Associations of three differential white blood cell counts, platelet counts, and their derived inflammatory indices with cancer-related fatigue in patients with breast cancer undergoing chemotherapy.

PURPOSE: Inflammation is thought to be a vital element in the etiology of cancer-related fatigue (CRF), and circulating blood cell parameters could be important markers of inflammatory response. However, the associations of several major blood cell counts and their derived inflammatory indices with CRF are not well described. The present study aimed to establish whether a relationship exists between the counts of three white blood cell (WBC) types, platelets, and CRF and investigate whether several systemic inflammatory indices were associated with CRF in patients with breast cancer (BC). METHODS: A cross-sectional survey was conducted with a sample of 824 patients with BC undergoing chemotherapy. The cancer fatigue scale was administered to assess CRF. Hematological indicators, including neutrophils, lymphocytes, monocytes, and platelets, were retrieved from routine blood test. Network analyses were used to examine the associations among them. RESULTS: Among 824 participants, the mean score of CRF was (27 ± 10), ranging from 0 to 57. The results of network models indicated that physical fatigue was negatively linked to lymphocyte counts (weight = - 0.161), and affective fatigue was positively associated with neutrophil counts (weight = 0.070). Additionally, physical fatigue was positively linked to the platelet-to-lymphocyte ratio (PLR) (weight = 0.049). CONCLUSION: There were preliminary associations of counts of three WBC types, platelet counts, and systemic inflammatory indices, with distinct dimensions of CRF in patients with BC. Findings provide empirical support for the cellular basis of fatigue-associated inflammatory states.

Development and Psychometric Evaluation of the Social Participation Questionnaire: A Methodological and Cross-Sectional Study.

PURPOSE: Social participation is vital for the health maintenance of general populations as well as the functional recovery and social ties of clinical patients. To develop a Social Participation Questionnaire (SPQ) to evaluate participation in social activities in an individual's life and to test the reliability and validity of the SPQ. DESIGN: Cross-sectional study. SETTING: Community and clinic in China. SUBJECTS: A total of 1419 healthy adults and 486 breast cancer patients. MEASURES: The initial items were developed from a theoretical framework, a literature review, and Delphi expert consultation. Item analysis, exploratory (EFA) and confirmatory factor analysis (CFA), criterion validity, construct reliability, and internal consistency reliability were performed to examine the psychometric properties of the SPQ. RESULTS: The final SPQ was comprised of 11 different types of social activities, falling under the 3 dimensions of activities of daily life, sports and entertainment activities, and social service activities. EFA explained 50.674% of the total item variance contributing to the tool. CFA showed that the SPQ fit well. The total SPQ score was significantly associated with social network, quality of life, and cognitive function (r = |.180∼.466|, P < .001). The internal consistency coefficient was acceptable (range of Cronbach's alpha, .695 to .720). CONCLUSIONS: The SPQ has robust properties, wide application, and provides a culturally relevant tool to evaluate the social participation of individuals, thus facilitating rigorous clinical and population-based research.

On group structures of strategic-form games.

There are two recognized classes of strategic-form symmetric games, both of which can be conveniently defined through the corresponding player symmetry groups. We investigate the basic properties of these groups and several related concepts. We generalize the notion of coveringness and adapt their results to characterize these player symmetry groups. We study the relationships between the coveringnesses of various symmetry groups. Our results demonstrate that these symmetry groups have rich mathematical structures that are of game theoretical and economic interests.

Linking stigma to social isolation among colorectal cancer survivors with permanent stomas: the chain mediating roles of stoma acceptance and valuable actions.

