X. Wang

From a historical materialist perspective, the evolution of U.S. trade control policies toward China has been driven by the pursuit of economic and geopolitical interests. However, beyond material considerations, these policies also intersect with deeper ethical, philosophical, and even theological questions regarding justice, sovereignty, and the moral dimensions of economic power. Trade restrictions, embargoes, and economic coercion raise profound issues of fairness, global responsibility, and the ethical implications of economic warfare, particularly in the context of international relations shaped by ideological and religious worldviews. Following World War II, the United States sought to consolidate global hegemony, using economic control as a key instrument in its Cold War strategy against the Soviet Union and socialist nations. Prior to the Korean War, U.S. policymakers attempted to manipulate trade relations to weaken Sino-Soviet ties, allowing limited trade between capitalist nations and China. However, after China’s involvement in the Korean War, the U.S. imposed increasingly stringent trade controls, culminating in a full embargo. This policy, while aimed at restricting China’s economic development, ultimately conflicted with America’s own ideological commitment to free trade and triggered dissent among allies such as Britain and Japan. The subsequent partial relaxation of trade controls under the Eisenhower administration in 1954 highlighted the contradictions between economic self-interest, Cold War ideology, and the ethical rhetoric of global economic liberalism. By framing these developments within a broader philosophical and religious discourse, this study explores the ethical dimensions of trade policy, drawing from Christian, Confucian, and Islamic perspectives on economic justice, fairness, and moral responsibility in global commerce. It argues that trade control policies should not be examined solely as instruments of power but also as moral choices that shape international justice, human welfare, and ethical economic governance. Future research should further investigate how religious and philosophical traditions inform perspectives on economic sanctions, trade ethics, and the moral responsibilities of nations in a rapidly evolving global order.

The study of the emotion-inducing function of music education is an important part of the basic theoretical research of music education, which influences the positioning of the basic nature and value attributes of music education, and at the same time, it also plays a practical role in the teaching practice of music education. In this paper, music education plays the role of “healthy psychology” with the help of the characteristic of “emotionality”. It takes music as a means of inducing individual emotions, and explores the ways of inducing and measuring emotions in specific music emotion-inducing operations. In the experimental process of inducing emotions by European religious music, the non-linear and non-smooth EEG signals were decomposed into a series of eigenmodal functions with different oscillation frequencies using the empirical modal decomposition adaptively. Then, multi-dimensional information such as waveform difference, phase difference, and normalized energy of the eigenmodal functions are extracted as emotional features. Based on the extracted features, SVM is utilized for emotion recognition. In terms of the mean values of emotion evoking intensity of religious music, “sense of calm” (M=5.51) evoked the highest intensity, followed by “sense of transcendence” (M=5.4). “Nostalgia” (M=5.13) evoked a slightly weaker intensity, and ‘Power’ (M=4.26) had the lowest intensity, while religious music evoked significantly more emotions than secular music (p.

Biobanks are vital for advancing medical research, and public participation is a crucial determinant of their success. This study uses a survey to assess the awareness, attitudes, and motivation of the public in China with regard to participating in biobanks. We conducted an online survey that yielded 616 responses from participants with diverse demographic backgrounds. The survey included questions on the respondents’ awareness of biobanks, their attitudes toward them, their preferences with regard to consent, and their concerns. The results of the survey revealed that 57.95% of the respondents were aware of biobanks. Altruism was the respondents’ primary motivation for participation in biobanks. Their preferences for models of consent varied. The respondents raised concerns about the commercialization of biobanks (56.66%) and data privacy (55.84%). Notably, only 37.01% of the respondents were concerned about the risk of discrimination in biobanks, where this was lower compared with the results for populations in Western countries. This study provides valuable insights into the Chinese public’s awareness of and attitudes toward biobanks. To foster public trust and enhance participation, biobanks should prioritize transparent and continual communication to ensure that the participants are well informed about the use and protection of the samples that they have donated. Future research should explore the influence of cultural nuances to develop strategies that address specific concerns and ethical challenges in the context of public participation in biobanks.

