Search

Analogies and modelling have been developed and applied in learning and teaching science to facilitate students’ understanding of abstract concepts, such as atomic structure. Considering few studies focus on comparing the effects of two teaching strategies—analogy-based teaching (ABT) and modelling-based teaching (MBT)—this study aims to compare the effects of ABT and MBT on high school students’ content understanding and transferability of atomic concepts in science. Implementing a quasi-experimental design with pre-post-delayed tests, the study compared learning outcomes achieved by the MBT group (N = 68) and the ABT group (N = 69). The results showed both MBT and ABT could improve students’ content understanding and promote transferability. However, the MBT group significantly outperformed the ABT group in terms of generating initial models and overall transferability. Although there was no difference in content understanding, or near or far transferability, at post-test between the two groups, the MBT group maintained more extended memory of atomic structure on the delayed post-test. Moreover, qualitative analysis of students’ drawings of atomic models revealed that both groups were able to develop and transfer their models, but inadequate scientific knowledge affected the quality of the transfer product. These findings have implications for designing and implementing instructional approaches that leverage analogy and modelling in the science class. Keywords: analogy-based teaching, atomic concepts, modelling-based teaching, science education

To investigate the release of exosome (Exo) from leukocyte-depleted red cell suspension (LDRCS) at different storage time and its regulation on proliferation of hematological tumor cells and possible mechanism.The Exo (RBC-Exo) in LDRCS at different storage time was obtained by ultracentrifugation, and the morphology and immunological marker of RBC-Exo were detected by transmission electron microscopy and Western blot, respectively. The particle size distribution of RBC-Exo in LDRCS at different storage time was detected by Dynamic Light Scattering. CCK-8 assay was used to explore the effect of RBC-Exo on hematological tumor cell proliferation. Western blot was used to detect the expression of proliferation-related proteins in hematological tumor cells after co-culture with RBC-Exo.RBC-Exo was isolated, which was characterized by cup-like shape, particle size distribution ranged from 20 to 200 nm, CD63/TSG101 enriched, Calnexin negative, CD235a positive and CD41 negative. The particle size distribution of RBC-Exo from LDRCS between middle was not significantly different and late stored stage. But the particle size distribution of RBC-Exo at middle-late stored stage(14 d) was larger than that at early stored stage (≤14 days). Compared with the control group, RBC-Exo could significantly promote the proliferation of HBL1, U2932 and Jurkat cells. Compared with the control group, the cycle-related protein P21 was significantly down-regulated in HBL1, U2932 and Jurkat cells after co-culture with RBC-Exo for 3 days, while the anti-apoptotic protein BCL-2 was not changed significantly.The morphology of RBC-Exo from LDRCS at middle-late stored stage was different from that at early stored stage. RBC-Exo could promote the proliferation of hematological tumor cells, possibly by regulating the expression of cycle-associated protein P21.去白细胞悬浮红细胞来源外泌体的释放及其对血液肿瘤细胞的调控.探讨不同储存时间去白细胞悬浮红细胞（LDRCS）中外泌体（exosome，Exo）的释放及其对血液肿瘤细胞增殖的调控与可能机制.应用超高速离心方法获得不同储存时间的LDRCS中Exo（RBC-Exo），采用透射电镜术、蛋白免疫印迹法分别对RBC-Exo的形态、免疫标记进行检测。采用动态光散射检测不同储存时间LDRCS中RBC-Exo的粒径分布变化。采用CCK-8法检测RBC-Exo对血液肿瘤细胞增殖的影响。采用蛋白免疫印迹法检测与RBC-Exo共培养后血液肿瘤细胞内增殖相关蛋白的表达变化.分离出呈类杯状、粒径分布于20-200 nm、CD63/TSG101富集、Calnexin阴性、CD235a阳性、CD41阴性的RBC-Exo。储存中晚期（14 d）LDRCS中RBC-Exo粒径分布无显著差异，但显著大于储存早期（储存≤14 d）的RBC-Exo。与对照组相比，RBC-Exo可以明显促进血液肿瘤细胞HBL1、U2932和Jurkat的增殖。与RBC-Exo共培养3 d的HBL1、U2932和Jurkat细胞中周期相关蛋白P21的表达较对照组明显下调，而抗凋亡蛋白BCL-2并无明显变化.储存中晚期的LDRCS中RBC-Exo形态与储存早期存在差异。RBC-Exo可以促进血液肿瘤细胞的增殖，其机制可能是通过调节周期相关蛋白P21的表达.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the clinical treatment outcomes and the changes of the outcomes over time in extremely preterm twins in Guangdong Province, China. METHODS: A retrospective analysis was performed for 269 pairs of extremely preterm twins with a gestational age of

