Episodic memory,our ability to recall past experiences,is supported by structures in the medial temporal lobe(MTL)particularly the hippocampus,and its interactions with fronto-parietal brain regions.Understanding how ...Episodic memory,our ability to recall past experiences,is supported by structures in the medial temporal lobe(MTL)particularly the hippocampus,and its interactions with fronto-parietal brain regions.Understanding how these brain regions coordinate to encode,consolidate,and retrieve episodic memories remains a fundamental question in cognitive neuroscience.Non-invasive brain stimulation(NIBS)methods,especially transcranial magnetic stimulation(TMS),have advanced episodic memory research beyond traditional lesion studies and neuroimaging by enabling causal investigations through targeted magnetic stimulation to specific brain regions.This review begins by delineating the evolving understanding of episodic memory from both psychological and neurobiological perspectives and discusses the brain networks supporting episodic memory processes.Then,we review studies that employed TMS to modulate episodic memory,with the aim of identifying potential cortical regions that could be used as stimulation sites to modulate episodic memory networks.We conclude with the implications and prospects of using NIBS to understand episodic memory mechanisms.展开更多
Competition and regulation are indispensable entities for a university＇s improved performance. Using university rating as an index to performance, empirical analyses with the data from 145 public universities and col...Competition and regulation are indispensable entities for a university＇s improved performance. Using university rating as an index to performance, empirical analyses with the data from 145 public universities and colleges in China show that increased competition in the education service market is associated with higher university＇s （college＇s） performance. And increased competition in R＆D may make a quadratic effect on university＇s （college＇s） performance. University＇s performance improves when a university is directed as a branch of the central government because they enjoy some degree of management flexibility more than the local government controlled ones. A major implication of the study is the need to reform competition and regulation for improving universities and colleges＇ operating performance in China.展开更多
Defining poverty based on relative income,intended to identify individuals who are significantly worse off than the mainstream living standard—is widely adopted by more developed countries and regions,such as those i...Defining poverty based on relative income,intended to identify individuals who are significantly worse off than the mainstream living standard—is widely adopted by more developed countries and regions,such as those in the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development(OECD).There are,however,different ways income is counted,sometimes only counting earnings(e.g.,from employment),sometimes counting government transfers(e.g.,social welfare distributions),sometimes counting that generated from savings and investments as well.While some simpler form of income may be used for calculating relative poverty for ease of measurement(or other practical considerations),the intention of the relative poverty definition should be based on full income from all sources(including assets).This paper studies a method for evaluating the inaccuracy caused by using a simpler(and easier to measure)income distribution and understanding where the inaccuracy comes from.We test our method by using a 2000-household dataset from Hong Kong Special Administrative Region,to evaluate the relative poverty approach once adopted there.We also recommend practical alternatives:focusing on economically active households only or using disposable income instead of market income.We show how much such alternatives can improve accuracy and explain why.展开更多
Running a social enterprise(SE) is more difficult than running a small or medium-sized enterprise because SEs have to achieve both economic sustainability as business enterprises and their social mission for the benef...Running a social enterprise(SE) is more difficult than running a small or medium-sized enterprise because SEs have to achieve both economic sustainability as business enterprises and their social mission for the benefit of society.After a few years of operation, many SEs fail or struggle for survival. In this study, we examine some of the factors that affect an SE’s profitability, financial management, and business planning and management. Based on in-depth interviews with 22 social enterprises in Hong Kong, we find that SEs with the dual investment objectives of social mission and financial return are more sustainable and competitive than SEs with social impact as their sole objective. Furthermore, SEs managed by non-owner managers have better financial planning and performance than those managed by owner managers. In addition, SEs with an oversight/advisory committee are more competitive and have better management practices than those without such a committee. Our findings have policy implications for government, SEs, funding bodies, and non-profit organizations to enhance and promote the development of the social enterprise sector.展开更多
We were intrigued by Hanum et al,who published a study on the prevalence of human immunodeficiency virus(HIV)in homosexual,bisexual,and other men who have sex with men at sexual health clinics in England and the relat...We were intrigued by Hanum et al,who published a study on the prevalence of human immunodeficiency virus(HIV)in homosexual,bisexual,and other men who have sex with men at sexual health clinics in England and the relationship between baseline variables and future HIV occurrence.Chemically-enhanced sexual experience(chemsex)is becoming a global phenomenon.There are increasing medical and academic concerns about chemsex,where substances are used to boost sexual satisfaction,which is prevalent in groups,especially among homosexuals.Lesbians,gays,bisexuals,transgenders,and queers have become increasingly visible,valued,and committed community.However,chemsex requires urgent attention.展开更多
