Focus Of Attention Research Articles

A Comparative Study on ESG Information Disclosure by Multinational Corporations and Analysis of Influencing Factors

Abstract: As globalization and the concept of sustainable development continue to deepen, environmental, social, and governance (ESG) issues are increasingly becoming the focus of global attention. Multinational corporations, as key players in the global economy, have significant roles in promoting sustainable development and enhancing corporate transparency through ESG information disclosure. By collecting and analyzing ESG reports from multiple multinational corporations, this study finds that there are significant differences in ESG information disclosure among these corporations, and many factors have substantial impacts on such disclosures. Consequently, domestic and international institutions and organizations need to further strengthen cooperation and exchange to establish information disclosure standards that align with practical development needs, thereby constructing an ESG information disclosure framework that meets social development requirements.

Analysis of Gender-bias in the Current State of American Education

Abstract: In today's society, educational equity has become the focus of global attention, and gender bias, as an important form of educational injustice, poses a significant obstacle to the growth of individuals and the ovall progress of society. This paper aims to explore the issue of gender bias in the current situation of American education, focusing on its manifestations, impact mechanisms, and potential improvement strategies. The study uses literature analysis, case study and data analysis to explore the gender bias in education in the United States. The subjects range from primary school to higher education, with data derived from government reports, academic research results, and social surveys. This study found that gender bias exists widespread in American education, not only in curriculum, textbook content, and teacher-student interaction but also profoundly affects students' learning motivation, self-perception and future career development. Therefore, eliminating gender bias and promoting educational equity are of great significance for the long-term development and prosperity of American society.

Endophytic Bacteria Improve Bio- and Phytoremediation of Heavy Metals

Currently, the problem of heavy metal pollution in China is becoming increasingly serious, which poses grave threats to the environment and human health. Owing to the non-biodegradability and toxicity of heavy metals, a more sustainable and ecological approach to remediate heavy metal pollution has always been a focus of attention for environmental researchers. In recent years, many scientists have found that phytoremediation aided by endophytes has high potential to remediate heavy metals owing to its low cost, effectiveness, environmental friendliness, and sustainability compared with physical and chemical methods. Indeed, the mechanism of interaction between endophytes, plants, and heavy metals in the soil is pivotal for plants to tolerate metal toxicity and thrive. In this review, we focus on the mechanism of how endophytic bacteria resist heavy metals, and the direct and indirect mechanisms employed by endophytic bacteria to promote the growth of plants and enhance phytoextraction and phytostabilization. Moreover, we also discuss the application of combinations of endophytic bacteria and plants that have been used to remediate heavy metal pollution. Finally, it is pointed out that although there have been many studies on phytoremediation systems that have been assisted by endophytes, large-scale field trials are important to deliver “real” results to evaluate and improve phytoremediation assisted with microorganisms in polluted natural environments.

Music in the Air and in the Body: An Interoceptive System's Perspective on Musical Emotions, Awareness, and Time.

Performing and perceiving music requires the integration of multimodal information, including sensations of one's own body. Research on musical engagement investigated emotional responses and the peripheral physiological activations involved, as well as bodily action tendencies, effects on time perception, and the role of awareness and focus of attention. The concept of interoception dedicates a central role to the insular cortex, as suggested by Craig and others, and offers a unifying framework for studying music as an activity that has always had a key role for individuals, groups, societies, with a strong bodily component. Chances and challenges of an interoceptive perspective on music are discussed.

Spatial–Temporal Analysis of Greenness and Its Relationship with Poverty in China

