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Synergism of oxygen–iodine binary vacancies to interfacial electric field was developed by a cascade electrospray-annealing preparation, which enhanced CO2 photoreduction over VO–I-BiOCl/BiOI atomic-thin nanosheets.

Near-infrared (NIR) fluorescent probe has exhibited unique advantages for

siRNA therapeutics are challenged by homogeneous and efficient loading, maintenance of biological activities, and precise, dynamic and monitorable site-release. Herein, supramolecular nanomaterials of WP5⊃G-siRNA were constructed by modular and hierarchical self-assembly of siRNA with guest (3,6-di(thiophen-2-yl)pyrrolo[3,4

In this study, we examined the roles of anonymity and social closeness in predicting young women’s perceptions of “sex talk” (i.e., communication about sexual interests, enjoyment, and experiences) and intentions to post such content in cyberspace. We also examined cultural differences among Asian, Latina, and European Americans. A total of 466 undergraduate women from the three cultural groups participated in the online experiment. Participants were randomly assigned to either a low anonymity condition (i.e., Facebook) or a high anonymity condition (i.e., an anonymous online forum) where they were exposed to identical sex talk stimuli. The main findings showed that greater anonymity increased both the level of perceived appropriateness of sex talk posted by other female users and participants’ intentions to post sex talk online themselves. Compared to European American women, Asian and Latina Americans reported greater intentions to post sex talk online and perceived other female users’ sex talk posts as more appropriate. The results of this study prompt educators and practitioners to help young women strategically manage their impressions of sex talk online while being sensitive to women’s cultural backgrounds. They also suggest the need for further support from practitioners, educators, and parents to construct safe spaces for young women to engage open conversations about sexual matters in the digital space.

This study addresses the impact of intergenerational transmission on women’s work–family life. Drawn from the two-generation sample in the Youth Development Study, this study examines the effects of intergenerational similarity in working status, intergenerational communication, and social support on women’s work and family satisfaction. The study controlled for family of origin socioeconomic status, working hours, relationship duration, and number of children. The results show that intergenerational transmission of work–family configurations from mothers to daughters does exist in their general employment status, but the effects on women’s family satisfaction occur mostly through intergenerational communication. Additionally, social support from both work and family is found to have direct and indirect impacts on women’s work and family satisfaction. The findings can be used to advance a tentative model to examine intergenerational transmission effects and verify the importance of social support in promoting women’s functional outcomes at work and home.

In this study, an organic nanodrug delivery platform was constructed as a biocompatible cancer chemotherapeutic system, in which clinically approved sorafenib was loaded in the redox-responsive pol...

The term “team player” originated in a Western cultural context and can be summarized in the form of five task and two social roles. Yet, can these roles be replicated outside of a U.S. context and will their endorsement vary across cultures and employment status? To answer this exploratory question, we collected data from a total of 483 participants comprising 269 U.S. Americans, 110 Chinese, and 104 Koreans. Participants were asked to describe a team player in their native languages. Three coders per cultural group found more than 3,000 coding units based on the seven predetermined team player roles. The results, based on chi-square tests, show that participants from all three cultural groups consider a team player’s responsibilities to be multidimensional, possessing both task competencies and social skills. Nevertheless, the extent to which each culture emphasizes these two dimensions differs. Both U.S. American and Chinese participants prefer a balance between task roles and social roles, whereas Korean participants prioritize task roles over social roles. These findings provide empirical evidence that across the three cultural groups, broadly the same roles are expected of a team player; however, the U.S. and Chinese understandings were more similar than across the two Asian samples, questioning the often simplistic view of Asian cultures as being homogeneous and of Western and Asian cultures being at different ends of a spectrum of difference. Finally, findings suggest that incorporating explicit discussion about what being a team player entails is a necessary step in multicultural workplaces.

