The cost of "snubbing": the effect of parental phubbing on filial piety behavior in children and adolescents.

Background: Although numerous studies have used Chinese samples to examine the consequences of parental phubbing, these studies focused on children's mental health and peer interaction. No research to date has directly explored the association between parental phubbing and child-parent interaction. Since parental phubbing is a way how parents interact with their children (parent-child), it might be associated with the way how children interact with their parents (child-parent), such as filial piety behavior, which prescribes how children behave toward their parents and remains one of the goals of parents in educating their children in modern Chinese society. Based on social exchange theory and social gender theory, this study investigated the impact of parental phubbing on filial piety behavior and tested its mediation of perceived parental rejection, its moderation of gender among children and adolescents. Methods: This study was conducted using a questionnaire method. A total of 753 students from Grade 4 to 9 (Mage = 12.28 years, SD = 1.81 years) was surveyed using the Parental Phubbing Scale, Perceived Parental Rejection Questionnaire, and the revised Dual Filial Piety Scale. Results: First, parental phubbing was negatively correlated with reciprocal filial piety (RFP) behavior, but not correlated with authoritarian filial piety (AFP) behavior. Second, perceived parental rejection played a mediating role between parental phubbing and RFP behavior. Third, this direct effect was moderated by gender, in that it was stronger for boys than for girls. Conclusion: These findings suggest that there are intergenerational costs of phubbing, such as reducing children and adolescents' RFP behavior. The present study is the first to combine parent-child interaction in the digital media era (parental phubbing) with traditional Chinese child-parent interaction (RFP behavior), which expands the research topic on the influence of parental phubbing on children and adolescents' psychological development.

Cost-effectiveness of thrombectomy alone versus alteplase before thrombectomy in acute ischemic stroke: results from the DIRECT-MT.

OBJECTIVE: The use of thrombectomy alone (endovascular thrombectomy [EVT]) was found to be noninferior to combination therapy (EVT plus intravenous thrombolysis [IVT] with alteplase before thrombectomy [EVT+IVT]) in the DIRECT-MT (Direct Intra-Arterial Thrombectomy in Order to Revascularize AIS Patients With Large Vessel Occlusion Efficiently in Chinese Tertiary Hospitals: A Multicenter Randomized Clinical Trial), yet the economic value of omitting alteplase was unclear. Thus, in this paper the authors assessed the cost-effectiveness of EVT alone versus EVT+IVT in the DIRECT-MT. METHODS: In the context of the Chinese healthcare system, the authors conducted a post hoc economic analysis of the DIRECT-MT based on an intention-to-treat approach. Index stroke costs were collected at the individual level, while costs after discharge were complemented with published literature and government websites. Utility weights assessed at 90 days using the 5-Level EQ-5D questionnaire were prospectively collected. For long-term modeled cost-effectiveness analysis, a Markov model with 7 health states corresponding to the 7 modified Rankin Scale scores was used. Deterministic and probabilistic sensitivity analyses were performed. All costs are expressed in 2019 US dollars, discounted using the annual Consumer Price Index in China. RESULTS: During the index hospitalization, the mean medication cost in the EVT-alone group was $487 lower than that in the EVT+IVT group ($2453 [95% CI $2205-$2701] vs $2940 [95% CI $2703-$3178], p = 0.01), but the mean overall costs were similar between the groups ($15,565 [95% CI $14,876-$16,254] vs $15,472 [95% CI $14,714-$16,230], p = 0.73). Within 90 days of the trial, there were no significant differences in total costs (difference -$222 [95% CI -$603 to $161], p = 0.06, bootstrapping) or utility values (median 0.84 [IQR 0.48-0.95] vs median 0.85 [IQR 0.26-1.00]; beta coefficient < 0.01 [95% CI -0.06 to 0.07]) between EVT alone and EVT+IVT. Over the lifetime horizon, EVT alone and EVT+IVT yielded comparable lifetime QALYs (2.02 QALYs [95% CI -0.07 to 4.55 QALYs] vs 1.90 QALYs [95% CI -0.09 to 4.55 QALYs]) and costs ($26,795 [95% CI $15,281-$54,463] vs $27,632 [95% CI $14,558-$52,251]). CONCLUSIONS: In this economic analysis based on a trial conducted in China, the authors found that EVT alone was not associated with economic dominance over EVT+IVT in patients with anterior circulation large-vessel occlusion.

Technology development and cost analysis of multiple pollutant abatement for ultra-low emission coal-fired power plants in China.

The implementation of ultra-low emission (ULE) limits (SO2: 35 mg/m3, NOx: 50 mg/m3, PM: 10 mg/m3) promoted the development of flue gas treatment technologies in China. Pollutant control technology development for Chinese coal-fired power plants was summarized and an analysis of the applicability and cost of pollutant control technologies was conducted. Detailed data were collected from 30 ultra-low emission coal-fired units across China. Based on a cost analysis model, the average unit power generation incremental costs were 0.0144 and 0.0095 CNY/(kW·hr) for SO2 and NOx control technologies, respectively. The unit power generation incremental cost of twin spray tower technology was 7.2% higher than that of dual-loop spray tower technology. The effect of key parameters on operating cost was analyzed. The unit power generation incremental cost increased because of increments in the electricity price for SO2 control technology and the price of the reductant in NOx control technology. With high sulfur content or NOx concentration, the unit power generation incremental cost caused by pollutant control increased, whereas the unit pollutant abatement cost decreased. However, the annual operating hours or load increased, thereby leading to a decline in unit power generation incremental cost and unit pollutant abatement cost.