Technology is increasingly prominent as a topic of philosophical and normative reflection, as recent technological advancements in areas such as artificial intelligence and climate technologies have demonstrated their capability to disrupt our existing social, political, and moral practices. Recently, there is a call to diversify philosophy of technology, a field which has so far largely failed to engage with philosophical traditions outside the United States and Europe. While there are an increasing number of works that have attempted to answer the call, they are primarily attempts to apply normative values and/or frameworks of specific philosophical and cultural traditions. These works have not delved extensively into the questions of technology in these philosophical and cultural traditions; in particular, they have yet to explore how these philosophical and cultural traditions conceive and construct human-technology relations, namely how humans and technology are—and should be—related. This essay distinguishes itself from other attempts to apply normative values and/or frameworks of specific philosophical and cultural traditions. Our aim is to offer a Confucian view of human-technology relations through reviving three Confucian ideas in early Confucianism, namely Creating Qi from the Images (zhi qi shang xiang 制器尚象), Evoking Moral Feelings through Things (yi gu xing wu 以故興物), and Embedding the Rites into Qi (cang li yu qi 藏禮於器). Constructing human-technology relations in the Confucian perspective will offer us an account of how Confucianism sees technology (co-)shaping our perception of and action in the world; it can also provide us with alternative ways to consider technology’s normative implications.

In the digital age, redefining and aesthetically appraising the spiritual substance of non-human entities is crucial, as traditional folklore’s immaterial beings like ghosts are not fully integrated into digital information products. But the enduring popularity of ghost monsters in global media culture, especially mononoke or yōkai in Japan, makes us rethink their immaterial presence alongside advancements in human technology and AI. A notable case is the TV series Mononoke (2006-07), which has spawned adaptations across various media in Japan and recently begun a film trilogy (2024-). Here, we explore the philosophical underpinnings of the series, focusing on the exorcism performed by the protagonist (‘medicine seller’) via three keywords: ‘form’, ‘truth’, and ‘reason’. By doing so, we link the mononoke nature to two philosophical traditions: historical Daoism and modern pragmatism. The first analysis draws on Laozi’s concept of ‘container’ (qi), or the form of Dao. Secondly, we deploy the pragmatist C.S. Peirce’s three normative steps of logic, ethics, and aesthetics. Overall, we argue that the mononoke’s immaterial nature and the haunting of humans are rooted in an elaborately aesthetic interplay of form, truth, and reason.

National traditional handicrafts are an important part of China’s excellent traditional culture. Inheriting and carrying forward traditional handicrafts is a proposition of the times given to us by history. Grounded theory research methods were used to code texts, interviews, and observations related to Miao embroidery culture, and explore the dilemmas and opportunities for the inheritance of Miao embroidery culture in the current market environment and cultural environment. This article forms a basic theoretical framework for realizing the living inheritance path of Miao embroidery through the identification and decoding of Miao embroidery cultural genes. The study found that the means of translating Miao embroidery cultural genes include schema reconstruction, product development, branding, and cultural interpretation; the ways of transmitting Miao embroidery cultural genes include collaborative innovation, cross-border development, and multi-dimensional applications. Finally, a living inheritance practice model of Miao embroidery based on gene decoding, gene translation, and gene transmission was constructed. The theoretical model was used to guide the inheritance practice and promote Miao embroidery to produce positive development effects in the three aspects of society, economy, and culture. The core concept of "living inheritance" discussed in this article is reflected in the contemporary value recognition and value transformation of "cultural genes". In the context of cultural self-confidence, this study combines Chinese scenarios to provide policy suggestions for carrying out design innovation, implementing brand strategies, broadening application fields, and promoting the living inheritance of Miao embroidery cultural genes.

The existing literature has explored the impact of high-speed rail (HSR) opening on macrolevel environmental performance. However, few studies have validated its effects on microlevel corporate environmental responsibility performance. Therefore, on the basis of data from Chinese A-share listed companies from 2011 to 2020, we examine the relationship between HSR opening and corporate environmental responsibility performance, along with the underlying reasons for this relationship. Our research reveals that HSR opening can significantly improve the corporate environmental responsibility performance. Talent aggregation and supervisory pressure constitute the two main channels that explain the positive relationship. Furthermore, the results of heterogeneity tests indicate that this positive effect is more significant in cities with larger populations and administrative centers, as well as in nonpolluting industries and companies certified through ISO14001 environmental management systems. This paper confirms that HSR opening contributes to generating positive externalities for firms and provides valuable insights into improving and understanding corporate environmental responsibility performance.

