The global significance of biodiversity science in China: an overview

Biodiversity science in China has seen rapid growth over recent decades, ranging from baseline biodiversity studies to understanding the processes behind evolution across dynamic regions such as the Qinghai-Tibetan Plateau. We review research, including species catalogues; biodiversity monitoring; the origins, distributions, maintenance and threats to biodiversity; biodiversity-related ecosystem function and services; and species and ecosystems’ responses to global change. Next, we identify priority topics and offer suggestions and priorities for future biodiversity research in China. These priorities include (i) the ecology and biogeography of the Qinghai-Tibetan Plateau and surrounding mountains, and that of subtropical and tropical forests across China; (ii) marine and inland aquatic biodiversity; and (iii) effective conservation and management to identify and maintain synergies between biodiversity and socio-economic development to fulfil China''s vision for becoming an ecological civilization. In addition, we propose three future strategies: (i) translate advanced biodiversity science into practice for biodiversity conservation; (ii) strengthen capacity building and application of advanced technologies, including high-throughput sequencing, genomics and remote sensing; and (iii) strengthen and expand international collaborations. Based on the recent rapid progress of biodiversity research, China is well positioned to become a global leader in biodiversity research in the near future.     

The hip control test is a valid and reliable measure of hip neuromuscular control

Abstract

Insufficient hip neuromuscular control may contribute to non-contact sport injuries. However, the current evaluative test of hip neuromuscular control, the single-leg squat, requires hip abductor muscle strength to complete. The purpose of this study was to develop the hip control test (HCT) and determine the test’s reliability and construct validity. Nineteen healthy adults visited the laboratory twice. The HCT is a 10-s test of reciprocal toe-tapping accuracy. Both automated and manual HCT ratings were recorded simultaneously during each visit. Additionally, eccentric hip abductor torque was measured. HCT reliability was assessed with intra-class correlation coefficients (ICC). Agreement between automated and manual ratings was determined with Bland–Altman plots. Construct validity was established if HCT performance significantly decreased with a secondary cognitive task (p < 0.05). Bivariate regression determined the relationship between HCT performance and eccentric hip abductor torque. Automated and manual HCT ratings both had moderate reliability (ICC = 0.72) and yielded similar results (limits of agreement = ?1 to 2 taps). The HCT had construct validity (p = 0.001), and no correlation with hip abductor muscle strength (r = 0.213). Thus, the HCT is a reliable and valid test. The HCT is simple to administer and measures hip neuromuscular control separately from strength.     

Ideological conflicts behind mutual belief: the termination of the ‘dual-registration policy’ and the collapse of an effective elite diving system in China

Abstract

This article presents a study of the rationale, particularly ideological factors, of a policy change, i.e. the termination of a ‘dual-registration policy’ of Chinese elite divers, through investigating the belief system of actors in the decision-making process and in its aftermath, which was the collapse of an effective elite diver development system. Besides policies documents and academic literature, research data are also collected through thirteen interviews. The analysis of data is conducted through employing Advocacy Coalition Framework (ACF) as the theory of the research. Through breaking down the belief system of different Advocacy Coalitions in the case, it is concluded that the policy change and the subsequent termination of the Tsinghua system could be recognized as natural consequences consistent with the belief and value of both Chinese elite sport and the Tsinghua university, and that structural elements are influential in shaping the belief system and the decision-making process.     

Student outcomes of the physical education and physical literacy (PEPL) approach: a pragmatic cluster randomised controlled trial of a multicomponent intervention to improve physical literacy in primary schools

ABSTRACT

Background: Health organisations such as the United Nations continue to place an expectation on school physical education (PE) programmes and wider school strategies to ensure students develop physical literacy and receive the well-established benefits of meeting physical activity guidelines. Barriers to meet this expectation such as lack of trained PE teachers, lack of time and greater emphasis on academic achievement are ongoing challenges to schools. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the impact of the multi-component Physical Education Physical Literacy (PEPL) intervention, designed to improve students’ fundamental movement skill, perceived physical abilities and level of physical activity.

Method: A qualified PE teacher implemented the PEPL intervention across seven schools, and another seven schools formed a control group as part of a randomised cluster-based trial. Grade 5 students (N?=?318, age 10.4 years?±?SD 0.4) completed assessments of physical activity, fundamental movement skill, attitudes towards PE, and self-perceptions of physical abilities before and after a 33-week intervention. Intervention effects were examined using general linear mixed models. Post-intervention focus groups with students were used to develop insights into experiences and outcomes.

