Rapid, Micron-Resolution 3D Printing of Nd:YAG Ceramic with Optical Gain.

Polycrystalline yttrium aluminum garnet (YAG) ceramic doped with neodymium (Nd), referred to as Nd:YAG, is widely used in solid-state lasers. However, conventional powder metallurgy methods suffer from expenses, time consumption, and limitations in customizing structures. This study introduces a novel approach for creating Nd:YAG ceramics with 3D free-form structures from micron (∼70 µm) to centimeter scales. Firstly, sol-gel synthesis is employed to form photocurable colloidal solutions. Subsequently, by utilizing a home-built micro-continuous liquid interface printing process, precursors are printed into 3D poly(acrylic acid) hydrogels containing yttrium, aluminum, and neodymium hydroxides, with a resolution of 5.8 µm pixel-1 at a speed of 10 µm s-1. After the hydrogels undergo thermal dehydration, debinding, and sintering, polycrystalline Nd:YAG ceramics featuring distinguishable grains are successfully produced. By optimizing the concentrations of the sintering aids (tetraethyl orthosilicate) and neodymium trichloride (NdCl3), the resultant samples exhibit satisfactory photoluminescence, emitting light concentrated at 1064 nm when stimulated by a 532 nm laser. Additionally, Nd:YAG ceramics with various 3D geometries (e.g., cone, spiral, and angled pillar) are printed and characterized, which demonstrates the potential for applications, such as laser and amplifier fibers, couplers, and splitters in optical circuits, as well as gain metamaterials or metasurfaces.

Versatile Patterning of Liquid Metal via Multiphase 3D Printing.

This paper presents a scalable and straightforward technique for the immediate patterning of liquid metal/polymer composites via multiphase 3D printing. Capitalizing on the polymer's capacity to confine liquid metal (LM) into diverse patterns. The interplay between distinctive fluidic properties of liquid metal and its self-passivating oxide layer within an oxidative environment ensures a resilient interface with the polymer matrix. This study introduces an inventive approach for achieving versatile patterns in eutectic gallium indium (EGaIn), a gallium alloy. The efficacy of pattern formation hinges on nozzle's design and internal geometry, which govern multiphase interaction. The interplay between EGaIn and polymer within the nozzle channels, regulated by variables such as traverse speed and material flow pressure, leads to periodic patterns. These patterns, when encapsulated within a dielectric polymer polyvinyl alcohol (PVA), exhibit an augmented inherent capacitance in capacitor assemblies. This discovery not only unveils the potential for cost-effective and highly sensitive capacitive pressure sensors but also underscores prospective applications of these novel patterns in precise motion detection, including heart rate monitoring, and comprehensive analysis of gait profiles. The amalgamation of advanced materials and intricate patterning techniques presents a transformative prospect in the domains of wearable sensing and comprehensive human motion analysis.

The Regulatory Effect of Receptor-Interacting Protein Kinase 3 on CaMKIIδ in TAC-Induced Myocardial Hypertrophy.

Necroptosis is a newly discovered mechanism of cell death, and its key regulatory role is attributed to the interaction of receptor-interacting protein kinases (RIPKs) RIPK1 and RIPK3. Ca2+/calmodulin-dependent protein kinase (CaMKII) is a newly discovered RIPK3 substrate, and its alternative splicing plays a fundamental role in cardiovascular diseases. In the present study, we aimed to explore the role and mechanism of necroptosis and alternative splicing of CaMKIIδ in myocardial hypertrophy. Transverse aortic constriction (TAC) was performed on wild-type and knockout mice to establish the model of myocardial hypertrophy. After 3 weeks, echocardiography, cardiac index, cross-sectional area of myocardial cells, hypertrophic gene expression, myocardial damage, and fibers were assessed. Moreover, we detected the levels of inflammatory factors (IL-6 and TNF-α) and examined the expressions of necroptosis-related proteins RIPK3, RIPK1, and phosphorylated MLKL. Meanwhile, we tested the expression levels of splicing factors ASF/SF2 and SC-35 in an attempt to explore CaMKII δ. The relationship between variable splicing disorder and the expression levels of splicing factors ASF/SF2 and SC-35. Further, we also investigated CaMKII activation, oxidative stress, and mitochondrial ultrastructure. In addition, wild-type mice were administered with a recombinant adeno-associated virus (AAV) carrying RIPK3, followed by TAC surgery to construct a model of myocardial hypertrophy, and the above-mentioned indicators were tested after 3 weeks. The results showed that RIPK3 deficiency could alleviate cardiac dysfunction, myocardial injury, aggravation of necrosis, and CaMKII activation induced by TAC surgery in mice with myocardial hypertrophy. Tail vein injection of AAV could reverse cardiac dysfunction, myocardial damage, aggravation of necrosis, and CaMKII activation in mice with myocardial hypertrophy. These results proved that RIPK3 could be used as a molecular intervention target for the prevention and treatment of myocardial hypertrophy.

