Introduction
Resilience has been associated with psychological adaptation to many threatening life events, but previous studies have rarely analysed the integrated relationships among demographic and ...disease characteristics and various health outcomes in Taiwan. This study examined the associations among demographic factors, disease characteristics, resilience, coping styles and adverse health outcomes, including anxiety and depressive symptoms and sleep disorders.
Methods
A descriptive, cross‐sectional study design was used. Data from a convenience sample of 175 patients with breast cancer aged 20 years or older were collected using a self‐reported questionnaire. A structural equation modelling approach was applied to examine the relationships among the variables.
Results
The results showed that greater resilience was related to fewer depressive symptoms, lower anxiety levels and better sleep quality. All three coping styles, including active coping, minimising the situation and avoidance coping, were negatively correlated with depressive symptoms, but only active coping was significantly correlated with sleep quality. Resilience had a direct effect on depressive symptoms, anxiety and sleep disorders. Furthermore, a mediating effect of resilience was observed on the relationship between marital satisfaction and depressive symptoms.
Conclusion
Resilience can strengthen breast cancer‐related adaptation. Additionally, breast cancer survivors who used mainly the active and minimising coping styles tended to experience fewer depressive symptoms.
Sol–gel thin films of amorphous LaNbO
x
(LNO) were prepared to study the bipolar resistive switching (BRS) properties of Metal/LNO/ITO devices. We investigated the influences of film thickness, top ...electrode, annealing temperature, post-metal annealing (PMA), and bilayer structure on the resistive switching (RS) characteristics. In comparison to the as-deposited LNO thin film devices, the PMA-treated devices demonstrated better RS characteristics, with lower set/reset voltages (V
Set
/V
Reset
= − 2.26V/0.9V), longer switching cycles (2466 cycles), and a > 10
1
R
on
/R
off
ratio. Furthermore, at 85 °C, the retention time exceeded 10
4
s, similar to the retention time at room temperature, indicating that random access memory (RRAM) may effectively function over 10 years. The improvement in RS characteristics can be attributed to the formation of an AlO
x
layer between the upper electrode and the insulating layer after PMA treatment, which increases the oxygen vacancy content and facilitates Al ion diffusion. The addition of a bilayer of Al was implemented to increase the thickness of AlO
x
, thereby improving the R
on
/R
off
ratio. However, this addition also degrades the RS properties of the device. Furthermore, the space charge-limited current (SCLC) conduction mechanism dominates in the high resistance state (HRS), while ohmic conduction prevails in the low resistance state (LRS) of the devices.
Novel ZnV2O6 ceramic was synthesized using the solid-state process. A single monoclinic crystalline phase with a space group C2/m was detected at the sintering temperatures ranging from 580 to ...670 °C. The correlations between the chemical bond parameters and microwave dielectric properties were analyzed using the P-V-L bond theory. The full width at half maximum (FWHM) of the most intense Raman peak at 914 cm–1 is inversely proportional to the Q×f value. The ZnV2O6 ceramic can be well-sintered at 640 °C to exhibit an excellent combination of microwave dielectric properties (εr =14.6, Q×f =46,000 GHz and τf =–42 ppm/°C). Additionally, the specimen sintered at 580 °C (εr =13.2, Q×f =28,000 GHz and τf =–5.2 ppm/°C) is also suggested for highly thermal-stable applications. Both samples can be used as ultra-low-temperature co-fired ceramics (ULTCCs) for high-frequency applications.
We investigated the soil microbiologic characteristics, and the yield and sustainable production of winter wheat, by conducting a long-term fertilization experiment. A single application of N, P and ...K （NPK） fertilizer was taken as the control （CK） and three organic fertilization treatments were used： NPK fertilizer＋pig manure （T1）, NPK fertilizer＋straw return （T2）, NPK fertilizer＋pig manure＋straw return （T3）. The results showed that all three organic fertilization treatments （T1, T2 and T3） significantly increased both soil total N （STN） and soil organic carbon （SOC） from 2008 onwards. In 2016, the SOC content and soil C/N ratios for T1, T2 and T3 were significantly higher than those for CK. The three organic fertilization treatments increased soil microbial activity. In 2016, the activity of urease （sucrase） and the soil respiration rate （SRS） for T1, T2 and T3 were significantly higher than those under CK. The organic fertilization treatments also increased the content of soil microbial biomass carbon （SMBC） and microbial biomass nitrogen （SMBN）, the SMBC/SMBN ratio and the microbial quotient （qMB）. The yield for T1, T2 and T3 was significantly higher than that of CK, respectively. Over the nine years of the investigation, the average yield increased by 9.9, 13.2 and 17.4% for T1, T2 and T3, respectively, compared to the initial yield for each treatment, whereas the average yield of CK over the same period was reduced by 6.5%. T1, T2, and T3 lowered the coefficient of variation （CV） of wheat yield and increased the sustainable yield index （SYI）. Wheat grain yield was significantly positively correlated with each of the soil microbial properties （P〈0.01）. These results showed that the long-term application of combined organic and chemical fertilizers can stabilize crop yield and make it more sustainable by improving the properties of the soil.
