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Open access academic lectures are potential sources for incidental vocabulary learning. These lectures are available in various formats (transcripts, audios, videos, and video with captions), but no studies have compared the learning of vocabulary in these lectures through different input modes. This study adopted a pretest-posttest design to compare learning at the meaning recall level of 50 words in the same academic lecture through five input modes: reading, listening, reading while listening, viewing, and viewing with captions. One hundred sixty-five English for Academic Purposes learners in China were assigned to five experimental groups and a control group. The experimental groups received the treatment with the assigned input mode while the control group received no treatment. Results show that although learning occurred through all input modes, only viewing significantly contributed to the learning gains. Frequency of occurrence and type of vocabulary significantly predicted the learning gains, but the type of verbal elaboration and nonverbal elaboration did not. This study provides further insights into the value of academic lectures for incidental vocabulary learning and supports the multimedia learning theory and its principles.

This study quantifies second language (L2) knowledge of aural single words and aural phrasal verbs (PVs) and investigates their relationship with L2 listening comprehension. An aural first language (L1) meaning recall test format was used to measure knowledge of 81 single-word and 81 PV target items (with equivalent frequencies of occurrence) among 224 Chinese tertiary-level learners of English as a Foreign Language (EFL). Participants' L2 listening was measured with a version of the Test of English for International Communication (TOEIC). Participants' aural single-word and aural PV knowledge were compared, and their relationship with L2 listening were examined using correlation and multiple regression analysis. These analyses also included comparison between participants of relatively high (Independent Users) and relatively low (Basic Users) L2 listening proficiency. Although regression modelling showed that single-word test scores were most predictive of L2 listening comprehension, it also showed that PV test scores made a substantial contribution to the model's predictive capacity. In combination, single-word and PV test scores could predict 42.7% of the variance observed in the listening scores. The theoretical and practical implications of these results are discussed.

This study investigated the effects of reading bilingual books on vocabulary learning. Eighty-two Chinese English as a foreign language (EFL) learners read different versions of the same text: English-only text, English text with target words glossed, English text followed by the Chinese text, and Chinese text followed by the English text. A pretest, immediate posttest, and delayed posttest were used to measure incidental vocabulary learning. The findings showed that (a) all four groups made significant gains in lexical knowledge, (b) those who read glossed text and bilingual text had significantly durable knowledge gain, (c) the participants who read glossed text or read the English version of the text before the Chinese version had significantly higher scores text in the immediate posttest than the participants who read the English-only text, and (d) the participants who read bilingual texts had significantly higher scores on the delayed posttest than those who read the English-only text.

Educational authorities across countries are concerned to promote the well-being of their children. We discuss the approach that two systems, China and New Zealand, have adopted to support the development of well-being. The Chinese system has roots in the Confucian education tradition, Westernization Movement, and Soviet education lessons. It is characterised by a specialist role, the Banzhuren. The contemporary New Zealand system includes the explicit identification of values and competencies for well-being in curricula and system data about development during the school years. Both systems for promoting have weaknesses and strengths and we argue can learn from each other.

Academic lectures are potential sources of vocabulary learning for second language learners studying at universities where English is the medium of instruction, as well as those in English for Academic Purposes (EAP) programs. Topic-related vocabulary is likely to occur frequently in academic texts, and academic speech consists of a reasonable proportion of frequently occurring sequences of words. Yet no intervention studies have explored the potential for learning single words and collocations through viewing a video of an unmodified academic lecture. To address this gap, this study collected data from 55 EAP learners in China, following a pretest-posttest design. The experimental group (n = 28) watched a video of an academic lecture in which 50 target single words and 19 target collocations were presented while the control group (n = 27) received no treatment. Results show that viewing the lecture led to significant learning gains of single words at the meaning recall level and collocations at the form recognition level. Frequency of occurrence in the lecture appeared to significantly contribute to the learning of single words but not the learning of collocations. Prior knowledge of general vocabulary appeared to make no significant contribution to the learning of single words and collocations.

Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is a neurodevelopmental disorder characterized by cognitive deficits associated with attention. Prior studies have revealed the potential impact of ADHD on basic perception and cognitive ability in patients with ADHD. In this study, bilateral posterior P1 and N1 were measured in 122 Chinese children aged 7-12 years (64 with ADHD) to investigate the developmental characteristics of early perception during visual processing in school-age children with ADHD. For children with ADHD, a larger P1 activity with an atypical developmental pattern was evoked and observed for the visual search performance. These findings offer new insights into the mechanisms of cognitive developmental deficits and intervention techniques in children with ADHD.

Purpose: This paper aims to report and analyze the lessons learnt from a case study of the implementation of the move from onsite to online learning at a Sino-Foreign higher education institution. Design/methodology/approach: This paper reports a case study based on an analysis of three elements of the move to digital education during the COVID-19 pandemic. In suggesting three elements, it argues that the first and most immediate move away from onsite teaching should be thought of as emergency response teaching, and it is the lessons learnt from this vital and necessary stage that have informed the subsequent implementation of a more digitalization process. Findings: The case study identifies the journey that the university is going through to deliver digitalized education, and how the pandemic hastened what had already been started. It illustrates how the pandemic has been useful in highlighting where we are, what decisions have been made and what still needs to be done with regard to readiness for the disruption likely by Industry 4.0. Research limitations/implications: The study was conducted at one institution, which along with eight other similar institutions is unique within China. Findings, especially the processes of making decisions, while relevant to the wider discussion on digitalization and Industry 4.0, should also be considered in this light. Practical implications: While the focus of the paper is on COVID-19 and Rapid Digitalization of Learning and Teaching, the main implication is that universities need to better prepare their teaching staff for digitalized education, especially if they are wanting to engage with disruption brought about by Industry 4.0. Originality/value: The paper is based on a single university case study of a rather unique university within China. The discussion illustrates the need for flexibility and decisiveness in making key decisions on managing disruption, but with strategic direction in mind, illustrated in the study by COVID-19, but with future digitalization initiatives also to the fore.

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to explore factors that effect nursing students' decisions of whether to take rural jobs in China. Methods: An exploratory interview study was conducted in China during May and June 2011. Eleven final year nursing students were purposively recruited from four nursing schools in one eastern area in China. The semi-structured interviews were audiotaped, transcribed and then analysed using thematic analysis approach. Findings: Four major themes emerged from these interview data: (a) students' perspectives on rural nursing posts; (b) student's perspectives on rural communities; (c) students' background and personal concerns; and (d) government recruitment policies of rural nurses. Participants viewed rural nursing posts as positions with lower financial rewards, lower social status and fewer opportunities for professional development. They also perceived rural nursing as less demanding and less stressful. Rural background and altruistic personality contribute to students' intentions to take a rural job. Family members' disapproval of rural jobs was a major barrier to nursing students taking a rural job. Conclusions: The perceived low social status of rural nurses and family members' disproval of rural work were unique factors revealed in Chinese context that had negative impacts on students' intentions to work in rural places.

This study used a pretest-posttest-delayed posttest design at one-week intervals to determine the extent to which written, audio, and audiovisual L2 input contributed to incidental vocabulary learning. Seventy-six university students learning EFL in China were randomly assigned to four groups. Each group was presented with the input from the same television documentary in different modes: reading the printed transcript, listening to the documentary, viewing the documentary, and a nontreatment control condition. Checklist and multiple-choice tests were designed to measure knowledge of target words. The results showed that L2 incidental vocabulary learning occurred through reading, listening, and viewing, and that the gain was retained in all modes of input one week after encountering the input. However, no significant differences were found between the three modes on the posttests indicating that each mode of input yielded similar amounts of vocabulary gain and retention. A significant relationship was found between prior vocabulary knowledge and vocabulary learning, but not between frequency of occurrence and vocabulary learning. The study provides further support for the use of L2 television programs for language learning.

This article demonstrates how a teaching case study approach can benefit museum studies courses. It takes as its focus the widely reported rescue of a boys' football team from a flooded cave in Thailand (2018). The success of this multinational effort led to immediate calls for the establishment of a "living museum" dedicated to remembering what became known as the "Tham Luang cave rescue." Discussion of the potential form and function of this envisaged museum plus its wider ramifications formed a key component of a newly validated international M.A. program taught in the U.K. and China by local academics and practitioners. Issues addressed include collections management, interpretation and display as well as ethical considerations relating to funding and forward planning. These were debated through groupwork, student presentations and report writing. The article reflects on this experience and the lessons it has for studying museums. It advocates the use of other topical events as the basis for similar teaching case studies on the grounds that this best equips students with the knowledge and skills required in the workplace.

