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The first global stocktake (GST) at 2023 UN Climate Change Conference (COP28) pointed out that accelerating the phasing down of fossil fuels has become an important mitigation policy to maintain a maximum temperature limit of 1.5 °C. The optimal power portfolio for achieving Taiwan's net-zero emissions by 2050 is evaluated from the perspective of sustainable development. This study is enhances the 2021 research findings of Wang et al. on the sustainable power model, incorporating homogenized cost and technical constraints for empirical analysis. The results indicated that renewable energy sources play a pivotal role in achieving net-zero emissions. Gas power generation requires careful consideration, including early decommissioning or the adoption of carbon capture and storage (CCS) technology to prevent carbon lock-in and compete with hydrogen energy technology. Notably, coal combined with CCS technology offers a viable option for a cost-effective roadmap for a decarburized power generation portfolio by 2050, serving as a reference for national planning strategies for promoting net-zero emissions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Vitamin D plays a vital role in maintaining homeostasis and enhancing the absorption of calcium, an essential component for strengthening bones and preventing osteoporosis. There are many factors known to relate to plasma vitamin D concentration (PVDC). However, most of these studies were performed with traditional statistical methods. Nowadays, machine learning methods (Mach-L) have become new tools in medical research. In the present study, we used four Mach-L methods to explore the relationships between PVDC and demographic, biochemical, and lifestyle factors in a group of healthy premenopausal Chinese women. Our goals were as follows: (1) to evaluate and compare the predictive accuracy of Mach-L and MLR, and (2) to establish a hierarchy of the significance of the aforementioned factors related to PVDC. Methods: Five hundred ninety-three healthy Chinese women were enrolled. In total, there were 35 variables recorded, including demographic, biochemical, and lifestyle information. The dependent variable was 25-OH vitamin D (PVDC), and all other variables were the independent variables. Multiple linear regression (MLR) was regarded as the benchmark for comparison. Four Mach-L methods were applied (random forest (RF), stochastic gradient boosting (SGB), extreme gradient boosting (XGBoost), and elastic net). Each method would produce several estimation errors. The smaller these errors were, the better the model was. Results: Pearson's correlation, age, glycated hemoglobin, HDL-cholesterol, LDL-cholesterol, and hemoglobin were positively correlated to PVDC, whereas eGFR was negatively correlated to PVDC. The Mach-L methods yielded smaller estimation errors for all five parameters, which indicated that they were better methods than the MLR model. After averaging the importance percentage from the four Mach-L methods, a rank of importance could be obtained. Age was the most important factor, followed by plasma insulin level, TSH, spouse status, LDH, and ALP. Conclusions: In a healthy Chinese premenopausal cohort using four different Mach-L methods, age was found to be the most important factor related to PVDC, followed by plasma insulin level, TSH, spouse status, LDH, and ALP. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Four new donor‐acceptor‐acceptor' (D‐A‐A')‐configured donors, CPNT, DCPNT, CPNBT, and DCPNBT equipped with naphtho[1,2‐c:5,6‐c′]bis([1,2,5]‐thiadiazole) (NT) or naphtho[2,3‐c][1,2,5]thiadiazole (NBT) as the central acceptor (A) unit bridging triarylamine donor (D) and cyano or dicyanovinylene acceptor (A'), were synthesized and characterized. All molecules exhibit bathochromic absorption shifts as compared to those of the benzothiadiazole (BT)‐based analogues owing to improved electron‐withdrawing and quinoidal character of NT and NBT cores that lead to stronger intramolecular charge transfer. Favorable energy level alignments with C70, together with the good thermal stability and the antiparallel dimeric packing render CPNT and DCPNT suitable donors for vacuum‐processed organic photovoltaics (OPV)s. OPVs based on DCPNT : C70 active layers displayed the best power conversion efficiency (PCE)=8.3%, along with an open circuit voltage of 0.92 V, a short circuit current of 14.5 mA cm−2 and a fill factor of 62% under 1 sun intensity, simulated AM1.5G illumination. Importantly, continuous light‐soaking with AM 1.5G illumination has verified the durability of the devices based on CPNT:C70 and DCPNT : C70 as the active blends. The devices were examined for their feasibility of indoor light harvesting under 500 lux illumination by a TLD‐840 fluorescent lamp, giving PCE=12.8% and 12.6%, respectively. These results indicate that the NT‐based D‐A‐A'‐type donors CPNT and DCPNT are potential candidates for high‐stability vacuum‐processed OPVs suitable for indoor energy harvesting. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Highlights: [•] Plate-like WO3·2H2O films were prepared by electrochemical anodization followed by acidic treatment. [•] The enhanced electrochromic properties of the films were caused by their high surface area. [•] The WO3 films demonstrated electrochemical stability after the first 100 cycles. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Pristine and surfactant F-127 added tungsten oxide films have been prepared successfully by sol–gel method using PTA as the precursor sol. After annealing at 300°C, amorphous WO3 films with or without F-127 additions were prepared. The F-127-added tungsten oxide films exhibit porous microstructure, which are affected by the amount of F-127 addition. Nanosized microstructure with pore size less than 10nm can be observed with small amount of F-127 addition (less than 0.06g/ml) , where as larger spherical or tubular pores are found with superfluous F-127 addition (higher than 0.08g/ml). Not only the transmittance modulation but also the coloration efficiency can be improved by adding surfactant F-127. Tungsten oxide film with 0.10g/mlF-127 addition exhibits the best electrochromic performance with a transmittance modulation of 67.6% and a coloration efficiency of 38.3cm2 C−1. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: Tungsten oxide (WO3) films prepared by annealing electrochemically anodized metallic tungsten (W) films deposited by radio-frequency sputtering were characterized. Tungsten oxide films of various morphology, crystallinity, and porosity can be prepared by carefully altering the anodization time (20–50min) and annealing temperature (450–550°C). The film obtained after 40min of anodization, and that annealed at 500°C shows the best electrochromic performance with optical modulation of 43.6% and coloration efficiency of 42.8cm2/C. The effects of anodization time and annealing temperature on microstructure and electrochromic properties were addressed. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: The Nb-doped WO3 films were deposited by e-beam co-evaporation method using ceramic WO3 targets and metal Nb slugs. The films were analyzed by glancing incident angle X-ray diffraction (GIAXRD), UV/visible spectrophotometer, electrochemical cyclic voltammetry, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS). The as-prepared film is brown and amorphous in structure. The film has low transmission in optical visible region. The XPS results indicate that the as-deposited film is non-stoichiometric. By applying a negative potential, the as-deposited film does not show obvious electrochromic effect. However, the electrochromic properties of Nb-doped WO3 films are improved by post annealing treatment at 350, 400, and 450°C in oxygen atmosphere. The Nb-doped WO3 films transform into crystalline structure and become transparent after post annealing treatment. The energy band gap, optical modulation, and color efficiency increase with annealing temperature. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Energy transition has become a priority for adaptive policy and measures taken in response to climate change around the world. This is an opportunity and a challenge for the Taiwan government to establish a climate-resilient power generation mixed to ensure electricity security as well as climate change mitigation. This study adopted a sustainable development perspective and applied optimal control theory to establish a cost-effective model to evaluate a long-term (2050), climate-resilient power generation mix for Taiwan. Furthermore, this study applies the STIRPAT approach to predict the demand of electricity by 2050 for the demand side management. The results not only showed the share of various power generation mixed, but also recommended the trajectory of electricity saving by 2050. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Two blends comprising new dicyanopyrazine‐based acceptors (m‐CN and p‐CN) and a carbazole‐based donor CPTBF are explored for exciplex formation. The CPTBF:m‐CN and CPTBF:p‐CN blends show the signature red‐shifted emission together with the delayed fluorescence observed in time‐resolved measurement, manifesting the characteristics of thermally activated delayed fluorescence (TADF). The electroluminescence (EL) device employing CPTBF:m‐CN (CPTBF:p‐CN) blend as the emitting layer (EML) achieved an EQE of 5.22% (2.05%) with the EL λmax centered at 607 nm (625 nm). The exciplex excitons can be efficiently extracted by a new benzobisthiadiazole‐based near‐infrared (NIR) emitter DCzPBBT, where a device is configured with CPTBF:m‐CN: (5 wt.%) DCzPBBT as the EML to achieve a high EQE of 5.32% and an EL λmax 758 nm. Further increase of the doping concentration to 10 wt.% of DCzPBBT exhibits a bathochromic shifted EL λmax to 772 nm with 94% spectral coverage in the NIR (>700 nm) region, while the device EQE retains at 4.06%. The superior device performance stems from the highly efficient energy transfer between the exciplex‐forming host and NIR dopant together. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