Emerging medical biotechnology, with its dual‐use nature, presents both unprecedented opportunities and challenges for human society. As we benefit from technological innovation, it is crucial for Chinese academics and policymakers to effectively identify and address potential risks. However, the current framework for evaluating dual‐use research faces multiple challenges, including difficulties in identifying dual‐use issues, a lack of consideration for broader impacts in assessments, and a lack of consensus on balancing benefits and risks. Furthermore, inadequacies in the review mechanism, such as uneven progress among institutions, insufficient review capabilities, and lacking specialized knowledge among assessment personnel, hamper the effectiveness of evaluation efforts. This article aims to explore these challenges and propose practical recommendations for strengthening the evaluation and governance mechanisms of dual‐use research. By effectively mitigating the risks associated with dual‐use research, it facilitates the promotion of responsible scientific progress in emerging medical biotechnologies in China and internationally.

Despite chatbots’ increasing popularity, firms often fail to fully achieve their benefits because of their underutilization. We argue that ethical concerns dealing with chatbot-related privacy and security may prevent firms from developing a culture of embracing chatbot use and fully integrating chatbots into their workflows. Our research draws upon the stimulus-organism-response theory (SOR) and a study by Floridi et al. (Minds and Machines, 28:689–707, 2018) on the ethical artificial intelligence framework to investigate how chatbot affordances can foster employees’ positive perceptions of privacy protection and security, which may increase perceived ethics in beneficence and ultimately support recommendation intentions. To validate our proposed research model and provide a robust understanding of chatbot-related ethics, we conducted two studies following a mixed-methods design. We used Study 1 as the quantitative phase to collect survey data from full-time marketing employees, and the results provided strong support for our research model based on the relevant theory and literature. We used Study 2 as the qualitative phase to collect interview data to further validate our research model, and the results confirmed Study 1’s quantitative findings and provided complementary insights into the phenomenon of interest. Our studies contribute to the literature by providing initial insights into chatbot-related ethics through the exploration of chatbot affordances, security, and privacy protection as the antecedents and through depictions of how these variables foster employees’ perceived ethics in beneficence and recommendation intention. Our results can inform practitioners how to develop ethics involving chatbots and promote a chatbot-friendly culture such that firms can fully achieve chatbots’ benefits and can thus increase their competitive advantages in emerging chatbot marketing.

Emerging medical biotechnology typically exhibits a ‘dual-use’ nature, which, while promoting human well-being, concurrently presents potential risks of misuse or abuse, thereby posing significant threats. Globally, including in China, emerging medical biotechnology is developing rapidly. To understand the views and perspectives of Chinese scientists on dual-use concerns, this empirical study conducted semistructured qualitative interviews with researchers (n=14) from various specialties within the Chinese medical field, analysing their perspectives and ethical considerations regarding dual-use concerns. The findings of this study reveal a spectrum of attitudes among interviewees towards the exploration and application of emerging medical biotechnology, ranging from aggressive to conservative. This tension reflects the complexity and challenges of seeking a balance between promoting scientific innovation and maintaining ethical boundaries. Furthermore, while there is a consensus among scientists that the development and application of biotechnology encompass both risks and benefits, their stances on weighing these factors differ, reflecting how risk perception is influenced by professional limitations. Moreover, although scientists recognise the indispensability of both self-regulation and external oversight in practice, they also exhibit misunderstandings in ethical cognition and misinterpretations of regulatory measures. In light of these findings, it is imperative for us to urgently fortify national regulatory mechanisms and the construction of legal and ethical frameworks while also enhancing the ethical awareness and risk assessment capabilities of researchers. These measures are crucial for minimising the potential risks associated with dual use and fostering the sustainable and responsible development of emerging medical biotechnology.

