bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Activation of CO2 assimilation during photosynthetic induction is slower in C4 than in C3 photosynthesis in three phylogenetically controlled experiments
Authors: Arce Cubas Lucía , Vath Richard L. , Bernardo Emmanuel L. , Sales Cristina Rodrigues Gabriel , Burnett Angela C. , Kromdijk Johannes
Published: January 2023

Introduction

Despite their importance for the global carbon cycle and crop production, species with C4 photosynthesis are still somewhat understudied relative to C3 species. Although the benefits of the C4 carbon concentrating mechanism are readily observable under optimal steady state conditions, it is less clear how the presence of C4 affects activation of CO2 assimilation during photosynthetic induction.

Methods

In this study we aimed to characterise differences between C4 and C3 photosynthetic induction responses by analysing steady state photosynthesis and photosynthetic induction in three phylogenetically linked pairs of C3 and C4 species from Alloteropsis, Flaveria, and Cleome genera. Experiments were conducted both at 21% and 2% O2 to evaluate the role of photorespiration during photosynthetic induction.

Results

Our results confirm C4 species have slower activation of CO2 assimilation during photosynthetic induction than C3 species, but the apparent mechanism behind these differences varied between genera. Incomplete suppression of photorespiration was found to impact photosynthetic induction significantly in C4Flaveria bidentis, whereas in the Cleome and Alloteropsis C4 species, delayed activation of the C3 cycle appeared to limit induction and a potentially supporting role for photorespiration was also identified.

Discussion

The sheer variation in photosynthetic induction responses observed in our limited sample of species highlights the importance of controlling for evolutionary distance when comparing C3 and C4 photosynthetic pathways.
A genome wide association study to dissect the genetic architecture of agronomic traits in Andean lupin (Lupinus mutabilis)
Authors: Gulisano Agata , Lippolis Antonio , van Loo Eibertus N. , Paulo Maria-João , Trindade Luisa M.
Published: January 2023

Establishing Lupinus mutabilis as a protein and oil crop requires improved varieties adapted to EU climates. The genetic regulation of strategic breeding traits, including plant architecture, growing cycle length and yield, is unknown. This study aimed to identify associations between 16 669 single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) and 9 agronomic traits on a panel of 223 L. mutabilis accessions, grown in four environments, by applying a genome wide association study (GWAS). Seven environment-specific QTLs linked to vegetative yield, plant height, pods number and flowering time, were identified as major effect QTLs, being able to capture 6 to 20% of the phenotypic variation observed in these traits. Furthermore, two QTLs across environments were identified for flowering time on chromosome 8. The genes FAF, GAMYB and LNK, regulating major pathways involved in flowering and growth habit, as well as GA30X1, BIM1, Dr1, HDA15, HAT3, interacting with these pathways in response to hormonal and environmental cues, were prosed as candidate genes. These results are pivotal to accelerate the development of L. mutabilis varieties adapted to European cropping conditions by using marker-assisted selection (MAS), as well as to provide a framework for further functional studies on plant development and phenology in this species.
Integrated analysis of transcriptome and microRNAs associated with exogenous calcium-mediated enhancement of hypoxic tolerance in cucumber seedlings (Cucumis sativus L.)
Authors: He Lizhong , Yan Jun , Ding Xiaotao , Jin Haijun , Zhang Hongmei , Cui Jiawei , Zhou Qiang , Yu Jizhu
Published: January 2023

Plants often suffer from hypoxic stress due to flooding caused by extreme weather. Hypoxia usually leads to restricted oxygen supply and alters metabolic patterns from aerobic to anaerobic. Cucumber roots are fragile and highly sensitive to damage from hypoxic stress. The purpose of this study was to investigate the regulatory mechanism of exogenous calcium alleviating hypoxic stress in cucumber through transcriptome and small RNAs analysis. Three treatments were performed in this paper, including untreated-control (CK), hypoxic stress (H), and hypoxic stress + exogenous calcium treatment (H + Ca2+). A large number of differentially expressed genes (DEGs) were identified, 1,463 DEGs between CK vs H, 3,399 DEGs between H vs H + Ca2+, and 5,072 DEGs between CK vs H + Ca2+, respectively. KEGG analysis of DEGs showed that exogenous calcium could activate hormone signaling pathways (ethylene, ABA, IAA and cytokinin), transcription factors (MYB, MYB-related, bHLH, bZIP, and WRKY), calcium signaling and glycolysis pathway to mitigating hypoxic stress in cucumber seedlings. Additionally, miRNA and their target genes were detected and predicted between treatments. The target genes of these miRNAs revealed that auxin, cellulose synthase, and mitochondrial ribosomal related genes (Csa2G315390, Csa6G141390, Csa4G053280, and Csa6G310480) probably play in the improvement of the hypoxic tolerance of cucumber seedlings through exogenous calcium application. In short, our data adds new information to the mechanism of exogenous calcium mitigation of hypoxic stress injury in cucumber seedlings at transcriptional and post-transcriptional levels.
Parallel genetic and phenotypic differentiation of Erigeron annuus invasion in China
Authors: Liu Yuan-Yuan , Yang Qin-Fen , Li Zhen , Zhou Zhi-Xiang , Shi Xue-Ping , Wang Yong-Jian
Published: January 2023

