Chinese Counterparts Research Articles

Changes in the fatty acid content of Egyptian human milk across the lactation stages and in comparison with Chinese human milk

The standard food for feeding babies is breast milk (BM). There is a growing interest in research related to the composition and positional distribution of fatty acids (FAs) in BM due to their role as the primary source of energy, essential FAs, and other physiological functions in the body. The purpose of this study was to assess the extent of changes in FAs content of the BM of Egyptian women over the three lactation stages with a comparison to their Chinese counterparts. FAs contents of 45 BM samples obtained from healthy Egyptian women during the three stages of lactation were analyzed using gas chromatography. The results showed that the total saturated FAs formed about 50% of the total FAs over lactation stages. The poly-unsaturated FAs were significantly different in the three stages of lactation; (20.63%) colostrum, (15.21%) transitional, and (25.23%) mature of the total FAs. Despite some fluctuations, the total sn-2 proportion of the n-6/n-3 ratio was nearly stable during lactation. The BM of Egyptian women had a slightly higher proportion of palmitic, myristic acids and a ratio of n-6/n-3. Conversely, Chinese women’s BM has a significantly higher proportion of oleic, nervonic as well as arachidonic, and docosahexaenoic acids. Further study should be conducted to evaluate the FAs composition of some commercial infant formulas available in Egypt.

Made in China, fashioned in Africa: ethnic dress in Ethiopia and Mozambique

AbstractThe influx of Chinese-made African ethnic dress has been central to debates about the consequences of the growing Chinese presence in Africa. Exploring the reception of the Chinese-produced capulana in Mozambique and net'ela in Ethiopia, we demonstrate that Mozambican and Ethiopian manufacturers and traders, from the grass roots up to cultural elites, engage with Chinese imports with creativity and verve. While welcoming Chinese materials for their affordability, bold and bright colours and suitability for dressmaking, they fashion them in ways that fit their own tastes and the local fashion trends. We distinguish three practices by which people do this: first, by incorporating Chinese materials or design elements into their own products; second, by co-creating new designs and dress with their Chinese counterparts; and third, by altering the imported fabrics. Apart from fashioning imports, some manufacturers use strategies to distinguish their own products from Chinese counterparts. These strategies include naming practices linked to the stories of their origin and alterations to the material.

Online firestorms in social media: Comparative research between China Weibo and USA Twitter

This study explores unique differences between China Weibo and the United States (US) Twitter in terms of how users carry out online firestorms. This exploration is carried out through a quantitative content analysis of top trending words and associated top tweets over a six-month period on the social media platforms. Our findings suggest that the threshold for considering online reaction to be an online firestorm is significantly higher in China than in the US. The study also suggests that in carrying out online firestorms, US users are much more apt to use mockery and political or social opinion expression against targets than their Chinese counterparts; they are also more apt to actively mobilize collective actions against such targets. Chinese users rarely target governments or politics, though they actively pick out corporations and media/entertainment-related organizations. In the US, on the other hand, it is in fact the government and politics that users target extensively. What is more common on US Twitter than on China Weibo are online firestorms inflicting reputational damage on the ability-related dimension of a target (i.e., ability online firestorms). And what is more common on China Weibo than on US Twitter are firestorms that inflict damage on the social responsibility or ethics-related dimension of the target (i.e., Social Responsibility online firestorms).

Exploring Pre-service Science Teachers’ Perspectives on the Nature of Science: A Comparative Study Between China and Canada

The Nature of Science (NOS) is an important component of scientific literacy. Science teachers’ Views of the Nature of Science (VNOS) directly affect their teaching behaviors. Therefore, it is of great significance to explore science teachers’ VNOS and find ways of improvement. This study was designed to comparatively investigate preservice science teachers’ VNOS between China and Canada. The study employed a survey design to explore how Chinese and Canadian preservice science teachers understood the seven different aspects of NOS. Data showed that preservice science teachers in China and Canada both hold a modern view about science education. The level of Chinese and Canadian participants’ understanding of NOS was above the relatively naive level. Chinese teachers had better macro-understanding toward science education, but their micro-mastery was insufficient. The Canadian participants had a better understanding of the NOS than their Chinese counterparts. The study suggested that there is a need to reconstruct the preservice science teacher education curriculum in China and promote the transformation in the science teacher educational system.