Deep learning methods have been applied to randomly generate images, such as in fashion, furniture design. To date, consideration of human aspects which play a vital role in a design process has not been given significant attention in deep learning approaches. In this paper, results are reported from a human- in-the-loop design method where brain EEG signals are used to capture preferable design features. In the framework developed, an encoder extracting EEG features from raw signals recorded from subjects when viewing images from ImageNet are learned. Secondly, a GAN model is trained conditioned on the encoded EEG features to generate design images. Thirdly, the trained model is used to generate design images from a person's EEG measured brain activity in the cognitive process of thinking about a design. To verify the proposed method, a case study is presented following the proposed approach. The results indicate that the method can generate preferred designs styles guided by the preference related brain signals. In addition, this method could also help improve communication between designers and clients where clients might not be able to express design requests clearly.

The integration of machine learning algorithms into the legal recommendation system marks a burgeoning area of research, with a particular focus on enhancing the accuracy and efficiency of judicial decision-making processes. The application of Bayesian Network (BN) emerges as a potent tool in this context, promising to address the inherent complexities and unique nuances of legal texts and individual case subtleties. However, the challenge of achieving high accuracy in BN parameter learning, especially under conditions of limited data, remains a significant hurdle. This study proposes an Enhanced Maximum Parameter Learning (EMPL) algorithm, tailored for BN parameter optimization in scenarios characterized by small sample sizes. The EMPL algorithm, innovatively incorporating the Synthetic Minority Over-sampling Technique (SMOTE), begins with the formulation of inequality constraints derived from domain expertise. It establishes a minimal dataset threshold necessary for effective parameter learning. Through the introduction of an index weighting factor function that dynamically adjusts according to the sample size, the algorithm facilitates the derivation of refined BN parameters. The core innovation of the EMPL algorithm lies in its use of an exponentially weighted factor function, designed to be responsive to variations in sample size, and its capacity to expand the parameter space using SMOTE to align with qualitative constraints from expert insights. This approach enables the integration of data-derived parameters with those obtained through expert experience in an exponentially weighted manner, culminating in the optimization of BN parameters. Comparative analysis reveals that the EMPL algorithm achieves superior learning accuracy over traditional Maximum Likelihood Estimation (MLE) and qualitative maximum a posteriori (QMAP) approach, particularly in contexts of sparse data. Furthermore, it demonstrates enhanced performance relative to variable weight learning algorithms, underscoring its potential to significantly improve decision-making processes in the legal domain through advanced BN parameter learning.

As the autonomous vehicles technology gradually enters the public eye, understanding consumers' psychological motivations for accepting autonomous vehicles is critical for the development of autonomous vehicles and society. Previously, researchers have explored the determinants of fully autonomous vehicles but the relevant research is far from enough. Moreover, the relationship between anthropomorphism and users' behavior has been ignored to a large extent. Therefore, this study aim to fill the gap by using anthropomorphism and the unified theory of acceptance and use of technology to explore how system attributes and UTAUT attributes influence consumers' acceptance behavior. The data were collected via questionnaire survey conducted in Beijing, China, which can be a promising early adopter of AVs. Structural equation modeling was used to analyze the data. The results reveal that perceived anthropomorphism and perceived intelligence have a direct positive influence on the adoption of AVs; performance expectancy, effort expectancy, and facilitating conditions have an indirect positive influence on intention to adopt AVs. Also, this research contributes to the literature by enriching studies on psychological determinants of autonomous vehicles' adoption by taking an initial step to highlight anthropomorphism perceptions. This can provide managerial implications for policy-makers and businesses on how to effectively allocate resources to enhance autonomous vehicle adoption.