Introduction

The factors that determine the growth and spread advantages of an alien plant during the invasion process remain open to debate. The genetic diversity and differentiation of an invasive plant population might be closely related to its growth adaptation and spread in the introduced range. However, little is known about whether phenotypic and genetic variation in invasive plant populations covary during the invasion process along invaded geographic distances.

Methods

In a wild experiment, we examined the genetic variation in populations of the aggressively invasive species Erigeron annuus at different geographical distances from the first recorded point of introduction (FRPI) in China. We also measured growth traits in the wild and common garden experiments, and the coefficient of variation (CV) of populations in the common garden experiments.

Results and discussion

We found that E. annuus populations had better growth performance (i.e., height and biomass) and genetic diversity, and less trait variation, in the long-term introduced region (east) than in the short-term introduced region (west). Furthermore, population growth performance was significantly positively or negatively correlated with genetic diversity or genetic variation. Our results indicate that there was parallel genetic and phenotypic differentiation along the invaded geographic distance in response to adaptation and spread, and populations that entered introduced regions earlier had consistently high genetic diversity and high growth dominance. Growth and reproduction traits can be used as reliable predictors of the adaptation and genetic variation of invasive plants.
A framework for designing AI systems that support community wellbeing
Authors: van der Maden Willem , Lomas Derek , Hekkert Paul
Published: January 2023

Introduction

Designing artificial intelligence (AI) to support health and wellbeing is an important and broad challenge for technologists, designers, and policymakers. Drawing upon theories of AI and cybernetics, this article offers a design framework for designing intelligent systems to optimize human wellbeing. We focus on the production of wellbeing information feedback loops in complex community settings, and discuss the case study of My Wellness Check, an intelligent system designed to support the mental health and wellbeing needs of university students and staff during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Methods

The basis for our discussion is the community-led design of My Wellness Check, an intelligent system that supported the mental health and wellbeing needs of university students and staff during the COVID-19 pandemic. Our system was designed to create an intelligent feedback loop to assess community wellbeing needs and to inform community action. This article provides an overview of our longitudinal assessment of students and staff wellbeing (n = 20,311) across two years of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Results

We further share the results of a controlled experiment (n = 1,719) demonstrating the enhanced sensitivity and user experience of our context-sensitive wellbeing assessment.

Discussion

Our approach to designing “AI for community wellbeing,” may generalize to the systematic improvement of human wellbeing in other human-computer systems for large-scale governance (e.g., schools, businesses, NGOs, platforms). The two main contributions are: 1) showcasing a simple way to draw from AI theory to produce more intelligent human systems, and 2) introducing a human-centered, community-led approach that may be beneficial to the field of AI.
Cognitive assistance for action selection: Challenges and approaches
Authors: Strenge Benjamin , Schack Thomas
Published: January 2023

Cognitive assistance systems aim at compensating shortcomings of natural cognition concerning specific activities. Notable progress has been made regarding data acquisition, analysis, and the exploration of technical means for supporting human action selection and execution. The related challenges and potential solutions can be associated to four largely independent questions: What actions should be executed, when this must or should be done, whether assistance is needed for a specific action, and if so, how the action should be supported. A broad range of technological and methodical approaches can be taken for tackling each of these issues, including recent advances and new challenges in the automatized analysis of task-related mental representation structures.
Obsessive passion, opportunity recognition, and entrepreneurial performance: The dual moderating effect of the fear of failure
Authors: Tu Yuqi , Hao Xiling , Rosak-Szyrocka Joanna , Vasa László , Zhao Xin
Published: January 2023

A strong inclination toward an important or preferred activity is a critical factor that drives individual to engage in corresponding activities. This study focuses on how entrepreneurs, influenced by obsessive passion, are motivated to put great effort into taking advantage of business opportunities and accomplishing entrepreneurial goals. By using SPSS and AMOS tools to analyze the multi-source questionnaire of 208 entrepreneurs, the research results show that obsessive passion can promote entrepreneurial performance and opportunity recognition plays a mediating role. In addition, endogenous and exogenous fear of failure play different moderating roles in the effect of obsessive passion on opportunity recognition. The research conclusion deepens the theoretical understanding of entrepreneurial passion, opportunity recognition, and fear of failure at a more subtle level.
Doubly latent multilevel analysis of the relationship among collective teacher efficacy, school support, and organizational commitment
Authors: Zhang Zhonghua , Lee John Chi-Kin , Yin Hongbiao , Yang Xin
Published: January 2023

Introduction

Understanding the sources and the effects of collective teacher efficacy has been one of the central interests to many educational researchers and practitioners, because it is critical to understand how teachers can shape, and are shaped by, the educational processes in schools. Following the social cognitive perspective on the sources and consequences of efficacy beliefs, this study examined how school support influences collective teacher efficacy which in turn affects teachers’ organizational commitment.

