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PurposeThis study aims to propose an integrated view and emphasize the importance of bank intangible value binding in customers' robo-advisory adoption. It explores the relationship between robo-advisors and traditional banking and defines the role of bank intangible assets value. It also attempts to understand if trust in the banking institution and the financial consultant determines the effect of these relationships.Design/methodology/approachThe target sample of the study was investors who currently use wealth management services. This study collected 228 valid questionnaires and then executed structural equation model analysis to test the hypotheses.FindingsResults showed that intangible value bindings play a mediating role, which positively affects consumers' willingness to adopt robo-advisors. Consumers' trust in banks and financial consultants are antecedent variables, which positively affect the intangible value bindings between consumers and banks. In addition, when the consumers' investment amount is higher, it will weaken the positive relationship between the intangible value binding and robo-advisor adoption intention.Originality/valueMost of the past studies have focused on whether robo-advisors would replace personal financial consultants. This study proposes a hybrid model that contains both robo-advisors and traditional banking services, which encourage the acceptance of robo-advisors.

Purpose Language networks are reorganized during glioma growth, leading to varying language performance in patients with gliomas located in language-eloquent areas. Therefore, pre-treated language performance reflects the neuroplasticity potential. Different domains of language processing, such as speech expression, repetition, and comprehension, involving different neural networks. We analyzed the effects of patient factors and tumor characteristics on the pre-treated performance to investigate neuroplastic potential of different language domains. Methods Patient age, sex, education level, tumor grade, language pathway involvement, T1 contrast enhanced (C+), and FLAIR (T2) volume were selected as variables. The correlation with abnormal language performance was verified using univariate and multivariate logistic regression. Results In total, 104 patients were enrolled in this study. 44% of patients had repetitive abnormalities, 34.9% had comprehension abnormalities, and 32.1% had expression abnormalities. The proportion of language pathway involvement and normal language performance was 60% in grade 2 and 3 gliomas and 16% in grade 4 gliomas. Tumor grade (p = 0.006) and T2 volume (p = 0.008) were associated with abnormal performance in the expressive domain, education level (p = 0.004) and T1 C + volume (p = 0.049) in the repetitive domain, and education level (p = 0.013), T2 volume (p = 0.011), and tumor grade (p = 0.089) in the comprehensive domain. Conclusion Different clinical and radiological factors affected the abnormal performance of the three language domains, indicating their functional connectivity and neuroplastic potential are inherently varied. The dynamic interactions between patient factors, tumor characteristics, and language processing should be considered when resecting left hemispheric gliomas.

Background and purpose – To prevent ischemic strokes caused by carotid artery stenosis, carotid artery stenting (CAS) and carotid endarterectomy (CEA) have been utilized. However, complications could be linked to either or both procedures. The purpose of our study is to find the most efficient carotid ultrasound method to forecast periprocedural risk (embolization, new neurological symptoms). Methods – We used Pubmed, EMBASE, and the Cochrane Library to conduct a systematic literature search for the years 2000 to 2022. Results – The grayscale medium (GSM) scale of plaque is the most promising criterion for evaluating periprocedural complications. Discussion – According to the published observations (relatively small cohorts), periprocedural problems would be significantly predicted by ≤ 20 of grayscale medium cut-off values. The diffusion-weighted MRI (DW-MRI) is the most sensitive method for assessing whether stenting or carotid endarterectomy resulted in peri-procedural ischemic lesions on diffusion-weighted MRI. Conclusion – A future, large-scale, multicenter study should confirm which grayscale medium value is optimal to forecast periprocedural ischemic complications.

