinary under-specialization. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives: Muscle health is essential for children's physical development and future health. PPARGC1A gene encode the peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor coactivator 1α which coactivates transcription factors that control mediating skeletal muscle fiber type conversion and skeletal muscle fiber formation. The PPARGC1A rs8192678 Gly/Ser (Gly482Ser) polymorphism was associated with the regulation of skeletal muscle fibre type. This paper aims to explore the association between the PPARGC1A rs8192678 (Gly482Ser) polymorphism and muscle fitness in Chinese schoolchildren. Methods: We detected the distribution of the PPARGC1A rs8192678 (Gly482Ser) polymorphism by DNA typing of saliva samples from untrained Southern Chinese Han children aged 7–12 years. Considering that muscle studies in children cannot use invasive sampling, we analyzed the association between alleles and genotypes with high validity tests of muscle fitness assesment in children(handgrip strength, standing long jump, sit-ups and push-ups). Results: The results showed no significant differences in height, weight or body mass index between the sexes. The grip strength indicators were correlated with age in boys and height and weight in girls. Sit-ups were significantly higher in girls with the PPARGC1A Gly/Gly genotype than in boys, and handgrip strength and standing long jump were significantly lower in girls with the PPARGC1A rs8192678 (Gly482Ser) genotype than in boys. Genetic model analysis showed that the Gly482 allele had a dominant genetic effect on the Gly482 allele is hypothesized to influence the expression of type I fibers in skeletal muscle in girls, while the Ser482 allele affects on type II fibers in girls. The two alleles had little genetic effect on boys. Conclusions: The results suggested the possible association of the PPARGC1A rs8192678 (Gly482Ser) polymorphism on myofibril type-related phenotypes in Han Chinese children in southern China, with a particular impact on girls. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Recently, a lot of Chinese patients consult treatment plans through social networking platforms, but the Chinese medical text contains rich information, including a large number of medical nomenclatures and symptom descriptions. How to build an intelligence model to automatically classify the text information consulted by patients and recommend the correct department for patients is very important. In order to address the problem of insufficient feature extraction from Chinese medical text and low accuracy, this paper proposes a dual channel Chinese medical text classification model. The model extracts feature of Chinese medical text at different granularity, comprehensively and accurately obtains effective feature information, and finally recommends departments for patients according to text classification. One channel of the model focuses on medical nomenclatures, symptoms and other words related to hospital departments, gives different weights, calculates corresponding feature vectors with convolution kernels of different sizes, and then obtains local text representation. The other channel uses the BiGRU network and attention mechanism to obtain text representation, highlighting the important information of the whole sentence, that is, global text representation. Finally, the model uses full connection layer to combine the representation vectors of the two channels, and uses Softmax classifier for classification. The experimental results show that the accuracy, recall and F1-score of the model are improved by 10.65%, 8.94% and 11.62% respectively compared with the baseline models in average, which proves that our model has better performance and robustness. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the context of extensive disciplinary integration, researchers worldwide have increasingly focused on musical ability. However, despite the wide range of available music ability tests, there remains a dearth of validated tests applicable to China. The Music Ear Test (MET) is a validated scale that has been reported to be potentially suitable for cross-cultural distribution in a Chinese sample. However, no formal translation and cross-cultural reliability/validity tests have been conducted for the Chinese population in any of the studies using the Music Ear Test. This study aims to assess the factor structure, convergence, predictiveness, and validity of the Chinese version of the MET, based on a large sample of Chinese participants (n≥1235). Furthermore, we seek to determine whether variables such as music training level, response pattern, and demographic data such as gender and age have intervening effects on the results. In doing so, we aim to provide clear indications of musical aptitude and expertise by validating an existing instrument, the Music Ear Test, and provide a valid method for further understanding the musical abilities of the Chinese sample. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

ICD-10(International Classification of Diseases 10th revision) is a classification of a disease, symptom, procedure, or injury. Diseases are often described in patients’ medical records with free texts, such as terms, phrases and paraphrases, which differ significantly from those used in ICD-10 classification. This paper presents an improved approach based on the Longest Common Subsequence (LCS) and semantic similarity for automatic Chinese diagnoses, mapping from the disease names given by clinician to the disease names in ICD-10. LCS refers to the longest string that is a subsequence of every member of a given set of strings. The proposed method of improved LCS in this paper can increase the accuracy of processing in Chinese disease mapping. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Internet coupled with agricultural development in full swing, green agri-food product e-commerce has become a hot topic in the development of e-commerce. However, due to the seasonality, territoriality, weak quality, difference, and dispersion of agri-food products, e-commerce of green agri-food products are facing difficulties. Based on the gap between consumers' willingness and behavior to buy green agri-food products online, this paper quantitatively studied the factors that affect consumers' behavior deviation to buy green agri-food products online. The method of constructing the binary Logistic regression model was adopted, and analysis tools such as SPSS and Excel were used for analysis, to study the influence of various factors on consumers' purchase willingness and behavior. The research conclusion shows that: consumers' gender, age, understanding of online agri-food products, and monthly disposable income have a positive impact on the consistency of consumers' behavior and willingness, while the price of green agri-food products and online purchasing frequency have a negative impact on consumers' willingness and behavior of online purchasing. The results are discussed in the context of existing studies. Suggestions and research prospects are presented at the end of the article. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

As the Internet retail industry continues to rise, more and more consumers choose to shop online, especially Chinese consumers. Using consumer behavior data left on the Internet to predict repurchase behavior is of great significance for companies to achieve precision marketing. This paper proposes an improved deep forest model, and the interactive behavior characteristics of users and goods are added into the original feature model to predict the repurchase behavior of e-commerce consumers. Based on the Alibaba mobile e-commerce platform data set, first construct a feature engineering that includes user characteristics, product characteristics, and interactive behavior characteristics. And then use our proposed model to make predictions. Experiments show that the model's overall performance with increased interactive behavior features is better and has higher accuracy. Compared with the existing prediction models, the improved deep forest model has certain advantages, which not only improves the prediction accuracy but also reduces the cost of training time. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A closer association has been found between the microRNA-146a rs2910164 polymorphism and the risk of head and neck carcinoma in some molecular epidemiological studies. Recently two meta-analyses were performed to explore the relationship between miRNA-146a polymorphisms and the susceptibility of squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck (SCCHN); however, they yielded conflicting results in susceptibility regarding ethnic variations. Hence, the present study was performed to explain the relationship between the miRNA-146a rs2910164 polymorphism and the risk of SCCHN development of Chinese patients. We retrieved databases and screened eligible papers up to March 10, 2017 and then we extracted the essential data. The subgroup analyses were also performed based on the tumor site, region, and genotyping means. Crude odds ratios (OR) at 95% confidence intervals (CI) were chosen to describe the strength of the association. As a result, 6 publications were included in our study which involved 8 independent case-control studies. A significant association was found between miR-146a rs2910164 polymorphisms and the risk of SCCHN in Chinese patients according to the overall data [CC+CG vs. GG: OR = 1.13; 95%CI = 1.00–1.29; CC vs. GG: OR = 1.19; 95%CI = 1.03–1.38]. According to the subgroup analysis based on tumor site, the risk of cancer was significantly increased among laryngeal cancer (dominant model: OR = 1.76, 95%CI = 1.26~2.46, P = 0.001; homozygote model: OR = 1.83, 95%CI = 1.25~2.67, P = 0.002) and nasopharyngeal carcinoma (homozygote model: OR = 1.41, 95%CI = 1.05~1.90, P = 0.022). In summary, variant alleles of miR-146a rs2910164 alleles may have an association with the increased risk of SCCHN in Chinese patients, and these associations differed based on tumor site. Further studies including a larger sample size will be necessary to clarify these results. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma (PPARG) plays an important role in the pathogenesis and maintenance of essential hypertension (EH). It has been suggested that polymorphisms of PPARG are associated with the risk of EH. However, findings to date remain controversial. To elucidate the associations between the PPARG Pro12Ala and C161T polymorphisms and EH risk, a meta-analysis was carried out. Methods: A comprehensive literature search of PubMed, Embase, CNKI (Chinese National Knowledge Infrastructure), VIP and Wanfang databases was conducted. The pooled odds ratios (ORs) and 95% confidence interval (CI) were calculated to estimate the size of the effect using the random-effects model. At the same time, the pooled standardized mean difference (SMD) with 95% CI was used for the meta-analysis of the PPARG Pro12Ala polymorphism and blood pressure. Results: Finally, Fifteen papers (seventeen studies) including 4,151 cases and 4,997 controls to evaluate the association of the PPARGPro12Ala polymorphism and EH risk, were included in this study. Overall, the results suggested that Ala allele was associated with the decreased EH risk (for allelic model, OR = 0.757, 95%CI: 0.624–0.918, P = 0.005; for dominant model, OR = 0.771, 95%CI: 0.627–0.946, P = 0.013). The subgroup analysis stratified by ethnicity showed that the significant association between the PPARG Pro12Ala polymorphism and EH was only detected in the Asian subgroup. There was no difference in blood pressure values between Ala carriers and non-carriers. For the C161T polymorphism, only 5 studies comprising 1,118 cases and 1,357 controls met the inclusion criteria. The overall results showed that the PPARG C161T polymorphism was not associated with the risk of EH. But in the subgroup analysis, we found that the PPARG C161T polymorphism significantly associated with the risk of EH in the Asian subgroup (for allelic model, OR = 0.719, 95% CI: 0.537–0.963, P = 0.027; for dominant model, OR = 0.653, 95% CI: 0.439–0.972, P = 0.036). Conclusion: Our meta-analysis suggested that the PPARG polymorphisms might be associated with the risk of EH. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To provide a reference for the realization of children's equal inheritance, this study examined the influence of child structure and means of eldercare on equitable family property distribution willingness. Using data from surveys of Chinese women's social status, this study analyzes the impacts of child structure and means of eldercare on family property distribution, with the children's surname choice and women's status as moderating factors. The results indicate that a child structure in which the family consists of more girls than boys, a higher number of children, and the choice of family support for eldercare significantly inhibit the equal distribution of family assets. However, the weakening of traditional views significantly promotes the equal distribution of household assets. These findings remain robust after endogenous and robustness tests. Moreover, the study finds that the impact of the structure of children and eldercare methods varied across different age groups, household registration attributes, and genders. Research on the willingness to distribute household wealth aids in understanding the effects and differences brought about by the structure of children and eldercare methods under current traditional cultural contexts, thereby promoting a more equitable distribution of household wealth. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In recent decades, the concept of "Physical Literacy" has emerged as a significant breakthrough in enhancing the physical health of children and adolescents. This concept has become the guiding principle and future direction for physical education reform in Western countries. As China's economic and social development enters a new phase, the negative impact of insufficient physical activity on adolescent health remains a significant challenge to the strategies of "Healthy China" and "A Leading Sports Nation." The unique value of physical literacy, which emphasizes the importance of regular physical activity, aligns perfectly with the developmental needs of the nation, the era, and individuals. Given the crucial role of interpersonal support in the development of adolescents' physical literacy, this study employs questionnaire surveys and statistical analysis to investigate the current state of physical literacy among Chinese adolescents. It explores the predictive relationship between parental support, teacher support, and peer support on physical literacy, aiming to provide guidance for the future development of adolescents' physical literacy. The research findings indicate significant differences in the five dimensions of physical literacy (attitude, sports knowledge, emotion, athletic ability, and physical fitness) among adolescents of different grades and residence type. Additionally, there are notable gender differences in the dimensions of sports knowledge, emotion, and athletic ability. The interaction effect of gender and grade is particularly evident in the emotional and physical fitness dimensions. There is a significant correlation between interpersonal support and all dimensions of physical literacy. After controlling for variables such as gender, grade, and family background, interpersonal support for adolescent physical exercise was found to have a significant impact on all dimensions of physical literacy. Among the forms of support, peer support was identified as a more powerful predictor of physical literacy compared to parental and teacher support. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Consumption is crucial to individual well-being and national economic development. This study investigates whether high-speed rail (HSR) influences consumption expenditure (CE) and consumption structure (CS) of urban and rural Chinese citizens. Using panel data from 2003 to 2019 and econometric models, this study finds that: (1) HSR significantly increases CE for both urban and rural residents, promotes CS upgrades in rural areas, but inhibits CS upgrades in urban areas. These results remain robust after extensive testing. (2) HSR's impact on urban consumption is relatively focused and singular, whereas its effect on rural consumption is dispersed and extensive. Additionally, the impact of HSR on consumption exhibited significant delays and regional characteristics. (3) Mediation analysis reveals that HSR significantly enhances urban and rural CE and facilitates rural CS upgrades through market, price, and income effects. However, it also triggers housing price increases, impeding urban CS upgrades. This study provides important references for the government to optimize transportation infrastructure investments, promote balanced economic development between urban and rural areas, and enhance residents' well-being. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Depressive symptoms are common in adolescents, while its prevalence trend in adolescents is seldom reported. In addition, few studies focus on adolescents without depressive symptoms. This study aimed to reveal the trend and predictors of persistent depression/non-depression among Chinese adolescents over three-year period. Methods: Three-wave data were collected from T1 to T3 in a sample from six junior high schools in Shenzhen, China. The 20-item of Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression Scale was used, with scoring ≥16 as depression. Results: Of all 1301 adolescents, 33.4%, 15.5% and 9.0% reported depressive symptoms at baseline, T2 and T3 respectively, while 66.6%, 47.7% and 39.6% reported non-depressive symptoms at three time-points. At the individual level, baseline positive identity and general positive youth development significantly increased persistent non-depression at T2 and T3. At the family level, baseline family harmony and communication consistently prevented persistent depression at T2 and T3, while family communication consistently promoted non-depression. At the school level, baseline awareness of no expectation from teacher and poor interpersonal relationship consistently increased persistent depression and prevented non-depression. Conclusions: The incidence of depression in adolescents aged 11–15 is not high. The rate of persistent non-depression is approximately 30% higher than that of persistent depression, and both have a downward trend over years. Positive youth development and healthy family function are protective factors of depression, while school maladjustment decreases persistent non-depression. During early adolescence, more attention should be paid to family function and school maladjustment to promote non-depression in adolescents from a new broader view. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The tradition of keeping written records of gift received during household ceremonies in many countries offers researchers an underutilized means of data collection for social network analysis. This paper first summarizes unique features of the gift record data that circumvent five prevailing sampling and measurement issues in the literature, and we discuss their advantages over existing studies at both the individual level and the dyadic link level using previous data sources. We then document our research project in rural China that implements a multiple wave census-type household survey and a long-term gift record collection. The pattern of gift-giving in major household social events and its recent escalation is analyzed. There are significantly positive correlations between gift network centrality and various forms of informal insurance. Finally, economic inequality and competitive marriage market are among the main demographic and socioeconomic determinants of the observed gift network structure. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper, I examine whether inducing gender/professional identity compatibility prior to a self-advocacy negotiation, may enhance women’s assertiveness in a compensation negotiation and mitigate potential social backlash concerns for assertiveness. In two experimental lab studies where women negotiated with a male counterpart as sellers and job candidates, I found evidence supporting the causal link between state gender/profession identity integration and higher levels of assertiveness in women’s self-advocacy compensation negotiations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper examines the association between given and family names and self-ascribed ethnicity as classified by the 2011 Census of Population for England and Wales. Using Census data in an innovative way under the new Office for National Statistics (ONS) Secure Research Service (SRS; previously the ONS Virtual Microdata Laboratory, VML), we investigate how bearers of a full range of given and family names assigned themselves to 2011 Census categories, using a names classification tool previously described in this journal. Based on these results, we develop a follow-up ethnicity estimation tool and describe how the tool may be used to observe changing relations between naming practices and ethnic identities as a facet of social integration and cosmopolitanism in an increasingly diverse society. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: Engaging in exercise not only encompasses its intrinsic attributes but also signifies its social dimensions. It reflects an underlying emotional tone and cumulative value attributed to exercise by individuals, forming a broad, macro-level socio-psychological relationship in alignment with the conceptual definition of societal mentality. The social mentality is an indicator of a nation's governance capacity and mirrors the overall socio-psychological profile and needs of its citizens. This study, therefore, aims to investigate the influence of exercise, specifically through the lens of sports, on the sociall mentality of the Chinese population, encompassing aspects of social trust and social equity. Additionally, we explore the distinct mechanisms underlying differences in social class, generation disparities, and spatial dimensions. This inquiry aims to contribute to enhancing governance capabilities and societal stability. Method: Data for this study was sourced from the 2023 China General Social Survey. We selected 20 variables and analyzed a sample of 6,746 individuals. We employed Ordinary Least Squares (OLS) multiple linear regression models to construct our analysis. Results: The findings indicate that exercise has a positive influence on the social mentality of the Chinese population. A higher frequency of participation in sports correlates with a more advanced level of social mentality development. Notably, significant disparities exist between the macro-level and micro-level impacts of exercise, suggesting ample room for improvement. Social class, generational disparities, and spatial dimensions demonstrate substantial impact, each exhibiting unique characteristics depending on the specific research question. Furthermore, the weightings of social trust orientation and social equity orientation within the societal mentality dimensions exhibit variability and fluctuations. Conclusion: When exploring the topic of social mentality, it is recommended to separately discuss the various dimensions it encompasses, thus providing a comprehensive, detailed, and precise portrayal of specific issues. To bolster the influence of exercise on the social mentality, as well as to enhance governance capabilities and societal stability, the following recommendations are proposed: (1) In-depth exploration of differences within social strata to optimize the mechanisms through which exercise influences the social mentality; (2) Balancing generational disparities to establish a solid foundation for the influence of exercise on the social mentality; (3) Recognizing spatial dimensions to harness the spatial dynamism of exercise in shaping the social mentality. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: This study aimed to determine the prevalence of hearing loss and identify associated risk factors in a Chinese population aged 45 years and older. Study design: This study employed a cross-sectional research design. Data from the 4th wave survey of the China Health and Retirement Longitudinal Study (CHARLS) conducted in 2018 were utilized. Participants were assessed using self-reported questionnaires, and various demographic and comorbidity factors were analyzed to elucidate the risk factors associated with hearing loss. Methods: A total of 17,695 individuals from 10,257 households in 450 villages and urban settlements were included in the study. Hearing loss was assessed through self-reported questionnaires. Risk factors, including demographic characteristics and comorbidities, were analyzed to identify associations with hearing loss. Results: The study population had a hearing loss prevalence rate of 17.9% (n = 3,179). Regional variations were observed, with highest rates in Chongqing (28.67%), Yunnan (25.12%), and Qinghai (24.36%), and lowest rates in Zhejiang (17.71%), Tianjin (10.56%), and Shanghai (9.26%). Age ≥70 was associated with higher risk (OR = 3, p<0.05), while being female was associated with reduced risk (OR = 0.81, p<0.05). Higher education level showed lower risk (OR<1, p<0.05). Non-agricultural workers had lower risk (OR = 0.67, p<0.05). Fewer social activities were correlated with decreased risk (OR = 0.89, p = 0.024). Ethnic minorities had slightly higher risk (OR = 1.23, p<0.05). Conclusion: This study provides valuable insights into the prevalence and risk factors associated with hearing loss in the Chinese population aged 45 years and older. The findings emphasize the importance of early detection and intervention, particularly among older individuals and those residing in specific regions, for effective hearing loss management. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This is a prospective study to establish prediction models that map the refined Scoliosis Research Society 22-item (SRS-22r) onto EuroQoL-5 dimension 5-level (EQ-5D-5L) utility scores in adolescent idiopathic scoliosis (AIS) patients. Comparison of treatment outcomes in AIS can be determined by cost-utility analysis. However, the mainstay spine-specific health-related quality of life outcome measure, the SRS-22r questionnaire does not provide utility assessment. In this study, AIS patients were prospectively recruited to complete both the EQ-5D-5L and SRS-22r questionnaires by trained interviewers. Ordinary least squares regression was undertaken to develop mapping models, which the validity and robustness were assessed by using the 10-fold cross-validation procedure. EQ-5D-5L utility scores were regressed on demographics, Cobb angle, curve types, treatment modalities, and five domains of the SRS-22r questionnaire. Three models were developed using stepwise selection method. EQ-5D-5L scores were regressed on 1) main effects of SRS-22r subscale scores, 2) as per 1 plus squared and interaction terms, and 3) as per 2 plus demographic and clinical characteristics. Model goodness-of-fit was assessed using R-square, adjusted R-square, and information criteria; whereas the predictive performance was evaluated using root mean square error (RMSE), mean absolute error (MAE), and the proportion of absolute error within the threshold of 0.05 and 0.10. A total of 227 AIS patients with mean age of 15.6 years were recruited. The EQ-5D-5L scores were predicted by four domains of SRS-22r (main effects of ‘Function’, ‘Pain’, ‘Appearance’ and ‘Mental Health’, and squared term of ‘Function’ and ‘Pain’), and Cobb angle in Model 3 with the best goodness-of-fit (R-square/adjusted R-square: 62.1%/60.9%). Three models demonstrated an acceptance predictive performance in error analysis applying 10-fold cross-validation to three models where RMSE and MAE were between 0.063–0.065 and between 0.039–0.044, respectively. Model 3 was therefore recommended out of three mapping models established in this paper. To our knowledge, this is the first study to map a spine-specific health-related quality of life measure onto EQ-5D-5L for AIS patients. With the consideration and incorporation of demographic and clinical characteristics, over 60% variance explained by mapping model 3 enabled the satisfactory prediction of EQ-5D-5L utility scores from existing SRS-22r data for health economic appraisal of different treatment options. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Economic inequality in the United States is extreme, but little is known about the national origin of affluent households. Households in the top one percent by total wealth own vastly disproportionate quantities of household assets and have correspondingly high levels of economic, social, and political influence. The overrepresentation of white natives (i.e., those born in the U.S.) among high-wealth households is well-documented, but changing migration dynamics suggest that a growing portion of top households may be immigrants. Methods: Because no single survey dataset contains top wealth holders and data about country of origin, this paper uses two publicly-available data sets: the Survey of Consumer Finances (SCF) and the Survey of Income and Program Participation (SIPP). Multiple imputation is used to impute country of birth from the SIPP into the SCF. Descriptive statistics are used to demonstrate reliability of the method, to estimate the prevalence of immigrants among top wealth holders, and to document patterns of asset ownership among affluent immigrants. Results: Significant numbers of top wealth holders who are usually classified as white natives may be immigrants. Many top wealth holders appear to be European and Canadian immigrants, and increasing numbers of top wealth holders are likely from Asia and Latin America as well. Results suggest that of those in the top one percent of wealth holders, approximately 3% are European and Canadian immigrants, .5% are from Mexico or Cuban, and 1.7% are from Asia (especially Hong Kong, Taiwan, Mainland China, and India). Ownership of key assets varies considerably across affluent immigrant groups. Conclusion: Although the percentage of top wealth holders who are immigrants is relatively small, these percentages represent large numbers of households with considerable resources and corresponding social and political influence. Evidence that the propensity to allocate wealth to real and financial assets varies across immigrant groups suggests that wealth ownership is more global than previous research suggests and that immigrant groups are likely to become more prevalent in top wealth positions in the U.S. As the representation of immigrants in top wealth positions grows, their economic, social, and political influence is likely to increase as well. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Second-hand luxury goods feature both characteristics of luxury products like perceived value including social, emotional, and quality value, and second-hand goods like price-performance ratio. Enlarging the second-hand luxury market is of significance to protect the environment and save rare and valuable natural resources, and thus investigating the determinants of purchase intention is meaningful. From the perspective of the psychology of consumers, the influence of factors related to consumers (recycling awareness, subjective norms, attitudes, perceived behavioral control) and products (perceived value, price-performance ratio) on the intention to buy second-hand luxury goods is explored in this study through an online survey with Chinese consumers as a sample. The results are analyzed using the structural equation model (SEM) and show that consumers' attitudes, perceived behavioral control, and recycling awareness will promote the intention of purchasing second-hand luxury goods, and the perceived value and price-performance ratio of second-hand luxury goods also have a positive impact on the purchase intention. However, there is no significant relationship between subjective norms and purchase intention. In addition, this study also explores the interrelationship between constructs and draws corresponding conclusions, providing references for the subsequent development of the second-hand luxury market. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Occupational injuries in the construction industry have plagued many countries, and many cases have shown that accidents often occur because of a combination of project participants. Assembled construction (AC) projects have received extensive attention from Chinese scholars as a future trend, but few studies have explored the interrelationships and potential risks of various stakeholders in depth. This study fills this research gap by proposing a multi-stakeholder AC risk framework. The study surveyed 396 stakeholders, then analyzed the collected data and created a risk framework based on Structural Equation Modelling (SEM) and the CRITIC weighting method. The results revealed that factors like "regular supervision is a formality," "blindly approving the wrong safety measures," and "failure to organize effective safety education and training." are vital risks in AC of China. Finally, the study validates the risk factors and the framework with 180 real-life cases, which shows that the proposed framework is theoretically grounded and realistic. The study also suggests multi-level strategies such as introducing AI-based automated risk monitoring, improving the adaptability of normative provisions to technological advances, and advancing the culture of project communities of interest to ensure AC's safe practices. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Chinese immigrants are a diverse and growing group whose members provide a unique opportunity to examine within-immigrant group differences in adaptation. In this paper, we move beyond thinking of national-origin groups as homogenous and study variation among Chinese immigrants in wealth ownership, a critical indicator of adaptation that attracts relatively little attention in the immigration literature. We develop an analytical approach that considers national origin, tenure in the U.S., and age to examine heterogeneity in economic adaptation among the immigrant generation. Our results show that variations among Chinese immigrants explain within-group differences in net worth, asset ownership, and debt. These differences also account for important variation between Chinese immigrants, natives, and other immigrant groups and provide important, new insight into the processes that lead to immigrant adaptation and long-term class stability. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cooperation theories assume that interacting individuals can change their strategies under different expected payoffs, depending on their social status or social situations. When looking at sex differences in cooperation, the existing studies have found that the genders cooperate at similar frequencies. However, the majority of the data originate within Western human societies. In this paper, we explore whether there are gender differences in cooperation in China. An Iterated Prisoner’s Dilemma game with a punishment option was used to gather data about Southwest Chinese subjects in a culture in which men have a hierarchical advantage over women. Results indicate that men invested into partners significantly more than women did (34% ♂ vs. 24% ♀) while women, in turn, were more likely to defect (65% ♀ vs. 50% ♂). In this region, women have customarily held less economic power and they are used to obtain a payoff typically lower than men. We suggest that the women’s willingness to invest in cooperation has decreased throughout evolutionary time, providing us with an illustration of a culturally-driven shift towards a disparity in gender cooperation interests. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study examined whether the impact of HIV stigma on psychosocial status and substance use among people living with HIV/AIDS (PLWHA) differed by their socio-economic status (SES) in a Chinese setting. A total of 2,987 PLWHA were recruited from 12 sites with the highest number of cumulative HIV incidence in Guangxi, China. Participants were asked to provide information regarding their psychosocial status (e.g., depression, anxiety), history of substance use (e.g., tobacco, alcohol and drug) and SES (e.g., education, monthly income, residence type, and job category). By employing stratified multivariate regression analyses, we assessed stratum-specific impacts of HIV stigma on PLWHA’s psychosocial status and behaviors of substance use based upon participants’ SES. The impact of HIV stigma differed significantly on psychosocial status across SES gradients. Psychosocial status among people with higher education was more sensitive to HIV stigma compared with PLWHA who were less educated. The odds of substance use behaviors were higher among people with better monthly income than their low-income peers. Our study is the first paper to document the paucity of SES stratified analyses between HIV stigma and psychosocial status and substance use among PLWHA in China. We call for tailored intervention programs to target PLWHA with different backgrounds and characteristics in order to help them to better manage their seropositivity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper examines the factor structure and measurement invariance of the Task and Ego Orientation in Sport Questionnaire (TEOSQ) across American and Chinese samples. Results based on the mean and covariance structure analyses supported configural invariance, metric invariance and scalar invariance across groups. Latent means analyses revealed that American sample had significantly higher mean scores on task and ego orientations than the Chinese sample. The findings suggest that the TEOSQ is a valid and reliable instrument in assessing achievement motivation across these two diverse populations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The infection rate of syphilis in China has increased dramatically in recent decades, becoming a serious public health concern. Early prediction of syphilis is therefore of great importance for heath planning and management. Methods: In this paper, we analyzed surveillance time series data for primary, secondary, tertiary, congenital and latent syphilis in mainland China from 2005 to 2012. Seasonality and long-term trend were explored with decomposition methods. Autoregressive integrated moving average (ARIMA) was used to fit a univariate time series model of syphilis incidence. A separate multi-variable time series for each syphilis type was also tested using an autoregressive integrated moving average model with exogenous variables (ARIMAX). Results: The syphilis incidence rates have increased three-fold from 2005 to 2012. All syphilis time series showed strong seasonality and increasing long-term trend. Both ARIMA and ARIMAX models fitted and estimated syphilis incidence well. All univariate time series showed highest goodness-of-fit results with the ARIMA(0,0,1)×(0,1,1) model. Conclusion: Time series analysis was an effective tool for modelling the historical and future incidence of syphilis in China. The ARIMAX model showed superior performance than the ARIMA model for the modelling of syphilis incidence. Time series correlations existed between the models for primary, secondary, tertiary, congenital and latent syphilis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Human rationality–the ability to behave in order to maximize the achievement of their presumed goals (i.e., their optimal choices)–is the foundation for democracy. Research evidence has suggested that voters may not make decisions after exhaustively processing relevant information; instead, our decision-making capacity may be restricted by our own biases and the environment. In this paper, we investigate the extent to which humans in a democratic society can be rational when making decisions in a serious, complex situation–voting in a local political election. We believe examining human rationality in a political election is important, because a well-functioning democracy rests largely upon the rational choices of individual voters. Previous research has shown that explicit political attitudes predict voting intention and choices (i.e., actual votes) in democratic societies, indicating that people are able to reason comprehensively when making voting decisions. Other work, though, has demonstrated that the attitudes of which we may not be aware, such as our implicit (e.g., subconscious) preferences, can predict voting choices, which may question the well-functioning democracy. In this study, we systematically examined predictors on voting intention and choices in the 2014 mayoral election in Taipei, Taiwan. Results indicate that explicit political party preferences had the largest impact on voting intention and choices. Moreover, implicit political party preferences interacted with explicit political party preferences in accounting for voting intention, and in turn predicted voting choices. Ethnic identity and perceived voting intention of significant others were found to predict voting choices, but not voting intention. In sum, to the comfort of democracy, voters appeared to engage mainly explicit, controlled processes in making their decisions; but findings on ethnic identity and perceived voting intention of significant others may suggest otherwise. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Chinese information extraction is traditionally performed in the process of word segmentation, entity recognition, relation extraction and event detection. This pipelined approach suffers from two limitations: 1) It is prone to introduce propagated errors from upstream tasks to subsequent applications; 2) Mutual benefits of cross-task dependencies are hard to be introduced in non-overlapping models. To address these two challenges, we propose a novel transition-based model that jointly performs entity recognition, relation extraction and event detection as a single task. In addition, we incorporate subword-level information into character sequence with the use of a hybrid lattice structure, removing the reliance of external word tokenizers. Results on standard ACE benchmarks show the benefits of the proposed joint model and lattice network, which gives the best result in the literature. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Subacromial spurs are considered the one of the pathology underlying shoulder impingement syndrome. Furthermore, few studies have focused on the morphology of the subacromial spurs in normal Chinese people. This study aimed to study the spur distribution and to illustrate the morphology of spurs, which may help guide the extent of acromioplasty. Methods: A total of 93 normal individuals were enrolled, and both shoulders of all enrolled individuals were analyzed. The subjects were divided and classified into three different groups by ages: group I = 18–40 years, group II = 41–60 years, and group III ≥ 61 years. The osteophyte distribution, osteophyte area, subacromial surface area and osteophyte area/subacromial surface area ratio were measured and illustrated using Mimics and 3-matic software. The shape of the acromion was classified according to the Bigliani and Morrison classification system. The acromial angle was also classified. Then, the relationship between osteophytes, acromial classification and acromial angle was analyzed. Results: Type II (curved shape) was the most common type of acromion, and the hooked shape was a rare form. A significant increase in the left subacromial surface area in males was observed in group III compared with group I (P < 0.001) and group II (P = 0.004). The total spur/subacromial area ratio was significantly higher in group II than I. An obvious increase in the right subacromial area was observed in group III compared with group I (P = 0.004). Furthermore, there was a significant increase in the right spur area (P = 0.021) and total spur/subacromial area ratio (P = 0.006) in females in group II compared with group I. Fewer spurs were observed on the left than on the right side (p = 0.0482). One spur was most common among type II acromions (29/36) (80.56%) on the left side and the right side (34/52, 65.38%). Conclusions: Spurs osteophytes are mainly distributed with an irregular shape and mostly run through the medial and lateral sides of the subacromial surface in normal subjects. The characteristics of subacromial spurs are so diverse that a surgeon must conduct subacromial decompression completely based on the morphology of individual spurs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: With the evolution of China's social structure and values, there has been a shift in attitudes towards marriage and fertility, with an increasing number of women holding diverse perspectives on these matters. In order to better comprehend the fundamental reasons behind these attitude changes and to provide a basis for targeted policymaking, this study employs natural language processing techniques to analyze the discourse of Chinese women. Methods: The study focused on analyzing 3,200 comments from Weibo, concentrating on six prominent topics linked to women's marriage and fertility. These topics were treated as research cases. The research employed natural language processing techniques, such as sentiment orientation analysis, Word2Vec, and TextRank. Results: Firstly, the overall sentiment orientation of Chinese women toward marriage and fertility was largely pessimistic. Secondly, the factors contributing to this negative sentiment were categorized into four dimensions: social policies and rights protection, concerns related to parenting, values and beliefs associated with marriage and fertility, and family and societal culture. Conclusion: Based on these outcomes, the study proposed a range of mechanisms and pathways to enhance women's sentiment orientation towards marriage and fertility. These mechanisms encompass safeguarding women and children's rights, promoting parenting education, providing positive