Changes in Laminin in Acute Heart Failure.

Laminin is a major component of the basement membrane of cardiomyocytes and has been found at a high level in patients with heart failure. However, detailed information on the relationship between disease management and progression in patients with acute heart failure (AHF) remains lacking. We focused on the levels of laminin (LN) before and after admission to the hospital in AHF patients. One hundred twelve AHF patients who were hospitalized in the Affiliated Hospital 2 of Nantong University from January 2020 to February 2021 were selected as the main subjects of the study. The control group consisted of 137 hospitalized patients in New York Heart Association (NYHA) classes I-II during the same time period. Serum laminin levels were measured at baseline in all patients. Besides, laminin levels of AHF patients were measured again 1 week after admission. The serum laminin levels at admission were significantly higher in AHF patients than those in the patients of NYHA classes I-II [73.79 (41.04, 129.75) ng/mL versus 27.98 (20.75, 37.49) ng/mL, respectively, P < 0.001]. After 1 week of treatment, laminin levels in AHF patients were 41.56 (27.92, 78.67) ng/mL, which was significantly lower than before treatment (Z = -6.357, P < 0.001). Bivariate linear correlation analysis showed that LN was associated with NT-proBNP both in the acute phase and after treatment. Laminin levels were significantly higher in AHF patients who had atrial fibrillation (AF) than in those without AF. As a result, we speculated that laminin reflected improved heart function and the occurrence of myocardial fibrosis.

3D Printing-Enabled Nanoparticle Alignment: A Review of Mechanisms and Applications.

3D printing (additive manufacturing (AM)) has enormous potential for rapid tooling and mass production due to its design flexibility and significant reduction of the timeline from design to manufacturing. The current state-of-the-art in 3D printing focuses on material manufacturability and engineering applications. However, there still exists the bottleneck of low printing resolution and processing rates, especially when nanomaterials need tailorable orders at different scales. An interesting phenomenon is the preferential alignment of nanoparticles that enhance material properties. Therefore, this review emphasizes the landscape of nanoparticle alignment in the context of 3D printing. Herein, a brief overview of 3D printing is provided, followed by a comprehensive summary of the 3D printing-enabled nanoparticle alignment in well-established and in-house customized 3D printing mechanisms that can lead to selective deposition and preferential orientation of nanoparticles. Subsequently, it is listed that typical applications that utilized the properties of ordered nanoparticles (e.g., structural composites, heat conductors, chemo-resistive sensors, engineered surfaces, tissue scaffolds, and actuators based on structural and functional property improvement). This review's emphasis is on the particle alignment methodology and the performance of composites incorporating aligned nanoparticles. In the end, significant limitations of current 3D printing techniques are identified together with future perspectives.

Sexual Minority Stigma, Sexual Orientation Concealment, Social Support and Depressive Symptoms Among Men Who have Sex with Men in China: A Moderated Mediation Modeling Analysis.

Men who have sex with men (MSM) often experience depressive symptoms. However, the potential mechanisms resulting in depressive symptoms are not fully understood. Here, we explore possible mechanisms behind the associations between sexual minority stigma (SMS), sexual orientation concealment (SOC), and social support (SS) with depressive symptoms among MSM. Data (N = 715) used in the study were from the baseline survey of a 3-year cohort study in China. Computer-assisted self-interview was used to collect data. Mediation and moderated mediation modeling analysis were employed to address the question. It was found that SOC partially mediated the association between SMS and depressive symptoms (indirect effect = 0.11, 95% CI 0.05-0.17). SS moderated the mediation model by buffering the path from SMS to SOC (ß = 0.17, t = 3.18, P = 0.002). These findings suggested that SS might strengthen the association between SMS and depressive symptoms by moderating the pathway between SMS and SOC.