Chromobox 6 (CBX6) is a subunit of Polycomb Repressive Complex 1 (PRC1) that mediates epigenetic gene repression and acts as an oncogene or tumor suppressor in a cancer type-dependent manner. The specific function of CBX6 in breast cancer is currently undefined. In this study, a comprehensive analysis of The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) dataset led to the identification of CBX6 as a consistently downregulated gene in breast cancer. We provided evidence showing enhancer of zeste homolog 2 (EZH2) negatively regulated CBX6 expression in a Polycomb Repressive Complex 2 (PRC2)-dependent manner. Exogenous overexpression of CBX6 inhibited cell proliferation and colony formation, and induced cell cycle arrest along with suppression of migration and invasion of breast cancer cells in vitro. Microarray analyses revealed that CBX6 governs a complex gene expression program. Moreover, CBX6 induced significant downregulation of bone marrow stromal cell antigen-2 (BST2), a potential therapeutic target, via interactions with its promoter region. Our collective findings support a tumor suppressor role of CBX6 in breast cancer.

The megalin/cubilin complex is responsible for the majority of serum protein reclamation in the proximal tubules. The current study examined if decreases in their renal expression, along with the albumin recycling protein neonatal Fc receptor (FcRn) could account for proteinuria/albuminuria in the Zucker diabetic fatty rat model of type 2 diabetes. Immunoblots of renal cortex samples obtained at worsening disease stages demonstrated no loss in megalin, cubilin, or FcRn, even when proteinuria was measured. Additionally, early diabetic rats exhibited significantly increased renal megalin expression when compared with controls (adjusted P < 0.01). Based on these results, the ability of insulin to increase megalin was examined in a clonal subpopulation of the opossum kidney proximal tubule cell line. Insulin treatments (24 h, 100 nM) under high glucose conditions significantly increased megalin protein ( P < 0.0001), mRNA ( P < 0.0001), and albumin endocytosis. The effect on megalin expression was prevented with inhibitors against key effectors of insulin intracellular signaling, phosphatidylinositide 3-kinase and Akt. Studies using rapamycin to inhibit the mechanistic target of rapamycin complex 1 (mTORC1) resulted in a loss of insulin-induced megalin expression. However, subsequent evaluation demonstrated these effects were independent of initial mTORC1 suppression. The presented results provide insight into the expression of megalin, cubilin, and FcRn in type 2 diabetes, which may be impacted by elevated insulin and glucose. Furthermore, proximal tubule endocytic activity in early diabetics may be enhanced, a process that could have a significant role in proteinuria-induced renal damage.

Monocarboxylate transporter 1 (MCT1) represents a potential therapeutic target in cancer. The objective of this study was to determine the efficacy of AZD3965 (a specific inhibitor of MCT1) and α-cyano-4-hydroxycinnamic acid (CHC, a nonspecific inhibitor of MCTs) in the murine 4T1 tumor model of triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC). Expression of MCT1 and MCT4 in 4T1 and mouse mammary epithelial cells were determined by Western blot. Inhibition of MCT1-mediated l-lactate uptake and cellular proliferation by AZD3965 and CHC was determined. Mice bearing 4T1 breast tumors were treated with AZD3965 100 mg/kg i.p. twice-daily or CHC 200 mg/kg i.p. once-daily. Tumor growth, metastasis, intra-tumor lactate concentration, immune function, tumor MCT expression, and concentration-effect relationships were determined. AZD3965 and CHC inhibited cell growth and l-lactate uptake in 4T1 cells. AZD3965 treatment resulted in trough plasma and tumor concentrations of 29.1 ± 13.9 and 1670 ± 946 nM, respectively. AZD3965 decreased the tumor proliferation biomarker Ki67 expression, increased intra-tumor lactate concentration, and decreased tumor volume, although tumor weight was not different from untreated controls. CHC had no effect on tumor volume and weight, or intra-tumor lactate concentration. AZD3965 treatment reduced the blood leukocyte count and spleen weight and increased lung metastasis, while CHC did not. These findings indicate AZD3965 is a potent MCT1 inhibitor that accumulates to high concentrations in 4T1 xenograft tumors, where it increases tumor lactate concentrations and produces beneficial effects on markers of TNBC; however, overall effects on tumor growth were minimal and lung metastases increased.

