Anion-Exchange Membranes' Characteristics and Catalysts for Alkaline Anion-Exchange Membrane Fuel Cells.

This work aims at the effects of anion-exchange membranes (AEMs) and ionomer binders on the catalyst electrodes for anion-exchange membrane fuel cells (AEMFCs). In the experiments, four metal catalysts (nano-grade Pt, PtRu, PdNi and Ag), four AEMs (aQAPS-S8, AT-1, X37-50T and X37-50RT) and two alkaline ionomers (aQAPS-S14 and XB-7) were used. They were verified through several technical parameters examination and cell performance comparison for the optimal selection of AMEs.

Prevention of Muscle Atrophy by Low-Molecular-Weight Fraction from Mycelium.

Muscle atrophy, an age-related condition, presents a growing healthcare concern within the context of global population aging. While studies have investigated for its potential antifatigue properties, reports on its active components remain limited. This study evaluated the efficacy of mycelium extract on muscle health, utilizing a 1:1 water-ethanol preparation administered to C57BL/6 mice exhibiting acute hind leg atrophy.

Reverse Mutations in Pigmentation Induced by Sodium Azide in the IR64 Rice Variety.

Pigmentation in rice is due mainly to the accumulation of anthocyanins. Five color mutant lines, AZ1701, AZ1702, AZ1711, AZ1714, and AZ1715, derived from the sodium azide mutagenesis on the non-pigmented IR64 variety, were applied to study inheritance modes and genes for pigmentation. The mutant line AZ1711, when crossed with IR64, displays pigmentation in various tissues, exhibiting a 3:1 pigmented to non-pigmented ratio in the F progeny, indicating a single dominant locus controlling pigmentation.

Evaluation of a Telemonitoring System Using Electronic National Early Warning Scores for Patients Receiving Medical Home Care: Pilot Implementation Study.

Background: Telehealth programs and wearable sensors that enable patients to monitor their vital signs have expanded due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The electronic National Early Warning Score (e-NEWS) system helps identify and respond to acute illness.

Objective: This study aimed to implement and evaluate a comprehensive telehealth system to monitor vital signs using e-NEWS for patients receiving integrated home-based medical care (iHBMC).

Fully 4D-Printed Near-Infrared-Actuated Lab-on-Valve Solid-Phase Extraction Devices.

Four-dimensional printing (4DP) technologies can expand the functionality of stimuli-responsive devices to enable the integration of multiple stimuli-responsive parts into a compact device. Herein, we used digital light processing three-dimensional printing technique, flexible photocurable resins, and photocurable resins of the temperature-responsive hydrogels comprising -isopropylacrylamide (NIPAM), ,'-methylenebis(acrylamide) (MBA), and graphene for 4DP of a lab-on-valve (LOV) solid-phase extraction (SPE) device. This device featured flow manifolds and a monolithic packing connected by four near-infrared (NIR)-actuated temperature-responsive switching valves composed of a poly(NIPAM/MBA) (PNM) ball pushing a flexible membrane.

Pathogenicity and antigenic characterization of a novel highly virulent lineage 3 porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome virus 2.

Background/purpose: Porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome virus (PRRSV) is a pathogen with a negative economic impact on the global swine industry. In 2019, a suspected highly pathogenic strain, NPUST-108-929/2019 (108-929), was isolated from a pig farm in Pingtung with an outbreak of high mortality and analyzed. The characteristics of PRRSV 108-929 have barely been studied.

Myeloperoxidase and Thyrotropin-Releasing Hormone Within Leukaemia Stem Cells Increased Chemosensitivity in Acute Myeloid Leukaemia.

Leukaemia stem cells (LSCs) are major contributors to chemoresistance in acute myeloid leukaemia (AML). Identifying potential biomarkers within LSCs that can predict chemosensitivity in AML is key. This prospective study involved 20 consecutive de novo AML patients who underwent '7 + 3' induction therapy.

Identifying the presence of atrial fibrillation during sinus rhythm using a dual-input mixed neural network with ECG coloring technology.

Background: Undetected atrial fibrillation (AF) poses a significant risk of stroke and cardiovascular mortality. However, diagnosing AF in real-time can be challenging as the arrhythmia is often not captured instantly. To address this issue, a deep-learning model was developed to diagnose AF even during periods of arrhythmia-free windows.

A Review of the Beetle Genus of Taiwan, with Description of a New Species (Coleoptera, Latridiidae).

The genus in Taiwan was previously known to contain three species, Johnson, Johnson, and (Fabricius). Johnson and Johnson are known from the Palearctic, and (Fabricius) is a cosmopolitan species. In this study, the genus in Taiwan is reviewed for the first time, with three species being recognized, including two recorded species, Johnson and Johnson, and a species new to science, sp.

Key facets of effective career development for students with intellectual disabilities: insights from a Taiwanese high school case study.

Objectives: In the process of transition services, the active participation of teachers and parents is an important key to the successful employment and independent living of students with intellectual disabilities after leaving school.

Methods: This study adopted a case study method, taking a high school in Taiwan that has a good transition service as an example. The research participants included four special education teachers and four parents.

Utilizing polygenic risk score for breast cancer risk prediction in a Taiwanese population.

