A Degraded Finger Vein Image Recovery and Enhancement Algorithm Based on Atmospheric Scattering Theory.

With the development of biometric identification technology, finger vein identification has received more and more widespread attention for its security, efficiency, and stability. However, because of the performance of the current standard finger vein image acquisition device and the complex internal organization of the finger, the acquired images are often heavily degraded and have lost their texture characteristics. This makes the topology of the finger veins inconspicuous or even difficult to distinguish, greatly affecting the identification accuracy. Therefore, this paper proposes a finger vein image recovery and enhancement algorithm using atmospheric scattering theory. Firstly, to normalize the local over-bright and over-dark regions of finger vein images within a certain threshold, the Gamma transform method is improved in this paper to correct and measure the gray value of a given image. Then, we reconstruct the image based on atmospheric scattering theory and design a pixel mutation filter to segment the venous and non-venous contact zones. Finally, the degraded finger vein images are recovered and enhanced by global image gray value normalization. Experiments on SDUMLA-HMT and ZJ-UVM datasets show that our proposed method effectively achieves the recovery and enhancement of degraded finger vein images. The image restoration and enhancement algorithm proposed in this paper performs well in finger vein recognition using traditional methods, machine learning, and deep learning. The recognition accuracy of the processed image is improved by more than 10% compared to the original image.

Elucidating Cyathula Officinals' mechanism in osteoarthritis treatment: Network pharmacology and empirical evidence on anti-inflammatory actions.

In this study, we explored the therapeutic potential of Cyathula Officinals (CNX) in Knee Osteoarthritis (KOA) treatment. Utilizing network pharmacology and in vitro experiments, we identified active ingredients, action targets and pathways in CNX. Our analysis, integrating databases like TCMSP, SwissTarget Prediction, Genecards, CTD, STRING, and DAVID, highlighted 396 action targets and 283 disease targets, pinpointing 64 intersection genes linked to KOA. The significant involvement of the MAPK and NF-κB pathways in CNX's anti-inflammatory action was validated through qPCR, which might underlie CNX's efficacy in inhibiting chondrocyte apoptosis and IL-6 expression. These findings suggest CNX's potential in KOA management, offering insights for its clinical application.

Exploring the Mechanisms of Sanguinarine in the Treatment of Osteoporosis by Integrating Network Pharmacology Analysis and Deep Learning Technology.

BACKGROUND: Sanguinarine (SAN) has been reported to have antioxidant, antiinflammatory, and antimicrobial activities with potential for the treatment of osteoporosis (OP). OBJECTIVE: This work purposed to unravel the molecular mechanisms of SAN in the treatment of OP. METHODS: OP-related genes and SAN-related targets were predicted from public databases. Differential expression analysis and VennDiagram were adopted to detect SAN-related targets against OP. Protein-protein interaction (PPI) network was served for core target identification. Molecular docking and DeepPurpose algorithm were further adopted to investigate the binding ability between core targets and SAN. Gene pathway scoring of these targets was calculated utilizing gene set variation analysis (GSVA). Finally, we explored the effect of SAN on the expressions of core targets in preosteoblastic MC3T3-E1 cells. RESULTS: A total of 21 candidate targets of SAN against OP were acquired. Furthermore, six core targets were identified, among which CASP3, CTNNB1, and ERBB2 were remarkably differentially expressed in OP and healthy individuals. The binding energies of SAN with CASP3, CTNNB1, and ERBB2 were -6, -6.731, and -7.162 kcal/mol, respectively. Moreover, the GSVA scores of the Wnt/calcium signaling pathway were significantly lower in OP cases than in healthy individuals. In addition, the expression of CASP3 was positively associated with Wnt/calcium signaling pathway. CASP3 and ERBB2 were significantly lower expressed in SAN group than in DMSO group, whereas the expression of CTNNB1 was in contrast. CONCLUSION: CASP3, CTNNB1, and ERBB2 emerge as potential targets of SAN in OP prevention and treatment.

Ginsenoside RK3 promotes neurogenesis in Alzheimer's disease through activation of the CREB/BDNF pathway.

