Relationship between learners' L2 Motivational Self System and parental investment behavior in learners' English learning.

Students' motivation and learning behavior are significantly impacted by parents' participation and investment. It has been demonstrated that parental investment behavior could exert a direct effect on students' L2 Motivational Self System (L2MSS) mediated by parental investment belief. Nevertheless, the relationship between components of parental investment behavior and students' language learning motivation remains a topic necessitating further scholarly investigation. In response to this gap, we conducted a quantitative study involving a survey of 900 high school students to explore the relationship between students' English learning motivation, as conceptualized by the L2 Motivational Self System and parental investment behavior based on a four-component model. The findings in this study indicated that high school students exhibited moderate levels of L2MSS and relatively low levels of parental investment behavior. Moreover, students' L2MSS was found to have a significant positive correlation with the global parental investment behavior, with parental emotional investment behavior emerging as a positive predictor of high school students' L2MSS. These results underscore the importance of parental provision of sufficient economic, relationship, knowledge, and emotional support in cultivating a nurturing and supportive familial context conducive to the development of students' positive future selves.

Protective efficacy and immune responses of largemouth bass (Micropterus salmoides) immunized with an inactivated vaccine against the viral hemorrhagic septicemia virus genotype IVa.

Viral hemorrhagic septicemia virus (VHSV) poses a significant threat to the aquaculture industry, prompting the need for effective preventive measures. Here, we developed an inactivated VHSV and revealed the molecular mechanisms underlying the host's protective response against VHSV. The vaccine was created by treating VHSV with 0.05% formalin at 16°C for 48 h, which was determined to be the most effective inactivation method. Compared with nonvaccinated fish, vaccinated fish exhibited a remarkable increase in survival rate (99%) and elevated levels of serum neutralizing antibodies, indicating strong immunization. To investigate the gene changes induced by vaccination, RNA sequencing was performed on spleen samples from control and vaccinated fish 14 days after vaccination. The analysis revealed 893 differentially expressed genes (DEGs), with notable upregulation of immune-related genes such as annexin A1a, coxsackievirus and adenovirus receptor homolog, V-set domain-containing T-cell activation inhibitor 1-like, and heat shock protein 90 alpha class A member 1 tandem duplicate 2, indicating a vigorous innate immune response. Furthermore, KEGG enrichment analysis highlighted significant enrichment of DEGs in processes related to antigen processing and presentation, necroptosis, and viral carcinogenesis. GO enrichment analysis further revealed enrichment of DEGs related to the regulation of type I interferon (IFN) production, type I IFN production, and negative regulation of viral processes. Moreover, protein-protein interaction network analysis identified central hub genes, including IRF3 and HSP90AA1.2, suggesting their crucial roles in coordinating the immune response elicited by the vaccine. These findings not only confirm the effectiveness of our vaccine formulation but also offer valuable insights into the underlying immunological mechanisms, which can be valuable for future vaccine development and disease management in the aquaculture industry.

Innovative Approach to Chiral Polyurethanes: Asymmetric Copolymerization with Isocyanates.

The introduction of nitrogen-containing functional groups to chiral polymer backbones enables the tailoring of physical properties and offers opportunities for further post-polymerization modification. However, the substrate scope of such polymers is extremely limited because monomers having nitrogen-containing groups can change coordination state with respect to the metal centers, thus decreasing the activity and enantioselectivity and even poisoning the catalyst completely. In this paper, we report our attempts to carry out the asymmetric copolymerization of meso-epoxide with highly reactive isocyanates. In particular, we found that biphenol-linked bimetallic Co(III) complexes with multiple chiral centers are very efficient in catalyzing this asymmetric copolymerization reaction, affording optically active polyurethanes with a completely alternating nature and a high enantioselectivity of up to 94 % ee. Crucially, we identified that the steric hindrance at the phenolate ortho position of the ligand strongly influences the catalytic activity and product enantioselectivity. In addition, density functional theory calculations revealed that the highly sterically bulky substituents change the mechanism from bimetallic to monometallic, and result in the unexpected inversion of the chiral induction direction. Moreover, the high stereoregularity of the produced polyurethanes enhances their thermal stability, and they can be selectively decomposed into oxazolidinones. This study offers a versatile methodology for the synthesis of chiral polymers containing nitrogen functionalities.

Application of empathy theory in the study of the effectiveness and timeliness of information dissemination in regional public health events.

