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Since the launch of the One Belt and One Road Initiative (BRI) in 2013, the internationalisation of China’s tertiary education has entered a new stage. Central to the BRI is investment and strategic planning for talent cultivation, knowledge production, and transmission. This paper explains how the BRI redirects, reinforces, and intensifies China’s strategic planning and actions for internationalising its education. It adopts a policy analysis approach and reviews three key aspects of development and shifting emphasis of internationalisation under the impact of the BRI: international education networks along the Six BRI Economic Corridors, vocational colleges as new players in international education, and promotion of the Chinese language as a new global language. The analysis captures an important moment in which international education processes are being visibly altered through China’s strategies to take the lead in economic globalisation and to compete for a central place in the world via the BRI.

The land of the potiguara indians of Brazil: a social and political construction The space in which the potiguaras of Brazil live is, today as in the past, the result of a longterm process, many negotiations and well-managed refuges. Paradoxically, despite their recurrent discourse invoking the ancestry of their lands of origin, the Potiguara fight and continue to fight politically for the return to the spaces where their colonial refuge took place.

To determine whether living according to specific traditional Chinese cultural values was associated with satisfaction of the five needs in Maslow’s motivational hierarchy and overall life satisfaction, a mixed-method approach was employed, with an empirical questionnaire and supplemental interviews. The questionnaire assessed the hypothesized relationships that traditional Chinese values had with personal life outcomes, including health, employment, satisfaction of the five needs from Maslow’s hierarchy, and life satisfaction. The interviews examined the relationships that several demographic variables had with living by traditional Chinese values. The results of the empirical data revealed that most Chinese people today are still living according to the traditional Chinese cultural values, and that living by those traditional values are strongly associated with satisfaction of all five of the human needs in the Maslow hierarchy, as well as with overall life satisfaction. Additionally, the results of the qualitative interviews readily supported the empirical findings, and also revealed that the time during which inter-generational transmission of the Chinese cultural values occurs is when parents teach those values to their children at a very early age, that is, between 3 and 8 years old, before the children start primary school.

In this essay, we put forth a novel solution to Plantinga’s Evolutionary Argument Against Naturalism, utilizing recent work done by Duncan Pritchard on radical skepticism. Key to the success of Plantinga’s argument is the doubting of the reliability of one’s cognitive faculties. We argue (viz. Pritchard and Wittgenstein) that the reliability of one’s cognitive faculties constitutes a hinge commitment, thus is exempt from rational evaluation. In turn, the naturalist who endorses hinge epistemology can deny the key premise in Plantinga’s argument and avoid the dilemma posed on belief in the conjunction of naturalism and evolution.

Convolutional neural network (CNN) model based on deep learning has excellent performance for target detection. However, the detection effect is poor when the object is circular or tubular because most of the existing object detection methods are based on the traditional rectangular box to detect and recognize objects. To solve the problem, we propose the circular representation structure and RepVGG module on the basis of CenterNet and expand the network prediction structure, thus proposing a high-precision and high-efficiency lightweight circular object detection method RebarDet. Specifically, circular tubular type objects will be optimized by replacing the traditional rectangular box with a circular box. Second, we improve the resolution of the network feature map and the upper limit of the number of objects detected in a single detect to achieve the expansion of the network prediction structure, optimized for the dense phenomenon that often occurs in circular tubular objects. Finally, the multibranch topology of RepVGG is introduced to sum the feature information extracted by different convolution modules, which improves the ability of the convolution module to extract information. We conducted extensive experiments on rebar datasets and used AB-Score as a new evaluation method to evaluate RebarDet. The experimental results show that RebarDet can achieve a detection accuracy of up to 0.8114 and a model inference speed of 6.9 fps while maintaining a moderate amount of parameters, which is superior to other mainstream object detection models and verifies the effectiveness of our proposed method. At the same time, RebarDet’s high precision detection of round tubular objects facilitates enterprise intelligent manufacturing processes.

Anthropogenic noise can be hazardous for the auditory system and wellbeing of animals, including humans. However, very limited information is known on how this global environmental pollutant affects auditory function and inner ear sensory receptors in early ontogeny. The zebrafish (Danio rerio) is a valuable model in hearing research, including investigations of developmental processes of the vertebrate inner ear. We tested the effects of chronic exposure to white noise in larval zebrafish on inner ear saccular sensitivity and morphology at 3 and 5 days post-fertilization (dpf), as well as on auditory-evoked swimming responses using the prepulse inhibition (PPI) paradigm at 5 dpf. Noise-exposed larvae showed a significant increase in microphonic potential thresholds at low frequencies, 100 and 200 Hz, while the PPI revealed a hypersensitization effect and a similar threshold shift at 200 Hz. Auditory sensitivity changes were accompanied by a decrease in saccular hair cell number and epithelium area. In aggregate, the results reveal noise-induced effects on inner ear structure–function in a larval fish paralleled by a decrease in auditory-evoked sensorimotor responses. More broadly, this study highlights the importance of investigating the impact of environmental noise on early development of sensory and behavioural responsiveness to acoustic stimuli.