With the increase in extremely low birth weight (ELBW) infants, their outcome attracted worldwide attention. However, in China, the related studies are rare. The hospitalized records of ELBW infants discharged from twenty-six neonatal intensive care units in Guangdong Province of China during 2008–2017 were analyzed. A total of 2575 ELBW infants were enrolled and the overall survival rate was 55.11%. From 2008 to 2017, the number of ELBW infants increased rapidly from 91 to 466, and the survival rate improved steadily from 41.76% to 62.02%. Increased survival is closely related to birth weight (BW), regional economic development, and specialized hospital. The incidence of complications was neonatal respiratory distress syndrome (85.2%), oxygen dependency at 28 days (63.7%), retinopathy of prematurity (39.3%), intraventricular hemorrhage (29.4%), necrotizing enterocolitis (12.0%), and periventricular leukomalacia (8.0%). Among the 1156 nonsurvivors, 90.0% of infants died during the neonatal period (≤ 28 days). A total of 768 ELBW infants died after treatment withdrawal, for reasons of economic and/or poor outcome. The number of ELBW infants is increasing in Guangdong Province of China, and the overall survival rate is improving steadily.

Background With the increase in extremely low birth weight (ELBW) infants, their outcomes received special attention. However, in China, studies of the outcomes of ELBW infants are rare. Methods The hospitalized records of ELBW infants discharged from twenty-six neonatal intensive care units were reviewed and analyzed. Results A total of 2575 ELBW infants were enrolled and the overall survival rate was 55.11%. From 2008 to 2017, the number of ELBW infants increased rapidly from 91 to 466, and the survival rate improved steadily from 41.76–62.02%. The survival rate rose with increasing BW, the ascending level of regional economic development and specialist hospitals. The incidence of complications was neonatal respiratory distress syndrome (85.2%), bronchopulmonary dysplasia (63.7%), retinopathy of prematurity (39.3%), intraventricular hemorrhage (29.4%), necrotizing enterocolitis (12.0%), and periventricular leukomalacia (8.0%). Among the 1156 nonsurvivors, 90.0% of infants died during the neonatal period (≤ 28 days), and the other died after the neonatal period. A total of 768 ELBW infants died after medical care withdrawal, with economic factors and expected outcome being important causes. Conclusion The number of ELBW infants is increasing in China, and the overall survival rate is still low but is improving steadily.

Marbled eel reovirus (MERV) is an aquareovirus (AQRV) isolated from diseased marbled eels (Anguilla marmorata) with petechial skin hemorrhage. In this study, we propagated MERV in a cell line derived from the brain of Aequidens rivulatus and purified viral particles by using a discontinuous cesium chloride gradient. Genomic RNA sequences were obtained through next-generation sequencing. MERV, similar to most other AQRVs, showed the presence of 11 double-stranded RNA segments encoding 12 proteins; however, the genome sequence displayed very little similarity to known AQRV sequences. Furthermore, the structural proteins of MERV were most closely related to American grass carp reovirus with sequence identity values of no more than 64.89%. Phylogenetic analysis based on the sequences of structural proteins indicated that MERV shows an evolutionary history between AQRV-B and -G, which belong to the saline and freshwater environment subgroups, respectively. We also observed that MERV showed a closer relationship to orthoreoviruses based on the protein sequences of NS38 and NS73. In summary, MERV is a novel AQRV that could be classified as a member of the new proposed AQRV species "Aquareovirus H". The taxonomic assignments and evolution of AQRVs thus warrant further investigation.