Introduction: This study examines the role of empathy theory in enhancing the effectiveness and timeliness of information dissemination during regional public health events, with a focus on the SARS and COVID-19 pandemics as case studies. Utilizing an anthropological interview method, the research delves into the public's transformation from passive recipients to active participants in information dissemination, emphasizing the impact of empathy. Objective: The study aims to evaluate the application of empathy theory in the context of public health emergencies and to determine its influence on the quality of information dissemination and public engagement. Methods: The research involved two distinct surveys, each collecting 50 questionnaires from participants in different regions, to capture a diverse range of perspectives. The surveys assessed participants' views on information dissemination, their levels of empathy, and their behaviors in receiving and sharing health-related information. Results: The findings indicate that empathy plays a crucial role in facilitating the active involvement of the public in information dissemination. There is a notable difference in the public's emotional response and information sharing behaviors between regions with direct experience of the health events and those less affected. Conclusion: The study concludes that empathy theory, when applied to information dissemination during public health emergencies, can significantly improve the public's engagement and the overall effectiveness of communication strategies. The results underscore the need for empathetic communication to foster a sense of solidarity and collective action in response to public health crises.

Electrochemical ring-opening carboxylation of cyclic carbonate with carbon dioxide.

Electroreductive ring-opening carboxylation of styrene carbonates with CO2 to achieve dicarboxylic acids and/or ß-hydroxy acids has been developed via the selective cleavage of the C(sp3)-O bond in cyclic carbonates. The product selectivity is probably determined by the stability and reactivity of the key benzylic radical and carbanion intermediate.

Iron-catalyzed selective construction of indole derivatives via oxidative C(sp3)-H functionalization of indolin-2-ones.

Considering the importance of developing powerful catalysts and the pharmacophore characteristics of indole derivatives, we describe a switchable approach for the iron-catalyzed oxidative C(sp3)-H functionalization of indolin-2-ones. Selective transformations displayed excellent activity and chemoselectivity using FeCl2 as the catalyst, air as the oxidant, and alcohol as the solvent. By manipulating the reaction conditions, particularly the choice of solvent, catalyst loading, and reaction sequence, a series of valuable indole derivatives, including isatins and symmetrical and nonsymmetrical isoindigos, were selectively synthesized in good to excellent yields. Furthermore, the gram-scale synthesis of compounds with biological anticancer activity under simple conditions highlights their great potential in practical applications.

Closed-loop recycling of sulfur-rich polymers with tunable properties spanning thermoplastics, elastomers, and vitrimers.

The development of closed-loop recycling polymers that exhibit excellent performance is of great significance. Sulfur-rich polymers possessing excellent optical, thermal, and mechanical properties are promising candidates for chemical recycling but lack efficient synthetic strategies for achieving diverse structures. Herein, we report a universal synthetic strategy for producing polytrithiocarbonates, a class of sulfur-rich polymers, via the polycondensation of dithiols and dimethyl trithiocarbonate. This strategy has excellent compatibility with a wide range of monomers, including aliphatic, heteroatomic, and aromatic dithiols enabling the synthesis of polytrithiocarbonates with diverse structures. The present synthesis strategy offers a versatile platform for the construction of thermoplastics, elastomers, and vitrimers. Notably, these polytrithiocarbonates can be easily depolymerized via solvolysis into the corresponding monomers, which can be repolymerized to virgin polymers without changing the material properties.

Stereoregular poly(2-phenylthiirane) via cationic ring-opening polymerization.

Herein, we describe an effective strategy for synthesizing polythioethers with a well-defined structure through the cationic polymerization of thiirane with electron-withdrawing substituents. This strategy allows for precisely controlling the regio- and stereochemistry of the ring-opening polymerization of 2-phenylthiirane, thus allowing for producing poly(2-phenylthiirane) with high stereoregularity using enantiomeric pure thiirane.

Smoking affects symptom improvement in schizophrenia: a prospective longitudinal study of male patients with first-episode schizophrenia.

Patients with schizophrenia (SCZ) smoke up to three times more than general people. However, there are conflicting results regarding the relationship between tobacco smoke and clinical symptom severity in SCZ. The aim of this study was to assess the impact of smoking on clinical symptoms after antipsychotic treatment in a 12-week cohort study after controlling for confounding factors. One hundred and forty-five male patients with drug-naïve first-episode (DNFE) SCZ received antipsychotic monotherapy for 12 weeks. Symptom severity was assessed at baseline and at week 12 by the Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale (PANSS). We found no differences in clinical symptoms among male smokers with SCZ compared with male nonsmokers. However, male smokers showed greater improvement in negative symptoms after 12 weeks of treatment, controlling for age, years of education, onset age, and baseline body mass index (BMI). Our study showed that after 12 weeks of treatment with antipsychotics, male smokers showed greater improvement in negative symptoms than male nonsmokers.