PURPOSE: Colorectal cancer (CRC) survivors with permanent stomas might be at higher risk of social isolation, and stigma can play an important role in the development of social isolation. However, the underlying psychological mechanisms are understudied. The current study examined how stoma acceptance and valuable actions mediated the relationships between stigma and social isolation among CRC survivors with permanent stomas. METHODS: A cross-sectional survey was conducted with a sample of 303 CRC survivors with permanent stomas. The chain mediation models were conducted using the PROCESS macro for SPSS to explore the pathways through which stigma can be associated with CRC survivors' social isolation, mediated by stoma acceptance and valuable actions. RESULTS: The results indicated that higher stigma was related to lower stoma acceptance, less personal values enactment, and higher social isolation, as well as lower objective social connectedness and subjective social belongingness among CRC survivors with permanent stomas. Additionally, the mediational analyses revealed that stoma acceptance and valuable actions jointly mediated the relationships between stigma and social isolation. CONCLUSION: Social isolation among CRC survivors during the adjustment to both stoma and stigma may be alleviated through tailored interventions that improve stoma acceptance and valuable actions. IMPLICATIONS FOR CANCER SURVIVORS: The chain mediating roles of stoma acceptance and valuable actions highlight that tailored interventions, such as acceptance and commitment therapy, can be targeted for this population, considering this population's unique needs.

Direct imaging of dynamic heterogeneous lithium-gold interaction at the electrochemical interface during the charging/discharging processes.

Lithium can smoothly plate on certain lithium alloys in theory, such as the Li-Au alloy, making the alloy/metal films promising current collectors for high energy density anode-free batteries. However, the actual performance of the batteries with alloy film electrodes often rapidly deteriorates. It remains challenging for current imaging approaches to provide sufficient details for fully understanding the process. Here, a "see-through" operando optical microscopic approach that allows direct imaging of Li-Au interaction with high spatiotemporal and chemical resolution has been developed. Through this approach, a two-step Li-Au alloying process that exhibits interesting complementary spatiotemporal evolution paths has been discovered. The alloying process regulates the nucleation of further Li deposition, while the Li nucleation sites generate pores on the electrode film. After several cycles, film rupture occurs due to the generation of an increased number of pores, thus explaining the previously unclear mechanism of poor cycling stability. We have also elucidated the deterioration mechanism of silver electrodes: the growth of defect pores in size, independent of the alloying process. Overall, this new imaging approach opens up an effective and simple way to monitor the dynamic heterogeneity of metal-metal interaction at the electrochemical interface, which could provide helpful insight for designing high-performance batteries.

Network structure of complex interactions of premenstrual syndrome and influencing factors in young adult women.

BACKGROUND: In the transition phase from adolescence to adulthood, premenstrual syndrome (PMS) occurs more commonly, with a variety of symptoms. The occurrence of PMS may be the result of a combination of demographic, physiological, psychological and sociological factors. This study aimed to identify the central symptoms of PMS, and explored the complex influencing factors especially the one-to-one inter-relationships factors with specific symptoms. METHOD: This is a cross-sectional study conducted in mainland China. 3458 young adult women were assessed. Using the Premenstrual Syndrome Scale (PSS) to assess the PMS, and PSS score was over 6 divided into PMS group, and vice versa. Influencing factors were assessed by a set of self-reported questionnaire. Network analysis was used to examined the interplay of PMS, whilst also considering the influencing factors of PMS. RESULTS: In summary, 1479 participants were in PMS group. Anxiety had the highest strength centrality (1.12/1.09), shown higher centrality in the both network. Swelling of the hands or feet also shown higher strength centrality (0.89) in PMS group. PMS is associated with a higher history of dysmenorrhea, and neurotic personality. Neurotic personality - depressed mood/nervousness (0.27/0.23), history of dysmenorrhea - abdominal distension (0.21), had significantly higher weight than other edges in PMS group. CONCLUSION: Anxiety was the most central symptom in the network, and was closely associated with other symptoms like depressed mood, which provided additional evidence for the centrality of emotional features in PMS. Moreover, the influencing factors of PMS combined demographic, physiological, psychological, and sociological factors. According to the central symptoms and factors affecting the specific PMS symptoms in young adult women, targeted intervention is helpful to prevent and alleviate PMS. LIMITATION: Cross-sectional design cannot infer the directionality of the associations between variables. All data is self-reported with recall bias and the edge weights across the constructs of influencing factors and PMS were fairly small.

SIRT5-related lysine demalonylation of GSTP1 contributes to cardiomyocyte pyroptosis suppression in diabetic cardiomyopathy.