This study examined the EFL writing performance of using AI-based writing feedback called Grammarly and students’ acceptance of this new technology. Fifty-three EFL students from two convenience sample classes in China participated in this quasi-experimental design study. They were randomly assigned to the experimental and control groups. The students in the experimental group (EG) applied Grammarly to edit and revise their essays, while those in the control group (CG) received traditional instruction without Grammarly intervention. A total of five essays were implemented during the 16-week intervention period. EG students' perceptions of Grammarly via a survey were additionally collected by the researchers at the end of the intervention. Results from an independent t-test showed that students in the EG significantly outperformed those in the CG in respect of posttest writing performance. The effect size value of the Cohen's d = 0.603, indicating a medium effect. Results from a survey with open-ended questions showed that students appreciated the AI-based instant grammar correction given by Grammarly. The disadvantages of Grammarly and future teaching strategies in EFL writing classrooms are provided.

The aim of this case study was to explore EFL students’ perceptions of group collaboration and their learning experiences in implementing student-created video projects in a tertiary-level EFL class in China. Sixty-two students volunteered to participate in the eight-week study. They completed a questionnaire of group collaboration, and answered the questions of final reflections. The study applied mixed-method to answer research questions. The findings indicated that 1) students enjoyed working in groups to complete the student-created video projects in English learning from the questionnaire results; and 2) they showed their active engagement and participation during the process of video projects from final reflections. Meanwhile, they appreciated that the use of collaborative video project tasks can facilitate students’ positive learning experiences, including developing their digital media production skills, enhancing their communication strategies, and demonstrating their multiple competencies. These skills can prepare themselves to become successful learners in the 21st century. The limitations and future suggestions are also proposed.

This study examined factors associated with smoking behaviors among late adolescents in Taiwan. A cross-sectional survey was conducted with 377 adolescents from four high schools who answered self-report questionnaires. The results indicated that 10.8% (n = 41) of the participants were current smokers. Univariate analysis indicated that current smoking status was significantly associated with smoking social confidence, smoking social connection, friend smoking, and smoking policy in schools. Logistic regression showed smoking social confidence (adjusted odds ratio = 1.41, 95% CI [1.16, 1.72], p = .01) and friend smoking (adjusted odds ratio = 2.80, 95% CI [1.67, 4.70], p < .01) were significantly associated with being a current smoker. Health professionals should consider implementing school-based programs to reduce influence of friend smoking, through strategies for resisting peer pressure, to reduce smoking. Educating late adolescents on improving skills related to social confidence, such as increasing communication abilities, should also be a part of these programs.

This study explored students voice on the value of the NET (native English teacher) feedback in EFL students’ collaborative essay writing. The NET feedback included video feedback and e-written feedback. A total of 43 EFL students volunteered to participate in this study. They completed two collaborative essays in the international EFL writing project in the COVID-19 emergency remote teaching semester. Students’ final reflections on the NET feedback were analyzed using content analysis to obtain the results. The findings showed that both video and e-written feedback was beneficial for all the participants in their essay writing improvement. The students in the video feedback group reported that their Chinglish expressions, lack of reading authentic materials, and run-on sentences were top 3 concerns in the NET feedback. The students in the e-written feedback group reported that grammar error, run-on sentences, and improving academic writing were top 3 concerns in the NET feedback. These findings help language teachers understand different feedback designs and consider the pros and cons of different feedback modes. The pedagogical implications of using formative feedback during the writing process in EFL teaching are provided.