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE: In the ancient book "Shen Nong's Herbal Classic," Panax ginseng CA Mey was believed to have multiple benefits, including calming nerves, improving cognitive function, and promoting longevity. Ginsenosides are the main active ingredients of ginseng. Ginsenoside RK3 (RK3), a rare ginsenoside extracted from ginseng, displays strong pharmacological potential. However, its effect on neurogenesis remains insufficiently investigated. AIM OF THE STUDY: This study aims to investigate whether RK3 improves learning and memory by promoting neurogenesis, and to explore the mechanism of RK3 action. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The therapeutic effect of RK3 on learning and memory was determined by the Morris water maze (MWM) and novel object recognition test (NORT). The pathogenesis and protective effect of RK3 on primary neurons and animal models were detected by immunofluorescence and western blotting. Protein expression of cAMP response element-binding protein (CREB)/brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) signaling pathway was detected by western blotting. RESULTS: Our results showed that RK3 treatment significantly improved cognitive function in APPswe/PSEN1dE9 (APP/PS1) mice and C57BL/6 (C57) mice. RK3 promotes neurogenesis and synaptogenesis in the mouse hippocampus. In vitro, RK3 prevents Aß-induced injury in primary cultured neurons and promotes the proliferation of PC12 as well as the expression of synapse-associated proteins. Mechanically, the positve role of RK3 on neurogenesis was combined with the activation of CREB/BDNF pathway. Inhibition of CREB/BDNF pathway attenuated the effect of RK3. CONCLUSION: In conclusion, this study demonstrated that RK3 promotes learning and cognition in APP/PS1 and C57 mice by promoting neurogenesis and synaptogenesis through the CREB/BDNF signaling pathway. Therefore, RK3 is expected to be further developed into a potential drug candidate for the treatment of Alzheimer's disease (AD).

One-step, reagent-free construction of nano-enzyme as visual and reusable biosensor for oxidase substrates.

The substrates of oxidase are biologically essential substances that are closely associated with human physiological health. However, current biosensing methods suffer from tough recyclability and undesired denaturation of enzyme due to impurity interference. Herein, we have developed a visual and reusable biosensor for detecting substrate using glucose oxidase (GOx) as a model oxidase. GOx was immobilized onto gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) at -20 °C in one step without additional reagents. The resulting nano-enzyme generated coloimetric signals by coupling with horseradish peroxidase (HRP) using TMB as the substrate. Our results demonstrated that the immobilized GOx exhibited satisfactory sensitivity (0.68 µM) for glucose detection and higher inherent stability than free GOx under harsh conditions, enabling reliable detection of glucose in complex fluids (colored beverages and saliva). Furthermore, the nano-enzyme retained 80 % activity even after four cycles of catalytic oxidation. This strategy constructs a universal biosensor for substrates with nano-enzyme which rely only on intrinsic cysteine within the oxidase while avoiding functional handle modification.

Isolinderalactone Ameliorates the Pathology of Alzheimer's Disease by Inhibiting the JNK Signaling Pathway.

Neuronal cell damage is a major cause of cognitive impairment in Alzheimer's disease (AD). Multiple factors, such as amyloid deposition, tau hyperphosphorylation, and neuroinflammation, can lead to neuronal cell damage. Therefore, the development of multi-target drugs with broad neuroprotective effects may be an effective strategy for the treatment of AD. Natural products have become an important source of drug discovery because of their good pharmacological activity, multiple targets, and low toxicity. In this study, we screened a natural compound library and found that the fat-soluble sesquiterpene natural compound isolinderalactone (Iso) extracted from the dried root pieces of Lindera aggregata had the ability to alleviate cellular damage induced by ß-amyloid-1-42 (Aß1-42). The role and mechanism of Iso in AD have not yet been reported. Herein, we demonstrated that Iso significantly reduced the level of apoptosis in PC12 cells. Besides, Iso treatment reduced amyloid deposition, neuron apoptosis, and neuroinflammation, ultimately improving the cognitive dysfunction of APP/PS1 (APPswe/PSEN 1dE9) mice. Notably, Iso-10 mg/kg showed superior improved effects in APP/PS1 mice compared with the positive control drug donepezil-5 mg/kg. Mechanistically, the results of RNA sequencing combined with Western blots showed that Iso exerted its therapeutic effect by inhibiting the c-Jun N-terminal kinase (JNK) signaling pathway. Taken together, our findings suggest that Iso is a potential drug candidate for the treatment of AD.

