Search

This systematic review examined the role of social environment in pre-death grief experiences of dementia caregivers. Ninety-three Chinese and English articles were included from a comprehensive search of empirical studies using nine databases. Six social environment domains were generated: the person with dementia, dyadic relationship, family members and the wider community, health and social care services, place of care, and social-cultural contexts. A complex interplay between caregivers and their social environments that aggravate and attenuate pre-death grief experiences is evident. Research has focused mainly on the effects of people with dementia and dyadic relationships and has paid modest attention to the effects of family, relatives, and health and social care services. Caregivers' experiences with their friends, fellow caregivers, the wider community, and social-cultural norms are influential but understudied. Future research could adopt a systems thinking approach with sociological perspectives to generate a comprehensive and nuanced understanding of pre-death grief experiences. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Conservation and restoration of wetlands have become a global priority as awareness of their importance increases. At present, efforts to restore wetlands have primarily focused on enhancing water quality and biodiversity, with little attention paid to analyzing the recovery of the food web. We investigated the differences in food web attributes between natural and restored wetlands in Qingtongxia wetlands on the upper reaches of the Yellow River, China. Our results showed that there were no significant differences in the community structure of aquatic organism (fish, macroinvertebrates, zooplankton, phytoplankton and macrophytes) and water parameters (TP, TN, DO, et al.) between natural and restored wetlands. Restored wetlands had higher total system throughput and primary productivity compared to natural wetlands, which increased the proportion of the detritus food chain in the energy supply. However, energy transfer at the system level was less efficient than in natural wetlands. Indices of cycling, path length and network analysis showed that the restored wetland was less mature but more stable than the natural wetland. Given the inconsistency of food web recovery with water variables and aquatic assemblages, integrating community and food web approaches in future wetland restoration will be critical to refining restoration goals and enhancing conservation efforts. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Water-related ecosystem services in the Yangtze River Basin are very important. Understanding water yield services and the driving factors behind water yield is extremely critical to the effective protection and management of water resources in the basin. Therefore, this study aims to explore the spatial distribution characteristics and driving factors of water yield in the Yangtze River Basin. Based on the InVEST model, simulate the water yield in the Yangtze River Basin in 2000 and 2020 and the changes over 20 years, and combine with Geodetector to explore the impact of various driving factors on the spatial heterogeneity of water yield in the basin. The results showed that the water yield in the Yangtze River Basin has obvious spatial heterogeneity, which was high in the east and low in the west. There was a significant decrease in water yield depth in the area of high-value water yield in 2000 over a period of 20 years. The influence of precipitation and temperature on the spatial distribution of water yield in the Yangtze River Basin was significantly higher than that of other factors. The results of the interaction detector showed that the interaction between the precipitation factor and other factors had a high explanatory power on the spatial differentiation of water yield. And in the past 20 years, the interaction between precipitation and land use factors had strengthened the explanatory power of the spatial distribution of water yield in the basin. This study reveals the temporal and spatial evolution characteristics of water yield in the Yangtze River Basin and its influencing factors, which will provide scientific data support for ecological environmental protection and water resources management in the basin. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

It has been stated that learners who take an active role in their learning are more likely to advance their analytical skills and expand their social connections. However, the process through which learners can expand their social capital is still unexplored. This study employs social cognitive theory to conduct a threefold investigation: (1) determining the impact of learner proactivity on online learner interaction, (2) determining the mediating influence of online learner interaction in the association between learner proactivity and learner social capital; and (3) determining the extent to which perceived peer support (PPS) influences the relationship between learner proactivity and learner social capital. The final sample of 322 respondents from China's Anhui province was employed in this study. The findings of this study, which were driven by a social cognitive theory, reveal that learner proactivity reaps social networks through online interaction, strengthening learner social capital in virtual learning. This study also found that PPS boosted the indirect influence of online learner interaction in the relationship between learner proactivity and learner social capital. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Several studies have explored the connection between follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) and nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD). However, the impact of FSH elevation on NAFLD remains a topic of debate. Hence, this investigation aimed to evaluate the potential correlation between FSH levels and NAFLD in the aging population. Methods: This was a retrospective observational cross-sectional study between July 2017 and August 2018 in our hospital. We used data obtained from 455 patients over 60 years old. Anthropometrics and laboratory tests were performed for each patient. NAFLD was diagnosed by sonographic features and the fatty liver index (LFI). Results: Of the 455 patients, 200 (43.96%) had NAFLD on their ultrasound and 169 (37.14%) had NAFLD according to the LFI. An intraclass correlation coefficient of the two methods was 80.4% (P < 0.001). People with NAFLD on their ultrasound showed lower FSH levels (52.68 vs. 61.39 IU/L) and more unfavorable metabolic profiles. FSH was negatively correlated with age, alanine aminotransferase, estradiol, testosterone, systolic blood pressure, waist, body mass index, fasting blood glucose, postload plasma glucose and positive associated with total cholesterol, high-density lipoprotein-cholesterol and low-density lipoprotein-cholesterol by Spearman correlation analysis (all P < 0.05). By controlling for all confounding factors, the odds ratios (OR) of FSH for NAFLD were determined in elderly individuals, both men and women, aged 60–70 years and over 70 years. These ORs were found to be 0.937, 0.982, 0.983, and 0.973, respectively, with corresponding 95% confidence intervals (CI) of 0.892–0.984 (P = 0.009), 0.971–0.993 (P = 0.002), 0.967–0.999 (P = 0.033), and 0.958–0.989 (P = 0.001). In addition, our findings demonstrated no significant correlation between FSH and advanced fibrosis when adjusting for potential covariates. The OR for advanced fibrosis was 0.979 (95% CI, 0.938–1.022, P = 0.339). Additionally, ROC curve analysis showed an optimal cut-off value of 66.91 for women and 15.25 for men for NAFLD diagnosis. Conclusions: There was an inverse relationship observed between levels of FSH in the blood serum and NAFLD in the elderly population. These findings suggest that reduced FSH levels might serve as a potential risk factor or biomarker for NAFLD in the elderly. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background and purpose: Cortical vein thrombosis (CVT) is a rare form of cerebral venous sinus thrombosis (CVST) in adolescent patients that has received little attention. We aimed to analyze the clinical and radiological features of adolescents with CVST and investigate the effects of CVT involvement. Methods: Patients aged ≥ 10 to ≤ 18 years and diagnosed with CVST were identified at Xuanwu Hospital, Capital Medical University between January 2015 and August 2022 and divided into two groups according to the presence or absence of cortical vein involvement. Additionally, the patients were also categorized based on their sex. Clinical features, radiological characteristics, and 12-month follow-up outcomes were compared between the two groups. Results: Fifty-three adolescents, including 21 with CVT, were included (mean age: 15.2 ± 1.8 years; females, 54.7%). The CVT group was more likely to experience seizures (P = 0.028) and deterioration (28.6% vs. 6.2%, P = 0.047) during hospitalization than the non-CVT group. Poor short-term outcomes, based on the modified Rankin Scale (mRS) score at discharge, were more common in adolescents with CVT (P = 0.007). The proportions of patients showing edema (42.9% vs. 6.2%, P = 0.004) and mass effect (P = 0.015) were significantly higher in the CVT group. Recanalization was observed in 61.9% and 82.1% of the patients in the CVT and non-CVT groups, respectively, during the first imaging review (median, 22 days). After a 12-month follow-up, female adolescents had more frequent resident secondary headaches than male adolescents (52.9% vs. 12.5%; P = 0.014). Conclusions: Cortical vein involvement in adolescents with CVST was associated with a higher risk of epilepsy at presentation, deterioration during hospitalization, edema, and mass effect on acute imaging. Moreover, cortical vein involvement may lead to worse short-term outcomes. Sex differences require consideration in etiological analyses and prolonged follow-ups. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: To comprehensively investigate the diagnostic performance of routinely used assays in MPXV testing, the National Center of Clinical Laboratories in China conducted a nationwide external quality assessment (EQA) scheme and an evaluated nine assays used by ≥ 5 laboratories in the EQA., Methods: MPXV virus-like particles with 2700, 900 and 300 copies/mL were distributed to 195 EQA laboratories. For extended analysis, triple-diluted samples from 9000 to 4.12 copies/mL were repeated 20 times using the assays employed by ≥ 5 laboratories. The diagnostic performance was assessed by analyzing EQA data and calculating the limits of detection (LODs)., Results: The performance was competent in 87.69% (171/195) of the participants and 87.94% (175/199) of the datasets. The positive percentage agreements (PPAs) were greater than 99% for samples at 2700 and 900 copies/mL, and 95.60% (761/796) for samples at 300 copies/mL. The calculated LODs for the two clades ranged from 228.44 to 924.31 copies/mL and were greater than the LODs specified by the respective kits. EasyDiagnosis had the lowest calculated LODs and showed superior performance in EQA, whereas BioGerm and Sansure, with higher calculated LODs, did not perform well in EQA., Conclusion: This study provides valuable information from the EQA data and evaluation of the diagnostic performance of MPXV detection assays. It also provided insights into reagent optimization and enabled prompt public health interventions for the outbreak., (© 2024. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer-Verlag GmbH Germany, part of Springer Nature.)

