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Background The mental health of mental health care professionals has become a key area of research due to the increasing demands and stressors inherent in the work environment. This study explored the relationship between night shift work stress, burnout, social support, and physical and mental health among psychiatric medical staff. Methods A cross-sectional survey was conducted among 244 psychiatric medical staff at a psychiatric specialty hospital in eastern Taiwan. The study utilized validated instruments, including the Effort-Reward Imbalance Questionnaire, the Maslach Burnout Inventory, the Social Support Scale, and the SF-12 Health Survey, to measure work stress, burnout, social support, and health outcomes. Descriptive statistics, Pearson correlation, and hierarchical regression analyses were employed to assess the relationships among these variables and the moderating effects of social support. Results The findings revealed significant positive correlations between work stress and occupational burnout ( r  = 0.42, p  < 0.001) and negative correlations with physical and mental health ( r  = − 0.23, p  < 0.001). Occupational burnout is a negative significant predictor of physical and mental health (β = -0.533, p  < 0.001). Additionally, higher levels of social support were associated with better health outcomes ( r  = 0.18, p  < 0.01), although its moderating effect on the relationship between stress and health was not significant. Conclusion This study highlights the significant impact of night shifts on the physical and mental health of psychiatric medical staff. The findings suggest that interventions to reduce the negative impacts of night shifts are crucial, such as improving shift systems, increasing organizational support, and providing targeted mental health programs. These measures will help enhance night shift workers’ health and job satisfaction, improving the overall quality of health care services.

The number of patients requiring prolonged mechanical ventilation (PMV) is increasing worldwide, placing a burden on healthcare systems. Therefore, investigating the pathophysiology, risk factors, and treatment for PMV is crucial. Various underlying comorbidities have been associated with PMV. The pathophysiology of PMV includes the presence of an abnormal respiratory drive or ventilator-induced diaphragm dysfunction. Numerous studies have demonstrated that ventilator-induced diaphragm dysfunction is related to increases in in-hospital deaths, nosocomial pneumonia, oxidative stress, lung tissue hypoxia, ventilator dependence, and costs. Thus far, the pathophysiologic evidence for PMV has been derived from clinical human studies and experimental studies in animals. Moreover, recent studies have demonstrated the outcome benefits of pharmacological agents and rehabilitative programs for patients requiring PMV. However, methodological limitations affected these studies. Controlled prospective studies with an adequate number of participants are necessary to provide evidence of the mechanism, prognosis, and treatment of PMV. The great epidemiologic impact of PMV and the potential development of treatment make this a key research field.

Patients with sepsis often receive mechanical ventilation (MV). Continued use of MV may increase overdistention in the lungs, inflammatory mediator production, and inflammatory cell recruitment, eventually causing ventilator-induced lung injury (VILI). Endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress caused by MV, oxidative stress, and sepsis results in dissociation of GRP78 from transmembrane proteins (PERK, IRE1α, and ATF6) and generates abundant incorrect protein structures. Phosphoinositide 3-kinase-γ (PI3K-γ) has been demonstrated to modulate ER stress associated with sepsis and acute lung injury (ALI). However, the regulatory mechanisms by which ER stress is involved in VILI remain unclear. In this study, MV was hypothesized to augment lung injury and induce ER stress through the PI3K-γ pathway, regardless of endotoxemia. Wild-type or PI3K-γ-deficient C57BL/6 mice were exposed to 30 mL/kg tidal volume of MV with or without endotoxemia for 5 h. The control group comprised nonventilated mice. MV with endotoxemia increased microvascular permeability, lung edema, interleukin-6 and metalloproteinase-9 production, oxidative loads, ER stress biomarkers (GRP78, IRE-1α, PERK), morphological rearrangement, PI3K-γ expression, and bronchial epithelial apoptosis in rodent lungs. The increase in lung injury was substantially reduced in PI3K-γ-deficient mice and in mice administered 4-phenylbutyric acid. In conclusion, MV-augmented ALI after endotoxemia partially depends on the PI3K-γ pathway.

The use of magnetic nanoparticles (MNPs) magnetized on applying an alternating magnetic field (AMF) to stimulate the thermal characteristics and to induce tumor apoptosis is a currently active area of research in cancer treatment. In previous work, we developed biocompatible and superparamagnetic polystyrene-sulfonic-acid-coated magnetic nanoparticles (PSS-MNPs) as applications for magnetically labeled cell trapping, but without assessment of treatment effects on tumor diseases. In the present work, we examined PSS-MNP-induced magnetic fluid hyperthermia (MFH) on SK-Hep1 hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) cells for lethal thermal effects with a self-made AMF system; an adjustable AMF frequency generated a variable intensity of magnetic field and induced MNP relaxation. The extracellular and intracellular MFH treatments on a SK-Hep1 cell line were implemented in vitro ; the result indicates that the lethal effects were efficient and caused a significantly decreased cell viability of SK-Hep1 cells. As the PSS-MNP concentration decreased, especially in intracellular MFH treatments, the MFH effects on cells, however, largely decreased through heat spreading to the culture medium. On controlling and decreasing the volume of culture medium, the problem of heat spreading was solved. It can be consequently expected that PSS-MNPs would be a prospective agent for intracellular cancer magnetotherapy.

