Relationship between depression,smartphone addiction,and sleep among Chinese engineering students during the COVID-19 pandemic

BACKGROUND Existing research has demonstrated that depression is positively related to smartphone addiction, but the role of sleep has not been discussed thoroughly, especially among engineering undergraduates affected by the coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic.AIM To evaluate sleep as a mediator of the association between smartphone addiction and depression among engineering undergraduates.METHODS Using a multistage stratified random sampling method, a cross-sectional survey was conducted among 692 engineering undergraduates from a top engineering university in China, and data were collected by self-reported electronic questionnaires. The data included demographic characteristics, such as age, gender, the Smartphone Addiction Scale-Short Version(SAS-SV), the 9-item Patient Health Questionnaire, and the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index. Pearson correlation and multiple linear regression analyses were used to examine the association between smartphone addiction and depression, while structural equation models were established to evaluate the possible mediating role of sleep.RESULTS Based on the cutoffs of the SAS-SV, the rate of smartphone addiction was 63.58 percent, with 56.21 percent for women and 65.68 percent for men, among 692 engineering students. The prevalence of depression among students was 14.16 percent, with 17.65 percent for women, and 13.18 percent for men. Smartphone addiction was positively correlated with depression, and sleep played a significant mediating effect between the two, accounting for 42.22 percent of the total effect. In addition, sleep latency, sleep disturbances, and daytime dysfunction significantly mediated the relationship between depression and smartphone addiction. The mediating effect of sleep latency was 0.014 [P < 0.01;95% confidence interval(CI): 0.006-0.027], the mediating effect of sleep disturbances was 0.022(P < 0.01;95%CI: 0.011-0.040), and the mediating effect of daytime dysfunction was 0.040(P < 0.01;95%CI: 0.024-0.059). The influence of sleep latency, sleep disturbances, and daytime dysfunction accounted for 18.42%, 28.95%, and 52.63% of the total mediating effect, respectively.CONCLUSION The results of the study suggest that reducing excessive smartphone use and improving sleep quality can help alleviate depression.

Clean Air Act:Awareness and Opinions Among Marine Engineering Students

This study aims to determine the awareness and opinions on Clean Air Act among marine engineering students at maritime university,specifically,John B.Lacson Foundation Maritime University-Molo,Iloilo City,Philippines.The participants of this study were 30 marine engineering students of the maritime university,especially JBLFMU-Molo for school year 2014-2015.Participants of the study were enrolled at the College of Maritime Education,JBLFMU-Molo,Iloilo City,Philippines.The researchers employed quantitative research design.The respondents’comments,suggestions,observations,and remarks on the perceived awareness and opinions on Clean Air Act were captured in this study.After gathering the qualitative information,the researchers classified and categorized the write-ups of the respondents into different categories.The results reveal that the participants of the present study were aware of the Clean Air Act as an entire group and when classified according to different categories.Most of the participants said that Clean Air Act protects the environment,followed by the participants who said that Clean Air Act can prevent air pollution.Next,in rank,the participants who said“it is good because you can go everywhere to inhale fresh air,followed by participants who said Clean Air Act can reduce the things that can harm the ozone layer,the last participants said that they never heard of Clean Air Act.

Investigation of Critical Thinking Tendency of Engineering Students and Analysis of Teaching Countermeasures

“New Engineering”construction puts forward higher requirements for the critical thinking ability of engineering talents in the future.With“California Critical Thinking Disposition Inventory Chinese Revision”,the critical thinking tendency of engineering majors in local engineering colleges was investigated and analyzed.The results showed that the critical thinking level of the engineering students was obviously lower.According to the findings and teaching practice,this paper gives some teaching countermeasures to strengthen the cultivation of critical thinking of engineering students.