High quality SiO2 was successfully deposited on GaN by photochemical vapour deposition (photo-CVD) using a D2 lamp as the excitation source. It was found that the interface state density was only 8.4 × 1011 cm-2 eV-1 for photo-CVD SiO2 layers on GaN prepared at 300 °C. AlGaN/GaN metal–oxide–semiconductor heterojunction field effect transistors were fabricated with photo-CVD oxide as the insulating layer. It was found that room temperature saturation Ids, maximum gm and gate voltage swing of the devices were 1220 mA mm-1, 240 mS mm-1 and 4.5 V, respectively. Even at an evaluated temperature of 300 °C, the device still exhibits the maximum transconductance of 180 mS mm-1. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Vitiligo is perceived as an autoimmune skin disease. Previous studies showed conflicting data about vitiligo and pregnancy outcomes. To delineate the associations between vitiligo and the pregnancy outcomes, we used the National Health Insurance Research Database of Taiwan to conduct a retrospective cohort study from January 1, 2000 to December 31, 2015. This study population was composed of 1,096 women with vitiligo and 4,384 women without vitiligo, who were all matched according to age, comorbidity, and index year. Compared with the non-vitiligo controls, women with vitiligo had a higher risk of abortion (aHR 1.158, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.095–1.258, P <.001). Perinatal events, such as preterm delivery, pre-eclampsia/eclampsia, gestational diabetes mellitus, stillbirth, and intrauterine growth retardation, were not different between both groups (aHR 1.065, 95% CI 0.817–1.157, P =.413). To determine if systemic treatment before conception decreases the risk of abortion, we assessed the medical history of pregnant women with vitiligo 1 year before pregnancy. Patients who were treated with oral medications had a lower risk of abortion than those who were not (aHR: 0.675, 95% CI: 0.482–0.809, P <.001). Our study indicates that there is a higher risk of abortion in pregnant women with vitiligo and the control of disease activity with systemic treatment before conception could improve pregnancy outcomes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract Two new asymmetric D−π−A1−A2 configured small molecules named PTP and TTP bearing thieno[3,4- b ]pyrazine (TP) unit as the A1 group have been designed and synthesized for solution-processed bulk-heterojunction organic solar cells (OSCs). These new dipolar molecular donors not only exhibit strong near-IR absorption but pack into antiparallel dimers, in which PTP shows a coexistence of coplanar and cofacial antiparallel dimers configuration, while TTP reveals a coplanar centrosymmetric dimer structure. Solution-processed OSCs for PTP blended with pristine C 70 achieves a promising power conversion efficiency (PCE) of 3.40% along with an open-circuit voltage (V OC) of 0.64 V, a short-circuit current density (J SC) of 9.83 mA cm−2 and a fill factor (FF) of 54.0%, which is the highest efficiency to date among the TP-based materials. Conversely, the optimized TTP :C 70 solar cell delivers a V OC of 0.48 V, a J SC of 6.02 mA cm−2 and a FF of 43.3%, corresponding to a moderate PCE of 1.25%. Graphical abstract Image 1 Highlights • New bipolar small molecule donors (PTP and TTP) configured with D−π−A1−A2 architecture, where thieno[3,4- b ]pyrazine (TP) serves as the A1 group to link triarylamine (D−π) and dicyanovinylene (A2). • These new donors exhibit antiparallel dimeric pair crystal packing and strong near-IR absorption that are suitable for solution-processed bulk-heterojunction organic solar cells (OSCs). • With pristine C 70 as acceptor, phenylene-bridged PTP donor achieved power conversion efficiency (PCE) of 3.40%, whereas the strong N-IR absorption donor TTP gave a PCE of 1.25%. • The superior performance of PTP -based OSC is in line with the higher hole mobility, better bicontinuous interpenetrating morphology and stronger (010) π–π stacking peak in the out-of-plane direction. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Electrochromic WO3 films are prepared by the electron-beam evaporation method. The as-deposited films are amorphous in structure. The optical transmittance spectra show 13.4% decay of optical modulation after 20 electrochemical cycles. The degradation behaviour of the WO3 films is also observed in electrochemical step potential measurements. X-ray absorption spectroscopy indicates that the absorption energy of the W LIII-edge shifts towards lower energy with the insertion of Li+ ions and electrons. The results of radial distribution functions reveal that the increase in the distance of the W–O bonds is caused by the reduction in W ions. LixWO3 and Li2WO4 are formed at −0.5 V and −1.0 V, respectively, during electrochemical insertion, as observed by transmission electron microscopy. The Raman scattering analysis indicates that only two ionic states, W4+ and W6+, exist in the WO3 films, due to excess injection of electrons and Li+ ions. We suggest that the degradation of the electrochromic properties of the WO3 films during electrochemical cycles is related to the formation of different W ionic states. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The effect of microstructure on the optical and electrochemical properties of nanostructured tungsten oxide films was evaluated as a function of annealing temperature. The films using block copolymer as the template were prepared from peroxotungstic acid (PTA) by spin-coating onto the substrate and post-annealed at 250–400°C to form tungsten oxide films with nanostructure. The microstructure of the films was measured by X-ray diffraction and surface electron microscopy. The films annealed at temperatures below 300°C are characterized by amorphous or nanocrystalline structures with a pore size of less than 10nm. The evaluated annealing temperature caused a triclinic crystalline structure and microcracks. Cyclic voltammetry measurements were performed in a LiClO4-propylene carbonate electrolyte. The results showed that the ion inserted capacity were maximized for films annealed at 300°C and decreased with the increasing of annealing temperature. The electrochromic properties of the nanostructured tungsten oxide films were evaluated simultaneously by potentiostat and UV–vis spectroscopy. The films annealed at 300°C exhibit high transmission modulation (∆T~40%) at λ=633nm and good kinetic properties. As a result, the correlation between the microstructure and kinetic properties was established, and the electrochromic properties have been demonstrated. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: The purpose of this paper is to apply a fuzzy quality function deployment (QFD) approach to prioritize knowledge management (KM) solutions for an international port in Taiwan. First, the paper examines house of quality (HOQ) matrices to facilitate handling of the ‘what’ (i.e., KM requirements) and ‘how’ (KM solutions) aspects of the QFD problem, and proposes procedures for the use of a fuzzy QFD method. A case study concerning port K in Taiwan is then used to demonstrate a systematic appraisal process for prioritizing KM solutions, and twenty attributes with sixteen feasible KM implementation solutions are measured employing an HOQ matrix. Finally, the top five feasible solutions for implementing KM at port K are identified. The empirical results show that ‘establishment of a data storage and data mining system’ in the technology dimension is the most urgent requirement for KM implementation at port K in Taiwan. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Gate-all-around (GAA) poly-Si thin-film transistors (TFTs) with multiple nanowire channels has better performance compared with planar TFT, such as lower threshold voltage VTH, smaller subthreshold swing (SS), lower minimum current I \rm OFF, higher maximum on/off current ratio ION/IOFF, and higher mobility. However, each nanowire has three sharp corners to obtain high local electric fields under gate bias stresses, such that GAA TFT inherently suffers from an inevitable reliability problem. The local electric fields accelerate the degradation of VTH and SS. The VTH degradation under negative gate bias stress is related to the released electron trapping in stressed gate oxide during diffusion-controlled electrochemical reaction. For GAA TFT, minimum IOFF and ION/IOFF ratio still maintain better characteristics due to smaller channel body. Moreover, the obvious retardation in mobility degradation was obtained for GAA TFT because the hydrogen atoms can effectively rearrange the tail states located near the band edge in the channel during gate bias stresses. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Efficient vacuum-deposited tandem organic photovoltaic cells (TOPVs) composed of pristine fullerenes as the acceptors and two complementary absorbing donors, 2-((2-(5-(4-(diphenylamino)phenyl)thieno[3,2-b]thiophen-2-yl)thiazol-5-yl)methylene)malononitrile for the visible absorption and 2-((7-(5-(dip-tolylamino)thiophen-2-yl)benzo[c]-[1,2,5]thiadiazol-4-yl)methylene)malononitrile for the near-infrared absorption, are reported. Two subcells are connected by the interconnection unit (ICU) composed of electron-transporting layer/metal/p-doped hole-transporting layer. The p-doped layer in the ICU enables increasing the short-circuit current density ( JSC) of TOPVs by tuning the relative position of subcells in the tandem devices to have the maximum optical field distribution response, which is well matched with theoretical calculation. Moreover, the introduction of the doped layer benefits to the higher fill factor (FF) of the consisting subcells without losing open-circuit voltage ( VOC) even with the thick active layers. As a result, power conversion efficiency of 9.2% is achieved with higher FF of 0.62 than that of single-junction subcells (0.54, 0.57), JSC of 8.7 mA cm−2, and VOC of 1.71 V using 80 nm thick active layers in both subcells. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]