Marijuana legalization and historical trends in marijuana use among US residents aged 12-25: results from the 1979-2016 National Survey on drug use and health.

BACKGROUND: Marijuana is the most commonly used illicit drug in the United States. More and more states legalized medical and recreational marijuana use. Adolescents and emerging adults are at high risk for marijuana use. This ecological study aims to examine historical trends in marijuana use among youth along with marijuana legalization. METHOD: Data (n = 749,152) were from the 31-wave National Survey on Drug Use and Health (NSDUH), 1979-2016. Current marijuana use, if use marijuana in the past 30 days, was used as outcome variable. Age was measured as the chronological age self-reported by the participants, period was the year when the survey was conducted, and cohort was estimated as period subtracted age. Rate of current marijuana use was decomposed into independent age, period and cohort effects using the hierarchical age-period-cohort (HAPC) model. RESULTS: After controlling for age, cohort and other covariates, the estimated period effect indicated declines in marijuana use in 1979-1992 and 2001-2006, and increases in 1992-2001 and 2006-2016. The period effect was positively and significantly associated with the proportion of people covered by Medical Marijuana Laws (MML) (correlation coefficients: 0.89 for total sample, 0.81 for males and 0.93 for females, all three p values < 0.01), but was not significantly associated with the Recreational Marijuana Laws (RML). The estimated cohort effect showed a historical decline in marijuana use in those who were born in 1954-1972, a sudden increase in 1972-1984, followed by a decline in 1984-2003. CONCLUSION: The model derived trends in marijuana use were coincident with the laws and regulations on marijuana and other drugs in the United States since the 1950s. With more states legalizing marijuana use in the United States, emphasizing responsible use would be essential to protect youth from using marijuana.

Mediating Roles of Anxiety, Self-Efficacy, and Sleep Quality on the Relationship Between Patient-Reported Physician Empathy and Inflammatory Markers in Ulcerative Colitis Patients.

BACKGROUND Empathy between doctor and patient has an important bearing on patient health. The purpose of this study was to assess whether anxiety, sleep quality, and self-efficacy of patients have mediating effects in the relationship of patient-reported physician empathy and inflammatory factor in ulcerative colitis (UC) patients. MATERIAL AND METHODS This study included 242 patients attended by 45 doctors. Self-reported doctors' empathy ability was measured at patient admission (T1), and patient-reported physician empathy was measured 3 months later (T2). Patient anxiety, general self-efficacy, sleep, and inflammatory factor (IL-6) were measured on T1 and T2. Pearson correlation analysis was used to assess the relationships between self-reported doctor empathy ability and patient indices on T1 and T2. The relationships between anxiety, sleep quality, self-efficacy, IL-6, and patient-reported physician empathy were measured by Pearson correlation analysis and structural equation modeling. RESULTS On T1, no significant correlation was reported between self-reported doctors' empathy ability and indices of the patients (P>0.05). On T2, self-reported doctors' empathy ability was significantly positively correlated with patient sleep and self-efficacy (P<0.01), and significantly negatively correlated with patient anxiety and IL-6 (P<0.01). Moreover, on T2, patient-reported physician empathy was negatively correlated with anxiety and IL-6 and was positively correlated with self-efficacy and sleep quality. The effect of patient-reported physician empathy on IL-6 was mediated by anxiety, sleep quality, and self-efficacy. CONCLUSIONS The anxiety, self-efficacy, and sleep quality of UC patients had mediating effects in the relationship between patient-reported physician empathy and IL-6.

Association of Adverse Childhood Experience and Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder with depressive symptoms among men who have sex with men in China: moderated mediation effect of resilience.