A novel low-loss and ultra-low temperature sinterable microwave dielectric material, AgZnVO4, was systematically investigated for the first time. The material exhibited a monoclinic structure with a ...space group P21/n, obtained by conventional solid-state processing. The material also showed combined microwave dielectric properties of εr = 10.3, Q×f = 42,000 GHz, and τf = –9.2 ppm/°C for specimens sintered at 540 °C. The partial substitution of Mg for Zn in the Ag(Zn1−xMgx)VO4 ceramics effectively improved the densification and reduced the dielectric loss of the ceramics. X-ray diffraction patterns revealed a single solid solution phase of Ag(Zn1−xMgx)VO4. The relative density, dielectric polarizability, packing fraction, lattice energy, and bond valence of the samples were calculated. An excellent combination of the microwave dielectric properties was obtained for Ag(Zn0.97Mg0.03)VO4 ceramic sintered at 540 °C: εr = 10.6, Q×f = 52,000 GHz, and τf = –10 ppm/°C. Additionally, the ceramic exhibited good chemical compatibility with aluminum electrodes, indicating great potential for ultra-low temperature co-fired ceramics (ULTCC) applications, particularly in the microwave and millimeter wave regions.
•First systematic investigation of low-loss, ultra-low temperature sinterable AgZnVO4 microwave dielectric.•AgZn0.97Mg0.03VO4 ceramic at 540°C achieved optimized dielectric properties: εr = 10.6, Q×f = 52,000 GHz, and τf = –10 ppm/°C.•It showed great chemical compatibility with aluminum during co-firing, indicating promise for ULTCC applications.•A 5G millimeter wave patch antenna was designed for the AZMV ceramic.
TIAM Rac1‐associated GEF 2 short form (TIAM2S) as an oncoprotein alters the immunity of peripheral immune cells to construct an inflammatory tumor microenvironment. However, its role in the ...activation of microglia, the primary innate immune cells of the brain, and neuroinflammation remains unknown. This study investigated the mechanism underlying TIAM2S shapes immune properties of microglia to facilitate neuron damage. Human microglial clone 3 cell line (HMC3) and human brain samples were applied to determine the presence of TIAM2S in microglia by western blots and double immunostaining. Furthermore, TIAM2S transgenic mice combined with multiple reconstituted primary neuron–glial culture systems and a cytokine array were performed to explore how TIAM2S shaped immune priming of microglia and participated in lipopolysaccharide (LPS)‐induced neuron damage. TIAM2S protein was detectable in HMC3 cells and presented in a small portion (~11.1%) of microglia in human brains referred to as TIAM2S‐positive microglia. With the property of secreted soluble factor‐mediated immune priming, TIAM2S‐positive microglia enhanced LPS‐induced neuroinflammation and neural damage in vivo and in vitro. The gain‐ and loss‐of‐function experiments showed soluble intercellular adhesion molecule‐1 (sICAM‐1) participated in neurotoxic immune priming of TIAM2S+ microglia. Together, this study demonstrated a novel TIAM2S‐positive microglia subpopulation enhances inflammation and neurotoxicity through sICAM‐1‐mediated immune priming.
A novel TIAM2S‐positive (TIAM2S+; ~11% of total microglia) microglia population in human brains is identified. TIAM2S+ microglia have a higher level of soluble intercellular adhesion molecule‐1 (sICAM‐1) than that of TIAM2S‐negative (TIAM2S‐; ~89% of total microglia) microglia in normal conditions. Under lipopolysaccharide (LPS) challenge, TIAM2S+ microglia enhance tumor necrosis factor‐α (TNF‐α) production and neurotoxic immunity. sICAM‐1 involves in TIAM2S+ microglia‐mediated stimulatory and neurotoxic immunity.