Anti-granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor autoantibodies (anti-GM-CSF Abs) are a predisposing factor for pulmonary alveolar proteinosis (PAP) and Cryptococcus gattii cryptococcosis. This study aimed to investigate clinical manifestations in anti-GM-CSF Ab-positive patients with C. gattii cryptococcosis and analyze the properties of anti-GM-CSF Abs derived from these patients and patients with PAP.Thirty-nine patients diagnosed with cryptococcosis (caused by C. neoformans or C. gattii) and 6 with PAP were enrolled in the present study. Clinical information was obtained from medical records. Blood samples were collected for analysis of autoantibody properties. We also explored the National Health Insurance Research Database (NHIRD) of Taiwan to investigate the epidemiology of cryptococcosis and PAP.High titers of neutralizing anti-GM-CSF Abs were identified in 15 patients with cryptococcosis (15/39, 38.5%). Most anti-GM-CSF Ab-positive cryptococcosis cases had central nervous system (CNS) involvement (14/15, 93.3%). Eleven out of 14 (78.6%) anti-GM-CSF Ab-positive CNS cryptococcosis patients were confirmed to be infected with C. gattii, and PAP did not occur synchronously or metachronously in a single patient from our cohort. Exploration of an association between HLA and anti-GM-CSF Ab positivity or differential properties of autoantibodies from cryptococcosis patients and PAP yielded no significant results.Anti-GM-CSF Abs can cause two diseases, C. gattii cryptococcosis and PAP, which seldom occur in the same subject. Current biological evidence regarding the properties of anti-GM-CSF Abs cannot provide clues regarding decisive mechanisms. Further analysis, including more extensive cohort studies and investigations into detailed properties, is mandatory to better understand the pathogenesis of anti-GM-CSF Abs.

社區式長照是國家社會福利發展方針，這兩年因為受到疫情影響，在各部落社區長照站也產生了服務上的變化。部落社區長照評鑑評分表中，社工專業有三大指標及十項細則，為本研究主要項目。研究採用內容分析法及焦點座談法，研究期間採設定在2020～2021年評鑑甲等以上服務站。研究結果顯示：疫情下能夠達到服務指標，關鍵在人員反應出應變的能力。社區式部落長照站的生活已取代長者日常生活模式為社區防疫守護站、因疫情所迫開發多元「數位課程」。並建議可導入部份工時制，補充各站臨時人力，在鄰近部落間作資訊的互通與共享，也要增加照顧服務人員的教學技巧、課程設計能力，與教材開發的相關教育訓練。Community-based long-term care is the national social welfare development policy. Due to the impact of the epidemic in the past two years, each tribal community-based long-term care center has also undergone service changes. In the evaluation score table, the social work profession has three major indicators, which are the main projects of this research. The research adopts the content analysis and focus discussion method. During the research period, the service centers rated A and above in 2020-2021 will be collected. Results: Under the epidemic, the key to achieving service indicators is staff resilience. The life of the service center has replaced the daily life mode of the elderly. A variety of ＂digital courses＂ have been developed. Also recommended: part of the working hour system can be imported, supplementary temporary staff at each center, exchanges and sharing information among neighboring tribes. Caregivers should also increase educational training in teaching skills.

Pancreatic islet transplantation has therapeutic potential in type 1 diabetes and is also an established therapy in chronic pancreatitis. However, the long-term transplant outcomes are modest. Identifying indicators of graft function will aid the preservation of transplanted islets and glycemic control. We analyzed beta cell prohormone peptide levels in a retrospective cohort of total pancreatectomy autologous islet transplant patients (n = 28). Proinsulin-to-C-peptide (PI/C) and proIAPP-to-total IAPP (proIAPP/IAPP) ratios measured at 3 months post-transplant were significantly higher in patients who remained insulin dependent at 1 year follow-up. In an immuno-deficient mouse model of human islet transplantation, recipient mice that later became hyperglycemic displayed significantly higher PI/C ratios than mice that remained normoglycemic. Histological analysis of islet grafts showed reduced proportional insulin- and proinsulin-positive area, but elevated glucagon-positive area in grafts that experienced greater secretory demand. Increased prohormone convertase 1/3 was detected in glucagon-positive cells, and glucagon-like peptide 1 (GLP-1) area was elevated in grafts from mice that displayed hyperglycemia or elevated plasma PI/C ratios, demonstrating intra-islet incretin production in metabolically challenged human islet grafts. These data indicate that in failing grafts, alpha cell prohormone processing is likely altered, and incomplete beta cell prohormone processing may be an early indicator of insulin dependency.