Railway Imperialism Revisited: The Failed Line from Macao to Guangzhou.

Studies in railway imperialism usually focus on examples of nations from the European core who imposed railway projects upon their colonies or peripheral countries, seeking political or economic advantages. Both colonies and peripheral countries are often described as passive agents that were either bullied or swindled into accepting those projects. This paper revisits the concept with an example of a colonial country on the European periphery. Portugal attempted to impose a railway from its colony of Macao to the Chinese city Guangzhou in order to obtain political and economic leverage in the South of China. The diplomatic endeavors of the Portuguese representatives in China, conducted with a belittling and even racist demeanor towards the Chinese, were met with different forms of resistance from their Chinese counterparts that eventually led to the termination of negotiations and the project. This new look at railway imperialism shows both that it was not a practice exclusive to imperial powerhouses and that it could be countered by the countries on which it was imposed.

Developing High Affect-Based Trust in U.S.-China Business Negotiations

Through an empirical study of 60 Chinese executives in the U.S. and Hong Kong, Chinese executives hired by American corporations are found to develop high affect-based trust with their Chinese counterparts through appropriate monitoring processes and four key tactics according to their shared interdependent self-concepts. They seldom transfer their affect-based trust to the relationships between American and Chinese negotiators unless they perceive themselves as having more power over the entire negotiation process and more accountability for the implementation of the project after the negotiation. These executives prefer to compartmentalize themselves and develop high cognitive-based trust with their American teammates. American corporations must understand the importance of establishing affect-based trust through appropriate monitoring processes according to the interdependent self-concepts. They must expect to change their routine American practices that are grounded in independent self-concepts if they want to see higher levels of success in U.S.-China business negotiations.

Empress Dowagers on Horseback: Yingtian and Chengtian of the Khitan Liao (907–1125)

AbstractUnlike their Han Chinese counterparts who were mainly sequestered to the inner quarters, many imperial Khitan women of the Liao 遼 (907–1125) were not only active in state affairs, but they even rode astride and led their own armies to fight on battlefield. This article aims to investigate the lives and political careers of Empress Dowagers Yingtian and Chengtian, who ruled the empire as de facto sovereigns on behalf of their husbands and sons for over fifty years, by focusing particularly on how they proved themselves as capable horsewomen and what strategies have they employed in order to gain access to power and to accomplish their ambitions. Such warrior women, exercising leadership and exhibiting personal bravery, drew their strength from their Inner Asian steppe traditions and therefore established themselves as another type of queenship in Chinese history.

On the meanings and functions of -kilato ha- constructions, supplemented by comparison with Japanese and Chinese counterparts

On the meanings and functions of -kilato ha- constructions, supplemented by comparison with Japanese and Chinese counterparts

Comparison between Chinese and Japanese Social Media Requests

Abstract This study investigates Chinese and Japanese requests in social media communication, focusing on the requests made between university students. The data consisted of 300 social media requests made by 30 Chinese university students and 304 social media requests made by 30 Japanese university students, respectively. The findings revealed that the Chinese and Japanese participants displayed more similarities than differences regarding the request strategy that they preferred to use among peers on social media. Both groups employed direct requests the most frequently, followed by conventionally indirect requests. Non-conventionally indirect requests were used the least frequently by both groups. The Japanese participants employed twice as many external modifiers as their Chinese counterparts. In contrast, the Chinese participants used considerably more lexical/phrasal internal modifiers than the Japanese participants. The findings are discussed in relation to factors such as social distance, living arrangements and new technologies.

