Nutrition impacts of non-solid cooking fuel adoption on under-five children in developing countries

This paper examines the nutrition impacts of using non-solid cooking fuel on under-five children in developing countries.We draw on data from more than 1.12 million children in 62 developing countries from the Demographic and Health Surveys(DHS).Results from both fixed effects(FE)and instrumental variable(IV)estimates show that using non-solid cooking fuel significantly improves the nutrition outcomes of under-five children.Compared with their peers from households mainly using solid fuel,children from households mainly using non-solid fuel exhibit a lower probability of experiencing stunting(by 5.9 percentage points)and being underweight(by 1.2 percentage points).Our further investigation provides evidence for several underlying mechanisms,such as improved indoor air quality,induced reduction in children’s respiratory symptoms,benefits on maternal health,and reduction in maternal time spent on fuel collection or cooking.Heterogenous analyses suggest that the nutrition benefits of using non-solid cooking fuel are more prominent among boys,children above three years old,and those from households of lower socioeconomic status,rural areas,and Southeast Asia.

A Historical Review of the Development of Women’s Higher Education in China (1908-2020): Stages, Explanations, and Trends

The development of women’s higher education in China can be divided into four stages:emergence(1908-1948);foundation(1949-1976);accelerating development(1977-2008);and the qualitative leap(2009-2020).This work considers the principal institutional mechanisms that contributed to this development.First,flexibly planned parenthood gradually promoted gender equality and openness in society facilitated by systematic“awards,grants,and loans”initiatives to support women’s higher education economically.Second,compulsory education ensured that left-out and migrant children had access to higher education.Third,effective connectivity across different education types bridged education gaps between those with different levels of education.Fourth,China made great efforts to invite and integrate international experiences that promoted the development of women’s higher education.Looking beyond these achievements,we also discuss the future trends of women’s higher education in China.

Follow-up study of gallbladder stones in 44 children

BACKGROUND Cholesterol stones affect a certain subpopulation of children.Concerns have been raised on the impact of gallbladder surgery on the growth of children and adolescents.AIM To study the population characteristics,clinical features,treatment,and prognosis of gallstones in children.METHODS The clinical data of 44 children with gallstones admitted to The First Affiliated Hospital of Naval Medical University from August 2009 to August 2021 were collected,the children were followed up by telephone to monitor their prognoses.The follow-up ended in August 2023.The shortest follow-up time was 2 years and 6 months,whereas the longest was 13 years and 11 months.The population characteristics,general clinical characteristics,and treatments were retrospectively analyzed.The children were divided according to whether they underwent surgical gallbladder removal into an operation group(n=28)and a non-operation group(n=16),The effects of surgical gallbladder resection on the growth and development of children were analyzed.RESULTS The male–female ratio in the population was 6:5 and 84.09%of the children had onset in adolescence.Furthermore,29.55%of the children were overweight or obese.The study identified 26 cases with metabolic abnormalities,9 with hemolytic anemia,and 4 with choledochal cyst.Of the population,68.18%had recurrent symptomatic cholecystolithiasis.Surgical treatment accounted for 63.64%,with laparoscopic cholecystectomy accounting for 71.43%of surgical treatment.No significant differences were observed in symptoms and complications between the surgery and non-surgery groups.Furthermore,no significant differences were found between the two groups in the attainment of genetic height target and the rightward shift of height curve during follow-up.CONCLUSION The sex characteristics of gallstones in children were not observed.Most gallstones occurred in adolescents and rarely in young children.A considerable proportion of children have inborn causes,which are often concurrent with metabolic abnormalities and hemolytic anemia.Most children had recurrent symptomatic gallstones.Surgical treatment,especially laparoscopic cholecystectomy,is still the main treatment for gallstones in children.Surgical treatment did not affect the growth and development of children who underwent gallstone removal.

Study of Lead Absorption and Its Effect on Children's Development

Blood lead levels of 180 pupils from two elementary schools were determined and the intellec- tual development of the children was followed.The children in these two groups were similar in most nonlead variables.Results showed that pupils at the school near a battery plant had higher blood lead levels than those at a school in a residential neighborhood.An evident dose- effect relationship between blood lead level and children's performance on psychological testing existed:the higher the blood level,the lower the intelligence quotient.This relationship re- mained after confounding factors were controlled by stepwise regression analysis.Partial regres- sion coefficients for PbB and verbal IQ,performance IQ,and full-scale IQ were -0.85,-0.71, and -0.91,respectively.1989 Academic Press,Inc.

