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A new species of cirri-bearing eel, Cirrhimuraena taiwanensis sp. nov. (Anguilliformes, Ophichthidae), is described based on a specimen collected from the estuary of the Langyang River (Yilan County), northeastern Taiwan. The new species is distinct from all congeners, except C. odishaensis and C. orientalis, in possessing a single row of mandibular teeth. Cirrhimuraena taiwanensis sp. nov. differs from C. odishaensis in having significantly shorter pectoral fins and fewer vertebrae, and it is distinguished from C. orientalis by its larger head, notably more total vertebrae, and a dorsal fin that originates well behind the gill opening. In the neighbor-joining tree based on COI sequences, the new species forms a distinct monophyletic group; thus, it is clearly separable from congeners both morphologically and genetically. With this addition, there are now 13 species in the genus Cirrhimuraena.

Dongsha Island, situated in the northern part of the South China Sea, is surrounded by coral reefs and deep-sea habitats. The coastal areas of the atoll, a marine protected area, serve as important nursery habitats for many reef fish species. At the same time, the offshore deep-sea continental slopes are historically important fishing grounds. Although previous inventories primarily focused on coral reef fishes within the atoll listing 652 species from 73 families, comprehensive surveys of fishes from deeper waters have been incomplete. In this study, the species composition of the fish fauna around Dongsha was updated by analyzing large volumes of frozen bycatch from commercial deep-sea trawlers operating in the area for the past four years and reviewing the existing literature. The species list increased to 1087 species belonging to 167 families, including several documented as new records and potentially undescribed species. This updated checklist also includes images of each species and most of their sagittal otoliths. This will assist further taxonomic work and significantly enhance understanding of marine biodiversity in the South China Sea.

Yilan, Taiwan is the first place in East Asia where freshwater glass eels, the juvenile stage of Anguilla species, arrive by ocean currents. We collected glass eels by fyke net in Lanyang River estuary twice a month from July 2010 to November 2023. By morphological examination and sequencing of the mitochondrial cytochrome b gene, we identified seven species of Anguilla. Most of the glass eels captured in Yilan belonged to the species A. japonica, A. marmorata, and A. bicolor pacifica. Only a few were A. luzonensis, and two A. celebesensis were recorded. In addition, two species were recorded for the time time from Taiwan; A. interioris and A. borneensis were confirmed by cytochrome b sequencing. Thus, we increase the number of Anguilla species in Taiwan from five to seven.

Leptomeningeal metastasis (LM) is a challenging complication of non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). Cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) cell-free DNA (cfDNA) analysis using next-generation sequencing (NGS) offers insights into resistance mechanisms and potential treatment strategies. We conducted a study from February 2022 to April 2023 involving patients from five hospitals in Taiwan who had recurrent or advanced NSCLC with LM. These patients underwent CSF cfDNA analysis using a 118-gene targeted panel for NGS, with comprehensive clinical data collected. Among 25 enrolled patients, 22 (88.0 %) had EGFR mutations, while three (12.0 %) had EML4-ALK fusion, KIF5B-RET fusion, and ERBB2 A775_G776insSVMA. CSF cfDNA sequencing of 27 samples (from 25 patients) all confirmed their original driver mutations. Of total cohort, 18 patients (72.0 %) underwent intrathecal pemetrexed (ITP), with a median survival time of 7.4 months (95.0 % confidence interval, 3.3–11.6) from the initiation of ITP to death. Among them, ten individuals (55.6 %) survived beyond 6 months. Notably, MET copy number gain (CNG) correlated significantly with survival time exceeding 6 months after ITP (p = 0.007). The coexistence of EGFR T790M and EGFR-independent resistance alterations was associated with shorter survival times after ITP, with a median survival time of 1.9 months compared to 9.9 months for those without EGFR T790M (p = 0.010). Our results highlight CSF cfDNA NGS's potential in LM resistance understanding and ITP efficacy prediction. MET CNG positively impacts survival for ITP recipients, whereas the coexistence of EGFR T790M and EGFR-independent resistance mechanisms leads to poor outcomes.

Abstract Background Acquired resistance to epidermal growth factor receptor tyrosine kinase inhibitors (EGFR TKIs) remains a significant hurdle for patients with EGFR‐mutated non‐small cell lung cancer (NSCLC), particularly those lacking the EGFRT790M. IMpower 150 study demonstrated promising efficacy for a combination of immune‐chemotherapy and bevacizumab in patients with EGFR‐mutated NSCLC. Methods This open‐label, single‐arm, phase II trial evaluated the efficacy and immune cell profile of the modified regimen combining atezolizumab, bevacizumab (7.5 mg/kg) and chemotherapy in patients with EGFR‐mutated NSCLC following TKI failure. The primary endpoint was objective response rate (ORR). The re‐biopsy tissue specimens and serial peripheral blood samples were collected to analyse the immune cell profile and tumour microenvironments. Rresults 22 EGFR‐mutant NSCLC patients participated in this study. The ORR was 42.9%, with a disease control rate (DCR) of 100%. Median progression‐free survival (PFS) was 6.3 months. Patients with programmed death‐ligand 1 (PD‐L1) expression ≥1% exhibited significantly higher ORR (75 vs. 23.1%; p = .032) and longer PFS (14.0 vs. 6.1 months; p = .022) compared with those with PD‐L1 expression

We present the first step toward deriving cosmological constraints through the abundances of galaxy clusters selected in a $510\,\mathrm{deg}^2$ weak-lensing aperture mass map, constructed with the Year-Three shear catalog from the Hyper Suprime-Cam Subaru Strategic Program. We adopt a conservative source galaxy selection to construct a sample of $129$ weak-lensing peaks with a signal-to-noise ratio above $4.7$. We use semi-analytical injection simulations to derive the selection function and the mass--observable relation of our sample. These results take into account complicated uncertainties associated with weak-lensing measurements, such as the non-uniform survey depth and the complex survey geometry, projection effects from uncorrelated large-scale structures, and the intrinsic alignment of source galaxies. We also propose a novel modeling framework to make parts of the mass--observable relation insensitive to assumed cosmological parameters. Such a framework not only offers a great computational advantage to cosmological studies, but can also benefit future astrophysical studies using shear-selected clusters. Our results are an important step toward utilizing these cluster samples that are constructed nearly independent of any baryonic assumptions in upcoming deep-and-wide lensing surveys from the Vera Rubin Observatory, Euclid, and the Nancy Grace Roman Space Telescope.

Currently, aquaculture fishermen predominantly use bloodworms (Chironomus spp. or Tubifex sp.) or eel powder as initial feed for the pacific short-finned glass eel, Anguilla bicolor pacifica. However, bloodworms thrive in waters rich in organic matter, making them prone to carrying pathogens into aquaculture systems, particularly Edwardsiella tarda, a severe bacterial pathogen for all Anguilla species. Therefore, this research explored the use of an artificial paste feed as the initial feed for pacific short-finned glass eels in the recirculating aquaculture system (RAS), evaluating growth performance, immune gene expression, disease resistance, and intestinal morphology and microbiota diversity across different initial feeds for glass eels. The paste feed demonstrated similar attractiveness and palatability to pacific short-finned glass eels as bloodworms, both of which were superior to eel powder. There were no significant differences in growth performance between the paste feed and bloodworm groups, but the survival rate in the paste feed group was significantly higher than in the bloodworm group. In terms of intestinal morphology, only the paste feed group showed no inflammation or abnormalities and had significantly longer villi. Moreover, the relative expression of superoxide dismutase (SOD) and peroxidase (POD) were significantly higher in the paste feed group compared with the bloodworm and powder groups, resulting in the best survival rate following an E. tarda challenge test. Additionally, the significantly lower expression of interleukin-6 (IL-6) and heat shock protein 70 (HSP70) indicates reduced stress and inflammation in the paste feed group. The biodiversity index indicated that the paste feed group showed a significantly lower alpha diversity than the bloodworm and powder groups, and harmful pathogens (such as Aeromonas) were not detected in the intestines. These results indicate that paste feed is safer and more efficient than bloodworms and eel powder for pacific short-finned glass eels.

