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School bullying victimization is a highly concerning issue that can lead to a range of negative outcomes. Despite the research showing a significant association between bullying victimization and complex posttraumatic stress disorder (CPTSD), the internal mechanisms with its two components (i.e., posttraumatic stress disorder symptoms [PTSD] and disorders of self-organization symptoms [DSO]) remain unclear. Previous studies have indicated that attachment style may influence the development of CPTSD symptoms and that there may be sex differences in attachment styles. Thus, the present study aims to examine the mediating role of insecure attachment between school bullying victimization and CPTSD symptoms in males and females. The study assessed bullying victimization, attachment orientation, and CPTSD (i.e., PTSD symptoms and DSO symptoms) symptoms in 675 college students (65.2% females; Mage = 19.6, SD = 1.34) from China who had reported bullying experiences at two different time points, 6 months apart. For females, school bullying victimization predicted PTSD and DSO symptoms through attachment anxiety and only predicted DSO symptoms through attachment avoidance. For males, we found that school bullying victimization predicted PTSD symptoms through attachment avoidance. These findings suggest that attachment is critical in understanding how school bullying victimization may lead to CPTSD symptoms among individuals of different sexes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The present study compared Chinese emerging adults and adults regarding the association between contamination fear, posttraumatic stress disorder post-COVID-19 and psychiatric comorbidity after controlling for demographic and trauma exposure variables. 1089 Chinese civilians (M = 382; F = 707) with a mean age of 26 years (M = 26.36, SD = 8.58) were recruited from different provinces in China via an online survey posted on mainstream Chinese social networking platforms. They completed a demographic page with questions on trauma exposure, the Vancouver Obsessional Compulsive Inventory, the Posttraumatic Stress Disorder Checklist for DSM-5 and the General Health Questionnaire-28. Results showed that 12.7%, 68.7% and 18.6% met criteria for full, partial and no PTSD, respectively. Emerging adults reported significantly lower levels of symptoms of re-experiencing, avoidance, somatic problems, anxiety and fear of contamination than adults. In both emerging adults and adults, contamination fear was correlated with PTSD and psychiatric comorbidity. High educational attainment was significantly correlated with psychiatric comorbidity in emerging adults, but with PTSD in adults. Length of quarantine was correlated with psychiatric comorbidity only in adults. In conclusion, both emerging adults and adults developed varying levels of contamination fear, posttraumatic stress and general psychological symptoms following the outbreak of COVID-19. Emerging adults were more resilient than adults in coping with distress. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Chinese immigrant survivors of men's violence experience both significant mental health impacts from abuse and barriers to formal services. Therefore, we examined the preliminary efficacy of an innovative mobile-based empowerment-based intervention (self-compassion, health, and empowerment; SHE) that specifically focuses on abused Chinese immigrant women in the US. This pilot study used a two-arm randomized controlled design with repeated measures. A convenience sample (N = 50) of Chinese immigrant women who experienced past year intimate partner violence (IPV) were recruited online and randomly assigned to the intervention or control group (25 per group). We assessed IPV exposure, safety behaviors, depressive symptoms, anxiety symptoms, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) symptoms, and self-compassion at baseline, post-intervention, and 8-week follow-up. Of 95 eligible participants, 50 (52.6%) agreed to participate and completed baseline data collection; intervention completion rate was 64%. We found a significant group and time interaction for self-judgment (a self-compassion component), with a significant reduction seen in the intervention group compared to the control group. Despite no other significant group differences observed over time, the intervention group showed consistent trends toward improvements in most outcome measures, including specific types of IPV (i.e., negotiation, psychological aggression, and sexual coercion), depressive and PTSD symptoms, self-compassion, and certain components of self-compassion (i.e., isolation and over-identification) when compared to the control group. Our findings suggest that the SHE intervention shows promise in improving the mental health well-being of Chinese immigrant survivors. However, a fully powered randomized controlled trial is warranted to determine its efficacy. Our intervention has the potential to be translated in the Chinese immigrant populations with the necessary organizational support. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Neighborhood effects are a common strategy for rural households to deal with irrational situations such as deficient information and ability. Based on the 2019 CHFS survey data, we designed a Probit model to verify whether neighborhood effects exist in the online financial investment of rural households. Our paper constructs a multiple mediation model to explore its mechanism. Otherwise, we execute the heterogeneity analysis by dividing the total sample into groups. Our paper proved that (1) Rural households have significant neighborhood effects on online financial investment. (2) Heterogeneity analysis shows that neighborhood effects are stronger among women, the younger, low-education, and low-income rural households. (3) Through the multiple mediation model, we proved that the neighborhood effects on online financial investment of the peasant household work by the financial knowledge spillover and risk-taking enhancement. Our study conduces to a better understanding of the financial decision-making of rural households, which may provide a practical implication for the popularization of new financial products and the optimal design of policy interventions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The purpose of this study was to explore the core and driving symptoms of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) of firefighters before and after rescue. Identifying core symptoms of PTSD can help clinicians to understand what may be relevant targets for treatment., Methods: The study recruited 334 firefighters in a firefighter military school in September 2017 (T1). They were followed up 3 months later (T2), during which time they participated in real rescue activities. The network structure of DSM-5 PTSD was using regularized partial correlation models and a Bayesian approach computing directed acyclic graphs., Results: The most central symptom both in T1 and T2 was negative emotional state. Irritable or anger emerged as a key driver of other symptoms in traumatized firefighters., Conclusions: Negative emotional state and irritable or anger might represent important symptoms within PTSD symptomatology and may offer key targets in PTSD treatment for firefighters., (© 2022 Wiley Periodicals LLC.)

The widely used Centrality of Event Scale (CES) measures the extent that a traumatic event serves as a central component of self-identity, a reference point, and a turning point in an individual's life story. The present study aimed to develop a Chinese version of the CES and assess its reliability, criterion validity, and factor structure. Data were collected from three samples of trauma-exposed Taiwanese individuals (N = 939), including 420 earthquake survivors, 300 trauma-exposed community adults, and 219 trauma-exposed undergraduate students. We conducted an exploratory factor analysis and confirmatory factor analysis and compared the resulting models with a one-factor model and the originally proposed model. The results indicated that a new three-factor model, S-Bχ 2 (167, N = 519) = 687.01, p < .001, CFI = .95, IFI = .95, NNFI = .94, RMSEA = .078, SRMR = .047, might better represent the construct compared to the one-factor or originally proposed model. Furthermore, the Chinese CES demonstrated excellent internal consistency, Cronbach's αs = .89-.94; adequate 1-month reliability, rs = .54-.64, and 6-month temporal stability, rs = .52-.67; and good concurrent and predictive validity. The findings indicate that the Chinese version of the CES demonstrates good psychometric properties with a three-factor structure, and it could be used to assess event centrality among nonclinical trauma-exposed Taiwanese adults., (© 2022 International Society for Traumatic Stress Studies.)

