Recent work by Fernández‐Sánchez and coworkers examining the impact of applied pressure on the malignant phenotype of murine colon tissue in vivo revealed that mechanical perturbations can drive malignant behavior in genetically normal cells. Their findings build upon an existing understanding of how the mechanical cues experienced by cells within a tissue become progressively modified as the tissue transforms. Using magnetically stimulated ultra‐magnetic liposomes to mimic tumor growth ‐induced solid stress, Fernández‐Sánchez and coworkers were able to stimulate β‐catenin to promote (...) the cancerous behavior of both a normal and genetically modified colon epithelium. In this perspective, we discuss their findings in the context of what is currently known regarding the role of the mechanical landscape in cancer progression and β‐catenin as a mechanotransducer. We review data that suggest that mechanically regulated activation of β‐catenin fosters development of a malignant phenotype in tissue and predict that mechanical cues may contribute to tumor heterogeneity. (shrink)

By 2007, 127 universities had obtained permission from the Ministry of Education of the People’s Republic of China to run MBA programs. To gain a thorough understanding of the status of business ethics education in MBA programs in China, we conducted a national survey. This survey was begun in October 2006 and concluded in December 2007. Our goal in conducting this survey was twofold. We wanted to understand, first, the extent of business ethics teaching currentlybeing offered in MBA programs, and (...) second, the prospects for the development of business ethics teaching in the near term. Our survey results show that business ethics instruction is presently offered on a limited scale, and there are constraints impacting business ethics education. However, we also discovered that future prospects for business ethics teaching are promising. (shrink)

本書兼具自東漢以來到元朝的中國漢傳佛教哲學發展史, 其中尤以禪宗哲學加入於本書最具特色. 一般中國大乘禪佛教禪哲學史多半談及禪宗時僅有少數幾位禪師. 本書包含近百位禪宗思想源流並有完整的禪宗系譜表以及完整的禪宗著作表列. 同時本書把握了中國佛學的主軸結構加以論述, 並且運用創造轉化的方法, 使得古典佛學有了現代化的表述. 本書中自六家七宗到三論宗, 四論宗, 天台宗, 唯識宗, 華嚴宗等各3大師的佛教哲學都有了精闢的創造轉化敘述. --.

This research examines how firms' environmental, social and governance (ESG) performance impacts their capacity utilisation using data from listed firms in China from 2009 to 2022. We find that firms' ESG performance significantly elevates their capacity utilisation with an inverted U-shaped relationship. All three dimensions of ESG—environmental performance, social responsibility and governance—positively affect capacity utilisation, addressing gaps in enhancing firms' capacity utilisation through ESG practices. We identify an indirect transmission channel through which firms' ESG practices influence capacity utilisation, marking a (...) pioneering discovery in our study. Using structural equation modelling (SEM), we confirm that firms' ESG practices enhance capacity utilisation by improving competitiveness and customer stickiness. Additionally, we discuss potential heterogeneity in the impact of ESG performance on capacity utilisation, considering factors such as ownership structure, industry, financial constraints and equity arrangements. Our findings provide insights for governments and companies aiming to incorporate ESG principles into their decision-making processes to enhance capacity utilisation. (shrink)