Learning State Assessment in Online Education Based on Multiple Facial Features Detection.

Considering that most of online training is not effectively supervised, this article presents an online leaning state assessment approach which combines blink detection, yawn detection, and head pose estimation. Blink detection is realized by computing the eye aspect ratio and the ratio of closed eye frames to the total frames per unit time to evaluate the degree of eye fatigue. Yawn detection is implemented by computing the aspect ratio of the mouth by using the feature points of the inner lip and combining it with the time of opening mouth to distinguish the mouth state. Head pose estimation is first implemented by calculating the head rotation matrix by matching the feature points of 2D face with the 3D face model and then calculating the Euler angle of the head according to the rotation matrix to evaluate the change of the head pose. Especially in yawn detection, we employ the feature points of inner lips in the calculation of the mouth aspect ratio to avoid the impact of lip thickness of various participants. Furthermore, the blink detection, yawn detection, and head pose estimation are first calculated based on the two-dimensional grayscale image of human face, which could reduce the computational complexity and improve the real-time performance of detection. Finally, combining the values of blinking, yawning, and head pose, multiple groups of experiments are carried out to assess the state of different online learners; then, the learning state is evaluated by analyzing the numerical changes of the three characteristics. Experimental results show that our approach could effectively evaluate the state of online learning and provide support for the development of online education.

Energy consumption and energy-saving potential analysis of pollutant abatement systems in a 1000-MW coal-fired power plant.

Pollutant abatement systems are widely applied in the coal-fired power sector, and the energy consumption is considered an important part of the auxiliary power. An energy consumption analysis and assessment model of pollutant abatement systems in a power unit was developed based on the dynamic parameters and technology. The energy consumption of pollutant abatement systems in a 1000-MW coal-fired power unit that meets the ultra-low emission limits and the factors of operating parameters, including unit load and inlet concentration of pollutants, on the operating power were analyzed. The results show that the total power consumption of the pollutant abatement systems accounted for 1.27% of the gross power generation during the monitoring period. The wet flue gas desulfurization (WFGD) system consumed 67% of the rate, whereas the selective catalytic reduction (SCR) and electrostatic precipitator (ESP) systems consumed 8.9% and 24.1%, respectively. The power consumption rate of pollutant abatement systems decreased with the increase of unit load and increased with the increase of the inlet concentration of pollutants. The operation adjustment was also an effective method to increase the energy efficiency. For example, the operation adjustment of slurry circulation pumps could promote the energy-saving operation of the WFGD system. IMPLICATIONS: The application of pollutant abatement technologies increases the internal energy consumption of the power plant, which will lead to an increase of power generation costs. The real-time energy consumption of the different pollutant abatement systems in a typical power unit is analyzed based on the dynamic operating data. Further, the influence of different operating parameters on the operating power of the system and the possible energy-saving potential are analyzed.

Comparative pharmacokinetics of aloe-emodin, rhein and emodin determined by liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry after oral administration of a rhubarb peony decoction and rhubarb extract to rats.

This study aimed to clarify the rationality of herbaceous compatibility of a rhubarb peony decoction (DaHuang-Mu-Dan-Tang, RPD) by comparing the pharmacokinetics of aloe-emodin, rhein and emodin in rats' plasma after oral administration of RPD and rhubarb extract. A rapid, sensitive LC-MS method was developed and validated for the determination of the plasma concentrations of the three analytes after oral administration RPD and rhubarb extract. The developed method was successfully applied to a pharmacokinetic study of aloe-emodin, rhein and emodin in rats' plasma after oral administration. Compared with administration of single rhubarb, the C(max) of rhein in RPD was decreased significantly (p < 0.05). Meanwhile, the T1/2 of aloe-emodin and emodin were increased significantly (p < 0.05) after administration of RPD. In addition, the T(max) of rhein and emodin were also increased significantly (p < 0.05) in RPD. These results indicated that the absorption of rhein in rats was suppressed after oral administration RPD. Moreover, The time for rhein and emodin to reach the peak concentration was delayed and the elimination of aloe-emodin and emodin was also postponed in RPD. This study could provide a meaningful basis for evaluating the clinical application of traditional Chinese medicine in terms of pharmacokinetics.

[Study on extraction conditions for minute powder of processed rhizome of Corydalis with vinegar].

OBJECTIVE: To examine the factors in extracting the minute powder of processed rhizome of Corydalis with vinegar for its application. METHOD: The one-way variation analysis was used for experimental design. Tetrahydropalmatine was determined with HPLC method. The samples were separated on a Diamonsil C18 column with mobile phase of acetonitrile-TEA phosphate buffer (pH 7.0) (50:50) and detection wavelength was 280 mm. RESULT: The extraction conditions were established as follows: extraction temperature is 60 degrees C, water-added amount is 20 times the weight of the powder, and extraction time is 30 minutes. CONCLUSION: The extraction rate of the tetrahydropalmatine in the minute power is about 10% higher than that of the processed rhizome with vinegar. But less water amount, less time, and lower temperature were needed for extraction. The application of minute powder can reduce energy consumption and raise economic benefit in industrial production.