This paper studies how modern human capital emerged in early 20th century China. We document a novel historical episode known as the 'Temple Destruction Movement' (TDM), in which Chinese local governments appropriated huge amounts of Buddhist and Taoist temple assets to support the modernization of local schooling. We find that before the TDM, the initial stock of temple assets was uncorrelated with the levels and trends of human capital development; after the TDM was intensified, regions with higher initial stocks of temple assets suddenly constructed more modern schools, enrolled more students in modern educational programmes, and produced more modern elites. A back of the envelope calculation suggests that the TDM could account for nearly 70% of China's modern school construction in the early 20th century, which is consistent with historical records collected from numerous county gazetteers. Further analysis shows that the TDM was most effective in the presence of both a strong government and a powerful civil society, as the former made it easier to appropriate assets from the religious sector, while the latter helped to prevent the confiscated religious assets from being captured by local officials. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This research strived to analyse the significant factors affecting the driver's post-accidental behavioural changes. The target sampling technique analysed 325 surgical patients in three government hospitals in north China who got a bone fracture. Structural equation modelling (SEM) technique results considerably differ in behavioural changes. Surgical patients believe that post-accidental behavioural changes combined with WOM creation by surgical patients (drivers) can improve road safety and accidental awareness at a macro level. The f2 results from SEM show that drivers' post-accidental behavioural changes were strongly affected by accidental trauma and due to attitude toward precautionary measures. Strong effect on WOM creation by driver's behavioural changes and accidental trauma. Mediation effect shows 34.31%, 30.14%, and 29.88% as a partial but significant effect of behavioural changes. Since this is preliminary research in this area, our findings will provide avenues for future research and enrich the policy aspects. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Estuarine‐coastal systems receive pollutants from various sources at an alarming rate. Some systems are extremely susceptible to terrestrial input, as a relatively small amount of pollutant loading induces lasting water quality degradation. The Jiangsu coastal waters (JCWs), located in the southwestern Yellow Sea, are such areas that lack large river discharge but suffer from recurrent eutrophication recently. We hypothesize that the low flushing efficiency in the JCWs largely accounted for the susceptibility to coastal pollution. To test it, transit time (TT) and pollutant flushing rates in the JCWs were estimated under various scenarios using a validated three‐dimensional hydrodynamic model. Results show that TT in many inshore waters of the JCWs and the northern radial sand ridges is >240 days, which are consistent with the observed frequently eutrophic areas. The JCWs are better flushed and thus less eutrophic in summer, as a consequence of the stronger tidal residual coastal circulation. The baroclinic pressure gradient, modulated by the formation and destruction of thermal stratification in offshore waters, poses a dominant control on the seasonal variations of the coastal circulation and flushing rates, while wind effects are secondary. River‐borne pollutants from the Yangtze and Jiangsu local rivers are shown to primarily affect regions south and north of 32.5°N, respectively. Our study interprets the vulnerability of the JCWs to pollutant enrichment from a physical perspective and finds the flushing efficiency to be a good indicator of eutrophication, providing references for environmental managers of local and global estuarine‐coastal systems with recurrent pollution. Plain Language Summary: Some estuarine‐coastal systems are vulnerable to pollution, as a relatively small amount of pollutant loading induces lasting water quality degradation. The Jiangsu coastal waters (JCWs), located in the southwestern Yellow Sea, lack large river discharge but suffer from poor water quality in recent years. In order to understand the reason, this study simulated the tracer dispersal processes in a hydrodynamic model. The model is verified with observational water elevation, tidal currents, temperature, and salinity. It is found that the distribution and duration of pollution can largely be attributed to how fast the pollutants are flushed. Regions with a low flushing rate tend to accumulate nutrients in the JCWs and are observed to be frequently eutrophic. The JCWs are better flushed and thus less eutrophic in summer, as a consequence of the stronger coastal circulation. The summer circulation is primarily controlled by the density‐driven processes. Seasonal warming and cooling of surface offshore waters change seawater density and coastal circulation. Model results also show that the river‐borne pollutants from the Yangtze and Jiangsu local rivers mainly affect regions south and north of 32.5°N, respectively. The study provides pollutant‐control references for environmental managers of local and global coastal systems suffering from recurrent pollution. Key Points: The low flushing efficiency largely accounts for recurrent water quality degradation in the Jiangsu coastal waters (JCWs)The JCWs are better flushed and thus less eutrophic in summer due to the stronger tidal residual coastal circulationThe baroclinic pressure gradient poses a dominant control on the seasonal variations of coastal circulation and pollutant flushing rates [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The marine biological calcification and photosynthesis, which can produce particulate inorganic and organic carbon (PIC and POC), have the opposite effects on seawater pCO2. Coccolithophores are a kind of marine unicellular algae with both of the two biological processes, and PIC and POC productions of them can shape the water column rain ratio as a dominant driver for Earth's carbon cycle. Thus, the changes in ancient coccolithophore PIC:POC can be important for the paleoceanographic and paleoclimatic studies of carbon cycle modeling. However, ancient coccolithophore PIC:POC is poorly constrained because of the occasional occurrences of intact coccospheres in deep ocean sediments, as detached coccoliths are commonly the remnants of fossilized coccolithophores. Here, we carry out the biometric analysis of coccosphere and coccolith from the living cells of Emiliania huxleyi and Gephyrocapsa oceanica in the South China Sea, and confirm a significant correlationship between their PIC:POC and lateral coccolith aspect ratio (ARL). ARL here is defined by the ratio of mean coccolith thickness with respect to coccolith length. A linear regression is given, PIC:POC=15.023∗ARL−0.083 $\mathrm{P}\mathrm{I}\mathrm{C}:\mathrm{P}\mathrm{O}\mathrm{C}=15.023\ast A{R}_{L}-0.083$ (R2 = 0.59, n = 121), for the reconstruction of ancient Noelaerhabdaceae coccolithophore PIC:POC based on individual coccoliths in marine sediments. Based on this equation, we reconstruct ancient Noelaerhabdaceae coccolithophore PIC:POC since 14 million years ago (Ma) using published coccolith data, which reveal a long‐term decrease in PIC:POC from 7 to 4 Ma. We suggest that such a change in coccolithophore physiology may be induced by a simultaneous long‐term decline in seawater calcium concentration. Plain Language Summary: Coccolithophores are a kind of marine algae which produce calcium carbonate through calcification. Photosynthesis of coccolithophores uses seawater CO2, on the contrary, calcification releases CO2. Therefore, the relative strength of calcification and photosynthesis, that is termed PIC:POC, can determine whether coccolithophore growth is a net CO2 sink or source. The knowledge of ancient coccolithophore PIC:POC is important to understand the mechanisms of Earth carbon cycle and climate changes in the geological history, as coccolithophores are one of the major components of marine carbon cycle. However, it remains unclear the characters of ancient coccolithophore PIC:POC, because detached or loosened coccoliths, which are the exoskeleton of a coccolithophore cell, are more commonly found in marine sediments, rather than intact coccospheres. Here, based on the biometric analysis of coccosphere and coccolith morphology, we refine a method to estimate ancient coccolithophore PIC:POC based on detached coccolith geometry. Key Points: Coccosphere PIC content is estimated based on coccosphere geometryPIC:POC of Emiliania huxleyi and Gephyrocapsa oceanica is estimated in the modern South China SeaAncient coccolithophore PIC:POC can be estimated by coccolith geometry in sediments [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

