Reconsidering Chinese modesty: Hong Kong and mainland Chinese evaluative judgements of compliment responses

Compliments are usually intended to have a positive effect on interpersonal relations, yet for the outcome actually to be positive, both the compliment and the compliment response need to be handled appropriately. This paper focuses on different types of compliment responses, and explores Chinese people’s evaluative judgements of these different types. Gao and Ting-Toomey (1998) argue that modesty is an important component of Chinese politeness, and that to blatantly accept a compliment is considered impolite. Several studies (e.g. Chen 1993, Yuan 1996 and Loh 1993) have indeed found that compliments are rejected more frequently in Chinese than in English, yet other evidence suggests that acceptance responses are also relatively common in Chinese. This paper explores a number of hypotheses associated with these issues. It reports a study carried out in Mainland China and Hong Kong, and discusses the notion of Chinese modesty in relation to the findings

Fun Anatomy: A Supplemental Website for the Upper Extremity

In accordance with the Accreditation Council for Occupational Therapy Education (ACOTE) standards, the occupational therapy program at the University of Puget Sound requires the completion of an anatomy course as part of the master’s degree curriculum. Currently, the program’s functional anatomy course does not provide any online resources to support students’ mastery of course content. Due to advances in technology, an increasing number of professional degree programs are either web-based or are adding online elements (Donovan, 2008; Friedman, Watts, Croston, & Durkin, 2002; Fallon, 2011). Course-specific online resources have been shown to enhance student learning and performance (Thompson, Ford, & Webster, 2011). A customized supplemental website was created to accompany the functional anatomy course as a learning enhancement. The website includes diagrams, flash cards, quiz questions, case studies, and additional resources. The various elements of the website were developed to address different learning styles and to cycle students through the stages of Kolb’s model of experiential learning (Kolb, 1984; Friedman, Watts, Croston, & Durkin, 2002). The goal of the website is for the user to achieve a 90% standard on the quizzes and case study questions, which is higher than the university graduate school’s 83% (3.0 GPA) requirement to maintain good standing. Use of the website in a pilot study by a sample group of the program’s students resulted in 100% positive recommendation for its use as a resource in the functional anatomy course

Physical Activity Levels and Barriers to Exercise in Individuals with Low Bone Mineral Density

Background: Fractures are a major health concern for older adults, especially for those with osteoporosis or low bone mineral density (BMD). Physical activity and exercise can be important self-management strategies for older adults with osteoporosis or low BMD to prevent fractures. Objectives: This study examined the physical activity and exercise levels of older adults with low BMD and determined the proportion of individuals meeting the Canadian Physical Activity Guidelines. As well, this study characterized perceived individuals’ barriers to exercise and their willingness to pay for different methods of delivering exercise information. Secondary goals of this study were to investigate correlates of aerobic exercise and factors associated with meeting moderate- to vigorous-intensity aerobic physical activity guidelines. Methods: Individuals aged 50 years or older with a self-reported diagnosis of low BMD were recruited from the Canadian Osteoporosis Patient Network (COPN) and an osteoporosis public education event. Questionnaires were distributed online and through mail to individuals interested in participating. Participants were asked about the amount of time they spent doing moderate- and vigorous-intensity physical activity (MVPA) and the frequency at which they did strength and balance training per week. Also, participants were asked about potential barriers to exercise that they perceive, the strength at which they perceived those barriers at, and their interest in and willingness to pay (WTP) for different methods of delivering exercise information. Information about different factors affecting exercise behaviour such as risk perception, intention to exercise, and exercise self-efficacy were collected as well. Results: The total number of participants included in this study was 130 (mean [SD] age 66.32 [8.81] years). The mean (SD) time spent doing MVPA per week reported by participants was 831.35 (1065.43) minutes. The mean (SD) days per week that participants reported doing strength and balance training were 1.90 (1.66) and 1.36 (1.84), respectively. Sixteen individuals (12.3%) did not meet the guideline of engaging in at least 150 minutes of MVPA per week. Forty-one participants (31.5%) did not report doing any strength training and sixty-five individuals (50%) did not report doing any balance training. The most prevalent barriers to exercise that were reported was having no enjoyment for exercise (51.2%) , having no company to exercise with (47.2%), and health-related problems (37.5%). Although a majority of participants expressed interest in all methods of delivering exercise information, the mean WTP for a group exercise class and for training one-on-one with a certified personal trainer was lower than the suggested amounts that they would normally cost. Factors associated with meeting MVPA recommendations were intention to exercise (p = 0.03), exercise self-efficacy (p = 0.03), and strength of perceived barriers (p = 0.02). Conclusion: Many older adults with low bone mineral density are not meeting established physical activity guidelines. Greater measures need to be taken in promoting strength and balance training among these individuals. Addressing barriers to exercise may be an effective strategy to encourage individuals with low bone mineral density to become more active

Sleep duration and patterns in Chinese older adults: A comprehensive meta-analysis

