At-Risk Boys' Self-Efficacy in A Summer Sports Camp

Research has documented that summer sports camps can provide opportunities for social and physical benefits for at-risk boys who are often from low-income families and vulnerable to academic failure. However, whether these boys can reap such benefits is largely determined by their self-efficacy, including social self-efficacy and physical activity self-efficacy. Thus, the purpose of this study was to examine at-risk boys’ social self-efficacy and physical activity self-efficacy in a summer sports camp setting. Specifically, this study addressed the following research questions: (1) Can at-risk boys differentiate between social self-efficacy and physical activity self-efficacy? (2) What level of social self-efficacy and physical activity self-efficacy do at-risk boys in this sample display? (3) What is the relationship between social self-efficacy and physical activity self-efficacy? (4) Do at-risk boys’ mean scores of social self-efficacy and physical activity self-efficacy change over the course of the summer sports camp? (5) What are the predictive powers of social self-efficacy and physical activity self-efficacy on behaviors, effort, and intention for future physical activity participation, and (6) What factors do at-risk boys perceive contributing to their social self-efficacy and physical activity self-efficacy? The results of this study indicated that social self-efficacy and physical activity self-efficacy were clearly distinguishable, but they were also positively related. Both of them significantly predicted prosocial behaviors, with social self-efficacy having stronger predictive power. Physical activity self-efficacy was a better predictor of effort and intention than social self-efficacy. Boys with higher levels of social self-efficacy or physical activity self-efficacy were more likely to display prosocial behaviors. Besides the sources proposed by Bandura’s self-efficacy theory, such as mastery experience, vicarious experience, social persuasion, and emotional and physiological reactions, boys also identified some unique sources contributing to their social self-efficacy and physical activity self-efficacy. This study provides an initial effort using self-efficacy theory to understand at-risk boys’ behaviors, effort, and intention for future physical activity participation in a summer sports camp setting. Given the finding that social self-efficacy and physical activity self-efficacy were related to their behaviors, effort, and intention, it is critical to enhance at-risk boys’ social self-efficacy and physical activity self-efficacy in summer sports camps

Impact of media trust and personal epidemic experience on epidemic prevention behaviors in the context of COVID-19: A cross-sectional study based on protection motivation theory

ObjectiveThis study aimed to elucidate the impact of media trust on epidemic prevention motivation and behaviors based on the Protection Motivation Theory (PMT) and to evaluate the moderation effect of personal epidemic experience, which focused on the differences in two groups with or without epidemic experience.MethodsThe exogenous constructs and PMT model and scale were constructed through literature analysis, and a web-based questionnaire survey was conducted among 428 individuals aged above 18 years in China. Statistical analysis and hypothesis testing were performed in SPSS 26 and SmartPLS 3.ResultsTraditional media trust accounted for the largest weight in media trust (w = 0.492, p-value < 0.001), followed by social media (w = 0.463, p-value < 0.001), and interpersonal communication (w = 0.290, p-value < 0.001). Media trust was positively and significantly related to both threat appraisal (β = 0.210, p-value < 0.001) and coping appraisal (β = 0.260, p-value < 0.001). Threat appraisal (β = 0.105, p-value < 0.05) and coping appraisal (β = 0.545, p-value < 0.001) were positively and significantly related to epidemic prevention motivation, which positively and significantly related to epidemic prevention behaviors (β = 0.492, p-value < 0.001). The R2 values of epidemic prevention motivation and behavior are 0.350 and 0.240, respectively, indicating an acceptable explanation. Multiple-group analysis revealed five significant differences in paths between the two groups, indicating personal epidemic experience acting as a slight moderator on these paths.ConclusionTraditional media trust and social media trust were the important elements in COVID-19 prevention and control, and public health departments and governments should ensure the accuracy and reliability of information from traditional and social media. Simultaneously, the media should balance threat information and efficacy information in order to generate the public’s prevention motivation and behaviors

Photoacoustic imaging of living mouse brain vasculature using hollow gold nanospheres

Photoacoustic tomography (PAT) also referred to as optoacoustic tomography (OAT) is a hybrid imaging modality that employs nonionizing optical radiation and ultrasonic detection. Here, we describe the application of a new class of optical contrast agents based on mesoscopic hollow gold nanospheres (HAuNS) to PAT. HAuNS are ∼40 nm in diameter with a hollow interior and consist of a thin gold wall. They display strong resonance absorption tuned to the near-infrared (NIR) range, with an absorption peak at 800 nm, whose photoacoustic efficiency is significantly greater than that of blood. Following surface conjugation with thiolated poly(ethylene glycol), the pegylated HAuNS (PEG-HAuNS) had distribution and elimination half-lives of 1.38 ± 0.38 and 71.82 ± 30.46 h, respectively. Compared with PAT images based on the intrinsic optical contrast in nude mice, the PAT images acquired within 2 h after intravenous administration of PEG-HAuNS showed the brain vasculature with greater clarity and detail. The image depicted brain blood vessels as small as ∼100 μm in diameter using PEG-HAuNS as contrast agents. Preliminary results showed no acute toxicity to the liver, spleen, or kidneys in mice following a single imaging dose of PEG-HAuNS. Our results indicate that PEG-HAuNS are promising contrast agents for PAT, with high spatial resolution and enhanced sensitivity

Fe controls the reproduction of zoogloea and sludge bulking in oil-in-iron wastewater

Following the final biological treatment, the oil wastewater is intended for reuse in factory floor cleaning. However, the presence of varying concentrations of oil-in-iron characteristic wastewater has led to a sudden surge in sludge SV to 90%, adversely affecting water treatment efficiency. In this study, we conducted an analysis of microbial community structure and selected pepA and 16S rRNA primers to assess the proportions of zoogloea and total bacteria in sludge bulking. Iron concentration plays a pivotal role, and it should be maintained at or 0.6 mgL−1. By selective discharging of sludge to maintain 1,700 mgL−1, we minimized iron enrichment, thereby enhancing the sludge settling performance. Maintaining dissolved oxygen (DO) at 3.5 mgL−1 supports the aerobic sludge's ability to replenish iron in its system, while the oil content should be controlled at 145.33 mgL−1 to reduce the release of iron into the water. The order of significance is as follows: sludge concentration > Fe amount > DO > oil content. Implementing this approach was applied in the field for 1 week and effectively reduced the SV from 90% to approximately 43%. The interaction between quorum sensing molecules related to sludge bulking and iron, leading to the formation of complexes, underscores the significance of controlling iron levels. This study offers a valuable case for practical application of quorum quenching technology in oil wastewater, presenting a rapid, efficient, and cost-effective solution to address the issue of sludge bulking