Search

Research on soil microplastics is currently at an early stage, and there is no widely approved sampling protocol. Even so, any basic research should minimize errors to ensure that they are not amplified in future research. This paper examines some weaknesses of the original research paper 'Soil microplastic pollution under different land uses in tropics, southwestern China' recently published in this journal. The authors neglected to report the equipment used for soil sampling and did not use field blank samples. There is also a soil layer that was incorrectly named. The type and pore size of filter paper used for filtration during pre-analytical soil sample preparation is very important. In this paper the nature of the filter paper used, and its larger pore sizes are questionable by today's scientists. In addition, the authors in the original paper also overlooked reporting the statistical package used for statical analysis and ensuring if all data sets obey normality, homogeneity, and equality before running the one-way ANOVA test. This statistical step is widely considered mandatory, especially in the soil science community. So, this makes it difficult to trust the results documented. Furthermore, in the original paper, the needle and stereo microscope instruments used to sort microplastic-like materials prior to proper analysis are not reliable. [Display omitted] • A dissecting needle and stereo microscope shouldn't be used to sort out soil microplastics. • Gold-coated filter paper with smaller pore size is better than nitrocellulose filter paper. • The 0–10cm is the top soil layer and 10–20cm is the subsoil layer not a deep soil layer. • The statistical package used for analysis must be documented accordingly. • If the dataset is a normal distribution prior to ANOVA testing, it must be confirmed and reported. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The precise effect and the quality of different cases used in dermatology problem-based learning (PBL) curricula are yet unclear. Aim: To prospectively compare the impact of real patients, digital, paper PBL (PPBL) and traditional lecture-based learning (LBL) on academic results and student perceptions. Methods: A total of 120 students were randomly allocated into either real-patients PBL (RPBL) group studied via real-patient cases, digital PBL (DPBL) group studied via digital-form cases, PPBL group studied via paper-form cases, or conventional group who received didactic lectures. Academic results were assessed through review of written examination, objective structured clinical examination and student performance scores. A five-point Likert scale questionnaire was used to evaluate student perceptions. Results: Compared to those receiving lectures only, all PBL participants had better results for written examination, clinical examination and overall performance. Students in RPBL group exhibited better overall performance than those in the other two PBL groups. Real-patient cases were more effective in helping develop students' self-directed learning skills, improving their confidence in future patient encounters and encouraging them to learn more about the discussed condition, compared to digital and paper cases. Conclusion: Both real patient and digital triggers are helpful in improving students' clinical problem-handling skills. However, real patients provide greater benefits to students. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Training parents to implement language and communication intervention strategies is an effective approach to promote language development for children with language delay. Aims: This study introduces an online parent training program conducted in Hubei province, China, which was designed to help parents of language‐delayed children with a diagnosis of autism spectrum disorder (ASD), developmental language disorder (DLD) or global developmental delay (GDD) apply language intervention strategies into daily interactions and promote their children's language development at home. Methods & Procedures: The Bethel Hearing and Speaking Training Center Family Training for Early Communication & Language Development (Bethel Family Training Program, BFT) (Bethel HSTC, 2020) was designed to improve the language and communication skills for children with language delay in a naturalistic way. The caregivers (including parents, grandparents and other main caregivers) participated in an 8‐h online program, including lectures on milestones in child language development, common misunderstandings of child language development, and three basic family language intervention strategies ('Looking together, playing together, and talking together') incorporating active learning through video analysis and discussion. Tongji Hospital in Hubei then continued with 3 months of online home intervention monitoring to all the caregivers via weekly online Q&As led by BFT certified speech therapists' team. The Gesell Developmental Schedules (GDS) was carried out before the online parent training program and after the 3‐month online home intervention monitoring. Outcomes & Results: 146 families whose children aged 12–68 months with language delay participated in the online training program. The results of the GDS assessments conducted before and after the program showed that not only did the developmental quotient (DQ) of language improve, but so did the DQ of social behaviour and adaptive behaviour (p < 0.001). There is no between‐group difference in the application of three strategies between the ASD group and the DLD or GDD group (p > 0.05). Furthermore, both caregivers' ability to apply 'looking together, playing together, talking together' strategies and the effective interaction time played important roles in improving the child's language abilities. Conclusion & Implications: The online parent training focusing on improving daily interaction with children through speech–language stimulation strategies promoted the development of language skills. It is an economic and practical approach for children with language delay who have limited access to local language intervention programs. WHAT THIS PAPER ADDS: What is already known on the subject: Parent‐implemented language intervention is an effective approach at improving children's language development. Telepractice is an appropriate model of service delivery for audiologists and speech–language therapists and may be the primary mode of service delivery or may supplement in‐person services. What this paper adds to the existing knowledge: This paper explores the effectiveness of an online parent training program and provides new evidence that online training on language support strategies (looking together, playing together, talking together) followed by home intervention monitoring works for Mandarin‐speaking children and it is equally effective for children with ASD and non‐ASD diagnosis. What are the potential or actual clinical implications of this work?: Developmental behavioural paediatricians and speech–language therapists in countries and areas that lack sufficient training resource for every child will have the option to deliver parent training and home intervention monitoring online, which will save time and cost considerably while offering convenience. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper investigates the effect of investor investment sentiment on individual stock returns in China. We find that investment sentiment is positively associated with stock performance contemporaneously. The Granger Causality test shows that investor sentiment is a driving force of stock price movement but not the other way around. Our constructed VAR model further suggests that the change in investor sentiment in the lagged period does not significantly affect the current stock return. In addition, both the Impulse Response and the Variance Decomposition analysis provide evidence that the stock price will increase right after a positive sentiment shock, and then follow a price drop until an intrinsic value comes up. Overall, the investor sentiment factor has a strong explanatory power to explain the variation in stock return. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background Studies: Captioning and repetition are widely used multimedia instructional devices for non‐native students. Generally, studies in this area have tended to focus on second language literacy skills rather than on learning new content knowledge. Additionally, posttests were administered immediately after the treatments, while the delayed influences of captioning and repetition have never been investigated. Objectives: This paper addressed these research gaps in two separate studies. More specifically, this study attempted to examine the influences of captioning and repetition on non‐native students' immediate and relayed retention. Methods: In Study One, three captioning conditions; word‐by‐word captions, closed captions, and no‐captions; were compared to examine their efficacies in immediate and delayed content knowledge retention on 82 Chinese university students. To address the limitations in Study One as the multimedia lesson was short and played only once, Study Two incorporated captioning and two repetition types in its design. One hundred and eleven Chinese university students watch a video lesson in one of four captioning and repetition conditions. Results: The statistical analyses of Study One indicated that there were no significant differences in both immediate and delayed retention test scores across the three captioning condition. Similarly, in Study Two, there were no significant differences in retention tests scores across the four captioning and repetition conditions. Findings: Neither the availability of captions nor the repetition types had any impact on the Chinese students' immediate or delayed content knowledge retention, which lent support to existing studies. Based on the research results, the limitations and future study possibilities are discussed. Lay Description: What Is Already Known About This TopicEmpirical studies on captioning have focused on immediate learning right after the treatment, so have studies on repetition.Empirical studies on multimedia lessons for non‐native students have focused on English language learning. What This Paper AddsThree types of captioning were compared to examine their efficacies in both immediate and delayed content retention of Chinese students.Two types of repetition were compared to examine their efficacies in both immediate and delayed content retention of Chinese students. Implications for Practice and/or Policy:Neither the availability of captions nor the repetition types had any impact on the Chinese students' immediate or delayed content knowledge retention.The availability of textual keywords adjacent to their corresponding graphics might have compromised the efficacy of captioning. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aims and Objectives: This study aims to propose a self‐management clusters classification method to determine the self‐management ability of elderly patients with mild cognitive impairment (MCI) associated with diabetes mellitus (DM). Background: MCI associated with DM is a common chronic disease in old adults. Self‐management affects the disease progression of patients to a large extent. However, the comorbidity and patients' self‐management ability are heterogeneous. Design: A cross‐sectional study based on cluster analysis is designed in this paper. Method: The study included 235 participants. The diabetes self‐management scale is used to evaluate the self‐management ability of patients. SPSS 21.0 was used to analyse the data, including descriptive statistics, agglomerative hierarchical clustering with Ward's method before k‐means clustering, k‐means clustering analysis, analysis of variance and chi‐square test. Results: Three clusters of self‐management styles were classified as follows: Disease neglect type, life oriented type and medical dependence type. Among all participants, the percentages of the three clusters above are 9.78%, 32.77% and 57.45%, respectively. The difference between the six dimensions of each cluster is statistically significant. Conclusion(s): This study classified three groups of self‐management styles, and each group has its own self‐management characteristics. The characteristics of the three clusters may help to provide personalized self‐management strategies and delay the disease progression of MCI associated with DM patients. Relevance to clinical practice: Typological methods can be used to discover the characteristics of patient clusters and provide personalized care to improve the efficiency of patient self‐management to delay the progress of the disease. Patient or public contribution: In our study, we invited patients and members of the public to participate in the research survey and conducted data collection. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The organizational climate that fosters and supports the implementation of evidence is a key factor influencing the effective implementation of evidence-based practice (EBP). Nurses, being the largest group of medical staff, play a crucial role in EBP implementation. The perception of the climate for EBP implementation among nurses in their organizations is unknown, especially among Chinese nurses. Aims: To clarify the implementation climate of EBP among Chinese nurses and identify the factors associated with the implementation and development of evidence-based nursing practices. Methods: This study employed a descriptive cross-sectional study design. From March 2023 to April 2023, a sample of nurses (n = 1260) from two Tertiary care hospitals in central China were selected and surveyed by self-designed social-demographic questionnaire and Implementation Climate Scale. Multiple linear stepwise regression analysis was conducted to determine the predictors of implementation climate. Results: The nurses achieved a mean ICS score of 59.10 ± 11.22, with mean scores exceeding 3 points for each sub-dimension and item. In the results of multiple linear regression, income satisfaction, implementation of evidence-based nursing practice project(s) within the unit, experience of evidence-based nursing practice during working life, and specific training or courses in evidence-based nursing practice were predictors of ICS. Of these, income satisfaction was the most significant predictor. These factors could explain 17.5% of the total variance in implementation climate. Conclusion: The climate for implementing EBP in Chinese nursing organizations was relatively strong. Nursing managers can enhance the climate for implementing EBP in their organizations by actively improving salary and enhancing EBP-related trainings and practices. Relevance to clinical practice: Understanding nurses' perceptions of the EBP implementation climate in their organizations can help to identify specific barriers and facilitators to the development of EBP and facilitate its successful implementation. Patient or public contribution: Clinical nurses were involved in data collection and completed the questionnaires on EBP implementation climate. What does this paper contribute to the wider global clinical community?: The number of studies on the organization and implementation climate of evidence-based nursing practice is limited, especially in China. According to the results of this study, nurses exhibited a positive perception and recognition of the organized EBP implementation climate. Income satisfaction, implementation of evidence-based nursing practice project(s) within the unit, experience of evidence-based nursing practice during the working life and specific training or courses undertaken in evidence-based nursing practice were factors of nurses' perception of implementation climate. Organizational managers should actively provide comprehensive resource support to enhance the implementation climate of evidence-based nursing practice. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper investigated a research area worthy of greater attention: foreign language classroom anxiety (hereafter FLCA) and enjoyment (hereafter FLE) of older adults learning English as a foreign language in Chinese Universities of the Third Age. Understanding the largely overlooked emotional involvement of older language learners contributes to sustaining their motivation in lifelong learning for more remarkable personal growth and successes. Based on the survey of 587 Chinese older learners of English between the age of 50 and 80, paired sample t-test showed that more FLE was reported than FLCA. The results of Welch's ANOVA suggested that those who were better educated had less FLCA and those who believed themselves healthier had more FLE. The language performance evaluation (i.e. relative standing in class and English mastery) affects both FLE and FLCA. Further interviews with 34 older participants revealed three major sources of FLE, including the language use in life situations, the favorable attitude toward FL learning in the cognitive, aesthetic cultural and pragmatic aspects and the social interactions in the U3As. FLCA occurs when the language performance is perceived as dissatisfying and when aspects of mental health (e.g. worsening memory) impede effective learning. Although FLCA and FLE had only a very weak correlation, Chinese older adult learners commented on a shared belief that anxiety usually precedes and subsequently enhances enjoyment in learning, indicating a sign of emotional resilience later in life. This paper demonstrates a need for understanding the emotions in language learning across life stages and socio-cultural contexts. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Pedestrian evacuation is an important measure to ensure disaster safety in central retail districts, the efficiency of which is affected by the synergy of road network planning indices. This paper established the typical forms of central retail district (CRD) road networks in terms of block form, network structure and road grade, taking China as an example. The experiment was designed using the orthogonal design of experiment (ODOE) method and quantified the evacuation time under different road network planning indices levels through the Anylogic simulation platform. Using range and variance analysis methods, the synergy of network density, network connectivity, road type and road width on pedestrian evacuation efficiency were studied from the perspectives of significance, importance and optimal level. The results showed that the type of CRD will affect the importance of network planning indices, and that the network connectivity is insignificant (P 0.477/0.581) in synergy; networks with wide pedestrian primary roads (30.1~40.0 m), medium secondary roads (3.1~5.0 m/side) and high density (11.0~13.0 km/km2) have the highest evacuation efficiency. From the perspective of evacuees, this paper put forward urban design implications on CRD road networks to improve their capacity for disaster prevention and reduction. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aim: The aim of this study was to examine the effect of an online multidisciplinary weight loss management programme. Methods: Between July 2016 and July 2017 this randomized controlled trial recruited patients in Nanjing, China who were living with type 2 diabetes mellitus and who were obese or overweight and randomized them to online versus conventional groups. All participants were managed by a multidisciplinary team. The experimental group was managed using the Why Wait WeChat Platform for Weight Reduction Management. Results: There were 55 and 52 participants in the online and conventional groups, respectively. The decreases in fasting blood glucose (−4.26 vs. −2.99 mmol/L), 2‐h postprandial blood glucose (−4.48 vs. −2.68 mmol/L) and glycated haemoglobin (−22.11 vs. −6.21 mmol/mol) were more pronounced in the online compared to conventional group (all P < 0.05). After the intervention, self‐management ability parameters, including diet control, foot care and total score, were improved in the online group compared with the conventional group, as well as all indexes of quality of life (all P < 0.05). Conclusion: The online multidisciplinary weight loss management programme improved blood glucose in obese or overweight patients living with type 2 diabetes mellitus. Self‐management ability parameters (including diet control, foot care and total score) and quality of life were improved in the online group compared with the conventional group. Summary statement: What is already known about this topic?: Multidisciplinary approaches have been introduced into weight loss management models for patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus and obese or overweight in outpatient clinics of third‐level hospitals, but their effects have not been clearly described. What this paper adds?: The online multidisciplinary weight loss management programme improved blood glucose in obese or overweight patients living with type 2 diabetes mellitus.Self‐management ability parameters (including diet control, foot care and total score) and quality of life were improved in the online group compared with the conventional group. The implications of this paper: This is the first trial of an online programme in the management of type 2 diabetes mellitus in China.Trial findings might have international applicability in the management of type 2 diabetes mellitus and could lead to improvement of prognosis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Atypical speech prosody has been commonly found among autistic children. Yet it remains unknown whether prosody impairment originates from poor pitch ability in general or whether it is the result of the difficulty in understanding and using prosody for communicative purposes. Aims: To investigate whether native Mandarin Chinese‐speaking autistic children with intellectual impairment were able to accurately produce native lexical tones, which are pitch patterns that distinguish word meaning lexically and serve little social purpose. Methods & Procedures: Using a picture‐naming task, thirteen 8–13‐year‐old Mandarin Chinese‐speaking autistic children with intellectual impairment were tested on their production of Chinese lexical tones. Chronical age‐matched typically developing (TD) children were included as the control group. Perceptual assessment and phonetic analyses were conducted with the produced lexical tones. Outcomes & Results: The majority of the lexical tones produced by the autistic children were perceived as accurate by adult judges. Phonetic analysis of the pitch contours found no significant difference between the two groups, and the autistic children and TD children used the phonetic features in comparable ways when differentiating the lexical tones. However, the lexical tone accuracy rate was lower among the autistic children than among the TDs, and the larger individual difference was observed among the autistic children than the TD children. Conclusions & Implications: These results indicate that autistic children are able to produce the global contours of the lexical tones, and pitch deficits do not seem to qualify as a core feature of autism. What this paper adds: What is already known on the subject: Atypical prosody has been considered a maker of the speech of autistic children, and meta‐analysis found a significant difference in mean pitch and pitch range between TD children and autistic children. Yet it remains unknown whether the pitch deficits are the result of impaired perceptual–motoric ability or if they reflect failure in learning sentential prosody, which requires an understanding of the interlocutors' mind. In addition, research on pitch ability of autistic children with intellectual disabilities has been scarce, and whether these children are able to produce pitch variation is largely unknown. What this paper adds to existing knowledge: We tested native Mandarin Chinese autistic children with intellectual impairment on their production of native lexical tones. The lexical tones in Chinese are pitch variations realized on individual syllables that distinguish lexical meaning, but they do not serve social pragmatic purposes. We found that although these autistic children had only developed limited spoken language, the majority of their lexical tones were perceived as accurate. They were able to use the phonetic features in comparable ways with the TD children when distinguishing the lexical tones. What are the potential or actual clinical implications of this work?: It seems unlikely that pitch processing at the lexical level is fundamentally impaired in autistic children, and pitch deficits do not seem to qualify for a core feature of their speech. Practitioners should be cautious when using pitch production as a clinical marker for autistic children. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The partial correlation coefficient (Pcor) is a vital statistical tool employed across various scientific domains to decipher intricate relationships and reveal inherent mechanisms. However, existing methods for estimating Pcor often overlook its accurate calculation. In response, this paper introduces a minimum residual sum of squares Pcor estimation method (MRSS), a high-precision approach tailored for high-dimensional scenarios. Notably, the MRSS algorithm reduces the estimation bias encountered with positive Pcor. Through simulations on high-dimensional data, encompassing both sparse and non-sparse conditions, MRSS consistently mitigates the arithmetic bias for positive Pcors, surpassing other algorithms discussed. For instance, for large sample sizes ( n ≥ 100 ) with Pcor > 0, the MRSS algorithm reduces the MSE and RMSE by about 30–70% compared to other algorithms. The robustness and stability of the MRSS algorithm is demonstrated by the sensitivity analysis with variance and sparsity parameters. Stocks data in China's A-share market are employed to showcase the MRSS methodology's practicality. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The paper aims to develop prediction model that integrates clinical, radiomics, and deep features using transfer learning to stratifying between high and low risk of thymoma. Our study enrolled 150 patients with thymoma (76 low-risk and 74 high-risk) who underwent surgical resection and pathologically confirmed in Shengjing Hospital of China Medical University from January 2018 to December 2020. The training cohort consisted of 120 patients (80%) and the test cohort consisted of 30 patients (20%). The 2590 radiomics and 192 deep features from non-enhanced, arterial, and venous phase CT images were extracted and ANOVA, Pearson correlation coefficient, PCA, and LASSO were used to select the most significant features. A fusion model that integrated clinical, radiomics, and deep features was developed with SVM classifiers to predict the risk level of thymoma, and accuracy, sensitivity, specificity, ROC curves, and AUC were applied to evaluate the classification model. In both the training and test cohorts, the fusion model demonstrated better performance in stratifying high and low risk of thymoma. It had AUCs of 0.99 and 0.95, and an accuracy of 0.93 and 0.83, respectively. This was compared to the clinical model (AUCs of 0.70 and 0.51, accuracy of 0.68 and 0.47), the radiomics model (AUCs of 0.97 and 0.82, accuracy of 0.93 and 0.80), and the deep model (AUCs of 0.94 and 0.85, accuracy of 0.88 and 0.80). The fusion model integrating clinical, radiomics and deep features based on transfer learning was efficient for noninvasively stratifying high risk and low risk of thymoma. The models could help to determine surgery strategy for thymoma cancer. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Case management has been regarded as the front line of necessary change for fragmented healthcare system. Aim: This study proposed a case management intervention that is suitable for Chinese colorectal cancer patients and explored its effectiveness over a 12‐month follow‐up. Methods: A quasi‐experimental study was conducted in an oncology hospital in China. A total of 188 patients were recruited from May 2015 to February 2017; 85 patients in the control group and 80 patients in the intervention group were included in data analysis. The intervention group was managed for 1 year by a case manager who organized the multidisciplinary team, provided regular assessment, a consulting service and referrals. Quality of life, anxiety and depression, symptom distress, treatment adherence and unplanned readmission rates were measured. Results: Repeated measurement ANOVA showed significant intervention and time effects in global quality of life, anxiety and depression, symptom distress and oral chemotherapy adherence. The intervention group showed statistically significantly better overall treatment adherence and lower unplanned readmission rate. Conclusion: Nurse‐led case management was effective in improving psychosocial outcomes, treatment adherence and unplanned readmission rate of colorectal cancer patients. A case management model is feasible and effective in colorectal cancer patients and in hospital‐dominated healthcare systems where primary care is underutilized. Summary statement: What is already known about this topic?: Current evidence of the effectiveness of case management is limited due to mixed results and single settings.Case management is rarely tested in single‐type cancer patients and in countries with underdeveloped primary care. What this paper adds?: Nurse‐led hospital‐based case management can effectively improve quality of life, anxiety, depression, symptom distress, treatment adherence and unplanned readmission rates.In countries with underdeveloped primary care, case management is a feasible way to provide continuous care to cancer patients and to improve healthcare utilization. The implications of this paper: Nurse case managers can serve as a pivot in multidisciplinary management of cancer patients to promote interdisciplinary cooperation and resource integration.A case management model is feasible and effective in colorectal cancer patients and in hospital‐dominated healthcare systems where primary care is underutilized.Future studies and nursing practice should develop an online case management platform and set up posts for full‐time case managers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The first mass migration in China took place at the end of the Western Jin, which resulted in the southward transfer of the Central Plains Culture and brought about huge social changes. Such social changes exerted significant impacts on the gentry of the Jin Dynasty. This paper used a huge volume of Classical Chinese legacy text of Jin gentry members. We used CC-LIWC to calculate frequencies of different word categories used in these text contents and conducted an analysis of variance to measure significant differences between the three groups. We found 16 categories of words with significant differences and calculated their effect sizes, such as tense markers (tensem), F = 3.588, P < 0.05, η² = 0.034; modal particles (modal_pa), F = 3.468, P < 0.05, η² = 0.053; words for affective processes (affect), F = 3.096, P < 0.05, η² = 0.028; words for cognitive processes (cogproc), F = 3.308, P < 0.05, η² = 0.031; words for perceptual processes (percept), F = 7.137, P < 0.05, η² = 0.06. Combining the psycholinguistics of the 16 categories of words and researches of historians on the Jin Dynasty, we then analyzed the direct and indirect, immediate and long-lasting psycholinguistic impacts of this mass migration on the gentry themselves and their descendants. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

How to collect relevance judgment has long been an important problem in Information Retrieval (IR). A popular method is to collect relevance judgment in a point‐wise manner, in which assessors examine and give an absolute relevance score for each item independently of the others. As an alternative, pair‐wise relevance judgment, also named preference judgment, allows an assessor to compare two items side‐by‐side and express their preference for one over the other. Previous work has explored the differences between these two paradigms of relevance judgments from many different aspects. Most of these works are conducted through explicit/implicit feedback. However, few works investigate the underlying neurological mechanisms of the two paradigms. In this paper, we conduct a lab study to investigate and compare point‐wise and pair‐wise relevance judgment in image search scenarios. We study the neurological mechanisms of the two paradigms through an event‐related potential (ERP) analysis of the users' brain signals while viewing images during a search process. We have obtained several observations, such as search engine users tend to pay more attention to preferred items in the point‐wise paradigm but unpreferred items in the pair‐wise paradigm. Furthermore, we test the adoption of brain signals as implicit feedback for predicting pair‐wise relevance judgment, highlighting the feasibility of leveraging brain signals to understand users' relevance judgments. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Data literacy (DL) is vital for teachers, as it enables them to build on data and improve teaching and learning. Therefore, developing DL among pre‐service teachers is critical. Objectives: The purpose of this study is threefold: to evaluate whether a feedback visualisation of peer assessment‐based teaching approach (FVPA‐based teaching approach) can (1) promote pre‐service teachers' DL; (2) enhance their learning motivation; and (3) improve their cognitive load. Methods: The research was conducted based on a pre‐test‐post‐test control group quasi‐experimental design. With 20 participants in the experimental group and 21 in the control group, a total of 41 pre‐service teachers were included in the study. The pre‐service teachers in the experimental group adopted the FVPA‐based teaching approach, and those in the control group adopted the traditional peer assessment‐based learning approach. Results and Conclusions: The experimental group participants outperformed the control group participants in DL, learning motivation, and cognitive load. FVPA was conducive to helping pre‐service teachers critically interpret data, understand their teaching and learning issues, and improve self‐reflection. The findings indicate a reciprocal relationship between learning motivation and DL; improving the learning motivation of pre‐service teachers could promote their DL. Implications: This study contributes to current knowledge by providing empirical evidence on the benefits of an FVPA‐based teaching approach in improving pre‐service teachers' DL, motivation, and cognitive load. The study findings, limitations, and prospects for future research are discussed. Lay Description: What is already known about this topic?: Teacher data literacy has emerged as a crucial competency for the forthcoming generation of educators, gaining attention from education institutions globally.Peer assessment, a well‐established practice in pre‐service teacher education, has proven effective in enhancing the learning experience for disadvantaged students by fostering motivation and improving academic performance.Despite the acknowledged benefits of feedback visualisation in facilitating self‐reflection, motivation, and academic performance, creating meaningful visualisations remains a challenge for educators and learners. What this paper adds?: This study introduces feedback visualisation in peer assessment to enhance comprehension of feedback information among pre‐service teachers.Feedback visualisation augments the benefits derived from peer assessment, refining data literacy, improving learning motivation, and alleviating cognitive load among pre‐service educators.The analysis of data directly relevant to pre‐service teachers and the provision of timely feedback can motivate critical analysis and utilisation of data, facilitating the identification of pedagogical and learning challenges.The study explores intricate interactions among learning motivation, data literacy, and cognitive load within the context of peer assessment visual feedback. The implications of study findings for practitioners: We encourage teacher educators to implement peer assessment instruction grounded in visual feedback for a comprehensive understanding of learning outcomes, identification of pedagogical challenges, determination of causes, and evidence‐informed instructional decision‐making.Teacher educator should diversify strategies to augment the motivation of pre‐service teachers, cultivating their proactive engagement in data analysis, interpretation, and application to enhance overall data literacy.We recommend that teacher educators provide rich visual feedback or present complex data in a visually accessible format for pre‐service teachers who need additional assistance to mitigate cognitive load and facilitate successful learning outcomes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aim: The aim of the study was to investigate the incidence of sleep disturbance and its relationship with anxiety and depression symptoms, social support and hope in breast cancer patients in China during chemotherapy. Design: A single‐centre cross‐sectional study. Methods: A total of 329 breast cancer patients were selected via convenience sampling method before they began chemotherapy (n = 115), before the 5th week of chemotherapy (n = 117) or 1 month after chemotherapy ended (n = 97) and administered paper‐and‐pencil questionnaires to evaluate sleep quality, depression and anxiety symptoms, social support and hope. Risk factors significantly associated with sleep disturbance during bivariate were incorporated in the multivariate analysis. Bivariate analyses showed that age, menopausal status, depression and anxiety symptoms, emotional/informational support, tangible support, affectionate support, positive social interaction and total support were predictors of sleep disturbance. Results: Sleep disturbance was prevalent in breast cancer patients before (27.0%), during (32.5%) and after (39.2%) chemotherapy, with 37.4%, 41.9% and 52.6% of participants, respectively, reporting sleeping below the recommended 7 h. Only 8.6%–15.5% of patients reported taking sedative‐hypnotic drugs during the chemotherapy. Multivariate analyses found that participants reporting clinically significant anxiety (HADS > 8) were 3.5 times more likely to report sleep disturbance (PSQI > 8) than participants without clinically significant anxiety, and each increment in emotional/informational support was associated with a 9.04% reduced risk of sleep disturbance. Moreover, age was an independent predictor of sleep disturbance during multivariate modelling. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Pragmatics has generally been defined as the ability to use language in social situations, it is commonly regarded as the third major component of language ability. To date, there is no tool for assessing early pragmatic development of Chinese‐speaking children. Aims: To describe the translation of the Language Use Inventory (LUI) from English to Mandarin Chinese and to report findings on the Chinese version's reliability, validity and developmental sensitivity. Methods & Procedures: The original English version of the LUI was translated into Mandarin Chinese. Parents of 177 typically developing (TD) toddlers and preschool children completed the inventory to examine its internal reliability and construct validity and how scores differed across ages and sexes. A total of 31 parents out of the 177 completed the LUI‐Mandarin, again within 4 weeks, to assess test–retest reliability. To examine discriminative validity, 43 parents of age‐ and sex‐matched TD children and children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) recruited from Nanjing Brain Hospital affiliated with Nanjing Medical University completed the LUI‐Mandarin. Outcomes & Results: Cronbach's alpha values for the LUI‐Mandarin's three parts and for 11 of 12 LUI‐Mandarin subscales were 0.707–0.992, with most values in the 0.825–0.992 range. Test–retest reliability ranged from 0.66 to 0.95, indicating good to excellent reliability. Factor analysis of the LUI‐Mandarin revealed two different factors, and the total variance explained was 74.38%. The LUI‐Mandarin total scores and subscale scores increased with age for both boys and girls, providing evidence of the inventory's developmental sensitivity. Girls, however, had higher total scores than boys at earlier ages (18–23 months). The results of the discriminant validity study revealed that performance was significantly lower in the ASD group than in the TD group with respect to LUI total scores and subscale scores (except for subscale A). Conclusions & Implications: The LUI‐Mandarin is the first and only questionnaire available in China that evaluates the pragmatic language skills of children aged between 18 and 47 months. The results of the study show that the LUI‐Mandarin is a valid and reliable tool for Chinese toddlers and preschool children. What this paper adds: What is already known on this subject: The LUI is a parent‐report questionnaire that can provide comprehensive information about very young children's communicative competence. It is widely used both for assessment and to guide intervention. Additionally, it has been translated into French, Italian, Polish, Arabic, Portuguese and Norwegian and it shows good reliability and validity. What this paper adds to existing knowledge: In the present study we describe the translation of the LUI from English to Mandarin Chinese and report findings on the Chinese version's reliability, validity and developmental sensitivity. What are the potential or actual clinical implications of this work?: The LUI‐Mandarin is the first and only questionnaire available in China that can evaluate pragmatic language skills of children aged between 18 and 47 months. The results show that the LUI‐Mandarin is a valid and reliable tool for use with Chinese toddlers and preschool children. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Limited research on the effectiveness of additional online and face‐to‐face practise opportunities for promoting active learning among Chinese EFL learners in higher education. Current understanding of self‐regulated and collaborative learning theories in educational contexts. Objectives: To establish the efficacy of interactive online and face‐to‐face practise opportunities for enhancing active learning among Chinese EFL learners. Methods: Employed mixed methods research to assess the impact of different types of practise opportunities on 116 EFL learners. Utilised methodological triangulation of QUAN + QUAL data and one‐way ANOVA for interpretation. Results and conclusions: The study demonstrated the effectiveness of integrating online and face‐to‐face practise opportunities to enhance active learning. Empirical evidence supports the pedagogical and theoretical benefits of these opportunities for promoting active learning among EFL learners. Lay Summary: What is currently known about this topic: Limited scholarly exploration of supplementary practise opportunities for active learning among Chinese EFL learnersExisting understanding of self‐regulated and collaborative learning theories in educational contexts What does this paper add: Establishes the effectiveness of interactive online and face‐to‐face practise opportunities for promoting active learningProvides empirical evidence supporting the integration of these opportunities to enhance active learning Implications for practise/or policy: Advocates for the combined use of online and face‐to‐face practise opportunities to enrich engagement, problem‐solving, feedback, and motivation among EFL learnersSuggests the development of instructional frameworks based on self‐regulated and collaborative learning theories for enhanced CALL courses [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Deep discussions play an important role in students' online learning. However, researchers have largely focused on engaging students in deep discussions in online asynchronous forums. Few studies have investigated how to promote deep discussion via mobile instant messaging (MIM). Objectives: In this study, we applied learning analytical tools (i.e., KBdeX and word clouds) to enhance students' shared epistemic agency and thereby support their deep discussions in MIM. Methods: Forty Chinese college students participated in this study and reflected on their MIM engagement by participating in the learning analytics (LA)‐augmented meta‐discourse sessions. The study used multiple data analysis methods, including content analysis, statistical analysis, epistemic network analysis and lag sequential analysis. Results: We found that LA engaged students in deep discussions and shared epistemic agency‐related discourse, such as creating shared understanding, creating knowledge objects, and projective and regulative processes. In particular, word clouds engaged students in more complete shared epistemic agency discourse trajectory which started from creating awareness of unknowns, then progressed to setting projective plans and sharing information, and ultimately, creating shared understanding. Moreover, our analysis indicated that epistemic agency discourse moves of creating shared understanding led students to a high level of deep discussion. Implications: This study contributes to research by extending the 'comparison paradigm', which focuses on comparing (a)synchronous forums with MIM, to a 'design paradigm', which mobilises design features from (a)synchronous forums to MIM and using learning analytical tools to engage students in deep online discussions by promoting their epistemic agency. Lay Description: What is known in this subject matter: Supporting students' online deep discussions is important.Prior studies have shown multiple technological and pedagogical strategies to support deep discussions in (a)synchronous discussion forums, but few studies in mobile instant messaging (MIM).MIM is a quasi‐synchronous tool. It is difficult to transform the traditional external scaffolds (i.e., scripts or teachers' facilitation) which promote deep discussions from (a)synchronous forums to MIM. What this paper adds to this: We constructed a design framework which used learning analytical tools‐augmented meta‐discourse to engage students in shared epistemic agency discourse moves to promote their deep discussion in MIM.We conducted multiple types of analyses (content analysis, statistical analysis, epistemic network analysis and lag sequential analysis) on students' WeChat message (a major MIM in China).Results indicated both learning analytical tools helped engage students in shared epistemic agency discourse moves, such as creating shared understanding, creating knowledge objects, projective and regulative, thus, to promote students' deep discussions. Word cloud especially engaged students in more complete shared epistemic agency discourse trajectory. Moreover, analysis results indicated that shared epistemic agency discourse moves of creating shared understanding would lead students to a high level of deep discussions. Implications of study findings for practitioners: Our study provides a feasible way to educational practitioners who want to promote students' deep discussions in their online learning course (both fully online and flipped classroom mode).Knowledge Building Discourse Explorer (KBDeX presents the original analysis results of students' written messages in discussion forums as socio‐cognitive networks.) could be implemented in the classroom. The objective is to encourage students to understand the importance of connecting with peers' ideas in a one‐session implementation period.If time allows, teachers could use word cloud and meta‐discourse to engage students in socio‐metacognitive conversations in class to promote their shared epistemic agency discourse in online discussions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background Study: The effects of the flipped classroom (FC) on students' academic performance remain ambiguous, and the use of pre‐class videos may be one of the main factors hindering students' progress. A software package called GeoGebra has been proposed as a substitute for pre‐class videos to aid students' learning. Objective: This study investigates the effect of the FC using GeoGebra (FCG) on mathematical performance and memory among senior secondary students. Methods: One hundred and sixty students of a senior high school in China were selected. A quasi‐experimental design was implemented in which the classes were split into the intervention group (FCG), control group A (FCV) and control group B (TL) by random assignment. Pretest, Post‐test 1 and Post‐test 2 were introduced. Results and Conclusion: The results indicate that both the FCG and the FC with pre‐class videos (FCV) were more effective than traditional lectures in enhancing students' academic test scores, and that the effect of the FCG was comparable to its video counterpart, F(2, 136) = 3.752, ρ = 0.026, η2 = 0.052. Although their effects were similar, the qualitative results revealed some hidden benefits associated with the replacement of pre‐class video with GeoGebra. Furthermore, although they were equally effective in promoting students' performance in the short‐term, the long‐term effects on academic performance of both forms of FC were non‐significant when compared with traditional lectures. Lay Description: What is already known about this topic: Flipped classroom is an effective strategy in teaching mathematics.Among those challenges, video may be one of the main factors hindering the effect of flipped classroom. What this paper adds: GeoGebra could be an effective alternative to video.Effect between the flipped classroom using GeoGebra and the flipped classroom using video were similar.Both the flipped classroom with GeoGebra and the flipped classroom with videos were more effective than traditional lectures. Implications for practice and/or policy: Students' short‐term performance could be enhanced by visualisation provided by flipped classroom.To enhance students' long‐term performance, an appropriate amount of homework is suggested. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper aimed to explore the difference in the spatial distribution of compulsory education resource allocation. Raw data were collected from the 2020 China Statistical Yearbook (county/district level) and Guangxi Province Statistical Yearbook of China. Data analysis was conducted using the entropy method, comprehensive evaluation method, K-means clusters analysis, analysis of variance, and spatial statistical analysis (Moran's I index). It was determined that there were significant differences in the spatial distribution of compulsory education. The equilibrium degree to mandatory education resource allocation was divided into three classes: high level, medium level, and low level, and each class presented a spatial aggregation effect in the spatial distribution. Compared with the primary schools, the equilibrium degree of junior secondary school was higher. However, the equilibrium fluctuation of junior secondary schools was more significant among different counties/districts. The equilibrium of educational resources of junior secondary schools in the urban areas was higher than that in the rural areas, but there was no significant difference for the primary school. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Various studies suggest that the maritime industry will continue to face the challenge of seafarer shortages. Young seafarer turnover has become a serious issue that cannot be underestimated. This paper aims to identify the root causes of young seafarer attrition in China and explore relevant solutions. It collects information via semi-structured interviews and questionnaires. Independent sample t-test, one-way ANOVA and least-significant difference are utilised for the variance analysis. The findings of the study show that occupational recognition and family responsibility are the two major factors contributing to young seafarers' outflow. Chinese seafarers' health status is another important factor that has received little attention. In addition, young seafarers of 31–35 years old have the most possibility of turnover, due to a number of reasons discussed in this paper. Age 40 or thereabouts is viewed as the watershed moment in a seafarer's career, so efforts should be made to help young seafarers pass through the hard period in their early thirties. This paper suggests that a clear career plan could be a potential solution to retain this backbone group as prospective senior officers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

