Comparing word recognition in simplified and traditional Chinese: A megastudy approach

Although it is well established that the visual complexity of a written word can influence processing, it is far less clear from a cross-script perspective, whether the overall visual complexity of the entire written lexicon also affects word recognition. This question can be answered with the data in megastudy of lexical decision in Chinese (MELD-CH), which was developed with over 800 participants responding to 12,587 simplified and traditional Chinese words. The results showed that lexical decision was slower but more accurate in simplified Chinese, which has about 22.5% less strokes, than traditional Chinese. This pattern could not be explained by a speed-accuracy trade-off. Moderate correlations were found in response times and error rates between the two scripts, indicating considerable overlap in processing despite the script difference. In addition, (generalised) linear mixed-effects modelling was used to examine whether the simplified and traditional Chinese groups differed in sensitivity towards linguistic variables. The results showed that the effects of word frequency, word length, and number of strokes were stronger in recognising simplified Chinese words, whereas the effects of number of words formed and number of meanings of the constituent characters were stronger in traditional Chinese. These results suggested that the visual-perceptual processing demands of simplified Chinese might force readers to focus more on local properties of the words, making them less sensitive to global properties that are defined over the entire lexicon. Finally, limitations and alternative explanations of the results were discussed.

Hydrodynamic behavior and start-up performance of a periodic anaerobic baffled reactor in an "every second" switching manner treating traditional Chinese medicine wastewater

Most studies focus on the "clockwise sequential" switching manner for a four-compartment periodic anaerobic baffled reactor (PABR), while the exploration of the "every second" option on the feasibility for real industrial wastewater treatment is rarely reported. Hence, a PABR-treating traditional Chinese medicine wastewater was run continuously in "every second" switching manner with both switching period T and hydraulic residence time of 48 h. Satisfactory start-up performance was achieved during the operation of a climbing average organic load rate at approximately 1, 2, 4, and 6 kg chemical oxygen demand (COD) m-3 d-1 for 12, 24, 24, and 6 days, respectively. The average COD removal was 87.20% after the second lifting of OLR and 89.98% after the third one. Denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis and its cluster analysis showed that the microbial communities in each compartment adapted their structure in response to the periodically changing micro-ecology conditions. Moreover, the residence time distribution test with tap water in the clean PABR was carried out in experiments and computational fluid dynamics (CFD) simulation, both of which were in good agreement. The CFD model output visualized the flow velocity field and hydrodynamic-mass transport inside the PABR. Optimization of operation pattern in PABR including switching manner and frequency depended on both the type of waste being treated and the flexibility of biomass to periodically changing micro-ecology conditions.

Psychometric Properties of the Traditional Chinese Version of the Stanford Presenteeism Scale (SPS-6) among Taiwanese Employees in Technology Companies

Little attention has been paid by employers to reduced productivity at work due to illness (presenteeism) because valid instruments to measure presenteeism are lacking. We assessed psychometric properties of the traditional Chinese version of the six-item Stanford Presenteeism Scale (CSPS-6) among Taiwanese employees in technology companies. We carried out a cross-cultural adaptation study on 196 employees. Factor analyses were used to evaluate the construct validity of the CSPS-6. Cronbach’s alpha was 0.74. The content validity of the CSPS-6 was good. Results of factor analyses confirmed the two-factor model of the CSPS-6. CSPS-6 scores were correlated with job stress (rs = −0.22, p = 0.002), the health status SF-36 (rs = 0.28 to 0.52, p < 0.0001), job satisfaction (rs = 0.41, p < 0.0001), and the presenteeism score of the Work Productivity and Activity Impairment Questionnaire: General Health (rs = −0.46, p < 0.0001). No correlations were found between presenteeism and the disability status (p = 0.19, F-value = 1.67, degrees of freedom = 2). The CSPS-6 was found to be reliable and valid in evaluating presenteeism of Taiwanese employees. Further studies should be undertaken to validate the CSPS-6 in other working populations and assess long-term effects of health problems associated with presenteeism.

A Comparison of the Validities of Traditional Chinese Versions of the Work Productivity and Activity Impairment Questionnaire: General Health and the World Health Organization's Health and Work Performance Questionnaire

There is a lack of valid instruments for measuring productivity loss due to illness. This study aimed to compare the validities of traditional Chinese versions of the Work Productivity and Activity Impairment: General Health (C-WPAI:GH) and the World Health Organization's Health and Work Performance Questionnaire (C-WHO-HPQ), and to define the factors associated with productivity loss. We conducted a cross-sectional study of 165 Taiwanese employees in technology companies. Spearman's correlation coefficients and ANOVAs were used to test the validities of the C-WPAI:GH and C-WHO-HPQ. Bayesian model averaging was used for multiple linear regression to define the factors related to productivity loss. The C-WPAI:GH had acceptable validities for assessing the productivity loss of Taiwanese employees. The C-WHO-HPQ had acceptable content validity and concurrent criterion validity. However, the construct validity of the C-WHO-HPQ was insufficient (less than 75% of results were consistent with our hypotheses). Absenteeism in the C-WPAI:GH was associated with education, physical functioning and job satisfaction. There were significant associations of bodily pain, social functioning and general health with presenteeism, overall work impairment and activity impairment in the C-WPAI:GH. A linear correlation was found between education and activity impairment in the C-WPAI:GH. The C-WPAI:GH can be used to evaluate productivity loss due to illness.