Sirtuin 5 (SIRT5), localized in the mitochondria, has been identified as a protein desuccinylase and demalonylase in the mitochondria since the depletion of SIRT5 boosted the global succinylation and malonylation of mitochondrial proteins. We investigated the role of SIRT5 in diabetic cardiomyopathy (DCM) and identified the mechanism regarding lysine demalonylation in this process. Wild-type and SIRT5 knockout mice were induced with DCM, and primary cardiomyocytes and cardiac fibroblasts extracted from wild-type and SIRT5 knockout mice were subjected to high glucose (HG). SIRT5 deficiency exacerbated myocardial injury in DCM mice, aggravated HG-induced oxidative stress and mitochondrial dysfunction in cardiomyocytes, and intensified cardiomyocyte senescence, pyroptosis, and DNA damage. DCM-induced SIRT5 loss diminished glutathione S-transferase P (GSTP1) protein stability, represented by significantly increased lysine malonylation (Mal-Lys) modification of GSTP1. SIRT5 overexpression alleviated DCM-related myocardial injury, which was reversed by GSTP1 knockdown. Reduced SIRT5 transcription in DCM resulted from the downregulation of SPI1. SPI1 promoted the transcription of SIRT5, thereby ameliorating DCM-associated myocardial injury. However, SIRT5 deletion resulted in a significant reversal of the protective effect of SPI1. These observations suggest that SPI1 activates SIRT5 transcriptionally to mediate GSTP1 Mal-Lys modification and protein stability, thus ameliorating DCM-associated myocardial injury.

The effect of mindfulness and psychological capital on mental health of breast cancer patients: Based on polynomial regression and response surface analysis.

OBJECTIVE: To explore the combined effects of mindfulness and psychological capital on mental health of breast cancer patients and to examine the mediating effect of positive emotions in their relationship. METHODS: A convenient sampling method was used in this study, and 522 breast cancer patients aged 18 to 59 who received chemotherapy in a tertiary cancer hospital were enrolled. Polynomial regression with response surface analysis was mainly employed to explore the relationship between mindfulness, psychological capital, and mental health. A block-variable approach was used to verify the mediating effect of positive emotions. RESULTS: In cases of congruence, mental health was better when mindfulness and psychological capital were both high instead of being both low (the slope of the congruence was 0.540, p < 0.001); In cases of incongruence, poorer mental health was found in breast cancer patients with low psychological capital and high mindfulness compared with those who had high psychological capital and low mindfulness (the slope of the incongruence was -0.338, p < 0.001), and the combined effects were a positive curve (positive U-shaped) related to mental health (ß = 0.102, p = 0.040). In addition, positive emotions played a mediating role in the relationship between the block variable (mindfulness and psychological capital) and mental health, and the indirect effect was 0.131. CONCLUSIONS: This study expanded the research on the effects of mindfulness and psychological capital in improving mental health as well as the conflict between the two variables related to mental health by employing a new analytical technique among breast cancer patients.

Treatment-induced menopause symptoms among women with breast cancer undergoing chemotherapy in China: a comparison to age- and menopause status-matched controls.

OBJECTIVE: Whether women with breast cancer experience more severe menopause symptoms than comparison women without a history of breast cancer diagnosis remains unclear. We aimed to investigate whether women with breast cancer undergoing chemotherapy experience more severe menopause symptoms than comparison women and explore various factors influencing menopause symptoms in women with breast cancer undergoing chemotherapy. METHODS: This cross-sectional observational study recruited 423 women with breast cancer undergoing chemotherapy and 1,829 community women without breast cancer. All participants completed a questionnaire assessing menopause symptoms using the Menopause Rating Scale and general characteristics (eg, sociodemographic and clinical data). Propensity score matching was used to reduce the confounders between the two groups. Student's t test or Mann-Whitney U test and chi-square tests were used to compare the differences in menopause symptoms between the two groups. Multivariate linear regression analysis was performed to explore various factors influencing menopause symptoms in women with breast cancer undergoing chemotherapy. RESULTS: After propensity score matching, 808 participants were included. The mean ages of women with breast cancer undergoing chemotherapy and comparison women were 49.58 and 49.10 years, respectively. Women with breast cancer undergoing chemotherapy experienced significantly more severe vasomotor symptoms than comparison women. However, comparison women had higher Menopause Rating Scale scores and more severe menopause symptoms than women with breast cancer undergoing chemotherapy. Age, occupational status, chemotherapy-induced amenorrhea, family history of cancer, chemotherapy stage, mindfulness, resiliency, and illness perception were associated with menopause symptoms in women with breast cancer undergoing chemotherapy. CONCLUSIONS: Vasomotor symptoms are prominent among women with breast cancer undergoing chemotherapy. Understanding the factors contributing to menopause symptoms is crucial for healthcare practitioners to develop supportive guidelines for the well-being of women with breast cancer undergoing chemotherapy.

