Molecular confirmation and functional study of signal transducer and activator of transcription genes in the Pacific oyster Crassostrea gigas.

The JAK (Janus kinase)-STAT (Signal transducer and activator of transcription) is a well-known functional signaling pathway that plays a key role in several important biological activities such as apoptosis, cell proliferation, differentiation, and immunity. However, limited studies have explored the functions of STAT genes in invertebrates. In the present study, the gene sequences of two STAT genes from the Pacific oyster (Crassostrea gigas), termed CgSTAT-Like-1 (CgSTAT-L1) and CgSTAT-Like-2 (CgSTAT-L2), were obtained using polymerase chain reaction (PCR) amplification and cloning. Multiple sequence comparisons revealed that the sequences of crucial domains of these proteins were conserved, and the similarity with the protein sequence of other molluscan STAT is close to 90 %. The phylogenetic analyses indicated that CgSTAT-L1 and CgSTAT-L2 are novel members of the mollusk STAT family. Quantitative real-time PCR results implied that CgSTAT-L1 and CgSTAT-L2 mRNA expression was found in all tissues, and significantly induced after challenge with lipopolysaccharide (LPS), peptidoglycan (PGN), or poly(I:C). After that, dual-luciferase reporter assays denoted that overexpression of CgSTAT-L1 and CgSTAT-L2 significantly activated the NF-κB signaling, and, interestingly, the overexpressed CgSTAT proteins potentiated LPS-induced NF-κB activation. These results contributed a preliminary analysis of the immune-related function of STAT genes in oysters, laying the foundation for deeper understanding of the function of invertebrate STAT genes.

DTL promotes head and neck squamous cell carcinoma progression by mediating the degradation of ARGLU1 to regulate the Notch signaling pathway.

Head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) is the sixth most common cancer worldwide, with a high incidence in squamous epithelium. The E3 ubiquitin ligase DTL is a component of the CRL4A complex and is widely involved in tumor progression. We aimed to analyze the role of DTL in HNSCC and to explore its mechanism of action. Through clinical analysis, we found that DTL is upregulated in HNSCC tissues and is associated with the tumor microenvironment and poor survival in patients. Through gain-of-function and loss-of-function assays, we showed that DTL promotes cell proliferation and migration in vitro and tumor growth in vivo. Mass spectrometry analysis and immunoprecipitation assays showed that DTL interacts with ARGLU1 to promote K11-linked ubiquitination-mediated degradation of ARGLU1, thereby promoting the activation of the CSL-dependent Notch signaling pathway. Furthermore, siARGLU1 blocks the inhibitory effects of DTL knockdown on HNSCC cells. In this study, we showed that DTL promotes HNSCC progression through K11-linked ubiquitination of ARGLU1 to activate the CSL-dependent Notch pathway. These findings identify a promising therapeutic target for HNSCC.

A molluscan IRF interacts with IKKα/ß family protein and modulates NF-κB and MAPK activity.

Interferon regulatory factor (IRF) family proteins are key transcription factors involved in vital physiological processes such as immune defense. However, the function of IRF in invertebrates, especially in marine shellfish is not clear. In this study, a new IRF gene (CfIRF2) was identified in the Zhikong scallop, Chlamys farreri, and its immune function was analyzed. CfIRF2 has an open reading frame of 1107 bp encoding 368 amino acids. The N-terminus of CfIRF2 consists of a typical IRF domain, with conserved amino acid sequences. Phylogenetic analysis suggested close evolutionary relationship with shellfish IRF1 subfamily proteins. Expression pattern analysis showed that CfIRF2 mRNA was expressed in all tissues, with the highest expression in the hepatopancreas and gills. CfIRF2 gene expression was substantially enhanced by a pathogenic virus (such as acute viral necrosis virus) and poly(I:C) challenge. Co-immunoprecipitation assay identified CfIRF2 interaction with the IKKα/ß family protein CfIKK1 of C. farreri, demonstrating a unique signal transduction mechanism in marine mollusks. Moreover, CfIRF2 interacted with itself to form homologous dimers. Overexpression of CfIRF2 in HEK293T cells activated reporter genes containing interferon stimulated response elements and NF-κB genes in a dose-dependent manner and promoted the phosphorylation of protein kinases (JNK, Erk1/2, and P38). Our results provide insights into the functions of IRF in mollusks innate immunity and also provide valuable information for enriching comparative immunological theory for the prevention of diseases in scallop farming.

