Uncovering the microbial community structure and physiological profiles of terrestrial mud volcanoes: A comprehensive metagenomic insight towards their trichloroethylene biodegradation potentiality.

Mud volcanoes are dynamic geological features releasing methane (CH4), carbon dioxide (CO2), and hydrocarbons, harboring diverse methane and hydrocarbon-degrading microbes. However, the potential application of these microbial communities in chlorinated hydrocarbons bioremediation purposes such as trichloroethylene (TCE) has not yet been explored. Hence, this study investigated the mud volcano's microbial diversity functional potentiality in TCE degradation as well as their eco-physiological profiling using metabolic activity. Geochemical analysis of the mud volcano samples revealed variations in pH, temperature, and oxidation-reduction potential, indicating diverse environmental conditions. The Biolog Ecoplate™ carbon substrates utilization pattern showed that the Tween 80 was highly consumed by mud volcanic microbial community. Similarly, MicroResp® analysis results demonstrated that presence of additive C-substrates condition might enhanced the cellular respiration process within mud-volcanic microbial community. Full-length 16 S rRNA sequencing identified Proteobacteria as the dominant phylum, with genera like Pseudomonas and Hydrogenophaga associated with chloroalkane degradation, and methanotrophic bacteria such as Methylomicrobium and Methylophaga linked to methane oxidation. Functional analysis uncovered diverse metabolic functions, including sulfur and methane metabolism and hydrocarbon degradation, with specific genes involved in methane oxidation and sulfur metabolism. These findings provide insights into the microbial diversity and metabolic capabilities of mud volcano ecosystems, which could facilitate their effective application in the bioremediation of chlorinated compounds.

Impact of COVID-19-Induced Academic Stress on Insomnia and Suicidal Ideation among Taiwanese Health Trainees and Junior Doctors.

BACKGROUND Clinical training for allied health trainees (AHTs) and postgraduate-year (PGY) doctors needed to go online during the outbreak of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), which may have caused academic stress and consequent outcomes among this cohort. MATERIAL AND METHODS To evaluate academic-related stress, clinical confidence, psychological distress, and insomnia, an online survey-based study was conducted among Taiwanese AHTs and PGY doctors between July and December, 2022, during the COVID-19 pandemic. The survey included the 21-item Depression, Anxiety, and Stress Scale (DASS-21), the Insomnia Severity Index (ISI), and self-designed questions. It was distributed using convenience sampling and snowball sampling and was completed by 522 participants. RESULTS Structural equational modelling showed that academic stress was negatively associated with clinical confidence (standardized coefficient [ß]=-0.382, p<0.001). Clinical confidence was negatively associated with psychological distress (ß=-0.397, p<0.001), which was associated with insomnia (ß=0.648, p<0.001). Additionally, clinical confidence and psychological distress were the significant mediators. Results indicated that higher academic stress was associated with higher level of insomnia via the mediation of clinical confidence and psychological distress. CONCLUSIONS Academic stress related to changes in clinical training may have led to insomnia among AHTs and PGY doctors during the pandemic. Factors to reduce academic stress should be investigated to promote good mental health while providing sufficient clinical training, especially during events that can cause increased stress (eg, epidemics, pandemics).

Microbial induced carbonate precipitation for remediation of heavy metals, ions and radioactive elements: A comprehensive exploration of prospective applications in water and soil treatment.

Improper disposal practices have caused environmental disruptions, possessing by heavy metal ions and radioactive elements in water and soil, where the innovative and sustainable remediation strategies are significantly imperative in last few decades. Microbially induced carbonate precipitation (MICP) has emerged as a pioneering technology for remediating contaminated soil and water. Generally, MICP employs urease-producing microorganisms to decompose urea (NH2CONH2) into ammonium (NH4+and carbon dioxide (CO2), thereby increasing pH levels and inducing carbonate precipitation (CO32-), and effectively removing remove contaminants. Nonetheless, the intricate mechanism underlying heavy metal mineralization poses a significant challenge, constraining its application in contaminants engineering, particularly in the context of prolonged heavy metal leaching over time and its efficacy in adverse environmental conditions. This review provides a comprehensive idea of recent development of MICP and its application in environmental engineering, examining metabolic pathways, mineral precipitation mechanisms, and environmental factors as well as providing future perspectives for commercial utilization. The use of ureolytic bacteria in MICP demonstrates cost-efficiency, environmental compatibility, and successful pollutant abatement over tradition bioremediation techniques, and bio-synthesis of nanoparticles. limitations such as large-scale application, elevated Ca2+levels in groundwater, and gradual contaminant release need to be overcome. The possible future research directions for MICP technology, emphasizing its potential in conventional remediation, CO2 sequestration, bio-material synthesis, and its role in reducing environmental impact for long-term economic benefits.