Background Proper parent-child interaction is crucial for child development, but an assessment tool in Chinese is currently lacking. This study aimed to develop and validate a parent-reported parent-child interaction ...Background Proper parent-child interaction is crucial for child development, but an assessment tool in Chinese is currently lacking. This study aimed to develop and validate a parent-reported parent-child interaction scale for Chinese preschool children. Methods The Chinese parent-child interaction scale (CPCIS) was designed by an expert panel based on the literature and clinical observations in the Chinese context. The initial CPCIS had 14 parent-child interactive activity items. Psychometric properties of the CPCIS were examined using the Rasch model and confirmatory factor analysis (CFA). Convergent validity was investigated by the associations between CPCIS and family income, maternal education level, and children's school readiness. Results The study recruited 567 Chinese parent-child pairs from diverse socioeconomic backgrounds, who completed the CPCIS. Six out of the 14 items in the initial CPCIS were dropped due to suboptimal fi t values. The refined 8-item CPCIS was shown to be valid and reliable by Rasch models and CFA. The person separation reliability and Cronbach's α of the CPCIS were 0.81 and 0.82, respectively. The CPCIS scores were positively associated with family's socioeconomic status (η2 = 0.05,P < 0.001), maternal education level (η2 = 0.08,P < 0.001), and children's school readiness (η2 = 0.01,P < 0.01). Conclusion CPCIS is an easily administered, valid, and reliable tool for the assessment of parent-child interactions in Chinese families.展开更多
Mental health interventions following disasters have been criticized as individualistic, incomplete, and culturally insensitive. This article showcases the effects of a culturally relevant and sustainable psychosocial...Mental health interventions following disasters have been criticized as individualistic, incomplete, and culturally insensitive. This article showcases the effects of a culturally relevant and sustainable psychosocial capacitybuilding project at the epicenter of the 2008 Wenchuan Earthquake. Specifically, the project focuses on women, a group that has received limited attention in post-disaster recovery in China. This qualitative research study(N = 14)sheds light on the characteristics and processes of the implementation of a post-disaster psychosocial intervention project in rural China. In addition, by adopting the Success Case Method as an evaluation approach, this study elucidates its effects on the psychological and social changes of the disaster victims. The findings capture five aspects of psychosocial changes: enriched daily life, better mood,enhanced self-confidence, increased willingness to socialize, and the provision of mutual help. This study hopes to encourage more culturally relevant and empowering practices for women in building their psychosocial capacity after disasters.展开更多
Despite the well-documented impacts of single natural hazards like earthquakes, less is known about the psychological adaptation to multiple natural hazards, particularly in rural areas. This study investigated the as...Despite the well-documented impacts of single natural hazards like earthquakes, less is known about the psychological adaptation to multiple natural hazards, particularly in rural areas. This study investigated the associations of multiple natural hazards with depression among Chinese adults. Data were retrieved from the China Family Panel Studies conducted during 2010–2018. With a sample of 11,633 Chinese adults, multilevel logistic regression was employed to examine the relationships between natural hazard exposure and depression in the total sample and different age groups. Overall, experiencing four or more natural hazards was associated with a higher risk of being depressed. Regarding hazard type, the number of hydrometeorological and biological hazards was associated with a higher likelihood of depression, whereas the number of geologic and other hazards was related to a lower risk of depression. Middle-aged adults from villages were more likely to be affected by natural hazard exposure than older and younger adults. The findings of this study show that cumulative exposure to natural hazards can generate lasting effects on depressive symptoms, particularly in middle adulthood. The findings also suggest that older adults from rural areas may have accumulated more resilience to mitigate the adverse well-being effects of hazard events. Policies and interventions should enhance disaster awareness and preparation for aging residents from multi-hazard communities.展开更多
Background Peer victimization has been recognized as a common social problem affecting children and adolescents in all parts of the world. This study aims to examine the prevalence of different types of peer victimiza...Background Peer victimization has been recognized as a common social problem affecting children and adolescents in all parts of the world. This study aims to examine the prevalence of different types of peer victimization and to evaluate the associations between peer victimization and health correlates. Methods Using a large population sample of 18,341 adolescents aged 15–17 years from 6 cities in China, this study esti-mated the prevalence of different types of peer victimization, addictive behaviors, and health-related variables with self-administrated questionnaires. A three-phase logistical regression analysis was conducted to investigate the associations between peer victimization and addictive behaviors as well as health-related factors among adolescents. Results A total of 42.9% of the surveyed Chinese adolescents have been bullied by peers, with boys reporting higher rate on overt victimization (36.9%) and girls on relational forms (33.9%). School environment (34.7%) was the most frequent scene of peer violence, followed by neighborhood, family, and internet. Addictive behaviors except substance abuse were found related to higher possibility of peer victimization (aOR 1.21–1.73, P<0.001). Peer victimization was significantly associated with more depressive symptoms, post-traumatic stress disorder symptoms, and suicide ideation and deliberate self-harm (aOR 1.05–2.27, P<0.001), and poorer self-esteem and health-related quality of life (aOR 0.95–0.97, P<0.001). Conclusion Possible explanations of the associations found in this study are discussed and implications for future services are raised.展开更多
文摘Episodic memory,our ability to recall past experiences,is supported by structures in the medial temporal lobe(MTL)particularly the hippocampus,and its interactions with fronto-parietal brain regions.Understanding how these brain regions coordinate to encode,consolidate,and retrieve episodic memories remains a fundamental question in cognitive neuroscience.Non-invasive brain stimulation(NIBS)methods,especially transcranial magnetic stimulation(TMS),have advanced episodic memory research beyond traditional lesion studies and neuroimaging by enabling causal investigations through targeted magnetic stimulation to specific brain regions.This review begins by delineating the evolving understanding of episodic memory from both psychological and neurobiological perspectives and discusses the brain networks supporting episodic memory processes.Then,we review studies that employed TMS to modulate episodic memory,with the aim of identifying potential cortical regions that could be used as stimulation sites to modulate episodic memory networks.We conclude with the implications and prospects of using NIBS to understand episodic memory mechanisms.