Method

The participants included 969 teachers sampled from 28 primary and secondary schools in Hong Kong. To appropriately address the nature of collective teacher efficacy and school support as school-level variables, the doubly latent multilevel structural equation modeling approach was used to analyze the data.

Results

The results revealed the mediation mechanism played by collective teacher efficacy in explaining the effect of school support on teachers’ organizational commitment.

Discussion

Schools are suggested to consider fostering a supportive school environment as a strategy to improve teachers’ collective efficacy beliefs if it is wished to enhance teachers’ commitment to schools.
The impact of coordination-based movement education model on balance development of 5-year-old children
Authors: Esen Hüseyin Tolga , Güçlüöver Aziz , Kurnaz Mert , Altinkök Mustafa
Published: January 2023

With this study, it was aimed to examine the effect of coordination-based movement education model on the development of balance in 5-year-old children. The research was designed with a control group pre-test post-test design, which is one of the quasi-experimental research models. The research group consists of a total of 42 (n = 20 experimental n = 22 control) 5-year-old children formed by using the convenient sampling method, which is one of the purposeful sampling methods. Each participant’s age, body weight, body length and lower extremity limb lengths were measured. As a data collection tool and used the three-part Y Balance Test (YBT) platform, which was previously stated to have high reliability (ICC = 0.85–0.93). Reach distances of the participants were measured in three directions, anterior posteromedial and posterolateral. YBT scores were determined by calculating the average and normalized values for lower extremity limb length for each reach direction of the obtained scores, and composite YBT scores were determined by taking the averages of anterior, posteromedial and posterolateral reach distance scores. In order to determine whether the collected data are suitable for normal distribution, Levene test was applied first and it was determined that p > 0.05 for all parameters as a result of the test. Independent sample T-test from parametric tests was used to determine the differences between groups. Paired-group T-test was used to determine within-group differences. According to the results of the research, it was found that the balance motor capacity levels between the experimental and control groups did not differ significantly compared to the pre-test, but there was a significant difference in all reach directions scores in favor of the post-test and experimental group compared to the control group and the pre-test. When the results of the right and left lower extremity ANT, PM, PL and Composite reach distances were examined according to gender, although there was no statistically significant difference, when the averages were considered, it was seen that all parameters were in favor of girls (p > 0.05). As a result, it was concluded that coordination-based movement education model had a positive effect on the balance motor capacities of 5-year-old children.
Exploring the impact of Chuangguandong Movement on individualism in China based on Sina Weibo information
Authors: Wang Yan , Ren Xiaopeng
Published: January 2023

The voluntary frontier settlement hypothesis holds that frontier movements can promote the formation of individualism in the frontier area. The Chuangguandong Movement is one of China’s voluntary frontier movements that potentially had a positive impact on the formation of high individualism in the northeastern provinces. Previous studies used independent/interdependent measures of self-construal scale, symbolic self-inflation, nepotism tasks, and percentage of most common names, to examine the differences in the independence between Heilongjiang and Shandong residents, which may be related to the Chuangguandong Movement. However, these studies were limited by certain factors such as sample size and objectivity of materials acquisition. In this study, we obtained Sina Weibo big data for period 2010–2020 to overcome the limitation of previous work. Using text feature extraction and keyword word frequency calculation methods based on the individualism/collectivism dictionary, we found that the level of individualism in Northeast China was higher than that in Shandong Province, which was consistent with previous research. Through the discussion of the four representative theoretical frameworks of individualism, the voluntary frontier settlement theory was considered as a potential explanation for the high degree of individualism in Northeast China.
Understanding students’ problem-solving patterns: Evidence from an allotted response time in a PISA 2012 item
Authors: Park Hyun-Jeong , Lee Dayeon , Park Hyemin
Published: January 2023