The neutrophil-lymphocyte ratio in first-episode medication-naïve patients with schizophrenia: A 12-week longitudinal follow-up study.

Inflammation has been related to schizophrenia (SZ). The neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR) is an inexpensive inflammatory marker, however, its potential predictive value in patients with SZ has not been extensively investigated. This study aimed to examine whether NLR could predict the clinical response to antipsychotics in this population. One hundred and ninety-five medication-naïve first-episode schizophrenia (MNFES) patients were recruited and received treatment with risperidone for 12 weeks in the present study. Clinical symptoms were evaluated at week 0 and the end of 12 weeks of treatment using the PANSS scales. Complete blood counts were determined at baseline. We found that baseline NEU counts and NLR were positively associated with improvements in clinical symptoms in patients. In addition, MNFES patients with higher baseline NLR values showed a better treatment response to antipsychotics. Linear regression analysis revealed a predictive role of baseline NLR for the improvements of clinical symptoms in SZ patients. Our findings demonstrate that higher NLR was related to better improvements in symptoms after 12 weeks of treatment with antipsychotics, which renders it a promising biomarker of the response to antipsychotics in clinical practice.

A Powerful Strategy for Synthesizing Block Copolymers via Bimetallic Synergistic Catalysis.

Block copolymers, comprising polyether and polyolefin segments, are an important and promising category of functional materials. However, the lack of efficient strategies for the construction of polyether-b-polyolefin block copolymers have hindered the development of these materials. Herein, we propose a simple and efficient method to obtain various block copolymers through the copolymerization of epoxides and acrylates via bimetallic synergistic catalysis. The copolymerization of epoxides and acrylates proceeds in a sequence-controlled manner, where the epoxides-involved homo- or copolymerization occurs first, followed by the homopolymerization of acrylates initiated by the alkoxide species from the propagating polymer chain, thus yielding copolymers with a block structure. Notably, the high monomer compatibility of this powerful strategy provides a platform for synthesizing various polyacrylate-based block copolymers comprising polyether, polycarbonate, polythiocarbonate, polyester, and polyurethane segments, respectively.

Electroreductive Ring-Opening Carboxylation of 1,3-Oxazolidin-2-ones with CO2 for Accessing ß-Amino Acids.

Electrocarboxylation of the C(sp3)-O bond in 1,3-oxazolidin-2-ones with CO2 to achieve ß-amino acids is developed. The C-O bond in substrates can be selectively cleaved via the single electron transfer on the surface of a cathode or through a CO2• - intermediate under additive-free conditions. A great diversity of ß-amino acids can be obtained in a moderate to excellent yield and readily converted to various biologically active compounds.

Feedback loop regulation between viperin and viral hemorrhagic septicemia virus through competing protein degradation pathways.

Viperin is an antiviral protein that exhibits a remarkably broad spectrum of antiviral activity. Viperin-like proteins are found all kingdoms of life, suggesting it is an ancient component of the innate immune system. However, viruses have developed strategies to counteract viperin's effects. Here, we describe a feedback loop between viperin and viral hemorrhagic septicemia virus (VHSV), a common fish pathogen. We show that Lateolabrax japonicus viperin (Ljviperin) is induced by both IFN-independent and IFN-dependent pathways, with the C-terminal domain of Ljviperin being important for its anti-VHSV activity. Ljviperin exerts an antiviral effect by binding both the nucleoprotein (N) and phosphoprotein (P) of VHSV and induces their degradation through the autophagy pathway, which is an evolutionarily conserved antiviral mechanism. However, counteracting viperin's activity, N protein targets and degrades transcription factors that up-regulate Ljviperin expression, interferon regulatory factor (IRF) 1 and IRF9, through ubiquitin-proteasome pathway. Together, our results reveal a previously unknown feedback loop between viperin and virus, providing potential therapeutic targets for VHSV prevention. Importance: Viral hemorrhagic septicaemia (VHS) is a contagious disease caused by the viral hemorrhagic septicaemia virus (VHSV), which poses a threat to over 80 species of marine and freshwater fish. Currently, there are no effective treatments available for this disease. Understanding the mechanisms of VHSV-host interaction is crucial for preventing viral infections. Here, we found that, as an ancient antiviral protein, viperin degrades the N and P proteins of VHSV through the autophagy pathway. Additionally, the N protein also impacts the biological functions of IRF1 and IRF9 through the ubiquitin-proteasome pathway, leading to the suppression of viperin expression. Therefore, the N protein may serve as a potential virulence factor for the development of VHSV vaccines and screening of antiviral drugs. Our research will serve as a valuable reference for the development of strategies to prevent VHSV infections.

