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Abstract Polyethylene glycol chains in two terminals of the naphthalene functional group are threaded into α‐cyclodextrin cavities to form the pseudopolyrotaxane (NPR), which not only effectively induces the phosphorescence of the naphthalene functional group by the cyclodextrin macrocycle confinement, but also provides interfacial hydrogen bonding assembly function between polyhydroxy groups of cyclodextrin and waterborne polyurethane (WPU) chains to construct elastomers. The introduction of NPR endows the elastomer with enhanced mechanical properties and excellent room temperature phosphorescent (RTP) emission (phosphorescence remains in water, acid, alkali, and organic solvents, even at 160 °C high temperatures). Especially, the reversible mechanically responsive room temperature phosphorescence behavior (phosphorescence intensity increased three times under 200% strain) can be observed in the mechanical stretch and recover process, owing to strain‐induced microstructural changes further inhibiting the non‐radiative transition and the vibration of NPR. Therefore, changing the phosphorescence behavior of supramolecular elastomers through mechanical stretching provides a new approach for supramolecular luminescent materials.

Taiwan learned from its 2003 SARS experience and established multiple surveillance systems to be able to detect and respond to COVID-19. With the find, test, trace, isolate, and support (FTTIS) strategy, Taiwan was successful in containing SARS-CoV-2 from spreading for two years. During the surge of the Omicron variant in the community, COVID-19 control strategy shifted from containment to mitigation in April 2022, to reduce morbidity and mortality. Lessons learned from COVID-19 response re-emphasizes the importance of having sensitive public health surveillance and linking surveillance with public health actions.

Introduction COVID-19 underscored the importance of field epidemiology training programmes (FETPs) as countries struggled with overwhelming demands. Experts are calling for more field epidemiologists with better training. Since 1951, FETPs have been building public health capacities across the globe, yet explorations of learning in these programmes are lacking. This qualitative study will (1) describe approaches to training field epidemiologists in FETP; (2) describe strategies for learning field epidemiology among FETP trainees and (3) explain the principles and practices aligning training approaches with learning strategies in FETP.Methods and analysis The research design, implementation and interpretation are collaborative efforts with FETP trainers. Data collection will include interviews with FETP trainers and trainees and participant observations of FETP training and learning events in four FETP in the Western Pacific Region. Data analysis will occur in three phases: (1) we will use the constant comparison method of Charmaz’s grounded theory during open coding to identify and prioritise categories and properties in the data; (2) during focused coding, we will use constant comparison and Polkinghorne’s analysis of narratives, comparing stories of prioritised categories, to fill out properties of those categories and (3) we will use Polkinghorne’s narrative analysis to construct narratives that reflect domains of interest, identifying correspondence among Carr and Kemmis’s practices, understandings and situations to explain principles and processes of learning in FETP.Ethics and dissemination We have obtained the required ethics approvals to conduct this research at The Australian National University (2021/771) and Taiwan’s Ministry of Health and Welfare (112206). Data will not be available publicly, but anonymised findings will be shared with FETP for collaborative interpretation. Ultimately, findings and interpretations will appear in peer-reviewed journals and conferences.

The recrystallization and grain growth behaviour of IN718 alloy additively manufactured by laser powder bed fusion (L-PBF) is presented herein. The effects of three different temperatures (1050, 1150 and 1250 °C) and holding times (15, 45 and 90 min) were investigated. The texture evolution of the samples was recorded via electron backscatter diffraction (EBSD). The as-built sample is composed of bowl-shaped melt pools, a chessboard-like grain pattern and has a cube texture {100}. Recrystallized grains were observed in the samples treated at 1150 °C for 15 min, as well as the samples treated for longer periods and at higher temperatures. Recrystallization was observed to start from high dislocation density regions, including the overlapping melt pools and the borders of the chessboard-like pattern. The initial cube texture transforms into a first-generation cube-twin texture {122} via a twinning-assisted recrystallization mechanism. Then, those recrystallization nuclei sweep through the high defect density matrix; during which almost no new twins are formed. The samples treated at 1250 °C are almost completely recrystallized, which forms a weaker cube texture and a stronger P-orientation {011}. However, the growth of recrystallized grains is very limited due to the presence of non-coherent precipitates.

The first autochthonous case and the first outbreak of chikungunya in Taiwan occurred during July–October 2019, with a total of 21 cases confirmed. Genetic analysis revealed the strains belonged to East/Central/South African genotype and had 99.95%–100% identity with the strains from the imported cases from Myanmar in 2019. This event confirmed that the imported chikungunya cases has the potential to cause autochthonous transmission in Taiwan; intensified surveillance and vector control measures are essential to contain the outbreak.

Purpose: To describe the epidemiology and outcome of the first 100 COVID-19 cases in Taiwan. Methods: We included the first 100 patients with laboratory-confirmed SARS-CoV-2 infection in Taiwan. Demographic, clinical, epidemiological and laboratory data were extracted from outbreak investigation reports and medical records. Results: Illness onset of the 100 patients was during January 11 to March 16, 2020. Twenty-nine (29%) had at least one underlying condition and ten (10%) were asymptomatic. Seventy-one were imported, including four clusters. Twenty-nine were locally-acquired, including four clusters. The median days from onset to report was longer in locally-acquired cases (10 vs 3 days). Three patients died (case fatality rate 3%) and all of them had underlying conditions. As of May 13, 2020, 93 had been discharged in stable condition; the median hospital stay was 30 days (range, 10–79 days). Conclusion: The first 100 cases of COVID-19 in Taiwan showed the persistent threat of imported cases from different countries. Even though sporadic locally-acquired disease has been identified, through contact investigation, isolation, quarantine and implementation of social distancing measures, the epidemic is contained to a manageable level with minimal local transmission.