Understanding students’ learning characteristics is central to successfully designing student-centered learning. Particularly in the problem-solving area, it is vital to know that students can possess their styles to solve problems, which should be considered central to addressing adaptive learning. To date, analyzing students’ learning characteristics has been mainly based on their final answers. However, there is a limit to understanding the thinking process of students with the correct answer, because their responses are, de facto, singular and identical. With this background, we propose an approach for investigating students’ cognitive behavior in problem-solving using response time in the process data. In this paper, we analyzed an item in Programme for International Student Assessment 2012 Creative Problem Solving (CP038q1). We analyzed log data from the PISA CPS item Ticket encompassing 30,453 students (7,196 students with the correct answer and 23,257 students with incorrect answers) from 42 countries. We found that students with the correct answer are categorized into four clusters, and the problem-solving patterns of each cluster are distinguishable. We also showed the internal validity of this approach by confirming that students with incorrect answers can also be similarly classified. Our results indicate that allotted response time in an item can shed light on several distinguished problem-solving patterns, which implies that adaptive learning and feedback are vital for them.
Elderly may benefit more from motor imagery training in gaining muscle strength than young adults: A systematic review and meta-analysis
Authors: Liu Xiao J. , Ge Sha , Cordova Alberto , Yaghi Zayd , Jiang Bo Y. , Yue Guang H. , Yao Wan X.
Published: January 2023

Objective

The current review was aimed to determine the effectiveness of mental imagery training (MIT) on the enhancement of maximum voluntary muscle contraction (MVC) force for healthy young and old adults.

Data sources

Six electronic databases were searched from July 2021 to March 2022. Search terms included: “motor imagery training,” “motor imagery practice,” “mental practice,” “mental training,” “movement imagery,” “cognitive training,” “strength,” “force,” “muscle strength,” “performance,” “enhancement,” “improvement,” “development,” and “healthy adults.”

Study selection and data extraction

Randomized controlled trials of MIT in enhancing muscle strength with healthy adults were selected. The decision on whether a study met the inclusion criteria of the review was made by two reviewers independently. Any disagreements between the two reviewers were first resolved by discussion between the two reviewers. If consensus could not be reached, then it would be arbitrated by a third reviewer.

Data synthesis

Twenty-five studies including both internal MIT and external MIT were included in meta-analysis for determining the efficacy of MIT on enhancing muscle strength and 22 internal MIT were used for subgroup analysis for examining dose-response relationship of MIT on MVC.

Results

MIT demonstrated significant benefit on enhancing muscle strength when compared with no exercise, Effect Size (ES), 1.10, 95% confidence interval (CI), 0.89–1.30, favoring MIT, but was inferior to physical training (PT), ES, 0.38, 95% CI, 0.15–0.62, favoring PT. Subgroup analysis demonstrated that MIT was more effective for older adults (ES, 2.17, 95% CI, 1.57–2.76) than young adults (ES, 0.95, 95% CI, 0.74–1.17), p = 0.0002, and for small finger muscles (ES, 1.64, 95% CI, 1.06–2.22) than large upper extremity muscles (ES, 0.86, 95% CI, 0.56–1.16), p = 0.02. No significant difference was found in the comparison of small finger muscles and large lower extremity muscles, p = 0.19 although the ES of the former (ES, 1.64, 95% CI, 1.06–2.22) was greater than that of the later (ES, 1.20, 95%, 0.88–1.52).

Conclusion

This review demonstrates that MIT has better estimated effects on enhancing MVC force compared to no exercise, but is inferior to PT. The combination of MIT and PT is equivalent to PT alone in enhancing muscle strength. The subgroup group analysis further suggests that older adults and small finger muscles may benefit more from MIT than young adults and larger muscles.
The framework and features of language policies in global constitutional texts
Authors: Zhang Chen , Zhao Ronghui , Huang Yan
Published: January 2023

Language policy, which is directly concerned with language practice, language ideology and language management, has become increasingly important in real social life. Explicit language policies in different fields, such as texts in law, education, and the public, have been explored for many years. However, the global comparative research on language policies in various constitutional texts (CT) is quite limited. In response, the present study aimed to investigate the framework and features of language policies in global CT through a combination of qualitative and quantitative analysis. Results showed that: 1) there were seven parts of the CT dealing with language policies, such asPreamble,General principle,The state,Fundamental rightsandDuties of citizen,State authority,National objectives, andSupplementary; 2) there existed significant differences in the frequency of language policies in seven parts of the CT. Among them, language policies appeared most frequently in the part ofFundamental rights and duties of citizen; 3) the geographical location where the Constitution was enacted affected the distribution of language policies across parts. Overall, our findings suggested that the language policy in CT was influenced not only by constitutional principles, but also by the national language environment.
Digital leadership role in developing business strategy suitable for digital transformation
Authors: Türk Abdullah
Published: January 2023

