Targeting modernization, we should keep to the Chinese-style path of car- rying out industrialization in a new way and advancing IT application, urbanization, and agricultural modernization. In the research, the scien...Targeting modernization, we should keep to the Chinese-style path of car- rying out industrialization in a new way and advancing IT application, urbanization, and agricultural modernization. In the research, the scientific concepts of IT applica- tion, urbanization, agricultural modernization and industrialization were illustrated and the interrelations were analyzed, with measures on harmonized development pro- posed based on existing problems.展开更多
Background: Although the standing long jump (SLJ) is a popular physical fitness assessment, it lacks an updated criterion-reference standard. This study generated the first normative SLJ test data for Chinese aged 8 -...Background: Although the standing long jump (SLJ) is a popular physical fitness assessment, it lacks an updated criterion-reference standard. This study generated the first normative SLJ test data for Chinese aged 8 - 18. Methods: From September 2005 to December 2011, comprehensive physical fitness assessments were conducted on 12,712 school students. The SLJ performances were significantly different between boys and girls (all age groups, p < 0.01). Results: The boys performed better than the girls in each age group. The mean difference increased as the age increased, depicting a prominent variance in muscular strength between boys and girls at age 12, and the variances became larger at age 18. Girls in the 70th percenttile performed similarly to boys performing in the 10th percentile. The onset of muscle strength for boys found in this study corresponded to the onset age of testosterone maturation of Chinese boys investigated in previous studies. Linear regression found age and BMI predicting SLJ significantly for boys and girls, explaining better SLJ results in older boy and the effect of their heavy body size. Conclusions: This study indicated a muscular strength difference between genders during growth and added supporting evidence to the hormonal influence of muscle growth during puberty.展开更多
Objective: Electrocochleography(ECochG) is valuable to diagnose Meniere's disease objectively. The aim of the present study was to provide preliminary normative data for ECochG among Asian adults. The influences o...Objective: Electrocochleography(ECochG) is valuable to diagnose Meniere's disease objectively. The aim of the present study was to provide preliminary normative data for ECochG among Asian adults. The influences of ethnicity(Malay versus Chinese) and gender on ECoch G results were also studied.Methods: Twenty-two Malay adults(10 men and 12 women) and twenty Chinese participants(10 men and 10 women) aged between 20 and 49 years participated in this study. Extratympanic ECoch G(ET-ECochG) was recorded according to standard non-invasive procedure. Summating potential(SP) amplitude, action potential(AP) amplitude and SP/AP ratio were analyzed accordingly.Results: ET-ECoch G results were found to be comparable between left and right ears(p > 0.05). No notable differences in ET-ECochG results were found between Malay and Chinese groups(p > 0.05). No significant influence of gender on ET-ECochG outcomes was also noted(p > 0.05). The derived normative data for Asian adults(84 ears) are consistent with previous reports.Conclusion: The present study provides preliminary normative data for ET-ECochG among Asian adults. The ECoch G components do not appear to be influenced by either ethnicity or gender. The derived normative data can be used for clinical applications and as the reference for future studies involving Asian population.展开更多
The purpose of this study is to design a Moroccan Trail Making Test B;explore the effects of age, education and gender on the performance of the Trail Making Test (TMT);and provide normative information in Moroccan su...The purpose of this study is to design a Moroccan Trail Making Test B;explore the effects of age, education and gender on the performance of the Trail Making Test (TMT);and provide normative information in Moroccan subjects. Our normalization study was conducted on 348 subjects (156 female and 192 male). The subjects were classified into four groups based on age (18 - 39 years, 40 - 59 years, 60 - 69 years and ≥70 years), and three groups based on educational level (3 - 6 years, 7 - 10 years and ≥11 years). The data were analyzed using descriptive statistics through SPSS. The results displayed that increasing age and decreasing levels of education significantly result in a decreased performance on the Trail A, Moroccan Trail B and English Trail B. Only 229 bilingual subjects among the 348 initial subjects completed both versions of Trail B. There was no significant difference on performance between Moroccan Trail B and English Trail B for these subjects.展开更多
The aim of this study was to provide normative data of the Moroccan Arabic version of the 10/66 Dementia Research Group cognitive test battery and to explore the effects of age, education/illiteracy, and gender on the...The aim of this study was to provide normative data of the Moroccan Arabic version of the 10/66 Dementia Research Group cognitive test battery and to explore the effects of age, education/illiteracy, and gender on the performance of these tests. One hundred healthy subjects (67 illiterates and 33 semi-illiterates) participated in this study. None of the participants had serious medical, psychiatric, or neurological disorders including dementia. The protocol included the administration of three components of the 10/66 Dementia Research Group cognitive test battery;Community Screening Instrument for Dementia (CSI “D”, generating the COGSCORE measure of global function), and the Consortium to Establish a Registry for Alzheimer’s Disease (CERAD) verbal fluency (VF), word list memory (WLM, immediate recall) tests. All the test scores were not significantly influenced by sex and age. There was no significant effect of education/illiteracy on the CERAD verbal fluency (VF) and Word List Memory (immediate recall) test scores, but a weakly significant (p < 0.05) effect on the CSI “D” COGSCORE performance. These normative data will be useful for clinical interpretations of the three components of the 10/66 Dementia Research Program protocol in illiterate and semi-illiterate Moroccan subjects with cognitive disorders.展开更多