Many insects have evolved the ability to manipulate plant growth to generate extraordinary structures called galls in which insect larva can develop while being sheltered within and feeding on the plant. In particular, Cynipid (Hymenoptera: Cynipidae) wasps have evolved to form some of the most morphologically complex galls known and generate an astonishing array of gall shapes, colors, and sizes. However, the biochemical basis underlying these remarkable cellular and developmental transformations remains poorly understood. A key determinant in plant cellular development is the deposition of the cell wall to dictate the physical form and physiological function of newly developing cells, tissues, and organs. However, it is unclear to what degree cell walls are restructured to initiate and support the formation of new gall tissue. Here, we characterize the molecular alterations underlying gall development using a combination of metabolomic, histological, and biochemical techniques to elucidate how leaf cells are reprogrammed to form galls. Strikingly, gall development involves an exceptionally coordinated spatial deposition of lignin and xylan to formde novogall vasculature. Our results highlight how Cynipid wasps can radically change the metabolite profile and restructure the cell wall to enable the formation of galls, providing new insights into the mechanism of gall induction and the extent to which plants can be entirely reprogrammed to form novel structures and organs.

In an integrated circuit, signal propagation loss is proportional to the frequency, dissipation factor (

Background Near-infrared indocyanine green fluorescence cholangiography (NIRF) has shown promising results on delineating extra-hepatic biliary anatomy during laparoscopic cholecystectomy to avoid bile duct injury. However its routine usage remains in question. In this study, the technique was evaluated further with learning curve estimation and learning factors were observed. Methods One hundred ninety-nine cases which underwent laparoscopic cholecystectomy for acute or chronic cholecystitis within a 2-year period including 51 cases with initial use of NIRF by 2 surgeons were studied retrospectively. The learning curve was evaluated for a surgeon as primary objective. A case-matched comparison of the operative time between NIRF and conventional group, in terms of acute and chronic cholecystitis was also conducted as a secondary calculation. Results Learning curve was evaluated with 61% learning rate for NIRF experience. Cysto-biliary junction non-illuminated cases under fluorescent view, had mean operative time of 80.83 ± 22.82 min, which was shorter than the cysto-biliary junction illuminated cases. The NIRF group exhibited longer operative time compared with the conventional group with mean difference of 34.39 min (significant at P < .05). Conclusions While the initial learning phase might be affected by surgeons’ behavior and attitude, our results may provide a reference to learn at one’s own pace and to employ NIRF teaching strategies during surgical training programs to overcome the initial phase during training period itself and facilitate universal achievement.

Background: Based on their anti-oxidative and anti-fibrotic properties, Angelica sinensis (Oliv.) Diels roots [Apiaceae; Radix Angelicae sinensis] (Danggui [abbreviated as S in the context]), Astragalus membranaceus (Fisch.) Bunge [Fabaceae; Astragalus membranaceus] (Huangqi [A]), Rheum palmatum L. [Polygonaceae; Rheum palmatum] (Dahuang [R]), and Salvia miltiorrhiza Bunge [Lamiaceae; Salvia miltiorrhiza Bunge radix et rhizoma] (Danshen [D]) are potential renoprotective Chinese herbal medicines (CHMs). Renoprotection using ARD alone for the treatment of chronic kidney disease (CKD) has been documented in pre-clinical, clinical, and meta-analysis research; however, only pre-clinical data are available for the use of S alone. Moreover, with an increasing number of CKD patients taking prescribed CHMs, hyperkalemia risk remains unclear.Methods: This study retrospectively analyzed national health insurance claims data in 2001–2017. Propensity score matching was used to analyze renal and survival outcomes and the dose-response effects of S without ARD use in 18,348 new S users, 9,174 new ARD users, and 36,696 non-users. Cox proportional hazard regression was used to investigate adjusted hazard ratios (aHRs) for end-stage renal disease (ESRD) in the presence of competing mortality and death. The additive effect of the S herb in single form to compounds was also analyzed. Additionally, to analyze hyperkalemia risk, an exact match on each covariate was used to include 42,265 new CHM users and non-users, while Poisson regression was used to estimate adjusted incidence rate ratios (aIRRs) of hyperkalemia of prescribed CHMs.Results: S users and ARD users were associated with aHRs of 0.77 (95% confidence interval; 0.69–0.86) and 1.04 (0.91–1.19), respectively, for ESRD and 0.55 (0.53–0.57) and 0.71 (0.67–0.75), respectively, for death. The renal and survival benefits of S use were consistent in several sensitivity analyses. The dose- and time-dependent renoprotection and dose-dependent survival benefits were observed for S use. The top two additive renoprotective collocations of the S herb in compounds were Xue-Fu-Zhu-Yu-Tang and Shen-Tong-Zhu-Yu-Tang, followed by Shu-Jing-Huo-Xue-Tang and Shen-Tong-Zhu-Yu-Tang. Moreover, CHM users were associated with aIRRs of 0.34 (0.31–0.37) for hyperkalemia.Conclusion: This study suggests dose- and time-dependent renoprotection and dose-dependent survival benefits of the S herb in compounds and no increased hyperkalemia risk of the prescribed CHMs in CKD patients.