Influence of Geothermal Fumaroles in Driving the Microbial Community Dynamics and Functions of Adjacent Ecosystems.

Growing evidence suggests that the hydrochemical properties of geothermal fumaroles may play a crucial role in shaping the diversity and functions of microbial communities in various environments. In the present study, the impact of geothermal furaneols on the microbial communities and their metabolic functions across the rock-soil-plant continuum was explored considering varying distances from the fumarole source. The results revealed that bacterial phylum Proteobacteria was predominant in all sample types, except in the 10 m rock sample, irrespective of the sampling distance. Archaeal phyla, such as Euryarchaeota and Crenarchaeota, were more prevalent in rock and soil samples, whereas bacterial phyla were more prevalent in plant samples. Thermoacidophilic archaeons, including Picrophilus, Ferroplasma, and Thermogymnomonas were dominant in rocks and soil samples of 1 and 5 m distances; acidophilic mesophiles, including Ferrimicrobium and Granulicella were abundant in the rhizoplane samples, whereas rhizosphere-associated microbes including Pseudomonas, Pedobacter, Rhizobium, and Novosphingobium were found dominant in the rhizosphere samples. The functional analysis highlighted the higher expression of sulfur oxidative pathways in the rock and soil samples; dark iron oxidation and nitrate/nitrogen respiratory functions in the rhizosphere samples. The findings underscore microbial adaptations across the rock-soil-plant continuum, emphasizing the intricate relationship between geothermal fumaroles and microbial communities in adjacent ecosystems. These insights offer a crucial understanding of the evolution of microbial life and highlight their pivotal roles in shaping ecosystem dynamics and functions.

Bacterial community analysis identifies Klebsiella pneumoniae as a native symbiotic bacterium in the newborn Protobothrops mucrosquamatus.

BACKGROUND: The study of the native microbiome of organisms is crucial. The connection between the native microbiome and the host affects the formation of the innate immune system and the organism's growth. However, the native microbiome of newborn venomous snakes has not been reported. Therefore, we aimed to determine the oral and skin microbiomes of newborn Protobothrops mucrosquamatus. RESULTS: We performed 16 S full-length sequencing on 14 samples collected from 7 newborn P. mucrosquamatus individuals, specifically targeting their oral and skin microbiomes. In terms of the oral and skin microbiome, the main species were Klebsiella pneumoniae lineages. According to subspecies/species analysis, the proportion from highest to lowest was K. quasipneumoniae subsp. similipneumoniae, K. pneumoniae subsp. pneumoniae, and K. pneumoniae subsp. rhinoscleromatis. These three bacteria accounted for 62.5% and 85% of the skin and oral activity, respectively. The oral microbiome of newborn P. mucrosquamatus did not comprise common bacteria found in snakebite wounds or oral cultures in adult snakes. Therefore, the source of other microbiomes in the oral cavities of adult snakes may be the environment or prey. Functional Annotation of the Prokaryotic Taxa analysis showed that the skin/oral native microbiome metabolism was related to fermentation and human infection owing to the dominance of K. pneumoniae lineages. The characteristics of K. pneumoniae may impact the development of venom in venomous snakes. CONCLUSION: The results of the native microbiome in the oral cavity and skin of newborn P. mucrosquamatus demonstrated that the habitat environment and prey capture may affect the composition of bacteria in adult snakes. We hypothesized that the native microbiome influences newborn venomous snakes and that K. pneumoniae lineages related to citrate fermentation may play a role in venom growth. However, further verification of this is required.

Unravelling the ultramafic rock-driven serpentine soil formation leading to the geo-accumulation of heavy metals: An impact on the resident microbiome, biogeochemical cycling and acclimatized eco-physiological profiles.