Objective. As the preclinical stage of Alzheimer’s disease (AD), Mild Cognitive Impairment (MCI) is characterized by hidden onset, which is difficult to detect early. Traditional neuropsychological scales are main tools used for assessing MCI. However, due to its strong subjectivity and the influence of many factors such as subjects’ educational background, language and hearing ability, and time cost, its accuracy as the standard of early screening is low. Therefore, the purpose of this paper is to propose a new key technology of fast digital early warning for MCI based on eye movement objective data analysis. Methodology. Firstly, four exploratory indexes (test durations, correlation degree, lengths of gaze trajectory, and drift rate) of MCI early warning are determined based on the relevant literature research and semistructured expert interview; secondly, the eye movement state is captured based on the eye tracker to realize the data extraction of four exploratory indexes. On this basis, the human-computer interactive 2.5-minute fast digital early warning paradigm for MCI is designed; thirdly, the rationality of the four early warning indexes proposed in this paper and their early warning effectiveness on MCI are verified. Results. Through the small sample test of human-computer interactive 2.5 fast digital early warning paradigm for MCI conducted by 32 elderly people aged 70–90 in a medical institution in Hangzhou, the two indexes of “correlation degree” and “drift rate” with statistical differences are selected. The experiment results show that AUC of this MCI early warning paradigm is 0.824. Conclusion. The key technology of human-computer interactive 2.5 fast digital early warning for MCI proposed in this paper overcomes the limitations of the existing MCI early warning tools, such as low objectification level, high dependence on professional doctors, long test time, requiring high educational level, and so on. The experiment results show that the early warning technology, as a new generation of objective and effective digital early warning tool, can realize 2.5-minute fast and high-precision preliminary screening and early warning for MCI in the elderly.

As an emergent tourism sector, driving tourism connects car use and touristic activities intimately. Following the notion of the ‘inhabited car’, this article explores how and why Chinese tourists inhabit a travelling car for drivers/passengers in the leisure automobility and driving tourism context. Through three different road trips and ‘mobile methods’, it was found that Chinese tourists inhabit the car in four ways: driving, gazing, listening, and communicating. Through this embodied habitation, the car is turned into a ‘touristic inhabitation’ space for protecting the tourists generating touristic emotions、social interactions, and tourism meanings. The study contributes to automobility and tourism literature and provides implications for driving tourism development in China.

Abstract With its large population and natural resources, Africa needs investors who can sustain its development. At the same time, foreign investors expect returns on their investments. In ...

Genotoxic effects of dicofol on the edible clam Meretrix meretrix were investigated through a mesocosm experiment. Individuals of M. meretrix, were exposed to environmental concentration (D1 = 50 ng/L) and supra-environmental concentration (D2 = 500 ng/L) of dicofol for 15 days, followed by the same depuration period. DNA damage (i.e., strand breaks and alkali-labile sites) was evaluated at day 1, 7 and 15, during uptake and depuration, using Comet assay (alkaline version) and nuclear abnormalities (NAs) as genotoxicity biomarkers. The protective effects of dicofol against DNA damage induced by ex vivo hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) exposure were also assessed. Comet assay results revealed no significant DNA damages under dicofol exposure, indicating 1) apparent lack of genotoxicity of dicofol to the tested conditions and/or 2) resistance of the animals due to optimal adaptation to stress conditions. Moreover, ex vivo H2O2 exposure showed an increase in the DNA damage in all the treatments without significant differences between them. However, considering only the DNA damage induced by H2O2 during uptake phase, D1 animals had significantly lower DNA damage than those from other treatments, revealing higher protection against a second stressor. NAs data showed a decrease in the % of cells with polymorphic, kidney shape, notched or lobbed nucleus, along the experiment. The combination of these results supports the idea that the clams used in the experiment were probably collected from a stressful environment (in this case Pearl River Delta region) which could have triggered some degree of adaptation to those environmental conditions, explaining the lack of DNA damages and highlighting the importance of organisms’ origin and the conditions that they were exposed during their lives.

Despite the prevalence of aesthetic education as one of the main developmental objectives in curricular worldwide, the mainstream philosophical discourse on its definition is predominately framed by western philosophy due to a paucity of cross-cultural studies on the subject. The article aims to achieve a contemporary understanding of aesthetic education from both the Chinese and Western aesthetic perspectives. Through the lens of postmodernism, the relationship between Daoist aesthetics and the western postmodern aesthetic perspectives, particularly the Deleuzian concept of rhizome, is identified. Both aesthetic perspectives concern de-authorship and promote self-consciousness/self-awareness. The study reconceptualises the functions of aesthetic education with the Chinese aesthetic philosophy that promotes the nurture of better people through benevolence.