Parthenolide alleviates cognitive dysfunction and neurotoxicity via regulation of AMPK/GSK3ß(Ser9)/Nrf2 signaling pathway.

Alzheimer's disease (AD) stands as the predominant age-related neurodegenerative disorder, for which efficacious treatment remains elusive. An auspicious avenue for this disease lies in natural compounds sourced from tranditional medicine and plant origins. Parthenolide (PTN) is a natural product with multiple biological functionsand. Recent investigations have illuminated PTN's protective properties against neurological maladies; however, its potential therapeutic role against AD remains uncharted. This study aims to explore the role of PTN in treating AD. Our in vitro findings underscore PTN's bioactivity, as evidenced by its capacity to curtail apoptosis, reduce reactive oxygen species (ROS) production, and restore mitochondrial membrane potential in PC12 cells. Moreover, PTN treatment demonstrates a capacity to ameliorate deficits in spatial learning and memory in the 3 ×Tg-AD murine model. Notably, PTN's therapeutic efficacy surpasses that of a clinical agent, donepezil. Mechanistically, PTN's neuroprotective effects stem from its adept regulation of the AMPK/GSK3ß(ser9)/Nrf2 signaling pathway and protection on neuronal cells from ROS-related apoptosis. Although the molecular target and the pre-clinical evaluations of PTN need to be further explored, this study indicates PTN as a potential agent or lead compound for the drug development against AD.

Raspberry polyphenols alleviate neurodegenerative diseases: through gut microbiota and ROS signals.

Neurodegenerative diseases are neurological disorders that become more prevalent with age, usually caused by damage or loss of neurons or their myelin sheaths, such as Alzheimer's disease and epilepsy. Reactive oxygen species (ROS) are important triggers for neurodegenerative disease development, and mitigation of oxidative stress caused by ROS imbalance in the human body is important for the treatment of these diseases. As a widespread delicious fruit, the raspberry is widely used in the field of food and medicine because of its abundant polyphenols and other bioactive substances. Polyphenols from a wide variety of raspberry sources could alleviate neurodegenerative diseases. This review aims to summarize the current roles of these polyphenols in maintaining neurological stability by regulating the composition and metabolism of the intestinal flora and the gut-brain axis signal transmission. Especially, we discuss the therapeutic effects on neurodegenerative diseases of raspberry polyphenols through intestinal microorganisms and ROS signals, by means of summary and analysis. Finally, methods of improving the digestibility and utilization of raspberry polyphenols are proposed, which will provide a potential way for raspberry polyphenols to guarantee the health of the human nervous system.

ß-amyloid binds to microglia Dectin-1 to induce inflammatory response in the pathogenesis of Alzheimer's disease.

Microglia-mediated neuroinflammation is closely related to the development of Alzheimer's disease (AD). In the early stages of the inflammation response, pattern recognition receptors (PRRs) play a key role in clearing damaged cells and defending against infection by recognizing endogenous and exogenous ligands. However, the regulation of pathogenic microglial activation and its role in AD pathology remains poorly understood. Here we showed that a pattern recognition receptor called Dectin-1, expressed on microglia, mediates the pro-inflammatory responses of beta-amyloid (Aß). Knockout of Dectin-1 reduced Aß1-42 (Aß42)-induced microglial activation, inflammatory responses, and synaptic and cognitive deficits in Aß42-infused AD mice. Similar results were obtained in the BV2 cell model. Mechanistically, we showed that Aß42 could directly bind to Dectin-1, causing Dectin-1 homodimerization and activating downstream spleen tyrosine kinase (Syk)/nuclear factor-κB (NF-κB) signaling pathway to induce the expression of inflammatory factors and, in turn, AD pathology. These results suggest the important role of microglia Dectin-1 as a new direct receptor for Aß42 in microglial activation and AD pathology and provide a potential therapeutic strategy for neuroinflammation in AD.