Results: With no significant gender interactions, the PEPL approach led to enhanced object control skills (β?=?1.62; SE?=?0.61; p?=?0.008), with little evidence of any other fundamental movement skill improvements in excess of those in the control group. There was also modest evidence for an effect on accelerometer measured moderate-to-vigorous physical activity (MVPA) during school time (β?=?4.50; SE?=?2.39; p?=?0.058), but this was not accompanied by any significant intervention effect over the entire week. Questionnaires indicated students in the PEPL programme became less satisfied with their own sporting ability (β?=??0.20; SE?=?0.08; p?=?0.013) but qualitative data analyses suggested that they enjoyed the PEPL approach experience, becoming more motivated and confident in their physical abilities.

Conclusions: Evidence of enhanced object control skill, increased confidence and motivation to be physically active, and moderate evidence of more MVPA during school time, indicate that the introduction of the PEPL approach contributed to the development of student physical literacy. A decrease in perceived sporting competence warrants greater attention on student’s self-perceptions in future iterations of the intervention.

Trial registration: Australian New Zealand Clinical Trials Registry identifier: ACTRN12615000066583.     

Mixed Methods Research – Nonverbal Observations of Cultural Convergence in Online and Offline Contexts: Testing Hall’s Low- Vs. High-Context Framework

ABSTRACT

Extending the existing low- and high-context culture theoretical framework, the current research examined the extent to which globalization has shaped low- and high-context cultures in relation to nonverbal communication. The current study employed an exploratory sequential design mixed research method. The first phase of the study observed cultural convergence evident in people’s nonverbal communication in real life and reported the observations qualitatively. In the second phase of the study, a quantitative content analysis was carried out. The content analysis, namely sentiment analysis, examined the occurrences of people of diverse nationalities expressing their emotions when they provide reviews of airlines on a travel website and empirically test the relevance of low- and high-context theoretical framework in the era of globalization. A total of 85,228 reviews of 592 airlines available on a travel website were downloaded using a web crawler. The qualified records used for analysis included records from the following regions: Africa, Asia, Australia, Latin America, Northwestern Europe, Southern Europe, and United States. An analysis of variance on the number of words people used in writing travel reviews online yielded significant variations among the seven regions. This data also sheds light on cultural convergence.     

Automated calibration of 3D-printed microfluidic devices based on computer vision

With the development of 3D printing techniques, the application of it in microfluidic/Lab-on-a-Chip (LoC) fabrication is becoming more and more attractive. However, to achieve a satisfying printing quality of the target devices, researchers usually require quite an amount of work in calibration trials even for high-end 3D printers. To increase the calibration efficiency of the average priced printers and promote the application of 3D printing technology in the microfluidic community, this work has presented a computer vision (CV)-based method for rapid and precise 3D printing calibration with examples on cylindrical hole/post diameters of 0.2–2.4 mm and rectangular hole/post widths of 0.2–1.0 mm by a stereolithography-based 3D printer. Our method is fully automated, which contains five steps and only needs a camera at hand to provide photos for convolutional neural network recognition. The experimental results showed that our CV-based method could provide calibrated dimensions with just one print of the specific calibration ruler to meet user desire. The higher resolution of the photo provides a higher precision in calibration. Subsequently, only one more print for the target device is needed after the calibration process. Overall, this work has provided a quick and precise calibration tool for researchers to apply 3D printing in the fabrication of their microfluidic/LoC devices with average price printers. Besides, with our open source calibration software and calibration ruler design file, researchers can modify the specific setting based on customized needs and conduct calibration on any type of 3D printer.     

体育运动中的内部动机——认知评价理论的解释

认知评价理论认为,内部动机以人的能力需要和自我决策需要为基础,任何影响能力感和自我决策感的事件都可影响人的内部动机。象奖金、奖品一类的外部奖励由于其携带的控制性功能很强,往往会对内部动机产生破坏性影响。如果一项活动可提高人的能力感并满足人的自我决策需要,这一活动就因其携带的信息性功能十分突出而加强内部动机。     

The development of a performance evaluation instrument for upward evaluation of supervisors by subordinates

The performance evaluation of a supervisor usually relies solely on the observations and judgments of the supervisor's supervisor. However, the validity of performance evaluations could be unproved if a variety of sources were consulted: One of these sources is the supervisor's subordinate. This article provides a detailed discussion of how a valid and reliable instrument for upward appraisal was developed at the Dayton-Montgomery County (Ohio) Public Library.