China is the world's largest official creditor, but we lack basic facts about the terms and conditions of its lending. Very few contracts between Chinese lenders and their government borrowers have ever been published or studied. This paper is the first systematic analysis of the legal terms of China's foreign lending. We collect and analyse 100 contracts between Chinese state-owned entities and government borrowers in 24 developing countries in Africa, Asia, Eastern Europe, Latin America and Oceania, and compare them with those of other bilateral, multilateral and commercial creditors. Three main insights emerge. First, the Chinese contracts contain unusual confidentiality clauses that bar borrowers from revealing the terms or even the existence of the debt. Second, Chinese lenders seek advantage over other creditors, using collateral arrangements such as lender-controlled revenue accounts and promises to keep the debt out of collective restructuring ('no Paris Club' clauses). Third, cancellation, acceleration and stabilization clauses in Chinese contracts potentially allow the lenders to influence debtors' domestic and foreign policies. Even if these terms were unenforceable in court, the mix of confidentiality, seniority and policy influence could limit the sovereign debtor's crisis management options and complicate debt renegotiation. Overall, the contracts use creative design to manage credit risks and overcome enforcement hurdles, presenting China as a muscular and commercially savvy lender to the developing world. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study explored whether social support moderated the relationship between various symptoms of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and antisocial behavior. Participants were 597 adolescents from two middle schools in Lushan county, China, an area severely affected by the Ya'an earthquake. All four symptom clusters of PTSD significantly and positively correlated with antisocial behavior. Of the PTSD symptoms, only social support played a significant moderating role in the effects of intrusion and avoidance symptoms on antisocial behavior. Intrusion and avoidance symptoms were associated with more antisocial behavior for individuals with lower social support., (© 2020 The Institute of Psychology, Chinese Academy of Sciences and John Wiley & Sons Australia, Ltd.)

Water quality regulations entail a substantial commitment of resources from governments and private entities. It is important to continually evaluate the effectiveness of these regulations to ensure they are having the intended impact. In this paper, we evaluated nutrient data as indicators of primary productivity and dissolved oxygen (DO) concentrations and pH as response variables to assess historical water quality trends from 55 stations of Puerto Rico. The stations were divided into impaired versus non-impaired categories based on their historical total phosphorus (TP) mean concentration. Mean TP and total nitrogen (TN) concentrations were significantly higher in the impaired stations relative to the non-impaired stations. In contrast, DO mean concentrations and mean pH values were significantly lower in the impaired stations. A generalized additive mixed model was used to demonstrate temporal trends. A significant decrease in TP and TN concentrations was observed with time at the impaired stations. This was accompanied by significant increases in DO concentrations and pH. The non-impaired stations showed a marginal (statistically nonsignificant) decreasing trend with time. The large reductions in nutrient concentrations observed at the impaired stations seem to be related to the closure of several primary wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs) across the island. The conversion of abandoned crop agricultural lands into secondary forest in recent decades has resulted in small but significant decreases in TN (not TP) in receiving streams. We conclude that the Clean Water Act has promoted improvements in water quality in Puerto Rico by advancing upgrades in sanitary infrastructure and the regulation of point sources of pollution., (© 2024 The Authors. Journal of Environmental Quality published by Wiley Periodicals LLC on behalf of American Society of Agronomy, Crop Science Society of America, and Soil Science Society of America.)

