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Foreign language anxiety (FLA) is a well-documented phenomenon that can significantly affect academic performance. This study examined the extent to which Taiwanese postgraduate students experienced speaking anxiety during thesis defense presentations, along with potential gender differences and variations across postgraduate programs. It specifically analyzed the correlation between anxiety and thesis presentation performance. A meticulously designed study involving 168 Taiwanese master's students in an oral thesis defense seminar employed a modified Academic Performance Scale and Personal Report of Public Speaking Anxiety instruments to quantitatively evaluate anxiety levels. Statistical analyses unveiled significant associations between anxiety levels and academic performance. The results indicate a high level of anxiety among participants, with a mean anxiety level of 4.05 (N=168, X=2.85) and a moderate level of thesis presentation performance, evidenced by a mean score of 2.85 (N=168, X=2.85). Notably, female postgraduates exhibited higher anxiety levels than their male counterparts. The study identifies a positive, albeit modest, correlation between anxiety and performance, suggesting that a certain level of anxiety may enhance performance. The findings underscore the pervasive influence of anxiety in academic contexts and highlight gender disparities and the impact of diverse postgraduate programs on anxiety and performance. The study challenges conventional assumptions about the negative effects of anxiety on performance, suggesting that moderate anxiety can be a motivating catalyst. This study contributes to a more nuanced understanding of the role of anxiety in learning and performance and prompts the development of targeted interventions to address anxiety and support postgraduate students' academic success.

This study examines the interplay between academic anxiety, emotional intelligence management, and academic resilience in Chinese international postgraduate students in Thailand. Using a correlational design and a sample of 353 valid participants, the study employed the Weighted Emotional Intelligence Scale (WEIS), Academic Anxiety Scale (AAS), and Academic Resilience Scale-30 (ARS). Contrary to expectations, the analysis revealed no significant differences in academic anxiety, emotional intelligence management, or academic resilience across demographic cohorts (gender, academic major, and occupation). Weak and non-significant correlations were also observed between academic anxiety, emotional intelligence management, and academic resilience. These findings challenge assumptions about demographic influences on these constructs and suggest a broader challenge for international students. Despite the prevalence of academic anxiety and deficiencies in emotional intelligence management and resilience, these constructs were not influenced by demographic factors. The study highlights the importance of holistic educational approaches that prioritize cultural and contextual factors and underscores the need for further research to unravel the complex dynamics of academic anxiety, emotional intelligence, and resilience.

Within the sphere of educational psychology, the impact of perfectionism on academic anxiety and flexibility has been closely examined, especially in the context of Chinese postgraduates. The current study analyzed these phenomena within a cohort of 218 postgraduates from a private international Chinese college in Thailand, reflecting an amalgam of Eastern academic culture and postgraduate educational expectations. Results indicated a notable degree of academic anxiety (X=3.70, SD=0.75), alongside moderate levels of flexibility (X=2.94, SD=0.84) and perfectionist behavior (X=3.23, SD=1.01). Disaggregating data by educational level, Masters students presented with moderate anxiety (X=3.38, SD=0.87), low flexibility (X=2.53, SD=0.74), and low perfectionism (X=2.74, SD=0.66), whereas Ph.D. students exhibited significantly higher anxiety and perfectionism (X=4.51 and X=4.48, SD=0.84 respectively), yet demonstrated greater flexibility (X=3.99, SD=0.71). Gender and profession proved to be insubstantial factors in influencing these constructs. Contrastingly, educational level was a potent differentiator, with significant disparities evident. The interrelations highlighted a negative correlation between academic anxiety and flexibility (r=-0.121), but a positive correlation between academic anxiety and perfectionist tendencies (r=0.424). Flexibility and perfectionist behavior were also positively correlated (r=0.153). To mitigate the adverse impacts of perfectionism, the study advocates for cognitive-behavioral interventions to reshape perfectionist thought patterns and bolster adaptive coping strategies. It encourages cultivating an educational ethos that emphasizes learning and psychological welfare over impeccable achievement and suggests normalizing mental health discourse within academic environments to alleviate the stigma surrounding perfectionism and anxiety.