BACKGROUND: Adverse childhood experience (ACE), attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), and resilience can all contribute to depressive symptoms. However, little is known regarding the complex relationships between these factors and their joint effects on depressive symptoms. This study aimed to explore the underlying mechanism of ACE, ADHD, and resilience on depressive symptoms among men have sex with men (MSM) in China. METHODS: A total of 714 MSM were recruited from gay/bisexual men-serving venues in Wuhan, Changsha, and Nanchang of China. The data was collected using computer-assisted self-interview. The mediated and moderated mediation models were employed to explore the underlying mechanisms between ACE, ADHD, resilience, and depressive symptoms. RESULTS: Among 714 MSM, 51.4% reported at least one ACE and 13.0% reported three or more. ACE had a direct (ß = 1.01, 95% CI: 0.45-1.57) effect on depressive symptoms. ADHD partially mediated the correlation between ACE and depressive symptoms (indirect effect: 0.55; 95% CI: 0.34-0.79). Additionally, the effect of ACE on depressive symptoms was moderated and buffered by resilience (ß = -0.09, 95% CI: -0.15 - -0.03). CONCLUSION: The findings suggested that, programs and policies that promote resilience and address ADHD might protect Chinese MSM exposed to ACE from depressive symptoms.

Tetrahydroxy stilbene glucoside protected against diabetes-induced osteoporosis in mice with streptozotocin-induced hyperglycemia.

Tetrahydroxy stilbene glucoside (TSG), an active component from medicinal herb Polygonum multiflorum Thunb, could block the activity of the tissue renin-angiotensin system (RAS), which plays a critical role in development of diabetic osteoporosis. This study aimed to determine if TSG therapy could alleviate bone deteriorations in diabetic mouse model induced by streptozotocin. The diabetic mice showed the loss of trabecular bone mass and the changes of trabecular bone microarchitectural parameters as well as the increase in amount of tartrate-resistant acid phosphatase (TRAP)-positive osteoclasts at the distal metaphysis of femur when compared with those of nondiabetic mice. Treatment with TSG significantly elevated calcium content in serum and bone and improved biological parameters of trabecular bone, accompanied by increasing messenger RNA (mRNA) expression of RUNX-2, COL-I, and OCN and protein expression of ß-catenin as well as down-regulating protein expression of RAS components including renin and AT1R. In addition, TSG repressed diabetes-induced decrease in ratio of OPG/RANKL expression and increase in sclerostin expression in bone. The similar effects of TSG on osteoblasts-specific genes were found in MC3T3-E1 cells. Taken together, the present study demonstrated the osteopreserve effects of TSG in diabetic mice, and the underlying mechanism might be attributed to its regulation on osteogenesis and osteoclastogenesis.

Down-regulation of IRAK1 attenuates podocyte apoptosis in diabetic nephropathy through PI3K/Akt signaling pathway.

Diabetic nephropathy (DN) is one of the most common microvascular complications of diabetes mellitus and often results in chronic renal failure. Here, we found that Interleukin 1 receptor associated kinases (IRAK1) was up-regulated in kidney in both DN patients and high-fat diet (HFD)/streptozotocin (STZ)-induced diabetic mice. In vivo, down regulation of IRAK1 ameliorated renal injury and function, with lower podocyte apoptosis, increased expression of Nephrin, attenuated thickness of the glomerular basement membrane and podocyte footprocess effacement. Furthermore, in vitro, down regulation of IRAK1 in podocytes treated with high glucose (HG), podocyte apoptosis and inflammatory cytokines were significantly decreased, but Nephrin increased. Meanwhile, apoptosis-related genes caspase-3/-9 were inhibited and phosphorylation levels of PI3K/Akt were dramatically down regulated. Thus, IRAK1 is one of the critical components involved in podocyte apoptosis in DN.

Mechanism of 2,3,4',5-Tetrahydroxystilbene 2-O-ß-D-Glucoside-Induced Upregulation of Glutamate Transporter 1 Protein Expression in Mouse Primary Astrocytes.

Glutamate transporter-1 (GLT-1), a major glutamate transporter expressed in astrocytes, takes up excess glutamate from the micro-environment in order to prevent excitotoxicity. Drugs that increase GLT-1 expression may have therapeutic effects in disorders associated with neuronal excitotoxicity. 2,3,4',5-tetrahydroxystilbene 2-O-ß-D-glucoside (TSG), a monomer of stilbene from polygonummultiflorum, exerts neuroprotection in a range of experimental models such as Alzheimer's disease and brain ischemia. In this study, we evaluated the effect of TSG on GLT-1 protein expression in mouse primary-cultured astrocytes. Results showed that TSG markedly increased the GLT-1 protein expression level in mouse primary-cultured astrocytes in a dose- and time-dependent manner, and this increase was mediated by the activation of protein kinase B (Akt) but not by the activation of extracellular signal-regulated protein kinase 1/2. Furthermore, inhibition of cAMP response element-binding protein, but not nuclear factor kappa B, abolished the TSG-mediated increase in GLT-1 protein expression in cultured astrocytes. Collectively, these findings may provide novel insights into the mechanism for TSG in neuroprotection, and would help search new agents targeting neurodegenerative disorders associated with impaired astrocytic glutamate transporters.