Molecular characterization and functional analysis of a mollusk Rel homologous gene.

Members of the nuclear factor-kappa B (NF-κB) family are crucial regulators of physiological processes such as apoptosis, inflammation, and the immune response, acting as vital transcription factors to perform their function. In this study, we identified a NF-κB homologous gene (CfRel1) in Zhikong scallops. The 3006-bp-long open reading frame encodes 1001 amino acids. The N-terminus of the CfRel1 protein harbors a conserved Rel homology domain (RHD) that contains a DNA-binding domain and a dimerization domain. According to the multiple sequence alignment results, both the DNA-binding and dimerization domains are highly conserved. Phylogenetic analysis indicated that CfRel1 is closely related to both the Dorsal protein of Pinctada fucata and the Rel2 protein of Crassostrea gigas. CfRel1 mRNA was expressed in all tissues tested in the quantitative reverse transcription PCR experiments, with hepatopancreatic tissue expressing the highest levels. Furthermore, after stimulation with lipopolysaccharide, peptidoglycan, or polyinosinic:polycytidylic acid, the mRNA expression level of CfRel1 was markedly increased. The co-immunoprecipitation test results showed that CfRel1 interacted with scallop IκB protein through its RHD DNA-binding domain, suggesting that IκB may regulate the activity of Rel1 by binding to this domain. Dual-luciferase reporter gene assays revealed that CfRel1 overexpression in HEK293T cells activated the activator protein 1 (AP-1), NF-κB, interferon (IFN)α, IFNß, and IFNγ reporter genes, indicating the diverse functions of the protein. In summary, CfRel1 is capable of responding to attacks from pathogen-associated molecular patterns, participating in immune signaling, and activating NF-κB and IFN reporter genes. Our findings contribute to the advancement of invertebrate innate immunity theory, enrich the theory of comparative immunology, and serve as a reference for the future screening of disease-resistant strains in scallops.

The Effect of Social Network Use on Chinese College Students' Conspicuous Consumption: A Moderated Mediation Model.

This study explored the effects of social networking site use intensity, upward social comparison, and optimism on college students' conspicuous consumption and their mechanisms of action using a sample of Chinese college students. A total of 717 Chinese college students (M = 20.08, SD = 1.44; 73.9% female) completed the Social Network Use Intensity Scale, the Upward Social Comparison Scale, the Life Orientation Test, and the Conspicuous Consumption Scale. The results indicate that (1) the intensity of use of social networking sites significantly positively predicts the conspicuous consumption behavior of college students; (2) upward social comparison plays a mediating role between the intensity of social networking site usage and conspicuous consumption; and (3) optimism moderates the second half of the mediating path between the intensity of social networking site use, upward social comparison, and conspicuous consumption. Specifically, the relationship between upward social comparison and conspicuous consumption among college students with low optimism levels is stronger than that among college students with high levels of optimism. Intensity has a stronger positive effect on conspicuous consumption through upward social comparison. It is concluded that the intensity of college students' use of social networking sites can affect their conspicuous consumption behavior through upward social comparison, and this relationship is moderated by optimism. The results of the study help to reveal the influence of SNS (social networking site) use behavior on conspicuous consumption and its mechanism of action and have implications for reducing the negative impact of conspicuous consumption on college students.

Diagnostic Accuracy of CT-Guided Percutaneous Pulmonary Biopsy for Distinguishing Benign and Malignant Solitary Pulmonary Nodules.