Ideal family sizes remain at or above two in most low-fertility settings, but sub-replacement fertility ideals have been reported for urban China. The presence of restrictive family planning policies has led to a debate as to whether such ideals are genuine. This study exploits the ending of the one-child policy and the beginning of a universal two-child policy in October 2015 to investigate whether relaxing the restrictions led to an increase in ideal family size. We apply difference-in-differences and individual-level fixed-effect models to longitudinal data from a near-nationwide survey. For married individuals aged 20–39, relaxing the restrictions from one to two children increased the mean ideal family size by around 0.2 and the proportion who desired two or more children by around 19 percentage points. Findings suggest that although reported ideal family sizes have been reduced by policy restrictions, sub-replacement ideal family sizes in urban China appear to be genuine. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper aims to raise awareness of the importance of attributional beliefs in relation to the educational outcomes of students with a learning disability (LD) in China. The study presented in this paper examined the attributional beliefs that Chinese pre-service teachers had developed towards students with LD, in comparison to students without LD. The findings show that Chinese pre-service teachers did not differ in their attributional beliefs between students with and without LD. Implications from the findings, and future research recommendations are also presented. (Contains 4 tables and 4 figures.)

This study aims to investigate the differences of attributional responses to students with and without learning disabilities (LD) between pre- and in-service teachers in mainland China. A total of 204 teachers (101 pre-service and 103 in-service teachers) were surveyed using vignettes and Likert scale questions to ascertain their responses to students with and without LD. Drawing from Weiner's attributional theory, teachers' feedback, frustration, sympathy and expectation were measured. A multivariate analysis of variance (MANOVA) was executed to compare pre-service and in-service teacher responses regarding students with and without LD. The findings showed that pre-service teachers experienced significantly lower frustration than in-service teachers to students with and without LD. Moreover, the teachers gave more positive feedback but felt less sympathy to students with LD who exerted high effort. These findings implied that pre-service tended to foster a more positive attribution style. Implications and recommendations for research and practice are also presented.

Claims of the importance of having positive perceptions and expectations of students with learning disabilities (LD) have been repeatedly made over recent years. This article aims to raise awareness of the importance of attributional beliefs in relation to the educational outcomes of students with LD in Australia and China. Australian and Chinese trainee teachers (N = 240) who were at the end of their training were surveyed with vignettes and Likert-scale questions to ascertain their responses to students with and without LD. Overall, the findings suggest that Chinese trainee teachers' attributional pattern is more positive than that of their Australian counterparts. Implications and recommendations for research and practice are also presented.