Abstract Background Blood flow restriction (BFR) resistance training has demonstrated efficacy in promoting strength gains beneficial for rehabilitation. Yet, the distinct functional advantages of BFR strength training using high-load and low-load protocols remain unclear. This study explored the behavioral and neurophysiological mechanisms that explain the differing effects after volume-matched high-load and low-load BFR training. Methods Twenty-eight healthy participants were randomly assigned to the high-load blood flow restriction (BFR-HL, n = 14) and low-load blood flow restriction (BFR-LL, n = 14) groups. They underwent 3 weeks of BFR training for isometric wrist extension at intensities of 25% or 75% of maximal voluntary contraction (MVC) with matched training volume. Pre- and post-tests included MVC and trapezoidal force-tracking tests (0–75%–0% MVC) with multi-channel surface electromyography (EMG) from the extensor digitorum. Results The BFR-HL group exhibited a greater strength gain than that of the BFR-LL group after training (BFR_HL: 26.96 ± 16.33% vs. BFR_LL: 11.16 ± 15.34%)(p = 0.020). However, only the BFR-LL group showed improvement in force steadiness for tracking performance in the post-test (p = 0.004), indicated by a smaller normalized change in force fluctuations compared to the BFR-HL group (p = 0.048). After training, the BFR-HL group activated motor units (MUs) with higher recruitment thresholds (p

We present cosmological constraints using the abundance of weak-lensing shear-selected galaxy clusters in the Hyper Suprime-Cam (HSC) Subaru Strategic Program. The clusters are selected on the aperture-mass maps constructed using the three-year (Y3) weak-lensing data with an area of $\approx500~$deg$^2$, resulting in a sample size of $129$ clusters with high signal-to-noise ratios $\nu\geq4.7$. Owing to the deep, wide-field, and uniform imaging of the HSC survey, this is by far the largest sample of shear-selected clusters, for which the selection solely depends on gravity and is free from any assumptions about the dynamical state and complex baryon physics. Informed by the optical counterparts, the shear-selected clusters span a redshift range of $z\lesssim0.7$ with a median of $z\approx0.3$. The lensing sources are securely selected at $z\gtrsim0.7$ with a median of $z\approx1.3$, leading to nearly zero cluster member contamination. We carefully account for (1) the bias in the photometric redshift of sources, (2) the bias and scatter in the weak-lensing mass using a simulation-based calibration, and (3) the measurement uncertainty that is directly estimated on the aperture-mass maps using an injection-based method developed in a companion paper (Chen et al. submitted). In a blind analysis, the fully marginalized posteriors of the cosmological parameters are obtained as $\Omega_{\mathrm{m}} = 0.50^{+0.28}_{-0.24}$, $\sigma_8 = 0.685^{+0.161}_{-0.088}$, $\hat{S}_{8}\equiv\sigma_8\left(\Omega_{\mathrm{m}}/0.3\right)^{0.25} = 0.835^{+0.041}_{-0.044}$, and $\sigma_8\sqrt{\Omega_{\mathrm{m}}/0.3} = 0.993^{+0.084}_{-0.126}$ in a flat $\Lambda$CDM model. We compare our cosmological constraints with other studies, including those based on cluster abundances, galaxy-galaxy lensing and clustering, and Cosmic Microwave Background observed by $Planck$, and find good agreement at levels of $\lesssim2\sigma$. [abridged]

Abstract Our study aimed to compare bone scintigraphy and dual-layer detector spectral CT (DLCT) with multiphase contrast enhancement for the diagnosis of osteoblastic bone lesions in patients with prostate cancer. The patients with prostate cancer and osteoblastic bone lesions detected on DLCT were divided into positive bone scintigraphy group (pBS) and negative bone scintigraphy group (nBS) based on bone scintigraphy. A total of 106 patients (57 nBS and 49 pBS) was included. The parameters of each lesion were measured from DLCT including Hounsfield unit (HU), 40–140 keV monochromatic HU, effective nuclear numbers (Zeff), and Iodine no water (InW) value in non-contrast phase (N), the arterial phase (A), and venous phase (V). The slope of the spectral curve at 40 and 100 keV, the different values of the parameters between A and N phase (A-N), V and N phase (V-N), and hybrid prediction model with multiparameters were used to differentiate pBS from nBS. Receiver operating characteristic analysis was performed to compare the area under the curve (AUC) for differentiating the pBS group from the nBS group. The value of conventional HU values, slope, and InW in A-N and V-N, and hybrid model were significantly higher in the pBS group than in the nBS group. The hybrid model of all significant parameters had the highest AUC of 0.988, with 95.5% sensitivity and 94.6% specificity. DLCT with arterial contrast enhancement phase has the potential to serve as an opportunistic screening tool for detecting positive osteoblastic bone lesions, corresponding to those identified in bone scintigraphy.

Abstract Background Endobronchial ultrasound (EBUS) and cone-beam computed tomography-derived augmented fluoroscopy (CBCT-AF) are utilized for the diagnosis of peripheral pulmonary lesions (PPLs). Combining them with transbronchial cryobiopsy (TBC) can provide sufficient tissue for genetic analysis. However, cryoprobes of different sizes have varying degrees of flexibility, which can affect their ability to access the target bronchus and potentially impact the accuracy. The aim of this study was to compare the diagnostic efficacy of cryoprobes of varying sizes in CBCT-AF and EBUS for the diagnosis of PPLs. Methods Patients who underwent endobronchial ultrasound-guided transbronchial biopsy (EBUS-TBB) and TBC combined with CBCT-AF for PPLs diagnosis between January 2021 and May 2022 were included. Propensity score matching and competing-risks regression were utilized for data analysis. Primary outcome was the diagnostic accuracy of TBC. Results A total of 284 patients underwent TBC, with 172 using a 1.7-mm cryoprobe (1.7 group) and 112 using a 1.1-mm cryoprobe (1.1 group). Finally, we included 99 paired patients following propensity score matching. The diagnostic accuracy of TBC was higher in the 1.1 group (80.8% vs. 69.7%, P = 0.050), with a similar rate of complications. Subgroup analysis also revealed that the 1.1 group had better accuracy when PPLs were located in the upper lobe (85.2% vs. 66.1%, P = 0.020), when PPLs were smaller than 20 mm (78.8% vs. 48.8%, P = 0.008), and when intra-procedural CBCT was needed to be used (79.5% vs. 42.3%, P = 0.001). TBC obtained larger specimens than TBB in both groups. There is still a trend of larger sample size obtained in the 1.7 group, but there is no statistically different between our two study groups (40.8 mm2 vs. 22.0 mm2, P = 0.283). Conclusions The combination of TBC with CBCT-AF and EBUS is effective in diagnosing PPLs, and a thin cryoprobe is preferred when the PPLs located in difficult areas.