1912年到2014年，這一百年間的華人哲學思想，包含了佛學、新儒學、新小說、美學、新史學，以及原創性的概念系統創造。在本書之中，介紹了數十位相關領域的作者，表現出華人在這一個世紀裡勇於創造的精神。 在近百年的過程中，華人面對的創作環境，不管在時代上、環境上，乃至於文字的運用上，都有著極大的困難與挑戰，這使得華人世界的百年哲學很難有良好的創作環境，嚴格說來，必須等到1980年代以後才有稍微完整的創 作條件。然而，公元兩千年以後，晚期資本主義又對人文環境帶來了巨大的摧殘作用，使得哲學創作者生存更加不易，凡是能被收集在本書之中的思想家，或能作為被我們討論的任何一位作者，都值得致敬。 第一章、從晚清經世派之實用傾向與工具理性哲學觀念 到中體西用的洋務運動途程 第二章、跨世紀轉型時期的宏大哲學思想論述者 ──從嚴復到魯迅 第三章、胡適、顧頡剛、錢穆、傅斯年、陳寅恪、郭沫若、 洪業等新時代史學家在哲學上的貢獻 第四章、當代哲學家的方法論反省 ──六種當代中國哲學創造轉化代表性型態的分析 第五章、德西達的「解構」與歐崇敬的「新解構」 ──二十一世紀的新原創性思想 第六章、馬森存在主義小說的哲學分析 第七章、傅偉勳的哲學思想 第八章、陳映真前期作品解析 ──以〈我的弟弟康雄〉、〈鄉村的教師〉、〈故鄉〉、〈蘋 果樹〉、〈悽慘的無言的嘴〉、〈兀自照耀著的太陽〉為 討論核心 第九章、「異鄉的存在」與「物化之虛無」的〈山路〉左翼政治思想 第十章、從解構主義的觀點看陳映真中後期作品解析 第十一章、虛無主義對抗傳統主義 ──論宋澤萊〈弱小民族〉的哲學思想.

Biological pacemakers can be achieved by various gene‐based and cell‐based approaches. Embryonic stem cells (ESCs)‐derived pacemaker cells might be the most promising way to form biological pacemakers, but there are challenges as to how to control the differentiation of ESCs and to overcome the neoplasia, proarrhythmia, or immunogenicity resulting from the use of ESCs. As a potential approach to solve these difficult problems, tissue‐engineering techniques may provide a precise control on the different cell components of multicellular aggregates and the forming (...) of a construct with‐defined architectures and functional properties. The combined interactions between ESC‐derived pacemaker cells, supporting cells, and matrices may completely reproduce pacemaker properties and result in a steady functional unit to induce rhythmic electrical and contractile activities. As ESCs have a high capability for self‐renewal, proliferation, and potential differentiation, we hypothesize that ESCs can be used as a source of pacemaker cells for tissue‐engineering applications and the ambitious goal of biological cardiac pacemakers may ultimately be achieved with ESCs via tissue‐engineering technology. -/- . (shrink)

I defend a new conception of the particular-universal distinction based on considerations about what David Lewis calls ‘amphibians’. I argue, first, that given the possibility of amphibians, two recently popular conceptions of the particular-universal distinction, namely the repeatability conception and the duplicability conception, are both objectionable since they are biased in one way or another. I then propose a more flexible conception that solves this problem by regarding amphibians as belonging to a sui generis sort of property distinct from what (...) I call ‘strong universals’ and ‘strong tropes’. Finally, I respond to some objections directed at this new account. (shrink)

Recent studies have documented substantial variability among typical listeners in how gradiently they categorize speech sounds, and this variability in categorization gradience may link to how listeners weight different cues in the incoming signal. The present study tested the relationship between categorization gradience and cue weighting across two sets of English contrasts, each varying orthogonally in two acoustic dimensions. Participants performed a four‐alternative forced‐choice identification task in a visual world paradigm while their eye movements were monitored. We found that (a) (...) greater categorization gradience derived from behavioral identification responses corresponds to larger secondary cue weights derived from eye movements; (b) the relationship between categorization gradience and secondary cue weighting is observed across cues and contrasts, suggesting that categorization gradience may be a consistent within‐individual property in speech perception; and (c) listeners who showed greater categorization gradience tend to adopt a buffered processing strategy, especially when cues arrive asynchronously in time. (shrink)

