Understanding Self-Gift Consumer Behaviour in Negative Contexts in China: The Influences of Chinese interdependent notion of the self on therapeutic SGCB

While evidence of the significance of Self-Gift Consumer Behaviour (SGCB) in Western cultures has been shown in the prior research, particularly in the United States, there is little understanding of this behaviour in collectivist cultures. Given its self-driven nature, further investigations on SGCB have been called for to address the possible cultural differences in Confucian societies. This paper responses to calls, and seeks to theoretically contribute to the field of consumer behaviour from a global perspective and from the point of view of consumers, by offering a Confucian conceptualization of SGCB. 14 in-depth interviews with Chinese consumers through online video calls are employed to affirm the existence of SGCB in China, and further to gain an insight into motivations for and emotions related to SGCB, with a particular focus on negative contexts. Findings show that Chinese people with interdependent selves use therapeutic SGCB as a way of caring oneself, pretending to be strong to preserve face, or asserting one’s identity in negative contexts. The therapeutic roles of SGCB to relieve stress and escape from certain feelings are also supported by the interview findings. Besides, emotions mediate the effects of the antecedents of SGCB and of the therapeutic nature of SGCB. The researcher suggests that the meaning of this distinct form of consumer behaviour in Confucian societies should be reflected by academics

Validation of Worst-Case and Statistical Models for an Automotive EMC Expert System

Previous papers have presented algorithms for an EMC expert system used to predict potential electromagnetic compatibility problems in a vehicle early in the design process. Here, the accuracy of inductive and capacitive coupling algorithms are verified through representative measurements of crosstalk within an automobile. Worst-case estimates used by the algorithms are compared to measured values and are compared to values estimated using statistical methods. The worst-case algorithms performed well up to 10-20 MHz, but overestimated measured results by several dB in some cases and up to 10-15 dB in others. An approximate statistical variation of the current expert system algorithms also worked well and can help avoid overestimation of problems; however, worst-case estimates better ensure that problems will not be missed, especially in the absence of complete system information

High preoperative white blood cell count determines poor prognosis and is associated with an immunosuppressive microenvironment in colorectal cancer

BackgroundThe correlation between high white blood cell (WBC) count and poor prognosis has been identified in various types of cancer; however, the clinical significance and immune context of WBC count in colorectal cancer remains unclear.MethodsBetween February 2009 and November 2014, 7,433 patients at the Shanghai Cancer Center who had undergone elective surgery for colorectal cancer were enrolled in this retrospective cohort study. Patients were divided into two groups: low and high preoperative WBC groups. Propensity score matching was used to address the differences in baseline characteristics. The Kaplan–Meier method and Cox regression analysis were used to identify independent prognostic factors in colorectal cancer patients. Tumor-infiltrating immune cells in the high and low preoperative WBC groups were compared using immunohistochemical staining.ResultsOf the 7,433 patients who underwent colorectal cancer surgery and were available for analysis, 5,750 were included in the low preoperative WBC group, and 1,683 were included in the high preoperative WBC group. After propensity score matching, 1,553 patients were included in each group. Kaplan–Meier survival curves showed that a high preoperative WBC count was associated with a decreased overall survival (P = 0.002) and disease-free survival (P = 0.003), and that preoperative WBC count was an independent risk factor for overall survival (hazard ratio, 1.234; 95% confidence interval, 1.068–1.426; P = 0.004) and disease-free survival (hazard ratio, 1.210; 95% confidence interval, 1.047–1.397, P = 0.01). Compared to the low preoperative WBC group, the high preoperative WBC group exhibited higher expression of regulatory T cells (P = 0.0034), CD68+ macrophages (P = 0.0071), and CD66b+ neutrophils (P = 0.0041); increased expression of programmed cell death protein 1 (P = 0.005) and programmed cell death ligand 1 (P = 0.0019); and lower expression of CD8+ T cells (P = 0.0057) in colorectal cancer patients.ConclusionsOur research indicates that a high preoperative WBC count is a prognostic indicator in colorectal cancer patients and is associated with an immunosuppressive tumor microenvironment, which could aid in future risk stratification

Understanding Self-Gift Consumer Behaviour in Negative Contexts in China: The Influences of Chinese interdependent notion of the self on therapeutic SGCB