There is a growing tendency for users to expect conversational agents (CAs) to recognise social cues and follow interpersonal communication principles to enhance their subjective evaluation. Therefore, this paper studies how personal pronouns should be used by CAs in response to users. We conducted a 3 (CAs' personal pronoun) × 3 (users' personal pronoun) × 2 (participants'gender) mixed design. this study used mixed methods based on an experimental design, including ratings, forced choices and interviews, for mutual confirmation. The findings indicate that first, users prefer that CAs use second-person pronouns. Second, there is also turn-taking and convergence tendency between users and CAs in personal pronoun use. Third, there are gender differences in personal pronoun preferences and relationship positions toward CAs. These results can inform personalised voice interaction and humanlike design and help build closer relationships between users and CAs in future human–computer interactions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Video lectures which include the instructor's presence are becoming increasingly popular. Presenting a real human does, however, entail higher financial and time costs in making videos, and one innovative approach to reduce costs has been to generate a virtual speaking instructor. Objectives: The current study examined whether the use of a virtual instructor in video lectures would facilitate learning as well as a human instructor, and whether manipulating the virtual instructor's characteristics (i.e., voice and appearance) might optimize the effectiveness of the virtual instructor. Methods: Our study set four conditions. In the control condition, students watched a human instructor. In the experiment conditions, students watched one of (a) a virtual instructor which used the human instructor's voice and an AI image, (b) a virtual instructor which spoke in an AI voice with an AI image made to speak using text‐to‐speech and lip synthesis techniques, or (c) a virtual instructor with used an AI voice and an AI likable‐image of an instructor. Results and Conclusions: The AI likable instructor condition had a significant positive effect on students' learning performance and motivation, without decreasing the attention students paid to the learning materials. Implications: Our findings suggest that instructional video designers can make use of AI voices and AI images of likable humans as instructors to motivate students and enhance their learning performance. Lay Description: What is already known about this topic: Video lectures which include the instructor's presence are becoming increasingly popular.Presenting a virtual instructor (i.e., a pedagogical agent) in video lectures has been shown to reduce costs of video production, both financially and in terms of time. What this paper adds: An AI‐generated voice and an AI‐generated image facilitated more students' transfer performance than a human instructor.The AI likable instructor condition had a significant positive effect on students' learning performance and motivation, without decreasing the attention students paid to the learning materials. Implications for practice and/or policy: We encourage instructional designers to use AI‐generated voices and AI‐generated images connected to a virtual instructor instead of a human instructor in video lectures.We encourage instructional designers to use likable human images (as defined by the students themselves) as a way to motivate students more and enhance their learning performance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Investigations have found maternal adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) cause an intergenerational danger to their children's health. However, no study has investigated the effects of maternal ACEs on behavioral problems of preschool children in China and gender differences on these effects. This paper aims to investigate the role of maternal ACEs on behavioral problems of preschool children in China and explore gender differences as related to these behavioral problems. Stratified cluster sampling method was used to select 7318 preschool children from 12 districts in Hefei city, China. A questionnaire survey was conducted to collect information on maternal exposure to ACEs and Conners' Parent Rating Scales. Logistic regression was used to analyze the relationship between maternal ACEs and children's behavioral problems. The prevalence of behavioral problems in preschool children was 16.0%, while it was higher among girls (18.4%) than boys (13.92%) (χ2 = 27.979, p < 0.001). The rate of behavioral problems in children in the group of mothers with ACEs was higher than those without ACEs (all p < 0.05). Maternal ACEs were associated with increased risk of the behavior problems in preschool children (adjusted OR 2.91, 95% CI 2.45–3.45), and no gender difference (in girls 3.01, 2.38–3.81, in boys 2.79, 2.17–3.58, respectively) was found. Maternal ACEs were associated with increased risk of each type of the behavioral problems of preschool children, except that maternal emotional neglect was not associated with psycho-physical problems, impulse-activities, and anxiety. The only gender differences found were higher conduct problems related to maternal emotional abuse and ACEs and higher anxiety related to maternal physical abuse and community violence in girls compared with boys. Mothers exposured to ACEs are more likely to have children with behavioral health problems in preschool period. Further research is needed to explore the mechanisms by which maternal ACEs influence children's behavioral problems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aim: The aim of the study was to examine whether patient–provider communication interacts with treatment outcomes to influence patients' risk perception. Background: Medical uncertainties and risks are among the most serious problems faced by patients. This is exacerbated by communication failure in patient–provider relationships and poor treatment outcomes. However, we do not know how communication and treatment outcomes shape patients' risk perception and concern about uncertainty. Design The study is a two‐by‐two between‐subjects design. Methods: Two studies were conducted and data were collected in 2019. Each study used a different research design and different samples: Study 1 used a scenario experiment with 120 undergraduate students; and Study 2 surveyed 200 inpatients in clinical settings. Results: The convergent results found a significant interaction between patient–provider communication and treatment outcome on the perception of medical risks among the participants. Conclusion: Patient–provider communication interacts with treatment outcome to influence patients' perceived risk about uncertainties for healthcare. Clinicians and nurses should be aware of the effects of patient–provider communication on patients' risk perception in their concerns about the uncertainties of treatment and pay much more attention to good healthcare relationship building in addition to the improvement of objective treatment outcome. SUMMARY STATEMENT: What is already known about this topic? Medical uncertainties and risks are exacerbated by communication failure in healthcare relationship.Communicating information to patients is important when they are evaluating the risks and benefits of treatment.Current theories to explain medical risk assume particular psychological processes to reproduce empirical observations of financial risk‐sensitive behaviour. What this paper adds? A scenario experiment explored the interaction effect of patient‐provider communication and treatment outcomes on the perceived risk of medical treatment.We verified the results in the clinical context and revealed a significant interaction of patient‐provider communication with patients' perceived risk of treatment outcomes.Our model predicts that patients' risk perceptions are both path dependent and affected by the patient‐provider communication and treatment outcome. The implications of this paper: Healthcare providers, for example, physicians and nurses, are reminded to adhere to preferred communication and relationship building methods, in support of good treatment outcomes.Providing patients with humanized support and compassion from healthcare professionals may help them understand their illness and symptoms as well as improve their concerns about the uncertainties of treatment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The incidence of cancer is increasing today, particularly lung and chest cancer. Employing novel methods to detect cancer in its earliest stages and discover painless, noninvasive treatments are urgently needed. The goal of the proposed study is to investigate the value of automated breast volume scanning (ABUS) in conjunction with contrast-enhanced ultrasonography (CEUS) in properly diagnosing breast cancer in its early stages and the effectiveness of neoadjuvant chemotherapy (NAC) in treating the disease. For the research study, information on 98 patients who had NAC and surgery in the breast surgery department of the Shaanxi Provincial Cancer Hospital has been gathered. All patients have received four cycles of NAC and underwent conventional ultrasound (HUSS), CEUS, ABUS, and pathological examination. At the same time, receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis, single factor, multiple linear regression, and other methods have also been used to analyze the diagnostic efficacy of breast cancer and NAC efficacy evaluation results. The study of this paper is totally based on the data collected from Shaanxi Provincial Cancer Hospital. The statistical and computational analyses are performed on the data collected for drawing inferences. When the findings are compared to the results of the pathological examination, HUSS has demonstrated a significant distinction between benign and malignant diagnoses with a statistical value of P < 0.05.ABUS combined with CEUS has shown no considerable differences in correlation study. Except for negative likelihood ratio, the diagnostic performance indexes of CEUS+ ABUS are substantially higher than HHUS with P < 0.05. ROC curve analysis is also performed which shows that CEUS and ABUS combination has higher precision in the analysis of breast cancer. ABUS pooled with CEUS shows great application value in the judgment of breast cancer as per the results obtained from the statistical analysis on data of 98 patients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Forest Research is the property of Forest Research Editorial Office and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Drought is a natural disaster that profoundly impacts all parts of the environment. Drought forecasting could provide technical support for drought risk prevention. This paper explored and compared the forecasting abilities of the autoregressive integrated moving average (ARIMA) in statistics, the wavelet neural network (WNN) and the support vector machine (SVM) in machine learning for drought forecasting in the Sanjiang Plain, China. The models used in this paper are based on the standard precipitation evapotranspiration index (SPEI) on the 12-month timescale. The SPEI was calculated using precipitation and temperature data collected during the period 1979–2016 from seven meteorological stations in the study area. Then, the SPEI series were predicted with the ARIMA, WNN and SVM models separately. The coefficient of determination (R2), mean-squared error (MSE), Nash–Sutcliffe efficiency coefficient (NSE) and Kolmogorov–Smirnov (K–S) distance, which is a nonparametric measure, were used to evaluate the performance of all models. A comparison between the raw data and predictions illustrates that the R2 and NSE values of the WNN model were 0.837 and 0.831, respectively; those of the SVM model were 0.833 and 0.827, respectively; and those of the ARIMA model were both > 0.9. Moreover, the ARIMA model had smaller MSE and K–S distance values than those of the other two models. Further, analysis of variance showed that the ARIMA model exhibited an obvious advantage over the other two models when forecasting drought in the Sanjiang Plain, China. Therefore, the method used for drought forecasting depends not only on the object of the data series but also on the underlying concepts of the models or algorithms and is a choice that should be made with caution. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Transactions of the Chinese Society of Agricultural Engineering is the property of Chinese Society of Agricultural Engineering and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Vibration contributes large increases in railway passenger discomfort during long-term sitting. Discomfort caused by vibration may differ in different operation conditions. This paper conducted field measurements to investigate the interrelationships between the three. Participants completed a 240-min train journey with their whole-body vibration, subjective comfort ratings and train operating parameters being recorded. A large correlation was observed between the estimated vibration dose value and subjective comfort. The relationship that vibration magnitude significantly increases with increasing the train speed and tunnel density was also found and quantified. A vibration exposure limit of 2.08 m/s1.75 corresponding to the boundary between subjective ratings of comfortable and discomfortable was obtained. Based on the exposure limit and the quantified relationship, a vibration comfort prediction method that can calculate the passenger's maximum tolerance time under a given operation condition was proposed and may help in determining the optimal operating speed and tunnels distribution to alleviate vibration discomfort. Practitioner summary: Similar to the guide to effect of vibration on health in current standard, a vibration exposure limit regarding comfort was provided for reference when assessing long-term vibration comfort. Meanwhile, a prediction method was proposed for determining the best train operating speed and tunnels distribution, thereby alleviating railway passengers' vibration discomfort. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Zoomorphism, an obverse of conventional anthropomorphism, has been shown in many cases to be a powerful tool with respect to the metaphorical use of animals. Objectives: This study introduced zoomorphism into the instructional video design of pedagogical agents (PAs). Method: We first developed three image sets, each of which corresponded to a type of zoomorphic PA image construct (full panda, a human face with a panda body, and a human body with panda head imagery). Then, we conducted an image‐screening experiment in which 177 second‐grade students from a primary school were asked to select their favourite PA image for each image construct set. We used a realistic human PA as the baseline. Next, 114 second‐grade students from another school were randomly assigned to learn instructional videos on the topic of pandas using a PA with one of four imageries. Results and Conclusions: ANOVA and Kruskal–Wallis tests indicated that students presented with PAs with full‐panda imagery achieved significantly higher learning performance, learning experience, social presence, and learning interest than those presented with other imageries of PAs. The regression results showed that the effect of zoomorphic PAs with full‐panda imagery on learning performance was exerted in a direct way and that its effect on learning experience was mediated by social presence and learning interest. Implications: Our findings suggest that zoomorphic appearance is an essential quality for video learning that merits further investigation for the efficient imagery construction of PAs. Lay Description: What is already known about this topic: The inclusion of pedagogical agents with images that are attributed human qualities to animals known as anthropomorphism is very popular in multimedia education; however, the existing studies on the effects of such images on learning have shown inconsistent results. What this paper adds: We introduced the alternative philosophy of animal use‐zoomorphism, which is the obverse of anthropomorphism, into agent image building. Implications for practice and/or policy: Our study demonstrated that the zoomorphism of agent images increases learning performance and experience; thus, our findings suggest the prospect of zoomorphism in the development of agent image patterns. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Computational thinking (CT) has become a crucial skill for individuals in the 21st century, and while more educators are starting to recognize the importance of CT education, there is still a lack of research on how to teach young children CT, particularly outside of traditional school settings. Objectives: To fill the gap in knowledge, we aimed to investigate the effectiveness of a web‐based parent education program on improving children's CT skills. Additionally, we sought to determine if children's age, gender and family socioeconomic status had any impact on the development of CT skills. Methods: We selected 86 adult–child pairs in the K3 age group to participate in a 4‐week intervention program using a quasi‐experimental approach. Results: After 4 weeks, children in the intervention group had improved their CT skills more than their peers in the control group. This shows that the intervention was successful in enhancing children's CT skills. Age had a moderating effect on CT enhancement, with older children showing a more significant improvement than younger children. However, children's gender and family socioeconomic status did not have any moderating effects. Conclusions: These results demonstrate that CT education can be effectively implemented in the home setting through web‐mediated parent education. Encouraging the use of unplugged CT activities at home can aid children in acquiring CT skills. Lay Description: What is already known about this topic: Computational thinking (CT) education can be started at the early childhood stage.Both plugged‐in and unplugged activities can promote children's CT.Unplugged activities have many advantages and are suitable for young children. What this paper adds: Web‐mediated parent education is useful for equipping parents with the knowledge and skills to conduct CT activities at home.CT education has a positive effect on children in the home setting.Parents play an important leading role in children's CT education.Parent–child unplugged activities are beneficial to children's CT enhancement. Implications for practice and/or policy: A web‐mediated approach is an appropriate way to encourage parent participation in CT training.CT‐related parent education should be scaled up so that parents can play an active educational role at home.Unplugged CT activities should be designed more for the home settings in addition to school settings. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A species of Orobanche was observed on spiny cocklebur (Xanthium spinosum) for the first time in Iran and tentatively was named IR-Iso.This study was conducted to make a phylogenetic analysis of the Orobanche using 5.8S rRNA region sequences, and also to better understand its sequence pattern. The full-length ITS1-ITS2 region of the new Orobanche isolate was PCR-amplified from the holoparasitic plant parasitizing X. spinosum. Sequences of the amplicons from the isolate were 100% identical but differed by 5.6–6.7% from most homologous GenBank accessions to 37.9% divergence from distant species. The analysis of the molecular variance showed that variation between-population (61.9%, SE = 0.04) was larger than within-population. Neighbor-joining analysis placed the Iranian isolate in the same clade as most of the Orobanche and Phelipanche species. The isolate was more closely related to Orobanche aegyptiaca (from China), and this was confirmed by using a structure analysis. However, complementary analyses showed that the Iranian isolate has a unique nucleotide substitution pattern, and hence it was considered as an ecotype of O. aegyptiaca (ecotype Alborzica). In this paper we report on the association between this new ecotype of Orobanche and X. spinosum. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Failure to effectively organize and manage learning time is an important factor influencing online learners' performance. Investigation of time‐investment patterns for online learning will provide educators with useful knowledge of how learners engage in and regulate their online learning and support them in tailoring online course design and teaching. However, understanding of how learners invest and manage their time during online learning remains limited. Objectives: This study aims to discover the typical time‐investment patterns of MOOC learners and their temporal‐learning characteristics based on a systematic time‐investment analysis framework and their relationship with learning performance. Methods: Based on a proposed time‐investment‐analysis framework, this study applied statistical, cluster and lag sequential analyses to investigate learners' time‐investment patterns and their relationships with learning performance, session time allocation, and learning sequences by analysing the learning data from 12,463 participants of a Massive Open Online Course (MOOC) in China. Results and Conclusions: Seven time‐investment patterns of MOOC learners were defined, and learning performance was found to differ among them. Further analysis shows that high performers invested time throughout the whole course and allocated time to multiple activities, exam‐takers performed better in time management and produced more behavioural sequences related to cognitive strategy and recourse use, and learners' motivation and prior knowledge affected the management and effectiveness of their time investment. Implications: The results support the recognition and evaluation of online learning time‐investment patterns and suggest relevant cues for improving MOOC design and teaching. Lay Description: What is currently known about the subject matter: Insufficient learning time affects learning persistence and effectiveness in open and online education programs.Learning time investment and management regarded as an element of self‐regulated learning is a predictor of learning performance.Some proxy behavioural variables or characteristics of online learning time management have been found in previous studies.Learning analysis can be used to dig the knowledge implicit in learning data for online teaching evaluation and improvement. What is paper adds to the subject: Based on a comprehensive analytic framework, seven time‐investment patterns of MOOC learners and their relationship with achievement are identified.Under different time frames, learners' time allocation and learning behaviour pattern are different.Learners performing better in time management across course learning allocate more time to multiple activities in session learning.Exam‐takers perform better in time management across MOOC learning, and produce more behaviour sequences related to cognitive strategy and course recourse use. The implications of study findings for practitioners: The recognition of time investment pattern can support online course design and teaching improvement.MOOC design and teaching need to consider the differences in learners' time resources and their ability of time management.MOOC design and teaching need to encourage learners lacking of performance motivation to engage in various learning activities instead of just watching videos.MOOC design need consider the differences in learners' prior knowledge, and offer personalized learning path based on assessment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Over the past decade, the call to foster