Paleomagnetic records of middle Neoproterozoic (820 to 780 Ma) rocks display high amplitude directional variations that lead to large discrepancies in paleogeographic reconstructions. Hypotheses to explain these data include rapid true polar wander (TPW), a geomagnetic field geometry that deviates from a predominantly axial dipole field, a hyper‐reversing field (>10 reversals/Ma), and/or undiagnosed remagnetization. To test these hypotheses, we collected 1,057 oriented cores over a 85 m stratigraphic succession in the Laoshanya Formation (Yangjiaping, Hunan, China). High precision U‐Pb dating of two intercalated tuff layers constrain the age of the sediments between 809 and 804 Ma. Thermal demagnetization isolates three magnetization components residing in hematite which are not time‐progressive but conflated throughout the section. All samples possess a north and downward directed component in geographic coordinates at temperatures up to 660°C that is ascribed to a Cretaceous overprint. Two components isolated above 660°C reveal distinct directional clusters: one is interpreted as a depositional remanence, while the other appears to be the result of a mid‐Paleozoic (460 to 420 Ma) remagnetization, which is likely widespread throughout South China. The high‐temperature directions are subtly dependent on lithology; microscopic and rock magnetic analyses identify multiple generations of hematite that vary in concentration and distinguish the magnetization components. A comparison with other middle Neoproterozoic paleomagnetic studies in the region indicates that the sudden changes in paleomagnetic directions, used elsewhere to support the rapid TPW hypothesis (ca. 805 Ma), are better explained by mixtures of primary and remagnetized components, and/or vertical axis rotations. Plain Language Summary: Paleomagnetic directions recorded in 820 to 780 million year old rocks from South China exhibit large amplitude changes that vary rapidly, which have been interpreted to indicate extraordinarily fast motion of Earth's crust and mantle, up to 90° within a 5 million year span, with respect to the spin axis of the core. This hypothetical phenomenon, called rapid true polar wander (TPW), could be responsible for dramatic global environmental change at that time. To test this theory, we collected over 1,000 samples from a well exposed section where the incongruous directions are found. Our measurements suggest that some of the rocks acquired a new magnetic signal during a pervasive remagnetization event in South China around 440 million years ago, long after original deposition of the rocks. New hematite growth has a demagnetization spectrum that partially overlaps or completely obscures the original magnetic signal, which was previously unrecognized. This implies that rapid TPW is likely an artifact of magnetic overprinting in ancient rocks from South China. Our results suggest that South China was in a relatively stable position at high latitudes 809 to 804 million years ago. We find no evidence to support exceptionally fast continental drift or an abnormal geomagnetic field geometry during that time. Key Points: High‐precision ID‐TIMS U‐Pb dating yields deposition ages of the Laoshanya Formation (Yangjiaping, South China) between 809 and 804 MaDiscordant paleomagnetic directions in the red beds are a conflation of three temporally distinct field records residing in hematiteOur results do not support rapid true polar wander or abnormal magnetic field geometry around 805 Ma [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Currently dominant human capital and knowledge economy rhetoric holds that education can raise wages, empower workers and enhance working conditions. Education, however, can also have the opposite impact in the workplace and labour market, an impact that has received only limited attention. In this article we draw together a broad range of literature focusing on youth and entry-level employment in order to analyse the different frames of status, process and promise in which education serves not as a "premium" but as a "penalty", used to diminish worker power and claims to good conditions of employment in the present.

This preliminary multiple case study examined the behavioral outcomes of neurocognitive training on children with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (AD/HD) in China, as well as parent acceptance of the treatment. The training approach targeted working memory, impulse control, and attention/relaxation (via brain electrical activity). Outcome measures included overt behavior as rated by parents and teachers, AD/HD symptom frequency, and parent opinion/feedback. Training was completed by five individuals and delivered via a themed computer game with electroencephalogram (EEG) input via a wireless, single-channel, dry-sensor, portable measurement device. The objective (i.e., training outcomes and EEG) and subjective (i.e., parent ratings/feedback and teacher ratings) data suggested that use of the neurocognitive training resulted in reduced AD/HD behaviors and improvement in socially meaningful outcomes. The parents expressed satisfaction with the training procedure and outcomes. It is concluded that the innovative neurocognitive training approach is effective for improving behavior and reducing symptoms of AD/HD for children in China.