Spinal cord injury is associated with spinal vascular disruptions that result in spinal ischemia and tissue hypoxia. This study evaluated the therapeutic efficacy of normobaric hyperoxia on spinal cord oxygenation and circulatory function at the acute stage of cervical spinal cord injury. Adult male Sprague Dawley rats underwent dorsal cervical laminectomy or cervical spinal cord contusion. At 1–2 days after spinal surgery, spinal cord oxygenation was monitored in anesthetized and spontaneously breathing rats through optical recording of oxygen sensor foils placed on the cervical spinal cord and pulse oximetry. The arterial blood pressure, heart rate, blood gases, and peripheral oxyhemoglobin saturation were also measured under hyperoxic (50% O2) and normoxic (21% O2) conditions. The results showed that contused animals had significantly lower spinal cord oxygenation levels than uninjured animals during normoxia. Peripheral oxyhemoglobin saturation, arterial oxygen partial pressure, and mean arterial blood pressure are significantly reduced following cervical spinal cord contusion. Notably, spinal oxygenation of contused rats could be improved to a level comparable to uninjured animals under hyperoxia. Furthermore, acute hyperoxia elevated blood pressure, arterial oxygen partial pressure, and peripheral oxyhemoglobin saturation. These results suggest that normobaric hyperoxia can significantly improve spinal cord oxygenation and circulatory function in the acute phase after cervical spinal cord injury. We propose that adjuvant normobaric hyperoxia combined with other hemodynamic optimization strategies may prevent secondary damage after spinal cord injury and improve functional recovery.

Abstract Background Metastasis is a multistep process involving the migration and invasion of cancer cells and is a hallmark of cancer malignancy. Long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) play critical roles in the regulation of metastasis. This study aims to elucidate the role of the lncRNA solute carrier organic anion transporter family member 4A1-antisense 1 (SLCO4A1-AS1) in metastasis and its underlying regulatory mechanisms. Methods A comprehensive analysis of the Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO) database were used to identify metastasis-associated lncRNAs. Transwell migration and invasion assays, and a tail vein-injection mouse model were used to assess the migration and invasion of cancer cells in vitro and in vivo, respectively. High-throughput screening methods, including MASS Spectrometry and RNA sequencing (RNA-seq), were used to identify the downstream targets of SLCO4A1-AS1. Reverse transcription quantitative polymerase chain reaction (RT-qPCR), western blotting, RNA pull-down, RNA immunoprecipitation (RIP), fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH), and chromatin immunoprecipitation (ChIp) assays were conducted to identify and validate the underlying regulatory mechanisms of SLCO4A1-AS1. Results SLCO4A1-AS1 reduced cancer cell migration and invasion by disrupting cytoskeleton filaments, and was associated with longer overall survival in patients with lung adenocarcinoma. SLCO4A1-AS1 directly interacted with the DNA-binding protein, TOX High Mobility Group Box Family Member 4 (TOX4), to inhibit TOX4-induced migration and invasion. Furthermore, RNA-seq revealed that neurotensin receptor 1 (NTSR1) is a novel and convergent downstream target of SLCO4A1-AS1 and TOX4. Mechanistically, SLCO4A1-AS1 functions as a decoy of TOX4 by interrupting its interaction with the NTSR1 promoter and preventing NTSR1 transcription. Functionally, NTSR1 promotes cancer cell migration and invasion through cytoskeletal remodeling, and knockdown of NTSR1 significantly inhibits TOX4-induced migration and invasion. Conclusion These findings demonstrated that SLCO4A1-AS1 antagonizes TOX4/NTSR1 signaling, underscoring its pivotal role in lung cancer cell migration and invasion. These findings hold promise for the development of novel therapeutic strategies targeting the SLCO4A1-AS1/TOX4/NTSR1 axis as a potential avenue for effective therapeutic intervention in lung cancer.

The aim of software engineering education is to educate students in software technologies, developments, procedures, and scientific practices to enable them to cope with industrial demands. However, the implementation of software engineering education in traditional university classrooms is restricted by the semester structure, making it difficult to achieve a proper learning balance between theory and practice. To balance theoretical and practical learning, prior studies have indicated that flipped learning is a suitable classroom setting for students and teachers. In a flipped learning environment, it is important to enhance and capture students’ learning performance before the class to facilitate teachers and students in proceeding with in-class instruction and learning. In this study, an e-book system named BookRoll was applied to support software engineering education in a flipped learning setting. The proposed approach supports and facilitates out-of-class and in-class learning by providing reading and learning analytic functions for teachers and students. To evaluate the proposed approach, two classes of students were allocated to an experimental group and a control group to participate in an experiment. In the flipped learning process, the experimental group was supported by the BookRoll system, while the control group did not use the BookRoll system. The results revealed that the proposed approach not only promoted students’ learning achievements in software engineering education but also improved their learning motivation, attitude, and problem-solving ability. The reading behavior analysis further indicated that reading time was a statistically significant predictor of learning achievement.

In the field of dentistry, the presence of dental calculus is a commonly encountered issue. If not addressed promptly, it has the potential to lead to gum inflammation and eventual tooth loss. Bitewing (BW) images play a crucial role by providing a comprehensive visual representation of the tooth structure, allowing dentists to examine hard-to-reach areas with precision during clinical assessments. This visual aid significantly aids in the early detection of calculus, facilitating timely interventions and improving overall outcomes for patients. This study introduces a system designed for the detection of dental calculus in BW images, leveraging the power of YOLOv8 to identify individual teeth accurately. This system boasts an impressive precision rate of 97.48%, a recall (sensitivity) of 96.81%, and a specificity rate of 98.25%. Furthermore, this study introduces a novel approach to enhancing interdental edges through an advanced image-enhancement algorithm. This algorithm combines the use of a median filter and bilateral filter to refine the accuracy of convolutional neural networks in classifying dental calculus. Before image enhancement, the accuracy achieved using GoogLeNet stands at 75.00%, which significantly improves to 96.11% post-enhancement. These results hold the potential for streamlining dental consultations, enhancing the overall efficiency of dental services.

Abstract Introduction According to current International Association for the Study of Lung Cancer guideline, physicians may first use plasma cell‐free DNA (cfDNA) methods to identify epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) tyrosine kinase inhibitor (TKI)‐resistant mechanisms (liquid rebiopsy) for lung cancer. Tissue rebiopsy is recommended if the plasma result is negative. However, this approach has not been evaluated prospectively using next‐generation sequencing (NGS). Methods We prospectively enrolled patients with lung cancer with first‐line EGFR‐TKI resistance who underwent tissue rebiopsy. The rebiopsied tissues and cfDNA were sequenced using targeted NGS, ACTDrug®+, and ACTMonitor®Lung simultaneously. The clinicopathological characteristics and treatment outcomes were analyzed. Results Totally, 86 patients were enrolled. Twenty‐six (30%) underwent tissue biopsy but the specimens were inadequate for NGS. Among the 60 patients with paired tissue and liquid rebiopsies, two‐thirds (40/60) may still be targetable. T790M mutations were found in 29, including 14 (48%) only from tissue and 5 (17%) only from cfDNA. Twenty‐four of them were treated with osimertinib, and progression‐free survival was longer in patients without detectable T790M in cfDNA than in patients with detectable T790M in cfDNA (p = 0.02). For the 31 T790M‐negative patients, there were six with mesenchymal–epithelial transition factor (MET) amplifications, four with ERBB2 amplifications, and one with CCDC6‐RET fusion. One with MET amplification and one with ERBB2 amplification responded to subsequent MET and ERBB2 targeting agents respectively. Conclusions NGS after EGFR‐TKI resistance may detect targetable drivers besides T790M. To do either liquid or tissue NGS only could miss patients with T790M. To do tissue and liquid NGS in parallel after EGFR‐TKI resistance may find more patients with targetable cancers.