This meta-analysis examined the mean sleep duration and patterns in Chinese older adult population. A literature search was systematically conducted covering major English (PubMed, Embase and PsycINFO) and Chinese (Chinese National Knowledge Infrastructure (CNKI), WanFang and SinoMed) databases. Data in studies with the mean and standard deviation of sleep duration and/or the proportion of short and long sleep durations in Chinese older adults were extracted and pooled using random-effects models. Subgroup analyses were conducted according to gender, region, area, survey time and sample size. A total of 36 studies with 150,616 subjects were included for analyses. The pooled mean sleep duration of 21 studies with available data was 6.82 hours/day (95% CI: 6.59–7.05 hours/day). The estimated proportions of sleep duration \u3c5 hours/day, \u3c6 hours/day, \u3c7 hours/day were 18.8% (95% CI: 1.7%–35.9%), 26.7% (95% CI: 19.7%–33.7%) and 42.3% (95% CI: 34.8%–49.8%), respectively. The pooled proportions for long sleepers were 22.6% (95% CI: 13.9%–31.4%) (\u3e8 hours/day) and 17.6% (95% CI: 12.4%–22.9%) (\u3e9 hours/day). Given the adverse effects of unhealthy sleep patterns, health professionals should pay more attention to sleep patterns in this population in China

Bipolar risk and mental imagery susceptibility in a representative sample of Chinese adults residing in the community

BACKGROUND: We need to better understand the cognitive factors associated with risk for bipolar disorders. Recent research suggests that increased susceptibility to mental imagery may be one such factor. However, since this research was primarily conducted with Western students and at a single time-point, it is not known whether the relationship between imagery susceptibility and bipolar symptoms exists across cultures or within the general community, or whether this relationship remains stable over time. AIM: This study evaluated whether Chinese adults identified as being at high (HR) versus low (LR) risk of developing bipolar disorders showed greater mental imagery susceptibility. We aimed to test whether such a relationship was stable over time by measuring imagery characteristics at baseline and at the 7-week follow-up. METHOD: This prospective study recruited a community sample of N = 80 Chinese adults screened for the absence of neurotic and psychotic disorders. The sample was split into HR (n = 18) and LR (n = 62) groups at baseline based on a criterion cut-off score on a measure of hypomania, the Mood Disorder Questionnaire (MDQ). Participants completed measures of imagery susceptibility and its impact: the Spontaneous Use of Imagery Scale (SUIS) and the Impact of Future Events Scale (IFES), at baseline and 7 weeks later. RESULTS: HR group reported greater tendency to use imagery in daily life (SUIS) and greater emotional impact of prospective imagery (IFES) than LR group at baseline. These results remained stable at follow-up. CONCLUSION: This study provides preliminary evidence for increased susceptibility to mental imagery in individuals at high risk of bipolar disorders recruited from a community sample of Chinese adults. This extends previous research in Western student samples suggesting that imagery (both levels of use and its emotional impact) may be a cognitive factor with cross-cultural relevance that is stable over time

Duration of untreated bipolar disorder: A multicenter study

Little is known about the demographic and clinical differences between short and long duration of untreated bipolar disorder (DUB) in Chinese patients. This study examined the demographic and clinical features of short (≤2 years) and long DUB (\u3e2 years) in China. A consecutively recruited sample of 555 patients with bipolar disorder (BD) was examined in 7 psychiatric hospitals and general hospital psychiatric units across China. Patients’ demographic and clinical characteristics were collected using a standardized protocol and data collection procedure. The mean DUB was 3.2 ± 6.0 years; long DUB accounted for 31.0% of the sample. Multivariate analyses revealed that longer duration of illness, diagnosis of BD type II, and earlier misdiagnosis of BD for major depressive disorder or schizophrenia were independently associated with long DUB. The mean DUB in Chinese BD patients was shorter than the reported figures from Western countries. The long-term impact of DUB on the outcome of BD is warranted

Ultrasound-guided percutaneous delivery of tissue-engineered endothelial cells to the adventitia of stented arteries controls the response to vascular injury in a porcine model

Objective High restenosis rates are a limitation of peripheral vascular interventions. Previous studies have shown that surgical implantation of a tissue-engineered endothelium onto the adventitia surface of injured vessels regulates vascular repair. In the present study, we developed a particulate formulation of tissue-engineered endothelium and a method to deliver the formulation perivascular to injured blood vessels using a percutaneous, minimally invasive technique. Methods Stainless steel stents were implanted in 18 balloon-injured femoral arteries of nine domestic swine, followed by ultrasound-guided percutaneous perivascular injection of gelatin particles containing cultured allogeneic porcine aortic endothelial cells (PAE). Controls received injections of empty particles (matrix) or no perivascular injection (sham) after stent deployment. Animals were sacrificed after 90 days. Results Angiographic analysis revealed a significantly greater lumen diameter in the stented segments of arteries treated with PAE/matrix (4.72 ± 0.12 mm) compared with matrix (4.01 ± 0.20 mm) or sham (4.03 ± 0.16 mm) controls (P < .05). Similarly, histologic analysis revealed that PAE/matrix-treated arteries had the greatest lumen area (20.4 ± 0.7 mm[superscript 2]; P < .05) compared with controls (16.1 ± 0.9 mm[superscript 2] and 17.1 ± 1.0 mm[superscript 2] for sham and matrix controls, respectively) and the smallest intimal area (3.3 ± 0.4 mm[superscript 2]; P < .05) compared with controls (6.2 ± 0.5 mm[superscript 2] and 4.4 ± 0.5 mm[superscript 2] for sham and matrix controls, respectively). Overall, PAE-treated arteries had a 33% to 50% decrease in percent occlusion (P < .05) compared with controls. Histopathological analysis revealed fewer leukocytes present in the intima in the PAE/matrix group compared with control groups, suggesting that the biological effects were in part due to inhibition of the inflammatory phase of the vascular response to injury. Conclusions Minimally invasive, perivascular delivery of PAE/matrix to stented arteries was performed safely using ultrasound-guided percutaneous injections and significantly decreased stenosis. Application at the time of or subsequent to peripheral interventions may decrease clinical restenosis rates