文摘Competition and regulation are indispensable entities for a university＇s improved performance. Using university rating as an index to performance, empirical analyses with the data from 145 public universities and colleges in China show that increased competition in the education service market is associated with higher university＇s （college＇s） performance. And increased competition in R＆D may make a quadratic effect on university＇s （college＇s） performance. University＇s performance improves when a university is directed as a branch of the central government because they enjoy some degree of management flexibility more than the local government controlled ones. A major implication of the study is the need to reform competition and regulation for improving universities and colleges＇ operating performance in China.
基金supported by the Oxfam Hong Kong(No.C2202-P2)additional matching grant support(No.ISG220208)by Saint Francis University.
文摘Defining poverty based on relative income,intended to identify individuals who are significantly worse off than the mainstream living standard—is widely adopted by more developed countries and regions,such as those in the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development(OECD).There are,however,different ways income is counted,sometimes only counting earnings(e.g.,from employment),sometimes counting government transfers(e.g.,social welfare distributions),sometimes counting that generated from savings and investments as well.While some simpler form of income may be used for calculating relative poverty for ease of measurement(or other practical considerations),the intention of the relative poverty definition should be based on full income from all sources(including assets).This paper studies a method for evaluating the inaccuracy caused by using a simpler(and easier to measure)income distribution and understanding where the inaccuracy comes from.We test our method by using a 2000-household dataset from Hong Kong Special Administrative Region,to evaluate the relative poverty approach once adopted there.We also recommend practical alternatives:focusing on economically active households only or using disposable income instead of market income.We show how much such alternatives can improve accuracy and explain why.
基金fully supported by a grant from UGC Knowledge Transfer Earmarked Fund
文摘Running a social enterprise(SE) is more difficult than running a small or medium-sized enterprise because SEs have to achieve both economic sustainability as business enterprises and their social mission for the benefit of society.After a few years of operation, many SEs fail or struggle for survival. In this study, we examine some of the factors that affect an SE’s profitability, financial management, and business planning and management. Based on in-depth interviews with 22 social enterprises in Hong Kong, we find that SEs with the dual investment objectives of social mission and financial return are more sustainable and competitive than SEs with social impact as their sole objective. Furthermore, SEs managed by non-owner managers have better financial planning and performance than those managed by owner managers. In addition, SEs with an oversight/advisory committee are more competitive and have better management practices than those without such a committee. Our findings have policy implications for government, SEs, funding bodies, and non-profit organizations to enhance and promote the development of the social enterprise sector.
基金supported by funding’s from the Department ofApplied Social Sciences, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University.
文摘We were intrigued by Hanum et al,who published a study on the prevalence of human immunodeficiency virus(HIV)in homosexual,bisexual,and other men who have sex with men at sexual health clinics in England and the relationship between baseline variables and future HIV occurrence.Chemically-enhanced sexual experience(chemsex)is becoming a global phenomenon.There are increasing medical and academic concerns about chemsex,where substances are used to boost sexual satisfaction,which is prevalent in groups,especially among homosexuals.Lesbians,gays,bisexuals,transgenders,and queers have become increasingly visible,valued,and committed community.However,chemsex requires urgent attention.