Ecological environmental protection and poverty alleviation are of great significance for the study of human–land relationship coordination and sustainable development, and they have also been a focus of attention in China in the past few decades. In this study, we chose 13 contiguous poverty-stricken areas in China as the study area. Using MODIS Leaf Area Index (LAI) data from 2000 to 2020, the spatial–temporal changes in greenness were obtained using the Bayesian spatial–temporal model (BYM). Spatial autocorrelation was used to identify the spatial distribution of poverty using socio-economic statistical data. Driving factors, including natural factors, poverty factors, and the Grain for Green Policy (GTGP), and their influence on greenness were analyzed by using the Geodetector model for detecting spatial differentiation and factors’ interactions. The results showed the following: (1) In 13 contiguous poverty-stricken areas (CPSAs) in China, 59% of the area presented an increasing trend of greenness. (2) In 2000, the high poverty levels with larger MPI values were widely distributed. After 20 years, the overall MPI value was lower, except in some northwest regions with increased MPI values. The spatial autocorrelation of poverty, which relates to the mutual influence of poverty in adjacent areas, also decreased. (3) In the study area, 65.24% of the regions showed strong synergistic effect between greening progress and poverty reduction in the interaction between poverty status and green development. With the improvement of greenness level, the positive correlation between poverty alleviation and ecological environment improvement has become increasingly close. (4) The impacts of interaction factors with the highest q values changed from temperature interacting with precision to regional division interacting with the Grain for Green Policy. The conclusions are that from 2000 to 2020, the impact of natural factors, geographical division, and poverty status on greenness has shown a decreasing trend; The effect of the Grain for Green Policy is gradually increasing; At the same time, the interaction and overlapping effects between the Grain for Green Policy and poverty were increasing. Taking into account the needs of ecological environment, poverty alleviation, and rural revitalization, this research provides valuable reference for formulating and implementing relevant policies based on the actual situation in different regions to promote harmonious coexistence between human-land relationship.

Review of Cell Level Battery (Calendar and Cycling) Aging Models: Electric Vehicles

Electrochemical battery cells have been a focus of attention due to their numerous advantages in distinct applications recently, such as electric vehicles. A limiting factor for adaptation by the industry is related to the aging of batteries over time. Characteristics of battery aging vary depending on many factors such as battery type, electrochemical reactions, and operation conditions. Aging could be considered in two sections according to its type: calendar and cycling. We examine the stress factors affecting these two types of aging in detail under subheadings and review the battery aging literature with a comprehensive approach. This article presents a review of empirical and semi-empirical modeling techniques and aging studies, focusing on the trends observed between different studies and highlighting the limitations and challenges of the various models.

Degradation of coral reef ecosystems: Mathematical-dynamical modeling approach

Abstract The review delves into the frontier of degradation of coral reef ecosystems, a pressing urgent issue to be addressed in marine ecological environments, and provides a critical assessment of current advances and future perspective on the topic. This study highlights the recent developments in coral bleaching, coral-algal phase shifts, coral disease, and natural enemy bloom, all of which are thoroughly documented and expounded. Special attention focus on the studies employing mathematical-dynamical modeling approaches. This review study also offers some valuable insights, illuminating ideas, and clear perspective into some current, emerging, and promising research directions for future studies, particularly those based on mathematical-biological modeling approaches. These approaches are anticipated to offer a theoretical foundation and provide crucial decision-making reference for the protection, restoration, and management of coral reef ecosystems.

Economical process design of reactive-extractive distillation combining variable pressure and heat integration for separating a ternary azeotropic mixture

Research and development of environmentally friendly processes that can generate significant profits has always been a focus of attention in pharmaceutical and chemical fields. In this study, a novel reactive-extractive pressure-swing distillation (REPSD) process was designed to separate tetrahydrofuran (THF)-methanol-water (TMW) ternary azeotropic mixtures. Ethylene oxide (EO) is reacted with water to form ethylene glycol (EG) in a reactive distillation (RD) column, which removes the water from the mixture. Then, the THF-methanol (TM) mixture is separated by extractive distillation (ED) and pressure-swing distillation (PSD). A multi-objective genetic algorithm (MUOGA) with total annual cost (TAC) and total capital cost (TCC) as objective functions, along with heat integration techniques were used to optimise the designed REPSD process. Optimal operating conditions to achieve maximum economic benefits were obtained for the process. Subsequently, the environmental benefits of the process were evaluated. The results showed that the proposed REPSD with heat integration can significantly reduce the TAC and CO2 emissions by 29.1 and 26.9 %, respectively, compared to existing optimal heat integration extractive distillation (HIED) processes. This study provides a new perspective on the separation and purification of ternary azeotropic mixtures.

Ruído visual dinâmico afeta a tarefa de imagem mental com base no paradigma de retro-dica

The retro-cue effect (RCE) is known in memory tasks to produce an increase in accuracy and decrease in response time. The retro-cue brings the information to the focus of attention in an active state, but it is not known whether it is retrieved as a conscious mental image. In this study, we investigated whether the retro-cue brings the cued item to an active state, allowing its phenomenological consciousness. In each trial, the participants rated the vividness of the retro-cued item and then recognized it. Perceptual visual interference was used to certify the visual nature of the retrieved items. Our results showed a significant RCE in memory recognition, but not in the vividness rating. The mental image vividness and the recognition tasks are based on different cognitive processes and are subject to different interferences, but despite the different cognitive processes, there is a correlation between them.

