Pedagogical Relationships in Short-Term Study Abroad Programmes: Exploring the Role of Consumer Identity in Collaborative Learning among Chinese Students in the UK

PurposeThe marketisation of higher education fosters the no/on of students asconsumers, highlighting the shi9ing dynamics of student–teacher relalaonships. This paper aims to contribute to ongoing discussions about students as consumers and their involvement in pedagogical practices. We explore students’ experiences in short-term study abroad (SA) programmes that involve collaborative learning, examining how a consumerism-oriented approach affects students’ perceptions of their pedagogical identities and student–teacher pedagogical relationships. MethodologyA qualitative exploratory study was conducted to capture students’ rich and subjective perceptions and experiences. The data were gathered through semi-structured interviews with 15 Chinese undergraduate students who participated in a short-term SA programme at a UK university. Following data translation and transcription, a thematic analysis approach facilitated our exploration.Findings Chinese students engage in SA programmes as a strategic investment in personal growth and transformation, with their consumer-oriented identity fostering a mutually beneficial relationship with educators and group members. This consumer mindset appears to enhance active student engagement and, to some extent, create reciprocal student–teacher interactions through power sharing and collaborative involvement.OriginalityThis study presents empirical data exploring the impact of consumer identity on the dynamics of student–teacher relationships in the SA context. It provides recommendations for implementing pedagogical approaches designed to mediate the influence of consumerism on student engagement, particularly in shaping collaborative student–teacher relationships. This study offers insights for future research on the effects of consumerism in higher education within cross-cultural contexts

Deciphering molecular details in the assembly of alpha-type carboxysome

Bacterial microcompartments (BMCs) are promising natural protein structures for applications that require the segregation of certain metabolic functions or molecular species in a defined microenvironment. To understand how endogenous cargos are packaged inside the protein shell is key for using BMCs as nano-scale reactors or delivery vesicles. In this report, we studied the encapsulation of RuBisCO into the α-type carboxysome from Halothiobacillus neapolitan. Our experimental data revealed that the CsoS2 scaffold proteins engage RuBisCO enzyme through an interaction with the small subunit (CbbS). In addition, the N domain of the large subunit (CbbL) of RuBisCO interacts with all shell proteins that can form the hexamers. The binding affinity between the N domain of CbbL and one of the major shell proteins, CsoS1C, is within the submicromolar range. The absence of the N domain also prevented the encapsulation of the rest of the RuBisCO subunits. Our findings complete the picture of how RuBisCOs are encapsulated into the α-type carboxysome and provide insights for future studies and engineering of carboxysome as a protein shell

Genetic Bio-Ancestry and Social Construction of Racial Classification in Social Surveys in the Contemporary United States

Self-reported race is generally considered the basis for racial classification in social surveys, including the U.S. census. Drawing on recent advances in human molecular genetics and social science perspectives of socially constructed race, our study takes into account both genetic bio-ancestry and social context in understanding racial classification. This article accomplishes two objectives. First, our research establishes geographic genetic bio-ancestry as a component of racial classification. Second, it shows how social forces trump biology in racial classification and/or how social context interacts with bio-ancestry in shaping racial classification. The findings were replicated in two racially and ethnically diverse data sets: the College Roommate Study (N = 2,065) and the National Longitudinal Study of Adolescent Health (N = 2,281)

Patient satisfaction with nurses' care is positively related to the nurse–patient relationship in Chinese hospitals: A multicentre study

BackgroundThe nurse–patient relationship and nursing care satisfaction are important factors that represent whether patients experience the care they expect from nurses. However, research is lacking on the relationship between nursing staff and patients, and the correlation between nursing care satisfaction and relationship care in China. Therefore, this study aimed to explore the correlation between the nurse–patient relationship and patients' satisfaction with nursing care, to form a basis for corresponding intervention measures.MethodsA total of 29,108 patients from 107 hospitals in 30 provinces/municipalities in China completed a general information questionnaire, the Nursing Care Satisfaction Scale, and Relational Care Scale.ResultsThe average nurse–patient relational care scale score was 4.38 ± 0.57, and the average patients' satisfaction with nursing care scale score was 5.40 ± 0.86. Nursing care satisfaction score was significantly related to differences among patients in different age, gender, marital status, education level, occupation, residence, family per capita monthly income, type of medical insurance, medical department, and regional patient characteristics. The correlation analysis showed that the total nurse–patient relational care score and its three dimensions of caring, trust, and professional ethics correlated positively with nursing care satisfaction scores. The multiple linear regression analysis showed that patients' age, marital status, region, department, income, type of medical insurance and the caring, trust, and professional ethics dimensions of relational care predicted nursing care satisfaction.ConclusionEnhancing nurse–patient relational care improves nursing care satisfaction, reduces nurse–patient disputes, promotes early rehabilitation of patients, and ensures patient safety

Photo-polymerisation variables influence the structure and subsequent thermal response of dental resin matrices

