Citizen journalism reduces the credibility deficit of authoritarian government in risk communication amid COVID-19 outbreaks

During the outbreak of an epidemic, the success in risk communications to make the public comply with disease preventive measures depends on the public’s trust in the government. In this study, we aim to understand how media audiences update their trust in the government during the COVID-19 outbreak depending on the information they received. We conducted an online survey experiment in February 2020 in Hong Kong (n = 1,016) in which respondents were randomly provided with a government press release and an endorsement either from an official or a non-official source. This study shows that the information from a non-official source enhances the credibility of official government messages. Our findings imply that dictators can actually “borrow credibility” from their citizen journalists and even nondemocratic leaders can make themselves more trustworthy to potential dissenters through citizen journalism. Allowing information flow from non-official sources can be a practical measure for governments to address the problem of a credibility deficit during a pandemic.

ELICITED IMITATION TASKS AS A MEASURE OF L2 PROFICIENCY

Elicited imitation tasks (EITs) have been proposed and examined as a practical measure of second language (L2) proficiency. This study aimed to provide an updated and comprehensive view of the relationship between EITs and other proficiency measures. Toward that end, 46 reports were retrieved contributing 60 independent effect sizes (Pearson’s r) that were weighted and averaged. Several EIT features were also examined as potential moderators. The results portray EIT as a generally consistent measure of L2 proficiency (r = .66). Among other moderators, EIT stimuli length was positively associated with stronger correlations. Overall, the findings provide support for the use of EITs as a means to greater consistency and practicality in measuring L2 proficiency. In our Discussion section, we highlight the need for more transparent reporting and provide empirically grounded recommendations for EIT design and for further research into EIT development.

The Q-Pass Index: A Multifactorial IMUs-Based Tool to Assess Passing Skills in Basketball

Despite being a key sport-specific characteristic in performance, there is no practical tool to assess the quality of the pass in basketball. The aim of this study is to develop a tool (the quality-pass index or Q-Pass) able to deliver a quantitative, practical measure of passing skills quality based on a combination of accuracy, execution time and pass pattern variability. Temporal, kinematics and performance parameters were analysed in five different types of passes (chest, bounce, crossover, between-the-leg and behind-the-back) using a field-based test, video cameras and body-worn inertial sensors (IMUs). Data from pass accuracy, time and angular velocity were collected and processed in a custom-built excel spreadsheet. The Q-pass index (0–100 score) resulted from the sum of the three factors. Data were collected from 16 young basketball players (age: 16 ± 2 years) with high (experienced) and low (novice) level of expertise. Reliability analyses found the Q-pass index as a reliable tool in both novice (CV from 4.3 to 9.3%) and experienced players (CV from 2.8 to 10.2%). Besides, important differences in the Q-pass index were found between players’ level (p < 0.05), with the experienced showing better scores in all passing situations: behind-the-back (ES = 1.91), bounce (ES = 0.82), between-the-legs (ES = 1.11), crossover (ES = 0.58) and chest (ES = 0.94). According to these findings, the Q-pass index was sensitive enough to identify the differences in passing skills between young players with different levels of expertise, providing a numbering score for each pass executed.

Relationship between Plant Roots, Rhizosphere Microorganisms, and Nitrogen and Its Special Focus on Rice

Fertilization is an important practical measure in agricultural production. As an important nutrient element of plants, nitrogen (N) has a significant impact on the plant productivity and microbial function. Rhizosphere microorganisms affect plant growth and development, nitrogen uptake and utilization, and ecological adaptability. The interaction mechanism between plant and rhizosphere microorganisms is one of the hotspots in life science research and the key program of agricultural microorganism utilization. In this article, the relationship among plant root morphology and physiology, rhizosphere microorganisms, and nitrogen is reviewed, summarized, and prospected.