Copolymerization Involving Sulfur-Containing Monomers.

Incorporating sulfur (S) atoms into polymer main chains endows these materials with many attractive features, including a high refractive index, mechanical properties, electrochemical properties, and adhesive ability to heavy metal ions. The copolymerization involving S-containing monomers constitutes a facile method for effectively constructing S-containing polymers with diverse structures, readily tunable sequences, and topological structures. In this review, we describe the recent advances in the synthesis of S-containing polymers via copolymerization or multicomponent polymerization techniques concerning a variety of S-containing monomers, such as dithiols, carbon disulfide, carbonyl sulfide, cyclic thioanhydrides, episulfides and elemental sulfur (S8). Particularly, significant focus is paid to precise control of the main-chain sequence, stereochemistry, and topological structure for achieving high-value applications.

Rare Unilateral Twin Ectopic Pregnancy After Frozen Embryo Transfer: A Case Report and Literature Review.

Background: Unilateral twin ectopic pregnancy is extremely rare in natural pregnancy, with an incidence rate of only 1 in 200,000-2,500,000, represents a major health risk for reproductive-aged women, leading to even life-threatening complications. There is a lack of data on the prevalence of this rare disease after in-vitro fertilization-embryo transfer (IVF-ET) cycles. Case Report: We present a case of a 51-year-old woman with rare unilateral twin ectopic pregnancy after frozen embryo transfer treated with bilateral salpingectomy, followed by a review of the literature. Conclusion: Twin ectopic pregnancy is a very rare type of pregnancy that requires a high index of suspicion to diagnose and treat early to prevent complications and maternal death.

Thigh muscle fat fraction is independently associated with impaired glucose metabolism in individuals with obesity.

Background: The aim of this study was to address the intramuscular adipose tissue (IMAT) accumulation in the lower extremities and further detect the relationship between adipose tissue (AT) distribution in the muscle and glucose metabolism in subjects with obesity. Methods: We conducted a cross-sectional study in 120 Chinese obese adults (80 male and 40 female) with BMI ≥ 28 kg/m2. MRI was applied to access the IMAT content in lower extremities. The oral glucose tolerance test was used to evaluate the glucose metabolism and insulin secretion in all individuals. The correlations between glucose metabolism and the fat content of the lower extremities were further assessed. Results: Among 120 included subjects, 54 were classified as subjects with normal glucose tolerance (NGT) and 66 with impaired glucose regulation (IGR). We presented that those with IGR had higher fat accumulation in semitendinosus, adductor magnus, gracilis and sartorius than those with NGT (all P < 0.05). In sex-specific analyses, females have higher IMAT in adductor magnus than males (P < 0.001). Males with IGR had higher fat fraction of semitendinosus and sartorius than those with NGT (P = 0.020, P = 0.014, respectively). Logistic regression analyses revealed that IMAT content in semitendinosus was the independent factor of IGR in individuals with obesity after adjustment for age, gender, triglycerides, creatinine and albumin (odds ratio: 1.13, 95% CI: 1.02-1.26, P = 0.024). Conclusions: Increased adipose tissue accumulation in thigh muscles was associated with glucose dysregulation in patients with obesity. IMAT content in semitendinosus may serve as a possible risk factor for impaired glucose metabolism.

Azopolyesters with Intrinsic Crystallinity and Photoswitchable Reversible Solid-to-Liquid Transitions.

Herein, we introduce a variety of azopolyesters (azobenzene-based polyesters) with remarkable intrinsic crystallinity and photoinduced reversible solid-to-liquid transition abilities from copolymerization of azobenzene-based epoxides with cyclic anhydrides. The length of the soft alkyl side-chain inlaid with azobenzenes and stereoregularity of main-chain of azopolymers have tremendous effects on crystallization properties of the resulting polyesters with melting temperature (Tm ) in the range of 51-251 °C. Moreover, some of azopolyesters possess excellently photoinduced reversible solid-to-liquid transition performance thanks to trans-cis photoisomerization of azobenzenes. Trans-azopolyesters are yellow solids with Tm s or glass transition temperatures (Tg s) above room temperature, whereas cis-polymers are red liquids with Tg s below -20 °C. These azopolyesters could be applied as novel light-switchable adhesives for quartz/quartz, wood/wood and quartz/wood adhesion, with the strength in the range of 0.73-0.89 MPa for trans-polymers. Conversely, the adhesion strength of liquefied cis-azopolyesters generated from the irradiation of trans-polymers by UV light was about 0.1 MPa, which shows light enable to control the adhesion process with high spatiotemporal resolution.