Childhood sexual abuse (CSA) is a critical risk factor for suicidal ideation and attempts, especially among gay and bisexual men who experience living as a minority. However, whether internalized homophobia (IH) underlies suicide risk and the role of outness to one's family in this association warrants investigation to inform preventive interventions. Using a cross-sectional survey of 570 gay and bisexual men in China, we examined the relationship between CSA and suicidality in the Chinese context and tested a moderated mediation model in this relationship. Nearly 65.6% of the participants had experienced suicidal ideation and 36.8% had attempted suicide. Participants with a history of CSA had higher suicidal ideation (r = 0.33, p <.01) and attempts (r = 0.48, p <.01). Our bootstrapped mediation analysis showed that IH partially mediated the relationship between CSA and suicidal ideation and attempts. Moreover, outness to one's family (parents and other family members) strengthened the direct association of CSA and IH, and the indirect relationship between CSA and suicidal ideation and attempts. These findings highlight the significance of identifying risk factors and mechanisms for suicidality among Chinese gay and bisexual men, suggesting the importance of early intervention, especially for those who have experienced CSA, to eliminate their IH and to improve family support for coming out to prevent the onset of suicidal ideation and attempts. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The importance of preventing and treating adolescent depression has been gradually recognized in Chinese society, especially in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic. Early screening is the first step. The Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9) is a leading scale in the field of depression screening. To improve screening efficiency in large-scale screening, an even shorten scale is desirable. The PHQ-2, which only included two items measuring anhedonia and depressed mood, is an ultra-form of the PHQ-9. However, emerging evidence suggests that there may be a better short form for the PHQ-9, especially for adolescents. Therefore, using two large samples of Chinese adolescents, this study aimed to identify the core items of the PHQ-9 and examine the short form consisting of core items. Methods: Surveys were conducted among primary and middle school students in two Chinese cities with different economic levels during the COVID-19 pandemic. Two gender-balanced samples aged 10 to 17 (nSample 1 = 67281, nSample 2 = 16726) were collected. Network analysis was used to identify the core items of the PHQ-9, which were extracted to combine a short version. Reliability, concurrent validity, and the receiver operating characteristic curve (ROC) of the short form were examined. Analyses were gender-stratified. Results: Network analysis identified fatigue and depressed mood as core items in the PHQ-9 among Chinese adolescents. Items measuring Fatigue and Mood were combined to be a new PHQ-2 (PHQ-2 N). The PHQ-2 N displayed satisfactory internal consistency and current validity. Taking the PHQ-9 as a reference, the PHQ-2 N showed higher ROC areas and better sensitivity and specificity than the PHQ-2. The optimal cutoff score for the PHQ-2 N was 2 or 3. Conclusions: Fatigue and depressed mood are the central symptoms of the depressive symptom network. The PHQ-2 N has satisfactory psychometric properties and can be used in rapid depression screening among Chinese adolescents. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Contrasting elements of China's "urban sickness" are empty new apartment complexes abutting dilapidated but overcrowded structures. While scholarship has explored these issues separately, we show their common presence even in the least likely of cities. Why are ghost cities and slums simultaneously on the rise in China? Analysis of eight of China's "ghostliest" cities and in-depth case studies demonstrate how the pursuit of quantified targets generates these particular urban distortions. We argue that their joint rise exposes weaknesses of the regime's heretofore successful political economy model, which we summarize as the center's intentionally "limited vision" into local governance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Postdisaster daily stressors, the economic and social challenges caused or exacerbated by disasters, have significant consequences for mental health but are rarely investigated in child and adolescent populations. We assessed posttraumatic stress symptoms (PTSS), depression, and anxiety among adolescents affected by disasters in China and Nepal and examined the specific contributions of disaster‐related trauma exposure and daily stressors across mental health outcomes. A school‐based, cross‐sectional study was conducted with a stratified random sampling design. Adolescents living in disaster‐affected areas of southern China and Nepal (N = 4,215, 52.7% female, age range: 15–19 years) completed translated, validated measures. Mixed effects logistic regression analyses were conducted using a priori risk factors. PTSS were reported by 22.7% of participants and were higher among Nepali adolescents but did not differ between genders. Depressive symptoms were reported by 45.2% of the sample and were higher among Nepali adolescents and girls in both countries. Across all settings, disaster‐related trauma exposure was a significant risk factor for PTSS, depressive, and anxiety symptoms, China: odds ratios (ORs) = 1.44–2.06, Nepal, ORs = 1.21–2.53. High levels of household and interpersonal daily stressors further improved the models and contributed significantly to all mental health difficulties, China: ORs = 1.77–1.98, Nepal: ORs = 1.49–1.90. Postdisaster economic insecurity and interpersonal stressors are thus, likely to worsen adolescent mental health outcomes. Programs that identify and address structural inequalities for adolescents in disaster‐affected settings will have cascading effects for mental health. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