How to mine valuable information that users are interested in from a continuous text data stream, text data stream classification has received widespread attention as a core technology to solve the problem. This paper proposes a text data stream ensemble classification algorithm that combines feature selection and topic model. Firstly, the mutual information feature selection method is used to remove features that are not related to classification. Secondly, the LDA topic model is used to establish the document-topic distribution. Finally, the pre-processed text data stream is classified by an ensemble classification model. The experimental results show that the proposed text data stream ensemble classification algorithm can improve the classification performance of text data stream.

Background Glycoprotein-A repetitions predominant (GARP) regulates membrane-bound transforming growth factor β1 (TGFβ1), an immunosuppressive cytokine. ABBV-151 is a first-in-class monoclonal antibody (mAb) that binds to the GARP-TGFβ1 complex and blocks TGFβ1 release. Preclinical data demonstrated that targeting both GARP-TGFβ1 and programmed cell death protein 1 (PD-1) improved antitumor effects compared with anti-PD-1 alone. Combining ABBV-151 with the anti-PD-1 mAb budigalimab (ABBV-181) may enable a more effective antitumor immune response by reducing the immunosuppressive effect of TGFβ1. Trial design This is a multicenter phase 1, dose escalation and dose expansion study (NCT03821935) in patients (pts; ≥18 yr, Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group performance status 0-1) with locally advanced or metastatic solid tumors. The primary objective of dose escalation is to determine the recommended phase 2 dose (RP2D) of ABBV-151 as monotherapy or with budigalimab; dose expansion will assess the objective response rate of ABBV-151 ± budigalimab. Secondary/exploratory objectives include assessing preliminary efficacy, safety, tolerability, pharmacokinetics (PK), and evaluating potential pharmacodynamic and predictive biomarkers. Dose escalation of ABBV-151, guided by a Bayesian optimal interval design, will assess dose-limiting toxicities during the first 28-day cycle and will be utilized until the RP2D is defined. ABBV-151 + budigalimab (fixed dose) will start ≥2 dose levels below that proven safe for ABBV-151. Adverse events will be evaluated per National Cancer Institute Common Terminology Criteria v5.0. Response will be assessed using Response Evaluation Criteria In Solid Tumors (RECIST) v1.1 and iRECIST every 8 weeks. PK of ABBV-151 will be characterized. Saturation of GARP-TGFβ1 on platelets and PD-1 on CD4 T cells will be determined. Modulation of cytokines, chemokines, lymphocyte activity, and gene expression will be assessed in blood, while gene signatures and protein markers will be explored in tumor tissues. Baseline tumor characteristics will be retrospectively related to response. Enrollment initiated Mar 2019, with 37 pts enrolled as of May 2020. Citation Format: John Powderly, Toshio Shimizu, Patricia LoRusso, Albiruni Razak, Kathy Miller, Arjun Balar, Jordi Bruix, Loren Michel, Martha Blaney, Xiaowen Guan, Susan Lacy, Satwant Lally, Stacie Lambert, Rachel Leibman, Gregory Vosganian, Talia Golan, Anthony Tolcher. Phase 1 first-in-human study of ABBV-151 as monotherapy or in combination with budigalimab in patients with locally advanced or metastatic solid tumors [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the American Association for Cancer Research Annual Meeting 2021; 2021 Apr 10-15 and May 17-21. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2021;81(13_Suppl):Abstract nr CT207.

This study investigates facework strategies of managing face-threatening acts in intercultural interactions where communicators’ cultural backgrounds are different from each other. Based on a pre-study with U.S. ( n = 89) and Chinese ( n = 76) college students, four scenarios featuring intercultural face-threatening acts were developed, where a Chinese student communicated politely and appropriately according to the Chinese culture, but the exact same act was considered otherwise in U.S. culture. In the main study, U.S. college students ( N = 217) were given these scenarios and asked to report the general level of face needs, perceived face threats, and facework strategies in each scenario. Multilevel analyses (i.e., Hierarchical Linear Modeling) were employed to parse out the different levels of influence in order to understand both separate and joint impacts of situational face threats and individual face needs on facework strategies. Results showed that: 1) intercultural communicators use both mitigating (i.e., fleeing) and aggravating (i.e., fighting) facework strategies, and a slight preference is given to mitigating strategies; 2) facework strategies are more sensitive to particular situational conditions than to individual dispositions; and 3) individuals’ value for others’ face moderates the relationship between situational conditions and facework strategies. The current study provides empirical evidence of challenges in establishing meaningful intercultural relationships by identifying the multiple levels of impact on facework strategies in intercultural communication. Further discussion and implications of the findings are also included.