In the present study, we have underpinned the serpentine rock, serpentinized ultramafic soil and rhizosphere's microbial communities, signifying their heavy metals-exposed taxa signatures and functional repertoires in comparison to non-serpentine soils. The results revealed that the serpentine rock embedded soil highlighted the geo-accumulation of higher amount of Cr and Ni impacting soil microbial diversity negatively by metal stress-driven selection. Biolog Ecoplate CLPP defined a restricted spectrum of C-utilization in the higher heavy metal-containing serpentine samples compared to non-serpentine. The linear discriminant analysis (LDA) score identified a higher abundance of Desulfobacterota, Opitutales, and Bacteroidales in low Cr and Ni-stressed non-serpentine-exposed samples. Whereas the abundance of Propionibacteriales and Actinobacteriota were significantly enriched in the serpentine niche. Further, the C, N, S, Fe, and methane biogeochemical cycles linked functional members were identified, and showing higher functional diversity in low Cr and Ni concentration-containing rhizosphere JS-soils. The Pearson correlation coefficient (r) value confirmed the abundance of functional members linked to specific biogeochemical cycle, positively correlated with relevant pathway enrichment. Ultimately, this study highlighted the heavy metal stress within a serpentine setting that could limit the resident microbial community's metabolic diversity and further select the bacteria that could thrive in the serpentine-associated heavy metal-stressed soils. These acclimatized microbes could pave the way for the future applications in the soil conservation and management.

Systematic assessment of mineral distribution and diversity of microbial communities and its interactions in the Taiwan subduction zone of mud volcanoes.

Mud volcanoes are the most dynamic and unstable sedimentary structures in the areas of tectonic compression like the subduction zones. In this study, we comprehensively analyzed the distribution of minerals as well as diversity, abundance and metabolic potential of the microbial communities of major mud volcanic groups across Taiwan namely Chu-kou Fault (CKF), Gu-ting-keng Anticline (GTKA), Chi-shan Fault (CSF), and Longitudinal Valley Fault (LVF). The mud volcano fluids recorded relatively higher Na and Cl contents than the other elements, particularly in the CKF and GTKA groups. The highest microbial diversity and richness were observed in the CSF group, followed by the GTKA group, whereas the lowest microbial diversity was observed in the CKF and LVF groups. Proteobacteria were common in all the sampling sites, except WST-7 and WST-H (Wu-Shan-Ting) of the CSF group, which were abundant in Chloroflexi. The halophilic genus Alterococcus was abundant in the Na-and Cl-rich CL-A sites of the CKF group. Sulfurovum was dominant in the CLHS (Chung-Lun hot spring) site of the CKF group and was positively correlated with sulfur/thiosulfate respiration, which might have resulted in a higher expression of these pathways in the respective group. Aerobic methane-oxidizing microbial communities, such as Methylobacter, Methylomicrobium, Methylomonas, and Methylosoma, constituted a dominant part of the LVF and CSF groups, except for the YNH-A and YNH-B (Yang-Nyu-Hu) sites. The WST-7 and JS sites were abundant in both methane-producing and methane-oxidizing microbial communities. The LGH-F1 (Lei-Gong-Huo) site was dominated by both methanotrophic and methylotrophic genera, such as Methylomicrobium and Methylophaga, respectively. Methylotrophy, methanotrophs, and hydrocarbon-degrading pathways were more abundant in the LVF and CSF groups but not in the remaining groups. The results of this study extend our knowledge of the diversity, abundance, and metabolic functions of prokaryotes in major terrestrial mud volcanoes in Taiwan.

Validation of the Thai Assessment of Criteria for Specific Internet-use Disorders (ACSID-11) among young adults.

BACKGROUND: The Assessment of Criteria for Specific Internet-use Disorders (ACSID-11) is a consistent and comprehensive instrument to assess symptoms of specific internet-use disorders including those related to gaming, shopping, pornography use disorder, social networks use and gambling considering criteria in the eleventh revision of the International Classification of Diseases (ICD-11). However, to date, there is little evidence supporting instruments assessing major types of specific internet use disorders in Thailand. The aim of this present study was to assess the psychometric properties of the ACSID-11 among Thai young adults. METHODS: A total of 612 participants were recruited. A confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) examined construct validity of the ACSID-11. Cronbach's α and McDonald's ω were used to assess reliability of the ACSID-11. Pearson correlations examined relationships between ACSID-11 domains and Internet Gaming Disorder Scale-Short Form (IGDS9-SF) scores. RESULTS: The CFA supported validity of the Thai version of the ACSID-11 and a four-factor structure. Specific domains of the Thai ACSID-11, particularly gaming, were positively and significantly correlated with IGDS9-SF scores. CONCLUSIONS: Data indicate that the Thai version of the ACSID-11 is a valid and reliable instrument to assess major types of specific internet use disorders. Additional studies are needed to further examine the validity and reliability of the Thai ACSID-11.