Introduction: Previous studies have defined "workaholic" effort as "bad effort" while work engagement is defined as "good effort." Active overtime is a mapping of work effort, but at this stage there is still relatively little exploration of the motivation behind "good effort" in the Chinese context. Methods: This study explores the reasons that promote employees' initiative to perform overtime work in Chinese enterprises based on the two-factor theory. The study mainly used data empirical research approaches, including exploratory factor analysis, validation factor analysis, and data modeling. The questionnaire scale was developed based on factors that have been proven to be of high reliability and validity. The data are mainly for employees who are currently employed in Chinese companies. Results and discussion: We received a total of 1741 valid questionnaires, which provided a good database for this study. The results of the study show that both motivational and hygiene factors can positively promote employees' motivation to intentionally work overtime to a certain extent. Among them, overtime culture, institutional agreement, good physical office environment, career growth, financial rewards, and work challenges can positively promote motivation to work overtime. Work stress can increase the frequency and intensity of overtime work, but negatively promote motivation to work overtime. The study helps to improve enterprise management, optimize work design, and enhance psychological satisfaction. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Context: Urbanization process has greatly changed urban–rural landscape patterns and the ecosystem services (ESs) they provide. Understanding how ESs and their relationships change in the context urban–rural transition is crucial for landscape sustainability, especially under the background of accelerated urban–rural integration. Objective: The objectives of this study were to (1) identify urban–rural transitional landscapes in the Beijing–Tianjin–Hebei urban agglomeration; (2) analyze the spatiotemporal dynamics of ESs from 1980 to 2020 and their trade-offs across urban–rural landscapes; and (3) understand how driving factors affect the ES trade-offs across different urban–rural landscapes. Methods: Urban, urban–rural fringe, and rural landscapes were identified by adopting clustering and buffer analysis and eight typical ESs were assessed by using the biophysical models. Then, correlation analysis and geographically weighted regression were applied to explore ES relationships and their drivers. Results: Average values of most types of ESs increased from urban to rural areas, except for food production and water purification. ESs trade-offs became intensified as it transitions from urban to rural landscapes, most of which occurred between provisioning and other services. Drivers of ES trade-offs showed two patterns: decline for socioeconomic factors and inflexion for natural factors across the urban-to-rural transitional gradient. Conclusion: Integrating urban–rural identification with ESs and their trade-offs can provide a novel perspective for strengthening urban–rural landscape sustainability: understanding and improving ESs across urban–rural landscapes, and further reconciling their trade-offs can facilitate urban–rural integration and provide policy implications for landscape governance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Epidemiological data on cerebral venous thrombosis in China are still lacking at present on the aspects of incidence, recurrence, risk factors, and so on. Herein, we aimed to fill the gap, based on the result of this multicenter prospective cohort study. A total of 26 top tertiary hospitals distributed in China Mainland will take part in this study. For the first time, a dataset of cerebral venous thrombosis cohort (including multiethnic patients of all ages in almost all regions of Mainland China, regardless of gender) will be built. Inclusion criteria were as follows: (1) aged ≥14 years, (2) neuroimaging-confirmed cerebral venous thrombosis, (3) symptom onset was within 30 days prior to enrollment, (4) signed the informed consent form. Demographic data, risk factors, clinical and neuroimaging features, ophthalmologic and aural results, blood tests, cerebrospinal fluid examination, therapeutic strategies, and adverse events were analyzed. Two milliliters of fasting venous blood and 2 mL of cerebrospinal fluid will be collected and stored. Furthermore, patients will be followed up at months 1, 3, 6, and 12 after baseline assessment. Primary outcome will be all-cause mortality. Secondary outcomes: (1) cerebrospinal fluid pressure and Frisen grade; (2) recanalization rate on imaging; (3) rating scales such as GCS, NIHSS, mRS, Mini-Mental State Examination, Montreal Cognitive Assessment, Patient Health Questionnaire 9-item, HIT-6, and Tinnitus Handicap Index. This study will for the first time provide strong evidence on the incidence rate, recurrence rate, and demographic data, as well as special risk factors, clinical outcomes, symptomatic and imaging features of cerebral venous thrombosis in Chinese population. The results of this study will also provide an important reference on prevention, early diagnosis, and customized treatment of cerebral venous thrombosis in Chinese patients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background and purpose: Intracranial atherosclerotic stenosis (ICAS) is a major cause of stroke in Asian countries. Glucose‐6‐phosphate dehydrogenase (G6PD) deficiency, a hereditary enzyme defect prevalent in Asian countries, has been associated with atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease and worse poststroke outcomes. However, the impact of G6PD deficiency on ICAS remains unclear. We aimed to compare the risk of ICAS in stroke patients with and without G6PD deficiency in a Chinese cohort. Methods: We prospectively and consecutively recruited stroke patients from four centers in China. All patients received intracranial artery assessment by magnetic resonance/computed tomography angiography or digital subtraction angiography, as well as G6PD enzyme evaluation. The