A Review of Environmental Sociology and the Sociology of Natural Resources:Insights for the Development of Environmental Sociology in China

Environmental sociology and the sociology of natural resources are two key subdisciplines of the sociological study on the interactions between nature and human society.Previous discussion on the relationships of these two fields has largely focused on their distinctions and synthesis in western(particularly American) academia.Environmental sociology emerged as an important sociological subdiscipline in China in the early 1990s and is under vigorous disciplinary construction at present.By contrast,the sociology of natural resources is still a novel term for most Chinese researchers.This article provides a systematic review of recent literature on the relationships between environmental and natural resource sociologies,which should provide important implications for the further development of environmental sociology in China.

Reaching proficiency in laparoscopic splenectomy

AIM:To investigate the proficiency level reached in laparoscopic splenectomy using the learning curve method.METHODS:All patients in need of splenectomy for benign causes in whom laparoscopic splenectomy was attempted by a single surgeon during a time period of 6 years were included in the study (n=33). Besides demographics, operation-related variables and the response to surgery were recorded. The patients were allocated to groups of five, ranked according to the date of the operation. Operation duration, complications, postoperative length of stay, conversion to laparotomy and splenic weight were then compared between these groups.RESULTS: There was a significant difference regarding operation times between the groups (P = 0.001). An improvement was observed after the first 5 cases. The learning curve was flat up to the 25th case. Following the 25th case the operation times decreased still further. There was no difference between the groups regarding the other parameters.CONCLUSION: Unlike the widely accepted "L" shape, the learning curve for laparoscopic splenectomy is a horizontal lazy "S" with two distinct slopes. Privileges may be granted after the first 5 cases. However proficiency seems to require 25 cases.

The Changing Landscape of Higher Education in Libya

The development of Higher Education has expanded greatly across the Arab world and this is certainly evident in Libya, where 24 new universities have been established in a four-year period. By 2025, there will be half a million university students, double the current numbers. To cope with this rapid expansion, a huge building programme has been implemented, resulting in modern, purpose-built structures dominating the sky line and bringing a new dimension to the traditional environment. Interviews with students, staff, and management from two universities show that, apart from the impact this expansion has had on the physical landscape, there have also been cultural and political changes. Libyan university staff have been sent on scholarships to English speaking countries to improve their language skills as all teaching is carried out through the medium of English. There has consequently been an acute shortage of teaching staff resulting in foreign workers being recruited from Asia and the Middle East. The curriculum has been modified and traditional Libyan society is resistant to new methodology. None of this has been helped by political changes and developments. Possible solutions for the future of quality Higher Education provision in Libya include continuing professional development programmes for staff, quality assurance, improvement of resources, training in modern technology and an approach to education to help break down the barriers between generations

Automated bolting and meshing on a continuous miner for roadway development

Automated installation of primary roof support material can potentially increase productivity and operator safety in the roadway development process within underground coal mining. Although the broader manufacturing sector has benefited from automation, several challenges exist within the Australian underground coal industry which makes it difficult to fully exploit these technologies. At the University of Wollongong a series of reprogrammable electromechanical manipulators have been designed to overcome these challenges and automatically handle the installation of roof and rib containment consumables on a continuous miner. The automated manipulation removes personnel from hazards in the immediate face area, particularly those associated with working in a confined and unstable working environment in close proximity to rotating and moving equipment. In a series of above ground trials the automated system was successfully demonstrated without human intervention and proven to be capable of achieving cycle times at a rate of 10 m per operating hour, consistent with that required to support high capacity longwall mines. The trials also identified a number of refinements which could further improve both cycle times and system reliability when considering the technology for underground use. The results have concluded that conventional manual handling practices on a continuous miner can be eliminated, and that the prototypes have significantly reduced the technical risk in proceeding to a full underground trial.