Japanese eel (Anguilla japonica) and giant mottled eel (Anguilla marmorata) are the main eel species reared in recirculating aquaculture system (RAS) in Taiwan. RAS increases the rearing density of eel. On the other hand, it spreads pathogens and diseases more efficiently and uncontrollably. Currently, eel farmers use antibiotics to control disease in RAS, but their misuse can lead to resistance and food-safety issues. Spermidine carbon quantum dots (CQDSpds), a newly developed carbon nanomaterial with positive charges on the surface, can bind to the negatively charged bacterial cell membrane to destroy bacteria and not cause drug resistance. This research investigated the effects of different concentrations of CQDSpds as paste feed additives on the growth performance, intestinal morphology, immune-related gene expression, and disease resistance of Japanese and giant marble eels. The results showed the highest final body weight, weight gain, and specific growth rate of Japanese eel and giant mottled eel fed with 1 ppm and 0.5 ppm CQDSpds added. Compared with the control group, 1 ppm CQDSpds group showed higher lysozyme expression in Japanese eels. In the part of intestinal morphology, there was not a significant difference in intestinal villus height and intestinal morphology between the CQDSpds groups and the control group in both eel species. The survival rate of each group supplemented with CQDSpds was higher than the control group after the E. tarda challenge test, among which the highest were found at 1 ppm group in Japanese eel and 0.5 ppm group in giant mottled eel. By this research, the additive of CQDSpds in eel culturing could improve the growth and immune performance with not caused an impact on the intestine of both eels, which can be a potential feed additive in intensive eel farming.

Insulators on overhead power lines have long been exposed to the outdoors and are susceptible to pollution and salt contamination. Due to factors such as wind and gravity, pollution in the atmosphere gradually deposits on the surface of the insulator. In humid and windy conditions, conductive pollutants begin to dissolve in the water on the surface of the insulator, increasing the leakage current and affecting insulation performance. This study mainly uses a data acquisition system to measure the leakage current of the insulator and weather parameters (including temperature, relative humidity, pressure, wind speed, and ultraviolet) around the insulator. Artificial intelligence is then applied to establish a prediction model for leakage current based on weather parameters. The established model accurately predicts insulator leakage current through weather parameters. In order to observe the real-time status of the insulator, this study establishes a monitoring platform that integrates the predicted leakage current with weather parameters. It allows users or maintenance personnel to connect to the server through the network to observe the predicted results and weather parameters. The results can establish a real-time salt contamination monitoring system for insulators on transmission lines, enabling operation and maintenance personnel to understand the actual insulation situation of the insulator in real-time. This can not only prevent power outages due to salt contamination or pollution but also reduce the workload for maintenance personnel. Moreover, the maintenance strategy is upgraded from time-base maintenance to condition-base maintenance, significantly improving the efficiency of operation and maintenance for power lines.

Galaxies play a key role in our endeavor to understand how structure formation proceeds in the Universe. For any precision study of cosmology or galaxy formation, there is a strong demand for huge sets of realistic mock galaxy catalogs, spanning cosmologically significant volumes. For such a daunting task, methods that can produce a direct mapping between dark matter halos from dark matter-only simulations and galaxies are strongly preferred, as producing mocks from full-fledged hydrodynamical simulations or semi-analytical models is too expensive. Here, we present a graph-neural-network-based model that is able to accurately predict key properties of galaxies such as stellar mass, g − r color, star formation rate, gas mass, stellar metallicity, and gas metallicity, purely from dark matter properties extracted from halos along the full assembly history of the galaxies. Tests based on the TNG300 simulation of the IllustrisTNG project show that our model can recover the baryonic properties of galaxies to high accuracy, over a wide redshift range ( z = 0–5), for all galaxies with stellar masses more massive than 10 ^9 M _⊙ and their progenitors, with strong improvements over the state-of-the-art methods. We further show that our method makes substantial strides toward providing an understanding of the implications of the IllustrisTNG galaxy formation model.

Superclusters, encompassing environments across a wide range of overdensities, can be regarded as unique laboratories for studying galaxy evolution. Although numerous supercluster catalogs have been published, none of them goes beyond redshift z = 0.7. In this work, we adopt a physically motivated supercluster definition, requiring that superclusters should eventually collapse even in the presence of dark energy. Applying a friends-of-friends (FoF) algorithm to the CAMIRA cluster sample constructed using the Subaru Hyper Suprime-Cam survey data, we have conducted the first systematic search for superclusters at z = 0.5–1.0 and identified 673 supercluster candidates over an area of 1027 deg ^2 . The FoF algorithm is calibrated by evolving N -body simulations to the far future to ensure high purity. We found that these high- z superclusters are mainly composed of two to four clusters, suggesting the limit of gravitationally bound structures in the younger Universe. In addition, we studied the properties of the clusters and brightest cluster galaxies (BCGs) residing in different large-scale environments. We found that clusters associated with superclusters are typically richer, but no apparent dependence of the BCG properties on large-scale structures is found. We also compared the abundance of observed superclusters with mock superclusters extracted from halo light cones, finding that photometric redshift uncertainty is a limiting factor in the performance of superclusters detection.

Visual feedback that reinforces accurate movements may motivate skill acquisition by promoting self-confidence. This study investigated neuromuscular adaptations to visuomotor training with visual feedback with virtual error reduction. Twenty-eight young adults (24.6 ± 1.6 years) were assigned to error reduction (ER) (n = 14) and control (n = 14) groups to train on a bi-rhythmic force task. The ER group received visual feedback and the displayed errors were 50% of the real errors in size. The control group was trained with visual feedback with no reduction in errors. Training-related differences in task accuracy, force behaviors, and motor unit discharge were contrasted between the two groups. The tracking error of the control group progressively declined, whereas the tracking error of the ER group was not evidently reduced in the practice sessions. In the post-test, only the control group exhibited significant task improvements with smaller error size (p = .015) and force enhancement at the target frequencies (p = .001). The motor unit discharge of the control group was training-modulated, as indicated by a reduction of the mean inter-spike interval (p = .018) and smaller low-frequency discharge fluctuations (p = .017) with enhanced firing at the target frequencies of the force task (p = .002). In contrast, the ER group showed no training-related modulation of motor unit behaviors. In conclusion, for young adults, ER feedback does not induce neuromuscular adaptations to the trained visuomotor task, which is conceptually attributable to intrinsic error dead-zones.

Abstract The larval stage of Japanese eel travels a substantial distance over a long duration through the North Equatorial Current (NEC) and the Kuroshio, and the spawning behavior of mature eels leads to monthly arrival waves in eastern Taiwan between November and February. The total length (TL) of the glass eel relates to its larval duration and age; therefore, the TL can indicate the larval duration. The monthly mean TLs of eels along eastern Taiwan from 2010 to 2021 were used to estimate the batch age, and the recruitment patterns and relative abundances were compared. The TLs of glass eels followed a normal distribution, and the estimated ages were highly correlated with their mean TLs. Early recruit TLs were significantly greater than those of late recruits. The mean tracer drift time was longer in early recruitment months (November–December) than in later dates (February–March). The recruitment lag between Taiwan and Japan was approximately 1–1.5 months, with relative more abundance in Taiwan for the early recruits and in Japan for the late recruits. Speculated cohorts followed the main streams of the NEC and Kuroshio, and the monthly velocity changes of these currents could affect the mean TLs as well as the distribution patterns of Japanese glass eels in Taiwan and Japan.