Background: Isolated pulmonary nodules (SPNs) are small, circular lesions within lung tissue, often challenging to diagnose due to their size and lack of typical imaging features. Timely diagnosis is crucial for treatment decisions. However, the difficulty in qualitative diagnosis necessitates clinical biopsies. Objective: This study aimed to assess the diagnostic accuracy of CT-guided percutaneous lung biopsy for SPNs and identify potential risk factors for malignancy. Methods: We conducted a retrospective analysis of 112 patients with SPNs who underwent CT-guided core needle biopsy (CT-CNB) between June 2020 and June 2022. Histological and cytological results were obtained for all patients, and clinical data and imaging characteristics were compared between benign and malignant SPN groups. Binary logistic regression was used to analyze risk factors for malignancy, and complications were observed. Results: Cytological and histological specimens were successfully obtained for all patients. The cohort consisted of 43 patients with benign SPNs and 69 with malignant SPNs. Among the malignant SPN group, 67 cases were confirmed via CT-CNB and 2 through surgery, resulting in a sensitivity of 97.10% and specificity of 100.00%. The malignant nodules comprised 45 adenocarcinomas, 14 squamous cell carcinomas, 8 metastatic tumors, and 2 small cell carcinomas. Notably, 2 initially diagnosed as malignant cases were found to have chronic inflammation on preoperative biopsy but revealed adenocarcinoma and squamous cell carcinoma post-surgery. The benign nodules encompassed 20 granulomatous inflammation cases, 15 chronic inflammation, 3 fungal granulomas, 2 hamartomas, and 1 fibrous tissue. Cytological smears exhibited a sensitivity of 81.3% and a specificity of 100.0% for malignancy. Significantly, age ≥60, elevated tumor markers, and specific imaging signs (burr, foliation, pleural pull) were identified as risk factors for malignant SPNs using Binary Logistic regression (all P < .05). Conclusions: CT-guided percutaneous lung biopsy demonstrates excellent diagnostic efficacy and safety for distinguishing benign and malignant SPNs.

Burden or empowerment? A double-edged sword model of the efficacy of parental involvement in the academic performance of chinese adolescents.

It has been traditionally thought that children can obtain resources that promote their academic performance through their parents' involvement. However, in reality, parents' involvement in their children's education may threaten children with an excessive academic burden. This study argues that parental involvement is both empowering and burdensome for children and proposes a model in which parental involvement is a double-edged sword. The model entails two paths, one in which learning constitutes a burden and another in which learning leads to empowerment. Based on a survey of 647 adolescents, a structural equation model is used to test this hypothesis. The results suggest that parental involvement can negatively impact academic performance because children feel more stressed as a result of the increase in academic expectations; parental involvement also has a positively impact on academic performance because of an increase in children's engagement in learning. The above results provide some practical guidance for parents' involvement in their children's education. Supplementary Information: The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s12144-023-04589-y.

Miniature mass spectrometer signal processing based on ensemble empirical mode decomposition feature enhancement.

RATIONALE: The high sensitivity of the miniature mass spectrometer plays an irreplaceable role in rapid on-site detection. However, its analysis accuracy and stability should be improved due to the influence of sample pretreatment and use environment. The present study investigates the processing effects of ensemble empirical mode decomposition (EEMD) feature enhancement methods on the determination coefficient (R2 ) and relative standard deviation (RSD) of caffeine mass spectrometry (MS) signals. METHODS: This paper employs the EEMD method combined with polynomial curve fitting to enhance the characteristics of seven caffeine mass spectrum signals with different concentrations and 15 groups of caffeine mass spectrum signals with the same concentration, and the wavelet analysis method was used for comparative verification. The determination coefficient and RSD of the two methods were compared. RESULTS: We found the EEMD method's capability in adaptively decomposing caffeine mass spectrum signals is better than wavelet analysis method. The determination coefficient of the EEMD enhanced feature is better than 0.999, and the RSD is better than 2%, and both are better than wavelet analysis methods. CONCLUSIONS: The feature enhancement processing using the EEMD method has significantly improved the determination coefficient and RSD of the sample curve, improving the accuracy and stability of the data and providing a new way for miniature mass spectrometer signal processing.

The Relationship between Competitive Class Climate and Cyberloafing among Chinese Adolescents: A Curvilinear Moderated Mediation Model.