Gigahertz All-Optical Modulation Using Reconfigurable Nanophotonic Metamolecules.

We report the design of reconfigurable metamolecules consisting a large array of nanowire featuring U-shaped cross section. These nanoscale metamolecules support colocalized electromagnetic resonance at optical frequencies and mechanical resonance at GHz frequencies with a deep-subdiffraction-limit spatial confinement (∼λ2/100). The coherent coupling of those two distinct resonances manifests a strong optical force, which is fundamentally different from the commonly studied forms of radiation forces, gradient forces, or photothermal induced deformation. The strong optical force acting upon the built-in compliance further sets the stage for allowing the metamolecules to dynamically change their optical properties upon the incident light. The all-optical modulation at the frequency at 1.8 GHz has thus been demonstrated experimentally using a monolayer of metamolecules. The metamolecules were conveniently fabricated using complementary metal-oxide-semiconductor-compatible metal deposition and nanoimprinting processes and thus offer promising potential in developing integrated all-optical modulator.

Scalable nanofabrication of U-shaped nanowire resonators with tunable optical magnetism.

Split ring resonators have been studied extensively in reconstituting the diminishing magnetism at high electromagnetic frequencies in nature. However, breakdown in the linear scaling of artificial magnetism is found to occur at the near-infrared frequency mainly due to the increasing contribution of self-inductance while reducing dimensions of the resonators. Although alternative designs have enabled artificial magnetism at optical frequencies, their sophisticated configurations and fabrication procedures do not lend themselves to easy implementation. Here, we report scalable nanofabrication of U-shaped nanowire resonators (UNWRs) using the high-throughput nanotransfer printing method. By providing ample area for conducting oscillating electric current, UNWRs overcome the saturation of the geometric scaling of the artificial magnetism. We experimentally demonstrated coarse and fine tuning of LC resonances over a wide wavelength range from 748 nm to 1600 nm. The added flexibility in transferring to other substrates makes UNWR a versatile building block for creating functional metamaterials in three dimensions.

Tetramethylpyrazine Produces Antidepressant-Like Effects in Mice Through Promotion of BDNF Signaling Pathway.

BACKGROUND: Current antidepressants are clinically effective only after several weeks of administration. Tetramethylpyrazine (TMP) is an identified component of Ligusticum wallichii with neuroprotective effects. Here, we investigated the antidepressant effects of TMP in mice models of depression. METHODS: Antidepressant effects of TMP were first detected in the forced swim test (FST) and tail suspension test (TST), and further assessed in the chronic social defeat stress (CSDS) model. Changes in the brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) signaling pathway and in hippocampal neurogenesis after CSDS and TMP treatment were then investigated. A tryptophan hydroxylase inhibitor and BDNF signaling inhibitors were also used to determine the mechanisms of TMP. RESULTS: TMP exhibited potent antidepressant effects in the FST and TST without affecting locomotor activity. TMP also prevented the CSDS-induced symptoms. Moreover, TMP completely restored the CSDS-induced decrease of BDNF signaling pathway and hippocampal neurogenesis. Furthermore, a blockade of the BDNF signaling pathway prevented the antidepressant effects of TMP, while TMP produced no influence on the monoaminergic system. CONCLUSIONS: In conclusion, these data provide the first evidence that TMP has antidepressant effects, and this was mediated by promoting the BDNF signaling pathway.

PP1γ functionally augments the alternative splicing of CaMKIIδ through interaction with ASF.

