Factor structure and measurement invariance of the University Demand-Resource Questionnaire: further evidence from Hungarian university students.

Purpose: The present study aimed to further examine the factor structure and measurement invariance of the UDRQ among a sample of Hungarian university students. Methods: Firstly, the factor structure of the UDRQ was examined among 837 Hungarian university students. Specifically, two measurement models (first-order model and second-order model) were constructed and compared. Secondly, the internal consistency reliability of the UDRQ was examined. Thirdly, measurement invariance of the UDRQ was evaluated across genders. Finally, measurement invariance of the UDRQ was evaluated across two different samples. Results: It was found that the first-order model outperformed the second-order model and better represented the factor structure of the UDRQ subscales. Results of Cronbach's alpha and Composite Reliability suggested that the internal consistency reliabilities of the two UDRQ subscales were satisfactory. Measurement invariance analysis revealed that the UDRQ measurement model was strict invariant across genders and samples. Conclusion: The findings of the present study indicated that the UDRQ displayed satisfactory reliability and validity and could be used to assess demands and resources of Hungarian university students.

Development and initial validation of the Engagement in Athletic Training Scale.

The current study presents the development process and initial validation of the Engagement in Athletic Training Scale (EATS), which was designed to evaluate athletes' engagement in athletic training. In study 1, item generation and initial content validity of the EATS were achieved. In study 2, the factor structure of the EATS was examined using exploratory factor analysis (EFA) and exploratory structural equation modeling (ESEM). Internal consistency reliabilities of the subscales were examined (N = 460). In study 3, factor structure, discriminant validity, internal consistency reliability, and nomological validity of the EATS were further examined in an independent sample (N = 513). Meanwhile, measurement invariance of the EATS across samples (study 2 and study 3) and genders was evaluated. Overall, results from the 3 rigorous studies provided initial psychometric evidence for the 19-item EATS and suggested that the EATS could be used as a valid and reliable measure to evaluate athletes' engagement in athletic training.

Psychometric properties of the Career Adapt-Abilities Scale-Short Form: evidence from Chinese elite athletes.

Objectives: The present study aimed to examine the psychometric properties of the Chinese version of the Career Adapt-Abilities Scale-Short Form (CAAS-SF) among a sample of Chinese elite athletes. Methods: A sample of Chinese elite athletes (n = 770) was invited to participate in this study. First, the factor structure of the Chinese version of the CAAS-SF was examined, and six measurement models (CFA, H-CFA, B-CFA, ESEM, H-ESEM, and B-ESEM) were constructed and compared. Second, the internal consistency reliability of the Chinese version of the CAAS-SF was examined. Finally, structural equation modeling (SEM) was employed to assess the nomological validity of the Chinese version of the CAAS-SF. Results: The results showed that the hierarchical ESEM (H-ESEM) model best represented the factor structure of the CAAS-SF among Chinese elite athletes. It suggests that the higher-order factor of career adaptability explains the four distinctive but interrelated specific factors of concern, control, curiosity, and confidence. Cronbach's alpha coefficients (0.84-0.90), composite reliability (0.81-0.96), and coefficient omega hierarchical (0.855-0.94) of the Chinese version of the CAAS-SF were larger than the cutoff values, which suggest satisfactory reliability. The results of the SEM revealed that the higher-order factor of career adaptability was positively associated with career decision self-efficacy (ß = 0.676, p < 0.001). This result is consistent with previous findings (r = 0.65, p < 0.01) and provided support for the nomological validity of the CAAS-SF among Chinese elite athletes. Conclusion: The findings of the present study indicated that the Chinese version of the CAAS-SF displayed satisfactory reliability and validity and could be used to assess the career adaptability of Chinese elite athletes. In addition, the total score of the CAAS-SF is suggested to be used in future research and practical works.

Targeting DNA polymerase ß elicits synthetic lethality with mismatch repair deficiency in acute lymphoblastic leukemia.

Mismatch repair (MMR) deficiency has been linked to thiopurine resistance and hypermutation in relapsed acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL). However, the repair mechanism of thiopurine-induced DNA damage in the absence of MMR remains unclear. Here, we provide evidence that DNA polymerase ß (POLB) of base excision repair (BER) pathway plays a critical role in the survival and thiopurine resistance of MMR-deficient ALL cells. In these aggressive resistant ALL cells, POLB depletion and its inhibitor oleanolic acid (OA) treatment result in synthetic lethality with MMR deficiency through increased cellular apurinic/apyrimidinic (AP) sites, DNA strand breaks and apoptosis. POLB depletion increases thiopurine sensitivities of resistant cells, and OA synergizes with thiopurine to kill these cells in ALL cell lines, patient-derived xenograft (PDX) cells and xenograft mouse models. Our findings suggest BER and POLB's roles in the process of repairing thiopurine-induced DNA damage in MMR-deficient ALL cells, and implicate their potentials as therapeutic targets against aggressive ALL progression.

Psychometric Properties of the Chinese Translated Athlete Burnout Questionnaire: Evidence From Chinese Collegiate Athletes and Elite Athletes.

The purpose of the study was to translate the athlete burnout questionnaire (ABQ) into Simplified Chinese and examine its psychometric properties in Chinese collegiate athletes and elite athletes. Firstly, the factor structure, internal consistency reliability and nomological validity of the Chinese translated ABQ was examined in a sample of Chinese collegiate athletes (n = 214, 58.9% females). Secondly, abovementioned psychometric properties were examined in a sample of Chinese elite athletes (n = 505, 52.7% females). Finally, measurement invariance of the Chinese translated ABQ was examined across the two samples. It was found that the 12-item three-correlated-factors model outperformed the one factor model and bi-factor model in collegiate athlete sample whereas the 12-item bi-factor model best represented the factor structure of the Chinese translated ABQ in elite athlete sample. Satisfactory internal consistency reliabilities of the Chinese translated ABQ were evidenced in the two samples. Nomological validity was also supported by the results of the two samples that the three subscales of the ABQ were significantly associated with its theoretically related variables. Results of multiple-group confirmatory factor analysis revealed that weak measurement invariance of the Chinese translated ABQ (three-correlated-factors model) was evidenced across the two samples. Collectively, results of this study indicated that the 12-item Chinese translated ABQ could be used for measuring burnout of Chinese collegiate and elite athletes. Significance and implication of the current study as well as recommendations for future study were discussed.

[Ssh10b2 differs from its paralogue Ssh10b in cellular abundance and the ability to constrain DNA supercoils].

The ssh10b and ssh10b2 genes, a pair of distantly related paralogues in Sulfolobus shibatae, encode members of the Sac10b DNA binding protein family in thermophilic archaea. It has been shown previously that Ssh10b exists in abundance in S. shibatae and is capable of constraining negative DNA supercoils, properties that are consistent with a speculated architectural role for the protein in chromosomal organization. In this study, the ssh10b2 gene was cloned and expressed in Escherichia coli, and the recombinant Ssh10b2 protein was purified to apparent homogeneity. Immunoblotting analysis using a specific anti - Ssh10b2 antibody showed that ssh10b2 was expressed in S. shibatae, but the cellular level of Ssh10b2 was only - 10% of that of Ssh10b. Recombinant Ssh10b2 was capable of interacting with both double-stranded and single-stranded DNA. The affinity of the protein for double-stranded DNA was higher than that reported for Ssh10b. The Ssh10b2 and Ssh10b proteins appeared to generate similar gel shift patterns on duplex DNA fragments. However, unlike Ssh10b, Ssh10b2 was unable to constrain DNA supercoils. These data suggest that Ssh10b2 does not serve as a general architectural factor in DNA compaction and organization in S. shibatae.