Background Coronary artery calcification (CAC) burden assessed by Agatston score (AS) is currently recommended to stratify patients at risk for future acute coronary syndrome (ACS). Besides the CAC burden, the biostructure of CAC may also play a vital role in the vulnerability of CAC, which CT radiomics could reveal. Propensity-score matching of the traditional risk factors and CAC burden between the ACS and asymptomatic groups could radically remove biases and allow the exploration of characteristic features of CAC in ACS. Methods We retrospectively identified 77 patients with ACS who had a CAC scan before percutaneous coronary intervention between 2016 and 2019. These 77 patients were one-to-two propensity-score matched for traditional risk factors of ACS and AS ranks to select 154 subjects from 2890 asymptomatic subjects. A validation cohort of 30 subjects was also enrolled. Radiomics features of each plaque were extracted and averaged in each person. Conditional logistic regression and area-under-curve analysis were used for statistical analysis. Results A higher number of coronary segments involved, lower mean, median, first quartile, and standard deviation of attenuation, and increased kurtosis of attenuation of CAC were associated with the ACS group compared to the control group (p Conclusion After propensity-matching traditional risk factors and CAC burden, CT radiomics highlighted that lower median attenuation and higher kurtosis were the CAC characteristics of vulnerable plaques. These features improve the understanding of the biomechanics of CAC evolution and enhance the value of CAC scan in ACS risk assessment.

Ferroelectricity in two-dimensional (2D) van der Waals (vdW) layers has revolutionized our understanding of the vdW layered coupling, and has been introduced in the domains of moiré superlattice patterns generated by interlayer twisting or sliding. In the smallest limit of thickness, untwisted and epitaxial vdW stacking layers exhibiting ferroelectricity would clearly serve as building blocks for realizing 2D devices with nonvolatile and reconfigurable functionalities. In this study, we grew ferroelectric hexagonal boron nitride (h-BN) films on single-crystal graphene synthesized on a SiC (0001) substrate using nitrogen plasma-assisted molecular beam epitaxy (PA-MBE). Systematic angle-resolved photoemission spectroscopy (ARPES) studies and first-principles calculations revealed that the epitaxial mono-, bi-, and tri-layer h-BN films exhibit layer-number-dependent µ-band dispersions due to an AB stacking sequence on a Bernal-stacked graphene substrate. Furthermore, our piezoelectric force microscopy (PFM) confirmed the coexistence of robust moiré and sliding ferroelectricity at the well-aligned h-BN/graphene heterojunction and in multilayered h-BN films, respectively. In principle, as-developed epitaxially ferroelectric h-BN is limited only by the size of the crystalline graphene substrate, thereby providing a versatile and scalable 2D ferroelectric platform with promising exotic physics and vdW device applications down to a few atomic layers.

Background: Cellulose fibers extracted from printed paper wastes are utilized to synthesize spherical cellulose microspheres via water-in-oil microemulsion and precipitation methods. Span 80 was used as a surfactant and acetic acid as a precipitating agent in the microemulsion and precipitation process to obtain cellulose microspheres. The effects of synthesis conditions such as cellulose concentrations and drying techniques were observed to have profound effects on the surface morphology, particle sizes, and surface area of cellulose microspheres produced. Results: Spherical cellulose microspheres with particle sizes ranging from 5.2 to 9.3 µm were synthesized. Increasing cellulose concentrations led to larger particle sizes. Among various kinds of drying techniques, freeze-drying is the most preferable method for obtaining better yields of cellulose microspheres. The potential applications of the synthesized cellulose microspheres as controlled-release carriers for fertilizer in various soil types were evaluated. The larger particle sizes of cellulose microspheres have a smaller specific surface area, but with higher loading capacities and slower urea release. Conclusions: Our studies showed that the loading capacity and release profiles of urea could be tailored by modulating the mean particle sizes of the cellulose microspheres. Hence, cellulose microspheres demonstrated great potential to be utilized as sustainable controlled-release carriers for fertilizer.