Since COVID-19 was officially listed as a pandemic, online schooling has become a more pervasive form of learning, and cyberloafing has become a widespread behavior, even among adolescents. However, less research has explored the influencing mechanism of adolescents' cyberloafing. Based on relevant studies and the real lives of adolescents, this study aimed to examine the association between a competitive class climate and cyberloafing among adolescents, its underlying mechanism, the mediating role of perceived stress and the moderating role of self-esteem. A total of 686 adolescents were recruited to complete a set of questionnaires assessing cyberloafing, perceived stress, self-esteem, and perceived competitive class climate. The results showed that a competitive class climate was positively associated with perceived stress, and the U-shaped relationship between perceived stress and cyberloafing was significant. Perceived stress mediated the relationship between a competitive class climate and cyberloafing. Meanwhile, self-esteem moderated the U-shaped relationship between perceived stress and cyberloafing and the linear relationship between a competitive class climate and perceived stress. The results of this study indicate that the influence of a competitive class climate on individual learning behavior may be nonlinear, and proper competition can contribute to reducing individual cyberloafing.

Do after "not to do": Deinhibition in cognitive control.

In daily life, we often need to inhibit a certain behavior or thought; however, sometimes we need to remove inhibition (deinhibition). Numerous studies have examined inhibition control, but it is unclear how deinhibition functions. In Experiment 1, we adopted a modified stop-signal task in which participants were instructed to immediately stop the prepared response to a stimulus appended by an accidental signal. The results showed that when the preceding trial was a stop-signal trial and participants successfully inhibited the action to the stimulus, the reaction time (RT) for the repeated stimuli in the current trial was significantly longer than that of the switched stimuli, reflecting the cost of deinhibition. Deinhibition ability is correlated with inhibitory control and cognitive flexibility. In Experiment 2, we manipulated stimulus onset asynchrony (SOA) between presentation of the stimuli and the stopping signals to exclude the interference of the signal preparation effect on the deinhibition cost. These findings suggest that an individual's deinhibition ability, as a previously ignored subcomponent of cognitive control, may play an important role in human adaptive behavior.

CfIRF8-like interacts with the TBK1/IKKε family protein and regulates host antiviral innate immunity.

The interferon regulatory factor (IRF) family, a class of transcription factors with key functions, are important in host innate immune defense and stress response. However, further research is required to determine the functions of IRFs in invertebrates. In this study, the coding sequence of an IRF gene was obtained from the Zhikong scallop (Chlamys farreri) and named CfIRF8-like. The open reading frame of CfIRF8-like was 1371 bp long and encoded 456 amino acids. Protein domain prediction revealed a typical IRF domain in the N-terminus of the CfIRF8-like protein and a typical IRF3 domain in the C-terminus. Multiple sequence alignment confirmed the conservation of the amino acid sequences of these two functional protein domains. Phylogenetic analysis showed that CfIRF8-like clustered with mollusk IRF8 proteins and then clustered with vertebrate IRF3, IRF4, and IRF5 subfamily proteins. Quantitative real-time PCR detected CfIRF8-like mRNA in all tested scallop tissues, with the highest expression in the gills. Simultaneously, the expression of CfIRF8-like transcripts in gills was significantly induced by polyinosinic-polycytidylic acid challenge. The results of protein interaction experiments showed that CfIRF8-like could directly bind the TBK1/IKKε family protein of scallop (CfIKK2) via its N-terminal IRF domain, revealing the presence of an ancient functional TBK1/IKKε-IRF signaling axis in scallops. Finally, dual-luciferase reporter assay results showed that the overexpression of CfIRF8-like in human embryonic kidney 293T cells could specifically activate the interferon ß promoter of mammals and the interferon-stimulated response element promoter in dose-dependent manners. The findings of this preliminary analysis of the signal transduction and immune functions of scallop CfIRF8-like protein lay a foundation for an in-depth understanding of the innate immune function of invertebrate IRFs and the development of comparative immunology. The experimental results also provide theoretical support for the breeding of scallop disease-resistant strains.

Scallop interferon regulatory factor 1 interacts with myeloid differentiation primary response protein 88 and is crucial for antiviral innate immunity.