guidance on social media, and cultivating a diverse and inclusive social and cultural environment. The objective is to offer precise and comprehensive reference points for the formulation of policies that align more effectively with practical needs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study combined geographic factors to predict Chinese healthy male RBP reference values from a geographic perspective, with the aim of exploring the spatial distribution and regional differences in Chinese healthy male Retinol-Binding Protein(RBP) reference values, and then providing a theoretical basis for medical diagnosis of healthy male RBP reference values in different regions of China. Using the actual measured RBP values of 24,502 healthy men in 256 cities in China combined with 16 geographical factors as the base data, the spatial autocorrelation, correlation analysis and support vector machine were used to predict the RBP reference values of healthy men in 2322 cities in China, and to generate a spatial distribution map of the RBP reference values of healthy men in China. It was found that the spatial distribution of healthy male RBP reference values in China showed a trend of gradual increase from the first to the third terrain steps. Combined with the distribution map, it is suggested that the RBP reference values of healthy men in China should be divided into the low value zone of the first-level terrain step (25mg/L~40mg/L), the middle value zone of the second-level terrain step (40mg/L~45mg/L) and the high value zone of the third-level terrain step (45mg/L~52mg/L). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The prevalence of ectopic pregnancy after assisted reproduction is notably high, posing a significant threat to the life safety of pregnant women. Discrepancies in published results and the lack of a comprehensive description of all risk factors have led to ongoing uncertainties concerning ectopic pregnancy after assisted reproduction. Objective: This study aimed to understand the risk factors for ectopic pregnancy after in vitro fertilization-embryo transfer in the Chinese population and provide a reference for targeted prevention and treatment. Methods: A comprehensive search of the China National Knowledge Infrastructure, Wang fang Database, China Science Technology Journal Database, Chinese Biomedical Literature Database, PubMed, Web of Science, and Embase was conducted to identify relevant literature on the risk factors for ectopic pregnancy in Chinese women after assisted reproductive technology in Chinese women. A meta-analysis of the included studies was performed using Stata17. Results: Overall, 34 articles were included in the analysis. The risk factors for ectopic pregnancy after in vitro fertilization-embryo transfer in the Chinese population included a thin endometrium on the day of HCG administration and embryo transplantation, a history of ectopic pregnancy, secondary infertility, a history of induced abortion, polycystic ovary syndrome, decreased ovarian reserve, tubal factor infertility, cleavage stage embryo transfer, fresh embryo transfer, artificial cycle protocols, elevated estradiol levels on the day of human chorionic gonadotropin administration, a history of tubal surgery, two or more number of embryo transfers, previous pregnancy history, and a history of pelvic surgery. Conclusion: This study clarified the factors influencing ectopic pregnancy after in vitro fertilization and embryo transfer in the Chinese population, focusing on high-risk groups. Targeted and personalized intervention measures should be adopted to prevent and detect the disease early to reduce its incidence and harm. Trial registration: The protocol for this view was registered in PROSPERO (CRD42023414710). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

β-thalassemia is a common inherited disorder worldwide including southern China, and at least 45 distinct β-thalassemia mutations have been identified in China. High-resolution melting (HRM) assay was recently introduced as a rapid, inexpensive and effective method for genotyping. However, there was no systemic study on the diagnostic capability of HRM to identify β-thalassemia. Here, we used an improved HRM method to screen and type 12 common β-thalassemia mutations in Chinese, and the rapidity and reliability of this method was investigated. The whole PCR and HRM procedure could be completed in 40 min. The heterozygous mutations and 4 kinds of homozygous mutations could be readily differentiated from the melting curve except c.-78A>G heterozygote and c.-79A>G heterozygote. The diagnostic reliability of this HRM assay was evaluated on 756 pre-typed genomic DNA samples and 50 cases of blood spots on filter paper, which were collected from seven high prevalent provinces in southern China. If c.-78A>G heterozygote and c.-79A>G heterozygote were classified into the same group (c.-78&79 A>G heterozygote), the HRM method was in complete concordance with the reference method (reverse dot blot/DNA-sequencing). In a conclusion, the HRM method appears to be an accurate and sensitive method for the rapid screening and identification of β-thalassemia mutations. In the future, we suggest this technology to be used in neonatal blood spot screening program. It could enlarge the coverage of β-thalassemia screening program in China. At the same time, its value should be confirmed in prospectively clinical and epidemiological studies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper we try to define insulin resistance (IR) precisely for a group of Chinese women. Our definition deliberately does not depend upon body mass index (BMI) or age, although in other studies, with particular random effects models quite different from models used here, BMI accounts for a large part of the variability in IR. We accomplish our goal through application of Gauss mixture vector quantization (GMVQ), a technique for clustering that was developed for application to lossy data compression. Defining data come from measurements that play major roles in medical practice. A precise statement of what the data are is in Section 1. Their family structures are described in detail. They concern levels of lipids and the results of an oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT). We apply GMVQ to residuals obtained from regressions of outcomes of an OGTT and lipids on functions of age and BMI that are inferred from the data. A bootstrap procedure developed for our family data supplemented by insights from other approaches leads us to believe that two clusters are appropriate for defining IR precisely. One cluster consists of women who are IR, and the other of women who seem not to be. Genes and other features are used to predict cluster membership. We argue that prediction with “main effects” is not satisfactory, but prediction that includes interactions may be. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Data concerning the effects of phthalate exposure on preterm delivery and fetal growth are limited in humans. In this paper, we assessed the relationship between 15 phthalate levels in cord blood and preterm delivery and fetal growth parameters in 207 Chinese women going into labor. Exposure to phthalates except DCHP was associated with gestational age reduction and preterm delivery (p<0.05). There were associations between phthalates and fetal growth parameters, many of which disappeared when analyses were adjusted for gestational age, especially in male infants (Only DEEP was associated with birth weight; DEP, DNHP, BBP, DNP with abdominal circumference; DEP, DBP, DCHP, DEHP with femur length in female infants. And DPP, DBEP was associated with birth length in male infants. p<0.05). This study indicates that prenatal exposure to phthalates is associated with younger gestational age and preterm delivery. Also, phthalate exposure may adversely affect fetal growth parameters via gestational age reduction and preterm delivery with a significant gender effect. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Female sex workers (FSWs) play an important role in transmitting HIV and syphilis from high-risk groups to the general population. However, the trends in HIV and syphilis epidemics in Chinese FSWs in the period after 2000 are unclear to date. Methods: The Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses Statement was followed. Seven databases were searched for published peer-reviewed articles. The incidence of HIV and syphilis in FSWs in different time periods, provinces and workplaces in China were separately pooled by meta-analysis. Correlation analysis was conducted between HIV and syphilis incidence and study time, respectively. Results: After 1,662 articles were screened, 190 published papers were included in the final analysis. Estimated HIV prevalence was 0.284% (95% CI: 0.080–0.488%) in the period 2000–2002, 0.211% (95% CI: 0.149–0.273%) in 2003–2005, 0.242% (95% CI: 0.190–0.294%) in 2006–2008 and 0.041% (95% CI: 0.024–0.058%) in 2009–2011. The corresponding syphilis prevalence was 9.669% (95% CI: 7.810–11.529%), 4.970% (95% CI: 4.384–5.556%), 4.404% (95% CI: 4.032–4.775%) and 3.169% (95% CI: 2.738–3.600%), respectively. Spearman rank correlation coefficients were −0.165 (p = 0.002) between HIV prevalence and study time, and −0.209 (p = 0.000) between syphilis prevalence and study time. The combined HIV prevalence was 0.318% (95% CI: 0.156–0.479%) in medium and high-tier workplaces and 0.393% (95% CI: 0.176–0.610%) in low-tier workplaces. The corresponding syphilis prevalence was 3.216% (95% CI: 2.192–4.240%) and 13.817% (95% CI: 10.589–17.044%), respectively. Conclusions: Our data suggested a decline in HIV and syphilis epidemics in FSWs in China on a national level during the study period (2000–2011). FSWs in low-tier workplaces should be given more attention in the future to ensure they are included in prevention programs for HIV and sexually transmitted diseases. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Although transfusion-transmitted infection of hepatitis B virus (HBV) threatens the blood safety of China, the nationwide circumstance of HBV infection among blood donors is still unclear. Objectives: To comprehensively estimate the prevalence of HBsAg positive and HBV occult infection (OBI) among Chinese volunteer blood donors through bayesian meta-analysis. Methods: We performed an electronic search in Pub-Med, Web of Knowledge, Medline, Wanfang Data and CNKI, complemented by a hand search of relevant reference lists. Two authors independently extracted data from the eligible studies. Then two bayesian random-effect meta-analyses were performed, followed by bayesian meta-regressions. Results: 5957412 and 571227 donors were identified in HBsAg group and OBI group, respectively. The pooled prevalence of HBsAg group and OBI group among donors is 1.085% (95% credible interval [CI] 0.859%∼1.398%) and 0.094% (95% CI 0.0578%∼0.1655%). For HBsAg group, subgroup analysis shows the more developed area has a lower prevalence than the less developed area; meta-regression indicates there is a significant decreasing trend in HBsAg positive prevalence with sampling year (beta = −0.1202, 95% −0.2081∼−0.0312). Conclusion: Blood safety against HBV infection in China is suffering serious threats and the government should take effective measures to improve this situation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The keratocystic odontogenic tumor (KCOT) is a locally aggressive cystic jaw lesion that occurs sporadically or in association with nevoid basal cell carcinoma syndrome (NBCCS). PTCH1, the gene responsible for NBCCS, may play an important role in sporadic KCOTs. In this study, we analyzed and compared the distribution pattern of PTCH1 mutations in patients with sporadic and NBCCS-associated KCOTs. Methods: We detected PTCH1 mutations in 14 patients with NBCCS-associated KCOTs and 29 patients with sporadic KCOTs by direct sequencing. In addition, five electronic databases were searched for studies detecting PTCH1 mutations in individuals with NBCCS-associated or sporadic KCOTs, published between January 1996 and June 2013 in English language. Results: We identified 15 mutations in 11 cases with NBCCS-associated KCOTs and 19 mutations in 13 cases with sporadic KCOTs. In addition, a total of 204 PTCH1 mutations (187 mutations from 210 cases with NBCCS-associated and 17 mutations from 57 cases with sporadic KCOTs) were compiled from 78 published papers. Conclusions: Our study indicates that mutations in transmembrane 2 (TM2) are closely related to the development of sporadic KCOTs. Moreover, for the early diagnosis of NBCCS, a genetic analysis of the PTCH1 gene should be included in the new diagnostic criteria. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Overactive bladder (OAB) is a significant public health issue that adversely affects the quality of life of patients and imposes a significant socioeconomic burden, with varying prevalence rates across study populations in Chinese women. A systematic review and meta-analysis were conducted to estimate the prevalence of OAB in Chinese women. Methods: Relevant published articles on the prevalence of OAB in Chinese women were searched through July 21, 2022, using PubMed, EMbase, The Cochrane Library, China Biology Medicine (CBM), China National Knowledge Infrastructure (CNKI), WanFang Data, and VIP databases. After the independent screening of articles, data extraction, and quality assessment of included studies by two investigators, a meta-analysis was performed using Stata 16.0 software, and the prevalence was determined using a random-effects model. To identify potential sources of heterogeneity, subgroup analyses were conducted with subgroup categories including age, Body Mass Index (BMI), region, and survey year. Publication bias was assessed by visually examining the funnel plot and Egger's test. Results: Twenty studies were included in this meta-analysis. The results of the random-effects model indicated that the prevalence of OAB in Chinese women was 14% (95% Confidence Interval: 9%–18%). The prevalence increased significantly in the past decade (from 8% in pre-2006 to 18% in 2016–2021). A prevalence (18%) was observed among women aged 31–40 compared with other age groups. The BMI range of 24–27.9 (18%) was higher than the other groups. Additionally, the prevalence of this BMI range was comparatively higher in North China and Southwest China (21%) than in Central China and East China. In addition, publication bias was observed. Conclusions: OAB incidence has increased in Chinese women over the last two decades, affecting more than 20% of women aged 31–40 years and above. With the increasing prevalence of OAB, greater emphasis has been placed on implementing preventative and control measures. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Face recognition strategies do not generalize across individuals. Many studies have reported robust cultural differences between West Europeans/North Americans and East Asians in eye movement strategies during face recognition. The social orientation hypothesis posits that individualistic vs. collectivistic (IND/COL) value systems, respectively defining West European/North American and East Asian societies, would be at the root of many cultural differences in visual perception. Whether social orientation is also responsible for such cultural contrast in face recognition remains to be clarified. To this aim, we conducted two experiments with West European/North American and Chinese observers. In Experiment 1, we probed the existence of a link between IND/COL social values and eye movements during face recognition, by using an IND/COL priming paradigm. In Experiment 2, we dissected the latter relationship in greater depth, by using two IND/COL questionnaires, including subdimensions to those concepts. In both studies, cultural differences in fixation patterns were revealed between West European/North American and East Asian observers. Priming IND/COL values did not modulate eye movement visual sampling strategies, and only specific subdimensions of the IND/COL questionnaires were associated with distinct eye-movement patterns. Altogether, we show that the typical contrast between IND/COL cannot fully account for cultural differences in eye movement strategies for face recognition. Cultural differences in eye movements for faces might originate from mechanisms distinct from social orientation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In response to the soaring demand for imported goods among Chinese consumers, this study innovatively investigates the role of external cues on consumer behavior on cross-border e-commerce platforms, utilizing advanced data crawling techniques to extract data from Tmall Global. Guided by the Elaboration Likelihood Model, this research unveils key determinants affecting consumer purchasing decisions, contributing novel insights to e-commerce literature and methodologies. Our analysis discovers that increased picture comments significantly boost sales and that source credibility, product collections, and price discounts also play pivotal roles, especially for experiential products. We further explore a nuanced, inverted U-shaped relationship between product title length and sales, offering a foundational understanding of non-linear relationships in consumer behavior and presenting practical implications for enhancing marketing strategies. This study, while acknowledging limitations like data access constraints, provides strategic insights into optimizing product information presentation and broadens understanding of consumer decision-making processes, thus adding substantial value to ongoing e-commerce discourse. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The postpartum period is critical for maternal health status after childbirth. The traditional Chinese postpartum confinement practice, "doing-the-month", is considered especially effective in helping mothers recover during the postpartum period. However, research has not provided evidence to confirm its benefits. Postpartum depression is a common postpartum disease that seriously threatens maternal health. The systematic review aims to explore the association between "doing-the-month" and postpartum depression in the Chinese female population and to provide a scientific foundation for evidence-based postpartum maternal care. Methods: Five databases (PubMed, Embase, Web of Science, Scopus, Cochrane, PsycINFO, and Web of Science) were searched according to the protocol (INPALSY202320102). The JBI assessment tool was used to assess the quality of the included studies. Results: Sixteen quantitative studies from China and Chinese female immigrants in other countries, including 15 cross-sectional studies and 1 randomized controlled study, were identified. Four studies indicated that "doing-the-month" rituals reduced postpartum depression risk while 2 studies showed opposite results; 10 studies did not show a significant association between "doing-the-month" practices and postpartum depression. Conclusion: There is conflicting evidence regarding the association between "doing-the-month" and the likelihood of developing postpartum depression. Some studies have explored the impact of family ties, particular rituals, and specific stressors during the postpartum period on the occurrence of postpartum depression in Chinese women. According to current research, "doing-the-month" practice failed to show a significant protective effect on postpartum depression in the Chinese maternal population. Evidence-based medical health education for the Chinese postpartum female community is urgently needed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Healthy aging is a global goal to enhance the quality of life for older persons. This study evaluated the benefits of 12-week concurrent brisk walking and Taijiquan. Healthy Chinese women aged 60 years and above were enrolled to the control (n = 26) and intervention (n = 25) groups. Participants in the intervention group engaged in three exercise sessions per week for 12 weeks, whereas control group engaged in free-living activities. Each exercise session consisted of 20–45 minutes of walking and 20–45 minutes of Yang style 24-form Taijiquan. 12-week exercise improved (p < 0.05) the sit and reach test (within-group mean difference: +5.6 cm; Hedges' g = 0.77), handgrip strength (mean difference: +3.1 kg; g = 0.89), arm curl (mean difference: +2.1 repetitions; g = 0.69), chair stand (mean difference: +2.6 repetitions; g = 0.63), and one-legged standing (mean difference: +2.2 seconds; g = 1.07). There was no improvement in the circulatory health, body composition, or life satisfaction. Therefore, this concurrent brisk walking and Taijiquan training, which targets major whole-body muscle groups, could improve aging-critical flexibility, muscular fitness, and balance in older women. The exercise meets the current WHO guideline, is safe to perform, and could be campaigned as a health promotion for older persons. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Limited research exists regarding the relationship between fasting plasma C-peptide levels and sarcopenia. As a result, our study aimed to examine this association in elderly Chinese diabetic patients. This cross-sectional study included 288 elderly patients with diabetes mellitus from the Fourth People's Hospital in Guiyang who were enrolled prospectively between March 2020 and February 2023. The independent variable of interest was fasting plasma C-peptide, while the dependent variable was sarcopenia. Data on several covariates, including demographic factors, lifestyle habits, co-morbidities, anthropometric indicators, and laboratory indicators, were also collected. Of the 288 participants, 27.43% (79/288) had sarcopenia. After adjusting for potential confounding variables, we found a U-shaped association between fasting plasma C-peptide levels and sarcopenia, with inflection points identified at approximately 774 pmol/L and 939 mmol/L. Within the range of 50–744 pmol/L, each 100 pmol/L increase in CysC was associated with a 37% decrease in the odds of sarcopenia (odds ratio [OR], 0.63; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.49 to 0.83; P < 0.001). Additionally, within the range of 939–1694 pmol/L, each 100 pmol/L increase in fasting plasma C-peptide was associated with a 76% increase in the odds of sarcopenia (odds ratio [OR], 1.76; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.11 to 2.81; P = 0.017). Our study revealed a U-shaped association between fasting plasma C-peptide levels and the likelihood of sarcopenia, with lower risk in the range of 774–939 pmol/L. These findings may assist in the development of more effective prevention and treatment strategies for sarcopenia in elderly diabetic patients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives: To synthesise results of population surveys assessing knowledge and attitudes about prevention and treatment of dementia. Methods: MEDLINE, EMBASE, PsycINFO, and grey literature were searched for English language entries published between 2012 and May 2017. Survey questions were grouped using an inductive approach and responses were pooled. Results: Thirty-four eligible studies and four grey literature items were identified. Surveys were conducted in Europe, the US, Eastern Asia, Israel, and Australia. Nearly half of respondents agreed that dementia is a normal and non-preventable part of ageing, but belief in the potential for prevention may be improving over time. The role of cardiovascular risk factors was poorly understood overall. Less than half of respondents reported belief in the availability of a cure for dementia. The value of seeking treatment was highly endorsed. Conclusions: Results suggest that knowledge about the potential for dementia prevention and treatment remains poor but may be improving over time. Knowledge among those living in low- and middle-income countries are largely unknown, presenting challenges for the development of National action plans consistent with World Health Organization directives. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Citizens' attitudes towards foreign countries are considered an important factor in making foreign policy. This also holds in China, where public opinion is given significant weight in foreign policy-making. On the other hand, the media serves as a gateway for citizens to access the outside world, shaping their attitudes towards foreign countries. The rise of the Internet since the mid-2000s has brought about radical changes in the media landscape. The Internet, characterized by its loose control and the strong patriotic sentiment among netizens, is viewed as a breeding ground for popular nationalism. Scholars and analysts worry that the prevalence of online popular nationalism may lead to xenophobia and hostility towards Western countries portrayed as out-group others in this narrative. This study aims to investigate the impact of popular nationalism narratives flooding the Internet on citizens' attitudes, and the differential influence of the Internet compared to traditional mass media. Furthermore, this study also examines the dynamics of citizens' foreign attitudes and the role of media channels in shaping these attitudes. Through a quantitative analysis based on the data collected in 2010 and 2020, the study challenges concerns about xenophobic sentiments resulting from online nationalism, finding them to be unnecessary. Additionally, this study also discovers that, compared to traditional mass media, the influence of the Internet on attitude is more open to change in the international environment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: High-salt diets are linked to hypertension. Chinese people in Australia, are at increased risk of hypertension due to the combination of routine addition of high quantities of salt to food during cooking and high salt levels in processed western foods. There is a scarcity of salt-related behavioural studies on this population group. This study aimed to explore the habitual salt consumption of Chinese Australians and factors that influence their perceptions about sustaining salt-related behavioural changes for hypertension prevention. Method: A cross-sectional descriptive study using an adapted Determinants of Salt-Restriction Behaviour Questionnaire was conducted on 188 Chinese Australians. A non-probability sampling method was used to attract participants from different parts of Australia. Statistical analyses such as descriptive analysis, t-tests and Pearson correlation tests were performed in the study. Results: Over 97% of participants did not measure the amount of salt added to their meals. Many participants reported that salt was added to their meals based on their experience (39.4%) and food taste (31.9%). Over 80% of participants did not know the recommended level of daily salt consumption. Although salt-related knowledge had no significant correlation with individuals' salty food taste preferences, there were significant correlations with the perceptions of the severity of disease and health benefits of reducing salt consumption (p =.001 and <.001 respectively). People with stronger salty taste preferences perceived a higher level of health threat than people with lighter salty taste preferences (p =.003). Conclusion: Findings from this study show that knowledge about salt-reduction alone had no significant effects on salt-related behaviours. Adequate culturally relevant practice-based education in salt-reduction strategies may facilitate salt-related behavioural changes in Chinese Australians. Overall, single young Chinese Australian men with stronger salty taste preferences is the group who needs salt reduction interventions the most. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]