While the health implications of intergenerational caregiving have been broadly investigated in the aging literature, less is known about caregivers in four-generation families and their living arrangements. Using 2011 and 2013 waves of China Health and Retirement Longitudinal Study (N = 12,914 obs.), we document enhanced life satisfaction of grandchild caregivers and sandwich caregivers caring for both grandchildren and parents than non-caregivers. When further taking living arrangements into consideration, we find that parent caregivers also benefit from care provision when not living with their parents and sandwich caregivers only have an advantage when co-residing with care recipients with adult children present in households. By contrast, grandchild caregivers living with grandchildren show substantially higher life satisfaction no matter adult children are present or not. The subgroup comparison suggests that females and rural residents enjoy psychological advantages over their male counterparts and urban counterparts in grandparenting within skipped-generation households and sandwich caregiving. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The COVID-19 pandemic has greatly affected public health and wellbeing. In response to the pandemic threat of the coronavirus epidemic, several countries, including China, adopted lockdown and quarantine policies, which may cause psychological distress. This study aimed to explore the psychological impact of province-wide lockdown and personal quarantine during the COVID-19 outbreak in China as well as the corresponding risk factors and protective factors. Methods: We examined the immediate (2-week) and delayed (2-month) impact of province-wide lockdown and personal quarantine on psychological distress in a national sample of 1390 Chinese residents. Results: No immediate impact of province-wide lockdown on psychological distress was observed, whereas personal quarantine increased individuals' anxiety, fear, and anger. Despite the lack of initial association, psychological distress increased among those in province-wide lockdown. Self-stigma and personal control both significantly moderated the association between lockdown and psychological distress, but in different directions. Those with higher self-stigma and lower personal control were more impacted by the lockdown. Government support moderated the impact of quarantine on psychological distress, but not that of lockdown. Conclusions: The delayed effects of lockdown and quarantine on psychological distress were observed, and self-stigma, social support, and perceived control moderate the relationships. This study is the first to demonstrate the psychological costs of province-wide lockdowns on individuals' mental health, providing evidence of the need for mitigation strategies and timely public mental health preparedness in countries with recent outbreaks of COVID-19. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Researchhas shown that posttraumatic reactions can co-occur in trauma-exposed individuals. Many studies have assessed the co-occurring patterns of two types of reactions, but few have assessed the patterns of multiple reactions. To build on existing knowledge, the present study examined co-occurring patterns of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) symptoms, depressive symptoms, and posttraumatic growth (PTG) among adolescents during the COVID-19 pandemic. Participants (N=683) were adolescents selected from an area in China severely affected by COVID-19 who completed the PTSD Checklist, ameasure of depression, a PTG inventory, and a cognitive emotional regulation questionnaire. Latent profile analysis and multinomial logistic regression were used for the data analyses. The results showed three heterogeneous patterns characterized by growth (n = 248, 36.3%), distress (n = 101, 14.8%), and struggle (n = 334, 48.9%). Positive refocusing and reappraisal were associated with membership in the growth group compared with distress group, OR = 0.83, 95% CI [0.75, 0.93] and OR = 0.78, 95% CI [0.68, 0.90], whereas rumination, catastrophizing, and "putting into perspective" were associated with membership in the distress group compared with growth group, ORs = 1.15-1.44. These findings suggest that posttraumatic reactions show heterogeneous characteristics: struggle, rather than growth or distress, is common among adolescents during COVID-19; and distinct cognitive emotional regulation strategies have distinguishing roles in the three patterns of posttraumatic reactions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Nonprofit representation as a multidimensional notion is inherently interrelated with nonprofit advocacy. This multidimensional nature of representation, however, was largely overlooked in prior empirical literature that predominantly focused on the independent effect of individual representational dimensions on advocacy. This article addresses this limitation by identifying the "representational mixes"—combinations of multiple representational dimensions—that bring about specific outcomes of nonprofit advocacy. Drawing on data from nonprofit organizations in three provinces of China and applying a corresponding configurational approach of fuzzy set qualitative comparative analysis, the findings confirm three propositions, namely the conjunctural, equifinal, and asymmetric causation underneath the complex relationship between nonprofit representation and nonprofit advocacy. This study thus contributes a fresh configurational perspective to understanding nonprofit representation in relation to nonprofit advocacy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Healthcare workers are at elevated risk to develop symptoms of post‐traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) in response to an outbreak of a highly infectious disease. The current study set‐out to model the complex interrelations between PTSD symptoms during the peak of the Coronavirus Disease 2019 outbreak in 291 Chinese healthcare workers and 291 matched control cases that were selected from the general population. For this purpose, we estimated regularized partial correlation networks. Within the network of healthcare workers, we observed a central role for avoidance of reminders of the traumatic event, physiological cue reactivity, anger/irritability, re‐experiencing, and startle. We identified three clusters of closely interconnected PTSD symptoms in healthcare workers, consisting of (a) symptoms of re‐experiencing and anxious arousal, (b) symptoms of avoidance and amnesia and (c) symptoms of emotional numbing and dysphoric arousal. Respectively, startle, avoidance of reminders and feeling detached emerged as bridging nodes in these communities. Although yielding highly similar network models, the PTSD symptom structure of healthcare workers showed several unique features compared to the matched control sample. This is informative for interventions aimed at targeting PTSD symptoms in healthcare workers in the context of a public health emergency. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aim of current study was to investigate risk perception of COVID‐19 pandemic, sleep quality and time change of leisure activity and their correlations with posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) in healthcare workers (HCWs) from four designated hospitals in China. Medical staffs (n = 317) from three designated hospitals in Guangdong Province and one designated hospital in Guangxi Province were surveyed on their demographic information, sleep quality and time change of leisure activity, risk perception of pandemic and PTSD symptoms (by using PTSD checklist for DSM‐5 (PCL‐5)). Hierarchical regression and structural equation model (SEM) were used to examine the correlated factors of PTSD. The prevalence of high level of PTSD symptoms (PCL‐5 > =33, a probable diagnosis of PTSD) was 10.7%. Regression analysis found that risk perception (dread: β = 0.142, p < 0.01; familiarity: β = 0.203, p < 0.01), sleep quality (β = 0.250, p < 0.001), time change of leisure activity (β = −0.179, p < 0.01), were independently correlated with PTSD severity, which was further confirmed by SEM. Locations of COVID‐19‐related hazards were significant different in cognitive map of risk perception between groups with high and low levels of PTSD symptoms. Risk perception of COVID‐19 pandemic influenced PTSD symptoms in HCWs. Adequate time for leisure activity and good sleep quality protected some HCWs against PTSD symptoms under the influence of pandemic. More researches were warranted to understand the path from pre‐factors of risk perception to its psychological consequences among HCWs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: This study aims to examine the interconnection among the oil volatility index (OVX) and the Chinese stock markets (CSM) during the financial crisis over the period June 1, 2007 to June 26, 2012. Design/methodology/approach: Applying the time-varying Granger causality test, this paper conducts an exhaustive analysis of the OVX and the CSMs during the financial crisis. In particular, the financial crisis is classified in three stages, namely, the US subprime crisis, the global financial crisis and the sovereign debt crisis. Findings: Briefly, the findings indicate almost a neutral relationship between the OVX and the CSMs during the entire financial crisis, the US subprime crisis and the global financial crisis. Finally, this paper has found a positive relationship between the OVX and the CSMs during the sovereign debt crisis. Practical implications: This outcome clearly suggests that Chinese investors have to disregard uncertain information. In addition, policymakers can ameliorate the willingness of market investors in the CSM and further deepen the market-oriented reform of China's domestic oil prices. Originality/value: The innovative combination of these two strands, the OVX and the three stages of the financial crisis, is empirically examined in the study and this paper finds a non-linear linkage between the OVX and CSMs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Chinese rural-to-urban migrant children frequently experience discrimination, which thereby often results in significant negative consequences. However, little is known about the contribution of perceived discrimination experiences to non-suicidal self-injury (NSSI). This study aimed to examine the relationship between perceived discrimination and NSSI, the mediating role of loneliness in this relationship, and the moderating roles of parent-child cohesion and gender. Six hundred fifty-seven migrant children completed a perceived discrimination scale, an NSSI questionnaire, a loneliness scale, and a parent-child cohesion inventory. Results showed that there was a significant positive association between perceived discrimination and NSSI among migrant children. Loneliness mediated the relationship between perceived discrimination and NSSI. Moreover, parent-child cohesion demonstrated a moderating effect on the mediation via loneliness; the indirect association between perceived discrimination and NSSI via loneliness was only significant in low parent-child cohesion condition, but not in the high condition. Additionally, there were differences by gender, with a significantly stronger mediating effect of loneliness among migrant girls compared with migrant boys. The findings from this study contribute to the understanding of the underlying mechanisms in the relationship between perceived discrimination and NSSI. Discussion also provides directions for future interventions and delineate how programs could be designed to target loneliness and parent-child cohesion among migrant children. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We aimed to compare traumatic experiences among the groups of perpetrators with or without violent pedigree, and establish a structural model of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) symptoms as mediators of traumatic experiences and severe intrafamilial physical violence among Chinese male perpetrators. A cross-sectional survey and a face-to-face interview were conducted to examine intimate partner violence (IPV) perpetration and violent pedigree, childhood maltreatment, other traumatic events, PTSD symptoms, and severe intrafamilial physical violence in a community sample of 229 abusive men and 303 controlled men in China. Using structural equation modeling (SEM) techniques, the scores of the questionnaires were entered into the theoretical model and calculated. Findings demonstrated that the numbers of the traumatic events in four groups were significantly different with a declining trend, and the SEM data had an adequate fit. The loadings of pathways from childhood witness domestic violence (DV) to severe physical violence (SPV) were more salience than other pathways, and the indirect effect of every pathway, except for the childhood witness DV to PTSD symptoms, on severe intrafamilial physical violence in the model was significant. The results suggest that PTSD symptoms cluster as mediator of the intergenerational transmission of SPV perpetration in Chinese abusive men. Childhood witness IPV has effects on adulthood perpetration of IPV. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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Copyright of European Journal of Psychotraumatology is the property of Taylor & Francis Ltd 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.)