Gut microbial dysbiosis is associated with metabolism and immune factors in liver fibrosis mice.

Gut microbial dysbiosis has always served as a potential factor in the occurrence and development of liver fibrosis. Liver and gut microflora can regulate each other through the gut-liver axis. In this study, the 16S rRNA and RNA-seq were chosen to sequence gut microbiota alteration and liver differentially expressed genes (DEGs) in carbon tetrachloride (CCl4) included-liver fibrosis mice, and analyze the correlations between gut microbiota constituents and DEGs. Results indicated that, CCl4 significantly increased the abundance of Desulfobactera in the phylum level, destroyed gut microbiota balance in the genus levels, especially Enterorhabdus and Desulfovibrio. Through analysis, 1416 genes were found differentially expressed in mice liver tissue in the CCl4 Group, compared with the Control Group; and the DEGs were mainly involved in the lipid metabolic process and immune system process. The correlation analysis revealed that the relative abundance of microbiota phylum (Desulfobactera) and genus (Enterorhabdus and Desulfovibrio) was negatively correlated with the metabolism related genes, while positively correlated with immune-related genes and the genes enriched in PI3K-Akt signaling pathway. To sum up, CCl4 can partially regulate gene expression in metabolism, immune response and the PI3K/Akt pathway, and further maintain the stability of the gut environment in liver fibrosis mice.

Dyadic association between mindfulness, family avoidance of communication about cancer and fear of cancer recurrence among breast cancer couples: A cross-sectional study.

PURPOSE: The research focused on examining the dyadic relationship between mindfulness, fear of cancer recurrence (FCR), and family avoidance of communication about cancer (FACC) within breast cancer couples. METHODS: This study utilized a cross-sectional approach to gather data from 249 breast cancer couples. Participants completed self-report measures assessing mindfulness, FCR, and FACC. The Actor-Partner Interdependence Mediation Model was applied to analyze how each individual's and their partner's mindfulness affected their own and their partner's FCR, as well as the mediating role of FACC in this relationship. RESULTS: The study found that the average FCR score for breast cancer patients was (32.59 ± 10.05), while their spouses had a score of (34.39 ± 8.60). The bootstrap method showed that self-FACC as a mediator between mindfulness in breast cancer couples and their own FCR (patient: ß = -0.044, P = 0.019; spouse: ß = -0.046, P = 0.007). Patients' FACC influenced the connection between their mindfulness and spouses' FCR (ß = -0.031, P = 0.030). CONCLUSIONS: The findings highlight the potential for interventions that focus on mindfulness and communication enhancement to alleviate FCR and improve the overall well-being of breast cancer couples.

Reliability and validity of the Chinese version of the Copenhagen Multi-Centre Psychosocial Infertility-Fertility Problem Stress Scales.