Appendicitis combined with Meckel’s diverticulum obstruction, perforation, and inflammation in children: Three case reports

BACKGROUND Meckel’s diverticulum is a common congenital malformation of the small intestine,with the three most common complications being obstruction,per-foration,and inflammation.To date,only a few cases have been reported world-wide.In children,the clinical symptoms are similar to appendicitis.As most of the imaging features are nonspecific,the preoperative diagnosis is not precise.In addition,the clinical characteristics are highly similar to pediatric acute appendicitis,thus special attention is necessary to distinguish Meckel’s diver-ticulum from pediatric appendicitis.Patients with poor disease control should undergo laparoscopic exploration to avoid serious complications,including intestinal necrosis,intestinal perforation and gastrointestinal bleeding.CASE SUMMARY This report presents three cases of appendicitis in children combined with intestinal obstruction,which was caused by fibrous bands(ligaments)arising from the top part of Meckel's diverticulum,diverticular perforation,and diver-ticular inflammation.All three patients,aged 11-12 years,had acute appendicitis as their initial clinical presentation.All were treated by laparoscopic surgery with a favorable outcome.A complete dataset including clinical presentation,dia-gnostic imaging,surgical information,and histopathologic findings was also provided.CONCLUSION Preoperative diagnosis of Meckel’s diverticulum and its complications is challenging because its clinical signs and complications are similar to those of appendicitis in children.Laparoscopy combined with laparotomy is useful for diagnosis and treatment.

Relationship between Authoritative Parenting Style and Preschool Children’s Emotion Regulation:A Moderated Mediation Model

An authoritative parenting style has been shown to promote children’s emotion regulation in European-American family studies.However,little is known about how sleep problems and the child’s sibling status in Chinese families affect this relationship.Based on family system theory,this study attempts to better understand the relationship between authoritative parenting style and emotion regulation.Mothers of preschool children in Chinese kindergartens completed questionnaires about their children’s sleep habits,their authoritative parenting styles,and children’s emotion regulation.A total of 531 children participated in this study.Results showed that authoritative parenting was positively associated with emotional regulation.Sleep problems mediated the effects of authoritative parenting style on emotion regulation.The child’s sibling status moderated the mediating effects of sleep problems in authoritative parenting and emotion regulation relationships.Specifically,the relationship between the authoritative parenting style and sleep problems was significant for only children,while birth order had no significant influence on the authoritative parenting style and sleep problems in two-child families.These findings suggest that a lowauthoritative parenting style predicts low emotion regulation through sleep problems,and this depends on the child’s sibling status,indicating that children without siblings may impair emotion regulation due to increased sleep problems.

On Translation of Children’s Literature Based on Reception Aesthetics:A Case Study of The Secret Garden

Grounded in reader-centered theories,Reception Aesthetics prioritizes the active engagement and acceptance of target readers.This study examines the translation of children’s literature through the lens of Reception Aesthetics,using Li Wenjun’s rendition of The Secret Garden as a case study.The objective is to scrutinize various aspects of the translation-including vocabulary,syntax,rhetorical devices,and cultural nuances-and to discern how the adaptation and application of diverse translation strategies cater to the aesthetic expectations.

A Glimpse at Program for Children's Development in China

Continuedonpage20Notes:1.Datain1990forinfant.andunderfivemortalityratesaredatain1991.2.Datumin1997forincidenceofunderweightofchildrenisthatin1995.3.Datain1997foruniversalizationofsafedrinkingwaterandsanitarytoiletsaredatain1998.4.Datain1997forHIVcarr...

Reflections on Conducting Kindergarten Language Education Activities Based on Children’s Literature

In early childhood education,language education is a crucial component,yet in kindergarten teaching,there often exists issues such as“emphasis on knowledge and neglect of practice.”To address this problem,teachers need to incorporate children’s literature in a reasonable manner to create a conducive environment for language education for young children.This article analyzes and discusses the significance of integrating children’s literature into kindergarten language education activities,and proposes strategies for addressing the current issues in kindergarten language education activities and conducting them based on children’s literature.