PEG-SH-GNPs-SAPNS@miR-29a delivery system promotes neural regeneration and recovery of motor function after spinal cord injury.

Spinal cord injury (SCI) is a serious disease characterized by hemorrhage, edema, local ischemia and hypoxia, inflammatory reaction, and degeneration of the injured spinal cord, which lacks effective clinical treatments. We design a PEG-SH-GNPs-SAPNS@miR-29a delivery system to repair impaired spinal cord by building a regenerative microenvironment for the recruitment of endogenous neural stem cells. The miR-29a, as an axonal regeneration-related miRNA that overexpression of miR-29a significantly inhibits the expression of PTEN and promotes axonal regeneration of the injured spinal cord. The gold nanoparticles and self-assembling peptide hydrogel composite scaffold (PEG-SH-GNPs-SAPNS@miR-29a delivery system) applied to deliver miR-29a, which recruit endogenous neural stem cells simultaneously. Sustained release of miR-29a and recruitment of endogenous neural stem cells give rise to favorable axonal regeneration and recovery of motor function after spinal cord injury. These findings suggest that the PEG-SH-GNPs-SAPNS@miR-29a delivery system may be an alternative strategy for the treatment of SCI.

Magnoflorine improves cognitive deficits and pathology of Alzheimer's disease via inhibiting of JNK signaling pathway.

BACKGROUND: Cognitive deficit is the main clinical feature of Alzheimer's disease (AD), and the massive death of neuronal cells is the leading cause of cognitive deficits. So, there is an urgent clinical need to discover effective drugs to protect brain neurons from damage in order to treat AD. Naturally-derived compounds have always been an important source of new drug discovery because of their diverse pharmacological activities, reliable efficacy and low toxicity. Magnoflorine is a quaternary aporphine alkaloid, which naturally exist in some commonly used herbal medicines, and has good anti-inflammatory and antioxidant effects. However, magnoflorine has not been reported in AD. HYPOTHESIS/PURPOSE: To investigate the therapeutic effect and mechanism of magnoflorine on AD. METHODS: Neuronal damage was detected by flow cytometry, immunofluorescence and western blotting. Oxidative stress was measured by detection of SOD and MDA, as well as JC-1 and reactive oxygen species (ROS) staining. The APP/PS1 mice were given drugs by intraperitoneal injection (I.P.) every day for one month, and then the new object recognition and Morris water maze were used to detect the cognitive ability of the mice. RESULTS: We demonstrated that magnoflorine reduced Aß-induced PC12 cell apoptosis and intracellular ROS generation. Further studies found that magnoflorine significantly improved cognitive deficits and AD-type pathology. Most interestingly, the efficacy of magnoflorine was better than that of the clinical control drug donepezil. Mechanistically, based on RNA-sequencing analysis, we found that magnoflorine significantly inhibited phosphorylated c-Jun N-terminal kinase (JNK) in AD models. This result was further validated using a JNK inhibitor. CONCLUSION: Our results indicate that magnoflorine improves cognitive deficits and pathology of AD through inhibiting of JNK signaling pathway. Thus, magnoflorine may be a potential therapeutic candidate for AD.

Total flavonoids of Tetrastigma hemsleyanum Diels et Gilg inhibits colorectal tumor growth by modulating gut microbiota and metabolites.

Tetrastigma hemsleyanum Diels et Gilg is a dietary supplement in southern China. The total flavonoids of T. hemsleyanum (THTF) can be used for gastrointestinal disease treatment. Colorectal cancer (CRC) is associated with gut microbiota dysbiosis. This study was designed to investigate the effect of THTF on CRC from gut microbiota and fecal metabolomics. THTF (120 mg/kg) oral gavage reduced tumor growth and protected intestinal function (p-p65/p65, ZO-1) in HCT116 xenografts. THTF increased probiotics Bifidobacteriales, Bifidobacteriaceae, Bifidobacterium, Bifidobacterium pseudolongum, and decreased "harmful" bacteria Bacteroidota, Firmicutes, Bacteroidia, Rikenellaceae, Odoribacter, Alistipes richness. Furthermore, THTF restored abnormal fecal metabolite levels. It showed a strong correlation among gut microbiota, metabolites, and tumor weight. Finally, THTF promoted Bifidobacterium pseudolongum growth in vitro, whose cell-free supernatant further inhibited HCT116 cell proliferation and clonogenicity. Together, THTF delays CRC tumor growth by maintaining microbiota homeostasis, restoring fecal metabolites, and protecting intestinal function.