There are 500,000 female Filipino domestic workers worldwide. However, there are no validated instruments to assess common mental disorders in this population. The Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ–9) and Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD–7) are brief measures that could be effective screeners for depression and anxiety in domestic workers. This study aims to establish reliability and validity of the Filipino versions of the PHQ–9 and GAD–7. In Study 1, 131 domestic workers completed the PHQ–9, GAD–7, and other questionnaires with a test–retest interval of 10 days. Convergent validity was examined using measures of posttraumatic stress disorder, direct exposure to traumatic events, and rumination. Discriminant validity was assessed using measures of discrimination, pain, social support, and indirect exposure to traumatic events. In Study 2, criterion validity was established with another sample of domestic workers (N = 100) using clinician-administered Mini International Neuropsychiatric Interviews. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis was performed to evaluate diagnostic efficiency. Results showed acceptable and high internal consistency for PHQ–9 and GAD–7, respectively. Both had acceptable test–retest reliability. Convergent and discriminant validity were also established. ROC curve results demonstrated that optimal cut scores for PHQ–9 and GAD–7 are 6 and 7, respectively. The Filipino versions of PHQ–9 and GAD–7 are reliable and valid for use among Filipino domestic workers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Electric bikes play an important role in the urban transportation system in China. Yellow-light running behavior of riders is one of the most critical factors for e-bike riders involved in traffic crashes at intersection. The main purpose of this study is to explore how a variety of factors affect e-bike riders' yellow-light running behaviors at intersection by a field observation conducted in Xi'an, China. Based on 396 e-bike riders who faced yellow-light samples, two analytical methods, the principle component analysis logistics model and a base logistics model, were employed to evaluate the impacts of contributing factors on e-bike riders' yellow-light running behavior. The modeling results showed that seven variables significantly affect the e-bike riders' yellow-light running behavior, which were the approaching speed of e-bike, the distance to stop line, riders' age and gender attributes, type of e-bike, and the characteristics of intersection including the width of intersection and the existence of physical barriers. This study can provide valuable insights into understanding e-bike riders' yellow-light running behavior and may also help decision makers propose countermeasures to reduce e-bike rider-related crashes at intersection. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Climatic oscillations have been developed through the (Early) Jurassic from marine sedimentary archives but remain unclear from terrestrial records. This work presents investigation of climate-sensitive sediments and carbon and oxygen isotope analyses of lacustrine and pedogenic carbonates for the Early Jurassic Ziliujing Formation taken from the Basin in southwestern China. Sedimentary and stable isotope proxies manifest that an overall secular (semi)arid climate dominated the Sichuan Basin during the Early Jurassic, except for the Hettangian. This climate pattern is similar to the arid climate in the Colorado Plateau region in western North America but is distinct from the relatively warm and humid climate in northern China and at high latitudes in the Southern Hemisphere. The estimated atmospheric CO 2 concentration (p CO 2) from carbon isotopes of pedogenic carbonates shows a range of 980–2610 ppmv (∼3.5 –10 times the pre-industrial value) with a mean of 1660 ppmv. Three phases of p CO 2 (the Sinemurian 1500–2000 ppmv, the Pliensbachian 1000–1500 ppmv, and the early Toarcian 1094–2610 ppmv) and two events of p CO 2 rapidly falling by ∼1000 –1300 ppmv are observed, illustrating the p CO 2 perturbation in the Early Jurassic. The perturbation of p CO 2 is compatible with seawater temperature and carbon cycle from the coeval marine sediments, suggesting a positive feedback of climate to p CO 2 through the Early Jurassic. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Domestic workers comprise roughly one‐fourth of the total number of overseas Filipino workers (OFWs). They leave the Philippines primarily to provide financial assistance to their families they leave behind. Most of the existing studies investigated the problems they experience at work and with their families. Some studies focused on how they cope with these problems. However, little is known about the narrative identities of this group of labor migrants. This study addresses this gap by identifying the narrative identities of the community of Filipino domestic workers in Macao Special Administrative Region, China. This study utilized qualitative interviews to plot the identities into a three‐part timeline: Premigration, during migration, and imagined future. Results show that, before migration, the community of domestic workers identifies as hands‐on mothers and inadequate mothers. During migration, work‐ and family‐related identities are present: Modern‐day slave, inadequate, fighter, self‐sacrificing, employer's family, and hands‐on mother. In an imagined future, the community of domestic workers identifies as successful retired OFWs, reconciled life partners, hands‐on mothers, and inadequate mothers. Findings highlight the multiple, interacting identities in community narratives and their corresponding effects on experiences. Implications on policies and programs for this labor migrant group are discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Resilience capacity has been associated with individuals' flexibility and adaptability in responding to potential trauma. Culture-related appraisals influence not only interpretations of etiology of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and perception of severity of PTSD symptoms but also flexible coping strategies. However, adequate research of the mechanisms on how culture may affect the relationship between resilience and PTSD does not yet exist. The present study focused on whether and how culture (America, Hong Kong, and Mainland China) moderated the relationship between resilience capacity and severity of posttraumatic distress. Data were collected at three research sites (America, Hong Kong, and Mainland China) where 558 trauma survivors were recruited. Measures included the Life Events Checklist (LEC-5), the PTSD Checklist for DSM-5 (PCL-5), and the Revised Connor-Davidson Resilience Scale (CD-RISC-R). The results of one-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) indicated that American participants were more resilient than the participants in Hong Kong and Mainland China. The results of multiple regression indicated that frequency of exposure to trauma was a weaker predictor of severity of PTSD symptoms at high versus low levels of resilience capacity. The results also indicated a weaker moderating effect of Hong Kong versus American culture on the relation between resilience capacity and PTSD. This pilot study highlighted East–West cultural differences in the baselines of resilience capacity and posttraumatic stress and may motivate clinicians and researchers to reevaluate Western diagnostic criteria to psychological trauma conceptualization and treatment for non-Western populations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Previous studies have suggested that the prevalence of mental health problems in rescue workers is relatively high. The current study investigates the relationship between Self-Acceptance, Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) and Post-Traumatic Growth (PTG) in Chinese rescue workers by examining the mediating role of social support. A sample of 297 Chinese medical rescue workers completed self-reported questionnaires, including the Self-Acceptance Questionnaire S-AQ), the Social Acknowledgement Questionnaire (SAQ), the Impact of Events Scale-Revised (IES-R) and the Posttraumatic Growth Inventory (PTGI). A structural equation model (SEM) approach was used. The results indicated that our model fitted the data adequately (χ2/df = 2.150, RMSEA = 0.062, TLI = 0.978, CFI = 0.987) and suggested that social support partially mediated the relationship between self-acceptance, PTSD and PTG. The clinical implications and limitations of this research and recommendations for future research are discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of European Journal of Psychotraumatology is the property of Taylor & Francis Ltd 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.)