Technological Progress and Supply Base under Uncertain Market Conditions: The Case Study of the Taiwanese c-Si Solar Industry 2016–2019

The recent years of the PV industry have been demarcated by a severe imbalance of manufacturing capacities versus demand. The goal of our research was to assess the technological progress and evolution of the Taiwanese c-Si PV supplier industry structure during the period of 2016 to 2019 when the end-product experienced price volatility. The analysis was conducted based on data derived from Taiwanese manufacturers and industry sources with regard to current technological and market trends. We illuminate two main conclusions: the industry is advancing consolidation, and it is decreasing the pace of technological advancements, especially in comparison to its Chinese counterparts. The study suggests there is a need for improving efficiencies in the production processes, and shifting toward downstream segments in order to maximize the utilization of resources in the segments with the highest profit margins.

Leveraging Interfirm Relationships in China: Western Relational Governance or Guanxi? Domestic Versus Foreign Firms

With the growing importance of strategic alliances and supply chains as competitive units, academics and practitioners are interested in understanding the techniques used by firms to leverage interfirm relationships to gain a competitive advantage. Studies conducted in the Western context underline the role of relational governance (i.e., the modern Western way), whereas works in the Chinese context highlight the importance of guanxi (i.e., the traditional Chinese way). Today’s Chinese economy operates as a hybrid of the Western modern business model and traditional Chinese patterns with the coexistence of Western relational governance and guanxi. Therefore, this study addresses two issues: (1) whether these two types of governance interact as substitutes or complements in leveraging interfirm relationships and (2) whether and how foreign firms differ from their Chinese domestic counterparts in the use of these two types of governance to improve performance. Drawing on data collected from 132 third-party logistics providers in China, this study shows that Western relational governance and guanxi function as substitutes in improving performance. Moreover, while guanxi contributes to performance in a similar manner in Chinese domestic firms and foreign firms, Western relational governance is more effective for foreign firms than for Chinese domestic firms. Furthermore, the joint role (i.e., interaction effect) of Western relational governance and guanxi in improving performance also differs: these two forms of governance function as substitutes in foreign firms, whereas they have no significant interaction in Chinese domestic firms.

Dating attitudes and behaviors of American and Chinese college students: A partial replication

ABSTRACT Research reveals a vibrant courtship process during adolescence in the United States. Fewer studies exist, however, on the courtship process in China, a country which is undergoing tremendous economic change, and even fewer studies employ a cross-cultural approach to examine dating during adolescence. One such study from nearly two decades ago found more liberal attitudes and behavior regarding dating among American college students compared to their relatively conservative Chinese counterparts. In the same spirit, the present study investigates similarities and differences in the dating process between American and Chinese college students and changes over time. The Chinese sample (N = 240) was collected at convenience from three Chinese universities located in two large cities in central China. The American sample (N = 405) was gathered from a 4-year public university located in the Mid-Atlantic. The findings reveal that considerable differences in courtship processes continue to persist despite unprecedented economic development in China. The American students continue to use a dating script that is far more liberal. They also initiate the dating stage at much younger ages. Although not exhibiting norms similar to the American students, the Chinese students were not strongly shackled to conservative Chinese traditions either. Cultural differences in approaches to dating, family and education are likely responsible for the persistent gaps.

Examining Chinese and American Online Learning

Through a collaborative opportunity, educators from the U.S. and China share examples and comparisons of online learning, or distance education, occurring in their respective nations. This article draws from experience on both sides to explore online course design, learning management systems (LMS), and course evaluation. In all situations, the universities had well developed online offerings for students. However, as LMS and support were similar in the U.S. when compared to Chinese counterparts, variance was visible in a number of areas. Discussion stems from the perceived strengths and weaknesses of distance education foundations, training, and support. The most notable differences were found in programs offered in an online format, the scope that the platform encompassed, and mandatory evaluation of course content.