Virgin coconut oil: A comprehensive review of antioxidant activity and mechanisms contributed by phenolic compounds.

Virgin coconut oil (VCO) is obtained by processing mature coconut cores with mechanical or natural methods. In recent years, VCO has been widely used in the food, pharmaceutical, and cosmetic industries because of its excellent functional activities. VCO has biological functions such as antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, antibacterial, and antiviral, and also has potential therapeutic effects on many chronic degenerative diseases. Among these functions, the antioxidant is the most basic and important function, which is mainly determined by phenolic compounds and medium-chain fatty acids (MCFAs). This review aims to elucidate the antioxidant functions of each phenolic compound in VCO, and discuss the antioxidant mechanisms of VCO in terms of the role of phenolic compounds with fat, intestinal microorganisms, and various organs. Besides, the composition of VCO and its application in various industries are summarized, and the biological functions of VCO are generalized, which should lay a foundation for further research on the antioxidant activity of VCO and provide a theoretical basis for the development of food additives with antioxidant activity.

Negative emotions and creativity among Chinese college students during the COVID-19 pandemic: the mediating role of psychological resilience and the moderating role of posttraumatic growth.

BACKGROUND: The aim of the study was to use a moderated mediation model to understand and examine the relationship between negative emotions and creativity among college students during the COVID-19 pandemic, using psychological resilience as a mediator and posttraumatic growth as a moderator. METHODS: A sample of 881 college students in mainland China completed a self-report questionnaire that included four scales: the Depression-Anxiety-Stress Scale, Psychological Resilience Scale, Runco Ideational Behavior Scale and Posttraumatic Growth Inventory. RESULTS: Findings indicated that:(1) negative emotions were a strong predictor of creativity; (2) psychological resilience partially mediated the association between negative emotions and creativity; and (3) posttraumatic growth moderated the positive effect of psychological resilience, such that the indirect effect between negative emotions and creativity via psychological resilience was stronger for someone with a low level of resilience. CONCLUSION: The findings further clarify the mechanisms that affect the relationship between negative emotions and creativity among college students.

Icariin protects bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells in aplastic anemia by targeting MAPK pathway.

BACKGROUND: Icariin, the main pharmacological active flavonoid extracted from Epimedi herba, can regulate cellular processes in diverse diseases. The aim of this study was to explore the effects and mechanisms of icariin on proliferation and adipogenesis of bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells (BMSCs) in aplastic anemia (AA). METHODS AND RESULTS: Bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells were isolated from posterior tibias and femurs of AA rats that were induced by benzene and cyclophosphamide and gavaged with icariin. The isolated BMSCs were characterized morphologically and immunologically by positive markers (CD29 and CD90) and negative markers (CD34 and CD45). CCK-8 assay was performed to examine the BMSCs proliferation. Cell apoptosis and cell cycle were detected by flow cytometry. Oil red O staining was carried out to evaluate the adipogenesis of BMSCs. The mRNA expression of PPARγ, C/EBP-α, and FABP4 was measured by qRT-PCR. The protein levels of p-p38/p38, p-JNK/JNK, p-ERK/ERK, PPARγ, C/EBP-α, and FABP4 were detected using Western blotting. Icariin promoted the proliferation of BMSCs from AA rats in a dose-dependent manner. The protein levels of p-p38/p38, p-JNK/JNK, and p-ERK/ERK were downregulated in BMSCs from AA rats after icariin treatment. Icariin inhibited the apoptosis and arrested cell cycle at G/S phase of BMSCs from AA rats. The adipogenesis of BMSCs from AA rats was also suppressed after icariin treatment. However, the effects of icariin on BMSCs were weakened by p38 agonist addition. CONCLUSIONS: Icariin promoted the proliferation and inhibited the apoptosis and adipogenesis of BMSCs in AA by suppressing MAPK pathway.