Objective To examine the role of protective factors and risk factors in suicidal ideation among adolescents in Taiwan based on a resilience protective model. Design and sample A cross-sectional design was employed. A total of 390 adolescents aged 15-19 years were recruited from four high schools in Taiwan by stratified random sampling. Methods An anonymous self-report questionnaire was used to collect demographic characteristics, suicidal ideation, depressive symptoms, life stress, emotion-focused coping, self-esteem, and problem-focused coping. Hierarchical multiple regression was used to test the hypotheses. Results Depressive symptoms were significantly and positively correlated with suicidal ideation. The interaction between depressive symptoms and self-esteem as well as between emotion-focused coping and problem-focused coping were significantly and negatively correlated with suicidal ideation. Conclusions Depressive symptoms were a risk factor of suicidal ideation. Self-esteem can moderate the negative effect of depressive symptoms on suicidal ideation. Problem-focused coping can moderate the negative effects of emotion-focused coping on suicidal ideation. Public health nurses could cooperate with school nurses to periodically screen depressive symptoms and provide early interventions. Teaching parents and teachers methods for improving self-esteem of adolescents and enhancing adolescents to apply problem-focused coping strategies could be useful to reduce suicidal ideation of adolescents.

Background Massage therapy has been used by many traditional Chinese medicine physicians to treat acute diarrhoea in children. Since no relevant systematic reviews assessed the clinical effectiveness or the risk of massage therapy, in this study, a meta-analysis was conducted to evaluate the efficacy of paediatric massage for the treatment of acute diarrhoea in children. Methods In this meta-analysis, paediatric patients who were diagnosed with acute diarrhoea were included. Interventions using massage therapy alone or combined with other non-pharmacological approaches were included, while in the control groups, patients received pharmacotherapy. The primary outcome was clinical effective rate. Seven databases were used in our research, and the following search terms were used: (massage OR tui na OR manipulation OR acupressure) AND (infant OR child OR baby OR paediatrics) AND (diarrhoea OR diarrhoea) AND (randomized controlled trial). The search date was up to April 30, 2018. Results A total of 26 studies encompassing 2644 patients were included in this meta-analysis. It was shown that paediatric massage was significantly better than pharmacotherapy in treating acute diarrhoea in children in terms of clinical effective rate (n = 2213, RR = 1.20, 95% CI: 1.14 to 1.27), clinical cure rate (n = 345, RR = 1.37, 95% CI: 1.19 to 1.57), and cure time (n = 513, MD = − 0.77, 95% CI: -0.89 to − 0.64). However, the quality of evidence for this finding was low due to high risk of bias of the included studies. Conclusions The present work supported paediatric massage in treating acute diarrhoea in children. More well-designed randomized controlled trials are still needed to further evaluate the efficacy of paediatric massage.

Generally, when there are only a few boreholes present along a tunnel design alignment, geological understanding of the worksite may not be adequate and the ability to optimise the tunnelling parameters is limited. This lack of boreholes will cause an increased potential of geo-hazards during tunnelling works. This study proposes an alternative method to determine the major and other components of ground under such circumstances. Five factors, cutter wheel torque, sieve residue, flow rate of feedline, pressure in the feed and discharge lines and density of bentonite slurry, are adopted for determining the major and other ground components. Comparisons of the soil types based upon the results of grading and Atterberg limits tests on the spoil and soil samples, respectively, and those resulting from the proposed method indicate good consistency. The proposed method provides an opportunity for establishing a more comprehensive geological structure for refining the tunnelling parameters, reducing the potential of geo-hazards associated with the inappropriate tunnelling parameters.

There are several well-established jacking force models available for determining the jacking loads. However, their ability to characterise the tunnel bore conditions is limited. A simple approach to characterise the tunnel bore conditions is proposed and applied to a case study where four sewer pipelines of the Shulin district sewer network in Taipei County, Taiwan were constructed to verify its validity. In this paper, four jacking force models are reviewed. Based upon the given soil properties and pipe dimensions as well as the pipe buried depth, the normal contact pressure (σ′) in each jacking force model and the measured frictional stress (τ) in each baseline section are utilised for back-analysis of the frictional coefficient (μavg). The μavg values outside the range of 0.1–0.3 recommended for lubricated drives can be attributed to the increasing pipe friction resulting from excessive pipe deviation or ground closure or due to the gravel formation not being long enough to establish lower face resistance or total jacking load. JMTA (Japan Microtunnelling Association) has indicated a further potential use in assessment of the interface performance during pipe-jacking works.