The current study was designed to examine the impacts of family communication patterns (FCP), relational closeness, and culture on adult children’s conflict styles with their parents. Participants ...

The mechanism underlying EZH2 overexpression in breast cancer and its involvement in tumorigenesis remain poorly understood. In this study, we developed an approach to systematically identify the trans-acting factors regulating the EZH2 expression, and identified more than 20 such factors. We revealed reciprocal regulation of early growth response 1 (EGR1) and EZH2: EGR1 activates the expression of EZH2, and EZH2 represses EGR1 expression. Using CRISPR-mediated genome/epigenome editing, we demonstrated that EHZ2 represses EGR1 expression through a silencer downstream of the EGR1 gene. Deletion of the EGR1 silencer resulted in reduced cell growth, invasion, tumorigenicity of breast cancer cells, and extensive changes in gene expression, such as upregulation of GADD45, DDIT3, and RND1; and downregulation of genes encoding cholesterol biosynthesis pathway enzymes. We hypothesize that EZH2/PRC2 acts as a "brake" for EGR1 expression by targeting the EGR1 silencer, and EZH2 overexpression dampens tumor-suppressive signals mediated by EGR1 to drive breast tumorigenesis.

PURPOSE: To evaluate the pharmacokinetics (PK) of the monocarboxylate transporter 1 (MCT1) inhibitor AZD3965 in mice after IV and oral administration and to develop mechanistic PK models to assess the potential enterohepatic circulation (EHC) and target-mediated drug disposition (TMDD) of AZD3965. METHODS: Female BALB/c mice were administered AZD3965 by IV injection (10, 50 and 100 mg/kg) or oral gavage (100 mg/kg). Plasma samples were analyzed using LC/MS/MS, and PK parameters determined by compartmental and non-compartmental analyses. RESULTS: AZD3965 exhibited a large volume of distribution and rapid oral absorption, with a high oral bioavailability. Prominent reentry peaks were observed after both oral and IV administration, suggesting potential EHC of AZD3965 or of a potential glucuronide conjugate. The dose-dependent studies indicated greater than proportional increases in exposure, an increase in the terminal half-life, and decrease in clearance and volume of distribution with increasing IV doses, indicating nonlinear pharmacokinetics and potential TMDD of AZD3965. Mechanistic compartmental models were developed to characterize the complex pharmacokinetics of AZD3965. CONCLUSIONS: The current study represents the first comprehensive report of the pharmacokinetics of AZD3965 in mice, indicating the potential contribution of EHC and TMDD in the disposition of AZD3965.

Background TET-mediated oxidation of 5-mC participates in both passive and active DNA demethylation, which exerts a significant influence on diverse biological processes. Mass spectrometry has identified multiple phosphorylation sites of TET2. However, the functions of these phosphosites and their corresponding kinases are mostly unknown. Results Here, we showed that AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK) phosphorylates murine TET2 at the serine residue 97 (S97), and the phosphorylation enhances TET2 stability through promoting its binding to 14-3-3β. AMPK ablation resulted in decreased global 5-hmC levels at the myotube stages, severe differentiation defects of C2C12 cells and significantly, total loss of expression of Pax7. Genome-wide analyses revealed increased DNA methylation at genic and enhancer regions of AMPK-null myoblasts and myotubes. Using CRISPR/Cas9 technology, we showed that a novel enhancer, which is hypermethylated in AMPK-null cells, regulates Pax7 expression. The phospho-mimicking mutant, TET2-S97E, could partly rescue the differentiation defect in AMPK-ablated C2C12 cells. Conclusions Together, our data demonstrated that AMPK is a critical regulator of myogenesis, partly through phosphorylating TET2. Electronic supplementary material The online version of this article (10.1186/s13072-019-0281-x) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.