Research on Children’s Game Activity Design Strategies Based on Embodied Cognition Theory

Edutainment,in the kindergarten education stage,emphasizes the game as the basic activity and combines the content of education with the form of the game,thus it also forms the educational method of gamification teaching.Through investigation and analysis,it is found that the current kindergarten game activity design has the problem of improper combination of educational content and game form.The current kindergarten game activity design has problems such as stereotypes,children’s lack of active learning opportunities in activities,teachers’insufficient theoretical understanding,inappropriate teacher guidance methods,and so on.Embodied cognition theory attaches importance to the important role of the body in the development of cognition,provides new guidance for classroom teaching,and opens up a new path for classroom teaching reform.Based on the perspective of embodied cognition theory,the concept of body and mind integration should be adhered to in kindergarten teaching with games as the basic activity,experiential teaching situation should be created,children’s subjective experience should be respected,and games and interactions should be designed to promote children’s physical and mental participation,thus laying a foundation for the realization of children’s individual freedom,autonomy,and all-round development.Therefore,this paper aims at the existing problems in the current kindergarten gamification teaching and discusses the design strategy of children’s game activities based on embodied cognition theory.

A systems perspective on national prioritisation of sustainable development goals:Insights from Australia

Achieving the Sustainable Development Goals(SDGs)requires effective national initiatives and resource allo-cation.Yet,the simultaneous attainment of all goals is hindered by constraints such as limited budgets and resources,varied national priorities,and the intricate nature of the goals.As we approach 2030 and beyond,an urgent need for an effective,data-driven prioritisation system exists to optimise what can be accomplished.A considerable knowledge gap persists in identifying the priority areas that demand concentrated attention and how their improvement would propel overall sustainability goals.To bridge this gap,our study presents a priori-tisation approach that identifies significant SDG indicators based on urgency and impact,utilising Benchmarking,Bivariate,and Network analysis.Furthermore,we introduce an innovative Impact Index(IMIN)to assess an indi-cator’s extensive effect on the SDG network.This system carries significant international relevance by establishing a robust framework to identify key,potent,and interconnected indicators.It supports decision-makers worldwide in comprehending their nation’s SDG performance and promotes efficient resource allocation.In the specific con-text of Australia,our analysis spotlights several impactful,yet underperforming SDG indicators.These include the protection of Freshwater,Terrestrial,and Mountain Key Biodiversity Areas(KBAs),the share of renewable energy and energy intensity level of primary energy,targeted research and development,gender equality in national parliaments,and carbon-efficient manufacturing,amongst others.

People's Well-rounded Development:The Value Orientation of Common Prosperity in the New Era

Achieving common prosperity for all is an important feature of Chinese modernization and an essential requirement of socialism with Chinese characteristics,with the core value orientation of promoting the people’s well-rounded development.This reflects the close relationship between people’s well-rounded development and common prosperity and implies that common prosperity is not just an economic issue,but also a political matter,a moral subject,and a human rights goal.Being“people-centered”is the core positioning of common prosperity,with its inherent collective and individual attributes.In terms of the object dimension of prosperity,it encompasses a wide range of rights such as material and spiritual well-being,which are advanced in a coordinated manner,and a deepening level of guarantee gradually improving.In the practical concept of“shared development,”it emphasizes the unity of state obligations and individual responsibilities,as well as the phased approach and promotion of common prosperity through the rule of law.Therefore,the essence of common prosperity lies in shifting from a“material-centered”perspective to a“people’s well-rounded development-centered”perspective.It combines the principles of fairness and inclusiveness with the recognition of diverse developmental needs.The focus is on enhancing the subjective initiative of the people,aiming to truly achieve the happiness of the people and promote people’s well-rounded development through the realization of“common prosperity.”

Counteraction to China?Impact of the U.S.International Development Finance Corporation on China’s Development Finance

The United States passed the Better Utilization of Investment Leading to Development(BUILD Act),as a counterweight to China’s overseas development activities.Under the Act,the US established a new federal agency,the U.S.International Development Finance Corporation(DFC),to enhance U.S.development financing capabilities.To better understand the impact of the DFC on China’s development finance,this article analyzes the DFC’s purpose,functions,structure,and funding.Then it focuses on the purpose of establishing the DFC,providing a preliminary analysis of the potential motivation for its establishment.It also compares the China Development Bank(CDB)and the DFC based on their focused sectors.Finally,through an in-depth analysis of financial frictions in China-U.S.relations,this article argues that the DFC competes with China’s overseas development financing activities in the context of broader strategic competition between China and the U.S.