In modern technology, recent advances in multi-functional devices are rapidly developed for the diverse demands of human beings. Meanwhile, durability and adaptability to extreme environmental conditions are also required. In this study, a flexible magnetoelectric (ME) heterostructure based on CoFe2O4/Pb(Zr,Ti)O3 composite thin film on muscovite is presented, with two geometries of the constituents, namely laminar heterostructure, and vertical nanostructure, adopted for the comparison. On the other hand, credited to the mechanical flexibility of muscovite, the impact of flexibility on ME properties is also discussed with a series of bending tests. Moreover, the ME response sustains for 10,000 times bending without significant decrease, validating the mechanical durability of this heterostructure on muscovite. With these advantages, a flexible proximity sensor based on this heterostructure is demonstrated for motion detection. It is expected to offer a pathway for creating the next-generational flexible devices, showing potential for future practical application.

Type 1 Diabetes (T1D) is caused by autoimmune-mediated beta cell destruction. Following beta cell injury, the pancreas attempts to launch a cellular repair and regenerative program, yet it fails to completely restore functional beta cell mass. One component of this regenerative program is epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) signaling. However, upon irreparable beta cell damage, EGFR signaling is dampened, disrupting attempts to restore functional beta cell mass and maintain normoglycemia. We previously demonstrated that the negative feedback inhibitor of EGFR, Mitogen-inducible gene 6 (Mig6), is induced by the pro-inflammatory cytokines central to the autoimmune-mediated beta cell destruction. We also established that pro-inflammatory cytokines suppress EGFR activation, and siRNA-mediated suppression of Mig6 restores EGFR signaling. Thus, we hypothesized that pro-inflammatory cytokines induce nitric oxide production and that in turn induced Mig6, disrupting EGFR repair mechanisms. We determined that NO induces Mig6, attenuating EGFR signaling, and NO synthase inhibition blocks the cytokine-mediated induction of Mig6, thereby restoring cytokine-impaired EGFR signaling. To that end, we treated mice lacking pancreatic Mig6 and control mice with a streptozotocin (STZ) to induce beta cell death and diabetes in a way that mimics the onset and progression of T1D. Whereas STZ-treated control mice became hyperglycemic and had reduced beta cell mass, STZ-treated Mig6 pancreas-specific knock out (PKO) mice remained euglycemic and glucose tolerant due to preserved beta cell mass. The restoration of beta cell mass in PKO mice was accompanied by enhanced beta cell proliferation. Thus, our work suggests that Mig6 is a promising target to preserve beta cell mass before overt T1D.

Motivated by international business research on institutional arbitrage and headquarters–subsidiary relationships, we examine the effect of regulatory distance on multinational banks’ (MNBs) reporting transparency abroad. Using an international sample of foreign subsidiary banks in 46 host countries from 47 home countries, we find that bank transparency declines when the home countries have tighter activity restrictions than the host countries. We bolster the causal inference using difference-in-differences designs that take advantage of banking reforms and cross-border bank acquisitions. We also find that the result is more pronounced when parent banks have lower capital ratios or when host countries have weaker supervisory power, suggesting that parent banks use opaque reporting to conceal risk-taking abroad. Further analysis finds that less transparent subsidiaries are more likely to fail during financial crises. Overall, our findings suggest that regulatory distance creates negative externalities for bank transparency and stability abroad.