prevalence, burden, and characteristics of ICAS were compared between patients with and without G6PD deficiency using multivariate regression analysis. Results: Among 1593 patients, 116 (63.7%) of 182 patients with G6PD deficiency and 714 (50.6%) of 1411 patients with normal G6PD levels were identified as ICAS. Age, hypertension, diabetes, and G6PD deficiency were independent predictors of ICAS. Among patients with ICAS, G6PD‐deficient individuals were more likely to have multiple (≥2 segments) intracranial stenosis (odds ratio [OR] = 1.87, 95% confidence interval [CI] = 1.25–2.81, p = 0.002). G6PD deficiency increased the risk of ICAS in patients who were male (OR = 1.82, 95% CI = 1.24–2.66, p = 0.002), aged ≥70 years (OR = 2.40, 95% CI = 1.33–4.31, p = 0.004), or hypertensive (OR = 1.88, 95% CI = 1.28–2.77, p = 0.001). Conclusions: Stroke patients with G6PD deficiency have a higher prevalence and ICAS burden than those with normal G6PD, particularly those who are male, older, and hypertensive. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Ecosystem services (ESs) play a crucial connecting role between human well-being and natural ecosystems. Investigating ESs and their interrelationships can aid in the rational distribution of resources and benefits and inform planning decisions that align with the principles of ecological civilization. Nonetheless, our current understanding of these relationships remains limited; thus, further theoretical exploration is required. This study employs the InVEST model to assess the key ESs in Guangdong Province for 2000 and 2018 and applies the multi-scale geographically weighted regression (MGWR) method to identify the primary drivers of ES changes and capture trends in spatial variations. The results showed that (1) from 2000 to 2018, the total carbon storage (CS) and habitat quality (HQ) decreased while the water yield (WY) and net primary productivity (NPP) increased. These ESs also showed spatial differences, with higher values observed in the hilly and mountainous areas of the north compared with the coastal and plain areas of the south. (2) Although the spatial distribution of ES trade-off strength varied, the overall pattern remained consistent from 2000 to 2018. The pairwise trade-off strength of CS-WY and WY-HQ decreased significantly in the northern region of Guangdong due to low rainfall, while that of CS-HQ decreased significantly in the Pearl River delta as a result of urbanization. Cultivated and forested land displayed higher and lower levels of NPP and WY, respectively, with forested land exhibiting greater trade-off strength than the other land use types. (3) Evident spatial heterogeneity was observed in the properties and intensity of the correlations between driving factors and changes in ES trade-offs. Natural factors were the primary determinants of trade-offs among ESs. However, at a regional scale, the landscape index and socioeconomic factors tended to represent stronger drivers. Based on these findings, we suggest that ecological management should be adjusted based on the geographic scale. This study offers a valuable approach to understanding the relationship between ES trade-offs and their drivers in geographic space and serves as a reference for the sustainable provisioning of ESs both locally and globally., (© 2023. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer Science+Business Media, LLC, part of Springer Nature.)

Healthy buildings are a deep-level development of green buildings, which can effectively help relieve stress and improve occupants' physical and mental health. In addition, they are is likely to play an important role in preventing the spread of respiratory infectious diseases. Therefore, healthy buildings have attracted worldwide attention. This article reviews the research and development of healthy buildings in China. First, it briefly introduces the definition of healthy buildings, the key elements of evaluation standards, energy conservation measures and new technology applications for healthy buildings, and lessons learned from the global outbreak of SARS-CoV-2. Secondly, it presents the milestones of healthy building development and healthy building projects in China, and the benefits of healthy buildings were also discussed. Finally, the differences in the evaluation systems of healthy buildings between China and other countries were analyzed, the problems of the current policy system of healthy buildings in China were identified, and suggestions for future development were provided. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Understanding the relationship among ecosystem services (ESs) is essential to promote ESs management and sustainable development. The relationship between ESs is mutual and can be expressed in terms of trade-offs, synergy, and constraints. The paper selected the InVEST model to assess the water yield (WY), soil conservation (SC), food production (FP), net primary productivity (NPP), and habitat quality (HQ) of the Yangtze River Economic Belt (YREB) and used the constraint line method to analyze the relationship of paired ecological services at three scales: landscape, watershed, and land category. The following conclusions were drawn: (1) during the study period, the spatial changes of the five ecological services in the YREB did not change much, but the spatial distribution of the ecological services was different. (2) From 2000 to 2015, the constraint line of YREB paired ecological services had a high degree of fit. Under the three levels of landscape, watershed, and land category, the YREB has a variety of constraint types, including negative lines, logarithms, paraboloids, humped shapes, and rectangles. (3) At the three levels, the constraint lines between FP, NPP, WY, and SC and HQ were stable rectangular constraints; WY-SC was hump shaped, FP-NPP, FP-SC, FP-WY, NPP-WY, and NPP-SC changed with the scale, showing different spatial scale changes. (4) The paired ESs directly determined the ecological constraint curve but under the combined effect of other factors, which would affect or change the constraint line. We discussed the effects of weather, topography, and economy on the constraint relationship, and found that all have different degrees of influence. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this article, we investigate the link between agency costs (AC) and earnings management (EM) in China. We find a significant and positive relationship between AC and EM based on the static model that suggests opportunistic EM in China. However, we find an insignificant relationship between AC and EM when we use the dynamic model that takes into account the endogeneity issue. Therefore, our results provide further support to the growing literature on the concerns of endogeneity issues in corporate governance studies, since failing to take these into account can lead to spurious results. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: The incidence of breast cancer in Chinese-Americans is increasing. This article aims to present and discuss the challenges encountered in implementing an Internet-based coaching/support program for Chinese-American breast cancer survivors and to provide direction for future Internet-based interventions targeting this specific population.Methods: The data were collected from (a) interventionists' diaries written during individual coaching/support sessions with survivors, (b) minutes taken during research meetings, and (c) written records of issues discussed during the interventions. The data were analyzed using content analysis.Results: The issues were categorized into eight themes. The following six themes were identified among the survivors: (1) low computer literacy, (2) ambivalent attitudes towards study participation (e.g., joining the project to maintain a harmonious relationship with the gatekeepers versus lack of trust in the project), (3) reticence to share opinions and experiences, (4) struggles with family affairs (e.g., intergenerational cultural dissonance), (5) overvaluing Traditional Chinese Medicine, and (6) specific participants' preferences (e.g., language, font size, timing). Among the interventionists, the following two themes were identified: (1) recruitment and retention of interventionists and (2) language barriers.Conclusions: Culture-specific challenges need to be considered when designing and implementing an Internet-based coaching/support program for Chinese-American breast cancer survivors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In order to reverse the trend of ecological deterioration and resolve the conflict between ecological conservation and economic development, it is necessary to evaluate the trends of ecosystem services (ESs) and unravel the relationship between ESs and environmental drivers and identify the priority areas for ESs. In this research, we used the Integrated Valuation of Ecosystem Services and Tradeoffs (InVEST) model to quantify the variation of four important ESs (water purification, water yield, soil conservation, and habitat quality) in the Dongting Lake Basin from 2000 to 2015. During the past 15 years, water yield was declined by 3.38% and soil conservation was increased by 1.45%. Water quality purification was deteriorated with the rise in phosphorus export (5.32%) and nitrogen export (4.09%). Meanwhile, habitat quality was decreased by 3.27%. Trade-offs occurred primarily among water yield and other ESs. Social-ecological drivers importance analysis found that water yield was primarily influenced by precipitation and temperature. By contrast, water purification and habitat quality were more affected by the distribution of land use and land cover (LULC). Soil conservation was closely related to precipitation and geographical factor. Based on the distribution of ESs and the intensity of human activities, we delineated priority areas for each ESs using the systematic conservation planning tool (Marxan). LULC shifted most dramatically in water yield reserves (6.49%) with a large amount of lands conversed to cropland (4.4%) and build-up land (0.27%), which further increased the risk of water scarcity, while LULC changed less in other ESs priority areas due to human activities. Our study helps develop conservation strategies within specific area cost-effectively and provides scientific support for future conservation program of ESs formulation and adjustment., (© 2022. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer-Verlag GmbH Germany, part of Springer Nature.)

Objectives: To examine longitudinal effects of school policies on children's weight status and eating behaviors, and study how these effects may vary by children's age, sex, and baseline weight status in China., Methods: Data were collected in 2015, 2016, and 2017 in an open cohort of 3298 children aged 6-17, their parents, and schools in five large cities across China (Beijing, Shanghai, Xi'an, Nanjing, and Chengdu). Children's weight, height, and waist circumference were measured, and their eating behaviors were self-reported. The 1691 children with such repeated measures in ≥ two waves were included in longitudinal data analysis with mixed effects models, testing the associations., Results: Having school vicinity food stall policy was associated with less frequent consumption of fast food (β = -0.14, p < 0.01) and snack (β = -0.84, p < 0.01). More significant associations were found between school policies and unhealthy eating behaviors for girls and children aged 6-11 than their counterparts. Among children without overweight or central obesity at baseline, having school cafeteria food policy was associated with lower risks for overweight and obesity (OR = 0.33, 95% CI: 0.17-0.63) and central obesity (OR = 0.47, 95% CI: 0.26-0.85). This existed for girls, but not for boys. School vicinity food stall policy was associated with lower BMI (β = -0.20, 95% CI: -0.37, -0.03) among all children and in girls (β = -0.28, 95% CI: -0.50, -0.05) without overweight at baseline., Conclusions: School policies could reduce children's unhealthy eating behaviors and obesity risk in megacities in China. Children's age, sex, and baseline weight status modify the effects. School policies are important to fight the growing childhood obesity epidemic., (© 2022. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer Nature Limited.)