Pulsed electromagnetic field (PEMF) has been successfully applied to accelerate fracture repair since 1979. Recent studies suggest that PEMF might be used as a nonoperative treatment for the early ...stages of osteonecrosis. However, PEMF treatment requires a minimum of ten hours per day for the duration of the treatment. In this study, we modified the protocol of the single-pulsed electromagnetic field (SPEMF) that only requires a 3-minute daily treatment. In the in vitro study, cell proliferation and osteogenic differentiation was evaluated in the hBMSCs. In the in vivo study, new bone formation and revascularization were evaluated in the necrotic bone graft. Results from the in vitro study showed no significant cytotoxic effects on the hBMSCs after 5 days of SPEMF treatment (1 Tesla, 30 pulses per day). hBMSC proliferation was enhanced in the SPEMF-treated groups after 2 and 4 days of treatment. The osteogenic differentiation of hBMSCs was significantly increased in the SPEMF-treated groups after 3-7 days of treatment. Mineralization also increased after 10, 15, 20, and 25 days of treatment in SPEMF-treated groups compared to the control group. The 7-day short-course treatment achieved similar effects on proliferation and osteogenesis as the 25-day treatment. Results from the in vivo study also demonstrated that both the 7-day and 25-day treatments of SPEMF increased callus formation around the necrotic bone and also increased new vessel formation and osteocyte numbers in the grafted necrotic bone at the 2nd and 4th weeks after surgery. In conclusion, the newly developed SPEMF accelerates osteogenic differentiation of cultured hBMSCs and enhances bone repair, neo-vascularization, and cell growth in necrotic bone in mice. The potential clinical advantage of the SPEMF is the short daily application and the shorter treatment course. We suggest that SPEMF may be used to treat fractures and the early stages of osteonecrosis.
This retrospective analysis compared the efficiency of the gonadotropin- releasing hormone (GnRH) antagonist (GnRH-ant) protocol and the GnRH agonist long (GnRH-a) protocol for patients with ...diminished ovarian reserve (DOR). A total of 1,233 patients with DOR (anti-Mullerian hormone <1.1 ng/mL) were recruited for this retrospective case-control study. They were divided into two groups according to female age. Younger patients were assigned to POSEIDON group3 (PG3: age ≤35 years); older patients were assigned to POSEIDON group 4 (PG4: age >35 years). All patients with DOR underwent controlled ovarian stimulation and fresh embryo transfer (ET) on day 3. We recruited 283 GnRH-a and 54 GnRH-ant cycles for PG3, and 663 GnRH-a and 233 GnRH-ant cycles for PG4. In PG3, the GnRH-a protocol was associated with a lower ET cancellation rate (30/283 = 10.2% vs. 12/54 = 22.2%, p = 0.018) and a higher live birth rate (7/54 = 13.0% vs. 78/283 = 27.6%, p = 0.024) than the GnRH-ant protocol for the initiated cycles. Furthermore, the GnRH-a protocol was correlated with a higher implantation rate than the GnRH-ant protocol for ET cycles (146/577 = 25.3% vs. 11/103 = 10.7%, P = 0.027). No differences in the ET cancellation rate, live birth rate and implantation rate between GnRH-a and GnRH-ant groups were observed among PG4 patients. In conclusion, the GnRH-a protocol was more effective than the GnRH-ant protocol for young patients with DOR. The low ET cancellation rate and high implantation rate may be related to embryo quality or endometrial receptivity, which warrant further investigation.
The structures and microwave dielectric properties of Na
5−
x
Ag
x
Tb(MoO
4
)
4
ceramics were explored. Single Na
5
Tb(MoO
4
)
4
phased solid solutions were obtained for specimens with
x
values ...ranging from 0 to 0.07, with a small amount of Mo-rich second phase dete
c
ted at
x
= 0.09. Although the solid solution range is very limited, the advantage of silver substitution is that it lowers the sintering temperature, increases the densification, and enhances the dielectric properties of the ceramics. The P–V–L bond theory was employed to analyze the correlations between the chemical bond parameters and microwave dielectric properties, which were predominantly influenced by the ionicity and lattice energy of the Tb–O bond. The Na
3.93
Ag
0.07
Tb(MoO
4
)
4
compound sintered at 530 °C exhibited excellent microwave dielectric properties (
ε
r
= 8.5,
Q
×
f
= 54,000 GHz and
τ
f
= − 24 ppm/°C), which are very promising for microwave and millimeter wave applications.
Licoricidin (LCD) is an activity compound of the roots of Glycyrrhiza uralensis, which has therapeutic efficacy, including anti-virus, anti-cancer, and enhanced immunity in Traditional Chinese ...Medicine. Herein, this study aimed to clarify the effect of LCD on cervical cancer cells. In the present study, we found that LCD significantly inhibited cell viability via inducing cell apoptosis and companies with cleaved-PARP protein expression and caspase-3/-9 activity. Cell viability was markedly reversed these effects by pan-caspase inhibitor Z-VAD-FMK treatment. Furthermore, we showed that LCD-induced ER (endoplasmic reticulum) stress triggers upregulating the protein level of GRP78 (Bip), CHOP, and IRE1α, and subsequently confirmed the mRNA level by quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction. In addition, LCD exhibited the release of danger-associated molecular patterns from cervical cancer cells, such as the release of high-mobility group box 1 (HMGB1), secretion of ATP, and exposure of calreticulin (CRT) on the cell surface, which led to immunogenic cell death (ICD). These results provide a novel foundation that LCD induces ICD via triggering ER stress in human cervical cancer cells. LCD might be an ICD inducer of immunotherapy in progressive cervical cancer.
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