While the source and purpose of music is still a mystery, the theory, first promoted by Charles Darwin, that music is an adaptation for sexual selection is one of the most popular explanations for the phenomenon of music.1 In numerous animal species, Darwin saw that certain sounds are made exclusively during the breeding period and function to attract breeding partners. Like music in humans, production of these sounds can be energetically costly, and birds have even been observed to faint and die from exhaustion during particularly ostentatious singing performances. Darwin reasoned that only if males were certain to impress females would they take the risks to impress them. We study here whether women are more sexually aroused listening music compared with men, given their role in the evolutionary process of sexual selection. Participants are 150 healthy university male and 150 healthy university female volunteers aged 18 to 25 split in 5 groups of each sex who listened to different genre of instrumental music without lyrics. Arousal level data collected by the physiological measurements (penile strain gauge, photoplethysmogram, and wearable biosensors) or by the self-reported questionnaires. The conclusion would be validated for Darwin's hypothesis, if females show a greater arousal level in the case of both genres, otherwise other hypotheses would be taken into account.

The incidence of depression in adolescence has become a major global public health concern increasingly, with family functioning being a critical component in causation and course. This study examines the effects of family support and conflict on adolescent depression systematically, using both recent empirical data and longitudinal datasets and analyses. The results suggest that emotional, practical, and informational support from members of the family significantly reduces the risk of depressive symptoms in adolescents, with different protective benefits associated with paternal and maternal support. In contrast, parent-child conflicts and parent-parent conflicts significantly increase the risk of depression and may be perpetuated intergenerationally through negative cognitive and behavioral processes. The study also evaluates the effects of family interactions on cognitive models, emotional processes, and social skills, which, in turn, influence the vulnerability to depression. Evidence-based intervention procedures for emotional feedback training, conflict resolution skill training, and cognitive restructuring in family therapy are thus recommended as effective ways to enhance protection and reduce risk. The study finally fills gaps in the available literature, including cultural differences and long-term outcomes of interventions, and recommends an interdisciplinary approach to developing comprehensive networks for the prevention of depression in adolescents.

In the context of increasing globalization, proficiency in English has become an important ability for children in East Asia, which will enhance their crucial competitiveness in future learning and growth. However, for children whose native language is Mandarin, due to the basic phonetic system differences between English and Mandarin, it has become a great challenge for children to master English pronunciation. Previous studies have emphasized that working memory is an important aspect of language learning. Another important factor related to speech acquisition is auditory processing skills. This article reviews the current research status of speech teaching, with a focus on the interaction between working memory and auditory processing ability, and how to support and limit speech teaching for children whose native language is Mandarin. Moreover, this article also discusses how to enhance and formulate pronunciation teaching strategies for children whose native language is Mandarin, especially regarding working memory and auditory processing ability.

The emergence of generative artificial intelligence, such as ChatGPT and Doubao AI, is revolutionizing the traditional paradigms of writing among teenagers and how they engage with information regarding academia. While such innovations promise to enhance the speed and quality of writing, they bring forth various problematic implications for crucial areas within media literacy, particularly content evaluation and verification. This is a mixed-methods study, with data collected from 30 online questionnaires and seven semi-structured interviews conducted with 13- to 22-year-old students and educators. These results led to two main trends: first, students increasingly consume AI-generated content without the least bit of fact-checking or considering where it came from, and second, the psychological sense of dependence on AI—that is, many teenagers view AI as an absolute safety net for writing failure. In many instances, smooth-sounding responses from AI are quickly believed by students and then handed over as an easy pass on independent thinking and fact-checking. Such evidence comes through in reduced activity participation when new writing and critical thinking tasks are set by teachers. These findings situate the use of AI by teens within an emotional support, practical help framework. In conclusion, it offers some teaching suggestions for AI as a replacement and an assistant tool, insisting on the ground that AI requires critical literacy and responsible thought in its use.

This paper employs Foucault's theory of disciplinary power, integrated with feminist critique and consumerism studies, to analyze the dual erosion of women's bodily autonomy through pervasive beauty anxiety and consumerist forces. The analysis reveals that patriarchal norms—amplified and commodified by consumer capitalism—utilize the internalized "panoptic" gaze (mediated through social interactions and media) to systematically surveil and standardize female bodies, producing "docile" subjects. This perpetual surveillance fuels anxiety, which the "looks economy" harnesses to drive consumption, thereby constructing the female body as an ongoing project requiring constant investment. Although resistance movements like body positivity emerge, they face co-option by the very consumerist logic they oppose. The study concludes that reclaiming bodily autonomy necessitates dismantling the intertwined systems of gendered discipline and profit-driven consumerism. It further underscores the enduring relevance of Foucault's framework for understanding contemporary digital panopticons and advocates for policy interventions, such as stricter regulation of cosmetic advertising.

