Country-Brand Fit: The Effect of COO Stereotypes and Brand Positioning Consistency on Consumer Behavior: Evidence From EEG Theta-Band Oscillation.

Grounded on the cognitive consistency theory, this paper adopts the prime-probe paradigm and Electroencephalography (EEG) experiment to examine the impact of country-of-origin (COO) stereotypes-brand positioning congruence on consumer behavior, the boundary effect of brand positioning strategy, as well as the underlying cognitive mechanism. Behaviorally, consumers show a higher purchase intention in the congruence condition. Moreover, this congruence effect of purchase intention can be found for competence brand positioning strategies rather than warmth brand positioning strategies. At the brain level, we found that compared with the congruence condition, the incongruence condition enhances consumers' cognitive conflict, reflected in enhanced frontal theta-band oscillation. Furthermore, the cognitive conflict effect is accentuated in the competence positioning strategy condition rather than the warmth strategy positioning condition, confirming the boundary effect of brand positioning strategy from the brain level. These findings provide neural evidence that the congruence between COO stereotypes and brand positioning influences consumer purchase behavior, reveals a boundary effect in the COO stereotype-brand positioning congruence, and highlights the importance of the competence dimension. Finally, the theoretical and practical implications are discussed.

Elevated Serum Levels of Progranulin and Soluble Vascular Cell Adhesion Molecule-1 in Patients with COVID-19.

BACKGROUND: Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection is associated with the angiocentric inflammation and angiogenesis, yet the molecules involved in this process remain to be determined. METHODS: We did a cross-sectional study of a cohort of patients with COVID-19 in Zunyi, China between February 1 and March 30, 2020. Serum concentrations of PGRN were determined by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay in patients with COVID-19 at hospital admission and at discharge. In parallel, the serum levels of soluble adhesion molecules, vascular cell adhesion molecule-1 (sVCAM-1), intercellular adhesion molecule-1 (sICAM-1), P-selectin (sP-selectin), and E-selectin (sE-selectin) were assayed by a human adhesion molecule multiplex kit. The association between serum PGRN levels and other laboratory test results was analyzed by Spearman correlation analysis. RESULTS: At baseline, the median serum PGRN levels in patients with COVID-19 were 94.8 ng/mL [interquartile range (IQR): 66.6-119.6 ng/mL], which was significantly elevated compared with those in healthy controls (46.3 ng/mL, IQR: 41.8-55.6 ng/mL). Moreover, the median serum sVCAM-1 levels were significantly higher in COVID-19 patients (1396.0 ng/mL, IQR: 1019.1-1774.8 ng/mL) than those in healthy controls (612.4 ng/mL, IQR: 466.4-689.3 ng/mL). However, the levels of sICAM-1, sP-selectin, and sE-selectin were not significantly elevated in patients with COVID-19 when compared to healthy controls. Further analysis showed that serum PGRN levels were significantly positively associated with sVCAM-1 (r= 0.675, P= 0.008) and inversely with sICAM-1 (r= -0.609, P= 0.021) and aspartate aminotransferase levels (r= -0.560, P= 0.037) in patients with COVID-19 at hospital admission. In COVID-19 patients, serum PGRN and sVCAM-1 levels fell significantly after successful treatment. CONCLUSION: The present study demonstrates elevated serum PGRN and sVCAM-1 levels in patients with COVID-19, which may provide clues as to the mechanisms underlying the pathogenesis of COVID-19. Further studies are warranted to evaluate the potential of PGRN and sVCAM-1 as biomarkers and investigate their role in the pathogenesis of COVID-19.

Discrete Heteropolynuclear Yb/Er Assemblies: Switching on Molecular Upconversion Under Mild Conditions.

The salts {[Ln2 Ln*(Hhmq)3 (OAc)3 (hfac)2 ]+ [Ln*(hfac)3 (OAc)(MeOH)]- } (Hhmq=2-methanolquinolin-8-oxide, hfac=hexafluoroacetylacetonate; Ln, Ln*=Er, Gd, Yb) feature a discrete heteronuclear cation consisting of two types of lanthanide atoms. The quinolinoxy O-atom serves as a µ2 -bridge to two Ln atoms and as a µ3 -bridge to all three atoms, with metal⋅⋅⋅metal distances being around 3.7 Å. For 1 ([Yb2 Er]+ ), near-infrared downshifted luminescence is switched to competitive upconversion luminescence upon irradiation by a 980 nm laser under an extremely low excitation power (0.288 W cm-2 ) through introduction of fluoride ions. The stability of 1 after addition of fluoride was confirmed by powder X-ray diffraction and multistage mass spectrometry, associated with the 1 H NMR of 6 ([La2 Eu]+ ). More importantly, the at least 20-fold enhancement of the quantum yield in non-deuterated solvents at room temperature under low power densities (2 W cm-2 ) is the highest among the few molecular examples reported.