A Comparative Study of Media Symbols from the Perspective of Visual Grammar: A Case Study of Marine Ecological Protection Posters in China and Western Countries

Social developments are bringing about changes in how we communicate and represent ideas. With the tendency of globalisation, marine ecosystems are facing threats such as overfishing, pollution, and climate change, and marine ecological protection has become a focus of attention for all countries. This paper adopts Kress and van Leeuwen’s framework of visual grammar analysis to compare and analyse the use of symbols in Chinese and Western marine ecological protection posters from the perspectives of representational meaning, interactive meaning, and compositional meaning. Qualitative and quantitative analyses of 100 Chinese posters and 100 Western posters reveal similarities and differences in symbol selection, cultural context, and compositional approach. Results show that Chinese posters tend to integrate traditional cultural elements and natural symbols to convey the concept of environmental protection in a harmonious and warm way, such as the use of ink painting style and paper-cutting art to represent marine organisms, while Western posters focus on directly displaying the hazards of marine pollution by means of strong visual contrasts and modern design elements to stimulate the audience’s sense of urgency and responsibility, such as the display of marine animals trapped by plastic rubbish. This research not only deepens the understanding of the theory of visual grammar but also provides valuable references for the design of future environmental posters, emphasising the importance of using visual symbols and communication strategies in different cultural contexts in order to convey environmental messages more effectively and to promote the development of global marine conservation.

Research on the Social Media Marketing on Beauty Product: Based on Questionnaire Method

With the rapid development of the Internet, network broadcast and product marketing advertisements are gradually integrated into our lives. As the main force of consumption, women's consumption behavior has also become the focus of attention. This paper takes the social platform marketing of beauty products as an example, and conducts a directional analysis of consumer behavior through the research method of questionnaire survey. The survey results show that the main group of online consumption is concentrated in young people. From the perspective of regional distribution, most consumers come from southeast China, that is, the more economically developed areas, and the first-tier cities are mostly. Consumers prefer actual demand and are influenced by Internet celebrities and online comments. The research results of this paper can be used as a reference for cosmetics companies to formulate more targeted marketing strategies, help cosmetics brands to improve sales and performance, and provide references for the direction of social network publicity.

Uncovering the Motor Dynamics of Obsessive-Compulsive Rituals Through Cluster Analysis.

Rituals represent a prominent human behavior in different contexts such as daily routines, life cycle stages, and psychopathology, for example, obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD) where they are referred to as compulsions. OCD compulsions differ from habitual behaviors and stereotypies regarding their formal features: acts repetition, the addition of nonfunctional acts, and attentional focus on basic motor units. This study aims to categorize OCD compulsions based on the motor patterns of acts repetition and inclusion of nonfunctional acts. We analyzed 28 video-recorded OCD compulsions; we adopted a cluster analytic model to identify distinct patterns within the data and determine cluster characteristics. Our findings revealed a moderate negative covariance between nonfunctionality and repetitiveness, indicating that as nonfunctionality increased, repetitiveness decreased. Three distinct clusters in OCD rituals were identified according to the motor pattern: "idiosyncratic rituals," characterized by strong incorporation of nonfunctional acts; "iterative rituals" showing high repetitiveness; and "routines," with minimal repetition and limited inclusion of nonfunctional acts. These motor patterns highlight evolutionarily conserved behavioral strategies aimed at coping with conditions of environmental unpredictability. The findings might allow fine-grained discrimination of ritual compulsions and help target personalized interventions.

Research on English Online Teaching Model Based on Association Rules Driven by Big Data

In today’s information age, big data has become an indispensable and important resource in various fields, and the education sector is no exception. With the explosive growth of educational data, how to effectively mine and utilize this data to optimize the education and teaching process has become a focus of attention for educators and researchers. Among them, association rule mining, as an important data mining technique, is increasingly widely used in the field of education. This investigation delves into the deployment of association rule mining within the framework of English online teaching models, capitalizing on the burgeoning domain of big data. In the era of exponentially advancing information technology, big data has crystallized as an integral component for educational enhancement in both pedagogical quality and methodologies. Initially, this paper dissects a spectrum of extant teaching paradigms propelled by big data analytics. The discourse then pivots to scrutinize the contemporary landscape and the evolution of English online pedagogy. Employing association rule analysis, the study excavates a trove of significant patterns and linkages from voluminous datasets of online educational activities. The insights gleaned serve as a compass for refining instructional strategies and judiciously distributing educational resources. The empirical evidence underscores the proposition that granular examination of student engagement metrics and scholastic achievement empowers educators to tailor bespoke educational trajectories, thereby amplifying pedagogical efficacy and enriching the academic voyage. Beyond furnishing an avant-garde outlook on English online instruction, the findings proffer a substantive benchmark for e-pedagogy across diverse academic disciplines.

