Shyness, Sport Engagement, and Internalizing Problems in Chinese Children: The Moderating Role of Class Sport Participation in a Multi-Level Model.

The relations between shyness and internalizing problems have been mainly explored at the individual level, with little known about its dynamics at the group level. This study aims to examine the mediating effect of individual-level sport engagement and the moderating effect of class-level sport participation in the relations between shyness and internalizing problems. The participants were 951 children attending primary and middle school from grade 3 to grade 7 (Mage = 11 years, 509 boys) in urban areas of China. Cross-sectional data were collected using self-report assessments. Multi-level analysis indicated that (1) shyness was positively associated with internalizing problems; (2) sport engagement partially mediated the relations between shyness and internalizing problems; and (3) class sport participation was a cross-level moderator in the mediating relations between shyness, sport engagement, and internalizing problems. Shy children in classes with a higher level of sport participation tend to have less sport engagement and more internalizing problems than those in classes with a lower level of sport participation. These findings illuminate implications from a multi-level perspective for shy children's adjustment in a Chinese context. The well-being of shy children could be improved by intervening in sport activity, addressing both individual engagement and group dynamics, such as class participation.

Sociability across Eastern-Western cultures: Is it the same underlying construct?

In this study, we examined cross-cultural differences in sociability, a core personality facet of the higher order extraversion trait, which has been reported at lower levels in Eastern versus Western cultures several decades ago. Up until now, however, East-West cultural comparisons on the Western-defined construct of sociability have been limited, despite the extensive research published on extraversion indicating that this personality dimension is globally relevant across cultures. Following current practices, we first assessed for measurement invariance (MI) on the Cheek and Buss sociability scale between Chinese (n = 816, 47.2% male, M = 18.51 years, SD = 1.26 years) and Canadian (n = 995, 30.8% male, M = 19.62 years, SD = 1.25 years) young adult samples to ensure any comparisons would be valid and meaningful. Results from a multigroup confirmatory factor analysis (exact invariance) showed that there was measurement non-invariance at the scalar level in the sociability construct across country and country by sex, and the newer alignment method (approximate invariance) confirmed these results, suggesting that mean level comparisons of sociability were biased and noninformative. Our findings indicated that although a few of the higher-level personality dimensions such as extraversion are considered universal, the facets underlying their meaning, like sociability, are not as clearly delineated between cultures. Alongside the present-day pursuit of understanding personality across cultures through an indigenous measurement lens in tandem with the notion of universality, researchers should also consider narrowing their focus onto lower-level facets, each of which is likely to be uniquely embedded into a cultural context.

Maternal involvement and adolescents' psychological and academic adjustment after COVID-19 return-to-school: A one-year longitudinal study.

The current study examined the idea that maternal involvement during the COVID-19 school closure period could contribute to the development of adolescents' daily routines, which could ultimately associate with their psychological and academic adjustment after return-to-school. Data were collected from 520 Chinese adolescents (Mage = 12.75 years, SDage = 1.48 years) and their mothers during the COVID-19 school closure and one year after return-to-school. Results indicated that maternal involvement in both education and leisure activities predicted more consistent adolescents' daily routines during the school closure period and then contributed to their more consistent daily routines after return-to-school, resulting in less psychological maladjustment and better academic outcomes. Findings highlight the importance of maternal involvement and daily routines in the context of COVID-19.

Shyness subtypes and associations with social anxiety: A comparison study of Canadian and Chinese children.

Previous research has shown that there are distinct types of children's shyness within eastern and western cultures, with different origins, developmental courses, and outcomes. However, the measures used to examine children's shyness in eastern contexts have been developed almost exclusively in the North American context. Whether shyness subtypes and their predictive associations are conserved between western and eastern cultures on a children's shyness measure developed in an eastern context is an empirical question. Here we examined (a) whether two subtypes from the Chinese Shyness Scale (i.e., anxious and regulated) were identified in a western context, and (b) whether cultural context moderated the relation between the two subtypes of shy behavior and a widely used western characterized social anxiety measure. The participants were children aged 3-5 years from China (Mage  = 4.46 years, SD = 0.64, n = 182, 53.8% boys) and Canada (Mage  = 3.99 years, SD = 0.82, n = 201, 42.3% boys). The results indicated that the two shyness subtypes and the one-factor social anxiety construct were identified in both cultures. Subsequently, latent moderation structural equation modelling revealed that anxious shyness was significantly and positively related to social anxiety in children from both countries, but more strongly in Canada. Conversely, regulated shyness was significantly and positively related to social anxiety in Canadian children, but not in Chinese children. Findings are discussed regarding possible cultural explanations for why the relations between two Chinese shyness subtypes and social anxiety are different in Chinese and Canadian contexts and their implications to understanding cross-cultural differences in developmental shyness. RESEARCH HIGHLIGHTS: Two subtypes of shyness (anxious and regulated shyness) reported in China were identified in both China and Canada Country/culture moderated the relation between shyness subtypes and social anxiety Anxious shyness was positively related to social anxiety in both countries Regulated shyness was positively related to social anxiety in Canadian children, but not in Chinese children.

CRISPR/Cas14 provides a promising platform in facile and versatile aptasensing with improved sensitivity.