How does monetary loss empathy modulate generosity in economic sharing behavior? An ERPs study.

Previous studies have shown that generosity is driven by empathy and that both generosity in economic sharing behavior and monetary loss empathy decay as the social distance increases. However, it is still unclear whether this decay in economic sharing generosity can be influenced by the decay in monetary loss empathy. In the current study, we carried out two experiments to investigate this issue to deepen our understanding of the relationship between monetary loss empathy and generosity in economic sharing behavior. Our results show that in the observation group (observers watch their friend, and a stranger plays a gambling game), a negative correlation between log-transformed k value (ln(k)) and the distinction of d-FRN (feedback-related negativity difference between gain and loss) between friends and strangers was observed. However, in the execution group (executors play a gambling game themselves and watch a stranger play the same gambling game), there was no significant correlation between ln(k) and the distinction of d-FRN between self and strangers. Current results indicate that the decayed generosity across different social distances in economic sharing behavior can be modulated by the decayed monetary loss empathy. The study adds weight to the relationship between decayed monetary loss empathy and decayed generosity in sharing economic behavior at the level of social distance and provides electrophysiological evidence.

Porcine Reproductive and Respiratory Syndrome Virus Activates Lipophagy To Facilitate Viral Replication through Downregulation of NDRG1 Expression.

Autophagy maintains cellular homeostasis by degrading organelles, proteins, and lipids in lysosomes. Autophagy is involved in the innate and adaptive immune responses to a variety of pathogens. Some viruses can hijack host autophagy to enhance their replication. However, the role of autophagy in porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome virus (PRRSV) infection is unclear. Here, we show that N-Myc downstream-regulated gene 1 (NDRG1) deficiency induced autophagy, which facilitated PRRSV replication by regulating lipid metabolism. NDRG1 mRNA is expressed ubiquitously in most porcine tissues and most strongly in white adipose tissue. PRRSV infection downregulated the expression of NDRG1 mRNA and protein, while NDRG1 deficiency contributed to PRRSV RNA replication and progeny virus assembly. NDRG1 deficiency reduced the number of intracellular lipid droplets (LDs), but the expression levels of key genes in lipogenesis and lipolysis were not altered. Our results also show that NDRG1 deficiency promoted autophagy and increased the subsequent yields of hydrolyzed free fatty acids (FFAs). The reduced LD numbers, increased FFA levels, and enhanced PRRSV replication were abrogated in the presence of an autophagy inhibitor. Overall, our findings suggest that NDRG1 plays a negative role in PRRSV replication by suppressing autophagy and LD degradation.IMPORTANCE Porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome virus (PRRSV), an enveloped single-positive-stranded RNA virus, causes acute respiratory distress in piglets and reproductive failure in sows. It has led to tremendous economic losses in the swine industry worldwide since it was first documented in the late 1980s. Vaccination is currently the major strategy used to control the disease. However, conventional vaccines and other strategies do not provide satisfactory or sustainable prevention. Therefore, safe and effective strategies to control PRRSV are urgently required. The significance of our research is that we demonstrate a previously unreported relationship between PRRSV, NDRG1, and lipophagy in the context of viral infection. Furthermore, our data point to a new role for NDRG1 in autophagy and lipid metabolism. Thus, NDRG1 and lipophagy will have significant implications for understanding PRRSV pathogenesis for developing new therapeutics.

Expression level of NUAK1 in human nasopharyngeal carcinoma and its prognostic significance.