AIMS: The aim of this study is to introduce the Copenhagen Multi-Centre Psychosocial Infertility (COMPI)-Fertility Problem Stress Scales (COMPI-FPSS) into China and test its applicability in Chinese infertile population. BACKGROUND: Infertility-related stress not only influences patients' psychological well-being but is also strongly associated with reduced pregnancy rates and poorer assisted conception outcomes, thus warranting focussed attention. DESIGN: The design used in this study is a cross-sectional survey. METHODS: A total of 418 participants were recruited by convenience sampling from March to July 2022. The data were randomly divided into two parts: one for item analysis and exploratory factor analysis and the other for confirmatory factor analysis and reliability test. The critical ratio and homogeneity test were used to verify the differentiation and homogeneity of the COMPI-FPSS; the construct validity was determined by explanatory and confirmatory factor analyses; Cronbach's α coefficient and Spearman-Brown coefficient were used to assess the reliability; and criterion validity was expressed using correlation coefficients for the Perceived Stress Scale and the Negative Affect Scale as the validity criteria. RESULTS: The revised Chinese version of COMPI-FPSS has 11 items and 2 dimensions (i.e., personal stress domain and social stress domain). Exploratory factor analysis showed that the cumulative variance contribution rate of the two factors was 68.6%, and confirmatory factor analysis indicated that the model fitted well. The score of the COMPI-FPSS was significantly and positively associated with perceived stress and negative affect. The Cronbach's α coefficient of the total scale was 0.905, and the Spearman-Brown coefficient was 0.836, explaining excellent reliability. CONCLUSION: The revised Chinese version of COMPI-FPSS shows good reliability and validity, and it can be used to evaluate the infertility-related stress of infertile patients in China.

Limitations on participation and global quality of life among CRC survivors with permanent stomas: moderated mediation analysis of psychological distress and family functioning.

PURPOSE: Although a cancer diagnosis and stoma creation leave colorectal cancer (CRC) survivors with significant limitations on participation in life activities that would impair their global quality of life (QoL), the underlying psychological mechanisms are understudied. The aim of this cross-section study was to examine whether psychological distress mediates the association of limitations on participation in life activity with global QoL, and whether family functioning moderated the indirect effects of limitations on participation in life activities on global QoL through psychological distress. METHODS: CRC survivors with permanent stomas (n = 282) completed questionnaires assessing socio-demographic and clinical characteristics, limitations on participation in life activities, psychological distress, family functioning, and global QoL. The mediation model and moderated mediation model were conducted using the PROCESS macro for SPSS. RESULTS: Mediation analysis showed that the association of limitations on participation in life activities with global QoL was partially mediated by psychological distress (indirect effect = -0.087, 95% CI = -0.135 to -0.041). Moderated mediation analysis indicated that the indirect effects of limitations on participation in life activities on global QoL through psychological distress were significantly moderated by family functioning. Specifically, the indirect effects decreased were significant as family functioning levels increased. CONCLUSION: CRC survivors with permanent stomas experienced poor global QoL. The moderated mediation model provides a better understanding of how limitations on participation in life activities, psychological distress, and family functioning work together to affect global QoL. Interventions aiming to improve QoL among CRC survivors with permanent stomas should consider targeting these aspects.

Fermented Sargassum fusiforme Mitigates Ulcerative Colitis in Mice by Regulating the Intestinal Barrier, Oxidative Stress, and the NF-κB Pathway.

In recent years, Sargassum fusiforme has gained increasing attention for its ability to improve human health and reduce the risk of disease. Nevertheless, there have been few reports on the beneficial functions of fermented Sargassum fusiforme. In this study, the role of fermented Sargassum fusiforme in the mitigation of ulcerative colitis was investigated. Both fermented and unfermented Sargassum fusiforme demonstrated significant improvement in weight loss, diarrhea, bloody stools, and colon shortening in mice with acute colitis. Fermented Sargassum fusiforme further protected against goblet cell loss, decreased intestinal epithelium permeability, and enhanced the expression of tight junction proteins. Fermented Sargassum fusiforme reduced oxidative stress, which was demonstrated by a decrease in nitric oxide (NO), myeloperoxidase (MPO), and malondialdehyde (MDA) concentrations in the colon of mice and an increase in total superoxide dismutase (T-SOD) activity in the colon. Meanwhile, catalase (CAT) concentrations in both the colon and serum of mice were significantly increased. Fermented Sargassum fusiforme also attenuated the inflammatory response, which was evidenced by the decreased level of pro-inflammatory cytokines in the colon. Moreover, fermented Sargassum fusiforme inhibited the nuclear factor-κB (NF-κB) signaling pathway and increased the production of short-chain fatty acids in the intestine. These findings indicate that fermented Sargassum fusiforme may have the potential to be developed as an alternative strategy for alleviating colitis.

The Impact of Multi-Quality Renewal Elements of Residence on the Subjective Well-Being of the Older Adults - A Case Study of Dalian.