Comparison of the outcome of different bone grafts combined with modified core decompression for the treatment of ARCO II stage femoral head necrosis.

PURPOSE: Treatment of ONFH at an early stage is a challenging issue. The modified minimally invasive core decompression combined with bone graft implantation remains controversial. This study aimed to compare the early-middle outcomes of four groups with different bone grafts. METHODS: A total of 182 patients (192 hips) with ONFH at the ARCO II stage were randomly divided into four groups. The free fibular graft group (FFG), free vascularized fibular graft group (FVFG), autologous iliac bone group (ABG), and ß-tricalcium bioceramics phosphate graft (ß-TCPG) group. Each group was treated with the modified minimally invasive core decompression and bone graft implantation. The operation time and blood loss were recorded by the same observer. The clinical outcome was evaluated by the Harris Hip Score and VAS score (before, 14 days after surgery, and at the last follow-up). The radiographic progression of ONFH was evaluated at least 36 months of follow-up. RESULTS: All cases were successful without any complications after the operation. The patients were followed up for 42 to 48 (44.62 ± 1.81) months. There were statistically significant differences among the four groups in operation time (F value = 1520.67; P < 0.01) and blood loss (F value = 5366.81; P < 0.01). The Harris Hip Score in each group was improved significantly from pre-operation to last follow-up (all P < 0.01). At the last follow-up, the difference in the Harris Hip Score in each group was not statistically significant (F value = 0.54; P = 0.984). The VAS scores in each group were decreased significantly from the pre-operation to14 days after surgery (all P < 0.01). At 14 days after surgery, the difference in the VAS score in each group was not statistically significant (F value = 0.64; P = 0.59). At the last follow-up, three hips collapsed on the femoral head in the FFG group, two in the FVFG group, two in the ABG group, and three in the ß-TCPG group. CONCLUSION: The four different bone graft implantation showed satisfactory early-middle outcomes. As compared to other bone grafts, the ß-TCP bioceramics graft has the advantages of shorter operation time and lesser blood loss. It may be a choice as a bone graft for the treatment of ONFH at an early stage.

Energy policy and financial performance in China: mediation effect of financial inclusion.

The issues of cleaner production and socioeconomic advancements have taken a central stage due to the dynamism of the correlation between energy use and ecology. Given this background, the research delves into how to construct a framework to unravel diverse understandings of energy policy vis-a-vis green economy by examining the mediating role of financial inclusion. The analysis applied a non-radial DEA and longitudinal dataset model for the scenarios of thirty regions in China, relying on their longitudinal dataset from 2010-2017. The findings indicate that the Chinese regions' total green economic performance indicator (EPI) has advanced by 9.88% between 2010 and 2017. In addition, the econometric analyses prove that regional renewable energy policies and pollution abatement programs explicitly influence the improvement of the environmental performance index. Again, the results show that the probability figures of the individual specific limit equation and the dual limit values crossed the 1% significance analysis level simultaneously, indicating a dual limit impact. 0.74 to 1 is the range that marks the green EPI for Jiangsu, Shandong, Guangdong, Hainan, Zhejiang, Shanghai and Fujian. Ultimately, the analysis serves as a policy inference tool for policy formulators and regulators on encouraging green economic performance in China.

The Impact of General Self-Efficacy on Psychological Resilience During the COVID-19 Pandemic: The Mediating Role of Posttraumatic Growth and the Moderating Role of Deliberate Rumination.