In Macau, the effectiveness of traditional classroom learning is questioned as the problem is discovered by the changes in technology advances, social media, and the varieties of learning methods. Learning experiences, interests, discoveries, and creativity development are considered essential to ac...

The recently explored inactive Tianzuo hydrothermal field, in the amagmatic segment of the ultraslow-spreading Southwest Indian Ridge (SWIR), is closely associated with detachment faults. In this site, sulfide minerals are hosted by serpentine-bearing ultramafic rocks and include high-temperature (isocubanite, sphalerite, and minor pyrrhotite) and low-temperature (pyrite I, marcasite, pyrite II, and covellite) phases. In this study, trace-element concentrations of isocubanite and pyrite II were used to elucidate mineralization processes in ultramafic rocks hosting sulfides. Results show that isocubanite is enriched in metals such as Cu, Co, Sn, Te, Zn, Se, Pb, Bi, Cd, Ag, In, and Mn, and pyrite II is enriched in Mo and Tl. The marked enrichment in Te, Cu, Co, and In in isocubanite (compared with Se, Zn, Ni, and Sn, respectively) is most likely due to the contribution of magmatic fluids from gabbroic intrusions beneath the hydrothermal field. The intrusion of gabbroic magmas would have enhanced serpentinization reactions and provided a relatively oxidizing environment through the dissolution of anhydrite precipitated previously in the reaction zone, within high temperature and low pH conditions. This might have facilitated the extraction of metals by initial hydrothermal fluids, leading to the general enrichment of most metals in isocubanite. Metals in pyrite II have compositions similar to those of isocubanite, except for strong depletion in magmatically derived Te, Cu, Co, and In. This means that serpentinization processes had a dominating role in pyrite II precipitation as well. The enrichment of pyrite II in Mo and Tl is also indicative of seawater contribution in its composition. The study concludes that serpentinization reactions contribute effectively both to high- and low-temperature sulfide mineralization at Tianzuo hydrothermal field, with gabbroic intrusions further promoting high-temperature sulfide mineralization, providing additional metals, fluids and heat. In contrast, low-temperature sulfide mineralization occurred during the cooling of gabbroic intrusions, with decreasing rates of serpentinization reactions and a significant influence of seawater.

Various materials, objects, and sensors have been explored earlier for creating tangible user interfaces (TUIs). However, there is little work on 3D-printed TUIs based on visual markers for smartphone-based extended reality (XR) experiences. The combination of visual markers and smartphones results in cheap, accessible XR systems within reach of many people. Combined with 3D printing, it could foster do-it-yourself (DIY) projects for XR experiences, which may further expand and open-up possibilities for accessible and tangible interaction. This work explores the design space of modular 3D-printed tangibles for smartphone-based XR. The authors report the design exploration process, provide several interactive 3D-printed markers, and reflect on the resulting possibilities.

Quality of life in general population before and during pandemic is topic need to be address by researcher in terms of mobility, self-care, usual activities, pain/discomfort and anxiety/depression. The study was carried out among Saudi population. Data were collected from general population using questionnaire during the period from 22 August 2021 to 10th January 2022. As a result, total 214 participants have included in this study. Among them prevalent age group include 40 years (n= 63, 29.4%) shadowed by the age group 25-35 (n= 61, 28.5%) while above 60 years group were least frequent (n= 1, 0.5%). On questioning the applicants whether they were satisfied with their health and how would they rate their quality of life, their answers were as follows: yes, or satisfied (n= 86, 40.2%), very Satisfied (n= 102, 47.7%) Dissatisfied (n= 11, 5.1%) and neither satisfied nor dissatisfied (n= 15, 7%). Due to pandemic, they were rate quality of life very good (n= 94, 43.9%), good (n= 63, 29.4 %) poor (n= 5, 2.3 %) and neither good and nor poor (n= 52, 24.3 %). During pandemic 96 participants feel no change in their weight but 110 participants respond that there is increase in coffee intake during the pandemic. Similarly increased in smoking habits and decrease rate in social activities (n=119,41.4%). The psychosomatic well-being of people has been interrupted by disturbing their social activities during pandemic.

The manifestation of generating digital visuals through an algorithm is gaining worldwide attention in the graphic design industry. It is a new form of computing that visualizes data input by the designer or collected in the physical environment and turns them into artwork. The generative design of...

Creativity and collaboration are crucial to learning development in today's fast-paced educational environment. New technology can bridge humans and their natural needs through immersion in digital environments with physical objects. As knowledge and information evolve, digital interactive experienc...