Translation and Validation of the Gaming Disorder Test and Gaming Disorder Scale for Adolescents into Chinese for Taiwanese Young Adults.

PURPOSE: To translate and cross-culturally adapt the Gaming Disorder Test (GDT) and Gaming Disorder Scale for Adolescents (GADIS-A) for use in Taiwan and to validate their internal consistency, construct validity, measurement invariance, and convergent validity in Taiwanese young adults. METHODS: The GDT and GADIS-A were translated into traditional (unsimplified) Chinese characters and culturally adapted according to standard guidelines. A sample of 608 Taiwanese university students were recruited online. All participants completed the GDT, GADIS-A, Internet Gaming Disorder Scale - Short Form (IGDS9-SF), and Depression Anxiety Stress Scale-21 (DASS-21). Internal consistency was assessed using Cronbach's α and McDonald's ω. Factor structure was examined using Confirmatory Factor Analysis (CFA). Measurement invariance in gender was assessed by three nested models in CFA. Convergent validity was determined by calculating Pearson's r among the GDT, GADIS-A, IGDS9-SF, and DASS-21. RESULTS: The GDT and GADIS-A showed adequate internal consistency (both α and ω = 0.90). The CFA results supported a one-factor structure for the GDT and a two-factor structure for the GADIS-A. Measurement invariance across gender was supported for both the GDT and GADIS-A. The convergent validity of the GDT and GADIS-A were acceptable. CONCLUSIONS: The Chinese versions of the GDT and GADIS-A are valid and reliable tools that can be used to assess gaming disorder in Taiwanese young adults. Measurement invariance across genders was supported for both tools. The convergent validity of the GDT and GADIS-A were also satisfactory.

Examining the association between neuropsychiatric symptoms among people with dementia and caregiver mental health: are caregiver burden and affiliate stigma mediators?

BACKGROUND: Neuropsychiatric disturbances are common manifestations of dementia disorders and are associated with caregiver burden and affiliate stigma. The present study investigated affiliate stigma and caregiver burden as mediators for the association between neuropsychiatric symptoms of people with dementia (PWD) and caregiver mental health such as depression and anxiety. METHODS: A cross-sectional survey study was carried out with 261 dyads of PWD and informal caregivers from the outpatient department of a general hospital in Taiwan. The survey included the Caregiver Burden Inventory (CBI), the Affiliate Stigma Scale (ASS), the Taiwanese Depression Questionnaire (TPQ), and the Beck Anxiety Inventory (BAI). Mediation models were tested using the Hayes' PROCESS macro (Model 4 for parallel mediation model; Model 6 for sequentially mediation model). RESULTS: Caregiver burden, affiliate stigma, caregiver depression, and caregiver anxiety were significantly associated with neuropsychiatric symptoms. After controlling for several potentially confounding variables, it was found that PWD's neuropsychiatric symptoms, caregiver burden and affiliate stigma significantly explained 52.34% of the variance in caregiver depression and 37.72% of the variance in caregiver anxiety. The parallel mediation model indicated a significantly indirect path from PWD's neuropsychiatric symptoms to caregiver mental health through caregiver burden and affiliate stigma, while the direct effect was not significant. Moreover, there was a directional association between caregiver burden and affiliate stigma in the sequential mediation model. CONCLUSIONS: These findings show that it is imperative to improve caregivers' perception of those with dementia to reduce internalized stigma and to improve caregivers' mental health. Implementation of affiliate stigma assessment in clinical practice would allow distinctions to be made between the impact of affiliate stigma and the consequences of caregiver burden to help inform appropriate intervention.

Comparison of antibiotic-resistant Escherichia coli and extra-intestinal pathogenic E. coli from main river basins under different levels of the sewer system development.