Objective: We introduce Utena’s Brief Objective Measures of 4 Axes for Psychic Function and Energy (UBOM-4), a new brief test battery for evaluating psychic function concerning intellect, emotion, volition, and imagi...Objective: We introduce Utena’s Brief Objective Measures of 4 Axes for Psychic Function and Energy (UBOM-4), a new brief test battery for evaluating psychic function concerning intellect, emotion, volition, and imagination. To date, insufficient general population data on the UBOM have been collected. This study aimed to establish the normative values for the general population in UBOM-4 and examine the effects of age, sex, and mental health status on the values. Methods: The General Health Questionnaire, 12-item version (GHQ-12) and UBOM-4 were administered to 149 individuals working in or attending professional schools or universities (73 males, 76 females;age: 19 - 65 years). Participants were classified as healthy based on their GHQ-12 responses and psychiatrist interviews. Results: UBOM-4 measures (mean ± SD) were: pulse rate difference (PRD or UBOM-pulse), −0.72 ± 4.31 beats/min;ruler catching time (RCT or UBOM-ruler), 18.42 ± 3.73 cm;degree of randomness (DOR or UBOM-random), 0.94 ± 0.18;mean randomizing time (MRT or UBOM-time), 0.60 ± 0.31 sec. The Baum Test drawings were classified as usual (86%) and unusual patterns (14%). Sex effects were observed for RCT (UBOM-ruler) and DOR (UBOM-random), but not for PRD (UBOM-pulse) and MRT (UBOM-time). Therefore, the normative values for RCT (UBOM-ruler) (males: 17.37 ± 3.25 cm;females: 19.42 ± 3.90 cm) and DOR (UBOM-random) (males: 0.92 ± 0.18;females: 0.95 ± 0.18) should be differentiated by sex. The patterns of the Baum Test drawings were affected by age, with individuals over 51 years showing the unusual pattern more frequently (42%). Discussion: Compared to previous results for healthy individuals, the present results were similar for RCT (UBOM-ruler), DOR (UBOM-random), MRT (UBOM-time), and the drawing pattern, but different for PRD (UBOM-pulse). This difference is probably because PRD is sensitive to test situation habituation, sex of examiner, order of subtests, etc. Thus, PRD (UBOM-pulse) should be measured after the subject-examiner relationship stabilizes. Conclusion: Our results suggest that UBOM-4 can be widely used in clinical settings, utilizing the present results as a reference.展开更多
The purpose of this descriptive study was to collect quantitative, normative data for the Barnett Balance Assessment-Sitting (BBA-SIT), a newly-developed dynamic sitting balance assessment tool based on the Barnett Ba...The purpose of this descriptive study was to collect quantitative, normative data for the Barnett Balance Assessment-Sitting (BBA-SIT), a newly-developed dynamic sitting balance assessment tool based on the Barnett Balance Assessment (BBA). The BBA-SIT was administered to a total of 180 participants (30 people in each of the following age categories: 18 - 29, 30 - 39, 40 - 49, 50 - 59, 60 - 69, and 70+) who did not have any current balance deficits. A review of normative data collected indicated no variation in the total assessment scores within and between groups. Future research on the BBA-SIT is needed with balance-impaired populations to determine if the BBA-SIT is sensitive enough to identify subtle differences in dynamic sitting balance in individuals with various levels of balance impairment.展开更多
Background: Computed Tomography Angiography (CTA) is a new and promising type of imaging to evaluate cardiac structure and function. Although it does require injection of contrast material and some radiation exposure,...Background: Computed Tomography Angiography (CTA) is a new and promising type of imaging to evaluate cardiac structure and function. Although it does require injection of contrast material and some radiation exposure, it is much less invasive than conventional catheter based on angiography. It has been already shown to correlate well with echocardiography images, but normative values have yet to be established. Objectives: To publish the first known data on CTA measurements for all four chambers of the heart. Methods: We conducted a retrospective chart review study of around 3000 patients over a three-year period (2006-2008) from a private cardiology practice in Phoenix, Arizona. Patients were screened for any preexisting conditions that might contribute to abnormal cardiac structures. A “normal” population of 226 patients’ CTA’s was reviewed and 29 different measurements were taken cardiac anatomy. Patients were then categorized based on sex and BMI and the cardiac measurements were compared. Results: The values obtained were similar to already established normal measurement values from echocardiography. There was good correlation between body mass index (BMI) and the sexes. Conclusion: This study serves to establish normative data for cardiac CTA while also proves to show good correlation with already established normative values for echocardiography and justifies these CTA measurements as an alternative means of cardiac evaluation. Further study regarding the variations between data for specific measurements will be addressed in future studies.展开更多