This study investigates the influencing factors affecting jacking loads during slurry pipe-jacking works at four drives in the Shulin district sewer network in Taipei County, Taiwan, with lengths between 73 and 126 m. The main factors affecting jacking loads during tunnelling may include: (a) overcut annulus and volume of injected lubricant; (b) work stoppages; (c) geology; and (d) misalignment. In the four pipe-jacking drives, the jacking forces are represented using the baseline technique. Results show that local variations (increasing or decreasing) of jacking force are ascribed to the varying face resistance due to driving between coarse soil and fine soil governed sand or gravel deposit or driving into and away from a buried wooden log. The increase in jacking loads could also be due to increasing friction resistance resulting from the pipe deviation being greater than a threshold value of 60 mm. Excessive injected volumes of lubricant result in very low pipe frictions incurred during pipe-jacking of the four drives and are reflected through the back-analysed μavg values, which vary from 0·02 to 0·09. Jacking load increases due to either overnight stoppages or short breaks are more pronounced in poorly graded gravel or sand deposit than in clayey gravel or clayey sand deposit.

Background: Symptoms of smoking withdrawal are a central feature of nicotine dependence. A valid and reliable measure of these symptoms is important to better understand nicotine dependence and to develop effective interventions. Purpose: The objective of this study was to examine the validity and reliability of the Chinese version of the CigaretteWithdrawal Scale (CWS-C). Methods: This study conducted cross-sectional surveys in two phases. In the first phase, exploratory factor analysis was used to test the underlying factor structure, the criterion validity, and the reliability of the CWS-C. A reliability test was conducted to assess the internal consistency and stability of the instrument. In the second phase, confirmatory factor analysis validated the factor model that had been proposed in earlier empirical research. The total sample size used in analysis was 497. Results: The CWS-C achieved a level of efficacy that was similar to the English version. Exploratory factor analysis showed that the six factors of the instrument accounted for 80.3% of the variance. The full scale and all of the subscale items, with the exception of the appetiteYweight gain subscale (r = .12, p = .09), were significantly associated with the Fagerstrom Test for Nicotine Dependence (r = .25-.50, p ＜ .05). The Cronbach’s alpha of the full scalewas .93, with retest coefficient of .84. Confirmatory factor analysis confirmed that the CWS-C had six correlated factors. Field testing showed that the CWS-C is a reliable and valid Chinese-language instrument for assessing the symptoms of cigarette withdrawal. Conclusions/Implications for Practice: TheCWS-C performed well in terms of reliability and validity in several tests conducted on male Taiwanese smokers. Accurate measurement is expected to help health professionals better understand smoker quitting patterns and the severity ofwithdrawal symptoms and to develop improved withdrawal-symptom treatment interventions.

Coxsackievirus (CV)-B5 is a common human enterovirus reported worldwide; swine vesicular disease virus (SVDV) is a porcine variant of CV-B5. To clarify the transmission dynamics and molecular basis of host switching between CV-B5 and SVDV, we analysed and compared the VP1 and partial 3Dpol gene regions of these two viruses. Spatiotemporal dynamics of viral transmission were estimated using a Bayesian statistical inference framework. The detected selection events were used to analyse the key molecules associated with host switching. Analyses of VP1 sequences revealed six CV-B5 genotypes (A1–A4 and B1–B2) and three SVDV genotypes (I–III). Analyses of partial 3Dpol revealed five clusters (A–E). The genotypes evolved sequentially over different periods, albeit with some overlap. The major hub of CV-B5 transmission was in China whereas the major hubs of SVDV transmission were in Italy. Network analysis based on deduced amino acid sequences showed a diverse extension of the VP1 structural protein, whereas most sequences were clustered into two haplotypes in the partial 3Dpol region. Residue 178 of VP1 showed four epistatic interactions with residues known to play essential roles in viral host tropism, cell entry, and viral decoating.