The association of SOD and HsCRP with the efficacy of sulforaphane in schizophrenia patients with residual negative symptoms.

OBJECTIVES: Emerging evidence indicates a connection between oxidative stress, immune-inflammatory processes, and the negative symptoms of schizophrenia. In addition to possessing potent antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties, sulforaphane (SFN) has shown promise in enhancing cognitive function among individuals with schizophrenia. This study aims to investigate the efficacy of combined treatment with SFN in patients with schizophrenia who experience negative symptoms and its effect on the levels of superoxide dismutase (SOD) and the inflammatory marker, high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (HsCRP). DESIGN: Forty-five patients with schizophrenia were recruited, who mainly experienced negative symptoms during a stable period. In addition to the original treatments, the patients received SFN tablets at a daily dose of 90 mg for 24 weeks. At baseline, 12 weeks, and 24 weeks, the participants were interviewed and evaluated. The reduction rate of the Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale (PANSS) was used to assess each participant. The side effects scale of Treatment Emergent Symptom Scale (TESS) was applied to assess the adverse reactions. Additionally, the levels of the SOD, HsCRP, and other indicators were examined. RESULTS: The study findings revealed a significant decrease in PANSS negative subscale scores (P < 0.001). Furthermore, there was a significant increase in SOD activity and HsCRP levels (P < 0.001 and P < 0.05). Notably, the group of participants who exhibited a reduction in PANSS negative subscale scores demonstrated a significant improvement in HsCRP levels (P < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Our study suggests that SFN may potentially serve as a safe adjunctive intervention to improve the negative symptoms of schizophrenia. The potential mechanism by which SFN improves negative symptoms in schizophrenia patients may involve its anti-inflammatory properties, specifically its ability to reduce HsCRP levels. Trial registration ClinicalTrial.gov (ID: NCT03451734).

Molecular characterization, transcriptional regulation of sea perch Moloney leukemia virus 10 and its antiviral function against VHSV.

Moloney leukemia virus 10 (MOV10) is a conserved RNA helicase and has multiple biological functions in mammals, but its role remains poorly understood in bony fish. Here, we cloned a MOV10 homolog from sea perch (Lateolabrax japonicus), which contained 23 exons and 22 introns, with an open reading frame of 3000 bp encoding 1000 amino acids. Tissue distribution analysis showed that MOV10 was high expressed in blood of sea perch. Promoter analysis revealed several putative multiple transcription factors binding sites, including upstream transcription factor 1, GATA-box, transcription initiation factor IIB, activator protein 1 and two interferon (IFN) stimulated response elements. Further analysis found that IFNc, IFNh, and IFNγ could not only activate IFN regulatory factor (IRF) 1 expression which in turn led to the induction of MOV10, but also prompted the expression of IRF10 to hinder excessive MOV10 expression. Moreover, IRF2 also suppressed MOV10 expression that was initiated by IRF1. Viral hemorrhagic septicemia virus (VHSV) infection upregulated MOV10 expression in vivo and in vitro, which in turn, enhanced IFNh expression and exhibited strong antiviral activity against VHSV proliferation. This study provides a basis to investigate the immune escape of VHSV by affecting the biological function of transcription factors in the signaling pathways associated with antiviral molecules.

Sequence Control in Asymmetric Terpolymerizations of meso-Epoxides, CO2 , and Phthalic Anhydride: Unprecedented Statistical Ester-Carbonate Distributions.

The statistical terpolymerization of epoxides, CO2 and cyclic anhydrides remains challenging, mainly because epoxide/CO2 and epoxide/anhydride copolymerizations typically proceed at considerably different rates. Herein, we report the syntheses of novel chiral terpolymers with unprecedented statistical distributions of carbonate and ester units (up to 50 % junction units) via the one-pot reaction of cyclohexene oxide, phthalic anhydride, and CO2 under mild conditions using enantiopure bimetallic aluminum-complex-based catalyst systems. Notably, all resulting terpolymers exhibited excellent enantioselectivities (≥96 % ee) that were independent of the carbonate-ester distribution. The statistical compositions of the carbonate and ester units in the resulting terpolymers were determined via 1 H and 13 C NMR spectroscopies. Furthermore, thermal properties were tuned by altering the ester content of the chiral terpolymer without influencing the enantioselective ring-opening step involving the meso-epoxide. This asymmetric terpolymerization methodology is also compatible with a variety of meso-epoxides to afford the corresponding terpolymers with 17 %-25 % junction units and excellent enantioselectivities (94 %-99 % ee). The present study is expected to provide new guidelines for preparing a broad range of biodegradable polymers with excellent enantioselectivities and adjustable properties.