The use of economic sanctions as a foreign policy tool dates back to the Megarian decree of 432 BC,but has long been controversial.Economic sanctions are commonly employed by governments as a coercive tool to adjust t...The use of economic sanctions as a foreign policy tool dates back to the Megarian decree of 432 BC,but has long been controversial.Economic sanctions are commonly employed by governments as a coercive tool to adjust the behavior of a state actor that is in violation of international behavior norms,yet there remains concern as to the effectiveness of applying economic sanctions and the extent to which sanctions should be applied.Further questions arise regarding both the viability and morality of sanctions.This paper will examine case studies to determine the moral,economic,and political impact of imposing sanctions on state actors.In doing so,this paper will specifically examine the economic sanctions applied to South Africa,Iran,and Crimea.It will examine the application of sanctions and the effectiveness in achieving established foreign policy goals,while also analyzing the impact on innocents to determine the ethical implications of sanctions.展开更多
As the host country of the 26 th United Nations Climate Conference,the United Kingdom(UK)fully carried out climate diplomacy at the conference,and intended to promote the green concept in the international community t...As the host country of the 26 th United Nations Climate Conference,the United Kingdom(UK)fully carried out climate diplomacy at the conference,and intended to promote the green concept in the international community through diplomatic means,which shows its greater ambition in international climate governance.However,the UK,as the source of the Industrial Revolution,has not always followed the so-called green norms in history.In the interaction with the EU norms after joining the European Community,the UK gradually developed from an"opponent"of green norms to an"advocate"of green norms.After"Brexit",the British government did not stop at the previous green norms of the EU,and further gave the green norms a special brand of the UK on this basis.At present,during the term of Boris Johnson's government,the green norms shaped by the UK have been basically formed and disseminated within a certain mechanism.In this paper,based on the normative power theory and relevant historical facts,how the UK has shaped international norms and obtained normative power through a series of climate policy will be discussed,and some enlightenment to China's participation in the construction of international norms system today will be obtained.展开更多
This paper conducts analysis on the educational evaluation standard value based on the normative perspective. Systematic evaluation refers to the determination of the nature and state of a system by means of an effect...This paper conducts analysis on the educational evaluation standard value based on the normative perspective. Systematic evaluation refers to the determination of the nature and state of a system by means of an effective standard, based on the clear system objective, structure, and system properties, and then compares it with a set of evaluation criteria and makes a judgment. The evaluation result is also the interaction of the product. The education evaluation which is constructed with the dialogue thinking is democratic, friendly, open, win-win, and the evaluation of creation. Educational evaluation is not a party to the other party as superior, judgment, conclusion, one-way row order, but both sides of the equality. Under this basis, this paper proposes the educational evaluation standard value based on the normative perspective. In the future, we will apply proposed method into the general applications to verify the effectiveness and systematic effectiveness.展开更多
In order to gradually build a theoretical system of human rights with Chinese characteristics that conforms to the development of the times through rigorous academic research, researchers need to break through the bas...In order to gradually build a theoretical system of human rights with Chinese characteristics that conforms to the development of the times through rigorous academic research, researchers need to break through the basic think- ing tendency of ＂from idea to idea＂ step by step and finally establish the fundamental research orientation of ＂specifying human rights stud- ies.＂ Through comprehensive and systematic analysis and sorting out various basic concepts relating to human rights, researchers also need to finally establish a solid foundation and prerequisite for fruitful academic study.展开更多
The article concerns the normative value of truth in relation to lie. Based on arguments derived primarily from ancient philosophers （Eubulides, Plato, Aristotle）, medieval philosophers （St. Augustine, St. Thomas A...The article concerns the normative value of truth in relation to lie. Based on arguments derived primarily from ancient philosophers （Eubulides, Plato, Aristotle）, medieval philosophers （St. Augustine, St. Thomas Aquinas）, the thinker of the Renaissance---Machiavelli, the main philosopher of the Enlightenment--Kant, the 19th-century author of Beyond Good and Evil （Nietzsche）, and contemporary thinkers such as Derrida and Lacan, the author considers here truth as a normative value. Lying is relative to the truth, and it has no ontological legitimacy, even it cannot exist without truth itself. In the final part of the article, the author concludes that the truth, however, cannot lead to clearly had effects, be harmful or cause pain disproportionate to the effects caused by lie. Therefore, it must coexist with the good--the other parent value. Only when both values complement each other can we talk about the normative value of truth. The truth should be correlated with other values on which value systems are based, especially the good of a person or group of persons, avoiding harm towards others, and the protection of a person＇s health and life. Only then can the truth be appropriate to use. It is not an immovable foundation, but a dynamically functioning value, in which language and the ethical （active） dimensions provide the value of the specified situations. The truth can be a double-edged sword： It may hurt, but it can defend itself. The latter function seems to be the most important type of the normativity of truth.展开更多