Social capital can serve as informal governance in weak investor-protection regimes. Using hand-collected data on entrepreneurs' political connections and firm ownership, we construct several original measures of social capital and examine their effect on the performance of entrepreneurial firms in China after their initial public offerings. Political connections or a high percentage of external investors tend to enhance firm performance, but intragroup related-party transactions commonly lead to performance decline. These forms of social capital have a strong influence on the performance of Chinese firms, whereas formal governance variables such as board size or board independence have little effect. Although social capital may serve as an informal governance mechanism and effectively substitute for formal governance mechanisms in an emerging market, this role of social capital raises several ethical concerns, notably the development of rent-seeking and crony capitalism. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background The topic of how to prevent and reduce burnout has drawn great attention from researchers and practitioners in recent years. However, we know little about how mentoring as a form of social support exerts influence on employee burnout. Aim This study aims to examine the contingency side of the mentoring-burnout relationship by addressing the exploratory question of whether individual differences in power distance and relationship quality play important roles in mentoring effectiveness in terms of reducing a protégé's burnout level. Methods A total of 210 employees from a technology communications company completed the survey questionnaire. Results (1) A protégés' power distance moderates the negative relationship between mentoring and burnout in such a way that the relationship is stronger for protégés who are lower rather than higher in power distance; (2) mentor-protégé relationship quality moderates the negative relationship between mentoring and burnout in such a way that the relationship is stronger when the relationship quality is higher rather than lower. Conclusions In sum, our results highlight the importance of studying the contingency side of mentoring effects on protégé burnout. Our findings suggest that the individuals' different cultural values of power distance and mentor-protégé relationship quality are the boundary conditions for the mentoring-burnout relationship. We therefore suggest that research on mentoring-burnout will be advanced by considering the role of the moderating process. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

China's tourism enterprises have difficulty securing financing because of the high cost of finance. This issue seriously affects the survival, development, and expansion of tourism enterprises. Therefore, there is an urgent need to scientifically identify those factors that influence these high financing costs and to take corresponding measures to reduce them. This paper focuses on the perspective of corporate governance, and is based on the significant differences between tourism and other industries. We applied financial statistical data gathered from listed Chinese tourism companies between 2007 and 2012 to empirically measure the effect of business environment, investment strategy, and the corporate governance mechanism on financing costs in the tourism industry. The research conclusions in this paper are as follows. First, the companies studied had higher equity financing costs than financing costs for debt. The financing costs of companies that were based around scenic spots were lower than the financing costs of other tourism companies. Second, in terms of the tourism business environment, the geographical location advantage of tourism companies can significantly reduce financing costs, while tourism demand volatility can significantly increase financing costs. Third, in terms of their investment strategy, the unrelated diversification strategy of tourism companies can increase financing costs, while the non-state-owned property rights of tourism companies can significantly reduce their financing costs. Finally, in terms of the governance mechanism of tourism companies, the mechanism of information disclosure and the legal protection of tourism companies can significantly reduce financing costs. Moreover, there is a non-linear "inverted U" relationship between the control ownership structure of tourism companies and financing costs. The executive incentive mechanisms in place at tourism companies can also increase financing costs. These research conclusions have important implications for the financing decisions, investment strategies, and governance mechanisms of tourism enterprises in China. First, according to the first conclusion, tourism companies should make full use of a variety of debt financing channels, including the pledge loan financing of franchise rights and land use rights, to reduce their financing costs and to ensure the safety of their funds. Second, according to the second and third conclusions, tourism enterprises implementing diversification and/or expansion strategies should reduce the proportion of investment projects devoted to unrelated diversification. Investment projects devoted to tourism enterprises should be able to reduce tourism revenue volatility. Third, improving corporate governance capabilities of tourism companies is the simplest measure to reduce their financing costs. Tourism companies should set up a scientific mechanism for their equity structure and control rights competition. Moreover, tourism companies should introduce independent directors with tourism industry expertise or experience of political relations and they should enhance their supervision independence. In addition, tourism companies should establish a multi-level system of executive compensation, including monetary compensation, equities and options. Finally, tourism companies should improve their brand strategy and brand valuation mechanisms to achieve better brand pledge financing, which can broaden the financing channels of tourism companies and reduce their financing difficulties. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The study examined a sales management model in a collectivist culture-China. Specifically, this research examined the relationships among emotional exhaustion, perceived organizational support, job satisfaction, organizational commitment, job performance, and turnover intentions among Chinese female salespeople. Using a sample of 292 retail salespeople, the proposed model was tested with structural equation modeling. Of the 12 linkages tested, 8 were significant. Differences emerged with regard to emotional exhaustion, perceived organizational support, organizational commitment, and turnover intentions, thus providing managerial implications for global marketers to reduce turnover and increase job performance among female Chinese salespeople. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article examines the boundary conditions for the formation of turnover intention. We propose that the environment, both at the firm level and at the societal level, moderates the relationships among organizational commitment, job satisfaction, and turnover intention. Our findings show support for our model using professional employees from China, Jordan, Turkey, and the USA and reveal the similarities/differences across cultures. The results call for our attention in taking into consideration the environmental conditions (organizational, cultural, and economic) when studying antecedent factors of turnover intention. We also provide implications for researchers and practitioners in the human resource management (HRM) field and suggestions for giving attention to countries and regions that have been understudied. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The etiology of nonsyndromic orofacial clefts (NSOC) has been considered 'complex' or 'multifactorial.' Etiologic heterogeneity induces disparities in the results among different populations. The zinc finger protein 533 ( ZNF533) and several environmental factors have been revealed to be associated with NSOC in several populations. We investigated three single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) and 10 environmental factors in 211 case-parent trios and 188 control individuals in the Western Han Chinese population to confirm the relationship between ZNF533, environmental factors, and the etiology of NSOC in the Western Han Chinese population. The transmission disequilibrium test, case-control analysis, multiple logistic regression, log-linear model, and conditional logistic regression were tested to confirm the contribution of the ZNF533 gene and environmental factors to the etiology of NSOC. Strong statistically significant evidence of association was found between the rs6757845 and rs1139 markers and NSOC. The haplotype G-G for rs6757845-rs1139 showed significant overtransmission among cleft lip with or without cleft palate (CL/P) trios and among cleft palate only trios. Additional 11 and 5 haplotypes were significantly overtransmitted and undertransmitted among CL/P and among cleft palate only trios, respectively. Maternal disease, use of medication, and passive smoking during the first trimester of pregnancy may increase the risk of NSOC. Maternal folic acid supplementation during the first trimester of pregnancy showed a protective effect on the etiology of NSOC. Genotype-environment interaction test showed a significant evidence of interaction effects between the genotypes at rs6757845 and maternal passive smoking during the first trimester among CL/P trios. These results confirm the effects of the ZNF533 gene and environmental factors on the etiology of NSOC. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The main purpose of this paper is to study the effect on the stock price that a Taiwanese company may experience when announcing it is engaging in foreign direct investment in China. This study has been able to observe the influence of political risk on the FDI announcement effect during one of the tensest periods in the history of the cross-Strait relationship. We have found an overall significantly negative effect for all companies in Taiwan that announced they were investing directly in China during this risky period. We have further found that companies with higher free cash flow and greater information asymmetry experience worse stock price reactions to such announcements, and that those with low growth opportunities, higher institutional shareholdings, outside directors on the board, or a higher ratio of outside directors experience better stock price reactions to the announcements. Finally, we have found that the FDI announcement effect is better for firms whose board chairman also serves as the CEO or for firms that are family controlled. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: In order to induce a potent and cross-reactive neutralizing antibody (nAb), an effective envelope immunogen is crucial for many viral vaccines, including the vaccine for the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV). The Chinese equine infectious anemia virus (EIAV) attenuated vaccine has controlled the epidemic of this virus after its vaccination in over 70 million equine animals during the last 3 decades in China. Data from our past studies demonstrate that the Env protein of this vaccine plays a pivotal role in protecting horses from both homologous and heterogeneous EIAV challenges. Therefore, the amino acid sequence information from the Chinese EIAV attenuated vaccine, in comparison with the parental wild-type EIAV strains, was applied to modify the corresponding region of the envelope glycoprotein of HIV-1 CN54. The direction of the mutations was made towards the amino acids conserved in the two EIAV vaccine strains, distinguishing them from the two wild-type strains. The purpose of the modification was to enhance the immunogenicity of the HIV Env. Results: The induced nAb by the modified HIV Env neutralized HIV-1 B and B'/C viruses at the highest titer of 1:270. Further studies showed that a single amino acid change in the C1 region accounts for the substantial enhancement in induction of anti-HIV-1 neutralizing antibodies. Conclusions: This study shows that an HIV envelope modified by the information of another lentivirus vaccine induces effective broadly neutralizing antibodies. A single amino acid mutation was found to increase the immunogenicity of the HIV Env. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Maternal folic acid deficiency is an underlying risk for neural tube defects (NTDs). China has one of the highest prevalences of NTDs, and the prevalence rates of NTDs vary by region. We characterized plasma folate level and dietary folate intake among Chinese women of childbearing age by region (North and South, East and West, urban and rural) to provide evidence for establishing policy to prevent NTDs. A total of 1003 women of childbearing age from five provinces in China were interviewed. Fasting blood samples were collected. Plasma folate concentrations were determined by a microbiological assay. Dietary intake data were collected using a 24-h recall. Both the plasma folate concentrations and dietary folate intake of women in the South (25.9 nmol L−1 and 211.0 µg day−1) were higher than those of women in the North (13.3 nmol L−1 and 189.2 µg day−1). In the North, plasma folate concentrations and dietary folate intake of women in rural areas were lower than those of women in urban areas, whereas, in the South, an opposite pattern was observed. No difference was found between women in the East and West, in either the North or South regions. Plasma folate and dietary folate intake among Chinese women of childbearing age were suboptimal and varied by region. Different folic acid supplementation approaches and dosage should be undertaken to improve folate status of women in different areas. Particular attention should be paid to women in the North, especially in northern rural areas. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

PURPOSE. This study was conducted with Chinese psychiatric nurses to identify their workplace stressors and coping strategies, as well as the relationships between their demographics, workplace stressors, and coping strategies. DESIGN AND METHODS. This survey was conducted, with the use of three questionnaires, on 188 psychiatric nurses recruited via convenient sampling in central China. FINDINGS. The findings indicated that (a) workload and dealing with death/dying were the greatest workplace stressors; (b) positive coping strategies were the most often used coping strategies; and (c) a series of correlation results occurred. PRACTICE APPLICATION. Understanding the relationship between workplace stressors, effective and ineffective coping, and demographics can contribute to designing less stressful environments and more constructive coping strategies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Recently many researches suggest that CEO compensation is not only related to performance. And this relation is non-linear. This paper analyzes CEO compensation, salary and stockholding value with BP neutral network with the data from listed companies during 2003-2005 in China. The results are: 1) The fitness of network outputs are 91.09%, 97.23% and 78.44% respectively; 2) The accurate of forecast improves 92.72%, 92.08% and 53:89% respectively comparing with the results of multi-regression model. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

AbstractIn order to prioritise interventions for micronutrient deficiencies in China, the populations affected by iron and zinc deficiencies were assessed based on data from the 2002 China National Nutrition and Health Survey. The costs and cost-effectiveness of supplementation, food diversification and food fortification were estimated using the standard World Health Organization ingredients approach. Results indicated that 30% of children (60 years), pregnant and lactating women, and 20% of women of reproductive age were anaemic, some 245 million people. Approximately 100 million people were affected by zinc deficiency (zinc intake inadequacy and stunting), the majority living in rural areas. Among interventions on iron and zinc deficiency, biofortification showed the lowest costs per capita, I$0.01 (international dollars), while dietary diversification through health education represented the highest costs at I$1148. The cost-effectiveness of supplementation, food fortification and dietary diversification for iron deficiency alone was I$179, I$66 and I$103 per disability-adjusted life-year (DALY), respectively. Data for biofortification were not available. For zinc deficiency, the corresponding figures were I$399, I$153 and I$103 per DALY, respectively. In conclusion, iron and zinc deficiencies are of great public health concern in China. Of the two long-term intervention strategies, i.e. dietary diversification and biofortification with improved varieties, the latter is especially feasible and cost-effective for rural populations. Supplementation and fortification can be used as short-term strategies for specific groups. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Evidence on the effectiveness of hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection screening and vaccination programs remains rare in China. We used a quasi-experimental method, propensity score matching, to evaluate the effects of a community-based HBV infection detection combined with vaccination (HBVIDV) program in a pilot. Data were retrieved from the HBVIDV program implemented between July 2019 and June 2020. Outcomes were the difference between the treatment and control groups in hepatitis B vaccination (≥1 dose), hepatitis B vaccine series completion (≥3 doses), and serologic evidence of vaccine-mediated immunity. Altogether, 26,180 individuals were included, where 6160 (23.5%) individuals were assigned to the treatment group, and 20,020 (76.5%) individuals were assigned to the control group. After propensity score matching, 5793 individuals were matched. The rates of hepatitis B vaccination, hepatitis B vaccine series completion, and prevalence of vaccine-mediated immunity in the treatment and control groups were 29.0% vs. 17.8%, 22.1% vs. 13.1%, and 38.2% vs. 27.6%, respectively. The HBVIDV program was significantly associated with increased hepatitis B vaccination rate (OR, 1.884, 95% CI 1.725–2.057), hepatitis B vaccine series completion rate (OR, 1.872, 95% CI 1.696–2.065), and prevalence of vaccine-mediated immunity (OR, 1.623, 95% CI 1.501–1.755). The greater magnitude of association between HBVIDV program and outcomes was observed among adults aged 35–54 years and adults who live in rural areas. The HBVIDV program was effective in increasing the hepatitis B vaccination rate, hepatitis B vaccine series completion rate, and prevalence of vaccine-mediated immunity among adults in the pilot. Further focusing the program on special populations and regions may produce more effective results. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]