Good friends, better society: Peer effects on civic‐mindedness of elementary school students

AbstractThis study examined the effects of peers' civic‐mindedness on elementary school students' civic‐mindedness. Raising civic‐minded and socially responsible adolescents has become a focus of attention in many countries in recent years. This study used fourth‐grade elementary school panel data from the Seoul Education Longitudinal Survey 2010, identifying causality based on fixed effects and instrumental variable estimation from students' random classroom assignment. Results showed that the high civic‐mindedness among classmates increased students' own civic‐mindedness. Based on these findings, implications for adolescent education are discussed.

The positive effect of ω-3 polyunsaturated fatty acid supplementation on the cognitive function of children and adolescents with lipid metabolism disorders

Aim. To study the effect of ω-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) on the cognitive functions of children with lipid metabolism disorders of different ages. Materials and methods. The study included 87 children aged 6 to 17 years who had not previously received ω-3 PUFA supplements. All subjects were tested twice, with an interval of 6 months, to determine the ω-3 erythrocyte index by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry and to study attention span and focusing using the correction task method (Bourdon test). The cohort was randomly divided into two groups: the main group, which included 60 children who received the ω-3 supplements, and the control group, which included 27 children who did not receive any nutritional supplements. Results. In children of the main group, after receiving the Norwegian fish oil NFO® at 1000 mg for 6 months, an increase in the erythrocyte ω-3 index was observed, while in the control group, it did not change significantly. A statistically significant correlation was found between the adequacy of ω-3 PUFA and the attention span and focusing. Conclusion. The results of the study showed the effectiveness of ω-3 PUFA supplementation at 1000 mg/day for 6 months and confirmed the positive effect of ω-3 PUFA on the cognitive sphere of children and adolescents. High-quality food supplements with ω-3 PUFAs at 1000 mg/day can be recommended to develop intellection, memory, and attention span and focus in children and adolescents.

The Study on The Development Trends of Cross-Border E-Commerce Platforms

With the continuous deepening of globalization and digitalization, cross-border e-commerce (CBEC) has become a critical driving force in promoting international trade and global market development. CBEC not only reshapes traditional trade models but also provides unprecedented internationalization opportunities for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), significantly enriching consumer choices and fostering the prosperity and diversification of the global market. Despite the rapid development of e-commerce, there remain numerous challenges in various areas that require further in-depth research and exploration. For instance, how technology can continuously drive the development of CBEC, how consumer behavior adapts to this emerging model, how trade processes can be optimized to accommodate digital transformation, and how CBEC can promote sustainable development and brand internationalization. The answers to these questions are crucial for a comprehensive understanding of CBEC and are the focus of both academic and industry attention. This paper aims to review and analyze the development trends of CBEC, delving into six aspects: technological drivers, consumer behavior, trade process reconstruction, challenges faced, sustainable development, and brand internationalization. The goal is to provide valuable insights and experiences for the further development of cross-border e-commerce.

Oscillatory brain activity in the canonical alpha-band conceals distinct mechanisms in attention.