文摘Background Proper parent-child interaction is crucial for child development, but an assessment tool in Chinese is currently lacking. This study aimed to develop and validate a parent-reported parent-child interaction scale for Chinese preschool children. Methods The Chinese parent-child interaction scale (CPCIS) was designed by an expert panel based on the literature and clinical observations in the Chinese context. The initial CPCIS had 14 parent-child interactive activity items. Psychometric properties of the CPCIS were examined using the Rasch model and confirmatory factor analysis (CFA). Convergent validity was investigated by the associations between CPCIS and family income, maternal education level, and children's school readiness. Results The study recruited 567 Chinese parent-child pairs from diverse socioeconomic backgrounds, who completed the CPCIS. Six out of the 14 items in the initial CPCIS were dropped due to suboptimal fi t values. The refined 8-item CPCIS was shown to be valid and reliable by Rasch models and CFA. The person separation reliability and Cronbach's α of the CPCIS were 0.81 and 0.82, respectively. The CPCIS scores were positively associated with family's socioeconomic status (η2 = 0.05,P < 0.001), maternal education level (η2 = 0.08,P < 0.001), and children's school readiness (η2 = 0.01,P < 0.01). Conclusion CPCIS is an easily administered, valid, and reliable tool for the assessment of parent-child interactions in Chinese families.
基金funded by The Hong Kong Polytechnic University for the project Coping with Loss in a Chinese Post-disaster Context:Comparison Case Studies in Wenchuan Yingxiu Primary School and Mianzhu Zhongxin Friendship Primary School of Sichuan (A-PM12)
文摘Mental health interventions following disasters have been criticized as individualistic, incomplete, and culturally insensitive. This article showcases the effects of a culturally relevant and sustainable psychosocial capacitybuilding project at the epicenter of the 2008 Wenchuan Earthquake. Specifically, the project focuses on women, a group that has received limited attention in post-disaster recovery in China. This qualitative research study(N = 14)sheds light on the characteristics and processes of the implementation of a post-disaster psychosocial intervention project in rural China. In addition, by adopting the Success Case Method as an evaluation approach, this study elucidates its effects on the psychological and social changes of the disaster victims. The findings capture five aspects of psychosocial changes: enriched daily life, better mood,enhanced self-confidence, increased willingness to socialize, and the provision of mutual help. This study hopes to encourage more culturally relevant and empowering practices for women in building their psychosocial capacity after disasters.
基金supported by the National Social Science Fund of China (Grant No. 23CSH035)the Reaching Out Award from the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government Scholarship Fund+1 种基金the Additional Top Conference Grantthe Research Student Attachment Programme (RSAP) from The Hong Kong Polytechnic University。
文摘Despite the well-documented impacts of single natural hazards like earthquakes, less is known about the psychological adaptation to multiple natural hazards, particularly in rural areas. This study investigated the associations of multiple natural hazards with depression among Chinese adults. Data were retrieved from the China Family Panel Studies conducted during 2010–2018. With a sample of 11,633 Chinese adults, multilevel logistic regression was employed to examine the relationships between natural hazard exposure and depression in the total sample and different age groups. Overall, experiencing four or more natural hazards was associated with a higher risk of being depressed. Regarding hazard type, the number of hydrometeorological and biological hazards was associated with a higher likelihood of depression, whereas the number of geologic and other hazards was related to a lower risk of depression. Middle-aged adults from villages were more likely to be affected by natural hazard exposure than older and younger adults. The findings of this study show that cumulative exposure to natural hazards can generate lasting effects on depressive symptoms, particularly in middle adulthood. The findings also suggest that older adults from rural areas may have accumulated more resilience to mitigate the adverse well-being effects of hazard events. Policies and interventions should enhance disaster awareness and preparation for aging residents from multi-hazard communities.
文摘Background Peer victimization has been recognized as a common social problem affecting children and adolescents in all parts of the world. This study aims to examine the prevalence of different types of peer victimization and to evaluate the associations between peer victimization and health correlates. Methods Using a large population sample of 18,341 adolescents aged 15–17 years from 6 cities in China, this study esti-mated the prevalence of different types of peer victimization, addictive behaviors, and health-related variables with self-administrated questionnaires. A three-phase logistical regression analysis was conducted to investigate the associations between peer victimization and addictive behaviors as well as health-related factors among adolescents. Results A total of 42.9% of the surveyed Chinese adolescents have been bullied by peers, with boys reporting higher rate on overt victimization (36.9%) and girls on relational forms (33.9%). School environment (34.7%) was the most frequent scene of peer violence, followed by neighborhood, family, and internet. Addictive behaviors except substance abuse were found related to higher possibility of peer victimization (aOR 1.21–1.73, P<0.001). Peer victimization was significantly associated with more depressive symptoms, post-traumatic stress disorder symptoms, and suicide ideation and deliberate self-harm (aOR 1.05–2.27, P<0.001), and poorer self-esteem and health-related quality of life (aOR 0.95–0.97, P<0.001). Conclusion Possible explanations of the associations found in this study are discussed and implications for future services are raised.