Businesses must respond to the ecology in which they operate. Especially the rapid transformation of technology has increased the degree of dependency on the system. The main reason for this is perceived only as the technology costs brought by digital transformation. However, we understand from the bankruptcy of economically strong companies that this is not the real problem. This study looks at it from the perspective of leadership, which is an important skill for businesses. The research focuses on leadership roles needed to adapt to digital transformation. At this point, the roles of digital leadership and its contribution to businesses were investigated. At this point, we try to reveal the role of digital leadership with two different qualitative analyzes. In the research, semi-structured interviews were conducted with senior managers, phenomenological and content analysis was performed using Nvivo and MAXQDA qualitative analysis programs, and relevant confidential information was revealed. As a result of the research, it has been determined that there is an important link between time management and productivity while supporting system efficiency and transformation adaptation. In other words, a positive relationship has been determined between the success of digital transformation and digital leadership roles. In digital transformation, digital leadership has a role in the positive development of the relationship between the digital transformation process and business strategies. As a result, a perspective on how digital leadership can contribute to businesses that want to develop strategies suitable for the digital transformation process is presented.
Current status and influencing factors of care burden of pancreatic cancer caregivers under COVID-19
Authors: Sun Qingmei , Li Jiarong , Fang Xiaoping , Jin Jie , Cui Lei
Published: January 2023

Objective

To explore the level of care burden and its influencing factors of caregivers of pancreatic cancer patients during hospitalization under the background of COVID-19.

Methods

From September 2021 to December 2021, in Jiangsu Province Hospital, the convenience sampling method was used to investigate the care burden level of family caregivers of pancreatic cancer patients, and univariate and multivariate analysis methods were used to analyze the influencing factors. The survey tools included the General Information Questionnaire, the Family Caregiver Care Burden Scale, the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale, the Benefit Discovery Rating Scale, and the General Self-Efficacy Scale.

Results

A total of 100 subjects were included in this study, of which 45% were male and 55% were older than 50 years. In the Context of COVID-19, the care burden of caregivers of pancreatic cancer patients was at a mild level, and the main influencing factors were family economic status (p < 0.001), anxiety and depression level (p < 0.001) and self-efficacy (p < 0.001).

Conclusion

Medical staff should pay attention to the caregivers of pancreatic cancer with a heavy family burden, and pay attention to their anxiety and depression, and take corresponding measures to improve the self-efficacy of the caregivers, so as to reduce the care burden.
Communication and deniability: Moral and epistemic reactions to denials
Authors: Bonalumi Francesca , Bumin Feride Belma , Scott-Phillips Thom , Heintz Christophe
Published: January 2023

People often deny having meant what the audience understood. Such denials occur in both interpersonal and institutional contexts, such as in political discourse, the interpretation of laws and the perception of lies. In practice, denials have a wide range of possible effects on the audience, such as conversational repair, reinterpretation of the original utterance, moral judgements about the speaker, and rejection of the denial. When are these different reactions triggered? What factors make denials credible? There are surprisingly few experimental studies directly targeting such questions. Here, we present two pre-registered experiments focusing on (i) the speaker’s incentives to mislead their audience, and (ii) the impact of speaker denials on audiences’ moral and epistemic assessments of what has been said. We find that the extent to which speakers are judged responsible for the audience’s interpretations is modulated by their (the speakers’) incentives to mislead, but not by denials themselves. We also find that people are more willing than we expected to revise their interpretation of the speaker’s utterance when they learn that the ascribed meaning is false, regardless of whether the speaker is known to have had incentives to deceive their audience. In general, these findings are consistent with the idea that communicators are held responsible for the cognitive effects they trigger in their audience; rather than being responsible for, more narrowly, only the effects of what was “literally” said. In light of our findings, we present a new, cognitive analysis of how audiences react to denials, drawing in particular on the Relevance Theory approach to communication. We distinguish in particular: (a) the spontaneous and intuitive re-interpretation of the original utterance in light of a denial; (b) the attribution of responsibility to the speaker for the cognitive effects of what is communicated; and (c) the reflective attribution of a particular intention to the speaker, which include argumentative considerations, higher-order deniability, and reputational concerns. Existing experimental work, including our own, aims mostly at (a) and (b), and does not adequately control for (c). Deeper understanding of what can be credibly denied will be hindered unless and until this methodological problem is resolved.
Students’ English-medium instruction motivation in three English-medium instruction courses in China
Authors: Zhang Mengjia , Pladevall-Ballester Elisabet
Published: January 2023