Background: With the expansion of comprehensive renovation projects in China's old residential areas, residents' actual sense of access and well-being has become a source of concern. As the population in old residential areas ages, the results of old renovation will have a significant impact on the older adults quality of life and subjective well-being. Purpose: To date, most relevant studies have focused on urban and community scales, with little discussion of the impact of neighborhood-level renewal outcomes on the well-being of older adults. As a result, the purpose of this research is to optimize the quality renewal elements of existing old residential areas based on the results of their renovation in order to create a more livable living environment for older adults in existing old residential areas. Methods: Based on a survey of old neighborhoods in Dalian, the study examines the mediating effect of psychological resilience between multi-quality renewal elements and the subjective well-being of the older adults, and it discusses the influence of multi-quality renewal elements on the subjective well-being of the older adults in different residential types. Results: According to the findings, multi-quality renewal elements of residence positively predicted the subjective well-being of the older adults; there was a significant mediating effect of psychological resilience between the renewal elements and subjective well-being of the older adults. The study confirms that multiple quality renewal elements can contribute to older people's subjective well-being, and that psychological resilience plays an important role in the selection of multiple quality renewal elements and older people's subjective well-being. Conclusion: The research provides guidance for the establishment of health-oriented approaches to environmental restoration in residential areas for the sustainable development of communities and cities.

Decreased serum MMP-9 levels in patients with nontraumatic osteonecrosis of the femoral head.

BACKGROUND: Matrix metalloproteinase-9 (MMP-9) and tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinases-1 (TIMP-1) are involved in the pathological mechanism of osteonecrosis of the femoral head (ONFH). This study aimed to investigate the relationship of serum MMP-9, TIMP-1, and the MMP-9/TIMP-1 ratio with disease severity in patients with nontraumatic ONFH. METHODS: Serum levels of MMP-9 and TIMP-1 among 102 nontraumatic ONFH patients and 96 healthy individuals were determined by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Imaging severity was determined using the FICAT classification system. The Harris hip score (HHS) and visual analogue scale (VAS) were used to evaluate clinical progress. The correlations of serum MMP-9 and TIMP-1 levels with imaging severity and clinical progress was evaluated statistically. The diagnostic value of MMP-9 for NONFH disease severity was evaluated by examining receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves. RESULTS: The serum MMP-9 levels and the MMP-9/TIMP-1 ratio were significantly increased in patients with ONFH compared to normal controls, and TIMP-1 levels did not differ between the two groups. Serum MMP-9 levels and the MMP-9/TIMP-1 ratio were positively correlated with FICAT stage and VAS and were negatively correlated with the HHS score. The ROC curve results indicated that MMP-9 could be used as a potential marker of nontraumatic ONFH imaging progression. CONCLUSIONS: We hypothesize that increased MMP-9 expression and an imbalance in the MMP-9/TIMP-1 ratio play a role in the development of ONFH and are correlate with the severity of ONFH. The determination of MMP-9 can be a useful tool to assess the severity of the disease in patients with nontraumatic ONFH.

Association between self-reported sedentary behavior and health-related quality of life among infertile women with polycystic ovary syndrome.

BACKGROUND: High sedentary behavior and poor health-related quality of life (HRQoL) were common among women with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS). However, the association of sedentary behavior with HRQoL among infertile women with PCOS is still unknown. This study aimed to investigate the association of sedentary behavior with HRQoL among them. METHODS: A cross-sectional study was conducted with 283 participants recruited from infertility outpatient clinic. A self-administered, structured questionnaire including the modified PCOS health-related QoL questionnaire (MPCOSQ), the International Physical Activity Questionnaire short form (IPAQ-SF), the Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9), and the Generalized Anxiety Disorder-7 (GAD-7) was used. Anthropometric and laboratory indictors related to PCOS were also collected. Multivariable linear regression analyses were performed to identify the associations. Bonferroni correction was utilized for multiple testing correction. RESULTS: Sedentary behavior was associated with reduced HRQoL among this group. Specifically, over seven hours per day of sedentary behavior was strongly associated with total and several aspects of HRQoL (ß ranged from - 0.378 to - 0.141, all P < 0.0063) after adjusting for physical activity, anxiety and depression. In addition, elevated BMI (ß = - 0.407, P < 0.001) and anxiety (ß ranged from - 0.410 to - 0.245, all P < 0.0063) were associated with poor HRQoL, while physical activity and depression were not. CONCLUSION: Sedentary behavior is an important behavior among infertile women with PCOS as it was associated with poorer HRQoL. Future interventions seeking to improve HRQoL should be considered to reduce sedentary behavior and psychological burden as primary intervention targets.

