Search

Cardiac fibrosis is a common pathological feature of cardiac remodelling process with disordered expression of multiple genes and eventually lead to heart failure. Emerging evidence suggests that long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs) have emerged as critical regulators of various biological processes. However, the exact mechanisms of lncRNAs as mediators in cardiac fibrosis have not been fully elucidated. This study aimed to profile the lncRNA expression pattern in human cardiac fibroblasts (HCFs) with cardiac fibrosis. We treated HCFs with transforming growth factor-β (TGF-β) to induce their activation. Then, strand-specific RNA-seq was performed to profile and classify lncRNAs; and perform functional analysis in HCFs. We study the transformation of HCFs with molecular and cell biology methods. Among all identified lncRNA candidates, 176 and 526 lncRNAs were upregulated and downregulated respectively in TGF-β-stimulated HCFs compared with controls. Functional analyses revealed that the target genes of differentially expressed lncRNAs were mainly related to focal adhesion, metabolic pathways, Hippo signaling pathway, PI3K-Akt signaling pathway, regulation of actin cytoskeleton, and hypertrophic cardiomyopathy. As a representative, novel lncRNAs NONHSAG005537 and NONHSAG017620 inhibited the proliferation, migration, invasion, and transformation of HCFs induced by TGF-β. Collectively, our study established the expression signature of lncRNAs in cardiac fibrosis and demonstrated the cardioprotective role of NONHSAG005537 and NONHSAG017620 in cardiac fibrosis, providing a promising target for anti-fibrotic therapy. • We investigated the lncRNA expression profile in cardiac fibrosis with human cardiac fibroblasts. • Strand-specific RNA sequencing was employed to study lncRNAs expression profile. • We confirmed that lncRNAs participated in cardiac fibrosis by bioinformatics analyses. • NONHSAG005537 and NONHSAG017620 attenuates the transformation of human cardiac fibroblasts. • These findings may provide an anti-fibrotic therapy target in cardiac fibrosis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Acquired tolerance to heat stress is an increased resistance to elevated temperature following a prior exposure to heat. Acquired thermotolerance can significantly increase bivalve's heat adaptation capacity while leaving its basal thermotolerance unchanged. However, its characteristics are not yet fully understood, which limit its potential for utilization in enhancing heat tolerance. This study systematically characterizes the acquired thermotolerance of adult Fujian oyster by observing the effects of different priming temperatures (34 °C, 36 °C, 38 °C, 40 °C, and 42 °C with 1 h), recovery temperatures (16 °C, 20 °C, 24 °C, 28 °C, and 32 °C with 72 h) and durations (0 h, 4 h, 24 h, 3 days, 7 days, 14 days, 21 days, 28 days, 35 days, and 40 days under 20 °C) on the survival rates and the expression of heat shock protein genes (HSP10, HSP27, HSP68 and HSP90) in gill. Results indicated that a priming temperature of 34 °C did not induce tolerance to lethal heat stress. However, thermotolerance increased with increasing priming temperature in the range of 36 °C to 40 °C. In addition, it was found that acquired thermotolerance can be achieved with a lower recovery temperature, but can be reduced by a high recovery temperature (> 24 °C). It was also observed that a recovery durations of 0 h and 4 h are insufficient to induce thermotolerance. The maximum duration of acquired thermotolerance is 40 days in the Fujian oyster and that a high level of thermotolerance, i.e. > 75% survival after lethal stimulus, can be maintained for 21 days. As the recovery duration increased from 24 h to 40 days, the expression of four HSP genes decreased with various speed and extent. HSP68 decreased the fastest, while HSP27 and HSP90 decreased moderately. HSP10 decreased the slowest, and its expression was consistently higher than that of the control group. Furthermore, the expression of these four genes at 72 h after the lethal stimulus increased with the extension of recovery duration. This study presents a systematic analysis of the acquired thermotolerance of the Fujian oyster. The findings expand our understanding of oyster thermotolerance and provide a potential strategy to enhance the thermotolerance of oysters by altering the external environment. For example, the temperature could be artificially adjusted during the transfer of spat and intermediates, or the water temperatures could be adjusted by adjusting the water layer in which the oysters are cultured at sea. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Chinese firefighting system has been transferred from military soldiers to professional civil servants since the 2018 institutional reform, and they have become a critical component of the newly established Department of Emergency Management. Studies on firefighters in China are limited, and this study can contribute to our understanding of the mental health and influencing mechanisms of emergency management workforces like firefighters, particularly in the context of institutional reform and a shortage of disaster workforce worldwide. This study investigates the associations between public service motivation (PSM), employee resilience, job satisfaction, depression and anxiety (DA) in firefighters. A questionnaire survey of 776 firefighters from two provinces, one from the north and the other from the south, was conducted. Chain-mediated regression models were used to analyze the associations. The results demonstrate that firefighters with more PSM have significantly lower depression and anxiety (beta = −0.215, p < 0.001), higher degrees of employee resilience (beta = 0.946), and job satisfaction (beta = 0.633). Employee resilience and job satisfaction mediated the relationship between PSM and DA. Three indirect pathways were detected. First, a higher PSM is associated with higher employee resilience and lower DA. Second, a higher PSM is correlated with higher job satisfaction and lower DA. Third, the coefficients between PSM, employee resilience, job satisfaction, depression and anxiety are statistically significant. This paper provides a valuable contribution to the knowledge of human resource management and the well-being of the emergency management workforce. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: This study examines the recovery of households after disasters from the sustainable livelihood approach (SLA) perspective. Design/methodology/approach: This study analyzes the perception of recovery by using a longitudinal household survey data set collected from a Chinese county devastated by the 2008 Wenchuan earthquake. The analysis compares the changes of livelihood capitals (financial, natural, physical, social, human) between 2012 and 2009 and recovery perception. Findings: The results demonstrate that both the current status of financial, natural, and social capital and the changes of the capitals between 2009 and 2012 are positively correlated with the perceived level of recovery. The associations between the current status and the change of physical capital and recovery perception are insignificant. In contrast, with a greater change of human capital between 2009 and 2012, participants have a lower perception of recovery. Originality/value: By investigating a longitudinal data, this study indicates that (1) household recovery should be considered as multidimensional, (2) the SLA could be a feasible framework to measure recovery, and (3) individual's recovery perception is dependent on the various dimensions of recovery measures. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article examined the associations between weight status (body mass index [BMI] and perceived weight measures) and school bullying experiences (being bullied and bullying others) of children and adolescents in urban China. A national representative sample (n = 3,675) of all types of pre-college schools from seven Chinese cities was employed for the analysis. Students from all grades in high school, vocational school, middle school, and primary grades 4 to 6 were surveyed. Height, weight, perceived weight status, and experiences of being bullied and bullying others were obtained. The results demonstrated that the objective weight status (BMI) was neither associated with being bullied overall by others nor associated with bullying others, but the subjective/perceived weight status was significantly related to being bullied. Regarding the specific forms of being bullied, underweight (measured by BMI) students were less likely to be cyberbullied, whereas obese (measured by BMI) students were more likely to be cyberbullied. Students who perceived themselves as slightly fat and too fat were more likely to be verbally bullied. Overweight and obese students were more likely to bully others physically and relationally, and the students who perceived themselves as too thin were positively associated with physically bullying others. Moreover, BMI had a role in the involvement in school bullying for boys, whereas perceived weight status had a role in school bullying involvement in girls. These results indicate that school bullying prevention and intervention should consider weight status, as well as gender differences. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Substantial evidence indicates that involvement in school bullying has been linked to lower quality of life (QoL). Yet there is little information elucidating the link between bullying involvement and QoL in different cultures. This study investigated the associations between different types of bullying involvement and QoL among adolescents. The moderating roles of cultural values in the relationship between bullying involvement and QoL were examined. This study included representative samples from 35 countries (N = 184,017) using data from the 2017/2018 Health Behavior in School-Aged Children (HBSC) survey and the new 2023 World Cultural Map Scores from the World Values Survey Wave 7 (2017/2021). Multilevel mixed-effects analysis was employed to examine individual-level and country-level effects simultaneously. All types of bullying involvement were associated with lower QoL, with being a victim having the lowest QoL. Adolescents in societies that prioritize higher self-expression values exhibited a reduced propensity to engage in school bullying. In countries with higher self-expression values, there was a more pronounced negative association between bullying involvement and QoL. Traditional/Secular-rational values had no significant and consistent moderating effect on the association between bullying involvement and QoL. Those results were quite similar for both traditional bullying and cyberbullying. These findings imply that cultural values are closely intertwined with adolescent bullying and quality of life. Therefore, prevention and intervention programs should pay more attention to addressing bullying and promoting the QoL of adolescents according to various cultural values. • Combined and analyzed the most recent HBSC and WVS cultural scores from 35 countries were analyzed. • Bullying involvements vary according to cultural values. • Adolescents involved in school bullying have lower quality of life (QoL). • Survival/self-expression values moderate bullying involvement effects on QoL. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Most participants considered cyberbullying is unacceptable. • Moral disengagement is positively associated with higher cyberbullying perpetration. • Empathy plays a moderating role between moral disengagement and cyberbullying. The correlation between adolescent moral disengagement and cyberbullying perpetration remains unclear to date. Using a representative sample of 4969 adolescents surveyed in Jiangsu Province, China, we investigated the association between moral disengagement and cyberbullying perpetration, focusing on the mitigating effect of empathy. Our findings indicated that the majority of participants held high ethical standards and considered cyberbullying unacceptable. However, perpetrators often use moral disengagement as a way to justify their actions, leading to a correlation between moral disengagement and increased cyberbullying perpetration. Empathy was found to be a protective factor against cyberbullying. The correlation between moral disengagement and cyberbullying was reduced when empathy was taken into consideration in the analysis. Additionally, cyberbullying perpetration was more prevalent among boys than girls. These results suggest that efforts to reduce moral disengagement, especially among those with lower empathy, need to be conducted. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: This research examined the relations between perceived quality of governance and trust in government in China. Methods: Using nationally representative data collected in rural China, we compared the varying degrees of trust in different levels of government (central, provincial, county, and town), and the varied effects of perceived quality of governance on trust in different levels of government between general villagers and local officials. Results: This study found that although officials showed higher degrees of trust in government, they demonstrated no significant difference from the general villagers on their perceived quality of national governance. Also, the effects of perceived quality of governance on trust in most levels of government have no significant differences between local officials and villagers. Conclusion: These findings were discussed in the broader contexts of economic development in China. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Rare breeds represent a valuable resource for current or future market demands, but their low census compromises the genetic variability and future utilization of these breeds. Whether genetic variability of rare breeds with low initial genetic variation can be maintained during an intense mass selection becomes the key to applying mass selection to the genetic improvement of these breeds. The genetic variability among three generations of successive mass selection of the orange-shell line of Crassostrea gigas (MS1–MS3) were evaluated by both 20 nuclear microsatellite loci and mitochondrial cytochrome oxidase I sequences (mtCOI) compared to four wild populations. In this study, the orange-shell line exhibited very low genetic variability. Only one mtCOI haplotype was detected in all individuals of MS1–MS3. Significant reductions in average number of alleles (N a : 69.55–76.92%), allelic richness (A r : 68.17–74.91%) and expected heterozygosity (H e : 34.21–39.24%) as well as increased mean pairwise genetic relatedness (R : 6.87–25.79 times) were observed in MS1–MS3 when compared to wild populations. However, the genetic variability of orange-shell line with very low initial variation successfully maintained during three generations of mass selection. No significant difference in N a (3.60–4.40), A r (3.51–4.08) and H e (0.48–0.50) occurred among MS1–MS3. Pedigree reconstructions (no full-sib group from MS1–MS3 was larger than 16% of the whole group) revealed artificial spawning used in this study has a better control over contribution of gametes than traditional mass spawning. In addition, effective population size of MS1–MS3 calculated by linkage disequilibrium methods increased from 29.3 to 67.0 indicating the linkage disequilibrium decays over time. This study provides important insights in the genetic consequences of a rare variant line of C. gigas with very low genetic variation over generations of mass selection. This will provide a reference for carrying out genetic improvement programs on rare breeds where small populations are inevitable. • This study is the first to report genetic change of rare variant of oysters over several generations of mass selection. • The initial variation of orange-shell line was lower than that of most other strains of mollusk in previous studies. • The genetic variability of orange-shell line successfully maintained during three generations of intense mass selection. • This will provide a reference for carrying out genetic improvement programs on rare breeds. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: Disasters may impair people's quality of life (QoL) indirectly through disaster risk perception. We intended to address this point by analyzing the correlation between disaster experience and QoL with a test of the mediating effects of risk perception at the example of earthquake.Methods: We employed the 2013 Taiwan Social Change Survey data as the data source (N = 1481). Unadjusted ordinal logistic regression models examined the correlation of disaster experience with QoL and earthquake risk perception at first. Another set of ordinal regressions were conducted to explore the mediating effect of earthquake risk perception between earthquake experience and QoL.Results: Earthquake experience had negative impact on QoL measured by self-reported happiness, general health status, and life satisfaction. People who had earthquake experience perceived higher earthquake risk compared to those who had never experienced an earthquake. Risk perception measured by perceived likelihood of future earthquake as a mediating factor for the impact of earthquake experience on QoL from the dimensions of both self-reported happiness and life satisfaction was confirmed.Conclusions: Findings are consistent with existing reports about the association between disaster experience and QoL. Research using multi-dimensional measures of disaster risk perception and QoL is needed to inform post-disaster recovery programs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Although breeding of rare shell colour variants has drawn widespread attention from shellfish breeders, the potential disadvantages of their adaptive capacity have been ignored in practice. To explore the difference in adaptive capacity between orange shell variant (OSO) and commercially cultured population (CPO) of the Pacific oyster Crassostrea gigas at early life stage, the development to D‐larvae and larval survival and growth (just 23 and 30°C for larval experiment) of them were compared under different temperature (16, 23 and 30°C) and salinity (17, 25 and 33 psu) combinations. In this study, at 23°C and 25 psu, for both OSO and CPO there was no difference in fertilization rates and survival (p > .05) (mean percentages of D‐larvae after fertilized 40 hr ≥ 95.00%; mean larval survival rates on day 10 > 80.00%). However, the percentage of D‐larvae of CPO at 40 hr was significantly (p < .05) higher than OSO at temperatures of 16 and 30°C and 25–33 psu and 17 psu at 23°C. Similarly, CPO has a better larval survival on day 10 and growth than OSO at salinities of 17 and 33 psu at 23°C. Overall, our results indicate that OSO can have an equally good performance like CPO at early life stage under optimal condition (23°C; 25 psu), but the potential disadvantages in adaptive capacity will be shown at suboptimal conditions. These findings can guide future hatchery breeding of OSO, and suggest the potential disadvantages in adaptive capacity in rare colour variants need more attention in further breeding. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aim of this study is to examine the link between bullying and the tendency toward suicide (suicidality). In particular, we tested the interaction effect of teacher–student relationships on the association between bullying and suicidality among urban youth in China. A total of 3,675 participants were recruited from 7 provinces in urban China. Three questions were used to capture suicidality-related measures: suicide ideation, suicide planning, and attempting suicide. Traditional bullying and cyberbullying were used to measure the effect of being bullied. The results show that being bullied, traditionally or online, is significantly associated with suicidality. The interaction effect between traditional bullying and the teacher–student relationship for suicidal ideation is significant (odds ratio 1.34, 95% confidence interval 1.03–1.74). However, no significant interaction effects in teacher–student relationships have been found in the association between cyberbullying and suicidality. The results indicate that teacher–student relationships have a significant protective, but limited, effect on the relationship between bullying and suicidality. Future development of suicidality intervention strategies adapted to the development of society will be beneficial. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Amphenicols are effective, broad-spectrum antibiotics that function by inhibiting the peptidyl transferase activity of bacteria, while the drugs can also inhibit mitochondrial protein synthesis in eukaryotes through the same mechanism, which leads to multi-organ toxicity. Some side effects of each drug have been studied, while differences in the severity of the hemotoxicities and immunotoxicities of amphenicols have not been reported. Thus, it is important to identify, evaluate, and compare the potential hemotoxicities and immunotoxicities to guide their proper use in humans and animals, which will guarantee food safety and animal welfare. Ovalbumin-immunized Kunming mice were gavaged daily with amphenicols for seven days. Blood samples were collected for hematology analysis, and measuring anti-ovalbumin antibody levels and serum intereukin-2 concentrations. The bone marrow, spleen and thymus were collected for histopathology and apoptosis analyzes. Bone marrow nucleated cells (BMNCs) and splenocytes were harvested to determine their cell cycle stages and to analyze lymphocyte proliferation. The results demonstrated that amphenicols, especially florfenicol (FLO), induced cell cycle arrest and apoptosis of hematopoietic cells, and it changed the bone marrow hematopoietic microenvironment by decreasing the number of peripheral blood cells. Moreover, amphenicols, especially FLO, induced hypoplasia and atrophy of the spleen and thymus, induced cell cycle arrest, as well as splenocyte apoptosis, and decreased the proliferation and viability of lymphocytes and the humoral and cellular immunity of the treated mice. These results suggest that amphenicols induce hemotoxicity and immunotoxicity to some extent, and that FLO induces more severe toxicity than equal doses of chloramphenicol (CAP) and thiamphenicol (TAP). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Persons with disabilities (PwDs) face a disproportionately high risk due to their physical or mental limitations and socioeconomic barriers during emergencies. To better understand and empower PwDs for disaster preparedness, this study used an updated national representative survey (2021 Federal Emergency Management Agency National Household Survey) from the United States to examine the differences between PwDs and their counterparts concerning disaster preparedness with the guidance of the protection motivation theory. The results of the Tobit regression models indicated that being disabled was negatively correlated with the level of preparedness. Furthermore, disability status significantly and negatively modified the relationship between risk perception and disaster preparedness. Likewise, self‐efficacy was less strongly correlated with preparedness activities if people self‐reported themselves as having a disability. Moreover, for people with disabilities, their beliefs about the effectiveness of preventive behaviours (response efficacy) predicted decreased adoption of preparedness measures. Promoting disaster risk reduction education, strengthening self‐efficacy and developing more inclusive and targeted intervention strategies for PwDs can be used to improve their preparedness degree and capacity for disaster prevention. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Molluscan shellfish have a diverse form of shell coloration and sex determination, understanding the genetic mechanism under these two traits is crucial to their germplasm exploitation and conservation. In our breeding program, a novel orange-shell variant of C. gigas was obtained, and an F2 family was constructed by crossing an orange-shell male with a black-shell female. This F2 family provided an ideal material for QTL mapping of orange shell color and sex traits of C. gigas simultaneously. Here, a high-density genetic linkage map containing 1799 SNP markers was constructed using this F2 family by genotyping-by-sequencing. These markers were distributed on 10 linkage groups and the total map size was 828.31 cM, with an average marker interval of 0.58 cM. Based on this map, six chromosome-level significant QTLs associated with orange shell color were detected, with the phenotypic variance explained ranging from 9.10% to 12.30%. Within the QTL regions, four candidate genes, 3-ketoacyl-CoA thiolase A, fibroblast growth factor receptor 4, poly [ADP-ribose] polymerase tankyrase-1 and tripartite motif-containing protein 45-like, related to the organic matrix of mollusk shells or collagen were identified. Additionally, only one genome-wide significant sex-related QTL was detected, which explained 19.30% of phenotypic variance. Two sex-related genes, proteasome subunit beta type-3 and G-protein coupled estrogen receptor 1 were identified within the QTL region. The QTLs and candidate genes identified in this study provide valuable resources for further investigations on the molecular mechanisms of shell color and sex in C. gigas. • A high-density genetic linkage map containing 1799 SNP markers was constructed for C. gigas using an F2 family. • Six chromosome-level significant QTLs associate with orange shell color were detected in C. gigas. • Only one genome-wide significant sex-related QTL was detected in C. gigas. • Different description methods of phenotype have a great impact on the result of QTL mapping. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Heterosis is important for improving productive traits in aquaculture, but the heterosis between selected lines remains unclear in bivalve molluscs. Here, a diallel crosses among black shell (B, 7th generation), white shell (W, 7th generation) and orange shell (O, 6th generation) lines of the Pacific oyster were performed to examine the potential for exploiting heterosis of productive traits by crossbreeding of selected lines. Heterosis and combining abilities for growth and survival of 27 full-sib families were analyzed at both larval and juvenile stages, of which the juvenile stage was examined at two environments (Rongcheng and Rushan) for 10 months. The variance of specific combining ability accounts for the majority of the total variance for larval and juvenile survival and juvenile growth, which revealed the importance of non-additive genetic effects (heterosis) among these lines. Moreover, all reciprocal hybrids showed low or no heterosis for growth at both larval and juvenile stages, but a high heterosis for larval survival. This finding suggested that inter-line crossbreeding can be applied to improve the larval survival in hatcheries. Furthermore, four of six hybrid crosses showed positive HPH in Rushan but negative HPH in Rongcheng. The higher HPH at Rushan suggested that inter-line crossbreeding in C. gigas has more application value in Rushan. In addition, the survival of both black shell and white shell lines have been improved by crossing with the orange shell line. Especially, the hybrid cross WO (W♀ × O♂) can improve the survival rate of purebred WW by nearly 130% at larval stage and nearly 40% at juvenile stage. Overall, this study reveals the high heterosis for survival among selected lines in the Pacific oyster, and will be helpful for the utilization of non-additive genetic effects among existing selected lines in bivalves. • The heterosis among selected lines is high in survival but low in growth in C. gigas. • The survivals of all hybrid crosses exceeded their better parental line by 49%–130.56% at larval stage. • The survivals of all hybrid crosses exceeded their better parental line by 8.22%–40.91% at juvenile stage at Rushan. • Shell color, as a natural marker, can simplifies the management of various lines of inter-line crossbreeding in C. gigas. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM) is an inherited disease of the heart muscle that is dominated by variations in eight genes encoding sarcomere proteins. Although there are clinical or basic research reports that carrying double mutations can lead to more severe HCM phenotypes, there are also research reports that after reanalyzing the reported mutations, the severity of clinical symptoms in patients with double mutations did not significantly increase compared to patients with only one mutation. To determine whether double pathogenic mutations can aggravate the phenotype of hypertrophic cardiomyopathy in mice, we constructed mice carrying single pathogenic heterozygous mutation Myh6 -R453C or Tnnt2 -R92W and mice carrying both pathogenic heterozygous mutations. Our results showed that mice with double heterozygous mutations exhibited significant hypertrophic cardiomyopathy phenotypes at 4 weeks of age, and the degree of hypertrophy was significantly higher than that of single heterozygous mutant mice of the same age. Our study suggests that carrying the two pathogenic heterozygous mutations simultaneously can aggravate the phenotype of HCM in mice, which provides experimental evidence for the genotype-phenotype relationship of double pathogenic mutations and provides reference significance for clinical risk stratification of HCM patients. • Double mutant HCM mice were successfully constructed. • The HCM phenotype of double mutant mice appeared earlier and more severe than that of single mutant mice. • The cardiac systolic function of double mutant mice was enhanced but the diastolic function was impaired. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Teachers play an essential role in school bullying prevention. This study investigates teachers' perceived seriousness and willingness to intervene in school bullying using a survey-experimental design. Twenty conjoint scenarios were designed based on five types of victims' reactions (crying, fighting back, seeking help, pretending nothing happened, no description) and four forms of bullying (physical, verbal, relational, and cyber). Cyberbullying is perceived as the most serious. Physical bullying elicits the highest willingness to intervene. Teachers' perceived seriousness significantly varies according to victims' reactions, except for relational bullying. However, teachers' willingness to intervene does not differ significantly based on victims' reactions. • Bullying types are more likely to affect teachers' perceived seriousness and intervention willingness than victims' reactions. • Cyberbullying ranks the highest, following physical, verbal, and relational bullying for teachers' perceived severity. • Regarding intervention willingness, physical bullying attracts the highest attention, while cyberbullying is the second. • A teacher's empathy can be increased by a victim's "crying" reaction and then increases their willingness to intervene. • The victim's "fighting back" reaction can increase a teacher's willingness to intervene. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The oyster shell color has become an important factor influencing consumer choice. Understanding the genetic basis of shell colors is important in oyster genetic breeding. In this study, we investigated the inheritance of the orange shell color trait in the Pacific oyster. The oysters with orange shell color were generated in our breeding studies that has never been observed in natural population. It is a novel mutant trait in the Pacific oyster. In this study, we investigated the inheritance of the orange shell color trait crossing the orange variant with two other color variants (white and black). The shell color morph was determined for each in 27 first- and 12 s-generation crosses as well as 13 test crosses. We found that the orange shell color is recessive trait compared to black and white, and is determined by two independent recessive genes. In addition, our data revealed that the genetic loci controlling orange shell have no effects on the formation of black foreground pigment. The information obtained in this study could guide the breeding program for desired shell color in pacific oyster. • The genetic loci controlling orange shell of C. gigas have no effects on the formation of black foreground pigment. • The orange color of C. gigas is recessive to black and white, and is determined by two independent recessive genes. • Both genes exist in the homozygous recessive form to produce the orange coloration. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Media's framing can affect the public's opinion and policy debates. Investigating the media's framing of nuclear energy in China, a country with ambitious nuclear development strategy instead of the trend of global phasing out, can contribute the broader understanding of the linkage between media and nuclear energy development. This paper analyzes the media frames of nuclear energy in China from 2000 to 2016 using reports in two national and two local newspapers. One thousand seventy-nine nuclear energy news reports were collected and coded for analysis using a constructed risk-benefit coding frame, and logit/logistic and ordinary least squares regression analysis methods were employed. The results demonstrate that the Chinese media tends to be supportive of nuclear energy and that the Fukushima accident, in 2011, has negatively impacted on the benefit frames and positively impacted on the risk frames. Moreover, national and local newspapers present different framing patterns. National newspapers tend to be more supportive while the local newspapers either frame nuclear energy through risk or keep silent. The public, media, and nongovernmental organizations are rarely mentioned in the news reports. • News reports from four representative newspapers in China are collected, coded, and analyzed. • A risk-benefit coding framework regarding to media's framing of nuclear energy is constructed and tested. • The national and local newspapers demonstrate different patterns of framing about nuclear energy. • Nuclear accident (Fukushima) negatively affect the media's positive tones towards nuclear energy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper investigates the ethnic differences of being traditionally bullied and cyberbullied in China. Two datasets are used. One is a national survey including 3675 participants from seven cities (Study-N) while the other covers 2155 students in one minority autonomous county in northwest China (Study-L). All types of pre-college schools are included in both surveys, but students from grade one to grade three in primary schools are excluded. Overall, being an ethnic minority is less likely to be traditionally bullied in the national survey, though this effect becomes insignificant when the control variables are included. In the ethnic diversity area (Study-L), the dominant majority in this county who are a national minority (Yugur) has a significantly lower probability of being traditional bullied than the national majority (Han), while the differences between Han and Tibetans and other minorities are insignificant. No significant differences regarding being cyberbullied are founded between the minorities and the majority in both studies. Besides, being a boy is a risk factor, while better academic performance and social relations are protective factors. Elementary schools have the highest prevalence of school bullying. This paper indicates that ethnicity plays little effect on school bullying involvement in China. • The ethnic differences in being traditionally bullied and being cyberbullied are examined. • Both the situation in cities across China and the situation in an ethnic diversity area are investigated. • There is no significant difference in being traditionally bullied in cities. • The dominated minority group (Yugur) in the ethnic diversity area have a lower probability of being traditional bullied than Han. • No significant difference regarding being cyberbullied is found. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Crassostrea nippnoa is a potential aquaculture species because of its unique flavor, delicious taste and edibility during the summer, while C. gigas is a major global aquaculture species due to the fast growth rate, high disease resistance and strong environmental adaptability. This study firstly described the reciprocal hybridization between the two oyster species, and four crosses were produced: C. gigas ♀ × C. gigas ♂ (GG), C. gigas ♀ × C. nippona ♂ (GN), C. nippona ♀ × C. gigas ♂ (NG) and C. nippona ♀ × C. nippona ♂ (NN). The embryonic development of reciprocal crosses was similar to that of the pure crosses. However, fertilization rates were obviously different between the reciprocal hybrids and parental species, where the fertilization rates of reciprocal hybrids were significantly lower than those of parental species. At larval stages, the survival rates of the hybrid cohorts were significantly lower than those of inbred cohorts, and the critical stage of reciprocal hybrids where highest mortality occurred was the umbo period. The growth rate of GN progeny was not different from the inbred cohorts, while the growth rate of the NG progeny was higher than that of inbred cohorts. Furthermore, both hybrid cohorts had normal metamorphosis and produced viable spats. During the spat stage, the survival rates of reciprocal hybrids were not different from that of GG spat but were much higher than that of the NN spat. The growth rates of reciprocal hybrids were comparable to that of GG spat but significantly higher than that of NN spat. The shell height of the reciprocal crosses GN and NG were increased by 46.66% and 60.75% compared with the NN cross at day 360, respectively. The reciprocal hybrids had significant survival advantage and growth heterosis compared to NN cohort. The results demonstrated that the cross NG was deemed to be the better hybridization combination for genetic improvement, which could have a potential utilization for oyster aquaculture. • C. nippona was successfully hybridized with Pacific oyster. • Reciprocal hybrids exhibited larger growth heterosis and survival advantage at spat stage. • The cross NG was deemed to be the better hybridization combination in oyster genetic improvement. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Being a victim of any type of school bullying exhibits severer generalized anxiety. • Being a perpetrator of any type of school bullying exhibits severer generalized anxiety. • There is a dose-response relationship between the range of bullying involvement and anxiety. School bullying is a widespread public health issue that negatively impacts the mental health of children and adolescents. This study aimed to investigate associations between school bullying involvement and anxiety of children and adolescents. A survey covering all types of pre-college schools (primary, middle, high, and vocational school) was conducted in an ethnic autonomous county in China. 1,943 students participated in this study. Being a victim of verbal (OR=3.08, 95%CI = [2.43,3.91]), physical (OR=3.24, 95%CI = [2.46,4.27]), relational (OR=3.72, 95%CI = [2.90,4.76]), or cyberbullying (OR=3.47, 95%CI = [2.61,4.61]) were associated with increased symptoms of generalized anxiety. Similarly, being a perpetrator of verbal (OR=2.12, 95%CI = [1.45,3.10]), physical (OR=1.85, 95%CI = [1.22,2.79]), relational (OR=1.78, 95%CI = [1.15,2.74]), or cyber-bullying (OR=1.59, 95%CI = [1.08,2.33]) were related to a higher degree of anxiety. Moreover, in both victims and perpetrators higher levels of anxiety were associated with a greater number of types of bullying they were involved in, suggesting a dose-response relation between school bullying involvement and anxiety. Therefore, both bullying victims and perpetrators need mental health support and anti-bullying strategies should address different forms of bullying evenhandedly. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• This study compared the differences of school bullying definitions between teachers, students, and parents in China. • Compared to verbal, physical, and cyberbullying, relational bullying was less likely to be regarded as school bullying. • Students, parents, and teachers do not use the three characteristics defined by Olweus as criteria for defining bullying. • Adults' (parents' and teachers') criteria for defining school bullying were different from students' definition. This study aims to determine whether the four types of bullying (verbal, physical, relational, and cyberbullying) are equally likely to be regarded as school bullying by students, parents, and teachers, and whether all three characteristics of bullying (repetitiveness, intentionality, and power imbalance) are part of the definition of school bullying in China. Students (N = 1,943), parents (N = 1,957), and teachers (N = 409) in pre-college schools in China participated in survey experiments. Multi-level models and ordinary linear models were used to perform data analysis. Results indicated that compared with verbal, physical, and cyberbullying, relational bullying was less likely to be considered as school bullying. Neither students and parents, nor teachers used all three characteristics as criteria for identifying school bullying, although parents and teachers considered more characteristics than students when defining school bullying. Therefore, the three characteristics of bullying may not be the gold standard for defining school bullying. Practical investigation should give more attention to relational bullying, and parents and teachers should view school bullying through the students' broader lens when responding to bullying. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] • Tandem hydrogenation of nitrobenzene to alicyclic amines was realized in mild conditions (80 °C, 1 MPa H 2). • The hydrogenation was significantly promoted by Pt-Ru dual-site catalyst with a product yield rate of 357.9 mmol/g metal ·h. • Alkaline air-exfoliated C 3 N 4 superseded the hazardous alkali liquor in curbing unnecessary adsorption of intermediate. • Selective adsorption and inter-site H spillover enhanced by bimetal synergy achieved highly efficient hydrogenation. Green production of alicyclic amines is highly desirable but of great challenges. Herein, an efficient one-pot synthesis of alicyclic amines from nitroaromatics was realized with a Pt-Ru bimetallic catalyst. 0.5 %Pt-2.5 %Ru supported on an air-exfoliated C 3 N 4 nanosheet achieved 100.0 % conversion of nitrobenzene (NB) with 98.9 % selectivity of cyclohexylamine (CHA) under mild conditions of 80 °C and 1 MPa, attaining a yield rate for alicyclic amine of 357.9 mmol/g metal ·h. Our study has shown hydrogenation of nitro group and aromatic ring took place in sequence over Pt and Ru in a tandem manner due to the highly selective adsorption. During the hydrogenation, the homolytic dissociation of H 2 occurred on the bimetal sites and the inter-site hydrogen spillover between the bimetal played a crucial role. C 3 N 4 nanosheet as the support not only gave rise to the uniform dispersion of metal nanoparticles, but was crucial in curbing the unnecessary adsorption of intermediate aromatic amines. Our study has also demonstrated the good stability and wide applicability of the Pt-Ru/C 3 N 4 -air catalyst for the hydrogenation of various nitroaromatic derivatives. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Effects of aqueous chlorine dioxide (ClO2) treatment on nutritional components and shelf-life of mulberry fruit (Morus alba L.) were investigated. Mulberry fruit were immersed into 20, 60, and 80mg/l ClO2 solutions for 5, 10, and 15min, respectively. Mulberries were then rinsed with potable tap water for 1min and stored at −1°C for 14d. ClO2 treatment was effective in retention of flavonoid, ascorbic acid, reducing sugar, and titratable acid. ClO2 concentration and treatment time were significant factors affecting ClO2 treatment. The shelf-life of the samples treated by 60mg/l ClO2 for 15min was extended to 14 d compared to 8 d for the control. No ClO2, ClO2 −, or ClO3 − residues were detected in samples treated by 60mg/l ClO2 for 15min. These results indicated that ClO2 treatment was a promising approach to preserve mulberry fruit with no significant risks of chemical residues. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