Objective The structure of the polymer phase of dental resin-based-composites is highly sensitive to photo-polymerisation variables. The objective of this study was to understand how different polymer structures, generated with different photo-polymerisation protocols, respond to thermal perturbation. Methods Experimental resins were prepared from a series of Bis-GMA/TEGDMA blends (40/60, 50/50 and 60/40 wt.%), with either Camphorquinone/DMAEMA or Lucirin TPO as the photo-initiator system. Resins were photo-polymerised, in a disc geometry, at either relatively ‘high’ (3000 mW cm−2 for 6 s) or ‘low’ (300 mW cm−2 for 60 s) irradiances ensuring matched radiant exposures (18 J cm−2). Specimens were heated, from 20−160 °C at a rate of 5 °C min−1, whilst simultaneous synchrotron X-ray scattering measurements were taken at 5 °C increments to determine changes in polymer chain segment extension and medium-range order as a function of temperature. For each unique resin composition (n = 3), differential scanning calorimetry was used to measure glass transition temperatures using the same heating protocol. A paired t-test was used to determine significant differences in the glass transition temperature between irradiance protocols and photo-initiator chemistry at ɑ = 0.05. Results Resins pre-polymerised through the use of TPO and or high irradiances demonstrated a reduced rate of chain extension indicative of lower thermal expansion and a larger decrease in relative order when heated below the glass transition temperature. Above the transition temperature, differences in the rate of chain extension were negligible, but slower converted systems showed greater relative order. There was no significant difference in the glass transition temperature between different photo-initiator systems or irradiance protocols. Significance The evolution of chain extension and medium-range order during heating is dependent on the initial polymer structure which is influenced by photo-polymerisation variables. Less ordered systems, generated at faster rates of reactive group conversion displayed reduced chain extension below the glass transition temperature and maintained lower order throughout heating

Determinants of the Incidence of Hand, Foot and Mouth Disease in China Using Geographically Weighted Regression Models

Child population density and climate factors are potential determinants of the HFMD incidence in most areas in China. The strength and direction of association between these factors and the incidence of HFDM is spatially heterogeneous at the local geographic level, and child population density has a greater influence on the incidence of HFMD than the climate factors

Spatial distribution estimation of malaria in northern China and its scenarios in 2020, 2030, 2040 and 2050

© 2016 The Author(s). Background: Malaria is one of the most severe parasitic diseases in the world. Spatial distribution estimation of malaria and its future scenarios are important issues for malaria control and elimination. Furthermore, sophisticated nonlinear relationships for prediction between malaria incidence and potential variables have not been well constructed in previous research. This study aims to estimate these nonlinear relationships and predict future malaria scenarios in northern China. Methods: Nonlinear relationships between malaria incidence and predictor variables were constructed using a genetic programming (GP) method, to predict the spatial distributions of malaria under climate change scenarios. For this, the examples of monthly average malaria incidence were used in each county of northern China from 2004 to 2010. Among the five variables at county level, precipitation rate and temperature are used for projections, while elevation, water density index, and gross domestic product are held at their present-day values. Results: Average malaria incidence was 0.107 per annum in northern China, with incidence characteristics in significant spatial clustering. A GP-based model fit the relationships with average relative error (ARE) = 8.127 % for training data (R2 = 0.825) and 17.102 % for test data (R2 = 0.532). The fitness of GP results are significantly improved compared with those by generalized additive models (GAM) and linear regressions. With the future precipitation rate and temperature conditions in Special Report on Emission Scenarios (SRES) family B1, A1B and A2 scenarios, spatial distributions and changes in malaria incidences in 2020, 2030, 2040 and 2050 were predicted and mapped. Conclusions: The GP method increases the precision of predicting the spatial distribution of malaria incidence. With the assumption of varied precipitation rate and temperature, and other variables controlled, the relationships between incidence and the varied variables appear sophisticated nonlinearity and spatially differentiation. Using the future fluctuated precipitation and the increased temperature, median malaria incidence in 2020, 2030, 2040 and 2050 would significantly increase that it might increase 19 to 29 % in 2020, but currently China is in the malaria elimination phase, indicating that the effective strategies and actions had been taken. While the mean incidences will not increase even reduce due to the incidence reduction in high-risk regions but the simultaneous expansion of the high-risk areas

Deciphering molecular details in the assembly of alpha-type carboxysome

Bacterial microcompartments (BMCs) are promising natural protein structures for applications that require the segregation of certain metabolic functions or molecular species in a defined microenvironment. To understand how endogenous cargos are packaged inside the protein shell is key for using BMCs as nano-scale reactors or delivery vesicles. In this report, we studied the encapsulation of RuBisCO into the α-type carboxysome from Halothiobacillus neapolitan. Our experimental data revealed that the CsoS2 scaffold proteins engage RuBisCO enzyme through an interaction with the small subunit (CbbS). In addition, the N domain of the large subunit (CbbL) of RuBisCO interacts with all shell proteins that can form the hexamers. The binding affinity between the N domain of CbbL and one of the major shell proteins, CsoS1C, is within the submicromolar range. The absence of the N domain also prevented the encapsulation of the rest of the RuBisCO subunits. Our findings complete the picture of how RuBisCOs are encapsulated into the α-type carboxysome and provide insights for future studies and engineering of carboxysome as a protein shell

Identifying environmental risk factors for human neural tube defects before and after folic acid supplementation

Abstract Background Birth defects are a major cause of infant mortality and disability in many parts of the world. Neural tube defects (NTDs) are one of the most common types of birth defects. In 2001, the Chinese population and family planning commission initiated a national intervention program for the prevention of birth defects. A key step in the program was the introduction of folic acid supplementation. Of interest in the present study was to determine whether folic acid supplementation has the same protective effect on NTDs under various geographical and socioeconomic conditions within the Chinese population and the nature in which the influence of environmental factors varied after folic acid supplementation. Methods In this study, Heshun was selected as the region of interest as a surrogate for helping to answer some of the questions raised in this study on the impact of the intervention program. Spatial filtering in combination with GIS software was used to detect annual potential clusters from 1998 to 2005 in Heshun, and Kruskal-wallis test and multivariate regression were applied to identify the environmental risk factors for NTDs among various regions. Results In 1998, a significant (p Conclusion This suggests that the government needs to adapt the intervention measures according to local conditions. More attention needs to be paid to the poor and to people living in areas near coal mines.</p