BACKGROUND: Nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) is notable for its high incidence rates in select geographic and ethnic populations, especially among Chinese and Malay populations in Southeastern Asia. However, relevant biomarkers for the development and prognosis of NPC are not yet clear; therefore, discovering novel biomarkers will facilitate prediction of prognosis and development of targeted therapeutic tactics. This study aims to quest the potential prognostic value of NUAK1 (a downstream member of Akt) in NPC. METHODS: Immunohistochemistry was performed to measure the expression of NUAK1 in paraffin-embedded NPC samples. Statistical analysis, encompassing chi-square tests and Student's t test, was also employed to evaluate the association between the expression of NUAK1 and clinicopathologic features. In addition, the survival analysis was used to detect the prognostic significance of NUAK1 in NPC. RESULTS: Excessive expression of NUAK1 was found in NPC tissues at mRNA levels. Statistical analysis revealed a correlation of NUAK1 expression with maximum neck lymph node diameter (p = 0.025) and WHO histological type (p = 0.021). Furthermore, according to survival analysis, there was clinical relevance between the upregulation of NUAK1 in NPC and DFS. Subgroup analysis indicated that the expression of NUAK1 was strongly associated with DFS (p = 0.027) and OS (p = 0.026) duration in the patients of N1-3 tumors, but not in patients with N0 tumors. The expression of NUAK1 was also strongly associated with OS (p = 0.044) and DFS (p = 0.007) in patients of late stage tumour (UICC3-5), but not in patients of early stage tumour (UICC1-2). In addition, COX regression illustrated that N classification and NUAK1 expression were independent prognostic factors for disease-free survival. CONCLUSION: Our study postulated that NUAK1 is excessively expressed in NPC and may serve as a potential predictor of prognosis for NPC.

Maintenance of cyclic GMP-AMP homeostasis by ENPP1 is involved in pseudorabies virus infection.

In a previous study, we demonstrated that porcine cyclic GMP-AMP (cGAMP) synthase (cGAS) catalyzes cGAMP production and is an important DNA sensor for the pseudorabies virus (PRV)-induced activation of interferon ß (IFN-ß). Ectonucleotide pyrophosphatase phosphodiesterase 1 (ENPP1) has recently been identified as the hydrolase of cGAMP in rodents, but its role in porcine cells is not clear. Our recent study demonstrated that porcine ENPP1 is responsible for the homeostasis of cGAMP and is critical for PRV infection. Porcine ENPP1 mRNA is predominantly expressed in muscle. PRV infection was enhanced by ENPP1 overexpression and attenuated by silencing of ENPP1. During PRV infection, the activation of IFN-ß and NF-κB was reduced in ENPP1 overexpressed cells and promoted in ENPP1 knockdown cells. Investigation of the molecular mechanisms of ENPP1 during PRV infection showed that ENPP1 hydrolyzed cGAMP in PRV-infected or cGAMP-transfected cells and inhibited IRF3 phosphorylation, reducing IFN-ß secretion. These results, combined with those for porcine cGAS, demonstrate that ENPP1 acts coordinately with cGAS to maintain the reservoir of cGAMP and participates in PRV infection.

A novel monomethoxy polyethylene glycol-polylactic acid polymeric micelles with higher loading capacity for docetaxel and well-reconstitution characteristics and its anti-metastasis study.

Docetaxel (DTX) is hydrophobic, and its available formulations (Taxotere(®) & Duopafei(®)) require Tween80 and ethanol vehicle to allow parental administration. DTX-loaded poly(D,L-lactide)-b-polyethylene glycol-methoxy (mPEG-b-PDLLA) polymeric micelle (PM) is a Tween80-free formulation of DTX, which has been extensively studied but rarely involved with industrialization issues. In this work, novel DTX-PM with improved loading capacity and well-reconsitution ability was developed. The freeze-dried DTX-PM was analyzed by HPLC, transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and dynamic light scattering (DLS) to determine the DTX loading, micelle morphology and size respectively. The in vitro cytotoxic activity of DTX-PM in 4T1 cells was evaluated by 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide (MTT) assay and the corresponding in vivo study was assessed in BALB/c mice bearing 4T1 tumor through intravenous administration. The DTX-loading and efficiency into the micelles were 20.74±1.23% and 93.7±1.03% respectively, which was much higher than ever reported PM. The DTX-PM was spherical with a mean particle size of 16.62±0.31 nm, which suggested that they were able to selectively accumulate in solid tumors by enhanced permeability and retention (EPR) effect. Another important characteristic of DTX-PM is the long term storage and reuses as aqueous injection solution. Many kinds of lyoprotectants were also investigated and dextrose was found to an excellent one. Compared with Duopafei(®), DTX-PM showed better cytotoxicity and anti-metastasis ability against 4T1 cells in vitro and in vivo. In conclusion, DTX-PM significantly enhanced drug-loading capacity of DTX and had well-reconsitution ability, which could be a promising drug delivery system for clinic.