The purpose of this study was to examine the effectiveness of a stage-matched intervention performed at outpatient clinics. Participants were randomly assigned to an intervention group (IG) or usual care group (UCG). The trial was targeted on smoking patients with coronary heart disease or diabetes. After completing the 3-month intervention, both groups received a telephone follow-up at 6 months. This analysis showed that the outcomes of the IG for the 7-day point prevalence (PP) of abstinence (odds ratio [OR] = 2.00; p = .001) and 30-day PP (OR = 2.27; p = .004) at 6 months were significantly better than the UCG. Stage of change (OR = 4.06; p < .001) and decreased daily cigarette consumption by 50% at 6 months (OR = 2.26; p = .019) outcomes also improved significantly. The preliminary results showed that a nurse-led cessation intervention in clinics may be an effective approach to help outpatients quit smoking.

Background Adolescents who have experienced peer victimization face a higher risk of negative health outcomes. However, little is known about the factors that are associated with peer victimization among adolescents in Taiwan. Purpose The aim of this study was to examine the factors related to peer victimization among Taiwanese adolescents. Methods A cross-sectional design was employed. Three hundred seventy-seven adolescents aged 13-16 years from seven middle schools in southern Taiwan were recruited as participants. Validated, self-reported questionnaires were used to gather data on demographic characteristics, resilience, peer relationship, parental monitoring, school connectedness, social support, and peer victimization. Logistic regression analysis was used to examine the factors that were related to peer victimization. Results About 17% (n = 64) of the participants experienced peer victimization during the previous 1-year period. Logistic regression analysis indicated that parental monitoring of daily life, school connectedness, and peer support were significant predictors of a reduced risk of peer victimization. The final model explained 23.1% of the total variance in less peer victimization and predicted 80.1% of peer victimization. Conclusions/implications for practice School connectedness and peer support were identified as important factors facilitating the avoidance of peer victimization among adolescents in Taiwan. Healthcare providers and school personnel should consider school-based programs to improve school connectedness and to build an atmosphere of peer support to reduce peer victimization. Educating parents to monitor their adolescents' daily activities is also encouraged in concert with these school-based programs.

Objective: The purpose of this study was to explore the ways in which social smoking expectations mediate the relationship between adolescent smoking behaviour and the smoking behaviour of family and peers. Design: Descriptive, cross-sectional survey. Setting: Taiwan, Republic of China. Method: The participants were 921 senior high school students who completed a questionnaire to measure smoking status, family and peer smoking and social smoking expectations. The survey was conducted from November to December in 2009. Structural equation modelling was performed to test a mediation model. Analysis was performed using PRELIS 2 and LISREL 8.7 software. Results: After adjusting for students’ gender, age and school type, it is clear that social expectations mediate the relationship between sibling smoking, peer smoking and adolescent smoking. The path coefficients of sibling and peer smoking on social expectations in the mediator model were moderate, β = .15–.41, p Conclusion: Determining the mechanisms that influence adolescent smoking is of scientific interest because knowledge of these mechanisms is a prerequisite for the development of recommendations aimed at prevention. With this knowledge, health professionals can develop smoking-prevention policies and education programmes based on reducing the mediating effect of social smoking expectations on the relationship of family smoking and peer smoking with adolescent smoking.

Hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection can cause permanent liver damage and hepatocellular carcinoma, and deaths related to HCV deaths have recently increased. Chronic HCV infection is often undiagnosed such that the virus remains infective and transmissible. Identifying HCV infection early is essential for limiting its spread, but distinguishing individuals who require further HCV tests is very challenging. Besides identifying high-risk populations, an optimal subset of indices for routine examination is needed to identify HCV screening candidates. Therefore, this study analyzed data from 312 randomly chosen blood donors, including 144 anti-HCV-positive donors and 168 anti-HCV-negative donors. The HCV viral load in each sample was measured by real-time polymerase chain reaction method. Receiver operating characteristic curves were used to find the optimal cell blood counts and thrombopoietin measurements for screening purposes. Correlations with values for key indices and viral load were also determined. Strong predictors of HCV infection were found by using receiver operating characteristics curves to analyze the optimal subsets among red blood cells, monocytes, platelet counts, platelet large cell ratios, and mean corpuscular hemoglobin concentrations. Sensitivity, specificity, and area under the receiver operator characteristic curve(P<0.0001)were 75.6%, 78.5%, and 0.859, respectively.