Background/Purpose: Many surgical protocols were modified to improve implant stability. However, the conclusions of applying osteotome condensation technique could enhance implant stability were controversial. The evaluated implant stability quotients (ISQ) were calibrated to differentiate the implant stability improvement that applied by varied surgical techniques and the bone quality at recipient sites. Therefore, this study examine the developing patterns of calibrated ISQ values induced by osteotome bone condensation and conventional drilling technique at the posterior ridges. Materials and methods: The ISQ values of 4.1/4.8-mm diameter implants were calibrated by 3.3-mm diameter implants (ISQb). Osteotome condensation technique was applied on the sites with ISQb ≤ 65 while those with ISQb > 65 were treated with conventional drilling technique. The implant ISQ values at Week 0, 1, 2, 3, 4, 6, 8, 10, 12 were recorded. The detected and calibrated ISQ values were statistically analyzed. Results: Maxillary 14 implants and mandibular 16 implants using osteotome technique, maxillary 15 implants and mandibular 16 implants with conventional drilling technique were studied. Both techniques showed a generally similar ISQ developing pattern at both arches. Without calibration, significantly less ISQ values were noted for the osteotome technique of posterior maxilla at initial four weeks; subsequently, both techniques presented a comparable ISQ developing pattern. Osteotome technique demonstrated a greater ISQ increase after calibration on both arches (p

Technology-enhanced learning and learning analytics have always been important topics in the field of education [...]

Background/Purposes: Human rhinovirus type C (HRV-C) has been associated with asthma exacerbation (AE) in children in several countries. However, in Taiwan the association between HRV, especially HRV-C, and AE in children has yet to be elucidated. We sought to investigate the prevalence of respiratory viruses in children with acute lower respiratory tract infection (ALRTI) in Taiwan and the association between different types of HRV and AE in children. Methods: This prospective study was conducted from 2011 to 2013, and enrolled children with ALRTI, including an asthma exacerbation group (AE; n = 28) and a Non-asthma group (n = 66). Viruses were detected by culture, reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction, and molecular sequencing of nasopharyngeal swabs. Results: The prevalence of identified respiratory viruses was 78.6% in the AE group and 65.2% in the Non-asthma group. The prevalence rates of HRV and HRV-C were significantly higher in the AE group than in the Non-asthma group (67.9% vs. 33.3% in HRV, p = 0.002; and 50% vs. 15.2% in HRV-C, p

Subhalo abundance matching (SHAM) has played an important role in improving our understanding of how galaxies populate their host dark matter halos. In essence, the SHAM framework is to find a dark matter halo property that best correlates with an attribute of galaxies, such as stellar mass. The peak value of the maximum circular velocity ( ${V}_{\max }$ ) a halo/subhalo has ever attained throughout its lifetime, V _peak , has been a popular choice for SHAM. A recent study by Tonnesen & Ostriker suggested that quantity ϕ , which combines the present-day ${V}_{\max }$ and the peak value of halo dark matter mass, performs better in predicting stellar mass than V _peak . Inspired by their approach, in this work, we find that further improvement can be achieved by a quantity ψ _5 that combines the 90th percentile of ${V}_{\max }$ a halo/subhalo has ever achieved with the 60th percentile of the dark matter halo time variation rate. Tests based on the simulation TNG300 of the IllustrisTNG project show that our new SHAM scheme, with just three free parameters, can improve the stellar mass prediction and mass-dependent clustering by 15% and 18% from ϕ , respectively, over the redshift range z = 0–2.

We present new Spitzer Infrared Array Camera (IRAC) 3.6 and 4.5 μ m mosaics of three fields, E-COSMOS, DEEP2-F3, and ELAIS-N1. Our mosaics include both new IRAC observations as well as reprocessed archival data in these fields. These fields are part of the HSC-Deep grizy survey and have a wealth of additional ancillary data. The addition of these new IRAC mosaics is critical in allowing for improved photometric redshifts and stellar population parameters at cosmic noon and earlier epochs. The total area mapped by this work is ∼17 deg ^2 with a mean integration time of ≈1200s, providing a median 5 σ depth of 23.7(23.3) at 3.6(4.5) μ m in AB. We perform SExtractor photometry both on the combined mosaics as well as the single-epoch mosaics taken ≈6 months apart. The resultant IRAC number counts show good agreement with previous studies. In combination with the wealth of existing and upcoming spectrophotometric data in these fields, our IRAC mosaics will enable a wide range of galactic evolution and AGN studies. With that goal in mind, we make the combined IRAC mosaics and coverage maps of these three fields publicly available.

Background/Purpose: Endobronchial ultrasound-guided transbronchial needle aspiration (EBUS-TBNA) has been gradually introduced in the diagnosis of mediastinal tuberculous (TB) lymphadenitis. The purposes of this study were to evaluate the utility of polymerase chain reaction for Mycobacterium tuberculosis (TB-PCR) using EBUS-TBNA rinse fluid and to explore the factors that influence the accuracy of EBUS-TBNA. Methods: A retrospective study with prospective data collection was carried out with patients with unselected mediastinal lymphadenopathy who underwent EBUS-TBNA and a TB-PCR study from April 2010 to July 2017. Patients without TB were excluded. The diagnostic accuracy rate for each diagnostic modality (pathology, smear, culture, and TB-PCR) was calculated respectively. The characteristics of the lymph node (LN) and the pathologic findings were analyzed as possible impact factors. Results: 240 consecutive patients who received EBUS-TBNA were enrolled, and in the end, 21 patients with a diagnosis of TB lymphadenitis were included. When combined with histologic results and traditional microbiologic studies, the diagnostic accuracy of EBUS-TBNA was 57.1%. If TB-PCR was also utilized, the diagnostic accuracy would significantly increase to 71.4% (p

In primary schools, mathematics is a fundamental and an important subject since mathematical concepts and skills are useful to address life and professional problems. Nevertheless, many mathematical concepts are abstract to primary students that may possibly cause them to learn mathematics with poor learning motivation and performance. To address this problem, it is important to promote students to review and apply mathematical concepts after they learn. In traditional mathematics classrooms, teachers usually assign exercises to students for conducting review and application activities after formal mathematics instructions. However, such learning activities may tend to make students less motivated to conduct them and further negatively affect their learning performance. Therefore, this study adopted a technology-enhanced board game to support teachers and students to conduct prime factorization education in traditional mathematics classrooms. The aim of this study is to apply the proposed board game to facilitate students to review and apply prime factorization concepts after traditional classroom learning, and further enhance their learning performance. To evaluate the proposed approach, 22 primary students were allocated to an experimental group and a control group to participate in an experiment. The experimental group was supported by the board game approach to conduct review and application activities after traditional mathematics learning, while the control group utilized a traditional exercise approach to conduct review and application activities after traditional mathematics learning. The research results revealed that the proposed approach not only promoted the students’ learning achievements in prime factorization education, but also improved their learning motivation and attitude.

Clams, Meretrix meretrix, were one of the favorite aquatic products in Taiwan and the world. It was reported that the water pollutants such as heavy metals and chemicals might accumulate in the clam body and shell through filter-feeding behavior. Thus, the bivalves could be used as bioindicators in the aquatic environment. The present study analyzed 20 trace elements, Mg, Sr, Li, Cd, Ba, Mn, Al, U, Ti, Pb, Nd, B, S, Zn, Fe, P, Na, K, Cu, and Ni, in the shells of the clams collected from the wild coastal area and cultured ponds to evaluate which elements have the potential to be biomarkers. The concentrations of 20 elements were detected by Solution-Based Inductively Coupled Plasma Mass Spectrometry (SB-ICPMS). Among them, Cd, Al, U, Ti, Nd, S, and K were below the detection limit. The remaining elements were analyzed for accumulation. The levels of Zn, Fe, and Ni possess high variation in an identical environment; so, a PCA was conducted without these three elements to reduce noise. The PCA result proved that the clam could absorb specific trace elements from the habitat. After a period of time, the contents of the absorption in the shells of the clams living in an identical environment became more similar. The analyzed element, Pb, was not found with a special difference in this study. The levels of Na, Sr, Mg, B, Mn, P, Ba, Li, and Cu reflected different sampling sites, which suggested that these elements in the species M. meretrix had the potential to be used as biomarkers for assessing heavy metal accumulation in the environment.