Objectives Low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) are particularly vulnerable to the threat of antimicrobial resistance (AMR). Use of antibiotics to treat COVID-19 patients during the pandemic may have contributed to increasing the AMR burden, but systematic evidence is lacking. Methods We searched Web of Science, EMBASE, PubMed, China National Knowledge Infrastructure (CNKI) and VIP databases from 1 December 2019 to 31 March 2021. Interventional and observation studies across all settings that reported antibiotic use in at least 10 COVID-19 patients were included. We restricted publications to English and Chinese languages. Screening and data extraction were undertaken by at least two independent reviewers. Results were synthesized using random-effects meta-analyses. Subgroup analyses and meta-regression were used to explore heterogeneities. This review was registered with PROSPERO (CRD42021288291). Results We included 284 studies involving 210 611 participants in 19 countries. The antibiotic prescribing rates (APRs) in COVID-19 inpatients were 71.7% (95% CI 66.7%–76.5%) in China and 86.5% (77.1%–93.9%) in other LMICs, respectively. APR was lower in mild/moderate cases in China [66.9% (57.9%–75.4%) compared with 91.8% (71.4%–100%) in other LMICs]. High APRs were found among pregnant women and the elderly in China. Disparities in APRs of other patient groups were identified. In studies reporting bacterial infections, the prevalence was 17.3% (10.0%–25.9%) in China and 24.9% (0.1%–68.8%) in other LMICs. Several antibiotics on the WHO 'Watch' and 'Reserve' lists were prescribed frequently in LMICs. Conclusions Inappropriate antibiotic use and high prevalence of antibiotic prescribing were found in COVID-19 inpatients in many LMICs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The relationship between Sn–Ag mineralization and mantle magmatism is a topic of high interest in current ore deposit research. Here, we investigate porphyry-, skarn-, and cassiterite-sulfide type Sn-polymetallic deposits associated with granitoids and vein-type Ag–Pb–Zn deposits hosted in sub-volcanic rocks in the southern Great Xing'an Range (SGXR), northeast China, as a case example. We use He, Ar, and S isotopes and isotopic end-member simulation calculations to determine the contribution of mantle-derived fluids/melts to the ore mineralization. Our He–Ar isotope data demonstrate that the ore-forming fluids are mixtures of shallow crust-derived fluid containing radiogenic 4He but no radiogenic 40Ar and magmatic fluids with mantle-derived 3He and 40Ar. The Pb–Zn–Ag deposits have a higher contribution of magmatic volatiles than the Sn-polymetallic deposits. Sulfide δ34S values of − 2.7 to − 0.6‰ in the Pb–Zn–Ag deposits are consistent with a magmatic sulfur source, whereas sulfides with δ34S values of − 12.2 to − 0.15‰ in the Sn-polymetallic deposits signal a possibly bimodal source of sulfur, i.e., crustal light sulfur mixed with magmatic sulfur. The noble gas compositions of the ore fluids are controlled by crustal thickness, high 3He fluxes (24 to 404 at/s/cm2), and low residence time (1 to 18 Myr) of He in the asthenosphere below the SGXR. Non-equilibrium open-system magma degassing is evidenced by the range of elevated values of 4He/40Ar* ratios (4.8–127). The 3He/heat ratio of the ore fluids from the Sn and Pb–Zn–Ag deposits overlap (0.01–0.76 × 10−2 cm3 STP J−1 (cubic centimeter at standard temperature and pressure per joule) and 0.02–1.08 × 10−2 cm3 STP J−1, respectively), indicating a consequence of conduction of mantle-derived heat across the magma-hydrothermal interface. Furthermore, an increasing abundance of Sn reserves in the SGXR deposits can be equated with an increase in the mantle-derived He component in the ore fluids. These findings suggest that a continuous flux of mantle-derived fluids/melts plays an essential role in Sn–Ag–Pb–Zn mineralization. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper aims to raise awareness of the importance of attributional beliefs in relation to the educational outcomes of students with learning disabilities (LD) in China. The study examined the attributional beliefs of 103 elementary and secondary school teachers towards students with LD, in comparison to students without LD. The findings show that Chinese teachers differed little in their attributional beliefs between students with and without LD, and generally follow a positive attribution cycle for students with and without LD. Implications from the findings, and future research recommendations are also presented. (Contains 4 tables.)

Qualitative semi-structured interviews were conducted with service providers regarding the current healthcare provision and education services for children with Autism Spectrum Conditions (ASC) and their families in mainland China. 10 service providers described the current policy and identified unmet needs within current practice. Providers perceived that children with ASC were an important but under-served group in mainland China. Two levels of service provision related to ASC were identified: (1) healthcare services mainly provided by government authorities; (2) education services mainly provided by the parents of children with ASC. Little cooperation was reported between the two types of providers. The structure of service provision for ASC is under-developed. There is an important need to establish coherent healthcare and education policies to support children with ASC and their families. (Contains 1 table and 1 figure.)