English-medium instruction (EMI) has been spreading rapidly as the result of China’s movement to internationalize its HEIs (higher education institutions). However, there is a dearth of research studies on students’ motivation in EMI contexts, which should not only explore students’ Foreign Language Learning (FLL) motivation in isolation but the highlights of integrating both content and language learning as a complex. This paper specifically reports on the development of students’ EMI motivation and anxiety over one semester and compares three disciplines: International Trade, Film Production, and Project Management. Pre-post questionnaires and post focus group interviews were administered to students. Results showed that students generally had high EMI motivation and anxiety though the levels decreased from pre to post phases. The International Trade group had greater motivation, particularly instrumental motivation. Findings are discussed in relation to the existing literature and the local context. Pedagogical and institutional-level implications for policies are also provided.
Preschoolers' information search strategies: Inefficient but adaptive
Authors: Chai Kai-Xuan , Xu Fei , Swaboda Nora , Ruggeri Azzurra
Published: January 2023

Although children's sensitivity to others' informativeness emerges early in life, their active information search becomes robustly efficient only around age 10. Young children's difficulty in asking efficient questions has often been hypothesized to be linked to their developing verbal competence and growing vocabulary. In this paper, we offer for the first time a quantitative analysis of 4- to 6-year-old children's information search competence by using a non-verbal version of the 20-questions game, to gain a more comprehensive and fair picture of their active learning abilities. Our results show that, even in this version, preschoolers performed worse than simulated random agents, requiring more queries to reach the solution. However, crucially, preschoolers performed better than the simulated random agents when isolating the extra, unnecessary queries, which are made after only one hypothesis is left. When additionally isolating all the unnecessary queries, children's performance looked on par with that of the simulated optimal agents. Our study replicates and enriches previous research, showing an increase in efficiency across the preschool-aged years, but also a general lack of optimality that seems to be fundamentally driven by children's strong tendency to make unnecessary queries, rather than by their verbal immaturity. We discuss how children's non-optimal, conservative information-search strategies may be adaptive, after all.
What I know, what I want to know, what I learned: Activating EFL college students' cognitive, behavioral, and emotional engagement through structured feedback in an online environment
Authors: Al-Obaydi Liqaa Habeb , Shakki Farzaneh , Tawafak Ragad M. , Pikhart Marcel , Ugla Raed Latif
Published: January 2023

Given the spread of the COVID-19 pandemic, online classes have received special attention worldwide. Since teachers have a lasting effect on the students, the teacher–student relationship is a pivotal factor in language learning classes. Students will not be engaged in class activities if they are not sufficiently challenged by them or if they do not find them interesting, especially in online classes. From this point of view, motivating, engaging, and testing techniques in online classes are highly important. The present study attempts to demonstrate a correlation between structured feedback and three types of engagement in an online class: cognitive, behavioral, and emotional engagement. The structured feedback, which is used at the end of each lesson lets the students express what they know, what they want to know, and what they learned. The sample of the study consists of 114 EFL third-year college students. The study's findings reveal positive and significant correlations between the three types of engagement; cognitive, behavioral, and emotional, and the use of structured feedback in online classes. In a nutshell, some academic implications and recommendations are provided.
Photographic intervention effect on positive and negative affects during COVID-19: Mediating role of future self-continuity
Authors: Zhang Feng , Pi Yu , Li Xiaobao
Published: January 2023

Meaning in Life (MIL) is a protective factor that buffers the impact of COVID-19 epidemic on emotions. Our study aimed to explore whether photographic intervention based on MIL could increase Positive Affect (PA) and mitigate Negative Affect (NA), and whether Future Self-Continuity (FSC) functioned as a mediator between them. In this study, 90 college students were randomly divided into an intervention group or a control group. Participants in the intervention group were asked to take a photo and describe it every 2 days lasting 2 weeks. All the participants in the two groups were measured by the Meaning in Life Questionnaire, Positive and Negative Affect Scale, and Future Self-Continuity Scale before and after the intervention. The results showed that: (1) Before the intervention, there were no significant differences in baseline levels of MIL, PA and NA, and FSC between intervention and control groups. (2) In the intervention group, compared to pre-test, the scores of MIL, PA, and FSC of post-test increased significantly, and the score of NA of post-test decreased significantly. (3) After the intervention, the scores of MIL, PA, and FSC in the intervention group were significantly higher than those in the control group; NA score in the intervention group was significantly lower than that in the control group. (4) In terms of the difference score (post-test minus pre-test), FSC was a mediator between MIL and PA. Our study demonstrated that photographic intervention could effectively improve college students’ MIL, PA, and FSC while mitigating NA. Moreover, MIL could significantly enhance PA by the mediating role of FSC.
Exploring leadership behaviors of the coaches of champion teams
Authors: Yenen Eda , Atamturk Hakan , Atamturk Nurdan
Published: January 2023