While evidence of the significance of Self-Gift Consumer Behaviour (SGCB) in Western cultures has been shown in the prior research, particularly in the United States, there is little understanding of this behaviour in collectivist cultures. Given its self-driven nature, further investigations on SGCB have been called for to address the possible cultural differences in Confucian societies. This paper responses to calls, and seeks to theoretically contribute to the field of consumer behaviour from a global perspective and from the point of view of consumers, by offering a Confucian conceptualization of SGCB. 14 in-depth interviews with Chinese consumers through online video calls are employed to affirm the existence of SGCB in China, and further to gain an insight into motivations for and emotions related to SGCB, with a particular focus on negative contexts. Findings show that Chinese people with interdependent selves use therapeutic SGCB as a way of caring oneself, pretending to be strong to preserve face, or asserting one’s identity in negative contexts. The therapeutic roles of SGCB to relieve stress and escape from certain feelings are also supported by the interview findings. Besides, emotions mediate the effects of the antecedents of SGCB and of the therapeutic nature of SGCB. The researcher suggests that the meaning of this distinct form of consumer behaviour in Confucian societies should be reflected by academics

Preoperative anemia and long-term survival in patients undergoing colorectal cancer surgery: a retrospective cohort study

Abstract Background The impact of preoperative anemia on a survival outcome and the importance of correcting preoperative anemia in patients with colorectal cancer (CRC) remain controversial. This study aimed to explore how preoperative anemia affects the long-term survival of patients undergoing colorectal cancer surgery. Methods This was a retrospective cohort study in which adult patients underwent surgical resection for colorectal cancer between January 1, 2008, and December 31, 2014, at a large tertiary cancer center. A total of 7436 patients were enrolled in this study. Anemia was defined according to the diagnostic criteria of China (hemoglobin level < 110 g/L for women and < 120 g/L for men). The median follow-up time was 120.5 months (10.0 years). Inverse probability of treatment weighting (IPTW) using the propensity score was used to reduce selection bias. Overall survival (OS) and disease-free survival (DFS) were compared between patients with and without preoperative anemia using the Kaplan–Meier estimator and the weighted log-rank test based on IPTW. Univariate and multivariate Cox proportional hazards models were used to assess factors associated with OS and DFS. Multivariable Cox regression was also used to assess red blood cell (RBC) transfusion associations between preoperative anemia and outcomes. Results After IPTW adjustment, clinical profiles were similar, except that tumor location and TNM stage remained imbalanced between the preoperative anemia and preoperative non-anemia groups (p < 0.001). IPTW analysis showed that the 5-year OS rate (71.3 vs. 78.6%, p < 0.001) and the 5-year DFS rate (63.9 vs. 70.9%, p < 0.001) were significantly lower in the preoperative anemia group. Multivariate analysis showed that preoperative anemia was associated with poorer OS and DFS, while RBC transfusion may improve OS (hazard ratio [HR] 0.54, p = 0.054) and DFS (HR 0.50, p = 0.020) in CRC patients with preoperative anemia. Conclusions Preoperative anemia is an independent risk factor for survival in patients undergoing colorectal surgery. Strategies to reduce preoperative anemia in patients with CRC should be considered

HOXC6: A promising biomarker linked to an immunoevasive microenvironment in colorectal cancer based on TCGA analysis and cohort validation

HOXC6 plays an essential part of the carcinogenesis of solid tumors, but its functional relevance within the immune contexture in patients with colorectal cancer (CRC) is still uncertain. We intended to investigate the predictive value of HOXC6 expression for survival outcomes and its correlation with immune contexture in CRC patients by utilizing the Cancer Genome Atlas database (n = 619). Validation was performed in cohorts from Zhongshan Hospital (n = 200) and Shanghai Cancer Center (n = 300). Immunohistochemical (IHC) staining was utilized to compare the levels of immunocytes infiltrating the tumor between the groups with high and low expression of HOXC6. Elevated levels of HOXC6 expression in CRC tissues were linked to malignant progression and poor prognosis. HOXC6 as a risk factor for survival of CRC patients was confirmed. Receiver operating characteristic analysis confirmed its diagnostic value, and a reliable prognostic nomogram was constructed. KEGG analysis and GSEA showed that HOXC6 participated in immune regulation, and its expression was tightly linked to the abundance of infiltrating immunocytes. HOXC6 was upregulated in patients diagnosed with CRC within the two cohorts, and high HOXC6 levels were correlated with a worse prognosis. The high-HOXC6 expression group showed increased infiltration of Treg cells, CD68+ macrophages, CD66b+ neutrophils, and CD8+ T-cells and elevated levels of PD-L1 and PD-1, but decreased levels of granzyme B and perforin. These findings suggest that HOXC6 abundance in patients with CRC determines a poor prognosis, promotes an immunoevasive environment, and directs CD8+ T-cell dysfunction. HOXC6 is expected to become a prospective biomarker for the outcome of CRC

