An arched steel structure is built on the Shenzhen-Maoming Railway to reduce noise. [Southcn.com] Sound level reduced to 50 decibels, similar to that of normal conversation Engineers and technicians working on the Shenzhen-Maoming Railway, an important transport link between the two coastal cities in Guangdong province, have finished construction of a fully enclosed noise barrier on a section running through an ecological scenic site. The 2,036-meter arched steel structure, with sound insulation and concrete acoustic boards, is just 800 meters from Birds' Paradise, a scenic and ecological attraction in Jiangmen, Guangdong. The attraction, which is covered by 400-year-old banyan trees, is home to more than 30,000 birds of over 40 varieties. The paradise became a popular site after celebrated Chinese writer Ba Jin penned The Birds' Paradise after he took in the lush scenery of the tree-covered island in the early 1930s. The noise barrier cost 180 million yuan ($27.5 million), according to Fifth Construction Ltd of China Tiesiju Civil Engineering Group. It was the first of its kind in high-speed railway construction using technology for a fully enclosed sound barrier, it said. Construction was not allowed between March and July, which is often a breeding period for birds on the island, the builder said. The fully enclosed sound barrier will help reduce about 30 percent of traffic noise, a safe standard for the living and breeding environment of the birds, said Mo Yongchun, a manager with China Tiesiju Civil Engineering Group. The 390-kilometer Shenzhen-Maoming Railway, which is designed for train speeds up to 200 kilometers per hour, is scheduled to open in mid-2018. According to Mo, the noise will be 76.5 decibels at a distance of 3.5 meters from the railway when a train passes - about the same as a car. It will be below 50 decibels at the Birds' Paradise, said Liu Zhenbiao, assistant chief engineer of the Bridge Design and Research Department of the China Railway Siyuan Survey and Design Group. That is about as loud as a normal conversation. The noise will pose no threat to the living conditions of birds, he said. According to Liu, the barrier is designed to stand up to the high winds of a typhoon. [email protected]make rubber braceletsfestival wristbandscustomise fidget spinner
In general, at least 30 million Chinese aged 7 to 18 have experienced emotional or behavioral problems. [Photo/VCG] Experts advise clinical treatment for inability to focus during school classes Mental health specialists warned of rising mental health issues among Chinese children and adolescents including attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder, or ADHD, which now hits roughly 5 percent of them. If left untreated, between 10 to 20 percent of those with ADHD would develop serious symptoms such as underdeveloped speech, defiance, prolonged distress or anxiety, according to experts at a news conference hosted by the National Health Commission on Wednesday. In general, at least 30 million Chinese aged 7 to 18 have experienced emotional or behavioral problems, including ADHD, depression or selfharm, according to Liu Huaqing, head of the clinical psychology department at Beijing Huilongguan Hospital, who cited a report by the China Youth and Children Research Center in 2005. Worse, clinical observations have found a rise in mental health issues among them, he said. He recommended professional diagnosis and treatment, and an enhanced national effort to address the issue. The global picture isn't bright. The World Health Organization estimates that the number of children with mental illnesses will climb 50 percent by 2020, making it one of the five leading causes of disability and death. Because of the social stigma associated with mental disabilities and a lack of public awareness, a mere 20 percent of young people with mental illnesses worldwide get proper treatment. In a choice between psychological counseling and a mental health clinic, I advise the latter, said Cao Qingjiu, head of children's ward at Peking University Sixth Hospital. If a child's anxiety or depression impairs daily functioning, take them to the hospital immediately. In Hangzhou, Zhejiang province, a middle school recently installed closed-circuit TV cameras in classrooms to capture students' facial expressions and behavioral changes to assess their ability to concentrate in class. Cao said security cameras can help identify children with ADHD. A fleeting moment of absence of mind is normal, but if a student keeps fidgeting and can't focus for a long time, he should go see a doctor, he said. Liu, the clinical psychologist, described a phenomenon prevalent among his visitors at the hospital. Two-thirds of my patients were sent far away to their grandparents in early childhood, Liu said. The sense of being abandoned frustrates them and renders them vulnerable to emotional anxiety. Liu added that parents should stay close to their children as much as possible before age 6. No matter how busy you are as a millennial parent, it's your responsibility to rear your children and give them a healthy future. Wang Xiaoyu contributed to this story.