Background: Ethical challenges are common in clinical nursing practice, and an infectious environment could put nurses under ethical challenges more easily, which may cause nurses to submit to negative emotions and psychological pressure, damaging their mental health. Purpose: To examine the ethical challenges encountered by nurses caring for patients with the novel coronavirus pneumonia (COVID-19) and to provide nurses with suggestions and support regarding promotion of their mental health. Research design and method: A qualitative study was carried out using a (...) qualitative content analysis. The participants were 18 nurses who agreed to attend an interview and describe their own experiences of providing care to COVID-19 patients in China. They were purposively sampled, and structured, in-depth interviews were performed. Data were iteratively collected and analyzed from February to March 2020. Ethical considerations: The proposal was approved by the Research Ethics Committee of the Second Hospital of Shandong University, China. Findings: The findings revealed three main themes and 10 categories. The themes were the following: (1) ethical challenges (people with COVID-19, inequality, professional ethics, and job competency); (2) coping styles (active control and planning, seeking support as well as catharsis, and staying focused); and (3) impacts on career (specialized nursing skills, scientific research ability, and management skills). Conclusion: Nurses faced ethical challenges on multiple fronts in caring for COVID-19 patients. The results may help nurses with more safety, ethics, and humanistic care in nursing practice. (shrink)

In order to analyze the characteristics of airport flight delayed time series, based on the construction of flight delay time series, firstly, the K-means algorithm is used to cluster the time series of delayed departures. Secondly, combining with R/s analysis method of Fractal theory, Hurst index of the series is calculated, and Fractal characteristics of the series are analyzed. Then, the VAR (Vector Auto Regression) model is constructed, and Impulse Response Function (IRF) and Variance Decomposition are conducted to explore the (...) impact of the fluctuation of flight delay time series on the future delay. The results show that K-means algorithm divides the time series into five categories, and each category has significant characteristics. Hurst index values of different time series are in the interval of (0.5, 1), indicating that the time series have good fractal characteristics. Through the IRF and Variance Decomposition of VAR model, results show that the time series are significantly affected by random pulses, and the prediction changes of the series come from multiple time series fluctuations. The prediction results show that the flight delay time series is predictable. (shrink)

The article deals with the symbolic meanings that the images of America and Switzerland have in the works of F.M. Dostoevsky. It is shown that the meanings of these two images are interconnected and constitute a dialectical contradiction, and each image, in turn, has two contradictory meanings - positive and negative. America acts, on the one hand, as a symbol of the openness and freedom of man, his desire to build the future on his own, but, on the other hand, (...) it expresses a dead-end path of development based only on material values. Switzerland embodies the ideal of spiritual development, which is the inner essence of European civilization, but at the same time it symbolizes the patriarchal, sinless state of man, which does not correspond to real earthly life. Switzerland is the ideal of the heavenly state of an earthly person, but this ideal is impossible in real life. The tragedy of the impracticability of this ideal is most clearly demonstrated by Dostoevsky through the story of Prince Myshkin in the novel The Idiot. (shrink)

As second generation immigrants, children of Chinese origin in Spain confront a complicated linguistic setting. The objective of this comparative sociolinguistic research, with the participation of 160 children of Chinese origin, is to analyze their sociolinguistic situation in Malaga (Spain), including both external and internal factors (i.e., socio-economic status, education level, language attitudes, identity, motivations, etc.) that affect their linguistic competency and learning. Our methodology is based on quantitative and qualitative data from questionnaires, observations, tests and interviews to explain the (...) linguistic patterns of immigrant children. Tests were completed also by 40 Spanish children and by 40 native Chinese children. (shrink)

Owing to the COVID-19 pandemic, working from home promotes the importance of indoor environment qualities. With the settings and functions of home offices, an experiment was carried out to determine the interaction effects between indoor plants and traffic noise levels on the performance and environmental evaluations of English reading comprehension tasks and the performance of short-term breaks. A sample of 22 Chinese university students took part in the experiment. Two visual conditions and five TNLs were included. Participants’ accuracy rates, eye (...) movements, mental workload, and feelings about the environment were collected. The mental fatigue recovery, visual fatigue recovery, anxiety recovery, and unfriendly recovery were measured for the analysis of a 5-min short-term break. The results demonstrate plants have significant effects on ERCTs and short-term breaks, especially at 45 and 50 dBA TNL; the effects of TNLs on ERCTs’ eye movements and work environment satisfaction differ by the presence of plants, e.g., the average pupil diameter, lighting and layout satisfaction; The effects of indoor plants on ERCT differ by the range of TNLs. In conclusion, indoor plants are beneficial to home workers engaged in ERCT when TNL does not exceed 50 dBA. The current data highlight the importance of audio-visual interaction in home offices and provide insights into the interaction mechanism between indoor plants and traffic noise. (shrink)