Evaluating the impact of safety pictogram training on comprehension scores and knowledge retention among engineering students

Safety pictograms are essential tools for identifying workplace hazards by providing critical information about health hazard risks,fire safety,emergency evacuation,and accident prevention.Effective safety pictogram training programs are necessary to enhance workers'knowledge of these pictograms.This study evaluates the effectiveness of a safety pictogram training program on the comprehension and retention of knowledge among engineering students.A total of 262 participants were asked to predict the meaning of 22 safety pictograms regulated by International Organization for Standardization(IsO)7010 before and after a one-hour online training session.A follow-up test was administered six months later to assess long-term knowledge retention.Results showed that the average comprehension rate increased from 60.1%before training to 68.3%after training,with a retention rate of 66.0%six months after training.The study found that training positively affected comprehension of emergency and mandatory action pictograms,while lower scores were observed for warning pictograms.Statistical tests revealed a significant effect of training on comprehension levels 16 out of 22 pictograms,with an average increase in comprehension of 11.2%.Of these 16 pictograms,the comprehension level of 10 pictograms increased after training and remained at the same level six months later.However,the scores decreased slightly six months after the intervention,indicating the need for continued reinforcement or retraining.These findings have important implications for safety education and training programs,particularly in industries where safety hazards are widespread.The positive impact of training on comprehension scores highlights the ongoing need to improve safety pictogram comprehension to consistently meet standard acceptance criteria.Future training programs may need to focus on categories such as warning pictograms and fire equipment and fire action pictograms,which exhibited lower comprehension scores,to ensure better employee understanding.

An Needs Analysis of English Writing Skills in the Engineering Context in China

This paper aims at investigating the needs of developing an English writing course for Chinese engineering students by employing the instruments of questionnaires and interview protocols.The results will be beneficial for the course development.

Views on Piracy： Threats to International Peace

The study was conducted to ascertain the views on piracy among marine engineering students and marine officers who had encountered piracy on international waters thereby suggesting threats to international peace. The respondents of the study were 50, specifically distributed to thirty （30） onboard marine engineering students enrolled for the current school year 2014-2015 and twenty （20） marine officers who had experienced piracy at Somalia and other places. The researchers employed quantitative-qualitative research method design. The questionnaire on ＂Piracy at Sea＂ was validated by experts in research, statistics, qualitative research, and maritime international conventions. To test the reliability, this same instrument was pilot-tested among marine officers and students who had been on board international ships. Qualitative data were captured through interviews by using open-ended questions. Frequency count, percentage, and rank were used in this study for descriptive-quantitative statistics. The data were analyzed using appropriate statistics through computer-processed software （SPSS）. Qualitative analysis was employed to determine the views of the respondents on piracy so that mitigation measures were elicited for protection of life at sea leading towards international peace among identified HRAs （high-risk areas）. Results revealed that seafarers were familiar of piracy. They were aware that piracy usually happens in areas like Somalia water sand other threatening territories. To combat piracy, the participants have pointed out the role of the international community in their concerted effort to help seafarers safeguard their lives specifically during these hard times. Somalia also needs to effectively check their organization by whether or not strict implementation of the Anti Piracy Law was being observed. Full knowledge of piracy, techniques for avoiding it, and surviving pirate attacks are necessary among seafarers. Satellite system called shiplock allows shipping companies to monitor location of ships particularly useful during pirate attacks, hijacks, or ship theft. They also install non-lethal electrical fences around a ship＇s perimeter to protect them during these times. IMO regulations require ships to send distress signals and warnings covertly in case of pirate attacks.

BUILDING INTERIOR TUBES AND NONIMAGING REFLECTORS(BITNR)STUDIES

Building Interior Tubes and Nonimaging Reflectors(BITNR)solar thermal concentrators for mid-temperature applications in snow and dust regions,previously titled BIETR now include non-evacuated tube-receivers.A nonpublic walk-in solar collector space has fixed receiver-tubes with matching involute(rounded W)reflectors forming target-rectangles for augmenting large CPC troughs and relaxed tracking E&W‘wing’reflectors with a glass or solid polycarbonate building envelope collector cover.Reported is a BITNR reflector‘wings’tracker invention by George Helmholz and proof-of-concept development by university undergraduate engineering students.Discussed are:building types,structure,and construction and reflector materials for global applications.BITNR architectural feasibility studies with air and water-steam systems include:small wood frame structures,two-car garages,house size demonstration,long-span atriums,large concourses,towers,additions,and verification-test facilities.Schematic studies indicate integrated solar thermal mid-temperature technologies with building-size nonimaging CPC reflectors are main organizing factors for building design and site planning.BITNR/BIETR undergraduate student mechanical and structural engineering semester projects at the University of Wisconsin-Platteville are reported.A BITNR R&D project proposal is outlined which includes:a greenhouse test facility,evaluation of test stands,and development of a computer simulation design aid for architects.