Relationship between motor function and psychotic symptomatology in young-adult patients with schizophrenia.

Motor abnormalities have been indicated to be a core manifestation of schizophrenia and not just motor side-effects of antipsychotics. However, little is known about whether all of the complete motor function, including fine motor function, muscle strength, and balance is linked to psychotic symptoms. Therefore, this study was to investigate association between complete motor function and psychotic symptoms in young-adult schizophrenia patients who had no extrapyramidal motor symptoms, which were assessed using the Extrapyramidal Symptom Rating Scale.

Solvent-free electromembrane extraction: A new concept in electro-driven extraction.

A solvent-free electromembrane extraction (SF-EME) device was developed. A thin polyvinylidene difluoride (PVDF) membrane placed at the end of an L-shaped glass tube acted as an analyte collector and was inserted into the sample solution. Under an applied voltage of 110 V, cationic peptides in the sample solution moved toward the negative electrode inside the L-shaped glass tube and were trapped by the membrane at the end of the tube.

Bifurcation analysis of a network-based SIR epidemic model with saturated treatment function.

In this paper, we present a study on a network-based susceptible-infected-recovered (SIR) epidemic model with a saturated treatment function. It is well known that treatment can have a specific effect on the spread of epidemics, and due to the limited resources of treatment, the number of patients during severe disease outbreaks who need to be treated may exceed the treatment capacity. Consequently, the number of patients who receive treatment will reach a saturation level.

External focus of attention concurrently elicits optimal performance of suprapostural pole-holding task and postural stability in children with developmental coordination disorder.

The aim of this study was to determine the effects of different attentional focus conditions (external focus (EF) vs. internal focus (IF) vs. no focus (NF)) on the performance of a pole-holding task and postural stability in children with developmental coordination disorder (DCD) and typically developing children (TDC), while addressing previous study limitations.

The p38-like MAP kinase modulated HO accumulation in wounding signaling pathways of sweet potato.

In sweet potato (Ipomoea batatas cv Tainung 57), MAPK cascades are involved in the regulation of Ipomoelin (IPO) expression upon wounding. p38 MAPK plays an important role in plant's responses to various environmental stresses. However, the role of p38-like MAPK in wounding response is still unknown.

Finger soaking enhances effects of light touch on reducing body sway in children with developmental coordination disorder.

Objectives: To compare sensitivity to light touch in children with developmental coordination disorder and those with typical development. Also, to investigate how changes/increases in sensitivity to light touch influence the effects of light fingertip touch on reducing body sway in both groups, while controlling for the confounding effects of arm configuration.

Methods: Twenty-six children with developmental coordination disorder and 26 typically developing children were enrolled in the study.

Molecularly Aligned Hexa- peri-hexabenzocoronene Films by Brush-Coating and Their Application in Thin-Film Transistors.

The facile Chinese brush-coating method was used to prepare oriented thin films of hexa- peri-hexabenzocoronene (HBC) derivatives on the silicon substrate. As a result of the directional solution-coating, the D-symmetry (HBC-1,3,5-Ph-C12) and the C-symmetry (HBC-1,2,4-Ph-C12) derivatives displayed an anisotropic alignment, with mostly edge-on orientation on SiO surfaces modified with various silane-based monolayers. On these silane-modified surfaces, the higher symmetry molecule HBC-1,3,5-Ph-C12 developed a hexagonally packed superstructure, which provided greater π orbital overlap and presumably the electronic coupling between neighboring molecules.

Spin-polarized magneto-electronic properties in buckled monolayer GaAs.

We develop the generalized tight-binding model to fully explore the magneto-electronic properties of monolayer GaAs, where the buckled structure, multi-orbital chemical bondings, spin-orbit coupling, electric field, and magnetic field are considered simultaneously. The diverse magnetic quantization covers three groups of spin-polarized Landau levels (LLs) near the Fermi level, with the unique initial energies, LL degeneracy, energy spacings, magnetic-field-dependence, and spin splitting. Furthermore, the Landau state probabilities exhibit specific oscillation patterns, being composed of the localization centers, node regularities, and energy-dependent variations of the dominating orbitals.