CRISPR is reshaping biosensing technology due to its programmability, sensitivity, and specificity. Most current CRISPR-based biosensors are developed based on Cas12 and Cas13, while the biosensing potentials of the newly discovered Cas14 have not been fully elucidated yet. Herein, a fluorometric biosensor named HARRY (highly sensitive aptamer-regulated Cas14 R-loop for bioanalysis) was developed. The diblock ssDNA is designed to contain the activator sequence of Cas14 and the aptamer sequence of specific targets. In the absence of targets, the ssDNA activates Cas14a, then the Cas14a trans-cleavages the fluorescent reporter, causing fluorescence enhancement. In the presence of the targets, ssDNA-target assembly is formed via aptamer interaction, resulting in the inhibition of Cas14a activation. HARRY can detect ATP, Cd2+, histamine, aflatoxin B1, and thrombin with detection limits at the low-nanomolar level, which shows improvement compared with Cas12a-based aptasensors in sensitivity and versatility. We reasoned that the improvement is derived from the ssDNA specificity of Cas14a and found that the detection limit of HARRY is correlated to the binding affinities of aptamers. This study unlocks the potential of Cas14a in versatile aptasensing, which may inspire the development of CRISPR-based biosensors from the Cas14a branch.

Are cross-cultural shyness comparisons valid? Testing invariance with multigroup CFA and the alignment method across eastern and western cultures.

Temperament/personality research has been largely based on an imposed-etic strategy: Self-report temperament/personality inventories created in and reflecting American culture were tacitly assumed to apply in other countries and cultures. Correspondingly, invariance tests on the underlying phenomena and their associated constructs have been rarely applied in cross-cultural studies and in those instances unsuccessfully. To explore this oversight, we investigated whether a western-based anxious shyness measure was equivalent across eastern-western cultures (Chinese, n = 816, 47.2% male; Canadian, n = 995, 30.8% male). In the first instance, we used the well-established multigroup confirmatory factor analysis (MGCFA) to show that there was measurement noninvariance in the one factor shyness scale across the two countries and the two countries by sex. We further examined the issue of noninvariance using the newer alignment method, an approach providing detailed information on noninvariance for each country model by parameter (across intercepts and loadings) as an alternative to the MGCFA restrictive assessment of whole scale construct validation. The findings suggested acceptable approximate invariance in the shyness scale to support an unbiased comparison of mean levels between the two countries and the two countries by sex. Chinese young adults had significantly higher mean levels of shyness than Canadian young adults. Despite some limited noninvariance, we were able to conclude that the underlying construct of shyness as measured in this study was equivalent across Chinese and Canadian cultures. Findings illustrated the difficulties and importance of first establishing fundamental measurement properties and equivalence in personality constructs before inferring cross-cultural universality in complex traits and characteristics. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2022 APA, all rights reserved).

iTRAQ-based mitochondrial proteome analysis of the molecular mechanisms underlying postharvest senescence of Zizania latifolia.

To explore the molecular mechanisms underlying postharvest senescence of Zizania latifolia, the changes in the mitochondrial proteome of plants treated with or without (control) 1-methyleyelopropene and ethylene during storage at room temperature for 0, 3 and 6 days were investigated using isobaric tags for relative and absolute quantitation (iTRAQ) labeling combined with two-dimensional liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry. A total of 1,390 proteins with two or more peptides were identified, of which 211 showed a significant (p < .05) change (at least twofold) in relative abundance. Monitoring the parallel reaction validated the reliability and accuracy of the iTRAQ results. Bioinformatics and functional analysis of these differentially expressed proteins (DEPs) revealed that postharvest senescence of Z. latifolia could be attributed to (a) strengthened pentose phosphate pathway, (b) imbalanced protein, amino acid, organic acid, and fatty acid metabolism, (c) disordered energy homeostasis, (d) exacerbated oxidative damage, (e) RNA degradation, (f) activation of the Ca2+ , mitogen-activated protein kinase, and jasmonic acid signaling pathways, (g) programed cell death, (h) excessive biosynthesis of secondary metabolites, or (i) degradation of cell structure. Our findings provide integrated insight into the molecular mechanisms of postharvest senescence during storage as well as the DEPs that show promise as targets for controlling senescence-induced quality deterioration of Z. latifolia. PRACTICAL APPLICATIONS: Postharvest senescence is the most important factor that causes fast quality deterioration of Zizania latifolia. The understanding of the processes leading to postharvest senescence of Z. latifolia is essential in enhancing the commercial value and extending the shelf life of the product. It is currently believed that the mitochondrial metabolism is closely related to postharvest senescence. For this, the changes of proteome in Z. latifolia mitochondria treated with or without (control) 1-MCP and ETH during storage at room temperature were investigated. Results showed that a variety of physiobiochemical responses occur during postharvest senescence of Z. latifolia. 1-MCP treatment significantly inhibited the changes of these physiobiochemical processes, finally, retarding the postharvest senescence of Z. latifolia. ETH treatment had opposite effects on proteome changes compared with 1-MCP treatment. Taken together, these results enrich the understanding of the molecular mechanisms of postharvest senescence of Z. latifolia.