This quasi-experimental study investigated whether Quizizz, an online study aid, is a useful tool for enhancing English vocabulary acquisition—specifically vocabulary recognition, retention, and contextual use—among elementary students in rural areas of Taiwan. The study also examined how the delivery system influences students’ engagement. Seventy-two fourth graders participated, with 32 in the control group and 40 in the experimental group. The experimental group learned vocabulary through Quizizz, an interactive game-based platform, while the control group followed traditional methods. Data were collected via pre-tests and post-tests to measure vocabulary acquisition, and a self-assessment survey was used to assess engagement. Data were collected through pre-tests and post-tests to measure vocabulary acquisition, along with a self-assessment survey to evaluate student engagement. Statistical analyses included paired-sample t-tests to measure within-group improvements and ANCOVA to control for pre-test scores when comparing groups. Results showed that the experimental group achieved a 30.5% increase in vocabulary recognition and retention from pre-test to post-test, significantly higher than the control group’s 19.3% increase. The largest gains were in picture identification tasks, with a large effect size (η2 = 0.21). Self-assessment surveys revealed that students found Quizizz engaging and motivating, citing features like instant feedback and interactive quizzes as key benefits. While improvements in contextual vocabulary use were less pronounced, findings indicate that Quizizz is a valuable tool for reinforcing vocabulary and enhancing student engagement in rural classrooms. Plain language summary The effect of Quizizz on enhancing English vocabulary acquisition among elementary students This study looked at whether a free online quiz game called Quizizz can help primary school children in rural Taiwan learn English words. Two groups of fourth-grade students took part in the research. One group learned with traditional classroom activities, while the other used Quizizz to review and practice vocabulary. Before and after the lessons, both groups took tests to measure how many words they could recognize and remember. The results showed that the children who used Quizizz scored higher in recognizing and remembering words, especially in activities that involved matching words to pictures. Students also said they enjoyed learning more with Quizizz because it felt like playing a game, gave them instant feedback, and allowed them to compete with classmates. However, the game did not help as much with using the words correctly in sentences. These findings suggest that Quizizz can be a fun and effective way to strengthen word recognition and make learning more enjoyable for children. Teachers could combine Quizizz with other activities that focus on using words in context, so students can both remember and use new vocabulary confidently.

In modern communication systems, packets with different blocklengths often coexist, presenting new challenges for interference management and decoding. In scenarios where short-packet transmissions must meet strict latency and reliability requirements, conventional interference cancellation decoding strategies may be insufficient, especially when coexisting with long-packet services. This work proposes a novel interleaver design for polar codes that enables early decoding in successive interference cancellation (SIC) frameworks. To support this capability, a minimal yet essential modification to the interleaver used in the 5G New Radio (NR) polar coding scheme is introduced. This tailored interleaver facilitates the reliable recovery of short-packet signals before the complete decoding of coexisting long packets, substantially improving early decoding performance. Importantly, the proposed modification retains compatibility with the overall 5G NR polar code structure, ensuring practical implementability. Simulation results demonstrate that our approach yields significantly enhanced decoding accuracy in heterogeneous traffic scenarios representative of next-generation wireless systems.

Mechanical ventilation (MV), used in patients with acute lung injury (ALI), induces diaphragmatic myofiber atrophy and contractile inactivity, termed ventilator-induced diaphragm dysfunction. Phosphoinositide 3-kinase-γ (PI3K-γ) is crucial in modulating fibrogenesis during the reparative phase of ALI; however, the mechanisms regulating the interactions among MV, myofiber fibrosis, and PI3K-γ remain unclear. We hypothesized that MV with or without bleomycin treatment would increase diaphragm muscle fibrosis through the PI3K-γ pathway. Five days after receiving a single bolus of 0.075 units of bleomycin intratracheally, C57BL/6 mice were exposed to 6 or 10 mL/kg of MV for 8 h after receiving 5 mg/kg of AS605240 intraperitoneally. In wild-type mice, bleomycin exposure followed by MV 10 mL/kg prompted significant increases in disruptions of diaphragmatic myofibrillar organization, transforming growth factor-β1, oxidative loads, Masson’s trichrome staining, extracellular collagen levels, positive staining of α-smooth muscle actin, PI3K-γ expression, and myonuclear apoptosis (p < 0.05). Decreased diaphragm contractility and peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor-γ coactivator-1α levels were also observed (p < 0.05). MV-augmented bleomycin-induced diaphragm fibrosis and myonuclear apoptosis were attenuated in PI3K-γ-deficient mice and through AS605240-induced inhibition of PI3K-γ activity (p < 0.05). MV-augmented diaphragm fibrosis after bleomycin-induced ALI is partially mediated by PI3K-γ. Therapy targeting PI3K-γ may ameliorate MV-associated diaphragm fibrosis.