Brain oscillations in the alpha-band (8-14Hz) over posterior areas have been linked to specific processes in attention and perception. In particular, decreases in alpha-amplitude are thought to reflect activation of perceptually relevant brain areas for target engagement, while increases in alpha-amplitude have been associated with inhibition for distractor suppression. Traditionally, these alpha-changes have been viewed as two facets of the same process. However, more recent evidence calls for revisiting this interpretation. Here, we concurrently recorded MEG/EEG in 32 participants (19 females) during covert visuo-spatial attention shifts (spatial cues), and two control conditions (neutral cue, no-attention cue), while tracking fixational eye-movements. In disagreement with a single, perceptually relevant alpha-process, we found the typical alpha-modulations contra- and ipsilateral to the attention focus to be triple dissociated in their timing, topography, and spectral features: Ipsilateral alpha-increases occurred early, over occipital sensors, at a high alpha-frequency (10-14Hz) and were expressed during spatial attention (alpha spatial cue > neutral cue). By contrast, contralateral alpha-decreases occurred later, over parietal sensors, at a lower alpha-frequency (7-10Hz) and were associated with attention deployment in general (alpha spatial&neutral cue < no-attention cue). Additionally, the lateralized early alpha-increases but not -decreases during spatial attention coincided in time with directionally biased microsaccades. Overall, these findings suggest that the attention-related early alpha-increases and late -decreases reflect distinct, likely reflexive versus endogenously controlled attention mechanisms. We conclude that there is more than one perceptually relevant posterior alpha-oscillation, which need to be dissociated for a detailed account of their roles in perception and attention.Significance statement This study provides novel insights into perceptually relevant brain oscillations in the "canonical" alpha-band, and the neural correlates of covert and overt attention processes. This by simultaneously recording MEG and EEG, and isolating by design visuospatial and temporal expectations respectively, while tracking fixational eye-movements concurrently to the nominally covert attention shifts. The data reveal the presence of two, spatio-temporally and spectrally dissociated patterns of posterior alpha-changes that are distinctively associated with deployment of spatial and temporal anticipation, and eye-movement activity. This refines our understanding of the role of brain oscillations in perception and attention, the neural underpinnings of attention deployment in space and time, and provides methodological pointers for the study of perceptually relevant oscillatory activity through MEG/EEG.

Combining Hypnosis and Virtual Reality: A Qualitative Investigation of User Experience During an Experimental Pain Study.

Virtual reality (VR) and hypnosis (H) are useful pain management tools, but the potential benefit of their combination (VRH) has yet to be studied. This study examines the user experience of VRH, compared to H and VR alone, using interviews following an experimental study examining the effect of the three interventions on pain perception. Following a within-subjects repeated measures experimental design, 16 participants received the three interventions during which they received painful electrical stimuli. Following each intervention, explanatory interviews were conducted to allow participants to elaborate on their user experience. A thematic analysis was conducted on the data collected. Three themes emerged from the interviews: (1) satisfaction: participants mostly had positive feelings toward the three modalities, with the most beneficial effects on relaxation expressed for H. (2) Body perception and attention focus: immersion in the VR and VRH conditions was appreciated. Participants described their perceptions of pain perception during the 3 conditions. (3) Device acceptability: H was the most liked, followed by VRH, and then VR alone. Intention of use was reported following the same order. The data collected highlighted participants' opinions of these different interventions and suggested adjustments for future development of the VRH intervention in pain management.

Effect Size Magnification: No Variable Is as Important as the One You’re Thinking About—While You’re Thinking About It

The goal of psychological science is to discover truths about human nature, and the typical form of empirical insights is a simple statement of the form x relates to y. We suggest that such “one-liners” imply much larger x- y relationships than those we typically study. Given the multitude of factors that compete and interact to influence any human outcome, small effect sizes should not surprise us. And yet they do—as evidenced by the persistent and systematic underpowering of research studies in psychological science. We suggest an explanation. Effect size magnification is the tendency to exaggerate the importance of the variable under investigation because of the momentary neglect of others. Although problematic, this attentional focus serves a purpose akin to that of the eye’s fovea. We see a particular x-y relationship with greater acuity when it is the center of our attention. Debiasing remedies are not straightforward, but we recommend (a) recalibrating expectations about the effect sizes we study, (b) proactively exploring moderators and boundary conditions, and (c) periodically toggling our focus from the x variable we happen to study to the non- x variables we do not.

Research progress of hydrogen blocking coatings

In the context of carbon peak and carbon neutrality, the use of clean energy has become the focus of attention. Hydrogen energy as the most potential secondary energy has a very important position in various fields, so the storage and transport of hydrogen energy is one of our most important concerns. Long distance pipeline is regarded as an effective means to transport hydrogen, but the high pressure hydrogen environment is easy to cause hydrogen embrittleness and other problems in the pipeline, which seriously threatens the safety of pipeline transportation. Hydrogen blocking coatings are one of the most effective ways to solve such problems. In this paper, the research results in recent years are reviewed and summarized. The article points out the hydrogen barrier mechanism, advantages and disadvantages of various types of hydrogen barrier coatings, the current status of research, as well as future research focus and development trend.