Super-resolved dynamics of isolated zinc formation during extremely fast electrochemical deposition/dissolution processes.

The development of zinc-air batteries with high-rate capability and long lifespan is critically important for their practical use, especially in smart grid and electric vehicle application. The formation of isolated zinc (i-Zn) on the zinc anode surface, however, could easily lead to deteriorated performance, such as rapid capacity decay. In particular, under the fast charging/discharging conditions, the electrochemical activities on the anode surface are complicated and severely suppressed. Thus, it is highly desirable to deeply understand the formation mechanism of i-Zn and its relationship with the electrochemical performance during extremely high-rate cycling. Herein, we employed a super-resolution dark-field microscope to in situ analyze the evolution dynamics of the electrolyte-Zn interface during the extremely fast electrochemical deposition/dissolution processes. The unique phenomenon of nanoscopic i-Zn generation under the condition is unveiled. We discovered that the rapid conversion of nanoscopic i-Zn fragments into passivated products could greatly exacerbate the concentration polarization process and increase the overpotential. In addition, the role of large-sized i-Zn fragments in reducing the coulombic efficiency is further elucidated. This information could aid the rational design of highly effective anodes for extremely high-rate zinc-based batteries and other battery systems.

Differences According to Sex in the Relationship between Social Participation and Well-Being: A Network Analysis.

This study aimed to explore the effects of different types of social participation on the components of well-being, as well as the differences according to sex in the relationship between social participation and well-being. This was a cross-sectional community study. Well-being was measured using the positive emotion, engagement, relationships, meaning, and accomplishment (PERMA) profile. Social participation included activities of daily life, sports and entertainment activities, and social service activities. The independent association between each type of social participation and the components of well-being was examined by using a network analysis in both males and females. Of all 1276 participants surveyed, 60% were females. The results of the network analysis showed that positive emotion-housework (0.263), positive emotion-games (0.102), engagement-housework (0.107), engagement-work (0.054), and meaning-socializing (0.085) had unique connections in males; the average predictability in the network was 0.417. For females, positive emotion-physical activity (0.102), engagement-associations or societies (0.071), relationships-physical (0.090), relationships-socializing (0.092), and relationships-volunteering activities (0.133) had significant connections; the average predictability in the network was 0.358. Different types of social participation may have different effects on the components of well-being. Furthermore, differences according to sex in the relationship between social participation and well-being should be considered when formulating interventions to improve well-being.

Isinglass Polysaccharides Regulate Intestinal-Barrier Function and Alleviate Obesity in High-Fat Diet Mice through the HO-1/Nrf2 Pathway and Intestinal Microbiome Environment.

Plant polysaccharide intervention has shown significant potential to combat obesity. However, studies on animal polysaccharides are indeed rare. The aim of this study was to investigate the potential functions of CIP (IL) on obesity, intestinal microflora dysbiosis, and the possible protection of intestinal barrier in mice fed with high-fat diet (HFD). Our results revealed that after 13 weeks, the HFD+L (high-fat diet + 25 mg/kg CIP) group showed significantly more weight loss and fat accumulation relative to the HFD+H (high-fat diet + 50 mg/kg CIP) group. Furthermore, CIP intervention modulated lipid metabolism and mRNA levels of inflammatory mediators in liver. Overall, CIP clearly improved the intestinal barrier in HFD-fed mice. Additionally, we observed that CIP intervention improved intestinal microbiota community richness and diversity in HFD-fed mice. The CIP intervention mice group showed a relatively low Firmicutes to Bacteroidetes ratio compared to the HFD group. This study concluded that CIP could be used as a functional food to prevent adipocyte accumulation, reduce systemic inflammation, and protect the intestinal barrier.