computational thinking (CT) in every child has received considerable attention. However, there is little understanding of whether children are developmentally ready to think computationally and what specific CT concepts and skills can be developed at various ages. This study explored the developmental and gender differences in CT skills of 197 Grade 4–6 students (aged 9–13) before being exposed to instruction and investigated the age–gender interaction effects on their CT acquisition in an intervention combining both programming and non‐programming (unplugged) activities. Results show that students' CT skills followed a developmental progression before instruction. Gender difference across ages was insignificant in conditionals, logical operators, pattern recognition and generalization skills. Additionally, students of different ages developed CT differently during the intervention, and their CT acquisition was unaffected by gender. Implications for practice and research in CT education were discussed. Lay Description: What is currently known about the topic: Learning progressions for computational thinking have been defined in K‐12 curricula globally.Engaging in programming and non‐programming (unplugged) activities can increase students' CT skills.Controversial results have been reported on the age–gender interaction effects on CT development.Lack of understanding on children's actual progressive development of CT. What this paper adds: A developmental progression was found in CT skills of students aged 9–13. Students aged 12 and above had some a priori understanding of CT.No gender difference across ages existed in conditionals, logical operators, pattern recognition and generalization skills before instruction.Students aged 9–11 benefitted the most from an intervention combining both programming and unplugged activities compared to older students. Students' CT acquisition in the intervention was unaffected by gender.Given the intervention, students aged 9 and above developed conditionals, logical operators and pattern recognition skills. However, generalization skill was developed only for students aged 12 and above. Implications for practice and policy: The findings lay the foundation for designing evidence‐based age‐appropriate CT learning progression and pedagogies.Age‐appropriate learning content: Given appropriate learning experiences, students aged 9 and above may be ready to learn certain CT concepts and skills, including conditionals, logical operators and pattern recognition.CT pedagogies: Using programming and unplugged activities to develop CT requires careful consideration of students' cognitive development and gender needs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aim of the paper is to define and quantify the differences in employee motivation depending upon the selected regions and the age of employees. The research was carried out in 2017. Sampling unit consisted of 7,594 respondents - employees from the selected eastern European countries, members of the European Union, mainly the Slovak and Czech Republic, as well as selected regions outside the European Union, Russia and China. Data gathered from the questionnaires were evaluated using descriptive statistics and tested by Tukey's HSD at the level of significance of 5%. The ANOVA Variance Analysis was used to compare each sampling unit in relation to the age and the country. Most of the differences in motivation factors were found in the countries of China and Russia. It can be due to different cultural values, especially because of the power gap and the preferred principle of seniority and collectivism in China. Differences in the level of motivation, i.e. motivation factors especially in relation to the age were observed in the analysed regions. Incentive plans for intercultural teams in order to enable employers to choose motivation factors effectively were designed following the conclusions presented in the paper. Fundamental patterns of cultural differences as well as age-related differences predicting motivational preferences can be taken into consideration when selecting the motivation factors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aim: To assess the attitudes of newly graduated nurses in China toward their work environment and identify the factors affecting their perception. Background: Newly graduated nurses are the primary supply to cover the nursing shortage, but their stressful transition into clinical work has contributed to high turnover for decades. Although serving as a source of stress, the work environment can also be a source of support for new nurses. Methods: A total of 2361 new nurses at 31 tertiary hospitals in 20 provinces were surveyed from June to November 2018, using the Chinese version of the Practice Environment Scale‐Nursing Work Index. Basic information and their perception about work environment were collected. Results: New nurses rated their work environment with an overall score of 84.67 (12.85). Multiple linear regression identified that education level, monthly income, hospital type and location, participation (or not) in standardized training programmes and having (or not) a mentor/preceptor were factors significantly associated with their perception of the work environment. Conclusion: The perception of newly graduated nurses in China was mainly positive overall. Nursing managers may take full advantage of factors affecting the perception of work environment to support newly graduated nurses better, to help their retention and transition. Summary statement: What is already known about the topic? Newly graduated nurses experience transition shock at the beginning of their work.Supportive work environments can help successful transition. What this paper adds? Newly graduated nurses are not fully supported in their work environment.Staffing and resource inadequacy were the poorest environmental factors.Residency programmes had the most impact on the perceptions of newly graduated nurses about their work environment. Implications for nursing practice: These results can guide nursing managers to support the newly graduated nurses better in their transition process, thus helping retention of nursing human resource. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aim: This research aimed to explore the level of hope and symptom burden of breast cancer women undergoing chemotherapy, and predictive factors of hope were also investigated. Background: Chemotherapy brings physical and psychological stress to breast cancer patients. As an effective coping strategy, hope gives them the courage to overcome difficulties and improve prognosis and survival. Therefore, efforts are needed to raise hope. Design/Methods: A total of 450 women who were undergoing breast cancer chemotherapy participated in this cross‐sectional study. Sociodemographic data, disease characteristics, and measures of hope and symptom burden were collected using questionnaires. Hope was assessed using the validated Herth Hope Index, and the previously validated Memorial Symptom Assessment Scale was used to assess symptom burden. This paper adhered to the STROBE guidelines. Results: Chinese breast cancer chemotherapy women hope average scores of 30.15 ± 4.82 were in the medium range of the Hearth Hope Index as specified by Herth to be 24–35. Patients with age ≤45, religious beliefs and lighter symptom burden have a higher level of hope. These variables explained a total of 22.9% of the variation in hope. Conclusions: The level of hope for women undergoing breast cancer chemotherapy still needs to be further improved. Symptom burden can negatively predict hope. Relevance to clinical practice: If nurses can decrease breast cancer chemotherapy women symptom burden, there is an impact on increasing levels of hope. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to examine consumer reactions to product categories, online seller reputation, and brand name syllables. Design/methodology/approach – This paper uses four experimental designs to explore the seller reputation, product category, and brand name syllable effects in internet shopping. The authors chose sellers of (low/high) repute from Yahoo Mall. ANOVA is used to evaluate the results. Findings – Seller reputation moderates the effect of the brand name syllable level on purchase intention and product category moderates the effect of the brand name syllable level on purchase on internet (experiment 1). Consumers take the longest time to make purchasing decisions when buying credence goods or buying from sellers of low repute and that the response time mediates the moderating role of the product category (experiment 2) or reputation (experiment 3). Moreover, the effect of brand name syllable levels chosen/assigned by sellers of low repute is weakened for consumers with low (vs high) skepticism toward non-store shopping (experiment 4). Practical implications – This study is helpful to online sellers if they can identify their reputation, product category and those consumers have skepticism, they can create extra profit through brand name syllable practice. Originality/value – This paper extends the literature on consumers' brand name syllable processing by identifying important moderators and probing into the decision process. The results allow us to substantiate prior research and suggest prescriptive strategies for internet retailers. Keywords Purchase intention, Product category, Brand name syllable, Non-store shopping, Seller reputation, Skepticism Paper type Research paper [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Under the global climate change and energy crisis, solar energy has become the focus of research, development, and utilization throughout the world. Therefore, an empirical study on the awareness of residents for solar photovoltaic power generation is of great significance. Based on the 330 questionnaire data, by adopting the single factor variance analysis (S-N-K test) methodology, this paper first analyzed the differences between various groups of residents from varied perspectives of Chinese residents, i.e., different ages, different education attainments, different income levels, different genders, and different industries. Then, it conducted a regression analysis of the demographic variables by using linear regression models. The results indicate that: (1) the awareness of different types of Chinese residents is significantly different; (2) education and income levels have significant impacts on their awareness. Finally, this paper proposed corresponding policy recommendations based on these findings. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC) accounts more than 80% of the lung cancer cases. Polysaccharides in rice bran and its fermentation products have been proven to suppress many cancers. However, the report on inhibiting NSCLC is few. In this paper, the polysaccharides with suppression activity to H1299 NSCLC in the fermentation products of full-fat rice bran and defatted rice bran were studied in vitro and in vivo. Method: Polysaccharides (GSRBPs) were extracted from Ganoderma sinense – full-fat rice bran (GS-FRB) and Ganoderma sinense – defatted rice bran (GS-DRB) fermentation products. The structure information of the GSRBPs was studied using HPLC analysis. The anti-tumor activities on H1299 NSCLC of GSRBPs in vitro study was performed using MTT method. The in vivo studies use BALB/c-nu nude mice as H1299 NSCLC bearing mice. Result: All the polysaccharides contained two fractions, GSFPS-1 and GSFPS-2. The molecular weight and the ratio of GSFPS-1 and GSFPS-2 were different in GS-FRB and GS-DRB. At the earlier state of fermentation, all polysaccharides were composed of D-glu, D-man, D-xyl and L-ara with certain molar ratios. But at the latter stage, polysaccharides in GS-FRB were composed of D-glu, D-man, D-xyl, L-ara and D-fru, while these in GS-DRB only composed of D-glu and D-man. In the in vitro study, the IC50 of RBS and GSRBPs was as GS-DRB-11 (40.62 μg/mL), GS-FRB-9 (43.82 μg/mL), GS-DRB-7 (48.08 μg/mL), RBS (49.56 μg/mL), GS-DRB-9 (49.91 μg/mL), GS-DRB-13 (51.89 μg/mL), GS-FRB-11 (53.75 μg/mL), GS-FRB-7 (56.84 μg/mL), GS-DRB-13 (60.63 μg/mL) from small to large. In the in vivo study, the H1299 NSCLC inhibition rate (InRa) of RBS and GSRBPs were GS-DRB-11 (86.81%) > GS-DRB-9 (86.01%) > GS-FRB-9 (84.88%) > GS-DRB-7 (82.21%) > GS-DRB-13 (78.04%) > RBS (76.06%) > GS-FRB-13 (65.44%) > GS-FRB-11 (64.70%) > GS-FRB-7 (27.87%). The GSFPS-2 area percent was negatively correlated to the IC50 and was positively correlated to the InRa. This means the GSFPS-2 had much higher anti-tumor activity than GSFPS-1. Conclusion: GSFPS-2 had higher anti-tumor activities, and the lipid in the rice bran has a decisive effect on the structures of polysaccharides produced by fermentation. Therefore, GSRBPs could be considered as potential novel agents to suppress H1299 non-small-cell lung cancer. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Accessible summary: What is known on the subject?: The attributes of readiness for hospital discharge (RHD) have been identified to be physical stability, adequate support, psychological ability, and adequate information and knowledge.Patient‐reported RHD has been regarded as an outcome indicator, and poor RHD leads to unplanned readmission, emergency department visits and even death.Knowledge regarding patient‐reported RHD and its factors among patients with depression is limited. What the paper adds to existing knowledge?: RHD among patients with depression is at a moderate level.More than a quarter of people with depression had low RHD.The knowledge dimension of the RHDS among patients with depression should be further strengthened.The length of stay, content received and delivery dimensions of the QDTS were significantly associated with RHD. What are the implications for practice?: This study encourages nurses to assess patient‐reported RHD at discharge in mental health settings.Nurses should pay more attention to patients with hospital stays longer than 20 days.Nurses could improve RHD by enhancing the quality of discharge teaching, particularly the content received and the skills nurses used to deliver such content.Nurses' managers could develop programmes to improve teaching skills via Internet technology, such as simulated patients and online interprofessional discharge planning. Introduction: Low readiness for hospital discharge (RHD) can be followed by negative healthcare outcomes. However, no studies have investigated RHD among patients with depression. Aim: This study aimed to examine patient‐reported RHD and its factors among patients with depression. Method: In total, 367 inpatients with depression were recruited and completed the Readiness for Hospital Discharge Scale (RHDS) and Quality of Discharge Teaching Scale (QDTS). A binary logistic regression analysis was performed to explore the factors of RHD among patients with depression. Results: The total RHDS score was 7.70 ± 1.52. Approximately 28.9% of the participants had low RHD (RHDS score < 7). The results revealed that RHD was significantly associated with the length of stay, content received and delivery. Discussion: RHD among patients with depression is at a moderate level. More than a quarter of people with depression had low RHD. To improve RHD, enhancing the quality of discharge teaching is imperative for patients with depression. Implications for Practice: Nurses should pay more attention to patients with a hospital stay longer than 20 days. Nurses could improve RHD by enhancing the quality of discharge teaching, particularly the content received and the skills nurses used to deliver such content. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Cancer has become a global health problem. China still suffers continuous increasing cancer mortality. To study the trend of cancer mortality in rural China, this paper established an Age-Period-Cohort model to discuss the age effect, period effect and cohort effect on cancer mortality in rural China. Methods: The data were collected from the “China Health Statistical Yearbook” from 1990 to 2010. Collected data were analyzed by Age-Period-Cohort model and Intrinsic Estimation method. Results: The age effect on the total cancer mortality represented a V trend. Compared with Group 0–4, Group 5–9 showed 71.87% lower cancer mortality risk. Compared with Group 5–9, Group 75–79 showed 38 times higher cancer mortality risk. The period effect on the total cancer mortality risk weakened firstly but then increased. It increased by 35.70% from 1990 to 2010, showing an annual average growth of 1.79%. The cohort effect on the total cancer mortality risk weakened by totally 84.94% from 1906–1910 to 2005–2010. Three “deterioration periods” and three “improvement periods” were witnessed during this period. The malignant cancer mortality varied similarly with the total cancer mortality, while benign cancer mortality and other cancer mortality represented different variation laws. Conclusions: Although the total cancer mortality risk is increasing at an accelerated rate, cancer mortality risk in recent born year is decreasing, indicating very important impact of social change on the cancer mortality in rural China. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Accessible summary: What is known on the subject?: Readiness for hospital discharge (RHD) has been an important topic for nurses.RHD can be measured by the Readiness for Hospital Discharge Scale (RHDS), including 4 subscales: personal status, knowledge, coping ability and expected support.There are few studies that focus on RHD in patients diagnosed with mental disorders. What does the paper add to existing knowledge?: Improving patient‐reported RHD can decrease the risks of unscheduled post‐discharge clinic visits, readmission and poor quality of life (QOL) in patients diagnosed with anxiety disorders.Improving patient‐reported personal status can decrease the risk of poor QOL in patients diagnosed with anxiety disorders.Improving patient‐reported knowledge can decrease the risks of unscheduled post‐discharge clinic visits and readmission in patients diagnosed with anxiety disorders.Improving patient‐reported expected support can decrease the risk of unscheduled post‐discharge clinic visits in patients diagnosed with anxiety disorders.Improving the methods of discharge teaching and anxiety severity can enhance RHD in patients diagnosed with anxiety disorders. What are the implications for practice?: Nurses could enhance patient‐reported RHD to reduce unscheduled post‐discharge medical resource utilization or improve QOL by facilitating knowledge acquisition and skill development and improving social support systems.Nurse managers could add RHD assessment to patients' discharge process and train nurses in the methods of discharge education.Nurses could advance their methods of discharge education, such as listening to and answering patients' questions, choosing a convenient time and engaging in online education. Introduction: The association between readiness for hospital discharge (RHD) and post‐discharge outcomes remains unclear in individuals with anxiety disorders. Aim: To explore the factors of RHD and the effect of patient‐reported RHD on post‐discharge outcomes. Method: In the observational study, 373 patients diagnosed with anxiety disorders completed the self‐administered Readiness for Hospital Discharge Scale (RHDS) on discharge. After 30 days, phone interviews were conducted to collect data on post‐discharge outcomes, including self‐reported unscheduled medical service utilization, symptom severity and quality of life (QOL). Multiple logistic regression models were built to explore the relationships among sociodemographic characteristics, the RHDS and its subscales, and post‐discharge outcomes. Results: The unscheduled clinic visits were significantly associated with low RHD, knowledge and expected support. Readmission was significantly associated with low RHD and knowledge. Poor QOL was significantly associated with low RHD and personal status. Delivery, received content and anxiety severity were the predictors of RHD. Discussion: Improved RHD is associated with fewer unscheduled clinic visits and readmissions and better QOL. Enhancing discharge education can improve RHD. Implications for practice: Nurses should enhance patient‐reported RHD to improve post‐discharge outcomes by advancing the quality of discharge education in patients diagnosed with anxiety disorders. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The generation, formation, and development of debris flow are closely related to the vertical climate, vegetation, soil, lithology and topography of the mountain area. Taking in the upper reaches of Min River (the Upper Min River) as the study area, combined with GIS and RS technology, the Geo-detector (GEO) method was used to quantitatively analyze the respective influence of 9 factors on debris flow occurrence. We identify from a list of 5 variables that explain 53.92%% of the total variance. Maximum daily rainfall and slope are recognized as the primary driver (39.56%) of the spatiotemporal variability of debris flow activity. Interaction detector indicates that the interaction between the vertical differentiation factors of the mountainous areas in the study area is nonlinear enhancement. Risk detector shows that the debris flow accumulation area and propagation area in the Upper Min River are mainly distributed in the arid valleys of subtropical and warm temperate zones. The study results of this paper will enrich the scientific basis of prevention and reduction of debris flow hazards. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Chronic insomnia is a disease which brings intense mental pain and disturbing complications to patients worldwide. The oral microbiome exhibits a mechanistic influence on human health. Therefore, it is crucial to understand the oral microbial diversity in insomnia. Tongue diagnosis has been considered a critical basic procedure in insomnia therapeutic decision-making in Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM). Hence, it is significant to elucidate the various oral microbiome differences in chronic insomnia patients with different tongue features. In this paper, we used 16S rRNA gene sequencing and bioinformatics analysis to investigate dynamic changes in oral bacterial profile and correlations between chronic insomnia patients and healthy individuals, as well as in patients with different tongue coatings. Moreover, the relationship between the severity of insomnia and oral microbiota was explored. Our findings showed that chronic insomnia patients harbored a significantly higher diversity of oral bacteria when compared to healthy controls. More importantly, the results revealed that the diversity and relative abundance of the bacterial community was significantly altered among different tongue coatings in patients but not in healthy individuals. Oral bacteria with a relative abundance > 1% and P < 0. 0 5 among different tongue groups were considered remarkable bacteria, which included three phyla Proteobacteria, Bacteroidetes, Gracilibacteria, and four genera, Streptococcus, Prevotella_7, Rothia, and Neisseria. Our findings indicate that changes in oral microbiome correlate with tongue coatings in patients with chronic insomnia. Thus, the remarkable microbiome may provide inspiration for further studies on the correlation between tongue diagnosis and oral microbiome in chronic insomnia patients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper assesses the relationship between carbon emissions, economic growth and, energy consumption, in USA and China from the perspective of Granger causality, in a multivariate framework controlling for financial development, urbanization, and trade openness. Econometric techniques employed include unit root tests, Toda and Yamamoto Granger causality, and generalized impulse response and variance decomposition analysis for the time horizon 1980-2017. Test results indicate that governments of the USA and China cannot implement sturdier strategic energy policies in the long run without inhibiting the growth of the economy because of the bidirectional causative linkage between economic growth and energy use. A causal link does not exist between carbon emissions and financial development for both countries. Nevertheless, in the USA, there exists a unidirectional Granger causality controlling from energy consumption to financial development. In both economies, urbanization Granger causes CO2 emissions and energy use but the reverse does not hold. An upsurge in energy consumption and carbon emissions will lead to a surge in trade openness but not vice versa for China. A noteworthy result is that there is a substantiation of unidirectional causality from energy consumption to carbon emissions in both countries. In the USA, impulse response and variance decomposition analysis disclosed the effect of financial development is projected to have diminutive magnitude whiles in the future, energy use, economic growth, trade openness, and urbanization would influence carbon emissions significantly. The impacts of trade openness and financial development are expected to be of little importance in China. The general findings implied that urbanization, economic growth, and energy consumption influenced CO2 emissions significantly in the USA and China. Understanding these similar and contrasting situations is essential to reaching a global agreement on climate change affecting IMF's top 2 biggest economies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]