2023 International African Swine Fever Workshop : Critical Issues That Need to Be Addressed for ASF Control

Altres ajuts: USDA Foreign Agricultural Service USDA-FAS-10960-0700-10.-22-0002The 2023 International African Swine Fever Workshop (IASFW) took place in Beijing, China, on 18-20 September 2023. It was jointly organized by the U.S.-China Center for Animal Health (USCCAH) at Kansas State University (KSU) and the Chinese Veterinary Drug Association (CVDA) and sponsored by the United States Department of Agriculture Foreign Agricultural Service (USDA-FAS), Harbin Veterinary Research Institute, and Zoetis Inc. The objective of this workshop was to provide a platform for ASF researchers around the world to unite and share their knowledge and expertise on ASF control and prevention. A total of 24 outstanding ASF research scientists and experts from 10 countries attended this meeting. The workshop included presentations on current ASF research, opportunities for scientific collaboration, and discussions of lessons and experiences learned from China/Asia, Africa, and Europe. This article summarizes the meeting highlights and presents some critical issues that need to be addressed for ASF control and prevention in the future

2023 International African Swine Fever Workshop: Critical Issues That Need to Be Addressed for ASF Control

The 2023 International African Swine Fever Workshop (IASFW) took place in Beijing, China, on 18–20 September 2023. It was jointly organized by the U.S.-China Center for Animal Health (USCCAH) at Kansas State University (KSU) and the Chinese Veterinary Drug Association (CVDA) and sponsored by the United States Department of Agriculture Foreign Agricultural Service (USDA-FAS), Harbin Veterinary Research Institute, and Zoetis Inc. The objective of this workshop was to provide a platform for ASF researchers around the world to unite and share their knowledge and expertise on ASF control and prevention. A total of 24 outstanding ASF research scientists and experts from 10 countries attended this meeting. The workshop included presentations on current ASF research, opportunities for scientific collaboration, and discussions of lessons and experiences learned from China/Asia, Africa, and Europe. This article summarizes the meeting highlights and presents some critical issues that need to be addressed for ASF control and prevention in the future.This ASF workshop is supported by a grant from the USDA Foreign Agricultural Service (FAS, USDA-FAS-10960-0700-10.-22-0002) and sponsorships from Harbin Veterinary Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences (CAAS) and Zoetis.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

2023 International African Swine Fever Workshop: Critical Issues That Need to Be Addressed for ASF Control.

The 2023 International African Swine Fever Workshop (IASFW) took place in Beijing, China, on 18-20 September 2023. It was jointly organized by the U.S.-China Center for Animal Health (USCCAH) at Kansas State University (KSU) and the Chinese Veterinary Drug Association (CVDA) and sponsored by the United States Department of Agriculture Foreign Agricultural Service (USDA-FAS), Harbin Veterinary Research Institute, and Zoetis Inc. The objective of this workshop was to provide a platform for ASF researchers around the world to unite and share their knowledge and expertise on ASF control and prevention. A total of 24 outstanding ASF research scientists and experts from 10 countries attended this meeting. The workshop included presentations on current ASF research, opportunities for scientific collaboration, and discussions of lessons and experiences learned from China/Asia, Africa, and Europe. This article summarizes the meeting highlights and presents some critical issues that need to be addressed for ASF control and prevention in the future

Cobalt nitride as a novel cocatalyst to boost photocatalytic CO₂ reduction

Photocatalytic CO₂ reduction has been regarded as an appealing pathway for CO₂ conversion to hydrocarbon fuels. To boost the CO₂ photoreduction performance, developing suitable cocatalyst on the photocatalysts is an efficient strategy. Herein, Co₂N is employed as novel noble-metal-free cocatalyst to promote the CO₂ photoreduction performance of BiOBr ultrathin nanosheets. The optimal Co₂N/BiOBr delivers a high selectivity CO formation rate of 67.8 µmol g−1 h−1 in pure water without sacrificial reagent or extra photosensitizer, roughly 6 times higher than BiOBr. Co2N can create strong electronic interactions with BiOBr, steering the electron transfer from BiOBr, across the interface to metallic Co₂N and finally to the surface. Apart from the charge separation steering, the activation energy barrier can be lowered on Co₂N surface via stabilize COOH* intermediates, tuning the rate-limiting step from the formation of COOH* on BiOBr to the formation of CO* on Co₂N, jointly optimize the CO₂ photoreduction activity. This strategy affords an accessible pathway for designing cocatalysts for efficient CO₂ photoreduction.Ministry of Education (MOE)This work was financially supported by Singapore National Research Foundation under NRF RF Award No. MOE2016-T2-1-131, Tier 1 2017- T1-001-075, MOE2018-T3-1-002, Tier 1 (RG104/18), and Ministry of Education - Singapore AcRF Tier 2 under Grant Nos. 2017-T2-2-069 and 2018-T2-01-010. The computational work for this article was fully carried out on National Supercomputing Centre, Singapore (https://www.nscc.sg)