氣膠透過氣膠間接效應影響雲輻射力，同時氣膠與雲的交互作用也會受到大氣環境條件影響。本研究使用 2006-2010 年A-Train 衛星序列的共同定位資料探討冬季與春季時東亞地區氣膠與海洋性暖雲的交互作用，依據環境特性，我們以近地表穩定度(Near Surface Stability, NSS)和估計逆溫強度(Estimated Inversion Strength, EIS)進一步分類雲的樣本，探討不同環境條件下雲敏感性的變化。 雲敏感性分析的結果顯示，近地面穩定度、逆溫強度以及雲的降水狀態均會影響氣膠與雲的交互作用，本研究分別針對不降水雲與降水雲在不同環境條件下的型態與敏感性進行分析。在穩定的海洋邊界層中，由於氣膠增加有利蒸發逸入回饋增強，不降水雲的雲水含量隨著氣膠增加而減少，然而降水雲則因為氣膠增加抑制了碰撞合併成長過程，雲中的液態水含量因此增加。在強沉降逆溫的環境下，蒸發逸入回饋作用會進一步使得不降水雲中的液態水含量降低，而降水雲的雲水含量、雲光學厚度與雲反照率則具有顯著的正敏感性。在弱沉降逆溫的環境下，雲與氣膠之間的交互作用並不顯著。比較不降水雲與降水雲，降水雲的敏感性比不降水雲更高。 Aerosols can affect the cloud radiative forcing by acting as the cloud condensation nuclei and subsequently changing the micro- and macro-physical properties of clouds. Recent studies suggested that the interaction between the shallow clouds and aerosols can be affected by the condition of atmospheric environment. In this study, we applied the datasets from A-train constellation of Earth-observing satellites to investigate the aerosol-cloud interaction in East Asia in winter and spring, the seasons in which the low-level marine clouds and high aerosol pollution coexist most frequently. It is found that the environmental condition in East Asian winter and spring is controlled by the monsoonal circulation and the warm sea surface temperature associated with the Kuroshio current. The clouds are then classified based on the near-surface stability (NSS) and estimated inversion strength (EIS) to explore the variation of the susceptibility of cloud properties under different environmental conditions. The analysis of cloud susceptibility showed that under the stable marine boundary layer, the increase in aerosol particles would enhance the evaporation-entrainment feedback and reduce the liquid water path in the non-precipitating clouds, while the liquid water path in the precipitating clouds would increase due to the inhibited collision-coalescence and the suppressed precipitation. Under strong inversion condition, the liquid water path in the non-precipitating clouds is reduced through enhanced entrainment, while the susceptibility of the liquid water path, cloud optical depth, and cloud albedo were positive for precipitating clouds. Under weak inversion, the aerosol-cloud interaction is not significant. Comparing non-precipitating and precipitating clouds, the susceptibility of the precipitating clouds is higher. &nbsp

BACKGROUND It has been reported that the risk of erectile dysfunction (ED) is significantly higher in patients with obstructive sleep apnea (OSA), compared with patients without OSA. However, there is limited evidence on whether surgical treatments in patients with OSA could decrease ED risk. OBJECTIVES To assess the impact of surgical treatments for OSA on the risk of ED by analysis of claims data from the Taiwan National Health Insurance Research Database between 1997 and 2012. MATERIAL AND METHODS We identified 20,675 male adults with newly diagnosed OSA during the study period; 16,040 patients ever received surgical treatments (treated cohort) and 4635 patients never received surgical treatments (untreated cohort). According to 3:1 propensity score matching, we analyzed 8337 patients in the treated cohort and 2779 controls in the untreated cohort. We estimated the incidence rates (IRs) and hazard ratios (HRs) of incident ED in both cohorts through the end of 2012. RESULTS In a total study follow-up of 64,916 person-years, 396 (3.6%) patients developed impotence. The IRs of ED for the treated and untreated cohorts, respectively, were 55.8 (95% confidence interval [CI], 55.6-55.9) and 76.1 (95% CI, 76.0-76.3) per 1000 person-years. Multivariate Cox proportional hazard analysis showed that surgical treatments for OSA patients were associated with a lower risk for ED (adjusted HR, 0.79; 95% CI, 0.64-0.98). Multivariate stratified analysis further verified that significant risk reduction of ED was present in OSA patients without hypertension, diabetes, hyperlipidemia, hyperuricemia, obesity, chronic kidney disease, and chronic liver disease. CONCLUSIONS We found that OSA patients who received surgical treatments were associated with a lower risk for developing ED by 21%.

This comparative effectiveness research study compares antibody levels after ChAdOx1 nCoV-19 vaccination in individuals with or without previous SARS-CoV-1 infection.