The interferon regulatory factor (IRF) family comprises transcription factors that are crucial in immune defense, stress response, reproduction, and development. However, the function of IRFs in invertebrates is unclear. Here, the full-length cDNA of an IRF-encoding gene (CfIRF1) in the Zhikong scallop (Chlamys farreri) comprising 2007 bp with an open reading frame of 1053 bp that encoded 350 amino acids was characterized, and its immune function was studied. The CfIRF1 protein contained a typical IRF domain at its N-terminus. CfIRF1 was clustered with other proteins of the IRF1 subfamily, implying that they were closely related. CfIRF1 mRNA transcripts could be detected in all tested scallop tissues, with the highest expression observed in the gills and hepatopancreas. CfIRF1 expression was significantly induced by the polyinosinic-polycytidylic acid and acute viral necrosis virus challenge. CfIRF1 could directly interact with myeloid differentiation primary response protein 88 (MyD88), the key adaptor molecule of the toll-like receptor signaling pathway. CfIRF1 did not interact with scallop IKK1 (IKKα/ß family protein), IKK2, IKK3 (IKKε/TBK1 family protein), or with other IRF family proteins (IRF2 or IRF3). However, CfIRF1 interacted with itself to form a homodimer. CfIRF1 could specifically activate the interferon ß promoter of mammals and the promoter containing the interferon-stimulated response element (ISRE) in a dose-dependent manner. The truncated form of CfIRF1 had a significantly reduced ISRE activation ability, indicating that structural integrity was crucial for CfIRF1 to function as a transcription factor. Our findings provide insights into the functions of mollusk IRFs in innate immunity. The research results also provide valuable information that enriches the theory of comparative immunology and that can help prevent diseases in scallop farming.

The first identified invertebrate LGP2-like homolog gene in the Pacific oyster Crassostrea gigas.

The LGP2 (Laboratory of Genetics and Physiology 2) protein is a member of the retinoic acid-inducible gene I (RIG-I)-like receptor (RLRs) family, which is a class of antiviral pattern recognition receptors located in the cytoplasm. However, few studies have investigated the function of LGP2 in invertebrates. In this study, the complete coding sequence of the LGP2 gene of the Pacific oyster, Crassostrea gigas, was obtained and named CgLGP2-like. Sequence analysis revealed that CgLGP2-like encodes 803 amino acids, and the encoded protein contains a DEXDc, HELICc, and C-terminal regulatory domains. Multiple sequence alignment demonstrated that the sequences of these key protein functional domains were relatively conserved. Phylogenetic analysis revealed that CgLGP2-like was a new member of the animal LGP2 family. Quantitative real-time PCR results showed that CgLGP2-like mRNA was expressed in all tested oyster tissues, with the highest expression observed in the labial palpus and digestive glands. CgLGP2-like expression in gill tissues was significantly induced after the poly(I:C) challenge. Furthermore, multiple IRF and NF-κB binding sites were identified in the CgLGP2-like promoter region, which may be one of the reasons why CgLGP2-like responds to poly(I:C) stimulation. Finally, the results of dual-luciferase reporter gene assays revealed that overexpression of CgLGP2-like may have a regulatory effect on the human IFN, AP-1, and oyster CgIL-17 genes in HEK293T cells. Overall, our results preliminarily elucidate the immune functions of invertebrate LGP2 protein and provide valuable information for the development of comparative immunology.

Cognitive Neural Mechanism of Backward Inhibition and Deinhibition: A Review.

Task switching is one of the typical paradigms to study cognitive control. When switching back to a recently inhibited task (e.g., "A" in an ABA sequence), the performance is often worse compared to a task without N-2 task repetitions (e.g., CBA). This difference is called the backward inhibitory effect (BI effect), which reflects the process of overcoming residual inhibition from a recently performed task (i.e., deinhibition). The neural mechanism of backward inhibition and deinhibition has received a lot of attention in the past decade. Multiple brain regions, including the frontal lobe, parietal, basal ganglia, and cerebellum, are activated during deinhibition. The event-related potentials (ERP) studies have shown that deinhibition process is reflected in the P1/N1 and P3 components, which might be related to early attention control, context updating, and response selection, respectively. Future research can use a variety of new paradigms to separate the neural mechanisms of BI and deinhibition.

Scallop IKK1 Responds to Bacterial and Virus-Related Pathogen Stimulation and Interacts With MyD88 Adaptor of Toll-Like Receptor Pathway Signaling.

