Is online shopping addiction still a depressive illness? -- the induced consumption and traffic trap in live E-commerce.

While immersive shopping has injected new vitality into China's e-commerce, it has also resulted in consumers' over-reliance on online shopping. Psychological studies have linked online shopping addiction with depression, but business practices challenge this conclusion. This study, grounded in addiction theory, developed a theoretical model, and conducted an online survey with 214 live-streaming shoppers using structural equation modeling for validation. The primary focus was on determining whether consumers truly become addicted to online shopping in the four stages of the addiction model. The study unveils the process of consumers becoming addicted to online shopping. It explores the moderating role of perceived risk in the relationship between utilitarian and hedonic purchases and online shopping addiction. The findings suggest that through tactics such as traffic promotion, traffic trapping, anchor feature utilization, and incorporation of consumer aesthetics, merchants may induce utilitarian and hedonic purchases, leading to addiction to live-streaming shopping among consumers. Furthermore, perceived risk significantly and negatively moderates the relationship between utilitarian purchases and online shopping addiction. Our research indicates that merchants intentionally create external stimuli, enticing consumers to indulge in online shopping, suggesting that online shopping addiction is not merely a simple psychological state but may be influenced by external factors. This study provides novel insights into the phenomenon of online shopping addiction while offering valuable recommendations for consumers seeking to avoid succumbing to its allure.

Parental harsh discipline in intergenerational transmission of anxiety in China: A longitudinal actor-partner interdependence analysis.

The present study investigated the intergenerational transmission of anxiety from both mothers and fathers to children in Chinese migrant families and the mediating roles of both parents' harsh discipline (psychological aggression and corporal punishment). Four hundred seventy nine intact families with at least one migrant child were followed prospectively, with data collected from multiple informants at three time points half a year apart. A longitudinal multiple mediation model in combination with an actor-partner interdependent model (APIM) was used to examine the mediating roles of both parents' harsh discipline in the intergenerational transmission of anxiety. Results indicated that anxiety was transmitted across generations from mothers (but not fathers) to migrant children. Significant actor effects of mothers' and fathers' anxiety on their own harsh discipline were found, while no significant partner effects were observed. Mothers' psychological aggression played an important role in the intergenerational transmission of anxiety from mothers to migrant children. The findings suggest that interventions and prevention efforts focusing on reduction of children's anxiety would benefit from decreasing mothers' anxiety and psychological aggression. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2023 APA, all rights reserved).

Green finance: how can it help Chinese power enterprises transition towards carbon neutrality.

China's power sector must cut its carbon emissions by 90% by 2060 to become carbon neutral. Green finance, as a crucial link in sustainable development, is garnering attention for its role as a mechanism for the green transformation of power enterprises. The process of green transformation development is highly challenging and requires a lot of financial support. This paper discusses the design of schemes for fiscal and financial support mechanisms for the green transformation of power enterprises, financing mechanisms to strengthen green finance, and financial support mechanisms to promote carbon trading. The utilization of green finance by power enterprises is assessed after defining the impact routes of green finance on clean energy power firms and highly polluting power firms. Using the SBM-GML model with variable returns to scale, the dynamic change of the use efficiency of green finance in power enterprises is calculated. At the same time, the enterprises are classified by power generation methods, and the changes in the power generation structure of power enterprises are analyzed. Compared with 2014, the total power generation in 2021 increased by 59.14%, wind power generation increased by 170.78%, and photovoltaic power generation increased by 974.31%. Hydropower, by contrast, grew by 94.14% and thermal power by only 45.09%. The results show that the evolution of total factor productivity and green total factor productivity of the 24 listed electric power enterprises is "M" shaped, that the main cause of the fluctuation is the serious phenomenon of "Triple Abandonments" of wind, light, and water in China's power industry, and that the main means to improve total factor productivity and green total factor productivity of the power industry is to improve green power production technology. Classified by power generation mode, it is found that hybrid power generation enterprises have the highest average efficiency value, followed by wind power generation. China's power enterprises are still dominated by thermal power generation; before the "Double Carbon" target, green power generation enterprises have not significantly improved the efficiency of green finance. The series of green finance mechanisms of action described in this study have a beneficial impact on the green transition of energy, according to a predictive analysis that combines existing policy objectives and practical mechanisms. Even without green financial support, the composition of China's major clean energy sources will account for 86.85% of total electricity generation by 2060, while with green financial support, coal generation will fall to 0% around 2056, with hydroelectric, wind, and photovoltaic generation accounting for 11.81%, 50.00%, and 38.19% of electricity sources, respectively, and green finance will drive important technological changes, and the "Triple Abandonments" phenomenon will be fundamentally corrected. Finally, countermeasures and suggestions for the healthy development of green finance in power enterprises are proposed based on the findings of the study.

Downregulation of miR-375 contributes to ERBB2-mediated VEGFA overexpression in esophageal cancer.

Esophageal cancer (EC) is a lethal cancer with an extremely aggressive nature and poor survival rate. However, the molecular mechanisms driving the occurrence and progression of EC are not well understood. MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are small RNA molecules that regulate the expression of protein-coding genes. miRNA-mediated gene regulation plays an important role in EC. By cross-referencing studies from NCBI, we found that microRNA-375 (miR-375) is one of the most frequently downregulated miRNAs in EC. We assessed expression of miR-375 in EC cell lines and primary EC tissues and their matched normal tissues. We found significant downregulation of miR-375 in both cell lines and EC tissues. Forced expression of miR-375 attenuated EC cell proliferation and invasion. Human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2, ERBB2), a known proto-oncogene, was identified here as one of the potential target genes of miR-375. Ectopic expression of miR-375 significantly suppressed the expression of ERBB2 and subsequently downregulated one of its target genes, vascular endothelial growth factor A (VEGFA), which is related to cancer invasion and metastasis. These findings suggest that miR-375 acts as a tumor suppressor by blocking the ERBB2/VEGFA pathway with the potential to modulate the occurrence and/ or progression of EC.