Comparison on Cultural Connotation of Plant in Treasure Island and The Swordsman

In the development of human civilization, plant has been closely attached to human beings, and also been endowed with rich cultural imagery. However, ascribed to the differences between Chinese and English cultures, plant of the same kind exhibits similar, distinct or vacant characteristics. This paper adopts comparison method so as to compare and to analyze the differences and similarities of cultural connotation contained in plant emerging in Treasure Island （a representative of western adventure literature） and The Swordsman （a representative of Chinese martial arts literature） and roles plant plays in a certain chapter, or the whole story. The literature study presents a general knowledge of research theories in this field and cultural background. Moreover, the induction method integrates and summarizes the prior analyses and researches. Reasons underlying those cultural differences are also expounded, including legend and folklore, literature works and convention and custom. The conclusion is that analyzing the cultural connotation of plant is of significance for understanding the corresponding cultural differences as well as appreciating adventure and martial arts literature.

Physical literacy in the field of physical education——A challenge and a possibility

Publications of articles with physical literacy as a topic have increased dramatically since the beginning of 2000 s. The aim of this paper is to,through an explorative literature overview with an inductive approach, analyze frequent, and significant themes in published peer reviewed articles,with a focus on physical literacy. The database EBSCO has been used with the identifiers “physical literacy” and “physical literacy and evidence”.Furthermore ICSSPE Bulletin＇s special issue on physical literacy has been included in the overview. The findings have resulted in three key themes： assumptions of the concept physical literacy and its educative role, sports development and physical literacy, and assessment and physical literacy. Future studies are needed to examine if the advocated pedagogical strategies based on the concept physical literacy have led to a reorganized and revitalized school subject. There is also an existing critique towards making physical literacy an idealistic neutral concept or synonym with fundamental movement skills or sports talent identification. The role of higher education emerges as crucial for the next step of the development of the scientific framework as this involves how physical literacy will be socially configured, nurtured, and embodied in practice.Copyright ó 2015, Shanghai University of Sport. Production and hosting by Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Health-related quality of life of 256 recipients after liver transplantation

AIM:To investigate health-related quality of life(HRQoL) and psychological outcomes in 256 adults who had undergone liver transplantation(LT).METHODS:A stratified random sampling method was used in this follow-up multicenter study to select a representative sample of recipients undergoing either living donor liver transplantation(LDLT) or deceased donor liver transplantation(DDLT).HRQoL was measured by using the Chinese version of Medical Outcome Study Short Form-36(SF-36),and psychological outcomes by using the beck anxiety inventory(BAI) and the self-rating depression scale(SDS).Clinical and demographic data were collected from the records of the Chinese Liver Transplant Registry and via questionnaires.RESULTS:A total of 256 patients were sampled,including 66(25.8%) receiving LDLT and 190(74.2%) undergoing DDLT;15(5.9%) recipients had anxiety and four(1.6%) developed severe depression after the operation.Compared with LDLT recipients,DDLT patients had higher scores in general health(60.33 ± 16.97 vs 66.86 ± 18.42,P = 0.012),role-physical(63.64 ± 42.55 vs 74.47 ± 36.46,P = 0.048),roleemotional(61.11 ± 44.37 vs 78.95 ± 34.31,P = 0.001),social functioning(78.60 ± 22.76 vs 88.16 ± 21.85,P = 0.003),vitality(70.30 ± 15.76 vs 75.95 ± 16.40,P = 0.016),mental health(65.88 ± 12.94 vs 71.85 ± 15.45,P = 0.005),physical component summary scale(PCS,60.07 ± 7.36 vs 62.58 ± 6.88,P = 0.013) and mental component summary scale(MCS,52.65 ± 7.66 vs 55.95 ± 10.14,P = 0.016).Recipients > 45 years old at the time of transplant scored higher in vitality(77.33 ± 15.64 vs 72.52 ± 16.66,P = 0.020),mental health(73.64 ± 15.06 vs 68.00 ± 14.65,P = 0.003) and MCS(56.61 ± 10.00 vs 54.05 ± 9.30,P = 0.037) than those aged ≤ 45 years.MCS was poorer in recipients with than in those without complications(52.92 ± 12.21 vs 56.06 ± 8.16,P = 0.017).Regarding MCS(55.10 ± 9.66 vs 50.0 ± 10.0,P < 0.05) and PCS(61.93 ± 7.08 vs 50.0 ± 10.0,P < 0.05),recipients scored better than the Sichuan general and had improved overall QoL compared to patients with chronic diseases.MCS and PCS significantly correlated with scores of the BAI(P < 0.001) and the SDS(P < 0.001).CONCLUSION:Age > 45 years at time of transplant,DDLT,full-time working,no complications,anxiety and depression were possible factors influencing postoperative HRQoL in liver recipients.