Additional file 1. Fig. S1. SDS-PAGE analysis of the recombinant N-terminus of murine TET2 (aa 1-181) and its mutant. Fig. S2. AMPK knockout impaired the differentiation of C2C12 cells. Fig. S3. Gene ontology analysis of upregulated genes between AMPK-KO and wild-type C2C12 cells at myoblast- (differentiation d0, A) or myotube- stage (differentiation d8, B). Fig. S4. Increased DNA methylation at a potential intragenic enhancer of Pax7. Fig. S5. CRISPR/Cas9-mediated deletion of the Pax7 intragenic enhancer in C2C12 cells. Fig. S6. Knocking in (KI) the pS97E mutation of Tet2 in AMPK-/- C2C12 cells. Fig. S7. S97E mutation of TET2 partly rescues the differentiation defect of the AMPK-/- C2C12 cells. Fig. S8. Increased myosin heavy chain (MHC) expression in AMPK-/- C1C12 cells rescued with TET2 harboring S97E. Table S1. ELISA analysis of pTET2 [Ser99 (h); Ser97(m)] antibodies*. Table S3. Antibodies. Table S4: Primers and Oligos.

AR-C155858 and AZD3965, pyrrole pyrimidine derivatives, represent potent monocarboxylate transporter 1 (MCT1) inhibitors, with potential immunomodulatory and chemotherapeutic properties. Currently, there is limited information on the inhibitory properties of this new class of MCT1 inhibitors. The purpose of this study was to characterize the concentration- and time-dependent inhibition of L-lactate transport and the membrane permeability properties of AR-C155858 and AZD3965 in the murine 4T1 breast tumor cells that express MCT1. Our results demonstrated time-dependent inhibition of L-lactate uptake by AR-C155858 and AZD3965 with maximal inhibition occurring after a 5-min pre-incubation period and prolonged inhibition. Following removal of AR-C155858 or AZD3965 from the incubation buffer, inhibition of L-lactate uptake was only fully reversed after 3 and 12 h, respectively, indicating that these inhibitors are slowly reversible. The uptake of AR-C155858 was concentration-dependent in 4T1 cells, whereas the uptake of AZD3965 exhibited no concentration dependence over the range of concentrations examined. The uptake kinetics of AR-C155858 was best fitted to a Michaelis-Menten equation with a diffusional clearance component, P (K(m) = 0.399 ± 0.067 μM, V(max) = 4.79 ± 0.58 pmol/mg/min, and P = 0.330 ± 0.088 μL/mg/min). AR-C155858 uptake, but not AZD3965 uptake, was significantly inhibited by alpha-cyano-4-hydroxycinnamic acid, a known nonspecific inhibitor of MCTs 1, 2, and 4. AR-C155858 demonstrated a trend toward higher uptake at lower pH, a characteristic of proton-dependent MCT1. These findings provide evidence that AR-C155858 and AZD3965 exert slowly reversible inhibition of MCT1-mediated L-lactate uptake in 4T1 cells, with AR-C155858 representing a potential substrate of MCT1.

Monocarboxylate transporter 1 (MCT1), also known as a l-lactate transporter, is a potential therapeutic target in cancer. The objectives of this study were to evaluate efficacy and assess concentration-effect relationships of AR-C155858 (a selective and potent MCT1 inhibitor) in murine 4T1 breast cancer cells and in the 4T1 tumor xenograft model. Western blotting of 4T1 cells demonstrated triple negative breast cancer (TNBC) characteristics and overexpression of MCT1 and CD147 (a MCT1 accessory protein), but absence of MCT4 expression. AR-C155858 inhibited the cellular l-lactate uptake and cellular proliferation at low nanomolar potencies (IC(50) values of 25.0 ± 4.2 and 20.2 ± 0.2 nM, respectively). In the xenograft 4T1 mouse model of immunocompetent animals, AR-C155858 (10 mg/kg i.p. once daily) had no effect on tumor volume and weight. Treatment with AR-C155858 resulted in slightly increased tumor lactate concentrations; however, the changes were not statistically significant. AR-C155858 was well tolerated, as demonstrated by the unchanged body weight and blood lactate concentrations. Average blood and tumor AR-C155858 concentrations (110 ± 22 and 574 ± 245 nM, respectively), 24 h after the last dose, were well above the IC(50) values. These data indicate that AR-C155858 penetrated 4T1 xenograft tumors and was present at high concentrations but was ineffective in decreasing tumor growth. Evaluations of AR-C155858 in other preclinical models of breast cancer are needed to further assess its efficacy.