College students’energy-saving behaviors in dormitory buildings are crucial for reducing energy consumption on university campuses.An information framework aimed at normalization can do well in motivating individuals...College students’energy-saving behaviors in dormitory buildings are crucial for reducing energy consumption on university campuses.An information framework aimed at normalization can do well in motivating individuals’energy-saving behaviors.To assess the effectiveness of normative information intervention strategies in motivating college students to save energy,this study innovatively adopts a new method combining traditional influence path analysis and field experiment,which makes up for the shortcomings of the traditional single questionnaire survey method.First,this study introduced“normative information”and“personal norms”into the theory of planned behavior(TPB).The aim was to explore the mechanisms by which the provision of normative information affects college students’energy-saving intentions through a questionnaire(352 questionnaires).Then,on this basis,a field experiment was conducted in 70 university dormitories with 313 students to further assess the effectiveness of four normative information intervention strategies in promoting energy-saving behaviors.The study results showed:1)Attitude,perceived behavioral control,subjective norms,and personal norms were significantly correlated with energy-saving intentions.2)Positive normative feedback and low-intensity normative feedback had significant positive effects on personal norms,which fully mediated the relationships between positive/low-intensity normative feedback and energy-saving intentions.3)Positive low-intensity normative information achieved the best energy-saving effect(with an energy-saving ratio of 29.18%),followed by positive high-intensity normative information(24.97%)and negative low-intensity normative information(24.38%).The results can provide reference for reducing dormitory energy consumption.展开更多
Background This study aimed to(i)provide normative data for measures of physical fitness(PF)(i.e.,muscle strength,muscle power,linear sprint speed)in 8-to 14-year-old Tunisian children and(ii)to examine sex and age gr...Background This study aimed to(i)provide normative data for measures of physical fitness(PF)(i.e.,muscle strength,muscle power,linear sprint speed)in 8-to 14-year-old Tunisian children and(ii)to examine sex and age group differences in these measures.Methods A total of 597 subjects(aged 8~14)participated in this study,the normative data for handgrip strength,jump height,and linear sprint speed were generated and collected,and the two-way analysis of variance(ANOVA)was used to identify the presence of the main effect of age,sex,an age×sex interaction for all tests.Results The two-way ANOVA showed credible age by sex interactions for all measures of PF[Effect Size(ES)ranged from 0.28 to 0.68;P<0.05].The findings indicated a main effect of age in handgrip strength,countermovement jump(CMJ)height,and linear sprint speed(all P<0.05),regardless of sex.Post hoc analyses showed early increases in handgrip strength for boys from 8 to 14 years.For CMJ height,an increase in performance was observed from 10 to 11 years(ES=0.23)and 12 to 13 years(ES=0.14)(all P<0.05).For linear sprint speed,performance enhancement was observed from 10 to 11 years(ES=1.00).In girls,an increase in handgrip strength was noted from 9 to 12 years(ES=1.00).However,the changes across age were less convincing for CMJ height and linear sprint speed tests,suggesting that differences for girls were not sup-ported by the collected data.Boys outperformed girls in all measures of PF(P<0.05).A summary of the estimated centiles of 10-and 30-m sprint speed,grip strength,and CMJ height for boys and girls allows a particular child’s test values to be compared to the norms for the group.Conclusions In summary,this study provides normative data that can be used as a tool to classify sprint speed,strength,and jump height performance in children of both sexes aged 8-14 years.展开更多
Objectives To compare the difference in pulmonary function between Caucasians and Chinese and assess the best reference values of pulmonary function for Chinese adults.Methods Values for pulmonary function were pre...Objectives To compare the difference in pulmonary function between Caucasians and Chinese and assess the best reference values of pulmonary function for Chinese adults.Methods Values for pulmonary function were predicted by tests on 4773 Chinese healthy subjects (male: 2560, female: 2213, aged 15-78 years) in six parts (north, northeast, northwest, east, southwest and south) of China. Prediction equations of the European Community for Steel and Coal (ECSC), other equations for overseas Chinese or for Caucasians were also selected. The regression coefficients of forced vital capacity (FVC), forced expiratory volume in one second (FEV 1), FEV 1/FVC, total lung capacity (TLC) and residual volume (RV) were summarized. Results ECSC predictions were closer to the Chinese ones than other selected equations. Comparison with ECSC predictions showed that on average the values for FVC, FEV 1 were 5.3% smaller in Chinese males and 3.3% smaller in Chinese females, with the maximal differences in south China and the minimal differences in North China. RV and TLC in Chinese were lower than in Caucasians (males 4.8%, 5.5%, respectively; females 8.7% and 6.0%, respectively). Conversion factors were given for adjusting ECSC equations to fit Chinese. Conclusions For predicting values of pulmonary function in Chinese, we suggest to use the equations reported here. Alternatively, ECSC regression equations may be used with appropriate conversion factors.展开更多