Participation in sports at school is highly valued since it is believed that it develops students’ social skills and adds to personal development. Owing to the fact that the behaviors of the coaches have an important effect on the development of the student athletes, this quantitative study was designed with the aim to evaluate the perceptions of young student athletes of the champion school teams of their coaches’ leadership behaviors. The study also sought to determine the variables affecting these perceptions. A total of 236 young student athletes who were the members of the champion teams of basketball, handball, volleyball, futsal, badminton, wrestling and swimming in the period of 2021–2022 evaluated their coaches’ leadership qualities. One of the major results was that the young student athletes had positive perceptions of their coaches. Adopting Chelladurai’s model, training and instruction was found to be particularly important in achieving high performance. More specifically, the Mann Whitney U test results revealed that the athletes’ perceptions differed by gender and by being involved in team or individual sports; however, Kruskal-Wallis test revealed perceptions did not differ by age. The significance of this study lies in its practical implications for sport coaches, coaching practice, physical education teachers and practitioners in sport psychology.
The journey to reporting child protection violations in sport: Stakeholder perspectives
Authors: Tuakli-Wosornu Yetsa A. , Kirby Sandi L. , Tivas Anne , Rhind Daniel
Published: January 2023

Sport is a context within which human and children’s rights should be respected, promoted, and protected. Yet, research and high-profile cases demonstrate that this is not always the case. To understand the existence (or not) of reporting mechanisms for child protection violations in sport, as well as how existing reporting and response systems operate, the authors, with the support of the Centre for Sport and Human Rights, conducted research on current abuse disclosure and reporting pathways in sport. The purpose was two-fold: to describe global child protection systems and reporting mechanisms, and to identify major areas of stakeholder concern, in terms of effective case resolution, healing, and children’s experiences along reporting pathways in sport. Two sources of evidence were tapped. First, a rapid evidence assessment consisting of a literature review and an exploratory survey with 112 global stakeholders was conducted. Second, focus group interviews informed by the evidence assessment were held with nine athletes with lived experiences of abuse in youth sport and 13 global human and children’s rights experts primarily working outside of sport. Through this emergent research, a ‘pathway’ or ‘journey’ to incident reporting in sport was developed, summarized as 5 ‘Rs’: Readiness, Recognition, disclosure and Reporting, Response, and Remedy, which are similar but not identical to existing trauma frameworks. Each stage of the reporting journey appears to be influenced by a range of contextual, organizational, relational, and individual factors. All told, the disclosure of child protection violations in sport is a complex and dynamic process where myriad factors interact to influence outcomes, including healing. Key recommendations include: (a) establishing a global Safety Net Environment in sport practice with varying applications from region to region, (b) building bridges with specific partner organizations to enhance child protection and safeguarding work in sport and (c) bringing safeguarding to unregulated sporting environments.
Cross-cultural adaptation of Chinese students in the United States: Acculturation strategies, sociocultural, psychological, and academic adaptation
Authors: Lai Hongling , Wang Dianjian , Ou Xiancai
Published: January 2023

This study was conducted with the primary purpose to gain a comprehensive understanding of Chinese students’ acculturation by examining the effects of their acculturation strategies, sociocultural, psychological adaptation on the academic adaptation. The total number of 315 international Chinese students studying in the United States participated in an online survey. The mid-point split method was used to classify the four acculturation strategies among Chinese students. The results of a Chi-square test, ANOVA analyses and hierarchical regressions reveal that separation was the most preferred acculturation strategy by the Chinese students while marginalization was the least desirable. Chinese students did the best in sociocultural adaptation but the worst in academic adaptation. However, students who achieved a good sociocultural adaptation encountered unexpected problems with their psychological adaptation. Findings also indicate that international Chinese students’ preference for separation and marginalization was associated with a better psychological and academic adaptation while integration and assimilation strategy was associated with a better sociocultural adaptation. Their academic adaptation can be predicted significantly by their psychological adaptation, not by their sociocultural adaptation.
Effects of prenatal polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons and childhood material hardship on reading achievement in school-age children: A preliminary study
Authors: Greenwood Paige B. , Cohen Jacob W. , Liu Ran , Hoepner Lori , Rauh Virginia , Herbstman Julie , Pagliaccio David , Margolis Amy E.
Published: January 2023

Background

Children from socioeconomically disadvantaged backgrounds are at elevated risk for reading problems. They are also likely to live in neighborhoods with high levels of air pollution and to experience material hardship. Despite these risk factors, the links between prenatal chemical exposures, socioeconomic adversities, and reading problems in youth from disadvantaged backgrounds remain understudied. Here we examine associations between prenatal exposure to polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAH), a common air pollutant, and reading skills, and determine if this relationship is exacerbated by material hardship among Black and/or Latinx children who have been followed as part of a longitudinal urban birth cohort.