To explore the association between bullying and HRQoL among Chinese school‐aged children and adolescents utilizing a cross‐sectional survey design. Bivariate associations were used to determine the correlation between the experience of bullying and lower HRQoL, and multivariate logistic regressions were evaluated. A total of 2,155 participants, 32.57%, reported experiencing bullying: traditional bullying, 27.80% (n = 599) (β = −3.55, p <.001, SE = 0.41), and cyberbullying, 7.47% (n = 161) (β = −2.50, p <.001, SE = 0.71). The degree of traditional bullying (β = −10.28, p <.001, SE = 1.19) was negatively significantly associated with HRQoL. Other determinants of the impact of the bullying in this cohort were the children's school performance and their relationship with parents, teachers and classmates. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Understanding the unique patterns of school bullying involvement among adolescents is critical to developing efficient interventions for reducing school violence. The present study identifies latent classes of school bullying victimization and perpetration, focusing on traditional and cyberbullying among student peer networks. Data came from a national school bullying survey (N = 3,675) among students from 4th grade (primary school) to 12th grade (high school) across seven provinces in Mainland China. Latent class models identified latent subgroups of students by gender (1,903 females and 1,772 males) using four binary indicators: traditional bullying victimization, cyberbullying victimization, traditional bullying perpetration, and cyberbullying perpetration. We found four distinct latent classes for both genders, respectively. Three classes emerged in both male and female students (1) traditional and cyberbullying perpetrator-victims, (2) traditional bullying victims, and (3) minimal involvement. Although a bullying perpetrator class was identified in both male and female groups, male students in this class had a high probability of engaging in both traditional and cyberbullying behaviors against their school peers, whereas the bullying perpetrator class emerged in the female group was mainly involved only in traditional bullying. The findings revealed gender similarities and differences in the patterns of school bullying involvement in Chinese adolescents. In addition, covariates significantly associated with school bullying patterns included (a) attending boarding school, (b) level of schooling (e.g., primary, middle, and high school), and (c) self-perceived academic performance. Recommendations for school bullying interventions and future research directions are discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Using a nationally representative survey of urban areas from China, the present study examines three research questions: (1) how are alcohol and tobacco use associated with academic performance among Chinese children and adolescents? (2) how does skipping class mediate those associations? And (3) do any observed patterns differ for boys and girls? Our results show that alcohol and tobacco use are associated with poor academic performance. However, alcohol use fully accounts for the detrimental effect of tobacco use on academic performance. Moreover, skipping class partially and fully mediates the effects of alcohol and tobacco use on poor academic performance. The adverse effect of tobacco use on academic performance is stronger for girls than boys. To improve children's and adolescents' academic performance, it is important to document the potential contributing factors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Using a nationally representative survey of urban areas from China collected in 2016, we examine two research questions: (1) how is school bullying victimization associated with self-rated health and life satisfaction; and (2) how do relationships with parents, teachers, and peers mediate those associations? We find that, among students of higher primary, middle, high, and vocational schools, bullying victims are more likely to report poor self-rated health and life satisfaction, regardless of whether the victims experience traditional bullying or cyberbullying. In addition, both traditional bullying and cyberbullying victims are associated with poor relationships with parents, teachers, and peers, which, in turn, partially mediate the effect of bullying victimization on poor self-rated health and life satisfaction. The present study underscores that the impact of adults and peers might be an important mechanism contributing to the health and well-being disparities by school bullying victimization. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Ample work has established the adverse impact of school bullying victimization on health and well-being outcomes. However, few studies have explored the potential coping mechanisms. To address this shortcoming, the present study examines three questions. First, how is school bullying victimization associated with self-rated health and life satisfaction? Second, how do educational expectations moderate those associations? Third, do any observed patterns further differ for boys and girls? Using a nationally representative survey of urban areas from China collected in 2016, we found that traditional bullying victims were more likely than non-victims to report poor self-related health and life satisfaction We observed similar patterns for cyberbullying victims. Interestingly, traditional bullying victimization fully explained the effect of cyberbullying victimization on poor self-rated health and life satisfaction among boys. The patterns for girls remained less clear. Finally, educational expectations appeared to buffer the effect of cyberbullying victimization on poor self-rated health and life satisfaction for boys only. Overall, our findings underscored the complexity of documenting health and well-being disparities by bullying victimization. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The objective of this study was to examine the longitudinal health consequences of the Wenchuan earthquake. Based on descriptive analyses of national-level data and multivariate analyses on a six-wave repeated cross-sectional survey, the findings suggested that after 8 years health risks remained high among earthquake-affected survivors; however, a process of recovery existed. To conceptualize these findings, in this study, we proposed a three-stage recovery model in which the postdisaster health status was divided into three stages: acute, stagnant, and adaptive. At each stage, the health risk varied, and over time, associations between health outcomes and protective factors varied. The three-stage recovery model identified the trends of long-term health consequences among adult earthquake survivors and provided guidance for postdisaster reconstruction in China on the basis of protective factors analyses. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract Applying successive high selection pressures in fecund aquatic animals can easily lead to high increases in inbreeding and, consequently, to reductions in fitness and long-term genetic progress. The Pacific oyster Crassostrea gigas is one of the most commercially important aquaculture species worldwide. C. gigas from three cultured stocks in China, Japan and Korea were used to establish three mass-selected strains for fast growth, and a positive response to selection for fast growth was observed in the first two generations of these strains. To determine whether continuous progress can be achieved by selection for growth, we evaluated response to selection for the eighth to tenth generations of the three breeding strains. At grow-out stage, a genetic gain of 8.8–15.2%, selection response of 0.506–0.786 and realized heritability of 0.275–0.420 for shell height were observed in the selective breeding strains after seven to nine generations of selection. For body weight of oysters at grow-out stage, an average of 8.12–12.47% in genetic gains and 0.358–0.706 in selection responses were also obtained in the three mass-selected strains. The current response to selection for growth obtained in the eighth- to tenth-generation selection strains suggests that a large amount of genetic variance still remains in the selected strains and there is a potential for sustained genetic improvement in growth-related traits in these strains through selective breeding. The results obtained in this study provides important information for future breeding programmes for C. gigas. Highlights • Considerable selection responses for growth were obtained in the eighth- to tenth-generation selection strains of Crassostrea gigas. • Mating with a near-equal sex ratio and restricted inbreeding assure further genetic improvements. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