Mathematics is a major subject for primary students. However, in mathematics education, many abstract concepts may lead students to lose learning motivation and further affect their learning performance. Therefore, several papers have proposed various board games to support traditional mathematics education. However, teachers have applied traditional board games to support mathematics education in a way that makes it difficult to monitor or capture each student’s learning status and problems during game processes. As mentioned above, this study proposed an educational mathematics board game with mobile and sensor technologies to assist students in learning the concept of prime factorization. The proposed board game can guide students to conduct the game and support teachers to capture the students’ learning status during the game process. To evaluate students’ acceptance and flow state regarding the proposed board game, thirty-nine primary students were invited to participate in an experiment. The experimental results indicated that the students had a high technology acceptance with regard to the proposed board game and high flow state when playing the proposed board game. For high-achieving students, the proposed board game was more entertaining, while low-achieving students might feel a little challenged. In addition, boys were more engaged than girls when playing this board game.

Background: The relative importance of predictive factors for advanced non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) patients on epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR)-tyrosine kinase inhibitor (TKI) treatment remains unclear. Materials and methods: We retrospectively enrolled advanced NSCLC patients with single first-generation EGFR-TKI treatment for ⩾5 years (Y) in Taiwan. Clinical data was collected and compared with those of another cohort with single first-line EGFR-TKI treatment for 5 Y group. Results: Overall, 128 and 278 patients were enrolled in the ⩾5 Y and

Relaxor ferroelectric polymers exhibit both high dielectric constants and low remnant polarization and thus deliver much higher energy densities and greater charge–discharge efficiencies than normal ferroelectrics for capacitive energy storage applications. Herein, dielectric energy storage behavior of several newly discovered relaxor ferroelectric polymers is studied from a molecular perspective. It is observed that the homopolymers exhibit very slim polarization–electric field loops and the highest charge–discharge efficiencies among ferroelectric polymers, which are attributed to the highly disordered chain conformation as evidenced from the scanning probe microscopy results. Based on the findings on the relaxor homopolymers, the benchmark relaxor ferroelectric terpolymers is revisited and insights into their outstanding capacitive performance are provided. Moreover, it is found that the disordered chain conformation in relaxor ferroelectric polymers remains as the ground state at varied temperatures and applied electric fields, which is in stark contrast to relaxor perovskites whose ground state is strongly dependent on temperatures and external electric fields. The discovery of the absence of thermal‐ and field‐induced phase transition in relaxor ferroelectric polymers makes this class of ferroelectric materials more attractive for advanced electronic and energy applications.

Although force steadiness varies with visuospatial information, accountable motor unit (MU) behaviors are not fully understood. This study investigated the modulation of MU discharges and force–discharge relation due to variations in the spatial resolution of visual feedback, with a particular focus on discharge variability among MUs. Fourteen young adults produced isometric force at 10% of maximal voluntary contraction (MVC) through index abduction, under the conditions of force trajectory displayed with low visual gain (LVG) and high visual gain (HVG). Together with smaller and more complex force fluctuations, HVG resulted in greater variabilities of the mean interspike interval and discharge irregularity among MUs than LVG did. Estimated via smoothening of a cumulative spike train of all MUs, global discharge rate was tuned to visual gain, with a more complex global discharge rate and a lower force–discharge relation in the HVG condition. These higher discharge variabilities were linked to larger variance of the common drive received by MUs for regulation of muscle force with higher visuospatial information. In summary, higher visuospatial information improves force steadiness with more complex force fluctuations, underlying joint effects of low-pass filter property of the musculotendon complex and central modulation of discharge variability among MUs.

Abstract Background The outcome of lung nodule(s) with histopathological findings suggestive of tuberculosis (TB) but lack of microbiologic confirmation remains unclear. Whether these patients require anti-TB treatment remains unknown. The aim of the study was to compare the risk of active TB within 4 years in untreated patients with histological findings but no microbiological evidences suggestive of TB. Methods From January 2008 to June 2013, patients with either solitary or multiple lung nodules having histological findings but no microbiological evidences suggestive of TB were identified from a medical center in Taiwan and were followed for 4 years unless they died or developed active TB. Results A total of 107 patients were identified. Among them, 54 (51%) were clinical asymptomatic. Biopsy histology showed granulomatous inflammation in 106 (99%), and caseous necrosis was present in 55 (51%) cases. Forty (37%) patients received anti-TB treatment, and 21 (53%) of them had adverse events, including 13 initially asymptomatic patients. Anti-TB treatment was favored in patients with caseous necrosis, whereas observation was preferred in subjects whose nodules were surgically removed. Only 1 case in the untreated group developed culture-confirmed active pulmonary TB during 4-year follow-up (1 case per 251.2 patient-years). None of the 16 cases having co-existing histologic finding of malignancy became incident TB case within a follow-up of 56.7 patient-years. Conclusions In patients having lung nodules with only histologic features suggestive of TB, the incidence rate of developing active TB was low. Risk of adverse events and benefit from immediate treatment should be carefully considered.

Recently, the development of local cultural features and tourism has become important in Taiwan. To support local cultural education, relevant studies have developed outdoor learning approaches and integrated mobile technology to connect real-world and digital-world learning resources. Nevertheless, the above-mentioned developments are usually suitable for a specific learning process and activity. In other words, students may lack the motivation to engage in the same learning process repeatedly after participating in the learning activity. Therefore, to promote students’ local cultural learning, this study developed a game-based local cultural learning application based on the social, local, and mobile (SoLoMo) principle. To investigate the effect of the proposed approach on students’ learning performance with regard to local culture, a quasi-experiment was conducted on a society course at a Taiwanese elementary school. The experimental-group students learned with the proposed approach, while the control-group students learned with the conventional mobile learning approach. The experimental results showed that, compared with the conventional mobile learning approach, the proposed approach significantly improved the students’ learning achievement, learning retention, and learning motivation. Moreover, it was also found that most students showed positive perceptions toward the usage of the proposed application.

Crataegus pinnatifida is used to treat various diseases, including indigestion, congestive heart failure, hypertension, atherosclerosis, and myocardial dysfunction. We evaluated antioxidant and anti-α-glucosidase activities of various solvent extracts and major bioactive components from the fruit of C. pinnatifida. Ethyl acetate extracts showed potent antioxidant activities with IC50 values of 23.26 ± 1.97 and 50.73 ± 8.03 μg/mL, respectively, in DPPH and ABTS radical scavenging assays. Acetone extract exhibited significant anti-α-glucosidase activity with IC50 values of 42.35 ± 2.48 μg/mL. HPLC analysis was used to examine and compare the content of active components in various solvent extracts. We isolated four active compounds and evaluated their antioxidant and anti-α-glucosidase properties. Among the isolated compounds, chlorogenic acid and hyperoside showed potential antioxidant activities in ABTS and superoxide radical scavenging assays. Moreover, hyperoside also displayed stronger anti-α-glucosidase activity than other isolates. The molecular docking model and the hydrophilic interactive mode of anti-α-glucosidase assay revealed that hyperoside might have a higher antagonistic effect than positive control acarbose. The present study suggests that C. pinnatifida and its active extracts and components are worth further investigation and might be expectantly developed as the candidates for the treatment or prevention of oxidative stress-related diseases and hyperglycemia.