Antimicrobial-resistant Escherichia coli in the aquatic environments is considered a strong indicator of sewage or animal waste contamination and antibiotic pollution. Sewer construction and wastewater treatment plant (WWTP) infrastructure may serve as concentrated point sources of contamination of antibiotic-resistant bacteria and antibiotic resistance genes. In this study, we focused on the distribution of antimicrobial-resistant E. coli in two rivers with large drainage areas and different urbanisation levels. E. coli from Kaoping River with drainage mainly from livestock farming had higher resistance to antibiotics (e.g. penicillins, tetracyclines, phenicols, aminoglycosides, and sulpha drugs) and presented more positive detection of antibiotic-resistance genes (e.g. ampC, blaTEM, tetA, and cmlA1) than that from Tamsui River. In Kaoping River with a lower percentage of sewer construction nearby (0-30%) in contrast to a higher percentage of sewer construction (55-92%) in Tamsui River, antimicrobial-resistant E. coli distribution was related to livestock farming waste. In Tamsui River, antimicrobial resistant E. coli isolates were found more frequently in the downstream drainage area of WWTPs with secondary water treatment than that of WWTPs with tertiary water treatment. The Enterobacterial Repetitive Intergenic Consensus (ERIC) PCR showed that the fingerprinting group was significantly related to the sampling site (p < 0.01) and sampling date (p < 0.05). By utilising ERIC-PCR in conjunction with antibiotic susceptibility and antibiotic-resistance gene detection, the relationship among different strains of E. coli could be elucidated. Furthermore, we identified the presence of six extra-intestinal pathogenic E. coli isolates and antibiotic-resistant E. coli isolates near drinking water sources, posing a potential risk to public health through community transmission. In conclusion, this study identified environmental factors related to antibiotic-resistant bacteria and antibiotic-resistance gene contamination in rivers during urban development. The results facilitate the understanding of specific management of different waste streams across different urban areas. Periodic surveillance of the effects of WWTPs and livestock waste containing antibiotic-resistant bacteria and antibiotic-resistance genes on river contamination is necessary.

Short-term microbial effects on n-alkane during the early phase degradation and consequential modification of biomarkers in a lowland subtropical rainforest in southern Taiwan: A litterbag experiment.

Accurate reconstructions of past environments are critical and urgent because they can help understand how modern environments might respond to current climatic and land-use changes. However, the effect of microbial degradation and consequential modification in plant-derived-biomarkers during the early degradation phase is not yet apparent, that might bias the paleoenvironmental investigation. In this regard, a litterbag experiment was conducted to reveal the microbial effects on n-alkane-associated biomarker changes associated with three habitats (ravine, windward, and leeward) in a lowland subtropical rainforest in southern Taiwan. Freshly collected leaves of plant species Iles rotunda, Ficus benjamina, and Castanopsis carlesii were distributed in the habitat leaf litterbag experiment for 15 and 75 days incubation, respectively. The results revealed that the average leaf decomposition rate was 19.4% ± 6.4% during the first 15 days and 39% ± 11% within 75 days incubation for all leaves. The overall leaf mass degradation of I. rotunda, F. benjamina and C. carlesii in the ravine after 75 days was 58%, 51% and 41%, respectively, which were higher than those in the windward (28%, 36% and 38%) and leeward habitats (35%, 26% and 42%, respectively) indicating higher decomposition rate in the ravine habitat than the others. The predominant n-alkanes in I. rotunda were C31 and C29, whereas in F. benjamina these were C31, C29, and C33, and in C. carlesii it was C31. After 75 days, the ravine habitat showed a 60% decrease in the total n-alkane concentration compared to windward and leeward habitats, suggesting the microbial community associated with the ravine habitat has a higher efficiency of degrading n-alkanes. However, the biomarkers such as carbon preference index (CPI), average carbon length (ACL) and the C31/C29 ratio did not show statistical difference in all habitats from 15 to 75 days incubation. The next-generation sequencing revealed that microbial communities changed significantly from 15 to 75 days in all habitats. The alkB gene-containing bacteria and their family lineages increased substantially during the first 15 days incubation in all habitats. Furthermore, several bacterial genera were exclusively present in the ravine habitat, whereas some were only in the leeward and windward habitats. Despite the heterogeneity of microbial proliferation, difference in biomass and n-alkane degradation among the three habitats, most of the n-alkane-associated biomarkers remained the same. Therefore, we concluded that the microbial effects on n-alkane degradation during the early phase in plant leaves had little influence on the results of most n-alkane biomarkers.

Does Surgical Intensity Correlate With Opioid Prescribing?: Classifying Common Surgical Procedures.