Methods

Mothers and their children, who were participants in a prospective birth cohort followed by the Columbia Center for Children’s Environmental Health, were recruited for the current study. Personal prenatal PAH exposure was measured during the third-trimester of pregnancy using a personal air monitoring backpack. Mothers reported their level of material hardship when their child was age 5 and children completed measures of pseudoword and word reading [Woodcock Johnson III Tests of Achievement (WJ-III) Basic Reading Index] at age 7. We used multiple linear regression to examine the effects of the interaction between prenatal PAH and material hardship on Basic Reading Index, controlling for ethnicity/race, sex, birthweight, presence of a smoker in the home (prenatal), and maternal education (prenatal) (N= 53).

Results

A prenatal PAH × material hardship interaction significantly associated with WJ-III Basic Reading Index scores at age 7 (β = −0.347,t(44) = −2.197,p= 0.033). Exploratory analyses suggested that this effect was driven by untimed pseudoword decoding (WJ-III Word Attack: β = −0.391,t(44) = −2.550,p= 0.014).

Conclusion

Environmental chemical exposures can be particularly toxic during the prenatal period when the fetal brain undergoes rapid development, making it uniquely vulnerable to chemical perturbations. These data highlight the interactive effects of environmental neurotoxicants and unmet basic needs on children’s acquisition of reading skill, specifically phonemic processing. Such findings identify potentially modifiable environmental risk factors implicated in reading problems in children from economically disadvantaged backgrounds.
The role and need for psychological support in the treatment of adolescents and young people suffering from type 1 diabetes
Authors: Małachowska Magdalena , Gosławska Zuzanna , Rusak Ewa , Jarosz-Chobot Przemysława
Published: January 2023

Psychological support might be perceived as one of the most important factors in the treatment of people suffering from type 1 diabetes, particularly among vulnerable groups such as adolescents and young people. Problems arising from extreme pressure put on young patients, high expectations, and specific limitations associated with diabetes often reflect in negative wellbeing and affect patients' behavior, resulting in lower self-esteem, mood swings, depression, or even eating disorders. Therefore, the need for a more holistic approach to the treatment of diabetes and caring about psychological support can be observed, which may contribute to better functioning and management of the disease. Differentiation of certain approach methods such as the positive approach (PA) discussed in the text may help young patients in motivation and coping with their disease as well as accepting limitations caused by type 1 diabetes. This would decrease the risk of potential revolt against medical recommendations, common for patients at the mentioned age, and help raise awareness of the problem. Maintaining life balance through undertaking regular physical activities and being open to new strategies such as telenursing can also result in the improvement of glycemic control. The studies presented have proven the great effectiveness of personalized care adjusted to the patient with psychological support, as well as the invaluable role of education in diabetes, which includes not only standard procedures such as calculating an appropriate insulin dose but also the invention of effective coping mechanisms, which influence patients' performance and wellbeing.
Incongruent visual cues affect the perception of Mandarin vowel but not tone
Authors: Hong Shanhu , Wang Rui , Zeng Biao
Published: January 2023

Over the recent few decades, a large number of audiovisual speech studies have been focusing on the visual cues of consonants and vowels but neglecting those relating to lexical tones. In this study, we investigate whether incongruent audiovisual information interfered with the perception of lexical tones. We found that, for both Chinese and English speakers, incongruence between auditory and visemic mouth shape (i.e., visual form information) significantly interfered with reaction time and reduced the identification accuracy of vowels. However, incongruent lip movements (i.e., visual timing information) did not interfere with the perception of auditory lexical tone. We conclude that, in contrast to vowel perception, auditory tone perception seems relatively impervious to visual congruence cues, at least under these restricted laboratory conditions. The salience of visual form and timing information is discussed based on this finding.
The impact of public policy of family doctor contracting on medical expenses from the perspective of residents at community level in China
Authors: Li Lele , He Xiaotong , Zhang Caihua
Published: January 2023

Objective

To analyze the impact of the contract of family doctors in community-level in Beijing on residents’ medical expenses, so as to explore the efficacy of family physician contract service to facilitate the hierarchical treatment system. This study pioneeringly used the panel data of medical records and medical insurance settlement details provided by a community hospital in Beijing. By analyzing the correlation between family doctors and medical expenses, the study provided empirical support for the advancement of family doctor contracting in China.

Methods

Using the panel data of medical records and medical insurance settlement details of 5,851 residents in a community hospital in Beijing from January 2018 to May 2021 for a total of 41 months, mixed-effects model and random-effects model were used for analysis.

Results

The contract of family doctor has significantly increased residents’ medical expenses. The types of medical insurance and whether patients with chronic diseases have a significant impact on residents’ medical expenses.

Conclusion

Family doctor contracting increases the probability of residents seeing a doctor in community hospitals. Community family doctor contracting services should be vigorously promoted, especially for special groups such as chronic disease patients and the elderly. The increase in the contracting rate of family doctors will become an important starting point for promoting hierarchical medical system and increasing the primary treatment at the community-level.