Ambulatory blood pressure (BP) monitoring (ABPM) is vital for screening cardiovascular activity. The American College of Cardiology/American Heart Association guideline for the prevention, detection, evaluation, and management of BP in adults recommends measuring BP outside the office setting using daytime ABPM. The recommendation to use night–day BP measurements to confirm hypertension is consistent with the recommendation of several other guidelines. In recent studies, ABPM was used to measure BP at regular intervals, and it reduces the effect of the environment on BP. Out-of-office measurements are highly recommended by almost all hypertension organizations. However, traditional ABPM devices based on the oscillometric technique usually interrupt sleep. For all-day ABPM purposes, a photoplethysmography (PPG)-based wrist-type device has been developed as a convenient tool. This optical, noninvasive device estimates BP using morphological characteristics from PPG waveforms. As measurement can be affected by multiple variables, calibration is necessary to ensure that the calculated BP values are accurate. However, few studies focused on adaptive calibration. A novel adaptive calibration model, which is data-driven and embedded in a wearable device, was proposed. The features from a 15 s PPG waveform and personal information were input for estimation of BP values and our data-driven calibration model. The model had a feedback calibration process using the exponential Gaussian process regression method to calibrate BP values and avoid inter- and intra-subject variability, ensuring accuracy in long-term ABPM. The estimation error of BP (ΔBP = actual BP—estimated BP) of systolic BP was −0.1776 ± 4.7361 mmHg; ≤15 mmHg, 99.225%, and of diastolic BP was −0.3846 ± 6.3688 mmHg; ≤15 mmHg, 98.191%. The success rate was improved, and the results corresponded to the Association for the Advancement of Medical Instrumentation standard and British Hypertension Society Grading criteria for medical regulation. Using machine learning with a feedback calibration model could be used to assess ABPM for clinical purposes.

Japanese eel larvae are passively transported to the East Asian Continental Shelf by the North Equatorial Current, Kuroshio and Kuroshio intrusion currents, and coastal currents. Previous studies have investigated the dispersal characteristics and pathways of Japanese glass eels. However, there are still limitations in these studies. According to long-term (2010–2020) catch data from the Fisheries Agency in Taiwan, the distribution and time series of glass eels recruitment to Taiwan are closely related to the surrounding ocean currents. Recruitment begins in eastern Taiwan via the mainstream Kuroshio and in southern Taiwan via the Taiwan Strait Warm Current. In central Taiwan, recruitment occurs from southern Taiwan, as well as from mainland China via the southern branch of the China Coast Current (CCC). The latest recruitment occurred in northern Taiwan and mainly comprised glass eels from mainland China via the northern branch of the CCC. A stronger monsoon during the La Niña phase could affect the recruitment time series in northern and eastern Taiwan. This study suggests that the recruitment directionality of glass eels is an indicator of the flow field of ocean/coastal currents and elucidates the dispersal characteristics of glass eels in the waters around Taiwan.

Background: Endobronchial ultrasound-guided transbronchial biopsy (EBUS-TBB) is used for the diagnosis of peripheral pulmonary lesions (PPLs), but the diagnostic yield is not adequate. Cone-beam computed tomography-derived augmented fluoroscopy (CBCT-AF) can be utilized to assess the location of PPLs and biopsy devices, and has the potential to improve the diagnostic accuracy of bronchoscopic techniques. The purpose of this study was to verify the contribution of CBCT-AF to EBUS-TBB. Methods: Patients who underwent EBUS-TBB for diagnosis of PPLs were enrolled. The navigation success rate and diagnostic yield were used to evaluate the effectiveness of CBCT-AF in EBUS-TBB. Results: In this study, 236 patients who underwent EBUS-TBB for PPL diagnosis were enrolled. One hundred fifteen patients were in CBCT-AF group and 121 were in non-AF group. The navigation success rate was significantly higher in the CBCT-AF group (96.5% vs. 86.8%, p = 0.006). The diagnostic yield was even better in the CBCT-AF group when the target lesion was small in size (68.8% vs. 0%, p = 0.026 for lesions ≤10 mm and 77.5% vs. 46.4%, p = 0.016 for lesions 10–20 mm, respectively). The diagnostic yield of the two study groups became similar when the procedures with a failure of navigation were excluded. The procedure-related complication rate was similar between the two study groups. Conclusion: CBCT-AF is safe, and effectively enhances the navigation success rate, thereby increasing the diagnostic yield of EBUS-TBB for PPLs.

This study evaluated multi-detector computed tomography (MDCT) scans performed on potential living donors for adult-to-adult liver transplantation (LDLT), with the aim of identifying significant findings that could be used to exclude potential transplantation donors. We retrospectively reviewed the medical records of 151 consecutive potential adult donors for LDLT from May 2007 to January 2015. Liver parenchyma steatosis, focal hepatic mass or intraabdominal malignancy, vascular variations, and donor liver volume were evaluated via MDCT. Grounds for excluding potential donors were also recorded and analyzed. Of the 151 potential donors, nine (6.0%) had moderate to severe fatty liver, 37 (24.5%) had hepatic arterial variants, 22 (14.6%) had significant portal venous variants, and more than half were found to have right accessory inferior hepatic vein. No intraabdominal malignancies were found. Eighty-eight potential donors were rejected, with the most common cause being insufficient recipient volume or remnant donor volume (47.7%), moderate to severe parenchymal steatosis (10.2%), and recipient expiration prior to transplantation (8.0%). An additional 16 potential donors were excluded by the surgical team due to the complexity of their portal venous variations. The rate of exclusion by pre-transplant imaging evaluation with MDCT was 33.8%. MDCT can provide accurate quantification of donor liver volume and steatosis severity along with precise demonstration of vascular variants, which are crucial for the preoperative evaluation of LDLT. However, MDCT may be ineffective for evaluating the biliary system without hepatobiliary-excreted contrast agent and has the disadvantage of ionizing radiation.

As the number of elderly population increase, prostate cancer (CaP) becomes the most common cause of urological cancer of men in Taiwan. Multiparametric MRI (mp-MRI) combines standard pulse sequences and Functional Imaging, is a promising tool for CaP detection. Its role has changed from detection to preoperative staging. A consensus scoring system, PI-RAD™, is developed for interpretation and reporting.

Abstract Quantum dot light-emitting diodes (QD-LEDs) have been considered as potential display technologies with the characterizations of high color purity, flexibility, transparency, and cost efficiency. For the practical applications, the development of heavy-metal-free QD-LEDs from environment-friendly materials is the most important issue to reduce the impacts on human health and environmental pollution. In this work, heavy-metal-free InP/ZnS core/shell QDs with different fluorescence were prepared by green synthesis method with low cost, safe, and environment-friendly precursors. The InP/ZnS core/shell QDs with maximum fluorescence peak at ~ 530 nm, superior fluorescence quantum yield of 60.1%, and full width at half maximum of 55 nm were applied as an emission layer to fabricate multilayered QD-LEDs. The multilayered InP/ZnS core/shell QD-LEDs showed the turn-on voltage at ~ 5 V, the highest luminance (160 cd/m2) at 12 V, and the external quantum efficiency of 0.223% at 6.7 V. Overall, the multilayered InP/ZnS core/shell QD-LEDs reveal potential to be the heavy-metal-free QD-LEDs for future display applications.