Improve the clinical effective decision of the oral feeding readiness in preterm infants: Revise and validate the TC-POFRAS

BACKGROUND

Currently there is limited information to guide health professionals regarding the optimal time frame to initiate safe and effective oral feedings to preterm infants. The study aims to revise and validate a streamlined version of the Traditional Chinese-Preterm Oral Feeding Readiness Assessment Scale, the TC-POFRAS®, and evaluate its construct validity in the clinical decisions regarding feeding readiness of preterm infants.

METHODS

Eighty-one clinically stable preterm infants were assessed using the TC-POFRAS for oral feeding readiness. Item-total correlation analysis was used to check if any item was inconsistent with the averaged TC-POFRAS scores. Cronbach's α coefficient was used to evaluate the inter-item consistency. Exploratory factor analysis was used to determine the coherence of variables to reorganize assessment domains. The revised version of TC-POFRAS (TC-POFRAS®) was developed and a new cut-off score based on discriminant accuracy was established.

RESULTS

Based on the results from statistical analysis, five items ("lips posture," "tongue posture," "biting reflex," "gag reflex," and "tongue cupping") were deleted from the original TC-POFRAS to form the TC-POFRAS®. The TC-POFRAS®'s global accuracy was 92.1%. The cut-off value of 19 was the one that presented the most optimization of sensitivity based on specificity. The TC-POFRAS® was reconstructed into corrected gestational age and five behavioral domains.

CONCLUSIONS

The TC-POFRAS® is considered a valid, safe, and accurate objective instrument to assist health professionals to initiate oral feeding of preterm infants.

Effect of Chinese Herbal Compound LC09 on Patients With Capecitabine-Associated Hand-Foot Syndrome: A Randomized, Double-Blind, and Parallel-Controlled Trial

Background: LC09 is composed with 5 kinds of traditional Chinese herbal medicines (Astragalus membranaceus, flowers carthami, lithospermum, geranium wilfordii, and radix angelicae) which are used in China and developed over several thousand years. Aim: To assess the effectiveness and safety of herbal compound LC09 on patients with capecitabine-associated hand-foot syndrome (HFS). Materials and Methods: In this randomized, double-blind, and parallel-controlled study, 156 patients that diagnosed with HFS were randomly assigned to a treatment group (n = 78) or control group (n = 78). Patients were evaluated every week by the National Cancer Institute (NCI) grade and Numerical Rating Scale (NRS) pain scores. The Dermatology Life Quality Index (DLQI) scale and Instrumental Activity of Daily Living (IADL) scale were used to assess the quality of life before the treatment, and at 1 week and after the treatment of 2 cycles. Results: At the baseline, no significant differences were observed between the 2 groups. After treatment, significant differences in NCI grade and NRS pain scores were observed between the 2 groups (P < .01). In addition, HFS effectiveness rate and pain alleviation rate were significantly higher in the treatment group compared with the control group (P < .01). Furthermore, the chemotherapy completion rate between 2 groups was significantly different (P = .002). In addition, no adverse reactions were observed in either LC09 or control group. Conclusion: LC09 can decrease NCI grade and significantly alleviate pain in HFS patients. Besides, it can also increase chemotherapy completion rate.

Translation, cross-cultural adaptation and validation of the traditional Chinese intermittent and constant osteoarthritis pain (ICOAP) questionnaire for knee osteoarthritis

OBJECTIVES

To translate and culturally adapt the Intermittent and Constant Osteoarthritis and Pain (ICOAP) measure to a traditional Chinese version, and to study its psychometric properties in patients with knee osteoarthritis (KOA).

METHOD

The ICOAP was translated and cross-culturally adapted into traditional Chinese according to the recommended international guidelines. A total of 110 participants with KOA in Hong Kong were invited to complete the traditional Chinese ICOAP (tChICOAP), the Chinese Western Ontario and McMaster Universities Osteoarthritis Index (WOMAC) pain subscale and the Chinese Short form of Health Survey (SF-12v2). Psychometric evaluations included content validity, construct validity, internal consistency and test and retest reliability.

RESULTS

All participants completed the tChICOAP questionnaire without missing items. The content validity index of all items ranged from 80% to 100%. The tChICOAP total pain and subscale scores had excellent internal consistency with Cronbach's alpha value (0.902-0.948) and good corrected item-total subscale correlations. It had high test and retest reliability (intra-class correlations 0.924-0.960). The tChICOAP constant, intermittent and total pain scores correlate strongly with the WOMAC pain subscale (r=0.671, 0.678 and 0.707, respectively, p<0.001). The tChICOAP intermittent and total scores correlate strongly with SF-12v2 physical component score (r=-0.590 and -0.558, respectively, p<0.001).

CONCLUSIONS

The tChICOAP is a reliable and valid instrument to measure the pain experience of Chinese patients with KOA.

Systems approaches: a global and historical perspective on integrative medicine

The globalization of healing systems is a dance of cultural awareness and cultural dominance that has arisen throughout history. With the development of greater communication and interest in whole-systems approaches to healing, the opportunity for the development of a global perspective on healing has emerged with new life force. The birth of integrative holistic healing systems in the West, such as naturopathic, homeopathic, anthroposophic, integral and functional medicine, and others, echoes the ocean of wisdom present in traditional healing systems, such as traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) and Ayurveda. In working to integrate the lessons from these systems, we see the inextricable link between man and the natural world, we work to understand the root cause of disease, we focus on the whole person to return balance, and we use empiric observation in large populations over time to grasp the interrelationships inherent in the whole-systems view of illness and wellness.