Generating hourly local weather data with high spatially resolution and the applications in bioclimatic performance.

As urbanization expands and diversifies, weather data produced by a single weather station in a suburb are no longer adequate to represent and reflect microclimatic changes of a city. This study selected 34 automatic weather stations in Tainan City, Taiwan, to conduct temperature and humidity measurements over a period of one year. Based on those observed weather data and urban environment parameters obtained from a geographic information system, as well as morphing approach, this study constructed a method of generating hourly local weather data for urban areas while accounting for urban heat island (UHI) effect in summer.

Haptic perception is altered in children with developmental coordination disorder.

Developmental coordination disorder (DCD) is a neurodevelopmental disorder affecting the motor system, but it may also present with signs of somatosensory dysfunction. This study examined whether haptic perception, which relies on somatosensory afferents, is impaired in children with DCD. Haptic sensitivity and acuity were systematically quantified in children with DCD and contrasted to the performance of typically developing (TD) children and young adults (each group N = 20).

Peculiar optical properties of bilayer silicene under the influence of external electric and magnetic fields.

We conduct a comprehensive investigation of the effect of an applied electric field on the optical and magneto-optical absorption spectra for AB-bt (bottom-top) bilayer silicene. The generalized tight-binding model in conjunction with the Kubo formula is efficiently employed in the numerical calculations. The electronic and optical properties are greatly diversified by the buckled lattice structure, stacking configuration, intralayer and interlayer hopping interactions, spin-orbital couplings, as well as the electric and magnetic fields ([Formula: see text] [Formula: see text] [Formula: see text]).

The role of physical activity and body-related perceptions in motor skill competence of adolescents with autism spectrum disorder.

This study assessed the associations of motor skill competence with physical activity and physical self-perception of adolescents with autism spectrum disorder (ASD). Cross-sectional study. A total of 63 male adolescents, aged 12-18 years, with ASD participated in the study.

Rate of psychiatric disorders and associations with quality of life among community members following the Kaohsiung gas explosion: an 18-month cross-sectional follow-up study.

Objective: To conduct a follow-up on the rate and related risk factors of probable disaster-related psychiatric disorders such as depressive disorder (major depressive episode, MDE), stress disorders, post-traumatic (posttraumatic stress disorder, PTSD), and the quality of life of the survivors of a fossil gas explosion in Taiwan 18 months after the event.

Methods: A community-based survey of residents of a community that experienced a petrochemical gas explosion with cross-sectional assessments was conducted 18 months after the event. Two screening tools, including the Disaster-Related Psychological Screening Test (DRPST) and Short Form 12v2 (SF-12v2), were used to survey a representative sample of 388 participants.

Self-transcendence, caring and their associations with well-being.

Aims: To examine the relationship between nursing staffs' self-transcendence and well-being in long-term care facilities and to investigate the mediating role of caring behaviours in the aforementioned relationship.

Background: Factors associated with the well-being of healthcare providers influence the quality of care delivered. Although an increasing number of studies have shed light on the relationship between self-transcendence and subjective well-being, little is known of the mediating effect of caring behaviour in this relationship.

Inhibition of catalytic activity of fibrinogen-stabilized gold nanoparticles via thrombin-induced inclusion of nanoparticle into fibrin: Application for thrombin sensing with more than 10-fold selectivity.

Citrate-capped gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) modified with thrombin-binding aptamer are often implemented for colorimetric, fluorescent, and electrochemical detection of thrombin in an aqueous solution. However, researchers have rarely explored the application of fibrinogen-modified AuNPs (F-AuNPs) for thrombin sensing. We present a simple, inexpensive, sensitive, and selective probe for colorimetric assay of thrombin through combining thrombin-induced inclusion of F-AuNPs into Fibrin and F-AuNPs-catalyzed reduction of 4-nitrophenol with an excess amount of NaBH.

Transmission Modes of Melioidosis in Taiwan.