Due to the current COVID-19 pandemic, colleges and universities have implemented network teaching. E-learning engagement is the most important concern of educators and parents because this will directly affect student academic performance. Hence, this study focuses on students’ perceived family support and their e-learning engagement and analyses the effects of e-learning normative consciousness and behaviours and self-efficacy on the relationship between family support and e-learning engagement in college students. Prior to this study, the relationship between these variables was unknown. Four (...) structural equation models revealed the multiple mediating roles of e-learning normative consciousness and behaviours and self-efficacy in the relationship between family support and e-learning engagement. A total of 1317 college students (mean age = 19.51; 52.2% freshman) voluntarily participated in our study. The results showed that e-learning normative consciousness and behaviours and self-efficacy played significant and mediating roles between students’ perceived family support and their e-learning engagement. Specifically, these two individual variables fully mediated the relationship between students’ perceived family support and their e-learning engagement. The multiple mediation model showed that family members can increase family support of their children by creating a household environment conducive to learning, displaying positive emotions, demonstrating the capability to assist their children, advocating the significance of learning normative consciousness and behaviours and encouraging dedicated and efficient learning. The findings complement and extend the understanding of factors influencing student e-learning engagement. (shrink)

BackgroundStudies have found that poor sleep quality is negatively associated with subjective wellbeing in older adults, but the mechanisms underlying are unclear. In this study, we aimed to examine the mediating role of negative emotions and the moderating role of perceived social support in the relationship between sleep quality and subjective wellbeing in older adults with multimorbidity.MethodsA multi-stage random sampling method was used to select a sample of 3,266 older adults aged 60 years and older. The Memorial University of Newfoundland (...) Scale of Happiness, Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index, Depression Anxiety Stress Scales-21, and Perceived Social Support Scale were used to assess subjective wellbeing, sleep quality, negative emotional states, and perceived social support, respectively. The moderated mediation models were examined using SPSS PROCESS Version 3.3 software.ResultsSleep quality had a significant direct effect on subjective wellbeing in older adults. Negative emotions partially mediated the effect of sleep quality on subjective wellbeing. The indirect effect was moderated by perceived social support.ConclusionNegative emotions increased the negative association between sleep quality and the subjective wellbeing of older adults with multimorbidity, and perceived social support played a moderating role. Psychological and behavioral interventions should be implemented as early as possible to promote mental health and enhance social support level of older adults with multimorbidity, and ultimately improve the subjective wellbeing of older adults. (shrink)

Business simulation games (BSGs) have been widely used in entrepreneurship education with positive effects. However, there are still some deficiencies in the BSGs, such as limited guidance, low uncertainty and limited simulation environment, which make it impossible to exert the maximum effect. Artificial intelligence (AI) can solve the above shortcomings. The combination of AI and BSGs is the possible development direction of BSGs. But how to effectively combine BSGs with AI is still an open question. Using a quasi-experimental design, this (...) study uses fuzzy-set qualitative comparative analysis to analyze how participants’ entrepreneurial attitude changes in BSGs. The results show that BSGs can effectively improve entrepreneurial attitude, and there are four types of promotion configurations. These four configurations consist of five antecedent conditions. According to the above conclusions, AI can improve entrepreneurial attitude in BSGs in various ways, such as simulating competitors, providing targeted feedback for failures, and improving game experience. The contribution of this paper is to highlight the possibility of combining AI with BSGs, and to provide suggestions on how AI can intervene in BSGs. (shrink)