Self-assembled systems have recently attracted extensive attention because they can display a wide range of phase morphologies in nanocomposites, providing a new arena to explore novel phenomena. Among these morphologies, a bicontinuous structure is highly desirable based on its high interface-to-volume ratio and 3D interconnectivity. A bicontinuous nickel oxide (NiO) and tin dioxide (SnO2) heteroepitaxial nanocomposite is revealed here. By controlling their concentration, we fabricated tuneable self-assembled nanostructures from pillars to bicontinuous structures, as evidenced by TEM-energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy with a tortuous compositional distribution. The experimentally observed growth modes are consistent with predictions by first-principles calculations. Phase-field simulations are performed to understand 3D microstructure formation and extract key thermodynamic parameters for predicting microstructure morphologies in SnO2:NiO nanocomposites of other concentrations. Furthermore, we demonstrate significantly enhanced photovoltaic properties in a bicontinuous SnO2:NiO nanocomposite macroscopically and microscopically. This research shows a pathway to developing innovative solar cell and photodetector devices based on self-assembled oxides.

Background Cellulose fibers extracted from printed paper wastes are utilized to synthesize spherical cellulose microspheres via water-in-oil microemulsion and precipitation methods. Span 80 was used as a surfactant and acetic acid as a precipitating agent in the microemulsion and precipitation process to obtain cellulose microspheres. The effects of synthesis conditions such as cellulose concentrations and drying techniques were observed to have profound effects on the surface morphology, particle sizes, and surface area of cellulose microspheres produced. Results Spherical cellulose microspheres with particle sizes ranging from 5.2 to 9.3 µm were synthesized. Increasing cellulose concentrations led to larger particle sizes. Among various kinds of drying techniques, freeze-drying is the most preferable method in obtaining better yields and yet, larger cellulose microspheres. The potential applications of the synthesized cellulose microspheres as controlled-release carriers for fertilizer in various soil types were evaluated. The larger size of cellulose microspheres have a smaller specific surface area, but with higher loading capacities and slower urea release. Conclusions Our studies showed that the loading capacity and release profiles of urea could be tailored by modulating the mean particle sizes of the cellulose microspheres. Hence, cellulose microspheres have the potential to be utilized as fertilizer-controlled release carriers.

We thank Li and colleagues for their insightful comments [...]

Older adult patients receiving surgery experience a relatively high rate of developing acute delirium due to factors related to the environment, surgery and anesthesia, pain, and indwelling line, which puts these patients at higher risk of patient safety incidents. The incidence of delirium among older patients receiving surgery in our ward was 12.3%. Moreover, in our ward, delirium-attributed self-extraction accounted for 84.2% of the "tubing events" reported via the Taiwan Patient-safety Reporting System and delirium-attributed falls accounted for 33.3% of the "fall events". Thus, delirium in this patient population had a serious effect on patient safety and increased medical expenses.Reduce the incidence of delirium in older adult patients receiving surgery from 12.3% to 6.6%.Strategies used included providing delirium care education and training to improve the delivery of delirium preventive treatments and the care implementation rate by care teams; formulating a surgical delirium high-risk factor assessment scale for the early screening of high-risk patients; adopting the "RADAR" delirium identification method for the rapid identification of cognition changes; establishing delirium prevention and treatment care guidelines for quality-of-care improvement; introducing bedside exercise equipment to increase patient mobility; and designating a dedicated delirium ward for these patients to provide high-quality delirium care services.The incidence rate of delirium in older adult patients receiving surgery was reduced to 6.5%. In addition, the implementation rate of delirium prevention treatment was increased to 98% in physicians and 100% in nurses.This project resulted in significantly improved outcomes and was expanded to the other surgical wards. The innovative concept of incorporating a designated delirium ward for older patients receiving surgery into other wards may be referenced in future ward planning and strategies for improving the quality of medical care.運用多元化策略降低外科高齡病人譫妄發生率.外科高齡病人常因環境、手術與麻醉、疼痛及管路留置因素造成急性譫妄，出現譫妄時容易發生病人安全事件，統計某醫學中心外科病房 ≥ 65歲病人譫妄發生率為12.3%，因譫妄因素而自拔管路發生率占該病房通報台灣病人安全通報系統之「管路事件」的84.2%、跌倒發生率占「跌倒事件」的33.3%，嚴重影響病人安全及增加醫療支出。.降低外科高齡病人譫妄發生率由12.3%至6.6%。.舉辦譫妄照護教育訓練，提升醫療團隊預防譫妄處置及照護執行率；制定外科譫妄高危險因子評估表，以早期篩選高危險病人；導入RADAR（recognizing acute delirium as part of your routine）譫妄辨識方法，快速辨識病人認知改變；建立外科高齡病人譫妄預防及治療照護作業，提升照護品質；購置床上運動器材增加病人活動力；建立外科高齡病人譫妄專屬病室，提供優質譫妄照護服務。.外科高齡病人譫妄發生率降低至6.5%、醫師預防譫妄處置執行率提升至98%、護理師預防譫妄照護執行率提升至100%。.本專案改善後成效良好，平行展開其他外科系病房，建立外科高齡病人譫妄專屬病室為外科病房之首創，能將其概念納入未來病房規劃之參考，提升醫療照顧品質。.