OBJECTIVE: To examine the relationship between aspects of surgical intensity and postoperative opioid prescribing. SUMMARY OF BACKGROUND DATA: Despite the emergence of postoperative prescribing guidelines, recommendations are lacking for many procedures. identifying a framework based on surgical intensity to guide prescribing for those procedures in which guidelines may not exist could inform postoperative prescribing. METHODS: We used clustering analysis with 4 factors of surgical intensity (intrinsic cardiac risk, pain score, median operative time, and work relative value units) to devise a classification system for common surgical procedures. We used IBM MarketScan Research Database (2010-2017) to examine the correlation between this framework with initial opioid prescribing and rates of refill for each cluster of procedures. RESULTS: We examined 2,407,210 patients who underwent 128 commonly performed surgeries. Cluster analysis revealed 5 ordinal clusters by intensity: low, mid-low, mid, mid-high, and high. We found that as the cluster-order increased, the median amount of opioid prescribed increased: 150 oral morphine equivalents (OME) for low-intensity, 225 OME for mid-intensity, and 300 OME for high-intensity surgeries. Rates of refill increased as surgical intensity also increased, from 17.4% for low, 26.4% for mid, and 48.9% for high-intensity procedures. The odds of refill also increased as cluster-order increased; relative to low-intensity procedures, high-intensity procedures were associated with 4.37 times greater odds of refill. CONCLUSION: Surgical intensity is correlated with initial opioid prescribing and rates of refill. Aspects of surgical intensity could serve as a guide for procedures in which guidelines based on patient-reported outcomes are not available.

Comorbidities of systemic lupus erythematosus prior to and following diagnosis in different age-at-onset groups.

OBJECTIVES: Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is a female-dominated autoimmune disease that can occur at any age and has a diverse course. The clinical manifestation of this disease can vary depending on the patient's age at onset. The aim of this study was to characterise the comorbidities at the time of SLE diagnosis and after in different age groups. METHODS: A total 1042 incident cases of SLE with a Catastrophic Illness Card in 2005 and 10,420 age- and sex-matched controls from the general population registered in the National Health Insurance Research Database in Taiwan were enrolled in the study. The risk of comorbidities before (adjusted odds ratio, [aOR]) and after (adjusted hazard ratio, [aHR]) of SLE was analysed. The burden of these SLE-associated comorbidities was weight by the Charlson comorbidity index (CCI). We used the cumulative incidence to evaluate the impact of comorbidities on different age onset groups. RESULTS: In this study, musculoskeletal diseases had the highest positive association (aOR, 5.29; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 4.25-6.57) prior to the diagnosis of SLE and they were also the most common developing incident comorbidity after the diagnosis (HR, 13.7; 95% CI: 11.91-15.77). It only took less than 1 year for 50% of the late-onset SLE patients to develop any increase in CCI score. The developing comorbidities attributed to 16.3% all-cause mortality and they had the greatest impact on late-onset SLE patients, with 33.3% cumulative incidence to all-cause mortality. There is no difference in the incidence of infectious diseases across different age groups. The herpes zoster infection had the greatest cumulative incidence among the category of infection diseases in child-onset SLE patients. CONCLUSION: SLE patients had increased risks of multiple pre-existing comorbidities at diagnosis. The developed comorbidity after diagnosis could contribute to all-cause mortality. The herpes zoster infection is primarily an issue in child-onset SLE patients.

Exploration of pristine plate-tectonic plains and mining exposure areas for indigenous microbial communities and its impact on the mineral-microbial geochemical weathering process in ultramafic setting.

Heavy metal release from harsh ultramafic settings influences microbial diversity and function in soil ecology. This study aimed to determine how serpentine mineralosphere bacterial assemblies and their functions differed in two different plate-tectonic plains and mining exposure sites under heavy metal release conditions. The results showed that the Proteobacteria, Actinobacteria, Cyanobacteria, Planctomycetes, and Chloroflexi were the most abundant bacterial groups among all the sites. The log10-based LDA scores highlighted that some specific groups of bacterial assemblies were enriched in plate-tectonic plains and mining activity areas of the serpentine mineralosphere. Functional prediction revealed that the abundance of heavy metal (Cr and Ni) resistance and biogeochemical cycles involving functional KEGG orthology varied in samples from plate-tectonic plains and mining activity sites. The bipartite plot showed that the enrichment of the biogeochemical cycle and heavy metal resistance functional genes correlated with the abundance of serpentine mineralosphere bacterial groups at a 0.005% confidence level. The co-occurrence network plot revealed that the interconnection pattern of the indigenous bacterial assemblies changed in different plate-tectonic plains and mining exposure areas. Finally, this study concluded that due to heavy metal release, the variation in bacterial assemblies, their functioning, and intercommunity co-occurrence patterns were clarified the synergetic effect of mineral-microbial geochemical weathering process in serpentine mining areas.