Background Pathogenesis of acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) involves immune cell death and removal from the injured lungs. ARDS severity is related to lung compliance. However, the correlation between the respiratory mechanics and alveolar immune cell death in patients with ARDS remains unclear. Methods Twenty-four patients with respiratory failure and ARDS were enrolled in the intensive care unit between November 2019 and November 2021. Neutrophil extracellular traps (NETs) and cell death of lymphocytes and monocytes in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid were detected on days 1 and 8. Results Lung compliance was positively correlated with the cell death percentage of alveolar CD4/CD8 lymphocytes and monocytes on day 8 (Pearson’s correlation coefficient ( r ) = 0.554, p  = 0.005; r  = 0.422, p  = 0.040; r  = 0.569, p  = 0.004, respectively). There was no association between lung compliance and the percentage of alveolar NETs on days 1 and 8. The cell death percentages of alveolar CD4/CD8 lymphocytes and monocytes were negatively correlated with driving pressure (DP) on days 1 ( r  = − 0.440, p  = 0.032; r  = − 0.613, p  = 0.001; r  = -0.557, p  = 0.005, respectively) and 8 ( r  = − 0.459, p  = 0.024; r  = − 0.407, p  = 0.048; r  = − 0.607, p  = 0.002, respectively). The cell death percentages of alveolar CD4/CD8 lymphocytes and monocytes were also negatively correlated with mechanical power (MP) on days 1 ( r  = − 0.558, p  = 0.005; r  = − 0.593, p  = 0.002; r  = − 0.571, p  = 0.004, respectively) and 8 ( r  = − 0.539, p  = 0.007; r  = − 0.338, p  = 0.107; r  = − 0.649, p  < 0.001, respectively). The percentage of alveolar NETs on days 1 and 8 was not associated with DP or MP. Conclusion Patients with higher cell death rates of alveolar CD4/CD8 lymphocytes and monocytes exhibited lower DP and MP. Patients with less cell death of alveolar CD4/CD8 lymphocytes and monocytes required more DP or MP to maintain adequate ventilation.

Mechanical ventilation (MV) used in patients with acute lung injury (ALI) induces lung inflammation and causes fibroblast proliferation and excessive collagen deposition—a process termed epithelial–mesenchymal transition (EMT). Phosphoinositide 3-kinase-γ (PI3K-γ) is crucial in modulating EMT during the reparative phase of ALI; however, the mechanisms regulating the interactions among MV, EMT, and PI3K-γ remain unclear. We hypothesized that MV with or without bleomycin treatment would increase EMT through the PI3K-γ pathway. C57BL/6 mice, either wild-type or PI3K-γ-deficient, were exposed to 6 or 30 mL/kg MV for 5 h after receiving 5 mg/kg AS605240 intraperitoneally 5 days after bleomycin administration. We found that, after bleomycin exposure in wild-type mice, high-tidal-volume MV induced substantial increases in inflammatory cytokine production, oxidative loads, Masson’s trichrome staining level, positive staining of α-smooth muscle actin, PI3K-γ expression, and bronchial epithelial apoptosis (p < 0.05). Decreased respiratory function, antioxidants, and staining of the epithelial marker Zonula occludens-1 were also observed (p < 0.05). MV-augmented bleomycin-induced pulmonary fibrogenesis and epithelial apoptosis were attenuated in PI3K-γ-deficient mice, and we found pharmacological inhibition of PI3K-γ activity through AS605240 (p < 0.05). Our data suggest that MV augmented EMT after bleomycin-induced ALI, partially through the PI3K-γ pathway. Therapy targeting PI3K-γ may ameliorate MV-associated EMT.

We conducted a comprehensive seismotectonic study of the 2025 Dapu earthquake sequence in Taiwan, using densely distributed temporary seismic stations in a total number of 39, at the epicentral area. The M L 6.4 mainshock occurred in the foothills of southwestern Taiwan, an area characterized by a series of imbricate folds and thrust faults. Based on the relocated hypocenters, focal mechanisms, and stress inversions analyses, we identified two distinct aftershock distributions: one aligned with westward-dipping faults and another exhibiting an eastward-dipping distribution dominated by thrust faulting. Our finding suggests that the rupture process of the Dapu earthquake sequence can be explained by a conjugate fault rupture model and a triggering mechanism that accounts for the observed spatial characteristics. This interpretation is supported by detailed focal mechanism solutions that indicates complex fault interactions during the sequence. By evaluating the distribution of strong earthquakes in the areas surrounding this seismogenic zone, this study provides insights for refining regional seismic hazard assessment, ultimately contributing to improved pre-disaster planning and post-event response efforts. Highlights The seismogenic structure of the 2025 Dapu earthquake. Detecting seismic events from dense array. Complex fault system in the highly fractured zone.