Background: China has one of the highest hepatitis B virus (HBV) disease burdens worldwide and tracking progress toward the 2030 HBV elimination targets is essential. This study aimed to assess the impact of biomedical interventions (i.e., adult vaccination, screening and treatment) on the adult HBV epidemic, estimate the time for HBV elimination, and evaluate the cost-effectiveness of the interventions in China. Methods: A deterministic compartmental model was developed to project the HBV epidemic from 2022 to 2050 and estimate the time to meet elimination targets under four intervention scenarios. Cost-effectiveness was calculated using incremental cost per quality-adjusted life year (QALY) gained, i.e., average cost-effectiveness ratio (CER). Results: Under the status quo, there will be 42.09–45.42 million adults living with HBV in 2050 and 11.04–14.36 million HBV-related deaths cumulatively from 2022 to 2050. Universal vaccination would cumulatively avert 3.44–3.95 million new cases at a cost of US$1027–1261/QALY gained. The comprehensive strategy would cumulatively avert 4.67–5.24 million new chronic cases and 1.39–1.85 million deaths, expediting the realization of the elimination targets forward to 2049. This strategy was also cost-effective with an average CER of US$20,796–26,685/QALY and a saved healthcare cost of US$16.10–26.84 per person. Conclusion: China is not on track to meet the elimination targets but comprehensive biomedical interventions can accelerate the realization of the targets. A comprehensive strategy is cost-effective and cost-saving, which should be promoted in primary care infrastructures. Universal adult vaccination may be appropriate in the near future considering practical feasibility. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

There is an increasing interest in non-pharmacological treatments for children with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (AD/HD), especially digital techniques that can be remotely delivered, such as neurofeedback (NFT) and computerized cognitive training (CCT). In this study, a randomized controlled design was used to compare training outcomes between remotely delivered NFT, CCT, and combined NFT/CCT training approaches. A total of 121 children with AD/HD were randomly assigned to the NFT, CCT, or NFT/CCT training groups, with 80 children completing the training program. Pre- and post-training symptoms (primary outcome), executive and daily functions were measured using questionnaires as well as resting EEG during eyes-closed (EC) and eyes-open (EO) conditions. After 3 months of training, the inattentive and hyperactive/impulsive symptoms, inhibition, working memory, learning and life skills of the three groups of children were significantly improved. The objective EEG activity showed a consistent increase in the relative alpha power in the EO condition among the three training groups. Training differences were not observed between groups. There was a positive correlation between pre-training EO relative alpha power and symptom improvement scores of inattention and hyperactivity/impulsivity, as well as a negative correlation between pre-training inattention scores and change in EO relative alpha. This study verified the training effects of NFT, CCT, and combined NFT/CCT training in children with AD/HD and revealed an objective therapeutic role for individual relative alpha activity. The verified feasibility and effectiveness of home-based digital training support promotion and application of digital remote training. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

DNA barcoding has greatly facilitated studies of taxonomy, biodiversity, biological conservation, and ecology. Here, we establish a reliable DNA barcoding library for Chinese snakes, unveiling hidden diversity with implications for taxonomy, and provide a standardized tool for conservation management. Our comprehensive study includes 1638 cytochrome c oxidase subunit I (COI) sequences from Chinese snakes that correspond to 17 families, 65 genera, 228 named species (80.6% of named species) and 36 candidate species. A barcode gap analysis reveals gaps, where all nearest neighbour distances exceed maximum intraspecific distances, in 217 named species and all candidate species. Three species‐delimitation methods (ABGD, sGMYC, and sPTP) recover 320 operational taxonomic units (OTUs), of which 192 OTUs correspond to named and candidate species. Twenty‐eight other named species share OTUs, such as Azemiops feae and A. kharini, Gloydius halys, G. shedaoensis, and G. intermedius, and Bungarus multicinctus and B. candidus, representing inconsistencies most probably caused by imperfect taxonomy, recent and rapid speciation, weak taxonomic signal, introgressive hybridization, and/or inadequate phylogenetic signal. In contrast, 43 species and candidate species assign to two or more OTUs due to having large intraspecific distances. If most OTUs detected in this study reflect valid species, including the 36 candidate species, then 30% more species would exist than are currently recognized. Several OTU divergences associate with known biogeographic barriers, such as the Taiwan Strait. In addition to facilitating future studies, this reliable and relatively comprehensive reference database will play an important role in the future monitoring, conservation, and management of Chinese snakes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Validity is a central principle of assessment relating to the appropriateness of the uses and interpretations of test results. Usually, one of the inferences that we wish to make is that the score reflects the extent of a student's learning in a given domain. Thus, it is important to establish that the assessment tasks elicit performances that reflect the intended constructs. This research explored the use of three methods for evaluating whether there are threats to validity in relation to the constructs elicited in international A level geography examinations: (a) Rasch analysis; (b) analysis of processes expected and apparent when students answer questions; and (c) qualitative analysis of responses to items identified as potentially problematic. The results provided strong evidence to support validity with regard to the elicitation of constructs although one question part was identified as a threat to validity. Strengths and weaknesses of the methods can be identified. (Contains 3 figures and 1 table.)