As globalization intensifies cross-linguistic interactions and digital communication, understanding cognitive-emotional shifts in L2 use becomes crucial for designing effective bilingual education systems. The intensity of the Foreign Language Effect (FLE), where using a second language (L2) alters cognitive and emotional processing, is significantly moderated by both graded L2 proficiency and regional language policies. This review synthesizes 24 empirical studies to argue that FLE intensity follows a complex pattern influenced by the cognitive load demands of L2 processing, which are themselves shaped by an individual's proficiency level and the linguistic environment fostered by policy. Crucially, the relationship between proficiency and FLE intensity is not linear but is mediated by policy-driven immersion, with code-switching frequency emerging as a key behavioral marker. The analysis reveals critical gaps, including a reliance on WEIRD (Western, Educated, Industrialized, Rich, Democratic) samples and a lack of in-depth studies tracking learners across different policy contexts, limiting our understanding of how these factors dynamically shape FLE intensity over time. These insights hold significant implications for developing differentiated language policies catering to distinct proficiency cohorts..Addressing these limitations is crucial not only for advancing theoretical models of bilingual cognition but also for informing effective language education policies and interventions tailored to diverse learner profiles navigating increasingly multilingual global landscapes.

This paper intends to look into the relationship between first language (L1) lexical attrition and code-switching behavior among adult Chinese-English bilinguals, and based on the Activation Threshold Hypothesis, the study regards attrition as a retrieval-based matter, in which the lexical items that are not used often become less easy to access because of the raised activation thresholds, and although code - switching is usually considered as a socio-pragmatic strategy, we suppose that the frequent, unconscious intra-sentential switches, especially at the lexical level, might act as real-time behavioral signs of the retrieval difficulty related to attrition. The study plans to adopt a comparative design among bilingual groups with different degrees of L1 use and combine the self-reported language background data (collected through the LEAP-Q) with production tasks such as picture-naming and spontaneous narrative elicitation, and the code-switching patterns will be analyzed by using a modified version of Poplack's lexical category framework. This project aims to improve the theoretical connections between lexical access and bilingual language behavior, providing a usage-based way to find the early signs of lexical attrition, and in the end, the study tries to contribute to the broader models of bilingual language processing and maintenance by reinterpreting code-switching as a reflection of adaptive linguistic regulation under the changing access conditions.

Traditional television once cultivated collective culture and public opinion through the shared ritual of simultaneous broadcasts, fostering a unified national consciousness. In contrast, the meteoric ascent of social media and short-video platforms like TikTok and Douyin has profoundly fragmented viewership, accelerating a shift toward content tailored to individual niches, driven by algorithms, and offering instant gratification through interactivity. This study critically examines the stark evolution of television's societal sway, juxtaposing iconic case studies from China (CCTV's Spring Festival Gala) and the United States (the Super Bowl). The analysis compellingly reveals that television's historical dominance as a cultural gatekeeper has significantly eroded, primarily stemming from social media's unparalleled immediacy, algorithmic curation, and content diversity. To sustain its relevance and cultural impact in this fragmented mediascape, traditional television must strategically embrace and seamlessly integrate genuinely interactive features and personalized storytelling approaches that resonate authentically with the evolving, bite-sized viewing habits cultivated on ubiquitous social media platforms.

When analyzing an athlete's performance, it is fundamentally impossible to isolate their mental and physical condition; a profound and intrinsic connection exists between mind and body. This interplay is most vividly demonstrated in how athletes confront and manage pressure throughout their careers. They routinely navigate intense, short-term pressures inherent in competitive matches – moments demanding split-second decisions, peak execution under scrutiny, and resilience against setbacks. Simultaneously, they face long-term pressures stemming from injuries and the arduous, often uncertain, recovery process, which tests patience, motivation, and identity. This literature review specifically adopts the lens of student athletes, recognizing their unique and amplified challenges. For these individuals, the typical athletic stressors are compounded by the significant demands of academic life. They must juggle rigorous training schedules, competition travel, and physical exhaustion with academic deadlines, exams, and the pursuit of educational goals. This dual role creates distinct stressors, including chronic time constraints, potential role conflict, academic performance anxiety, social life limitations, and concerns about future careers in both sport and academia. Consequently, the support systems surrounding student athletes become critically important. This review will explore how external supporters – encompassing coaches, academic advisors, athletic department staff, mental health professionals, peers, and family – can provide effective assistance. Potential methods include proactive stress management training, flexible academic accommodations, integrated mental skills coaching, fostering a supportive team and institutional culture, and facilitating access to counseling resources specifically attuned to their dual-role experience.

Purpose To analyze the pattern characteristics of Ansai paper-cutting through Derrida's structuralist analysis, providing more insights and references for the interpretation and research of Ansai paper-cutting patterns from a semiotic perspective. From the perspective of Derrida's deconstruction, critically analyze the binary opposition structure in Ansai Paper Cuttings. Using Derrida's structuralist concepts such as binary opposition, structural recombination, and linguistics, the study interprets the deeper relationships within the patterns of Ansai paper-cutting. Modern design techniques are employed, and AI technology is used to input the required text content, converting it into the designated AI software. Innovations and breakthroughs are made in pattern generation, style transfer, and structural recombination, with cultural and creative products serving as the medium for design transformation. Conclusion The patterns of Ansai paper-cutting exhibit distinct artistic features, regional characteristics, and unique aesthetics. By applying AI technology to extract and derive the semiotic elements of its craftsmanship, patterns, and colors, this study explores various possibilities for the design transformation and innovative application of Ansai paper-cutting patterns. This not only revitalizes intangible cultural heritage by integrating modern technology but also aids in the inheritance and development of Ansai paper-cutting patterns.