AZD3965, a pyrole pyrimidine derivative, is a potent and orally bioavailable inhibitor of monocarboxylate transporter 1 (MCT1), currently in a Phase I clinical trial in UK for lymphomas and solid tumors. There is currently no published assay for AZD3965. The objectives of this study were to develop and validate a LC/MS/MS assay for quantifying AZD3965 in mouse plasma and tumor tissue. Protein precipitation with 0.1% formic acid in acetonitrile was used for sample preparation. Chromatographic separation was achieved on a C18 column followed by tandem mass spectrometry detection in multiple reaction monitoring mode with utilizing Atmospheric Pressure Chemical Ionization. AR-C155858 was used as the internal standard. The inter-day and intra-day precision and accuracy of quality control samples evaluated in plasma and tumor tissue were less than ±7% of the nominal concentrations. The extraction recovery, matrix effect and stability values were all within acceptable levels. Sample dilution integrity, accessed by diluting plasma spiked with AZD3965 10-fold with blank plasma, was 101%. The lower limit of quantification (LLOQ) and upper limit of quantification (ULOQ) were 0.15 ng/mL and 12 μg/mL, respectively, in plasma. The assay of AZD3965 in tumor tissue was also validated with good precision and accuracy. The LLOQ was 0.15 ng/mL in tumor tissue. This assay was successfully applied to pharmacokinetic and murine 4T1 breast tumor xenograft studies of AZD3965 in mice.

Spiritual beliefs shape ideas about the meaning of life, the moment of death, and the care that must be taken to deliver the body of the loved one to the spiritual realm. This study investigated spiritual beliefs about organ donation for participants in China (n = 364) and the United States (n = 384). Results showed that spiritual connection with the transplant recipient, spiritual concern about removing organs, and attitudes toward organ donation significantly predicted willingness to become an organ donor for participants in both countries. Americans reported being significantly more religious compared to Chinese. However, altruism and religiosity were not significant predictors of willingness to donate organs. Chinese participants showed significantly higher levels of spiritual connection with the potential recipient of transplanted organs. Even so, Chinese participants exhibited more reluctance to become organ donors compared to Americans. Gender differences in organ donation behaviors are also report...

This study analyzed the construct validity of two new measures: the Attitude Toward Conflict Scale and the Mediation Scale. Although both of these measures are still being developed, results of two studies (with 557 participants) suggest that these instruments are valid and reliable measures that might be of use to alternative dispute resolution administrators, other mediation practitioners, and university personnel who deal with conflict as a screening device to measure attitude toward conflict and the mediation process.

Two studies examined whether race of a roommate or a residence hall advisor had any effect on use of mediation for participants from two regions of the United States. Results from the first study showed that European Americans from the Midwest were likely to seek outside help when the roommate was a different race from them. The racial identity of the resident hall advisor did not appear to matter. Participants with stronger ethnic identification made more negative internal attributions about disruptive roommates. The data from the second study collected in the Southeastern United States showed that European Americans were more likely than African Americans to seek third-party help with a disruptive roommate. As in the first study, participants with stronger ethnic identification made more negative internal attributions about difficult roommates. Implications of mediation theory for structuring effective mediation sessions and persuading students to use university residence hall mediation services are dis...

This study investigated cultural differences in apology intentions moderated by the threatened face type and the relationship between interactants. With Chinese and U.S. undergraduate participants, this study revealed that (a) offending acts were more face-threatening toward a stranger than toward a friend; (b) apology intention was stronger for a stranger than for a friend; (c) for threatening negative face, Americans had stronger apology intentions than did Chinese, whereas for threatening positive face, Chinese had stronger apology intentions than did Americans; (d) situational variations in negative and positive face threats significantly related to apology intentions; and (e) Americans' apology intention, compared with Chinese, was more strongly related to amount of negative face threat in each act.