Live marketing has become a popular marketing mode, and enhancing consumers' purchase intention in this context is a significant research area. We examined the impact of consumers' sense of presence on their purchase intention in the live marketing setting of fresh produce. Employing fuzzy-set qualitative comparative analysis, we analyzed four dimensions of sense of presence and a set of eight influencing factors. Through this analysis, we explored the combined effects of these factors on consumers' purchase intention and identified seven pathways that can stimulate high purchase intention. This study provides valuable decision-making insights for agricultural production enterprises, farmers, anchors, and live broadcasting platforms that can be used to develop strategies to improve consumers' purchase intention. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The seismic stability assessment of slopes is important for the evaluation of slope instability, so an accurate estimation of the seismic stability level of slopes is vital. However, many factors affect the seismic stability of slopes, and their instability has a certain fuzziness and randomness. The principal component analysis-cloud model is introduced at first to assess the seismic stability of slopes. Second, the index coefficients are calculated using the principal component analytical method. Then, the characteristic value of the normal cloud model is obtained based on the classification standards of different indexes, and the relevant evaluation model is established. The conclusions are drawn that the method is feasible for the accurate assessment of the seismic stability of slopes, and its accuracy is very high. So, the suggested model can be widely applied in many fields, and a new approach can be provided for the future seismic stability assessment of slopes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective To investigate the effect of miR-17-5p expression on the injury of human lung adenocarcinoma alveolar basal epithelial cell line A549 induced by Streptococcus pneumonia and its mechanism. Methods A549 cells was divided into control group,infected group(1×108 CFU/mL S.pneumoniae),anti-miR-17-5p intervention group (transfected with anti-miR-17-5p before S.pneumoniae infection),anti-miR-NC intervention group (transfected with anti-miR-NC before S.pneumoniae infection), and pcDNA-ALDH2 intervention group(trans- fected with pcDNA-ALDH2 before S.pneumoniae infection),and pcDNA intervention group (transfected with pcDNA before S.pneumoniae infection).The level of miR-17-5p and ALDH2 mRNA was detected by RT-qPCR. IL-6 and IL-10 in cell culture supernatant were detected by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Apoptosis was detected by flow cytometry. ALDH2, Bcl-2 and Bax protein were detected by Western blot. Dual luciferase assay verified the targeting relationship between miR-17-5p and ALDH2. Results Compared with the control group, the level of miR-17-5p in the infected group was significantly increased (P＜0.05), while mRNA and the protein concentration of ALDH2, IL-10 and Bcl-2 were significantly decreased (P＜0.05). However, apoptotic rate and the levels of IL-6 and Bax were significantly increased (P＜0.05). Compared with the infected+anti-miR-NC group, IL-10 and Bcl-2 in the infected+anti-miR-17-5p group were significantly increased(P＜0.05), the apoptotic rate, IL-6 and Bax were significantly decreased (P＜0.05). Compared with the infected+pcDNA group, the levels of IL-10 and Bcl-2 in the infected+pcDNA-ALDH2 group were significantly increased (P＜0.05), and the apoptotic rate and the levels of IL-6 and Bax were significantly decreased (P＜0.05).miR-17-5p negatively regulated ALDH2 expression.Inhibition of ALDH2 expression reversed the effect of inhibiting miR-17-5p expression on S.pneumoniae-induced A549 cells damage. Conclusions Inhibition of miR-17-5p expression reduces S.pneumoniae-induced the damage of the cell line A549 by regulating ALDH2.

Polypropylene fiber (PPF) was added to concrete, and the effect of PPF on the rheological and mechanical properties of concrete was studied. The results show that with the increase of PPF content, the fluidity of concrete mixture becomes worse. Compared with those without PPF, the compressive strength, splitting tensile strength and tensioncompression ratio of concrete with PPF increase after curing for 7 d and 28 d. When the content of PPF is less than 0.9 kg/m³, the rheological properties of concrete meets the design requirements. When the content of PPF is 0.9 kg/m³, the compressive strength, splitting tensile strength and tension-compression ratio of concrete reach the maximum after curing for 7 d and 28 d. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]