Copyright of European Journal of Psychotraumatology is the property of Taylor & Francis Ltd 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.)

Copyright of European Journal of Psychotraumatology is the property of Taylor & Francis Ltd 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.)

Copyright of European Journal of Psychotraumatology is the property of Taylor & Francis Ltd 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.)

Copyright of Management & Organization Review is the property of Cambridge University Press 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.)

Traditional mental illness concepts remain prevalent in China. Shenjing shuairuo (i.e., neurasthenia), a depressive-like syndrome less favored in Western psychiatric nosology, has a long tradition of acceptance among Chinese lay people. The concept may be more easily accepted in China due to the culturally informed view of the importance of harmony between mind and body and is consistent with Traditional Chinese Medicine. The goals of this study were to estimate the prevalence of shenjing shuairuo, the overlap between shenjing shuairuo and depression, and whether these two disorders share correlates. Data was obtained from 751 Chinese adults using stratified random sampling. Spatial epidemiological methods were utilized with face-to-face interviews conducted in Guangzhou, China. The Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ-9) and the neurasthenia criteria from ICD-10 measured depression and shenjing shuairuo. The prevalence of depression and shenjing shuairuo were 5.3% and 15.4%, respectively. Participants with depression were nearly six times more likely to have shenjing shuairuo. Women were more likely than men to have comorbid depression and shenjing shuairuo. Poorer health was reported across disorders. Those with shenjing shuairuo were more likely to report medical diagnoses. Longer sleep latency was reported for those with shenjing shuairuo and those with depression reported fewer hours of sleep and lower sleep quality. Those with depression alone reported the poorest sleep. Significant diagnostic overlap and few distinct correlates were observed. Nevertheless, the difference in prevalence and acceptance among non-professionals suggests that shenjing shuairuo is a useful category of distress among Chinese adults in Southern China. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Research on posttraumatic experiences has focused heavily on emotional experiences based on predetermined psychopathological standards. In contrast, victims' subjective experiences-especially of indigenous populations-are scarcely discussed. This study used a narrative approach to examine the experiences of 22 Sichuan earthquake survivors who were diagnosed with posttraumatic stress disorder. Victims completed semistructured interviews regarding their overall experiences, and analysis of narrative was employed to analyze the data. The current study found that the earthquake brought significant changes to participant lives regarding their (i) environment, (ii) society, (iii) body-mind, and (iv) spiritual dynamics. Each of these key themes and its practical and theoretical implications are discussed along with suggestions for further development and practices of culturally sensitive mental health services for earthquake survivors in China., (© 2022. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer Science+Business Media, LLC, part of Springer Nature.)

In this study, we observed that four congeners, including naphthalene (Nap), acenaphthylene (Acy), phenanthrene (Phe), and benz(a)anthracene (BaA), are the characteristic congeners for predicting the emission and the sediment concentrations of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs). A novel multiple relationship of the total PAHs concentrations (C ∑PAHs ) in sediments with the concentrations of four congeners was established (p < 0.01, R 2  = 0.95) using published data over the past 30 years. Moreover, the multiple linear relationship of the total PAHs emission factors with the emission factors of four congeners was also established (p < 0.01, R 2  = 0.99). Interestingly, the ratio of multicomponents coefficient from the multiple linear relationship in sediments to that from the multiple linear relationship in emission sources correlated positively with octanol-water partition coefficient (logK ow ) (p < 0.01, R 2  = 0.88) of the four PAHs congeners. Therefore, a novel model was established to predict C ΣPAHs in sediments using the emissions and logK ow of the four characteristic PAHs congeners. The percent sample deviation between calculated C ∑PAHs and their observed values was 54%, suggesting the established model can accurately predict C ΣPAHs in sediments., (© 2022. The Author(s).)

The marine oil shales of the Qiangtang Basin, northern Tibet, exposed in the Biluo Co, Tuonamu, Shenglihe and Changsheshan areas are believed to be important petroleum source rocks. This work comprehensively analyzed the carbon isotopes, trace elements, and calcareous nannofosills, ammonites and bivalves of the Biluo Co section in the Qiangtang Basin. The organic carbon isotopes show a positive excursion close to 2.17± (relative to PDB), which, albeit significantly smaller, may also be associated with other Early Toarcian Oceanic Anoxic Events (T-OAE) in the European epicontinental seas and the Tethyan continental margins. Coinciding with the Early Toarcian transgression, the oxygen deficiency in bottom water had led to dysoxic-anoxic conditions and deposition of black shales lacking benthic fauna. Under such condition, the redox-sensitive trace metals such as Mo, V, Ni, Cr, and U were enriched, in conjunction with high planktonic productivity of Watznaueriaceae calcareous nannofossils. Comparison of the results with the records of chemo- and biostratigraphy, as well as the palaeogeography during the Early Jurassic suggests that the anoxia linked to the Early Toarcian oceanic anoxic event was mainly caused by the high surface water temperature, sea-level rise and an increase of surface water productivity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Posttraumatic stress symptoms (PTSS) and posttraumatic growth (PTG) have been shown to coexist following exposure to a traumatic event, but consensus about what accounts for this association is lacking. Network analysis is a novel analytic method that can explain this linkage. In a sample of 1,809 Chinese college students (66.1% female, age range: 16-35 years) who were directly exposed to a typhoon, we investigated the network structure of PTSS and PTG, along with bridge symptoms and elements, to elucidate how distress and growth coexist. The seven strongest edges found in the model included two between elements in the PTSS cluster, one between elements of PTG, and four between elements of PTSS and PTG. Eight bridge symptoms and elements emerged: intrusive thoughts, emotional cue reactivity, hypervigilance, self-destructive or reckless behavior, nightmares, and physiological cue reactivity among PTSS, and changed priorities and stronger religious faith among PTG elements. These findings reveal connections between PTSS and PTG that explain how these constructs may coexist in individuals exposed to natural disasters. The network perspective provides a novel way to conceptualize the association between PTSS and PTG and contributes to the field's understanding of recovery after traumatic events., (© 2021 International Society for Traumatic Stress Studies.)