Temporal associations between depressive features and self-stigma in people with substance use disorders related to heroin, amphetamine, and alcohol use: a cross-lagged analysis.

BACKGROUND: Depression is a mental health problem and substance use concerns are socially unacceptable behaviors. While depression and substance use may individually impact self-concept and social relationships, their co-occurrence can increase the risk of self-stigmatization. However, there is no evidence regarding how depression and self-stigma may influence each other over time. The aim of the current study was to evaluate the cross-sectional and longitudinal relationships between features of depression and self-stigma in people with substance use disorders. METHODS: Overall, 319 individuals with substance use disorders (273 males) with a mean (± SD) age of 42.2 (± 8.9) years were recruited from a psychiatric center in Taiwan by convenience sampling. They were assessed for features of depression and self-stigma at four times over a period of nine months using the depression subscale of the Depression Anxiety Stress Scales (DASS-21) and Self-Stigma Scale-Short S (SSS-S), respectively. Repeated-measures analyses of variance, Pearson correlations and cross-lagged models using structural equation modeling examined cross-sectional and temporal associations between depression and self-stigma. RESULTS: Positive cross-sectional associations were found between depressive features and all assessed forms of self-stigma over time (0.13 < r < 0.92). Three models of cross-lagged associations between different forms of self-stigma and depressive features indicated good fit indices (comparative fit index > 0.98). The direction of associations between depressive features towards self-stigma was stronger than the opposite direction. CONCLUSION: Positive associations between depressive features and self-stigma were found in people with substance use disorders. Although these associations may be bidirectional longitudinally, the directions from depressive features to self-stigma may be stronger than the reverse directions, suggesting treatment of depression in earlier stages may prevent self-stigmatization and subsequent poor outcomes in people with substance use disorders.

Burdens on caregivers of patients with stroke during a pandemic: relationships with support satisfaction, psychological distress, and fear of COVID-19.

BACKGROUND: Caregivers have faced unprecedented circumstances throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, but previous research only minimally addresses the caregivers' burden. Therefore, this study aimed to investigate the relationship between caregiver burden, psychological stress, satisfaction with support, and fear of COVID-19 in caregivers of patients with stroke during the pandemic. METHODS: A cross-sectional survey study with total of 171 caregivers of patients with stroke in a community hospital in Taiwan. All participants completed the Zarit Burden Interview, Depression, Anxiety, Stress Scale (DASS-21), satisfaction of support survey, and Fear of COVID-19 Scale. Pearson correlations were used to examine the bivariate correlations between study variables. Then, with the control of demographic confounders, a multiple linear regression model was applied with significant variables to construct and explain caregiver burden. RESULTS: The proposed model significantly explained the caregiver burden of caregivers of patients with stroke. Specifically, the caregiver burden was negatively correlated with satisfaction with family support, but positively with psychological distress and the fear of COVID-19. CONCLUSIONS: Caregivers of patients with stroke will suffer a greater burden if they have lower satisfaction with family support, experienced higher psychological distress, and perceived more fear of the COVID-19 pandemic. Health professionals must address these concerns, support caregivers, and enhance available resources.

Factors associated with insomnia and suicidal thoughts among outpatients, healthcare workers, and the general population in Taiwan during COVID-19 pandemic: a cross-sectional study.