At a time when the liberal international economic order seems under threat,the transformation of global economic governance poses a strong normative challenge to existing international institutions.The recent establis...At a time when the liberal international economic order seems under threat,the transformation of global economic governance poses a strong normative challenge to existing international institutions.The recent establishment of new international financial institutions(IFIs)-the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank(AIIB)and the New Development Bank(NDB)-signified a steady process of transformation of the architecture of contemporary global governance.How rising powers understand,establish and conduct formal and informal rules within new international financial systems is of fundamental importance for the future of world economic order,although not necessarily signaling a decline for the Western-style economic governance and its normative principles.While global economic governance has profoundly changed in the last decade,the suggestion here is that rising powers'efforts to reshape the current global economic order have often been overestimated and only partially contextualized within the enormous achievements gained from economic opportunities driven by Western globalization.Focusing on the contestation of these different world views,the paper analyzes the approach of BRICS(Brazil,Russia,India,China and South Africa)New Development Bank countries to global economic governance within the newly established IFIs,questioning how the normative challenge represents either an opportunity or a threat to the current global order.展开更多
文摘Targeting modernization, we should keep to the Chinese-style path of car- rying out industrialization in a new way and advancing IT application, urbanization, and agricultural modernization. In the research, the scientific concepts of IT applica- tion, urbanization, agricultural modernization and industrialization were illustrated and the interrelations were analyzed, with measures on harmonized development pro- posed based on existing problems.
文摘Background: Although the standing long jump (SLJ) is a popular physical fitness assessment, it lacks an updated criterion-reference standard. This study generated the first normative SLJ test data for Chinese aged 8 - 18. Methods: From September 2005 to December 2011, comprehensive physical fitness assessments were conducted on 12,712 school students. The SLJ performances were significantly different between boys and girls (all age groups, p < 0.01). Results: The boys performed better than the girls in each age group. The mean difference increased as the age increased, depicting a prominent variance in muscular strength between boys and girls at age 12, and the variances became larger at age 18. Girls in the 70th percenttile performed similarly to boys performing in the 10th percentile. The onset of muscle strength for boys found in this study corresponded to the onset age of testosterone maturation of Chinese boys investigated in previous studies. Linear regression found age and BMI predicting SLJ significantly for boys and girls, explaining better SLJ results in older boy and the effect of their heavy body size. Conclusions: This study indicated a muscular strength difference between genders during growth and added supporting evidence to the hormonal influence of muscle growth during puberty.
基金Short Term Grant(304/PPSK/61313023),Universiti Sains Malaysia
文摘Objective: Electrocochleography(ECochG) is valuable to diagnose Meniere's disease objectively. The aim of the present study was to provide preliminary normative data for ECochG among Asian adults. The influences of ethnicity(Malay versus Chinese) and gender on ECoch G results were also studied.Methods: Twenty-two Malay adults(10 men and 12 women) and twenty Chinese participants(10 men and 10 women) aged between 20 and 49 years participated in this study. Extratympanic ECoch G(ET-ECochG) was recorded according to standard non-invasive procedure. Summating potential(SP) amplitude, action potential(AP) amplitude and SP/AP ratio were analyzed accordingly.Results: ET-ECoch G results were found to be comparable between left and right ears(p > 0.05). No notable differences in ET-ECochG results were found between Malay and Chinese groups(p > 0.05). No significant influence of gender on ET-ECochG outcomes was also noted(p > 0.05). The derived normative data for Asian adults(84 ears) are consistent with previous reports.Conclusion: The present study provides preliminary normative data for ET-ECochG among Asian adults. The ECoch G components do not appear to be influenced by either ethnicity or gender. The derived normative data can be used for clinical applications and as the reference for future studies involving Asian population.
文摘The purpose of this study is to design a Moroccan Trail Making Test B;explore the effects of age, education and gender on the performance of the Trail Making Test (TMT);and provide normative information in Moroccan subjects. Our normalization study was conducted on 348 subjects (156 female and 192 male). The subjects were classified into four groups based on age (18 - 39 years, 40 - 59 years, 60 - 69 years and ≥70 years), and three groups based on educational level (3 - 6 years, 7 - 10 years and ≥11 years). The data were analyzed using descriptive statistics through SPSS. The results displayed that increasing age and decreasing levels of education significantly result in a decreased performance on the Trail A, Moroccan Trail B and English Trail B. Only 229 bilingual subjects among the 348 initial subjects completed both versions of Trail B. There was no significant difference on performance between Moroccan Trail B and English Trail B for these subjects.