An Investigation on Telecommunication Staff＇s Acceptance of E-Learning Technology

As the information on telecommunication products updates rapidly, using E-learning in staff training becomes an edge for company operation. However, previous studies showed that staff＇s attitude toward E-learning significantly affected the outcomes of training. The purpose of this study is to investigate the acceptance of E-learning in a telecommunication company. The researchers adopted the technology acceptance model （TAM） and diffusion of innovation theory to evaluate the perceived usefulness and perceived ease of use on E-learning, in addition to employees＇ self-directed learning motivation, attitude toward computers, and organizational influence. We randomly chose 571 employees of the telecommunication entrepreneur at the Taichung office in Taiwan to participate in this survey. The result showed that employees＇ background factors such as age, job position, marital status, education level and the scale of job unit had the significant impact on behavioral intention to use E-learning. Employees＇ self-directed learning, attitude toward computers, and organizational influence respectively also had positive effects on perceived usefulness of E-learning and perceived ease of use of E-learning. Furthermore, employees＇ perceived usefulness of E-learning and perceived ease of use of E-learning also had a positive effect on behavioral intention to use E-learning systems.

The Catastrophic Effects of African Americans＇ Marginalisation in Ralph Ellison＇s Invisible Man and August Wilson＇s Fences： A Comparative Study

This paper explores Du Boisian notion of double consciousness and the notion of black nihilism suggested by Cornel West in Ralph Ellison＇s Invisible Man （1952） and August Wilson＇s Fences （1986）. In order to conduct this study, the researcher adopts African American approach and shows that double consciousness and black nihilism are the immediate effects of African Americans＇ marginalisation. According to W. E. B. Du Bois, all African Americans develop the sense of double consciousness which means being both African and American simultaneously. On the other hand, Cornel West believes that black Americans suffer from nihilism which means loss of hope and absence of meaning. The paper is an attempt to compare the novel Invisible Man and the play Fences thematically based on these two theories. It then looks to find the considerable similarities in the conditions of the protagonists of these two literary works. Although both protagonists migrate to the North to escape Southern racism in the era prior to the Civil Rights Movement, they become totally disillusioned, for they are treated as the invisible marginal. Interestingly though, at the end of both stories, there remains a ray of hope for reactivation and the creation of democracy for black Americans.

Application of GM（1,1） Prediction Model in Science and Technology Novelty Search Work

Grey system theory has been widely applied to many domains such as economy, agriculture, management, Social Sciences and so on. Based on the theory of grey system, this paper established GM（1,1） grey predict model for the first time to forecast The number of Scitech novelty search item and The staff number of Sci-Tech Novelty Search. The predicting results are almost close to the actual values, which shows that the model is reliable so that the models could be used to forecast the two factors in the future years. The study will help the scientific management of Sci-Tech Novelty search work for Novelty search organizations.

Discussion on the Standardized Management of College and University Students＇ Electronic Laboratory Operation

At present, all aspects of China have entered the era of a rapid development, while the development speed of digital electronic technology is especially outstanding. This is a new way for China＇ s new personnel training, and also proposes higher requirements on this type of personnel training institutions. In view of the demands of society and different majors on personnel, an enhancement to the standardized management of electronic laboratory operations becomes one of the important tasks for personnel training institutions. In this paper, how to practice the standardization management in an all-round way is discussed centered at college and university students＇ electronic laboratory.