A Human Blueprint for AI Coexistence

The positive coexistence of humans and AI is possible and needs to be designed as a system that provides for all members of society, but one that also uses the wealth generated by AI to build a society that is more compassionate, loving, and ultimately human. It is incumbent on us to use the economic abundance of the AI age to foster the values of volunteers who devote their time and energy toward making their communities more caring. As a practical measure, to protect against AI/robotics’ labor saving and job displacement effects, a “social investment stipend” should be explored. The stipend would be given to those who invest their time and energy in those activities that promote a kind, compassionate, and creative society, i.e., care work, community service, and education. It would put the economic bounty generated by AI to work in building a better society, rather than just numbing the pain of AI-induced job losses.

Conveying Positive Regard in Distance Courses: An Exploratory Study

The present study operationalizes perceived positive regard in the form of a practical measure that can be applied in distance delivery settings. We collected data by surveying distance students at our university. The questions pertained to the quality of learning and the positive regard of the instructor as perceived by the students. Analytical methods included principal components analysis (PCA) to confirm that each group of questions was measuring a common construct, and correlation (Pearson’s r) of the constructs. We found that the effect measure was valid and that it was positively correlated with student learning outcomes.

Neoantigen-based vaccination as a practical measure for head and neck cancer treatment.

e18528 Background: The view that neoantigens serve as potential vaccine targets has arisen in the last decade. Clinical and computational efforts have been done to increase the practicality of its application in real world. With these advances, we conducted a retrospective study on a Chinese population to explore the clinical feasibility of neoantigen-based vaccines for head and neck cancer treatment. Methods: Tumor and normal samples were profiled using a 1021-gene panel. Sequencing data were pre-analyzed according to our in-house standard procedures. Class I HLA typing was completed using OptiType v1.0. Curated somatic mutations in coding regions (SNVs and non-frameshift Indels with an allele frequency ≥ 5%) were collected and altered peptides produced by these mutations were analyzed using NetMHCpan v4.0. Peptides with an IC50 < 500 nM were considered potential binders, and especially, those with an IC50 < 50 nM were considered strong binders. An altered peptide was considered a neoantigen if IC50 altered is < IC50 wildtype. Results: We analyzed a total of 243 patients and detected 114 unique HLA alleles. By carrier percentage, the top three alleles are C*01:02 (44%), B*46:01 (36%), and A*11:01 (33%). In total, 743 mutations were deemed eligible for neoantigen prediction and 223 unique neoantigens were found. Of these neoantigens, 67 (carried by 21% of patients) were strong binders, among which 26 (carried by 9% patients) exhibited a great fold change (≥ 5 folds) of binding affinity. Moreover, the neoantigens in these patients are unique, as only two neoantigens were shared. A search for shared neoantigens revealed a combination of mutation PIK3CA p.E542K and HLA A*11:01, which was detected in 0.54% of all patients. Additionally, 43.6% (106/243) of patients were diagnosed with nasopharyngeal carcinoma, among whom 42% (44/106) possessed predicted neoantigens, including 15 patients with strong-binder neoantigens. Conclusions: (1) Neoantigen-based vaccination is a practical measure to treat patients with head and neck cancer, as indicated by the percentage of patients harboring strong-binder neoantigens. (2) Off-the-shelf neoantigen vaccines may not be practical, given the result that the most common combination of a neoantigen-producing mutation and the corresponding HLA was only found in 0.54% of all patients.

Development and validity of a resilience at secondary school scale

Secondary schools are purported to play a significant role in the resilience enhancement of adolescents; however, there are no measures of resilience designed specifically for use in secondary schools. To address this shortcoming, a resilience at secondary school (RASS) scale was developed and its psychometric properties explored. Five hundred and sixty-two female secondary school students aged from 12 years to 18 years completed the 20-item RASS, which was adapted from the Resilience at University scale. Confirmatory factor analysis using structural equation modeling revealed a 19-item, seven-factor structure. Convergent validity of all the subscales was tenable. Internal consistency of two subscales was not ideal, indicative of the need for further research. The RASS scale and subscales represent promising empirical measures of resilience at secondary schools in Australia. With further refinement, the RASS offers educators in secondary schools a practical measure founded on the skills and behaviours considered critical for psychological resilience which can be used to inform resilience-building curriculum activities.