Adolescence is a vital period of developing a moral self. As individuals enter adolescence, peers become increasingly important to them. This study aimed to explore the influence of peers' actual appraisals on moral self-representations. Based on Looking Glass Self Hypothesis, peers' reflected appraisals usually have a mediating effect on peers' actual appraisals and self-appraisals. This study used the Chinese Moral Trait Words Rating Scale to investigate 160 dyads of Chinese adolescents. The participants filled in the Self-Appraisals Questionnaire, Peers' Reflected Appraisals (...) Questionnaire, and Peers' Actual Appraisals Questionnaire, respectively. The results showed that: peers' actual appraisals indirectly affected self-appraisals through peers' reflected appraisals in the process of forming the moral self of early Chinese adolescents; Chinese adolescents had a certain accuracy in peers' actual appraisals, but often underestimated their peers' actual appraisals of them. This study was conducive to understanding the influence of peers on forming adolescents' moral self in the context of collectivistic culture. (shrink)

BackgroundPsychological resilience may reduce the impact of psychological distress to some extent. We aimed to investigate the mental health status of the public during the outbreak of coronavirus disease 2019 and explore the level and related factors of anxiety and depression.MethodsFrom February 8 to March 9, 2020, 3,180 public completed the Zung’s Self-Rating Anxiety Scale for anxiety, Zung’s Self-Rating Depression Scale for depression, the Connor–Davidson resilience scale for psychological resilience, and the Simplified Coping Style Questionnaire for the attitudes and coping (...) styles.ResultsThe number of people with depressive symptoms was 1,303. The number of people with anxiety symptoms was 1,184. The depressed group and anxiety group had less education, more unmarried and younger age, as well as had significant different in SDS total score, SAS total score, CD-RISC total score, and SCSQ score. The binary logistic regression showed that female, strength, and the subscales of active coping style in SCSQ remained protective factors and passive coping style and higher SAS score were risk factors for depression. Optimism in CD-RISC was a protective factor, and passive coping styles and higher SDS score were risk factors for anxiety.LimitationsThis study adopted a cross-sectional design and used self-report questionnaires.ConclusionThe mental health of the public, especially females, the younger and less educational populations, and unmarried individuals, should be given more attention. Individuals with high level of mental resilience and active coping styles would have lower levels of anxiety and depression during the outbreak of COVID-19. (shrink)

BackgroundExercise is one of the effective ways to improve cognition. Different forms of exercises, such as aerobic exercise, resistance exercise, and coordination exercise, have different effects on the improvement of cognitive impairment. In recent years, exergames based on Non-Immersive Virtual Reality have been widely used in entertainment and have gradually been applied to clinical rehabilitation. However, the mechanism of NIVR-Exergames on improving motor cognition has not been clarified. Therefore, the aim of this study is to find whether NIVR-Exergames result in (...) a better neural response mechanism to improve the area of the cerebral cortex related to motor cognition under functional near-infrared spectroscopy dynamic monitoring in comparison with resistance exercise.MethodsA cross-over study design was adopted in this study, and 15 healthy young subjects were randomly divided into group A and group B according to a computerized digital table method. Task 1 was an NIVR-Exergame task, and Task 2 was resistance band stretching. Group A first performed Task 1, rested for 30 min, and then performed Task 2. Group B had the reverse order. The fNIRS test was synchronized in real time during exercise tasks, and heart rate measurements, blood pressure measurements, and 2-back task synchronization fNIRS tests were performed at baseline, Post-task 1, and Post-task 2. The primary outcomes were beta values from the general linear model in different regions of interest, and the secondary outcomes were heart rate, blood pressure, reaction time of 2-back, and accuracy rate of 2-back.ResultsThe activation differences of Task 1 and Task 2 in the right premotor cortex and the left PMC were statistically significant. There were statistically significant differences in the activation of the right supplementary motor area, left dorsolateral prefrontal cortex, left and right PMC between baseline and Post-task 1. The differences in systolic pressure between the two groups at three time points among women were statistically significant.ConclusionIn this study, we found that NIVR-Exergames combined with motor and challenging cognitive tasks can promote the activation of SMA, PMC and DLPFC in healthy young people compared with resistance exercise alone, providing compelling preliminary evidence of the power for the rehabilitation of motor and cognitive function in patients with central nervous system diseases. (shrink)