Kierkegaard＇s Influence on the Lives of Jan Patocka and Viktor Frankl

The writings of Soren Kierkegaard provide a theological and philosophical foundation as experienced in the life of a tragic hero and a knight of faith. It will be shown that the ethical dimensions as experienced by Abraham in ＂Fear and Trembling＂ provide a core ontology in the lives of Jan Patocka and Viktor Frankl. Jan Parocka developed a phenomenological, Kierkegaardian, existential approach in his writings and lectures that enabled him to undergo his interrogations by the Czech communist secret police. The World War II concentration camp experiences of Viktor Frankl led him to develop a Kierkegaardian, existential, noetic approach to discover meaning under inhuman living conditions. We, as humans, are searching for a spiritual core to transcendence, as seen in the writings of Kierkeggard to reach beyond ourselves in the fully human dimension of the good, the true, and the beautiful in faith and in love. Special attention will be given to the lives of Patocka, Frankl, and how Kierkegaard＇s theology and philosophy contribute a transhistorical, phenomenological, existential, meaning-centered approach to understanding trauma, especially in the lives of returning veterans and their families.

Chinese Image in American and British Literature from the Perspective of＂Otherness＂

In the US and British literature, there are many works using China or the Chinese people as depict objects. With the development of American and British literature, the shape of the image of China is diverse. Currently, the research of the image of China or Chinese people in the US and British literature has yielded fruitful results, the majority concentrated on the study before the new century writers and representative works. In the new century, the causes and significance of the image of China and the Chinese people in American literature have the positive impact on self-awareness and self-construction of the China＇ s image.

LI Bai＇s Eight Poems About XI Shi

The study traces Chinese poet LI Bai＇s eight poems about why none of these eight poems gets anthologized in Tang the mythical figure XI Shi and investigates the reasons Shi San Bai Shou （ 《唐诗三百首》）, the most popular poetry of Tang Dynasty anthology. Observations focus on the poems＇ departure from writing conventions, the poems＇ genre of huai gu （怀古）, the general assumption that may block our understandings and evaluations of these literary works such as LI Po is clumsy at describing feelings and he shows signs of hasty composition and his risky experiments with the tonal effects.

A Woman Alone： Engendering the ＂Island of Consciousness＂ in Coetzee＇s Foe and Bowles＇ The Sheltering Sky

The theme of the cast-away has inspired numerous literary works. This paper develops a philosophical reading of two important examples, Coetzee＇s Foe （1987） and Bowles＇ The Sheltering Sky （1951）, in terms of themes such as isolation, silence and truth. But who authors, or authorizes ＂truth＂？ As Merleau-Ponty （1970） saw, the ego cogito of phenomenology symbolizes the quest for ＂global truth＂ where ＂what is evident for him＂ is or could be for all, for he ＂speaks for everyone＂. These two works, however, challenge the standard that ＂he speaks＂, and she does not： that women ＂as such＂, as it would seem, have always already been spoken for. Instead, the focus here is on ＂the self＇ not as neutral ground but as always engendered, in every sense of that word--always emergent as well as creative always acculturated, situated, embodied, sexed or de-sexed--always speaking, or remaining stubbornly silent, and always refusing, like truth itself, to be ＂pinned down＂

Myth and Origins： Men Want to Know

Starting with a personal definition of ＂myth＂, this paper seeks to substantiate the claim that every myth is essentially etiological, in the sense that myths somehow express a cosmogony or an eschatology, whether particular or universal. In order to do that, this study reassesses Classical and Judeo-Christian mythologies to revisit and contrast the narratives of origin--of the cosmos, of the gods and of men--found in ancient polytheism and in Judeo-Christian monotheism. Taking into consideration how these general and particular cosmogonies convey a specific understanding of the passage of time, this article does not merely recount the cosmogonies, theogonies, and anthropogonies found in the Bible and in the works of authors from Classical Antiquity, but it also incorporates a critical commentary on pieces of art and literature that have reinterpreted such mythical tales in more recent times The result of the research is the disclosure of a sort of universal etiology that may be found in mythology which, as argued, explains the origins of the world, of the gods, and of men so as to satisfy humankind＇s ambition to unveil the mysteries of the cosmos. Myth thus functions in these cases as a vehicle that makes it possible for man to return the fullness of a primordial age, abandoning the fleeting time that entraps him and entering a time still absolute