BACKGROUND: Insomnia and suicidal thoughts are two of the negative impacts that have been caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. Identifying the factors that contribute to these psychological problems may help develop strategies to sustain the mental health of the public. The present study examined the psychosocial impacts caused by the COVID-19 pandemic among different populations in Taiwan, and investigated the relationships between these psychosocial variables, insomnia, and suicidal thoughts. METHODS: Between September 2020 and May 2021, online questionnaires including psychometrically validated scales were distributed to a convenience sample of outpatients (n = 205), healthcare workers (HCWs) (n = 500), and individuals in the general population (n = 1200) in Taiwan to collect data regarding their insomnia severity, suicidal thoughts, fear of COVID-19, trust of information, and resilience. Multivariate logistic regression methods were used to identify variables associated with suicidal thoughts and insomnia. RESULTS: Greater fear of COVID-19 was significantly associated with suicidal thoughts: odds ratios (ORs) with 95% confidence interval (CI) = 1.155 (1.002-1.330) for outpatients; 1.127 (1.035-1.228) for HCWs; and 1.100 (1.130-1.222) for those in the general population. Higher resilience was significantly associated with lower insomnia: OR (95% CI) = 0.819 (0.725-0.926) for outpatients; 0.803 (0.728-0.887), for HCWs; 0.829 (0.785-0.875), and for those in the general population. In addition, there was a statistically significant association between insomnia diagnosis and greater fear of COVID-19 among HCWs (OR [95% CI] = 1.102 [1.062-1.144]) and those in the general population (OR [95% CI] = 1.079 [1.053-1.106]). Among outpatients, there was a statistically significant association between suicidal thoughts and lower trust of information (OR [95% CI] = 0.794 [0.646-0.976]), while among those in the general population there was a statistically significant association between suicidal thoughts and higher insomnia severity (OR [95% CI] = 1.175 [1.13-1.222]). A statistically significant association was also found between insomnia diagnosis and higher suicidal thoughts among those in the general population (OR [95% CI] = 3.455 [2.338-5.106]). CONCLUSIONS: Trust of information, fear, and resilience were important factors for suppressing suicidal thoughts and insomnia among the three study populations. Health policies that monitor psychological status and build resiliency of the public are recommended to help develop tailored strategies for different populations affected by the COVID-19 pandemic.

Comprehensive assessment of bacterial communities and their functional profiles in the Huang Gang Creek in the Tatun Volcano Group basin, Taiwan using 16S rRNA amplicon sequencing.

The microbial characteristics of water bodies located in the outflow of hot springs may affect the water quality parameters of the associated river ecosystem. Using 16S rRNA amplicon sequencing, we investigated the bacterial diversity and functional profiles of the Huang Gang (HG) Creek, located in the trace metal-rich, acid-sulfate thermal springs zone of the Tatun Volcano Group (TVG). Biofilms and water samples were collected from the upstream, midstream, and geothermal valleys and downstream of the creek. The results showed that the biofilm and water samples had distinct bacterial diversity and abundance profiles. Acidophilic sulfur-oxidizing bacteria were found to be more abundant in water samples, whereas aquatic photosynthetic bacterial communities were dominant in biofilms. The water samples were contaminated with Legionella and Chlamydiae, which could contaminate the nearby river and cause clinical infections in humans. The upstream samples were highly unique and displayed higher diversity than the other sites. Moderate thermo-acidophiles were dominant in the upstream and midstream regions, whereas the geothermal valley and downstream samples were abundant in thermo-acidophiles. In addition, functional profiling revealed higher expression of sulfur, arsenic, and iron-related functions in water and lead-related functions in the biofilms of the creek. As described in previous studies, the hydrochemical properties of the HG Creek were influenced by the TVG hot springs. Our findings indicated that the hydrochemical properties of the HG Creek were highly correlated with the bacterial diversity and functional potential of running water as compared to biofilms.

The role of demographic factors, mindfulness and perceived stress in resilience among nurses: A cross sectional study.

AIM: To examine the role of demographic factors, mindfulness, and perceived stress on resilience among nurses. BACKGROUND: Resilience is an important attribute in the nursing profession although factors affecting it are very diverse. Knowing these factors may help in enhancing nurses' resilience and their subsequent quality healthcare delivery. METHOD: Utilizing a cross-sectional descriptive survey, a convenience sample was recruited to answer questions assessing resilience, perceived stress, and mindfulness in Taiwan between October and November 2021. Independent t-tests, one-way analyses of variance (ANOVAs) and hierarchical regression were used to analyse the data. RESULTS: A total of 816 nurses participated in the study. Postgraduate degree nurses had lower perceived stress (p = .006) and higher resilience (p = .003) compared with their college and undergraduate counterparts. Nurses working in internal medicine had significantly higher levels of perceived stress (p = .006) and lower levels of mindfulness (p = .005) compared with those in other departments. Single nurses had significantly higher levels of mindfulness (p = .04) but lower levels of resilience (p = .049) than those who were married. Educational level, perceived stress, and mindfulness were all factors that influenced nurses' resilience. CONCLUSION: Higher educational levels, perceived stress, and mindfulness appear to influence nurses' resilience. Nurses should therefore be encouraged to upgrade themselves academically, attend refresher courses, and learn adaptive coping strategies. IMPLICATIONS FOR NURSING MANAGEMENT: Hospital authorities should help nurses deal with stressful issues and offer career development opportunities to update, upgrade, and enhance their skillsets in the profession.