IKK proteins are key signaling molecules in the innate immune system of animals, and act downstream of pattern recognition receptors. However, research on IKKs in invertebrates, especially marine mollusks, remains scarce. In this study, we cloned CfIKK1 gene from the Zhikong scallop (Chlamys farreri) and studied its function and the signaling it mediates. The open reading frame of CfIKK1 was 2190 bp and encoded 729 amino acids. Phylogenetic analysis showed that CfIKK1 belonged to the invertebrate IKKα/IKKß family. Quantitative real-time PCR analysis revealed the ubiquitous expression of CfIKK1 mRNA in all scallop tissues and challenge with lipopolysaccharide, peptidoglycan, or poly(I:C) significantly upregulated the expression of CfIKK1. Co-immunoprecipitation assays confirmed the interaction of CfIKK1 with scallop MyD88 (Myeloid differentiation actor 88, the key adaptor of the TLR signaling pathway) via its N-terminal kinase domain. Additionally, CfIKK1 protein could form homodimers and even oligomers, with N-terminal kinase domain and C-terminal scaffold dimerization domain playing key roles in this process. Finally, the results of RNAi experiments showed that when the scallop IKK1 gene was suppressed, the expression of IRF genes also decreased significantly. In conclusion, CfIKK1 could respond to PAMPs challenge and interact with MyD88 protein of scallop TLR signaling, with the formation of CfIKK1 dimers or oligomers. At the same time, the results of RNAi experiments revealed the close regulatory relationship between IKK1 and IRF genes of scallop. Therefore, as a key signal transduction molecule and immune activity regulator, CfIKK1 plays important roles in the innate immune system of scallops.

Scallop RIG-I-like receptor 1 responses to polyinosinic:polycytidylic acid challenge and its interactions with the mitochondrial antiviral signaling protein.

Retinoic acid-inducible gene I (RIG-I)-like receptors (RLRs) are a class of pattern recognition receptors located in the cytoplasm that play a key role in antiviral innate immunity in animals. However, few studies have been conducted on the function of RLR proteins in invertebrates. In this study, the complete coding sequence of the RLR gene of the Zhikong scallop, Chlamys farreri, was obtained and named CfRLR1 with an aim to study the response of CfRLR1 to polyinosinic:polycytidylic acid [poly (I:C)] stimulation and the interaction between the CfRLR1 and C. farreri mitochondrial antiviral signaling (MAVS) protein. Sequence analysis revealed that CfRLR1 encodes 1161 amino acids, and the encoded protein covers two tandem caspase activation and recruitment domains (CARDs), a helicase domain, and a C-terminal regulatory domain. Phylogenetic analysis revealed that CfRLR1 belongs to the RLR family of mollusks. Quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction showed that CfRLR1 mRNA was expressed in all tested tissues, with its highest expression observed in feet and gill tissues. Furthermore, CfRLR1 expression in the gill tissues was significantly induced after the poly (I:C) challenge. Finally, the results of co-immunoprecipitation and yeast two-hybrid assays revealed that CfRLR1 can bind to the CfMAVS protein via CARD-CARD interactions. Overall, our results elucidate the immune function of invertebrate RLR proteins and provide valuable information on viral disease control for scallop farming.

Transcriptional expression analysis reveals multiple effects of nonylphenol exposure on scallop immune system.

Nonylphenol (NP) is an endocrine disruptor and environmental hormone representing alkylphenol compounds. Marine mollusks are an important source of protein for people worldwide. Many researchers have begun to study the effect of NP on marine mollusks immune system in view of its toxicity; however, the underlying molecular mechanisms require in-depth analysis. In this study, we focused on the transcriptional expression change of immune-related genes and antioxidant enzymes activities variation after NP exposure in a marine bivalve mollusk, Chlamys farreri, to explore the immunomodulatory capacity of NP in marine mollusks. We identified MAVS (Mitochondrial antiviral signaling protein), a key adaptor molecule in the RLR (RIG-I like receptor) pathway, and studied the expression of multiple immune-related genes in response to different concentrations of NP. The key genes involved in RLR/TLR (Toll like receptor) innate immune pathway, apoptosis, and cellular antioxidation mechanism were investigated. Changes in the enzymatic activities of scallop antioxidant enzymes after NP exposure were also examined. The results revealed that the genes expression and the antioxidant enzymes activities show significant changes, thus proving that NP stimulation affects the scallop immune system. Our research results demonstrate the immunomodulatory capacity of NP in marine bivalve mollusks and lay the foundation for further in-depth analysis of the molecular mechanism of NP toxicity.