文摘The aim of this study was to provide normative data of the Moroccan Arabic version of the 10/66 Dementia Research Group cognitive test battery and to explore the effects of age, education/illiteracy, and gender on the performance of these tests. One hundred healthy subjects (67 illiterates and 33 semi-illiterates) participated in this study. None of the participants had serious medical, psychiatric, or neurological disorders including dementia. The protocol included the administration of three components of the 10/66 Dementia Research Group cognitive test battery;Community Screening Instrument for Dementia (CSI “D”, generating the COGSCORE measure of global function), and the Consortium to Establish a Registry for Alzheimer’s Disease (CERAD) verbal fluency (VF), word list memory (WLM, immediate recall) tests. All the test scores were not significantly influenced by sex and age. There was no significant effect of education/illiteracy on the CERAD verbal fluency (VF) and Word List Memory (immediate recall) test scores, but a weakly significant (p < 0.05) effect on the CSI “D” COGSCORE performance. These normative data will be useful for clinical interpretations of the three components of the 10/66 Dementia Research Program protocol in illiterate and semi-illiterate Moroccan subjects with cognitive disorders.
文摘Objective: We introduce Utena’s Brief Objective Measures of 4 Axes for Psychic Function and Energy (UBOM-4), a new brief test battery for evaluating psychic function concerning intellect, emotion, volition, and imagination. To date, insufficient general population data on the UBOM have been collected. This study aimed to establish the normative values for the general population in UBOM-4 and examine the effects of age, sex, and mental health status on the values. Methods: The General Health Questionnaire, 12-item version (GHQ-12) and UBOM-4 were administered to 149 individuals working in or attending professional schools or universities (73 males, 76 females;age: 19 - 65 years). Participants were classified as healthy based on their GHQ-12 responses and psychiatrist interviews. Results: UBOM-4 measures (mean ± SD) were: pulse rate difference (PRD or UBOM-pulse), −0.72 ± 4.31 beats/min;ruler catching time (RCT or UBOM-ruler), 18.42 ± 3.73 cm;degree of randomness (DOR or UBOM-random), 0.94 ± 0.18;mean randomizing time (MRT or UBOM-time), 0.60 ± 0.31 sec. The Baum Test drawings were classified as usual (86%) and unusual patterns (14%). Sex effects were observed for RCT (UBOM-ruler) and DOR (UBOM-random), but not for PRD (UBOM-pulse) and MRT (UBOM-time). Therefore, the normative values for RCT (UBOM-ruler) (males: 17.37 ± 3.25 cm;females: 19.42 ± 3.90 cm) and DOR (UBOM-random) (males: 0.92 ± 0.18;females: 0.95 ± 0.18) should be differentiated by sex. The patterns of the Baum Test drawings were affected by age, with individuals over 51 years showing the unusual pattern more frequently (42%). Discussion: Compared to previous results for healthy individuals, the present results were similar for RCT (UBOM-ruler), DOR (UBOM-random), MRT (UBOM-time), and the drawing pattern, but different for PRD (UBOM-pulse). This difference is probably because PRD is sensitive to test situation habituation, sex of examiner, order of subtests, etc. Thus, PRD (UBOM-pulse) should be measured after the subject-examiner relationship stabilizes. Conclusion: Our results suggest that UBOM-4 can be widely used in clinical settings, utilizing the present results as a reference.
文摘The purpose of this descriptive study was to collect quantitative, normative data for the Barnett Balance Assessment-Sitting (BBA-SIT), a newly-developed dynamic sitting balance assessment tool based on the Barnett Balance Assessment (BBA). The BBA-SIT was administered to a total of 180 participants (30 people in each of the following age categories: 18 - 29, 30 - 39, 40 - 49, 50 - 59, 60 - 69, and 70+) who did not have any current balance deficits. A review of normative data collected indicated no variation in the total assessment scores within and between groups. Future research on the BBA-SIT is needed with balance-impaired populations to determine if the BBA-SIT is sensitive enough to identify subtle differences in dynamic sitting balance in individuals with various levels of balance impairment.
文摘Background: Computed Tomography Angiography (CTA) is a new and promising type of imaging to evaluate cardiac structure and function. Although it does require injection of contrast material and some radiation exposure, it is much less invasive than conventional catheter based on angiography. It has been already shown to correlate well with echocardiography images, but normative values have yet to be established. Objectives: To publish the first known data on CTA measurements for all four chambers of the heart. Methods: We conducted a retrospective chart review study of around 3000 patients over a three-year period (2006-2008) from a private cardiology practice in Phoenix, Arizona. Patients were screened for any preexisting conditions that might contribute to abnormal cardiac structures. A “normal” population of 226 patients’ CTA’s was reviewed and 29 different measurements were taken cardiac anatomy. Patients were then categorized based on sex and BMI and the cardiac measurements were compared. Results: The values obtained were similar to already established normal measurement values from echocardiography. There was good correlation between body mass index (BMI) and the sexes. Conclusion: This study serves to establish normative data for cardiac CTA while also proves to show good correlation with already established normative values for echocardiography and justifies these CTA measurements as an alternative means of cardiac evaluation. Further study regarding the variations between data for specific measurements will be addressed in future studies.