Tanure Ojaide＇s God＇s Medicine-Men and Other Stories： A Feminist Perspective

Feminist criticism, an off-shoot of the Women Liberation Movement of the 1960s, is a gender-based discourse that considers, in some details, the significance of images of women constructed by literature as derogatory and biased; hence, the need to reconstruct womanhood in literary works. From time immemorial and according to historical facts, the Nigerian woman is seen as the bolt of a repressive patriarchal structure that persistently reduced her dignity and human essence and compelled her submission to the whims and caprices of the man. Woman, therefore over the years, has been so long conditioned in the environment of masculine dominance. With the advent of modernization however the world-view of woman and man starts to experience a radical change that calls for a reconstruction of the place of woman round the globe. The enlightenment leads to the feminist criticism among others. Tanure Ojaide represents this world-view in his collection： God＇s Medicine-Men and Other Stories. The fiction is a collection of 10 short stories out of which, however, this paper studies only the first story, ＂Come Back When You Are Ready to Die＂ with a view to exposing how well Tanure Ojaide responded to feminist＇s aspiration for a non-sexiest literary representation of the woman.

Contentious Discourses： Signifying on the Law in African American Writing

African American narratives are peopled with subjectivities struggling to retrieve and reconstruct themselves as persons--and thus citizens--through and against American legal narratives, where personhood and citizenship are concerned. Thus, there was the problematic for blacks of how to apply citizenship to their corporeal existence when they were labeled as property. The historical legal narrative of America was constructed on the power of the dominant white elite to prevent the emergence of a narrative of African American life other than that which they authorize, legislate, and narrate. To this end, it has been argued, that narratives in African American literature treat the question of the legal status of African Americans or have it as a fundamental trope of struggle in the narrative. This idea suggests that the law＇s ability as a shaper and determinant of African American social identity, presets the narrative base for African American narrative. This paper examines the relationship between ＂＇laws of separations＂, and African American narrative through a rereading of works of two contemporary novelists, Toni Morrison and Gloria Naylor. Their works, the author argue, are counter-positioned narratives that create contentious dialogue and elaborate the way in which segregationist codes and Jim Crow laws are grounded in the very nature of citizenship for African Americans.

On Pre-writing Activities

One of the difficulties that students often encounter in writing is how to get started. Students often feel puzzled about how to generate good ideas on an essay topic. This paper explores several pre-writing activities as a solution to such a problem. Compared with the traditional teaching pattern, these effective ways have the following advantages： （1） They help students stimulate thoughts for getting started and make writing easier; （2） They help students remove the mental block and distraction that prevent ideas from coming out; （3） They help students write in a more motivating and stimulating way instead of pondering over an essay topic alone; （4） They help create a cooperative and enjoyable atmosphere in the writing class.

Analysis of Winterbourne in Daisy Miller

Henry James is one of the greatest novelists, who enjoys great reputation in the English literary world. He spent many years in Europe. Fie had deep and subtle insights into the life of the upper class in America and Europe. He experienced the cultural differences between America and Europe profoundly, which was demonstrated in his literary works. Daisy Miller is one of the representative works of Henry James, reveals his ＂international theme＂, the American innocence in face of European sophistication, In D^dsy Miller, Winterbourne is an undeniable protagonist, embodies both narrative and symbolic meaning. Through his narration and his representative features of the sophistication of European culture, we can gradually realize that it is the inevitable collision between new world and old world that leads to the pathetic ending of Daisy Miller.