In Taiwan, melioidosis is an emerging disease that suddenly increased in the Er-Ren River Basin, beginning in 2005 and in the Zoynan region during 2008⁻2012, following a typhoon. Additionally, the disease sporadically increased in a geography-dependent manner in 2016. Subcutaneous inoculation, ingestion, and the inhalation of soil or water contaminated with are recognized as the transmission modes of melioidosis.

Plant A20/AN1 protein serves as the important hub to mediate antiviral immunity.

Salicylic acid (SA) is a key phytohormone that mediates a broad spectrum of resistance against a diverse range of viruses; however, the downstream pathway of SA governed antiviral immune response remains largely to be explored. Here, we identified an orchid protein containing A20 and AN1 zinc finger domains, designated Pha13. Pha13 is up-regulated upon virus infection, and the transgenic monocot orchid and dicot Arabidopsis overexpressing orchid Pha13 conferred greater resistance to different viruses.

Burkholderia pseudomallei-loaded cells act as a Trojan horse to invade the brain during endotoxemia.

Neurologic melioidosis occurs in both human and animals; however, the mechanism by which the pathogen Burkholderia pseudomallei invades the central nervous system (CNS) remains unclear. B. pseudomallei-loaded Ly6C cells have been suggested as a putative portal; however, during melioidosis, lipopolysaccharide (LPS) can drive disruption of the blood-brain barrier (BBB).

The diverse magneto-optical selection rules in bilayer black phosphorus.

The magneto-optical properties of bilayer phosphorene is investigated by the generalized tight-binding model and the gradient approximation. The vertical inter-Landau-level transitions, being sensitive to the polarization directions, are mainly determined by the spatial symmetries of sub-envelope functions on the distinct sublattices. The anisotropic excitations strongly depend on the electric and magnetic fields.

Identifying heterogeneity in the Hawthorne effect on hand hygiene observation: a cohort study of overtly and covertly observed results.

Background: Observation and feedback are core strategies of hand hygiene (HH) improvement. Direct overt observation is currently the gold standard method. Observation bias, also known as the Hawthorne effect, is a major disadvantage of this method.

Enantioseparation of phenothiazines through capillary electrophoresis with solid phase extraction and polymer based stacking.

This study developed a sensitive method involving capillary electrophoresis (CE) coupled with ultraviolet absorption for the simultaneous separation of chiral phenothiazine drugs at nanomolar concentration levels. The method consists of hydroxypropyl-γ-cyclodextrin (Hp-γ-CD) as a chiral selector and poly (diallyldimethylammonium chloride) (PDDAC)-based CE. Five pairs of d,l-phenothiazines were baseline separated using a background electrolyte containing 0.

Fermented Citrus Lemon Reduces Liver Injury Induced by Carbon Tetrachloride in Rats.

Fermented lemon juice displays a variety of important biological activities, including anti-inflammatory and antioxidant capabilities. The aim of the present study is to investigate hepatic-protective effects of no-sugar-added fermented lemon juice (FLJ) for liver inflammation caused by carbon tetrachloride (CCl) in rats. Rats are divided into six groups: HO, CCl + HO, CCl + silymarin, and CCl plus three different FLJ doses by oral administration, respectively.

Differences in awareness of and willingness to use pre-exposure prophylaxis and anticipated condom use among serodiscordant couples in Taiwan.

Pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) has proven to be effective in reducing the risk of HIV transmission in uninfected individuals who engaged in sexual activity with HIV-infected partners. Serodiscordant couples are the key targets of PrEP implementation. The study aimed to compare awareness of and willingness to use PrEP and anticipated condom use among 112 HIV-serodiscordant couples: 32 heterosexuals couples, 70 men who have sex with men (MSM) couples, and 10 people who inject drugs (PWID) couples.

Effectiveness of a perioperative pulmonary rehabilitation program following coronary artery bypass graft surgery in patients with and without COPD.

Purpose: It is unclear whether the effectiveness of pulmonary rehabilitation program (PRP) after cardiac surgery differs between patients with and without COPD. This study aimed to compare the effectiveness of PRP between patients with and without COPD undergoing coronary artery bypass graft (CABG) surgery.

Patients And Methods: We retrospectively included patients who underwent CABG surgery and received 3-week PRP from January 2009 to December 2013.