Do mothers treat children who are similar to them better? The relation between maternal-adolescent neuroticism congruence and a punitive parenting style.

Parenting style is the relatively stable behaviors parents display during the childrearing process. It is an important factor in children's socialization and the mother-child relationship. The present study aimed to test the relationship between maternal-adolescent neuroticism congruence and a punitive parenting style. A total of 882 Chinese adolescents and their mothers participated in this study. The results showed that maternal-adolescent high-neuroticism congruence was associated with a more punitive parenting style than low-neuroticism congruence. The more incongruent the maternal-adolescent neuroticism was, the less punitive the parenting style. There were moderating effects of adolescent gender on maternal-adolescent neuroticism congruence/incongruence and punitive parenting style. These findings provide a new perspective for exploring the relationship between parent-child interaction and parenting styles.

COVID-19 vaccination intention: The combined role of pathogen disgust and trust in government.

The present study aimed to investigate the joint effect of pathogen disgust and trust in government on COVID-19 vaccination intention and to examine the mediating role of COVID-19 worry. The data was collected from July to September 2021 in mainland China by using Questionnaire Star, 2,244 valid cases were obtained among a total of 2,251 participants investigated, with an effective rate of 89.37%. The results indicated the following: (1) Individuals' COVID-19 vaccination intention was significantly higher when "congruence was high" than when "congruence was low", given comparable levels of pathogen disgust and trust in government. (2) There were no significant differences in individual COVID-19 vaccination intention with incongruence levels of pathogen disgust and trust in government. (3) The combination of pathogen disgust and trust in government can influence COVID-19 vaccination intention through COVID-19 worry. Findings illustrate that individuals with high trust in government and pathogen disgust have higher intentions. Trust in government and pathogen disgust positively predicted COVID-19 worry and reinforced individuals' intention to COVID-19 vaccination. The results have important implications for the future prevention and control of the new coronavirus, as well as providing a new perspective on COVID-19 vaccination intentions.

A novel TBK1/IKKϵ is involved in immune response and interacts with MyD88 and MAVS in the scallop Chlamys farreri.

Inhibitor of κB kinase (IKK) family proteins are key signaling molecules in the animal innate immune system and are considered master regulators of inflammation and innate immunity that act by controlling the activation of transcription factors such as NF-κB. However, few functional studies on IKK in invertebrates have been conducted, especially in marine mollusks. In this study, we cloned the IKK gene in the Zhikong scallop Chlamys farreri and named it CfIKK3. CfIKK3 encodes a 773-amino acid-long protein, and phylogenetic analysis showed that CfIKK3 belongs to the invertebrate TBK1/IKKϵ protein family. Quantitative real-time PCR analysis showed that CfIKK3 mRNA is ubiquitously expressed in all tested scallop tissues. The expression of CfIKK3 transcripts was significantly induced after challenge with lipopolysaccharide, peptidoglycan, or poly(I:C). Co-immunoprecipitation (co-IP) assays confirmed the direct interaction of CfIKK3 with MyD88 (the key adaptor in the TLR pathway) and MAVS (the key adaptor in the RLR pathway), suggesting that this IKK protein plays a crucial role in scallop innate immune signal transduction. In addition, the CfIKK3 protein formed homodimers and bound to CfIKK2, which may be a key step in the activation of its own and downstream transcription factors. Finally, in HEK293T cells, dual-luciferase reporter gene experiments showed that overexpression of CfIKK3 protein activated the NF-κB reporter gene in a dose-dependent manner. In conclusion, our experimental results confirmed that CfIKK3 could respond to PAMPs challenge and participate in scallop TLR and RLR pathway signaling, ultimately activating NF-κB. Therefore, as a key signaling molecule and modulator of immune activity, CfIKK3 plays an important role in the innate immune system of scallops.