Patients' clinical factors and genetics factors such as anaplastic lymphoma kinase (ALK) fusion variants and BIM (Bcl-2-like 11) polymorphism were reported to be associated with clinical outcome in crizotinib-treated advanced non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). However, the results were still controversial. We analyzed outcome of 54 patients with known ALK fusion variants who received crizotinib for advanced NSCLC. Thirty of them had successful BIM polymorphism analysis and 6 (20%) had a BIM deletion. Multivariate Cox regression analysis found that previous anticancer therapy [adjusted hazard ratio (aHR) 1.35, 95% confidence interval (CI), 1.04–1.76 for each additional line of therapy, p = 0.025] and Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group (ECOG) performance status ≥2 (aHR 8.35, 95% CI, 1.52–45.94, p = 0.015) were independent factors for progression-free survival (PFS). Only ECOG performance status ≥2 (aHR 7.20, 95% CI, 1.27–40.79, p = 0.026) was an independent factor for overall survival (OS). Neither ALK fusion variants nor the presence of a BIM deletion was associated with crizotinib PFS or OS. After adjusting with clinical factors, different ALK variants and BIM polymorphism might not be independent factors for crizotinib PFS or OS in advanced NSCLC with ALK rearrangement.

The cytochromes P450 are versatile enzymes found in all forms of life. Most P450s use dioxygen on a heme center to activate substrates, but one class of P450s utilizes hydrogen peroxide instead. Within the class of P450 peroxygenases, the P450 OleTJE isozyme binds fatty acid substrates and converts them into a range of products through the α-hydroxylation, β-hydroxylation and decarboxylation of the substrate. The latter produces hydrocarbon products and hence can be used as biofuels. The origin of these product distributions is unclear, and, as such, we decided to investigate substrate positioning in the active site and find out what the effect is on the chemoselectivity of the reaction. In this work we present a detailed computational study on the wild-type and engineered structures of P450 OleTJE using a combination of density functional theory and quantum mechanics/molecular mechanics methods. We initially explore the wild-type structure with a variety of methods and models and show that various substrate activation transition states are close in energy and hence small perturbations as through the protein may affect product distributions. We then engineered the protein by generating an in silico model of the double mutant Asn242Arg/Arg245Asn that moves the position of an active site Arg residue in the substrate-binding pocket that is known to form a salt-bridge with the substrate. The substrate activation by the iron(IV)-oxo heme cation radical species (Compound I) was again studied using quantum mechanics/molecular mechanics (QM/MM) methods. Dramatic differences in reactivity patterns, barrier heights and structure are seen, which shows the importance of correct substrate positioning in the protein and the effect of the second-coordination sphere on the selectivity and activity of enzymes.

Although error amplification (EA) feedback has been shown to improve performance on visuomotor tasks, the challenge of EA is that it concurrently magnifies task-irrelevant information that may impair visuomotor control. The purpose of this study was to improve the force control in a static task by preclusion of high-oscillatory components in EA feedback that cannot be timely used for error correction by the visuomotor system. Along with motor unit behaviors and corticomuscular coherence, force fluctuations (Fc) were modeled with non-linear SDA to contrast the reliance of the feedback process and underlying neurophysiological mechanisms by using real feedback, EA, and low-frequency error amplification (LF-EA). During the static force task in the experiment, the EA feedback virtually potentiated the size of visual error, whereas the LF-EA did not channel high-frequency errors above 0.8 Hz into the amplification process. The results showed that task accuracy was greater with the LF-EA than with the real and EA feedback modes, and that LF-EA led to smaller and more complex Fc. LF-EA generally led to smaller SDA variables of Fc (critical time points, critical point of Fc, the short-term effective diffusion coefficient, and short-term exponent scaling) than did real feedback and EA. The use of LF-EA feedback increased the irregularity of the ISIs of MUs but decreased the RMS of the mean discharge rate, estimated with pooled MU spike trains. Beta-range EEG–EMG coherence spectra (13–35 Hz) in the LF-EA condition were the greatest among the three feedback conditions. In summary, amplification of low-frequency errors improves force control by shifting the relative significances of the feedforward and feedback processes. The functional benefit arises from the increase in the common descending drive to promote a stable state of MU discharges.

Error amplification (EA) feedback is a promising approach to advance visuomotor skill. As error detection and visuomotor processing at short time scales decline with age, this study examined whether older adults could benefit from EA feedback that included higher-frequency information to guide a force-tracking task. Fourteen young and 14 older adults performed low-level static isometric force-tracking with visual guidance of typical visual feedback and EA feedback containing augmented high-frequency errors. Stabilogram diffusion analysis was used to characterize force fluctuation dynamics. Also, the discharge behaviors of motor units and pooled motor unit coherence were assessed following the decomposition of multi-channel surface electromyography (EMG). EA produced different behavioral and neurophysiological impacts on young and older adults. Older adults exhibited inferior task accuracy with EA feedback than with typical visual feedback, but not young adults. Although stabilogram diffusion analysis revealed that EA led to a significant decrease in critical time points for both groups, EA potentiated the critical point of force fluctuations , short-term effective diffusion coefficients (Ds), and short-term exponent scaling only for the older adults. Moreover, in older adults, EA added to the size of discharge variability of motor units and discharge regularity of cumulative discharge rate, but suppressed the pooled motor unit coherence in the 13–35 Hz band. Virtual EA alters the strategic balance between open-loop and closed-loop controls for force-tracking. Contrary to expectations, the prevailing use of closed-loop control with EA that contained high-frequency error information enhanced the motor unit discharge variability and undermined the force steadiness in the older group, concerning declines in physiological complexity in the neurobehavioral system and the common drive to the motoneuronal pool against force destabilization.

Discharge patterns from a population of motor units (MUs) were estimated with multi-channel surface electromyogram and signal processing techniques to investigate parametric differences in low-frequency force fluctuations, MU discharges, and force-discharge relation during static force-tracking with varying sizes of execution error presented via visual feedback. Fourteen healthy adults produced isometric force at 10% of maximal voluntary contraction through index abduction under three visual conditions that scaled execution errors with different amplification factors. Error-augmentation feedback that used a high amplification factor (HAF) to potentiate visualized error size resulted in higher sample entropy, mean frequency, ratio of high-frequency components, and spectral dispersion of force fluctuations than those of error-reducing feedback using a low amplification factor (LAF). In the HAF condition, MUs with relatively high recruitment thresholds in the dorsal interosseous muscle exhibited a larger coefficient of variation for inter-spike intervals and a greater spectral peak of the pooled MU coherence at 13-35 Hz than did those in the LAF condition. Manipulation of the size of error feedback altered the force-discharge relation, which was characterized with non-linear approaches such as mutual information and cross sample entropy. The association of force fluctuations and global discharge trace decreased with increasing error amplification factor. Our findings provide direct neurophysiological evidence that favors motor training using error-augmentation feedback. Amplification of the visualized error size of visual feedback could enrich force gradation strategies during static force-tracking, pertaining to selective increases in the discharge variability of higher-threshold MUs that receive greater common oscillatory inputs in the β-band.

The dancing actions for entertainment robots are usually designed in advance and saved in a database according to the beats and rhythm of the given music. This research is devoted to developing a real-time algorithm that can detect the primary information of the music needed for the actions of entertainment robots. The computation of the proposed algorithm is very efficient and can satisfy the requirement of real-time processing by a digital signal controller. The digitized music signal is first normalized to make the algorithm robust for miscellaneous music volume. Next, the primary features of the beat for the music are extracted. Based on the extracted features, the algorithm will then identify the occurrence of beats in the music through the use of an optimized classifier. From the accumulated information of the timing for the beats, the algorithm can provide the predicted timing information of the next beat through regression analysis. The type and tempo of the given music can also be derived thereafter. The entertainment robot can thus move or dance according to the information derived by the algorithm. A graphical user interface (GUI) program in LabVIEW is also utilized to observe and verify the analysis results. In this study, the ratio for correct beat detection is greater than 90%. The prediction ratio for the correct timing of beats is over 80%, and it is 100% correct for both music type and music tempo.