文摘The use of economic sanctions as a foreign policy tool dates back to the Megarian decree of 432 BC,but has long been controversial.Economic sanctions are commonly employed by governments as a coercive tool to adjust the behavior of a state actor that is in violation of international behavior norms,yet there remains concern as to the effectiveness of applying economic sanctions and the extent to which sanctions should be applied.Further questions arise regarding both the viability and morality of sanctions.This paper will examine case studies to determine the moral,economic,and political impact of imposing sanctions on state actors.In doing so,this paper will specifically examine the economic sanctions applied to South Africa,Iran,and Crimea.It will examine the application of sanctions and the effectiveness in achieving established foreign policy goals,while also analyzing the impact on innocents to determine the ethical implications of sanctions.
文摘As the host country of the 26 th United Nations Climate Conference,the United Kingdom(UK)fully carried out climate diplomacy at the conference,and intended to promote the green concept in the international community through diplomatic means,which shows its greater ambition in international climate governance.However,the UK,as the source of the Industrial Revolution,has not always followed the so-called green norms in history.In the interaction with the EU norms after joining the European Community,the UK gradually developed from an"opponent"of green norms to an"advocate"of green norms.After"Brexit",the British government did not stop at the previous green norms of the EU,and further gave the green norms a special brand of the UK on this basis.At present,during the term of Boris Johnson's government,the green norms shaped by the UK have been basically formed and disseminated within a certain mechanism.In this paper,based on the normative power theory and relevant historical facts,how the UK has shaped international norms and obtained normative power through a series of climate policy will be discussed,and some enlightenment to China's participation in the construction of international norms system today will be obtained.
文摘This paper conducts analysis on the educational evaluation standard value based on the normative perspective. Systematic evaluation refers to the determination of the nature and state of a system by means of an effective standard, based on the clear system objective, structure, and system properties, and then compares it with a set of evaluation criteria and makes a judgment. The evaluation result is also the interaction of the product. The education evaluation which is constructed with the dialogue thinking is democratic, friendly, open, win-win, and the evaluation of creation. Educational evaluation is not a party to the other party as superior, judgment, conclusion, one-way row order, but both sides of the equality. Under this basis, this paper proposes the educational evaluation standard value based on the normative perspective. In the future, we will apply proposed method into the general applications to verify the effectiveness and systematic effectiveness.
文摘In order to gradually build a theoretical system of human rights with Chinese characteristics that conforms to the development of the times through rigorous academic research, researchers need to break through the basic think- ing tendency of ＂from idea to idea＂ step by step and finally establish the fundamental research orientation of ＂specifying human rights stud- ies.＂ Through comprehensive and systematic analysis and sorting out various basic concepts relating to human rights, researchers also need to finally establish a solid foundation and prerequisite for fruitful academic study.
文摘The article concerns the normative value of truth in relation to lie. Based on arguments derived primarily from ancient philosophers （Eubulides, Plato, Aristotle）, medieval philosophers （St. Augustine, St. Thomas Aquinas）, the thinker of the Renaissance---Machiavelli, the main philosopher of the Enlightenment--Kant, the 19th-century author of Beyond Good and Evil （Nietzsche）, and contemporary thinkers such as Derrida and Lacan, the author considers here truth as a normative value. Lying is relative to the truth, and it has no ontological legitimacy, even it cannot exist without truth itself. In the final part of the article, the author concludes that the truth, however, cannot lead to clearly had effects, be harmful or cause pain disproportionate to the effects caused by lie. Therefore, it must coexist with the good--the other parent value. Only when both values complement each other can we talk about the normative value of truth. The truth should be correlated with other values on which value systems are based, especially the good of a person or group of persons, avoiding harm towards others, and the protection of a person＇s health and life. Only then can the truth be appropriate to use. It is not an immovable foundation, but a dynamically functioning value, in which language and the ethical （active） dimensions provide the value of the specified situations. The truth can be a double-edged sword： It may hurt, but it can defend itself. The latter function seems to be the most important type of the normativity of truth.
基金supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China(52378109,72274148 and 52008328)the Department of Science and Technology of Shaanxi Province(2023KJXX-043)+4 种基金the Shaanxi Provincial Office of Philosophy and Social Sciences(2022R049)the Shaanxi Association for Science and Technology(20220425)the Shaanxi Provincial Education Department Key Research Program Project(22JZ039)the Nature Science Foundation of Shaanxi Province(2023-CX-RKX-152)the Shaanxi Provincial Department of Education(23JZ043).