Students (N=302) in Chinese elementary schools were assessed regarding their academic delay of gratification (ADOG) and reported the time they devoted to non-school study and playtime during an extended interval prior to taking a high-stakes final exam. Students high compared those low in ADOG were more likely to spend time studying and less time playing several weeks prior to the exam. Growth curve analyses verified, however, that this difference diminished as a function of the temporal proximity to the exam, and that the group differences were non-existent just before the exam. Associations between ADOG and students' academic motivation and use of learning strategies replicated those obtained previously with adults in the USA. Results contribute to the general literatures on volition, homework and the dynamics of conflicting goals and action tendencies. (Contains 5 tables and 2 figures.)

This research presents a case study of a joint business degree program between an Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business International (AACSB-I) accredited business school in the United States and a Chinese PhD granting partner university. The case investigates the impact of a U.S.-based curriculum, taught by U.S. instructors and which uses all English instruction on Chinese student perceptions of program emphases and satisfaction. It compares these perceptions with those of U.S. sister students. The comparison reveals program dissatisfaction among Chinese students when contrasted to U.S. students and for the most part a failure to attend to the program emphases of the West. Reasons for the departures are explored and strategies for improvement are developed. (Contains 1 figure, 6 tables, and 2 endnotes.)

A picture-word interference paradigm with visually presented distractors was used to investigate the independent effects of orthographic and phonological facilitation on Mandarin monosyllabic word production. Both the stimulus-onset asynchrony (SOA) and the picture-word relationship along different lexical dimensions were varied. We observed a pure orthographic facilitation effect and a pure phonological facilitation effect, and found that the patterns of orthographic and phonological facilitation were different. Of most interest, the additive effects of orthographic and phonological facilitation at -150-ms and 0-ms SOAs indicated that the orthographic effect was largely independent of the phonological effect on spoken picture naming. We argue that the present findings are useful for constraining theoretical models of language production and contend that theoretical models of word production need to consider independent effects of orthography and phonology on picture naming, at least in Chinese. (Contains 2 tables and 2 figures.)