Differentially Regulated miRNAs and Their Related Molecular Pathways in Lichen Sclerosus.

Lichen sclerosus (LS) is a chronic inflammatory skin disorder with unknown pathogenesis. The aberrant expression of microRNAs (miRNAs) is considered to exert a crucial role in LS. We used the next-generation sequencing technology (RNASeq) for miRNA profiling and Ingenuity Pathway Analysis (IPA) for molecular network analysis. We performed qRT-PCR, miRNA transfection and Matrigel assays for functional studies. We identified a total of 170 differentially expressed miRNAs between female LS and matched adjacent normal tissue using RNASeq, with 119 upregulated and 51 downregulated. Bioinformatics analysis revealed molecular networks that may shed light on the pathogenesis of LS. We verified the expression of a set of miRNAs that are related to autoimmunity, such as upregulated miR-326, miR-142-5p, miR-155 and downregulated miR-664a-3p and miR-181a-3p in LS tissue compared to the matched adjacent normal tissue. The differentially expressed miRNAs were also verified in blood samples from LS patients compared to healthy female volunteers. Functional studies demonstrated that a forced expression of miR-142-5p in human dermal fibroblast PCS-201-010 cells resulted in decreased cell proliferation and migration. These findings suggest that differentially expressed miRNAs may play an important role in LS pathogenesis; therefore, they could serve as biomarkers for LS management.

microRNA-196b promotes esophageal squamous cell carcinogenesis and chemoradioresistance by inhibiting EPHA7, thereby restoring EPHA2 activity.

Esophageal cancer (EC) is extremely aggressive and has a very poor survival rate. Esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC) accounts for 80% of all ECs worldwide, with the majority of the remaining 20% being esophageal adenocarcinoma (EAC). Due to its occult and insidious presentation, ESCC is typically diagnosed and treated in its advanced stages, thereby limiting the success of present therapeutic modalities. microRNAs (miRNAs) can function as tumor suppressors or oncogenes, playing critical roles in cancer initiation and progression by regulating target genes in oncogenic pathways. In the current study, we demonstrated that microRNA-196b (miR-196b) is one of the most upregulated miRNAs in both ESCC and EAC. miR-196b was overexpressed in ESCC and EAC cell lines, cellular exosomal RNAs, and ESCC tissue samples. Functional studies revealed that miR-196b acted as an oncomiR by directly targeting a tumor suppressor, ephrin type-A receptor 7 (EPHA7). EPHA7 abrogates the activity of ephrin type-A receptor 2 (EPHA2), a key molecule involved in the epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition (EMT) and MAPK/ERK pathways, mediating resistance to UV and chemoradiotherapy in both ESCC and EAC. Taken together, these findings suggest that miR-196b is a strong candidate molecular target for EC treatment.

Dynamically decreased miR-671-5p expression is associated with oncogenic transformation and radiochemoresistance in breast cancer.

BACKGROUND: Understanding the molecular alterations associated with breast cancer (BC) progression may lead to more effective strategies for both prevention and management. The current model of BC progression suggests a linear, multistep process from normal epithelial to atypical ductal hyperplasia (ADH), to ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS), and then invasive ductal carcinoma (IDC). Up to 20% ADH and 40% DCIS lesions progress to invasive BC if left untreated. Deciphering the molecular mechanisms during BC progression is therefore crucial to prevent over- or under-treatment. Our previous work demonstrated that miR-671-5p serves as a tumor suppressor by targeting Forkhead box protein M1 (FOXM1)-mediated epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition (EMT) in BC. Here, we aim to explore the role of miR-671-5p in the progression of BC oncogenic transformation and treatment. METHODS: The 21T series cell lines, which were originally derived from the same patient with metastatic BC, including normal epithelia (H16N2), ADH (21PT), primary DCIS (21NT), and cells derived from pleural effusion of lung metastasis (21MT), and human BC specimens were used. Microdissection, miRNA transfection, dual-luciferase, radio- and chemosensitivity, and host-cell reactivation (HCR) assays were performed. RESULTS: Expression of miR-671-5p displays a gradual dynamic decrease from ADH, to DCIS, and to IDC. Interestingly, the decreased expression of miR-671-5p detected in ADH coexisted with advanced lesions, such as DCIS and/or IDC (cADH), but not in simple ADH (sADH). Ectopic transfection of miR-671-5p significantly inhibited cell proliferation in 21NT (DCIS) and 21MT (IDC), but not in H16N2 (normal) and 21PT (ADH) cell lines. At the same time, the effect exhibited in time- and dose-dependent manner. Interestingly, miR-671-5p significantly suppressed invasion in 21PT, 21NT, and 21MT cell lines. Furthermore, miR-671-5p suppressed FOXM1-mediated EMT in all 21T cell lines. In addition, miR-671-5p sensitizes these cell lines to UV and chemotherapeutic exposure by reducing the DNA repair capability. CONCLUSIONS: miR-671-5p displays a dynamic decrease expression during the oncogenic transition of BC by suppressing FOXM1-mediated EMT and DNA repair. Therefore, miR-671-5p may serve as a novel biomarker for early BC detection as well as a therapeutic target for BC management.