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At present, many schools in China have built digital language classrooms, using digital language teaching system to assist English teaching, and combining computer and network technology to promote students' English learning. However, in order to integrate digital language teaching system into English teaching curriculum, teachers should design multimedia audio and video teaching materials, teaching strategies and learning activities in order to make the digital language teaching system and teaching complement each other. Then promote the professional development of teachers and learners' learning motivation and effectiveness. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this study, demographic and clinical characteristics of individuals with schizophrenia in a Chinese rural community who had attempted suicide at some time in their lives and those who had not made a suicide attempt were compared. Among individuals with schizophrenia, subjects with (n = 38) and without (n = 472) a lifetime history of suicide attempt were assessed with the Present State Examination. The results indicate that attempters had a significantly younger age, higher level of education, higher rate of lifetime depressed mood and hopelessness, and a larger number of positive symptoms than patients without suicide attempts. The logistic regression models also indicated that hopelessness, the number of positive symptoms and age were the most important predictors. Early interventions focusing on reducing hopelessness and controlling positive symptoms may help reduce the risk of suicide attempts among patients with schizophrenia.

Although previous studies have indicated a generally positive association between social media use and general trust, the differential impacts of traditional media and social media on general trust and their underlying mechanisms have yet to be fully elaborated. Drawing on the three-dimensional definition of social capital (i.e., personal networks, social norms, and interpersonal trust) as its theoretical framework, this study comparatively examines the impacts of traditional media and social media on general trust, focusing on the mediating role of social capital. Analyses of survey data from China (N = 1,519) during the first stage of COVID-19 demonstrate that social media has a positive relationship with general trust. In addition, social media has two opposing indirect effects on general trust through increased interpersonal trust and personal networks. In contrast, traditional media use has no positive relationship with general trust, either directly or indirectly, although it has a positive relationship with social norms. The differential consequences of using traditional media and social media on general trust are discussed from the perspective of social capital. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Although poverty associated with severe mental illness (SMI) has been documented in many studies, little long-term evidence of social drift exists. This study aimed to unravel the poverty transitions among persons with SMI in a fast change community in China. Methods: Two mental health surveys, using the International Classification of Disease (ICD-10), were conducted in the same six townships of Xinjin county, Chengdu, China in 1994 and 2015. A total of 308 persons with SMI identified in 1994 were followed up in 2015. The profiles of poverty transitions were identified and regression modelling methods were applied to determine the predictive factors of poverty transitions. Results: The poverty rate of persons with SMI increased from 39.9% to 49.4% in 1994 and 2015. A larger proportion of them had fallen into poverty (27.3%) rather than moved out of it (17.8%). Those persons with SMI who had lost work ability, had physical illness and more severe mental disabilities in 1994, as well as those who had experienced negative changes on these factors were more likely to live in persistent poverty or fall into poverty. Higher education level and medical treatment were major protective factors of falling into poverty. Conclusions: This study shows long-term evidence on the social drift of persons with SMI during the period of rapid social development in China. Further targeted poverty alleviation interventions should be crucial for improving treatment and mental recovery and alleviating poverty related to SMI. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The long-term outcome of never-treated patients with schizophrenia is unclear.Aims: To compare the 14-year outcomes of never-treated and treated patients with schizophrenia and to establish predictors for never being treated.Method: All participants with schizophrenia (n = 510) in Xinjin, Chengdu, China were identified in an epidemiological investigation of 123 572 people and followed up from 1994 to 2008.Results: The results showed that there were 30.6%, 25.0% and 20.4% of patients who received no antipsychotic medication in 1994, 2004 and 2008 respectively. Compared with treated patients, those who were never treated in 2008 were significantly older, had significantly fewer family members, had higher rates of homelessness, death from other causes, being unmarried, living alone, being without a caregiver and poor family attitudes. Partial and complete remission in treated patients (57.3%) was significantly higher than that in the never-treated group (29.8%). Predictors of being in the never-treated group in 2008 encompassed baseline never-treated status, being without a caregiver and poor mental health status in 1994.Conclusions: Many patients with schizophrenia still do not receive antipsychotic medication in rural areas of China. The 14-year follow-up showed that outcomes for the untreated group were worse. Community-based mental healthcare, health insurance and family intervention are crucial for earlier diagnosis, treatment and rehabilitation in the community. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aim of this study was to compare the demographic and clinical characteristics of individuals with affective disorders who had attempted suicide at some time in their lives and those who had not made a suicide attempt. In a Chinese rural community, individuals with suicide attempt (N = 30) and those without suicide attempt (N = 166) were assessed with Present State Examination (PSE). Attempters had a significantly higher level of family economic status, higher rate of lifetime depressed mood and hopelessness, and delusions than nonattempters. The logistic regression models also indicated that depressed mood and hopelessness were the most important predictors of suicide attempts. No significant difference in treatment condition was found between attempters and non-attempters. Early identification and interventions focusing on reducing depressed mood, hopelessness, and controlling psychotic symptoms may be helpful in reducing the risk of suicide attempts among individuals with affective disorders residing in the community. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: To assess the characteristics and factors affecting course of schizophrenia in a Chinese rural area. Method: An epidemiological investigation was conducted to identify all the patients with schizophrenia among 149 231 people in Xinjin County, Chengdu. Results: The total prevalence of schizophrenia was 4.13 per 1000 population. Males had an earlier mean age of onset (29.6 years) than females (32.3 years). Duration of illness before treatment and the total duration of illness were found to be significantly associated with level of remission. The status of treatment, family economy, housing, and families’ care of patients had a significant effect on the clinical course of the illness. Conclusions: Duration of illness before treatment may be an important predictor of course in schizophrenia. Early treatment for the patients may produce higher level of improvement in prognosis. Education intervention and community-based service are urgent priorities for these patients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: To explore the characteristics of psychotic patients with suicide attempts in a Chinese rural community. Method: An epidemiological investigation of psychotic patients with suicide attempts among 123 572 population (over 15 years of age) was conducted in Xinjin County, Chengdu. Results: The rate of suicide attempts was found to be 8.17% among all the psychotic patients (906 cases). Patients with affective psychosis showed a significantly higher rate of suicidal attempts (15.3%) than those with schizophrenia (7.5%) (P < 0.005). Suicide attempts were significantly associated with depression and hopelessness in both schizophrenia and a@ective psychosis (P < 0.001). Patients with suicide attempts were younger and had an earlier age of onset than those without suicide attempts (P < 0.05). Patients with schizophrenia and a@ective disorders were the major patients with suicide attempts. Conclusion: The rate of suicide attempts in psychotic patients may be largely influenced by the illness itself. Community-based services should be necessary for these patients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background The aim of this study was to explore the characteristics and efficacy of psychoeducational family intervention for persons with schizophrenia in rural China. Methods A cluster randomised controlled trial ofpsychoeducational family intervention for families experiencing schizophrenia (three groups, 326 cases) was conducted in Xinjin County, Chengdu. Treatment groups consisted of family intervention and medication, medication alone, and a control. Results The resuits showed a gain in knowledge, a change in the relatives' caring attitudes towards the patients, and an increase in treatment compliance in the psychoeducational family intervention group (p < 0.05, 0.001). Most importantly, the relapse rate over 9 months in this group (16.3%) was half that of the drug-only group (37.8%), and just over one-quarter of that of the control group (61.5%) (p < 0.05). Antipsychotic drug treatment and families' attitudes towards patients after the 9-month follow-up were significantly associated with clinical outcome (p < 0.05). Conclusions In rural China, family intervention should focus on improving the relatives' recognition of illness, the caring attitude towards the patients, treatment compliance, relapse prevention, and the training of the patients' social functioning. This trial, one of the largest in the literature, has shown that psychoeducational family intervention is effective and suitable for psychiatric rehabilitation in Chinese rural communities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Chronic impact will last from a sudden pollution accident, however, potential adverse effects of heavy metal(loid)s are overlooked when pollution decreased during years of equilibration. Here, we assessed the potential health risks of heavy metal(loid)s via intake of vegetables from fields affected by the smelting wastewater spill eight years later, basing on site-specific target hazard quotient (STHQ) and cancer risk (SCR) models. Results showed kohlrabi, lettuce and garlic had significant high concentrations of Sb (10.4 mg kg−1), Pb (21.0 mg kg−1), Cd (6.49 mg kg−1), and Zn (441 mg kg−1), and sweet potato and garlic enriched high levels of As (19.6 mg kg−1) and Cu (14.1 mg kg−1), respectively. Transfer factors of metal(loid)s from soil to plants were enhanced by high soluble metal(loid) concentrations, and Sb, As, Pb and Cd in most edible tissues exceeded the contamination limitations for food in China and FAO/WHO. Chinese cabbage had significant high STHQ of As (adult 9.31 and child 19.8) and Sb (adult 0.76 and child 1.61) (p < 0.05), and the highest STHQ of Cd (adult 1.41 and child 3.02) was in lettuce, whereas the highest STHQ of other elements from vegetables were below 1. However, the non-carcinogenic risks based on total STHQ values of these vegetables were several times higher than the acceptable level of 1. In addition, the total SCR values at 5% were hundreds times of safety level of 5.0 × 10−5 set by International Commission on Radiological Protection. Considering food frequency and metal(loid) levels, long-term consumption of local vegetables, especially lettuce and Chinese cabbage, are likely to increase non-carcinogenic and carcinogenic (e.g. As and Cd) health risks. Child's health risk of toxic elements was far greater than adult. This study might serve as a case study of long-term adverse impact for other pollutant incidents. People should pay attention to human health through food chain, and the government should solve the outstanding environmental problems that harm the health of the masses. Image 1 • Residual pollution remains in the wastewater spill area 8 years later. • As, Sb, Cd and Pb in vegetables exceeded contamination limitations for food. • Site-specific health risks of As, Sb, Pb and Cd via vegetables intake were assessed. • High potential cancer risk of As and Cd on residents via vegetable intake. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Huangling gold deposits belong to orogenic gold deposits, forming during the tectonic transformation period at ca. 830–800 Ma. [Display omitted] • Gold mineralization in the Huangling region occurred ca. 830-800 Ma. • The timing of gold mineralization coincided with the tectonic transformation period. • The Huangling gold deposits belong to orogenic gold deposits. The Huangling region of northwestern Hubei Province, which contains 76 gold deposits with more than 310 gold-quartz veins, is located in the northern part of the Yangtze Craton, South China Block. Despite several geological and geochronological studies conducted on gold deposits in this region, the timing and origin of gold mineralization remain controversial. This study utilizes in situ U–Pb dating of apatite and monazite from representative ores from the Banchanghe, Hongwucun, and Sunjiahe gold deposits to determine the timing of gold mineralization. The results indicate that gold mineralization occurred ca. 830–800 Ma, which is consistent with the period of tectonic transformation in the region. This study proposes that the gold deposits in the Huangling region represent typical orogenic gold deposits. These findings indicate a rare example of a well-preserved early Neoproterozoic orogenic gold system, suggesting the existence of orogenic gold deposits during the growth of the Rodinia supercontinent. This study highlights the significant potential for further exploration in the deep of the Huangling region to uncover additional gold veins. These findings also suggest that the Neoproterozoic orogenic belts of the Yangtze Craton may serve as important targets for gold deposit exploration in the future. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Little is known about the relationship between changes of family structure for people with severe mental illness (SMI) and treatment status of SMI during a period of sustained rapid socioeconomic development. This study aimed to explore the relationship between changes of family structure and treatment status of people with SMI in a 21-year longitudinal study in a rural area of China. Epidemiological surveys of mental disorders were conducted in May, 1994, and October, 2015, in the same six townships (total population 170 174 in 2015) in Xinjin county, Chengdu, which is a representative middle-income rural county in southwest China. The six townships were randomly selected from all 12 townships of Xinjin county in 1994. The surveys consisted of two steps: (1) screening procedures for psychosis (face-to-face interviews with the head of each household together with key informant interviews), household by household; and (2) psychiatric interviews of people aged 15 years and older, to identify those with SMI (including schizophrenia, bipolar disorders, and major depressive disorder) according to the International Classification of Mental and Behavioural Disorders-10 (ICD-10) criteria. The two surveys were approved by the university human research ethics committees. The number of people aged 15 years and older who were identified to have SMI was 711 and 1042 in 1994 and 2015, respectively. The mean number of family members was significantly lower in 2015 (3·0 [SD 1·5]) than in 1994 (3·4 [1·5], p<0·0001). Compared with people with SMI in 1994, those with SMI in 2015 had a significantly higher rate of living alone (13·7% vs 9·9%, p<0·013) and without caregivers (15·6% vs 8·4%, p<0·0001). There was a significantly lower rate of parents as caregivers in 2015 than in 1994 (13·5% vs 17·9%, p<0·011). The rate of low family economic status (less than the population mean) for people with SMI was significantly higher in 2015 than in 1994 (p<0·0001). Fewer family members (included in the same family hukou) was significantly associated with low family economic status (p=0·023), and low family economic status was significantly associated with poor treatment status (p=0·015). The family structure and status of people with SMI has changed markedly during the rapid socioeconomic development from 1994 to 2015 in rural China. Fewer family members, fewer family caregivers and relative poverty have gradually become major challenges for families who care for people with SMI. How to improve care for people with SMI should be important if targets for Healthy China 2030 are to be met. Community mental health care, the precise poverty alleviation strategy, and the culture-specific family intervention programme should be crucial for comprehensive community mental health care and for improvement of the treatment and recovery of people with SMI in the community. The survey in 1994 was supported in part by the China Medical Board of New York (92-557). The survey in 2015 was supported in part by the Seed Funding Programme for Basic Research (2014–2016), Seed Funding Programme for Applied Research (2014–2016), Contemporary China Strategic Research Theme (2014–2016), Small Project Funding (2014–2016), and Mental Health Research in Chengdu, China (department matching fund, 2015–2017). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Sexual minority student-athletes (SMSAs) face discrimination and identity conflicts in intercollegiate sport, impacting their participation and mental health. This study explores the perceptions of Chinese SMSAs regarding their sexual minority identities, aiming to fill the current gap in research related to non-Western countries., Methods: A qualitative methodology was adopted, utilising the Interpretive Phenomenological Analysis (IPA) approach with self-categorization theory as the theoretical framework. Participants were recruited through purposive and snowball sampling, and data were collected via semi-structured interviews, documents, and field notes. Sixteen former and current Chinese SMSAs participated in this study., Results: The study reveals four themes: hidden truths, prioritisation of athlete identity, self-stereotyping, and attempt. The results revealed that while SMSAs were common in intercollegiate sport, their identities were often concealed and not openly discussed. The predominant focus on athlete identity in sport overshadowed their sexual minority identities. Additionally, SMSAs developed self-stereotypes that influenced their thoughts and behaviours. The non-heterosexual team atmosphere in women's teams led to the development of intimate relationships among teammates., Conclusions: The findings from this study could be incorporated into existing sport policies to ensure the safe participation of SMSAs in Chinese intercollegiate sports. This research offers valuable insights for the development and implementation of inclusive policies. Future research in China could investigate the attitudes of coaches and heterosexual student-athletes toward sexual minority identities to inform targeted interventions., (© 2024. The Author(s).)