Background: Breast cancer has been the most frequently diagnosed cancer among women in Taiwan since 2003. While genetic variants play a significant role in the elevated risk of breast cancer, their implications have been less explored within Asian populations. Variant-based polygenic risk scores (PRS) have emerged as valuable tools for assessing the likelihood of developing breast cancer.

A Library of Seed@High-Entropy-Alloy Core-shell Nanocrystals With Controlled Facets for Catalysis.

High-entropy-alloy (HEA) nanocrystals hold immense potential for catalysis, offering virtually unlimited alloy combinations through the inclusion of at least five constituent elements in varying ratios. However, general and effective strategies for synthesizing libraries of HEA nanocrystals with controlled surface atomic structures remain scarce. In this study, a transferable strategy for developing a library of facet-controlled seed@HEA nanocrystals through seed-mediated growth is presented.

In Vitro Bioassay and In silico Pharmacokinetic Characteristics of Xanthium strumarium Plant Extract as Possible Acaricidal Agent.

Background: Effective management strategies against tick infestations are necessary because tickborne diseases represent serious hazards to the health of humans and animals worldwide. The aim of this study was to examine the larvicidal and ovicidal properties of Xanthium strumarium extract against a notorious tick species, Rhipicephalus microplus.

Methodology: The maceration method was used to prepare the ethanolic extract of X.

Photochemical oxidation of Cr(III) to Cr(VI) in the presence of Fe(III): Influence of Fe(III) concentration and UV wavelength.

The reduction of Cr(VI) to Cr(III) is key to lowering environmental toxicity and mobility, but the reverse process remains less understood. We investigated Cr(III) oxidation mechanisms across various pH levels and light wavelengths (185, 254, and 358 nm) in the presence of Fe(III). At pH 3.

A High-Sensitivity Fiber Optic Soil Moisture Sensor Based on D-Shaped Fiber and Tin Oxide Thin Film Coatings.

We present a high-sensitivity fiber optic soil moisture sensor based on side-polished multimode fibers and lossy mode resonance (LMR). The multimode fibers (MMFs), after side-polishing to form a D-shaped structure, are coated with a single-layer SnO thin film by electron beam evaporation with ion-assisted deposition technology. The LMR effect can be obtained when the refractive index of the thin film is positive and greater than its extinction coefficient and the real part of the external medium permittivity.

Nickel-Cobalt Layered Double Hydroxide Nanosheet-Decorated 3D Interconnected Porous Ni/SiC Skeleton for Supercapacitor.

In this study, a three-dimensional (3D) interconnected porous Ni/SiC skeleton (3D Ni/SiC) was synthesized by binder-free hydrogen bubble template-assisted electrodeposition in an electrolyte containing Ni ions and SiC nanopowders. This 3D Ni/SiC skeleton served as a substrate for directly synthesizing nickel-cobalt layered double hydroxide (LDH) nanosheets via electrodeposition, allowing the formation of a nickel-cobalt LDH nanosheet-decorated 3D Ni/SiC skeleton (NiCo@3D Ni/SiC). The multiscale hierarchical structure of NiCo@3D Ni/SiC was attributed to the synergistic interaction between the pseudocapacitor (3D Ni skeleton and Ni-Co LDH) and electrochemical double-layer capacitor (SiC nanopowders).

Characterization of Cell Wall Compositions of Sodium Azide-Induced Brittle Mutant Lines in IR64 Variety and Its Potential Application.

The rice brittle culm is a cell wall composition changed mutant suitable for studying mechanical strength in rice. However, a thorough investigation of brittle culm has been limited due to the lack of diverse brittle mutants on similar genetic backgrounds in cell walls. In this study, we obtained 45 various brittle mutant lines (BMLs) from the IR64 mutant pool induced by sodium azide mutagenesis using the finger-bending method and texture profile analysis.

Exploring the Potential of Duck Egg White Jelly: Enhancing Texture, Reducing Phosphate, and Innovating Emulsified Meat Snacks.

Duck egg white jelly, a protein-rich, alkali-induced gel, mirrors preserved duck egg white in appearance and properties, offering easier storage and utility, especially when excess egg white is available. This research focuses on incorporating duck egg white jelly into emulsified meat snacks to enhance texture while reducing the phosphate content. This study suggests that adding phosphate and duck egg white jelly increases raw meat paste pH, affecting its viscosity.

Enhancing Dysarthric Voice Conversion with Fuzzy Expectation Maximization in Diffusion Models for Phoneme Prediction.

Dysarthria, a motor speech disorder caused by neurological damage, significantly hampers speech intelligibility, creating communication barriers for affected individuals. Voice conversion (VC) systems have been developed to address this, yet accurately predicting phonemes in dysarthric speech remains a challenge due to its variability. This study proposes a novel approach that integrates Fuzzy Expectation Maximization (FEM) with diffusion models for enhanced phoneme prediction, aiming to improve the quality of dysarthric voice conversion.

IoT-Based Hand Hygiene Compliance Monitoring System and Validation of Its Effectiveness in Hospital Environments.

Healthcare-associated infection (HAI) is the most common adverse medical event that affects patients. Internationally, healthcare workers (HCWs) are monitored for hand hygiene compliance to reduce HAI risk. While direct observation is considered the gold standard for monitoring, it has several disadvantages.