Protein phosphatase 1 (PP1) and Ca2+/calmodulin-dependent protein kinase δ (CaMKIIδ) are upregulated in heart disorders. Alternative splicing factor (ASF), a major splice factor for CaMKIIδ splicing, can be regulated by both protein kinase and phosphatase. Here we determine the role of PP1 isoforms in ASF-mediated splicing of CaMKIIδ in cells. We found that 1) PP1γ, but not α or ß isoform, enhanced the splicing of CaMKIIδ in HEK293T cells; 2) PP1γ promoted the function of ASF, evidenced by the existence of ASF-PP1γ association as well as the PP1γ overexpression- or silencing-mediated change in CaMKIIδ splicing in ASF-transfected HEK293T cells; 3) CaMKIIδ splicing was promoted by overexpression of PP1γ and impaired by application of PP1 inhibitor 1 (I1PP1) or pharmacological inhibitor tautomycetin in primary cardiomyocytes; 4) CaMKIIδ splicing and enhancement of ASF-PP1γ association induced by oxygen-glucose deprivation followed by reperfusion (OGD/R) were potentiated by overexpression of PP1γ and suppressed by inhibition of PP1γ with I1PP1 or tautomycetin in primary cardiomyocytes; 5) functionally, overexpression and inhibition of PP1γ, respectively, potentiated or suppressed the apoptosis and Bax/Bcl-2 ratio, which were associated with the enhanced activity of CaMKII in OGD/R-stimulated cardiomyocytes; and 6) CaMKII was required for the OGD/R induced- and PP1γ exacerbated-apoptosis of cardiomyocytes, evidenced by a specific inhibitor of CaMKII KN93, but not its structural analog KN92, attenuating the apoptosis and Bax/Bcl-2 ratio in OGD/R and PP1γ-treated cells. In conclusion, our results show that PP1γ promotes the alternative splicing of CaMKIIδ through its interacting with ASF, exacerbating OGD/R-triggered apoptosis in primary cardiomyocytes.

Rescue of cardiac failing and remodelling by inhibition of protein phosphatase 1γ is associated with suppression of the alternative splicing factor-mediated splicing of Ca2+/calmodulin-dependent protein kinase δ.

Our previous studies showed that protein phosphatase 1γ (PP1γ) exacerbates cardiomyocyte apoptosis through promotion of Ca(2+)/calmodulin-dependent protein kinase δ (CaMKIIδ) splicing. Here we determine the role of PP1γ in abdominal aorta constriction-induced hypertrophy and remodelling in rat hearts. Systolic blood pressure and echocardiographic measurements were used to evaluate the model of cardiac hypertrophy. Sirius red staining and invasive haemodynamic/cardiac index measurements were used to evaluate the effects of PP1γ or inhibitor 1 of PP1 transfection. Western blot, reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction and co-immunoprecipitation were applied to investigate the molecular mechanisms. Transfection of PP1γ increased the value of the heart mass index, left ventricular mass index and cardiac fibrosis, and simultaneously decreased the value of maximal left ventricular pressure increase and decline rate, ejection fraction, fractional shortening, and left ventricular end-diastolic pressure, as well as left ventricular systolic pressure. Transfection of inhibitor 1 of PP1, however, showed opposite effects on the aforementioned indexes. Overexpression of PP1γ potentiated CaMKIIδC production and decreased CaMKIIδB production in the hypertrophic heart. In contrast, inhibition of PP1γ re-balanced the CaMKIIδ splicing. Furthermore, CaMKII activity was found to be augmented or attenuated by PP1γ overexpression or inhibition, respectively. Further mechanistic studies showed that abdominal aorta constriction stress specifically increased the association of alternative splicing factor with PP1γ, but not with PP1ß. Overexpression of PP1γ, but not inhibitor 1 of PP1, further potentiated this association. These results suggest that PP1γ alters the cardiac hypertrophy and remodelling likely through promotion of the alternative splicing factor-mediated splicing of CaMKIIδ.

Mediating role of loneliness and emotional disturbance in the association between childhood trauma and occupational burnout among nurses: a cross-sectional study.