Purpose: This study used a moderated mediation model to explore the relationship between general self-efficacy (GSE) and psychological resilience (PR) and the associated mechanisms, the mediating role of posttraumatic growth (PTG), and the moderating role of deliberate rumination (DR) during the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic. Knowledge of the relationship between these four variables examined further understanding of the PR improvement mechanism of college students and even the general public. Methods: The college students who participated in this study came from an independent college in Guangdong Province, China. A total of 918 college students completed the survey, and the final data sample size was 881. SPSS 23.0 and PROCESS (version 3.3) were used to conduct Pearson's correlation analysis and hierarchical regression linear analysis on the data. Results: (1) The correlation analysis showed that GSE and PR were positively correlated and that PTG was positively correlated with GSE and PR. DR was positively correlated with GSE, PTG, and PR. (2) The results of mediation analysis showed that GSE had a direct predictive effect on DR, and PTG partially mediated the relationship between the two. (3) The results of moderating effect analysis showed that DR hindered the effect of GSE on PTG but enhanced the positive impact of PTG on PR. Conclusions: General self-efficacy can improve PR under the mediating influence of PTG. DR played a positive moderating role in the relationship between GSE and PTG, and played a negative moderating role in the relationship between PTG and PR. These results advance the understanding of the mechanism between GSE and PR.

Depression and Creativity During COVID-19: Psychological Resilience as a Mediator and Deliberate Rumination as a Moderator.

Purpose: The pandemic of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), which has had a significant impact on people's lives, has apparently increased the incidence of depression. Although the topic of how depression affects creativity is contested, previous research has revealed a significant relationship between the two. The purpose of this study is to further investigate the relationship and the mechanisms that operate between depression and creativity. Methods: A total of 881 students at an independent college in China completed a questionnaire consisting of the Self-Reported Depression Scale, Runco Ideational Behavior Scale, Psychological Resilience Scale, Deliberate Rumination Scale and demographic information. Among the respondents, 317 (36.0%) were male and 564 (64.0%) were female, all of whom were from the same grade. Correlation analyses were conducted, and then the researchers carried out mediation analysis and developed a moderated mediation model. Results: The results indicated that (a) depression was positively related to creativity (r = 0.085, p < 0.05); (b) psychological resilience mediated the relationship between depression and creativity; specifically, psychological resilience was negatively related to depression (r = -0.462, p < 0.01), which in turn was positively related to creativity (r = 0.198, p < 0.01); and (c) deliberate rumination moderated the relationship between depression and psychological resilience, showing a significant negative correlation with depression (r = 0.138, p < 0.01), psychological resilience (r = 0.078, p < 0.05), and creativity (r = 0.288, p < 0.05); specifically, higher levels of deliberate rumination strengthened the negative correlation between psychological resilience and depression. Conclusion: The results suggest that depression is a positive predictor of creativity and may promote creativity to some extent. Further, individuals with greater psychological resilience are more creative than those with less psychological resilience, as it is a question of whether they can and to what extent they can effectively use depression as an emotional resource. Last, an individual's level of deliberate rumination moderates the mediating process, especially at the stage where depression is associated with psychological resilience. These findings advance understanding of the mechanisms that operate between depression and creativity.

The Influence of Post-Traumatic Growth on College Students' Creativity During the COVID-19 Pandemic: The Mediating Role of General Self-Efficacy and the Moderating Role of Deliberate Rumination.

Purpose: This study used a moderated mediation model to test the mediating effect of general self-efficacy on the relationship between post-traumatic growth (PTG) and creativity and the moderating effect of deliberate rumination in the second path of the indirect mediation path during the COVID-19 pandemic. Methods: A sample of 881 university students from Guangdong Province, China, was surveyed with the Posttraumatic Growth Inventory, the Runco Ideational Behavior Scale, the General Self-Efficacy Scale, and the Deliberate Rumination Inventory. SPSS (23 version) and PROCESS (3.3 version) were used for correlation analyses, mediation analysis, and moderated mediation analysis. Results: (1) PTG was positively correlated with creativity, self-efficacy, and deliberate rumination. Creativity was positively correlated with self-efficacy and deliberate rumination. Deliberate rumination was positively correlated with self-efficacy. (2) Self-efficacy mediated the relationship between PTG and creativity. (3) Deliberate rumination moderated the second half of the path of "PTG → self-efficacy → creativity." Conclusions: PTG affected creativity directly and also indirectly through self-efficacy. In particular, deliberate rumination moderated the relationship between self-efficacy and creativity, such that the association was stronger when the incidence of deliberate rumination was low. These results provide a more comprehensive understanding of the positive link between PTG and creativity.