Background: Long-term mortality and the risk factors for premature death among patients with schizophrenia living in rural communities are unknown., Aims: To explore the 10-year mortality and its risk factors among patients with schizophrenia., Method: We used data from a 10-year prospective follow-up study (1994-2004) of mortality among people with schizophrenia, and death registration data for Xinjin County, Chengdu, China., Results: The mortality rate was 2228 per 100,000 person-years during follow-up. Both all-cause mortality and suicide rates were significantly greater in male than in female patients. Age at illness onset (>45 years), duration of illness (> or =10 years), age greater than 50 years, physical illness, in ability to work, male gender, and never having received treatment were identified as independent predictors of increased mortality., Conclusions: Higher mortality rates in male patients may contribute to the higher prevalence of schizophrenia in women compared with men in China. The findings of risk factors for mortality should be taken into account when developing interventions to improve outcomes among people with schizophrenia.

In this study, demographic and clinical characteristics of individuals with schizophrenia in a Chinese rural community who had attempted suicide at some time in their lives and those who had not made a suicide attempt were compared. Among individuals with schizophrenia, subjects with (n = 38) and without (n = 472) a lifetime history of suicide attempt were assessed with the Present State Examination. The results indicate that attempters had a significantly younger age, higher level of education, higher rate of lifetime depressed mood and hopelessness, and a larger number of positive symptoms than patients without suicide attempts. The logistic regression models also indicated that hopelessness, the number of positive symptoms and age were the most important predictors. Early interventions focusing on reducing hopelessness and controlling positive symptoms may help reduce the risk of suicide attempts among patients with schizophrenia.

Relatively little is known about the different characteristics of non-institutionalized geriatric and younger subjects with schizophrenia. This study compared demographic and clinical characteristics of all the geriatric, middle-age and young subjects with schizophrenia living in a Chinese rural community. Geriatric (age >/= 65 years) (N = 51), middle-age (age 41-64 years) (N = 263) and young subjects with schizophrenia (age 15-40 years) (N = 196) in a rural community were assessed with the Present State Examination and Social Disability Screening Schedule. Age at first onset was significantly older in geriatric male and female groups. While there were no significant differences of negative symptoms among the three groups, the rates of lifetime nuclear syndrome were significantly lower in geriatric subjects compared to the other two groups. Geriatric subjects were less likely to have been hospitalized (9.8%) than middle-age (19.0%) and younger subjects (24.8%). Although the duration of illness was significantly longer in geriatric subjects than in the other two groups, the clinical outcome was significantly better in the geriatric group and social functioning scores were similar among the three groups. Geriatric subjects were more likely to be female, with longer duration of illness, fewer "core" symptoms, relatively stable social functioning and clinical outcome. The pathogenesis and psychopathology of geriatric subjects may be different compared to younger subjects with schizophrenia.

We used the Mandarin Chinese version of the Camberwell Family Interview (CFI) to measure the components of expressed emotion among relatives of schizophrenic patients in urban and rural areas of Chengdu, China. The reliability and validity of the Chinese version of the CFI was examined. Seventy-one patients and their key relatives were included in the study. The results showed that high interrater reliabilities were found for the Chinese version of CFI. The proportion of relatives in our sample rated as high-EE was 28.2%, and the Chengdu relatives expressed significantly fewer critical comments (CCs) and less emotional overinvolvement (EOI) than respondents in other similar studies in the West. Within the Chengdu sample, city dwellers were significantly more expressive than villagers expressing warmth, positive remarks, and EOI (p < 0.05). The results of this study could indicate the impact of cultural and ethnic differences and geographical location on EE.