文摘College students’energy-saving behaviors in dormitory buildings are crucial for reducing energy consumption on university campuses.An information framework aimed at normalization can do well in motivating individuals’energy-saving behaviors.To assess the effectiveness of normative information intervention strategies in motivating college students to save energy,this study innovatively adopts a new method combining traditional influence path analysis and field experiment,which makes up for the shortcomings of the traditional single questionnaire survey method.First,this study introduced“normative information”and“personal norms”into the theory of planned behavior(TPB).The aim was to explore the mechanisms by which the provision of normative information affects college students’energy-saving intentions through a questionnaire(352 questionnaires).Then,on this basis,a field experiment was conducted in 70 university dormitories with 313 students to further assess the effectiveness of four normative information intervention strategies in promoting energy-saving behaviors.The study results showed:1)Attitude,perceived behavioral control,subjective norms,and personal norms were significantly correlated with energy-saving intentions.2)Positive normative feedback and low-intensity normative feedback had significant positive effects on personal norms,which fully mediated the relationships between positive/low-intensity normative feedback and energy-saving intentions.3)Positive low-intensity normative information achieved the best energy-saving effect(with an energy-saving ratio of 29.18%),followed by positive high-intensity normative information(24.97%)and negative low-intensity normative information(24.38%).The results can provide reference for reducing dormitory energy consumption.
文摘Background This study aimed to(i)provide normative data for measures of physical fitness(PF)(i.e.,muscle strength,muscle power,linear sprint speed)in 8-to 14-year-old Tunisian children and(ii)to examine sex and age group differences in these measures.Methods A total of 597 subjects(aged 8~14)participated in this study,the normative data for handgrip strength,jump height,and linear sprint speed were generated and collected,and the two-way analysis of variance(ANOVA)was used to identify the presence of the main effect of age,sex,an age×sex interaction for all tests.Results The two-way ANOVA showed credible age by sex interactions for all measures of PF[Effect Size(ES)ranged from 0.28 to 0.68;P<0.05].The findings indicated a main effect of age in handgrip strength,countermovement jump(CMJ)height,and linear sprint speed(all P<0.05),regardless of sex.Post hoc analyses showed early increases in handgrip strength for boys from 8 to 14 years.For CMJ height,an increase in performance was observed from 10 to 11 years(ES=0.23)and 12 to 13 years(ES=0.14)(all P<0.05).For linear sprint speed,performance enhancement was observed from 10 to 11 years(ES=1.00).In girls,an increase in handgrip strength was noted from 9 to 12 years(ES=1.00).However,the changes across age were less convincing for CMJ height and linear sprint speed tests,suggesting that differences for girls were not sup-ported by the collected data.Boys outperformed girls in all measures of PF(P<0.05).A summary of the estimated centiles of 10-and 30-m sprint speed,grip strength,and CMJ height for boys and girls allows a particular child’s test values to be compared to the norms for the group.Conclusions In summary,this study provides normative data that can be used as a tool to classify sprint speed,strength,and jump height performance in children of both sexes aged 8-14 years.
文摘Objectives To compare the difference in pulmonary function between Caucasians and Chinese and assess the best reference values of pulmonary function for Chinese adults.Methods Values for pulmonary function were predicted by tests on 4773 Chinese healthy subjects (male: 2560, female: 2213, aged 15-78 years) in six parts (north, northeast, northwest, east, southwest and south) of China. Prediction equations of the European Community for Steel and Coal (ECSC), other equations for overseas Chinese or for Caucasians were also selected. The regression coefficients of forced vital capacity (FVC), forced expiratory volume in one second (FEV 1), FEV 1/FVC, total lung capacity (TLC) and residual volume (RV) were summarized. Results ECSC predictions were closer to the Chinese ones than other selected equations. Comparison with ECSC predictions showed that on average the values for FVC, FEV 1 were 5.3% smaller in Chinese males and 3.3% smaller in Chinese females, with the maximal differences in south China and the minimal differences in North China. RV and TLC in Chinese were lower than in Caucasians (males 4.8%, 5.5%, respectively; females 8.7% and 6.0%, respectively). Conversion factors were given for adjusting ECSC equations to fit Chinese. Conclusions For predicting values of pulmonary function in Chinese, we suggest to use the equations reported here. Alternatively, ECSC regression equations may be used with appropriate conversion factors.
文摘At a time when the liberal international economic order seems under threat,the transformation of global economic governance poses a strong normative challenge to existing international institutions.The recent establishment of new international financial institutions(IFIs)-the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank(AIIB)and the New Development Bank(NDB)-signified a steady process of transformation of the architecture of contemporary global governance.How rising powers understand,establish and conduct formal and informal rules within new international financial systems is of fundamental importance for the future of world economic order,although not necessarily signaling a decline for the Western-style economic governance and its normative principles.While global economic governance has profoundly changed in the last decade,the suggestion here is that rising powers'efforts to reshape the current global economic order have often been overestimated and only partially contextualized within the enormous achievements gained from economic opportunities driven by Western globalization.Focusing on the contestation of these different world views,the paper analyzes the approach of BRICS(Brazil,Russia,India,China and South Africa)New Development Bank countries to global economic governance within the newly established IFIs,questioning how the normative challenge represents either an opportunity or a threat to the current global order.