It has been eight years since the Wenchuan earthquake. We don’t know how the lives of those affected by the disaster may remain blighted by its effects, or how many remain thus affected. The aim of the present study was to examine the relationship of disaster exposure, PTSD, depression and suicidal behaviors, using data from a cross-sectional survey conducted in earthquake-affected areas of China. 1369 participants were recruited from two different sites that were severely affected by the Wenchuan earthquake. The survey assessed suicidality (suicidal ideation, plans and attempts) and other mental health issues. Probable PTSD was assessed using the Impact of Event Scale-Revised (IES-R). The Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression Scale (CES-D) Chinese edition was used to assess depressive symptoms. The results showed that 11.2% of participants felt that their lives had not yet recovered from the effects of the Wenchuan earthquake, even after eight years. Suicidal ideation, plans, and attempts were reported by 9.1%, 2.9%, and 3.3%, respectively, of the respondents. PTSD, depression, and perceived non-recovery were highly associated with suicidality. These results indicate that suicidality can be a long-term mental health sequela of disaster. Targeted, long-term suicide prevention programs for adult survivors should be further developed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Considerable research has established the harmful impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic on children's and adolescents' health and well-being. However, the literature has been constrained by studies using less representative samples, hindering the generalization of the findings. This study aimed to investigate the associations of employment disruption and school closures during the pandemic with suicidal ideation and behavior in children and adolescents—and to consider the potential mediating effects of child psychological and physical abuse and subsequent mental health conditions. This study used the Adolescent Behaviors and Experiences data (n = 4692) — a nationally representative survey administered by the CDC of the United States from January to June 2021. Logistic regression models were conducted to investigate the associations. A series of multiple mediation models were performed. School closures directly reduced child psychological and physical abuse and suicidal ideation and behavior. Employment disruption did not directly predict suicidal ideation and behavior but primarily through child abuse. Mental health's mediation role was significant in the associations between child psychological abuse and suicidal ideation and behavior, but no evidence suggested the same mediating pattern for the physical abuse-suicidal ideation and behavior relationship. Within the covariates, sexual orientation was the most consistent and highest risk factor. This study contributes to current knowledge on disaster impact, child abuse, and suicidal ideation and behavior, and it can also provide policy and intervention awareness for social workers. • The most recent national representative survey in the United States about children and adolescents was analyzed. • The associations between COVID-19 impacts, child abuse, mental health and four suicidality measures were investigated. • School disruptions directly reduced child psychological and physical abuse experience and suicidal ideation and behaviors. • Employment disruption did not directly predict suicidal ideation and behavior but primarily through child abuse. • Mental health's mediation role was significant between psychological abuse and suicidality but not for physical abuse. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To elucidate the key miRNAs and the signalling pathways that are involved in porcine oocyte maturation, we performed a deep sequencing analysis of the miRNAs of pig germinal vesicle (GV) oocytes and metaphase II (MII) oocytes. Seven differentially expressed (DE) miRNAs were identified and the expression levels of miR-21 and miR-27b-3p were further confirmed by QPCR analysis. The target genes of 7 DE miRNAs were predicted and subjected to pathway analysis. Interestingly, fatty acid metabolism and fatty acid biosynthesis were the top two significantly enriched molecular functions during oocyte maturation. Heat map, which was built with 7 DE miRNAs and the enriched the molecular functions, revealed that miR-21, miR-27b-3p, miR-10a-5p and miR-10b-5p were involved in fatty acid metabolism. In particular, the regulatory role of miR-27b-3p on peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor-γ (PPARγ) was confirmed by their inversed expression patterns in GV and MII oocytes and luciferase report assays. In addition, we observed that PPARγ agonist (rosiglitazone) treatment significantly enhanced porcine oocyte maturation rate and early embryo developmental competent. Taken together, our results demonstrated that miR-27b and its target, PPARγ, play the vital roles in pig oocyte maturation through regulating the fatty acid metabolism. These data increased our understanding of the regulatory gene networks in porcine oocyte maturation and development. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] • The novel polyether materials were synthesized by cationic ring-opening controllable polymerization of 1,2-butylene oxide (BO) with tetrahydrofuran (THF). • The poly(1,2-butylene oxide- stat -tetrahydrofuran)s has a super high viscosity index (≥198) and low pour point (≤-53 °C), which can be used as a base oil and additives in the field of high-performance lubricants. Aliphatic polyethers are synthesized byring-opening polymerization (ROP) of the most common epoxide monomers, such as ethylene oxide (EO) and propylene oxide (PO). 1,2-Butylene oxide (BO) and tetrahydrofuran (THF) are potentially extended ROP monomers, which can give polyether unique properties. In this work, a series of poly(1,2-butylene oxide- stat -tetrahydrofuran)s (PBO- stat -PTHFs) with M n of 900–3700 g·mol−1 were synthesized by cationic ring-opening polymerization (CROP) of BO with THF using strong Lewis acid Rare Earth triflates (RE(OTf) 3) as catalysts and diols as an initiator at room temperature. PBO- stat -PTHFs product with yield up to 90 %, narrow polydispersity of Đ <1.30, and molar ratio of PBO to PTHF 1:1 were obtained. The copolymerization process was studied by in-situ IR and 1H NMR spectroscopy analysis, and the results showed that PBO- stat -PTHF is a statistical copolymer. The early stage of the polymerization reaction was dominated by the activated chain end mechanism (ACEM), which incorporates a large amount of THF into the polymer chains. However, the late stage of the polymerization reaction was dominated by the activated monomer mechanism (AMM), which incorporates a large amount of BO into the polymer chains. Most PBO- stat -PTHFs have a suitable M n range, super high viscosity index (≥198) and low pour point (≤-53 °C), which can be used as a lubricant base oil and additives. In addition, PBO- stat -PTHFs have excellent miscibility with polyalphaolefin (PAO), which could significantly improve the PAO viscosity index. This study provides a mild route to construct high-performance copolyether materials through cationic ring-opening controllable polymerization. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]