Palaeomagnetic investigations often encounter multiple magnetization components, where secondary processes have obscured, partially overprinted or completely replaced the original (primary) remanent magnetization. Identification and separation of primary and secondary magnetizations are generally carried out with principal component analysis of stepwise demagnetization data. However, rocks may contain multiple generations of magnetic minerals with overlapping unblocking ranges that complicate the discrimination of components when applying best-fitting line procedures. Developing a method to differentiate and quantify contributions of overlapping magnetic components using directional data is therefore highly desirable. This paper presents a method to unmix stepwise demagnetization data using an inverse modelling approach. We show that the method is capable of accurately resolving two or three magnetic components with overlapping or superimposed unblocking spectra as well as quantifying absolute component contributions. The method depends on accurate identification and selection of end-member components prior to analysis; in doing so, the method can help palaeomagnetists understand how magnetization components combine to explain their data. We show that the dilution of one component by more than ca. 25 per cent from another component can result in linear demagnetization curves that decay to the origin on orthogonal plots, but whose best-fitting direction can significantly deviate from both end-members. The efficacy of the method is demonstrated through examples of demagnetization data from hematite and/or magnetite-bearing sandstones from China. This method can be broadly applied to all multicomponent magnetization problems in palaeomagnetism. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: Research on muscularity‐oriented disordered eating has grown in recent years. However, the bulk of this research has focused on men and Western populations. Limited research is available in non‐Western populations of women (e.g., China) which is likely due to the lack of valid instruments in these populations. Thus, the current study aimed to describe the validity and reliability of the Muscularity‐Oriented Eating Test (MOET) in Chinese women. Method: Two online surveys (survey one: n = 599, Mage = 29.49, SD = 7.36; survey two: n = 201, Mage = 28.42, SD = 7.76) were conducted to explore the psychometric properties of the MOET in Chinese women. In survey one, the factor structure of the MOET was examined via exploratory and confirmatory factor analyses (EFA and CFA). Internal consistency reliability and convergent and incremental validity of the MOET were also assessed. In survey two, test–retest reliability across a 2‐week interval was examined. Results: EFA and CFA provided support for the unidimensional factor structure of the MOET in Chinese adult women. The MOET presented good internal consistency and test–retest reliability and convergent validity via large, positive associations with theoretically related constructs (e.g., thinness‐oriented disordered eating, drive for muscularity, and psychosocial impairment). Finally, muscularity‐oriented disordered eating described unique variance in psychosocial impairment, providing support for the incremental validity of the MOET. Discussion: The sound psychometric structure of the MOET was supported in Chinese women. Continued research is needed to describe muscularity‐oriented disordered eating in Chinese women to contribute to this significant gap in the literature. Public Significance: The Muscularity‐Oriented Eating Test (MOET) is a measure specifically developed for assessing muscularity‐oriented disordered eating. This study examined the validity and reliability of the MOET in Chinese women. The results showed that the MOET had sound validity and reliability in Chinese women. Thus, the MOET is a valuable tool for advancing the understanding of the muscularity‐oriented disordered eating of women from the Chinese context. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper presents the Located Making Framework to support small maker enterprises in China who employ craft making practices by helping ensure (a) they are fully utilising local support opportunities; (b) their decision-making aligns with the fundamental values driving the enterprise; (c) they align with principles of sustainability; and (d) design opportunities are identified. Using constructivist methods (observations, interviews etc.), primary data was collected in the Yellow River Valley region, coded and analysed, and values and context-relationships interpreted from results. This framework, adapted to the Chinese context, is the latest iteration of a model initially developed from our research in the USA and the UK. The Chinese findings are shown in specially developed graphic formats that are readily understandable and lend themselves to ease of use. Future work to increase the reach of the research includes development of an online interactive framework to automatically generate individual and cumulative results. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The resource utilization of a circular economy should reflect both economic and environmental values. Resource utility can be measured by GDP in the short term, while environmental value is challenging to measure; that is, the improvement in air quality is not effectively evaluated. In order to examine this initiative, using China's pilot cities of circular economy as a quasi-natural experiment, we construct a difference-in-difference (DID) strategy for estimation. The results demonstrate the following: (1) the pollutant emissions of pilot cities decline by 2.92 percentage points (p < 0.01) compared to unpiloted cities, (2) the policies on pilot cities more rapidly enhanced air quality for central cities and those with a low level of economic development, and (3) pilot cities significantly enhance air quality by decreasing energy consumption per unit of GDP. We provide the first empirical evidence of the effectiveness of circular economy pilot cities in improving air quality. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The organization of construction in the People's Republic of China has over recent decades undergone radical restructuring. The announcement of Deng Xiaoping's Open Door strategy in 1978 marked the beginning of the transition towards the espoused socialist market economy and the progressive introduction of market mechanisms. Existing research tends to focus on the derivation of "critical success factors" rather than the lived realities of those directly involved. In contrast, the current paper adopts a sensemaking perspective that privileges the transient roles and identities of those involved in the micro-processes of project organizing. The empirical focus lies on the sensemaking narratives of middle managers within three state-owned construction enterprises in the Chongqing city region. The findings illustrate how market mechanisms such as bidding and tendering play out in complex ways involving hybrid arrangements between new and pre-existing ways of working. The terminology of project management is seen to have played a performative role in establishing the "project" as the essential unit around which the socialist market is organized. Middle managers are further found to maintain multiple identities in response to the experienced paradoxes of the socialist market economy. The research provides new insights into the micro-processes of project organizing in China with broader implications for transitional economies elsewhere. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]