Two studies examined cultural differences in verbal and nonverbal apology strategies. Self-administered structured survey was employed with a convenience sample composed of undergraduates. U.S. American and Chinese participants were asked to answer questions regarding their choice of verbal and nonverbal apology strategies in a potentially apologetic situation. Study 1, using open-ended questions, and Study 2, using close-ended questions, yielded some different findings. For example, both the U.S. American and Chinese participants did not show significant differences in their apology strategies toward in-group and out-group members in Study 1, but the Chinese showed significant differences in their apology strategies toward in-group and out-group members in Study 2. Overall, the most common apology strategy in the given situation for both cultural groups was a simple apologetic statement. Other findings, implications, and limitations of these studies are discussed.

The current study examined the effects of national culture (U.S., China, and Korea) and interpersonal relationship type (a stranger and a friend) on apology. Findings revealed that participants ( N = 376) from the three cultures differed in their perceptions of the offended person's emotional reaction and their propensities toward apology use (i.e., desire, obligation, and intention to apologize, as well as their perception of normative apology use). Regardless of their cultures, participants showed stronger obligation and intention to apologize to a stranger than to a friend. With regard to the intention to apologize, both American and Korean participants showed a greater discrepancy between themselves and their estimate of most people in their own culture than did Chinese participants. Although participants from the three cultures did not differ in their propensities toward apology use for a friend, both American and Chinese participants showed greater discrepancy than did Korean participants for feeling obliged to apologize to a stranger. For intention to apologize to a stranger, both American and Korean participants, compared to Chinese, showed greater discrepancy between themselves and their estimate of most people in their own culture. Other findings and implications thereof are discussed in more detail in the paper.

Using the Theory of Reasoned Action (Fishbein & Ajzen, 1975) and the Social Norms Approach (Berkowitz, 1997), this exploratory study examined effects of attitudes and norms on intent to become an organ donor for respondents in China and the United States. Norms were measured using four factors –subjective norm, societal descriptive norm, personal injunctive norm, and benevolent indebtedness to family. US respondents scored significantly higher than Chinese on measures of attitude, subjective norm, descriptive norm, injunctive norm, and intent to become a donor, whereas Chinese showed significantly greater agreement with indebtedness. Respondents in both countries had deficient knowledge about organ donation. Finally, results were analyzed through the lens of path modeling which plotted causal relationships predicting intent to become a donor.

The current study examined one's own independent and interdependent self-construals, as well as the estimation of others' independent and interdependent self-construals. Undergraduate students from the United States and China (n = 269) were recruited to test cultural differences in the relative valuation of attributes reflected in self-construal scale items. As hypothesized, Chinese participants perceived themselves as more interdependent than other Chinese, whereas U.S. participants perceived other Americans as more interdependent than themselves. Contrary to the prediction, both Chinese and U.S. participants viewed themselves as more independent than others in their own culture.

The current study examined national culture differences between US American and Chinese participants (N = 317) regarding face need concerns and apology intention, based on positive and negative face needs (Brown & Levinson, 1987) and concerns for self-face and other-face (Ting-Toomey, 2005). Participants read vignettes that varied in relationship types (in-group vs. out-group members) and situation types (negative face vs. positive face threatening) and responded to scales measuring realism of the vignettes, intention to apologize, and five types of face need concerns. The findings showed that Chinese participants, compared to US Americans, had stronger intentions to apologize when their acts threatened the other person's positive face, while US American participants, compared to Chinese, had stronger intentions to apologize when their acts threatened the other's negative face. Other findings and implications thereof are discussed.

This study investigated individual and cultural differences in preferences for direct communication style. Individualism and face needs were examined for variations across individuals and cultures. Multilevel analyses were conducted on data (N = 929) collected in 17 countries. The results showed that individual variations were larger than cultural variations in preferences for direct communication style. Individuals’ self negative face need and other positive face need were positively related to preferences for direct communication style. Each national culture's individualism index score was not directly related to preferences for direct communication style, but instead moderated the relationship between other positive face need and preference for direct communication style. These and other findings and the implications thereof are discussed.