Aim To explore the associations of the professional quality of life and social support with health in nurses. Background Physical and mental health may be associated with absence from work among nurses. Few studies have explored the associations of professional quality of life and social support on the physical and mental health of nurses. Methods This was a cross-sectional study. In total, 294 nurses were recruited from a hospital in Southern Taiwan. A self-report questionnaire was used to collect data. Results Burnout, secondary traumatic stress and social support from relatives or friends were important factors of physical and mental health. Interactions between support from relatives or friends and secondary traumatic stress are important factors in physical health. Conclusion Reducing burnout and secondary traumatic stress is important for physical and mental health of nurses. Increasing social support from relatives or friends may be useful to reduce the negative effects of secondary traumatic stress on the physical health of nurses. Implications for Nursing Management Nurse managers could design interventions to reduce and prevent nurses from being influenced by burnout and secondary traumatic stress. Educating nurses to build effective social networks with relatives or friends and to seek support when experiencing secondary traumatic stress may also be needed.

As global climate change intensifies, extreme catastrophic weather. As a result, the vulnerability of power infrastructure gradually worsens, leading to an increased threat of power supply disruption. In order to cope with the threat of possible power supply disruption and to accommodate more residents in the event of a disaster, backup power generation and storage facilities are necessary should establish in residential and commercial areas. This study establishes a software analysis model of power demand resilience in the residential area, analyzes various power demand resilience scenarios, and discusses the operation of reasonable backup power generation and energy storage facilities, and power load management and control strategies. In the future, these software tools will be used to analyze the rational allocation and operation strategies of disaster prevention at power facilities in similar situations. This study takes the Fengshan Smart Green Community as the reference field, and extends the simulated facilities as the area of power demand resilience analysis, in an integrated residential area and a commercial area. This study has completed four case studies, including: (1) baseline scenario, (2) “use of diesel generators” scenario, (3) “expanding lithium battery capacity” scenario, and (4) “expanding lithium battery capacity and controlling lithium battery power output in the integrated residential area” scenario. The conclusions of this study include: (1) To cope with the intensified global climate change, adequate deployment of various backup power generation and storage facilities to enhance power resilience can effectively mitigate the threat of power supply disruption. (2) According to the case study results, there is sufficient solar photovoltaic in the residential area of Fengshan Smart Green Community. However, the energy storage and power supply capacity of lithium batteries are insufficient, and it is challenging to perform the backup power function. (3) To supply electricity to the power management system and the medical and shelter area adequately, this study suggests Fengshan Smart Green Community strengthens the power storage and power supply capacity of lithium batteries. (4) Solar photovoltaics are zero-carbon power; it can be a priority backup for power demand resilience. However, solar power is not available when there is insufficient sunshine. (5) The use of a diesel generator can flexibly assist the solar photovoltaic and lithium batteries to ensure the adequate power supply. (6) The use of diesel generators for power generation during a time of crisis is not pollution-free. However, their use for management in a crisis or disaster situation is in order when other power supply backups are insufficient or have failed. The critical findings include: (1) Solar photovoltaics are zero-carbon power; it can be a priority backup for power demand resilience. However, solar power is not available when there is insufficient sunshine. (2) The use of diesel generators for power generation during a time of crisis is not pollution-free. However, their use for management in a crisis or disaster situation is in order when other power supply backups are insufficient or have failed.