Use of Social Media Platforms for Purchasing Fashion Items: A Comparison of US and Chinese Consumers

This paper develops a conceptual connection between the Revised Technology Acceptance Model and Hofstede’s Cultural Dimensions in explicating the adoption by customers of a social media platform in the fashion industry in the context of the US and China. This study shows that the trustworthiness of Facebook is positively related to US customers’ intention to purchase fashion items and the trustworthiness of WeChat is positively related to Chinese customers’ intention to purchase fashion items. Also, US customers’ perceived usefulness is not positively related to the intention of using Facebook to buy fashion items. However, their Chinese counterparts had the opposite result. The findings enhance our understanding of the factors that influence customers’ adoption of social media platforms for purchasing fashion items and provides suggestions for marketing managers as to how they can utilize social media platforms to market fashion items. The paper concludes with a discussion of possible future research in this field.

Reading High Breast Density Mammograms: Differences in Diagnostic Performance between Radiologists from Hong Kong SAR/Guangdong Province in China and Australia

Background:Variations in the performance of radiologists reading mammographic images are well reported, but key parameters explaining such variations in different countries are not fully explored. The main aim of this study is to investigate performances of Chinese (Hong Kong SAR and Guangdong Province) and Australian radiologists in interpreting dense breast mammographic images. Methods:A test set, contained 60 mammographic examinations with high breast density, was used to assess radiologists’ performance. Twelve Chinese and thirteen Australian radiologists read all the cases independently and were asked to identify all lesions and provide a grade from 1 to 5 to each lesion. Case sensitivity, specificity, lesion sensitivity, AUC and JAFROC were used to assess radiologists’ performances. Demographic information and reading experience were also collected from the readers. Performance scores were compared between the two populations and the relationships between performance scores and their reading experience were discovered. Results:For radiologists who were less than 40-year-old, lesion sensitivity, AUC and JAFROC were significantly lower in Chinese radiologists than those in Australian (52.10% vs 71.45%, p=0.043; 0.76 vs 0.84, p=0.031; 0.59 vs 0.72, p=0.045; respectively). Australian radiologists with less than 10 years of reading experience had higher AUC and JAFROC scores compared with their Chinese counterparts (0.83 vs 0.76, p=0.039; 0.70 vs 0.56, p=0.020, respectively). Conclusions:We found that younger Australian radiologists performed better at reading dense breast cases which is likely to be linked to intensive fellowship training, immersion in a screening program and exposure to the benefits of a performance-measuring education tool.

Sovereign Debt in the Making: Financial Entanglements and Labor Politics along the Belt and Road in Laos

abstract This article examines the contingent and contentious processes through which debt is created to finance major infrastructure projects. I contend that practices aimed at structuring credit relations into debt-financed projects often have important, unexpected, and underrecognized implications on the ground. My argument is illustrated through an analysis of the cascading impacts resulting from the making of a China–Lao sovereign debt agreement to fund the trans-Laos railway, an infrastructure project that is part of the broader Belt and Road Initiative (BRI). The failure of the government to deliver the promised credit on time had multiscalar financial ramifications. Chinese enterprises that had been contracted to implement the railway were coerced into funding construction themselves, and the ensuing financial turmoil exacerbated the exploitative conditions experienced by construction laborers. As Lao laborers sought to resist exploitation in the form of delayed and denied wage payments, they were gradually substituted by their more vulnerable Chinese counterparts. Dynamics in the making of BRI-induced Lao sovereign debt therefore rendered some perceived beneficiaries of the interstate financial arrangement, such as Chinese enterprises and workers, its victims. I argue that the contradictory realities of this high-profile financial deal demonstrate the need for more grounded inquiries into the politics of sovereign debt making.

International Opportunity Discovery of Born Global Firms: The Role of Institutions

The study examines home-country institutions as contextual factors influencing the process of international opportunity discovery in the case of born global companies embedded in two different institutional contexts: an emerging economy, China, and a developed country, Italy. Drawing on the opportunity-based view and institutional theory, the study explores and draws comparative insights into how home country institutions of born global firms can influence the international opportunity discovery process. Using a case study approach, we examine the international opportunity discovery process of six born global firms from China and Italy and show how home-country institutions can influence the process of developing cross-border opportunities in born global firms. The findings reveal that home institutions played an influential, yet, differentiating role on the international opportunity discovery processes of the Chinese and Italian firms. The institutional context of the Italian firms shaped their opportunity discoveries through product innovation, whereas their Chinese counterparts discovered opportunities mainly through networks embedded their home institutional context.