Reinforcement learning control methods can impart robots with the ability to discover effective behavior, reducing their modeling and sensing requirements, and enabling their ability to adapt to environmental changes. However, it remains challenging for a robot to achieve navigation in confined and dynamic environments, which are characteristic of a broad range of biomedical applications, such as endoscopy with ingestible electronics. Herein, a compact, 3D‐printed three‐linked‐sphere robot synergistically integrated with a reinforcement learning algorithm that can perform adaptable, autonomous crawling in a confined channel is demonstrated. The scalable robot consists of three equally sized spheres that are linearly coupled, in which the extension and contraction in specific sequences dictate its navigation. The ability to achieve bidirectional locomotion across frictional surfaces in open and confined spaces without prior knowledge of the environment is also demonstrated. The synergistic integration of a highly scalable robotic apparatus and the model‐free reinforcement learning control strategy can enable autonomous navigation in a broad range of dynamic and confined environments. This capability can enable sensing, imaging, and surgical processes in previously inaccessible confined environments in the human body.

The study was conducted to compare and analyze the nutritional value of different protein feed materials. Ten kinds of protein feeds (soybean meal, palm meal, cottonseed meal, monosodium glutamate meal, sesame cake meal, sunflower meal, distillers dried grains with solubles, peony seed meal, beer grains, and soybean residue) were collected from beef cattle farms with three replicates for each feed. The carbohydrate composition, protein composition, amino acid composition, and predicted em-value indexes were determined and analyzed. The results showed that the CHO content of soybean residue was the highest (73.78%), followed by peony seed meal (66.76%) and palm meal (65.89%). The NSC content of monosodium glutamate residue and soybean meal was higher, while the CC content was lower. The CP content of monosodium glutamate residue, soybean meal, sesame cake, and cottonseed meal was higher than 50%, significantly higher than other materials (P<0.05). The PA content and PB1 content of monosodium glutamate residue and peony seed meal were significantly higher than other materials (P<0.05). The EAA and Lys contentrations of soybean meal, monosodium glutamate residue, and cottonseed meal were higher than other materials (P<0.05). The TDN content of corn alcohol grains, monosodium glutamate residue, peony seed meal, and sesame cake meal was higher than 80%. NEg and NEL showed the same trend as TDN. The study indicates that the nutritional content of different protein feed materials is significantly different. Considering the protein components and energy value, the nutritional value of monosodium glutamate residue, cottonseed meal, and sesame cake are equivalent to that of soybean meal, and they have obvious advantages to replacing soybean meal in production. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract Background Epidural catheter re-siting in parturients receiving labour epidural analgesia is distressing to the parturient and places them at increased complications from a repeat procedure. The aim of this study was to develop and validate a clinical risk factor model to predict the incidence of epidural catheter re-siting in labour analgesia. Methods The data from parturients that received labour epidural analgesia in our centre during 2014–2015 was used to develop a predictive model for epidural catheter re-siting during labour analgesia. Multivariate logistic regression analysis was used to identify factors that were predictive of epidural catheter re-siting. The forward, backward and stepwise variable selection methods were applied to build a predictive model, which was internally validated. The final multivariate model was externally validated with the data collected from 10,170 parturients during 2012–2013 in our centre. Results Ninety-three (0.88%) parturients in 2014–2015 required re-siting of their epidural catheter. The training data set included 7439 paturients in 2014–2015. A higher incidence of breakthrough pain (OR = 4.42), increasing age (OR = 1.07), an increased pain score post-epidural catheter insertion (OR = 1.35) and problems such as inability to obtain cerebrospinal fluid in combined spinal epidural technique (OR = 2.06) and venous puncture (OR = 1.70) were found to be significantly predictive of epidural catheter re-siting, while spontaneous onset of labour (OR = 0.31) was found to be protective. The predictive model was validated internally on a further 3189 paturients from the data of 2014–2015 and externally on 10,170 paturients from the data of 2012–2013. Predictive accuracy of the model based on C-statistic were 0.89 (0.86, 0.93) and 0.92 (0.88, 0.97) for training and internal validation data respectively. Similarly, predictive accuracy in terms of C-statistic was 0.89 (0.86, 0.92) based on 2012–2013 data. Conclusion Our predictive model of epidural re-siting in parturients receiving labour epidural analgesia could provide timely identification of high-risk paturients required epidural re-siting.

During March–April 2018, an infectious measles index case traveling from Thailand led to two successive generations of measles transmission in Taiwan, with 21 cases confirmed. The median patient age was 30.5 years (range 22–47 years); six (27%) had documented receipt of one (n = 3) or more (n = 3) previous measles-containing vaccine doses at age ≥12 months. Epidemiological investigation and sequence analysis found that most (n = 16, 76%) measles transmissions had occurred in airport and flight settings; secondary and tertiary cases included cabin crew (n = 7), airport staff (n = 2), and passengers who had been at the same airport or on the same flight (n = 7). This investigation serves as a reminder that an international airport can be a hotspot for measles transmission. International travelers, airline cabin crew, and airport employees are recommended to check their vaccination status and ensure that they are fully vaccinated against measles. Furthermore, it is recommended that airline and airport employers have an occupational health vaccination program in place to ensure appropriate pre-employment assessment of measles immunity and vaccination. Keywords: Measles, Outbreak, Airport, Air travel, Vaccination