Members of the miR-183 family are unique in that they are highly abundant in sensory organs. In a recent study, significant downregulation was observed for miR-96 and miR-183 in the L5 dorsal root ganglion (DRG) 2 weeks after spinal nerve ligation (SNL). In this study, we focused on miR-183, which is the most regulated member of the miR-183 family, to look at the specific role on neuropathic pain. Persistent mechanical allodynia was induced with the L5 SNL model in 8-week-old male Sprague-Dawley rats. Paw withdrawal thresholds in response to mechanical stimuli were assessed with Von Frey filaments. Expression of miR-183 in the L5 DRG was assessed with quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (qPCR) analysis. Lentivirions expressing miR-183 were injected intrathecally into SNL rats. Changes in mechanical allodynia were assessed with Von Frey filaments. In addition, changes in the predicted target genes of miR-183 were assessed with qPCR. L5 SNL produced marked mechanical allodynia in the ipsilateral hindpaws of adult rats, beginning at postoperative day 1 and continuing to day 14. L5 SNL caused significant downregulation of miR-183 in adult DRG cells. Intrathecal administration of lentivirions expressing miR-183 downregulated SNL-induced increases in the expression of Nav1.3 and brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF), which correlated with the significant attenuation of SNL-induced mechanical allodynia. Our results show that SNL-induced mechanical allodynia is significantly correlated with the decreased expression of miR-183 in DRG cells. Replacement of miR-183 downregulates SNL-induced increases in Nav1.3 and BDNF expression, and attenuates SNL-induced mechanical allodynia.

This study adopted a physical digital High Pressure Core Flooder (HPCF) automatic control system for Advanced Boiling Water Reactor (ABWR) design. The HPCF control system was connected to the PCTRAN/ABWR nuclear power plant (NPP) simulator by a communication interface. The HPCF logic control behavior was clearly identifiable and the defense echelon of HPCF digital control system was also analyzed in this work. In order to understand the defense echelon function of Emergency Core Cooling System (ECCS), the dynamic behavior of ECCS was also analyzed by the test facility. The defense echelons of ECCS include the following – Reactor Core Isolation Cooling System (RCIC), HPCF, Low Pressure Flooder mode of Residual Heat Removal System (RHR/LPFL), and Automatic Depressurization System (ADS). In the study, HPCF was implemented and simulated by a commercial grade digital I&C platform (National Instruments), RCIC, HPCF and the plant model were simulated by PCTRAN/ABWR. An interface transferred the computer code parameters to digital input, digital output, analog input, and analog output signals. Six case studies were performed, which were (1) ECCS is initiated by high drywell pressure signal, (2) ECCS is initiated by low reactor water level signal, (3) ECCS initiation follows the Final Safety Analysis Report (FSAR) condition of Lungmen Nuclear Power Plant (LMNPP), (4) ECCS fails without operators manual action, (5) ECCS fails with operators manual action on HPCF, and (6) ATWS mitigated with ARI, ECCS Initiated by High Dry Well Pressure Signal. The results obtained from the system development process, has contributed additionally towards the research which is conducted at Institute of Nuclear Energy Research (INER) and also benefits all other Instrumentation and Control (I&C) system improvement and development of Taiwan Nuclear Instrumentation and Control Systems.

Pulsed radiofrequency (PRF) treatment involves the pulsed application of a radiofrequency electric field to a nerve. The technology offers pain relief for patients suffering from chronic pain who do not respond well to conventional treatments. We tested whether PRF treatment attenuated complete Freund’s adjuvant (CFA) induced inflammatory pain. The profile of spinal c-Jun N-terminal kinases (JNKs) phosphorylation was evaluated to elucidate the potential mechanism. Injection of CFA into the unilateral hind paw of rats induced mechanical hyperalgesia in both the ipsilateral and contralateral hind paws. We administered 500-kHz PRF treatment in 20-ms pulses, at a rate of 2 Hz (2 pulses per second) either to the sciatic nerve in the mid-thigh, or to the L4 anterior primary ramus just distal to the intervertebral foramen in both the CFA group and no-PRF group rats. Tissue samples were examined at 1, 3, 7, and 14 days following PRF treatments. Behavioral studies showed that PRF applied close to the dorsal root ganglion (DRG) significantly attenuated CFA-induced mechanical hyperalgesia compared to no-PRF group (P