Six theoretical paradigms of Eastern European Marxist aesthetics

The conceptual and methodological contributions of Marxist aesthetics from Eastern European countries like Hungary, Yugoslavia, Poland, Czechoslovakia, Bulgaria, Romania, and East Germany were productive and significant despite various hurdles faced concerning institutionalization, legitimization and differing theoretical abuses. In its mode of inquiry and discursive practices, Eastern European Marxist aesthetics is both similar and dissimilar to its Western, Soviet, Russian and Chinese counterparts. The specificity here is the function of a unique geographical and socio-historical context, as well as interaction with other contemporary paradigms of thought. The innovative impulses of Eastern European Marxist aesthetics affected six scholarly domains: aesthetics of praxis, theory of realism, critique of modernity, semiotics, theory of genre and cultural theory. This paper provides a general survey of the intellectual achievements of Eastern European Marxist aesthetics across these six domains and will show how this theoretical tradition has influenced the modern history of ideas.

Sonographic renal length and volume of normal Thai children versus their Chinese and Western counterparts.

Background Renal size is an important indicator in the diagnosis of renal diseases and urinary tract infections in children.Purpose The purpose of this study is twofold. First, it aimed to measure the renal length and calculate the renal volume of normal Thai children using 2-dimensional ultrasonography (2D-US) and study their correlations with somatic parameters. Second, it aimed to compare the age-specific renal size of normal Thai children with the published data of their Western and Chinese counterparts.Methods A total of 321 children (150 boys, 171 girls; age, 6–15 years) with a normal renal profile were prospectively recruited. All subjects underwent 2D-US by an experienced pediatric radiologist and the renal length, width, and depth were measured. Renal volume was calculated using the ellipsoid formula as recommended. The data were compared between the left and right kidneys, the sexes, and various somatic parameters. The age-specific renal lengths were compared using a nomogram derived from a Western cohort that is currently referred by many Thailand hospitals, while the renal volumes were compared with the published data of a Chinese cohort.Results No statistically significant difference (P<0.05) was found between sexes or the right and left kidneys. The renal sizes had strong correlations with height, weight, body surface area, and age but not with body mass index. The renal length of the Thai children was moderately correlated (r=0.59) with that of the Western cohort, while the age-specific renal volume was significantly smaller (P<0.05) than that of the Chinese children.Conclusion Therefore, we concluded that the age-specific renal length and volume obtained by 2D-US would vary between children in different regions and may not be suitably used as an international standard for diagnosis, although further studies may be needed to confirm our findings.

Implicit and explicit self-construals in Chinese-heritage and Italian nonimmigrant early adolescents: Associations with self-esteem and prosocial behavior.

The current study examined levels of implicit and explicit independent and interdependent self-construals (SCs) in early adolescents with and without a migration background in Italy and assessed whether SCs were linked to youths' positive adjustment in terms of self-esteem and prosocial behavior. Chinese early adolescents of immigrant background (n = 123) and Italian mainstreamers (n = 187) aged between 11 and 13 years participated in the Semantic Misattribution Procedure and completed a set of questionnaires. Results indicated that at the implicit level, Chinese-origin youths reported higher interdependence than their Italian nonimmigrant peers, whereas at the explicit level, Italian youths scored higher on independence than their Chinese counterparts. In both ethnocultural groups, independent SC (implicit and explicit) was positively related to self-esteem, whereas interdependent SC (implicit and explicit) was positively linked to prosocial behavior. Findings underscore the usefulness of integrating implicit and explicit measures to evaluate early adolescents' SCs in multicultural contexts. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2020 APA, all rights reserved).