Axial length/corneal radius of curvature ratio and refractive development evaluation in 3-to 4-year-old children: the Shanghai Pudong Eye Study

AIM: To measure and analysis axial length(AL)/corneal radius of curvature(CRC) ratio and other refractive parameters, provide a medical reference range for refractive development evaluation and earlier visual impairment screening of 3 to 4 y kindergarten students.METHODS: Between April and June 2017, a total of 4350 participants aged 3-to 4-year-old(8700 eyes) from 10 cluster random sampling kindergartens in Shanghai, Pudong District were involved. According to the measurement and analysis of the unaided visual acuity(VA), AL, CRC, AL/CRC ratio, astigmatism and other refractive parameters, the data distribution and reference range were obtained.RESULTS: Uncorrected VA of examined children was 0.23±0.08(logMAR, mean±SD) [95% confidence interval(CI) range ≤0.36];AL was 22.10±0.79 mm(95%CI 20.55-23.65);CRC was 7.86±0.26 mm(95%CI, 7.35-8.37);AL/CRC ratio was 2.81±0.12(95%CI, 2.57-3.05). The median of astigmatism was-0.5 D, a total of 56.3% had astigmatism <-0.50 D, 85.3%<-1.00 D, 6.7%>-1.50 D;71% were astigmatism with the rule. Eye-specific analyses were conducted. Statistical difference of VA was in right and left eyes. There were no significant differences between two eyes of AL, CRC, AL/CRC ratio and astigmatism(P>0.05).CONCLUSION: VA and AL/CRC ratio reference could be used to assess refractive development in children and screening uncorrected refractive errors or amblyopia. Astigmatism needs to be considered in the diagnosis.

Development of PVEP in Infants and Children

The development of components of VEP was studied in 150 infants and children between 2 weeks and 9 years of age participated as subjects. Ten adult subjects, 25 ito 35 years of age were also studied. The results indicated that the VEP had a simple wave form, consisting of only a slowly rising positive wave to 140', 70' and 35' checks from infants of 2 to 8 weeks following birth. P_1 wave appeared in response to 17.5' check stimulus at 10 weeks following birth. The latencies of P_1 components shortened d...

An Exploratory Behavioral Study in Children of Four Years of Age on the Hypothesis of a Two Streams System in Touch Perception and Language Development

A two streams system seems to exist for tactile perception.We asked kindergarten children to identify(semantic)and describe the function of grasped unseen instruments of their daily life(fork,knife,spoon,brush,toothbrush,pencil,and scissor),and then,to simulate its use(pragmatic).The capacity to describe the function of the set of instruments was significantly superior to that of identifying them by name,although there was a significant direct association between identification and description of the function in the responses to the set of instruments.The simulation of the instrument function was of two types:(i)use―the child simulated how the instrument is grasped and used;and(ii)incorporation―the child simulated the function of the instrument with her/his own hand.The results support the hypothesis of a two streams tactile system(semantic and pragmatic),and that kindergarten children have the ability to incorporate functional properties of instruments of their daily life,probably as a support for language development.

Evaluating Obesity Index among Children with Developmental Disorders

The prevalence of obesity not only among adults but also among children has been increasing globally. Furthermore, obese children reportedly go on to be obese in adulthood. Obesity is likely to cause lifestyle-related diseases not only in able-bodied individuals but also in disabled children. Specific cognitive behavior observed in disabled children often hinders the provision of lifestyle guidance, such as nutritional and physical exercise instructions. To prevent such situations, early identification of obesity is required to improve lifestyle habits through diet and exercise in disabled children. This study included 285 children with developmental disorders. To assess a childhood obesity index, three obesity-related parameters were compared: the degree of obesity in school health, which has been used to evaluate the health of school children in Japan;abdominal circumference, which is useful for predicting visceral fat obesity;and the waist-to-height ratio (WHtR), which reflects visceral fat and physique. The abdominal circumference was significantly dependent on age. The degree of obesity and WHtR did not show a significant association with age. WHtR was significantly associated with the degree of obesity in school health. The WHtR is easily calculated as compared to the degree of index in school health which needs rather complicated calculations depending on age and age-specific coefficients. The study findings suggest that WHtR might be an easy-to-use obesity index comparable to the degree of obesity in school health in children with developmental disorders.

Children's Social Emotional and Cognitive Development Association with Parent and Sibling

The purpose of this article is to demonstrate the impact on children's development from parents and siblings differed in many aspects through literature review. From the literature review, it shows that parents and siblings contribute differently to children's emotional, social and cognitive development to some extent. Besides,it seems that having a sibling is more likely to benefit the younger siblings, not the older one.