Background: The occupational burnout status of nurses in China warrants attention. Childhood trauma, loneliness, and emotional disturbance are significant predictors of this burnout, yet few studies have delved into the underlying mechanisms. This study seeks to explore the mediating pathway from childhood trauma to loneliness, emotional disturbance, and ultimately occupational burnout among nurses through a cross-sectional analysis. Method: Data for the study were collected from Yunnan province, China, from 11 July to 26 July 2022. Key variables were measured using standardized scales: the Childhood Trauma Questionnaire Short Form for childhood trauma, the three-item loneliness scale for loneliness, the Patient Health Questionnaire and the Generalized Anxiety Disorder questionnaire for emotional disturbance, and the Maslach Burnout Inventory-Human Service Survey for occupational burnout. Mediation modeling analysis was employed for data analysis to test the effect of loneliness and emotional disturbance on the association between childhood trauma and occupational burnout. Data analysis was conducted using AMOS and SPSS software. Results: Loneliness and emotional disturbance fully mediated the association between childhood trauma and emotional exhaustion [indirect effect (95% CI) = 0.228 (0.196, 0.270)]. Loneliness and emotional disturbance partially mediated the association between childhood trauma [indirect effect (95% CI) = -0.020 (-0.039, 0.002)] and personal accomplishment or depersonalization [indirect effect (95% CI) = 0.221 (0.186, 0.255)]. Conclusion: Childhood trauma could affect occupational burnout through loneliness and emotional disturbance among nurses. Preventive strategies could include protective interventions like treatment of loneliness and emotional disturbance, especially in nurses who experienced childhood trauma.

Diffusion models in text generation: a survey.

Diffusion models are a kind of math-based model that were first applied to image generation. Recently, they have drawn wide interest in natural language generation (NLG), a sub-field of natural language processing (NLP), due to their capability to generate varied and high-quality text outputs. In this article, we conduct a comprehensive survey on the application of diffusion models in text generation. We divide text generation into three parts (conditional, unconstrained, and multi-mode text generation, respectively) and provide a detailed introduction. In addition, considering that autoregressive-based pre-training models (PLMs) have recently dominated text generation, we conduct a detailed comparison between diffusion models and PLMs in multiple dimensions, highlighting their respective advantages and limitations. We believe that integrating PLMs into diffusion is a valuable research avenue. We also discuss current challenges faced by diffusion models in text generation and propose potential future research directions, such as improving sampling speed to address scalability issues and exploring multi-modal text generation. By providing a comprehensive analysis and outlook, this survey will serve as a valuable reference for researchers and practitioners interested in utilizing diffusion models for text generation tasks.

Non-linear association of years of experience and burnout among nursing staff: a restricted cubic spline analysis.

Background: Occupational burnout is intricately linked to a spectrum of physical disorders encompassing respiratory, cardiovascular, and gastrointestinal conditions, as well as manifestations such as headaches, type 2 diabetes, elevated cholesterol levels, chronic fatigue, and muscle pain. Despite this association, there remains a paucity of research on the specific risk factors contributing to burnout among nurses in China. Methods: This cross-sectional study utilized convenience sampling to recruit participants, with data analyzed from 1,774 nurse staffs. Psychosocial traits were assessed using the Three-Item Loneliness Scale for loneliness, the Generalized Anxiety Disorder 7-item scale (GAD-7) for anxiety symptoms, the 9-item Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ-9) for depressive symptoms, the Connor Davidson Resilience Scale-10 item (CDRISC-10) for resilience, and the Maslach Burnout Inventory-Human Service Survey (MBI-HSS) for burn out. Restrictive cubic spline analysis to investigate the dose-response relationship between years of experience and burn out. Multivariate linear regression was employed to investigate the relationship between burnout and various risk factors. Results: After controlling for basic demographic variables, good sleep quality was associated with a reduction in emotional exhaustion (ß = -0.307, p < 0.001), while loneliness (ß = 1.334, p < 0.001), depressive symptoms (ß = 0.896, p < 0.001), and anxiety symptoms (ß = 0.504, p < 0.001) were significantly associated with increased emotional exhaustion. Moreover, higher levels of resilience were positively associated with personal accomplishment (ß = 0.635, p < 0.001). Regarding depersonalization, loneliness (ß = 0.577, p < 0.001), depressive symptoms (ß = 0.429, p < 0.001), and anxiety symptoms (ß = 0.152, p < 0.01) were found to increase its level. Conversely, good resilience was associated with a decrease in depersonalization (ß = -0.069, p < 0.001). The non-liner association between year of experience and emotional exhaustion was significantly (p < 0.05). Conclusion: Our findings revealed that significant risk factors contributing to burnout among nursing staff including bad sleep quality, loneliness, lower level of resilience, anxiety symptoms, depressive symptoms. Moreover, a nonlinear correlation between years of experience and the likelihood of experiencing emotional exhaustion was exist.