The Relationship between Gratitude, Wellbeing, Spirituality, and Experiencing Meaningful Work

Poor mental wellbeing not only affects an individual and their family, but it also affects the workplace and the society as a whole. Consequently, it is crucial to investigate approaches that can promote a positive mindset in order to enhance wellbeing. This study aimed to explore the association between gratitude, wellbeing, spirituality, and experiencing meaningful work. A sample of 197 participants (69.5% female) completed measures of gratitude, experiencing meaningful work, spirituality, and several wellbeing indices. Gratitude was significantly positively associated with happiness, life satisfaction, flourishing, positive affect, spirituality, and experiencing meaningful work. A mediation analysis revealed that the relationship between wellbeing and experiencing meaningful work was partially mediated by gratitude. Additionally, spirituality did not moderate the relationship between gratitude and experiencing meaningful work. Overall, the findings indicate that fostering a grateful mindset could enhance wellbeing and work engagement, which in turn could lead to the experience of meaningful work

Szto Wai : portraits of Lingnan University, 1937-1944 = 司徒衛 : 嶺南大學一九三七至一九四四繪畫

https://commons.ln.edu.hk/sztowai_book/1000/thumbnail.jp

Drug therapies for reducing gastric acidity in people with cystic fibrosis.

BackgroundMalabsorption of fat and protein contributes to poor nutritional status in people with cystic fibrosis. Impaired pancreatic function may also result in increased gastric acidity, leading in turn to heartburn, peptic ulcers and the impairment of oral pancreatic enzyme replacement therapy. The administration of gastric acid-reducing agents has been used as an adjunct to pancreatic enzyme therapy to improve absorption of fat and gastro-intestinal symptoms in people with cystic fibrosis. It is important to establish the evidence regarding potential benefits of drugs that reduce gastric acidity in people with cystic fibrosis. This is an update of a previously published review.ObjectivesTo assess the effect of drug therapies for reducing gastric acidity for: nutritional status; symptoms associated with increased gastric acidity; fat absorption; lung function; quality of life and survival; and to determine if any adverse effects are associated with their use.Search methodsWe searched the Cochrane Cystic Fibrosis and Genetic Disorders Group Trials Register which comprises references identified from comprehensive electronic and non-electronic database searches, handsearches of relevant journals,  abstract books and conference proceedings. Both authors double checked the reference lists of the searches Most recent search of the Group's Trials Register: 26 April 2021. On the 26 April 2021 further searches were conducted on the clinicaltrials.gov register to identify any ongoing trials that may be of relevance. The WHO ICTRP database was last searched in 2020 and is not currently available for searching due to the Covid-19 pandemic.Selection criteriaAll randomised and quasi-randomised trials involving agents that reduce gastric acidity compared to placebo or a comparator treatment.Data collection and analysisBoth authors independently selected trials, assessed trial quality and extracted data.Main resultsThe searches identified 40 trials; 17 of these, with 273 participants, were suitable for inclusion, but the number of trials assessing each of the different agents was small. Seven trials were limited to children and four trials enrolled only adults. Meta-analysis was not performed, 14 trials were of a cross-over design and we did not have the appropriate information to conduct comprehensive meta-analyses. All the trials were run in single centres and duration ranged from five days to six months. The included trials were generally not reported adequately enough to allow judgements on risk of bias. However, one trial found that drug therapies that reduce gastric acidity improved gastro-intestinal symptoms such as abdominal pain; seven trials reported significant improvement in measures of fat malabsorption; and two trials reported no significant improvement in nutritional status. Only one trial reported measures of respiratory function and one trial reported an adverse effect with prostaglandin E2 analogue misoprostol. No trials have been identified assessing the effectiveness of these agents in improving quality of life, the complications of increased gastric acidity, or survival.Authors' conclusionsTrials have shown limited evidence that agents that reduce gastric acidity are associated with improvement in gastro-intestinal symptoms and fat absorption. Currently, there is insufficient evidence to indicate whether there is an improvement in nutritional status, lung function, quality of life, or survival. Furthermore, due to the unclear risks of bias in the included trials, we are unable to make firm conclusions based on the evidence reported therein. We therefore recommend that large, multicentre, randomised controlled clinical trials are undertaken to evaluate these interventions