Objectives: This study tested the effects of emotional disclosure writing and peer helping writing in reducing psychological distress among Chinese international students. This study also examined whether rumination and ambivalence over emotion expression moderated the effects of emotional disclosure and peer helping writing., Method: One hundred forty-four Chinese international students were randomly assigned to one of three conditions: emotional disclosure, peer helping, or neutral control writing. Participants completed two 20-min writing sessions and questionnaires at baseline, 2-month follow-up, and 4-month follow-up., Results: We found no significant differences across the three writing conditions in levels of psychological distress over time. However, rumination emerged as a significant moderator in both emotional disclosure and peer helping intervention conditions. High ruminators generally experienced significant reductions in depressive symptoms, whereas low ruminators experienced increased depressive symptoms., Conclusions: These findings demonstrate that the benefits of writing interventions may vary as a function of rumination., (© 2021 Wiley Periodicals LLC.)

Alternative methods have been used for developing tree basic and generalized height-diameter models, including non-linear least-squares regression, non-linear mixed-effects method, quantile regression (QR) and a generalized additive model (GAM). However, these approaches have not been thoroughly compared. The purpose of this study was to compare these methods applied to tree height-diameter models for larch plantations in northern and northeastern China. The data were obtained from an extensive database curated by the China National Forest Inventory (NFI) that covers a wide distribution and range of stand conditions, including 5684 paired heights and diameters in 342 plots. Random effects at the Province, species and plot levels, and a combination of Province and species into the basic and generalized H-D models were incorporated. This study demonstrated that the mixed-effects basic model provided the best performance for model fitting and validation; QR could represent variable H-D relationships at different quantiles and the GAM was a suitable alternative for flexible modelling of the H-D relationship, especially for generalized H-D model. This finding indicates that the mixed-effects basic model does not require additional variables and is an adequate tool for generating missing height measurements for larch plantations in northern and northeastern China. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Reservoirs created for hydropower production have become an important feature impacting a river. Understanding the effects of river impoundment on the downstream environment is critical to decision-making for water resource protection. The changes caused by impoundment are changes in water quality and the resulting effect on the phytoplankton community structure. The impacts caused by a series of reservoirs along a river are still not well understood. In this study, we conducted an investigation of five reservoirs along the Maotiao River, China. We found that a series of impoundments plays a role in decreasing the phytoplankton biomass in downstream reservoirs. Within the studied area, nitrogen is not a limiting factor for phytoplankton growth. The ratio of silicon to phosphorus (Si:P) can become a major factor in the regulation of phytoplankton community structure. The Si:P ratio increased from upstream to downstream reservoirs, causing a concurrent increase in the percentage of Bacillariophyta, particularly during the winter. In addition, our results indicate that the creation of dams eliminates Si limitation downstream. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aims and objective To evaluate the effects of self-relaxation training on sleep quality and cognitive functions in the older. Background Ageing causes declines in sleep quality and cognitive functions in older adults, and decreased sleep quality also accelerates declines in cognitive functions. Therefore, it is necessary to find cost-effective interventions to enhance sleep quality in the older, thereby improving their cognitive functions or delaying cognitive decline. Design Randomised controlled study. Methods The study was conducted between July 2010 and June 2011 at Wangyuehu Community in Changsha, China. Eighty older adults with reduced sleep quality were selected and randomly assigned to experimental ( n = 40) or control ( n = 40) group. Subjects in the experimental group received self-relaxation training including progressive muscle relaxation and meditation based on sleep hygiene education, while the control group received sleep hygiene education only. Sleep quality and cognitive functions of the two groups were measured prior to training and at the end of the 3rd, 6th and 12th months using four reliable and valid questionnaires. Results Repeated measures anova revealed that the self-relaxation training had significant main effect as well as interaction effect with time on sleep quality and cognitive functions. Except for scores of Epworth Sleepiness Scale, Mini- Mental State Examination and number memory, time had significant main effect on scores of Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index, picture memory, associative memory and understanding memory. Conclusion Self-relaxation training can improve sleep quality and cognitive functions in the older. Relevance to clinical practice Self-relaxation training is a non-invasive, simple and inexpensive therapeutic method of improving sleep quality and cognitive functions in community-dwelling older people. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: Exposure to endotoxin has been consistently associated with a reduced risk of lung cancer. However, there is a paucity of information regarding temporal aspects of this relationship. The objective of this study was to investigate the associations between contiguous windows of endotoxin exposure and risk of lung cancer.Methods: Data were reanalyzed from a case-cohort study (602 cases, 3,038 subcohort) of female textile workers in Shanghai, China. Cumulative endotoxin exposure was partitioned into two windows: ≥20 and <20 years before risk. Exposure-response relations were examined using categorical and non-linear (semi-parametric) models, accounting for confounding by previous exposure windows.Results: There was an inverse trend of decreasing risk of lung cancer associated with increasing levels of endotoxin exposure ≥20 years before risk (p trend = 0.02). Women in the highest two categories of cumulative exposures had hazard ratios of 0.78 (95% CI 0.60-1.03) and 0.77 (95% CI 0.58-1.02) for lung cancer, respectively, in comparison with unexposed textile workers. There was, however, a weaker association and not statistically significant between lung cancer and endotoxin exposure accumulated in the more recent window (<20 years before risk).Conclusion: Results provide further evidence that endotoxin exposure that occurred 20 years or more before risk confers the strongest protection against lung cancer, indicating a possible early anti-carcinogenic effect. Further studies are needed to better understand the underlying biological mechanisms for this effect. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Examines the relationship between mass media and social change by studying women's magazine fiction in China. Relationship between representation of women and the shifting ideological landscape from a feminist perspective; Reemergence of stereotypes of women in the media content; Dielectic response to reemphasis of personal desires.