BackgroundIndividuals with mind-wandering experience their attention decoupling from their main task at hand while others with flow experience fully engage in their task with the optimum experience. There seems to be a negative relationship between mind-wandering and flow. However, it remains unclear to what extent mind-wandering exerts an impact on flow. And it is also elusive whether physical activity and mindfulness, which are as important factors that affected individuals’ attentional control and psychological health, are beneficial in explaining the association between mind-wandering and flow. The current study investigated the relationship between mind-wandering and flow, and the potential mediation effects of physical activity and mindfulness in this association.MethodsA cross-sectional exploratory study design, including multiple scales such as the Mind-Wandering Questionnaire, the International Physical Activity Questionnaire Short Form, Mindfulness Attention and Awareness Scale, and the Short Dispositional Flow Scale was applied. Descriptive statistics and bivariate correlation coefficients were applied in the analysis of these data. A multiple mediation model was used to examine the relationships between mind-wandering, flow, physical activity, and mindfulness.ResultsMind-wandering was inversely associated with physical activity, mindfulness and flow, respectively; and flow was positively related to physical activity and mindfulness, respectively. Moreover, multiple mediation results demonstrated that physical activity and mindfulness, respectively, mediated the relationship between mind-wandering and flow.ConclusionThese findings are helpful to understand how our minds attend to the present moment, and the crucial roles of physical activity and mindfulness in the association between mind-wandering and flow. An implication of these is the possibility that the effective strategies aimed at enhancing both the levels of physical activity and mindfulness are needed to reduce the negative impact of mind-wandering on flow.

In Horton’s All or Nothing Problem, the agent has three options: a permissible act that saves no one, a wrongful act that saves only one child, or a supererogatory act that saves two children. Some may argue that if the agent is not going to save two children, she should save none rather than just one. However, this conclusion is counterintuitive. Although there are many proposed solutions to this problem, none of them provides a fully satisfactory answer. In this article, I argue that it is plausible to accept the Individualist Obligation Principle according to which, the agent is morally permitted to fulfill a prima facie obligation to save an individual in grave peril, provided that doing so demonstrates a substantial engagement with the individualized obligations to each individual involved.

Introduction: Few studies are available on the prevalence and sleep-related factors of dementia with Lewy bodies (DLB) in Chinese older adults, aiming to explore the associations between sleep characteristics and DLB.Methods: A cross-sectional study with 7,528 individuals aged ≥65 years in 106 communities in Northern China was conducted from April 2019 to January 2020. Questionaries (including demographic characteristics, comorbidities, lifestyles, and sleep characteristics) were administered, and neuropsychological assessments and physical examination were conducted in phase I; screening for probable DLB was done in phase II. Logistic regressions were used to assess associations.Results: A total of 919 (12.2%, 919/7,528) participants had dementia, and 101 (1.3%, 101/7,528) participants were diagnosed with DLB. The prevalence of dementia and DLB were slightly higher or equal in women, increased with age, and roughly decreased with nighttime sleep duration. Of the 101 participants, all of them (100.0%) had cognitive impairment, 46 (44.54%) displayed fluctuating cognition, 72 (71.29%) of them showed visual hallucination, 22 (21.78%) individuals reported RBD, and 27.71% showed Parkinsonism. Sleeping for 8 h had combined diagnostic value for DLB (AUC = 0.783, 95%CI: 0.734–0.831, p < 0.001).Conclusions: The current prevalence of DLB is 1.3% in Northern China. Short or long nighttime sleep duration is independently associated with the occurrence of dementia and DLB.

Although a tainted outside director’s social status may serve as a buffer against devaluation owing to an affiliate firm’s corporate financial misconduct, the extent of this buffer effect is unclear. We propose a threshold approach by introducing the expectancy violation perspective, which generates a theoretical tension from the network-embeddedness perspective, to clarify the following question: From which perspective does the buffer effect of social status become more salient? Specifically, we propose an inverted U–shaped relationship between the directors’ social status and the departure of tainted outside directors from host firms. We theorize that when directors’ social status exceeds a certain threshold, the network-embeddedness perspective is more dominant than the expectancy violation perspective. Moreover, a host firm’s external stakeholder attention and board social status moderate the inverted-U effect such that its turning point shifts to the right because such contingencies increase the threshold for the buffer. Using a sample of tainted outside directors penalized for associated firms’ financial misconduct, we find evidence that supports our predictions. Our study helps clarify the boundary between the competing theoretical perspectives of expectancy violation and network embeddedness to explain the phenomenon of tainted director departure.