Since the outbreak of COVID-19, the public health agencies have been seriously challenged by the pandemic;countries tried to accelerate the quality and quantity of PCR test and tried to improve the storage of testing reagent with different solutions. In Taiwan, TFDA authorized case-by-case on the importation of test reagent for the emergency use and assisted the domestically produced test reagent. In Japan, the robot manufacturer developed an automated PCR viral testing robot system in crowded places, such as airports and stadiums to speed up the test and ceased the infection risk when the health professionals collected the sample. There was also an automated system for the analysis of the novel coronavirus, which the pre-process could automatically conduct the gene analysis to the positive sample, monitor the infection status of the sample and detect new variants. In the Netherlands, the research institute developed a pioneering automated test robot, which claimed to be the fastest and most accurate robotic test system.

We prove that the Maskin monotonicity⁎ condition (proposed by Bergemann et al. (2011) ) fully characterizes exact rationalizable implementation in an environment with lotteries and transfers. Different from previous papers, our approach possesses many appealing features simultaneously, e.g., finite mechanisms with no integer game or modulo game are used; no transfers are made in any rationalizable profile; the message space is small; the implementation is robust to information perturbations in the sense of Oury and Tercieux (2012) .

BackgroundClarithromycin is widely used to treat various bacterial infections and has been reported to have potential cardiovascular risk. However, it is uncertain whether this association was dose dependent and confounded by indication bias in patients with stable coronary heart disease (CHD).MethodsThis cohort study retrospectively analyzed a national health insurance claims data from Taiwan’s 2005 Longitudinal Generation Tracking Database. We used a new-user design and 1:1 propensity score matching. A total of 9,631 eligible clarithromycin users and 9,631 non-users in 2004–2015 were subject to final analysis. All patients were followed-up after receiving clarithromycin or on the matched corresponding date until occurrence of cardiovascular morbidity in the presence of competing mortality, all-cause and cause-specific mortality, or through the end of 2015. The effect of cumulative dose, exposure duration, and indications of clarithromycin on cardiovascular outcomes were also addressed.ResultsClarithromycin use, compared with non-use, was associated with higher risk for all-cause [adjusted hazard ratios (aHR), 1.43; 95% confidence interval, 1.29–1.58], cardiovascular (1.35; 1.09–1.67), and non-cardiovascular (1.45; 1.29–1.63) mortality, but not for overall cardiovascular morbidity. Further analysis of individual cardiovascular morbidity demonstrated major risk for heart events (1.25; 1.04–1.51) in clarithromycin users than non-users. However, there was no relationship of cumulative dose, exposure duration, and indications of clarithromycin on cardiovascular outcomes. Analyses of the effects over time showed that clarithromycin increased cardiovascular morbidity (1.21; 1.01–1.45), especially heart events (1.39; 1.10–1.45), all-cause (1.57; 1.38–1.80), cardiovascular (1.58; 1.20–2.08), and non-cardiovascular (1.57; 1.35–1.83) mortality during the first 3 years. Thereafter, clarithromycin effect on all outcomes almost dissipated.ConclusionClarithromycin use was associated with increased risk for short-term cardiovascular morbidity (especially, heart events) and mortality without a dose-response relationship in patients with stable CHD, which was not dose dependent and confounded by indications. Hence, patients with stable CHD while receiving clarithromycin should watch for these short-term potential risks.

Carboxypeptidase E (CPE) facilitates the conversion of prohormones into mature hormones and is highly expressed in multiple neuroendocrine tissues. Carriers ofCPEmutations have elevated plasma proinsulin and develop severe obesity and hyperglycemia. We aimed to determine whether loss ofCpein pancreatic beta cells disrupts proinsulin processing and accelerates development of diabetes and obesity in mice. Pancreatic beta cell-specific Cpe knockout mice (βCpeKO;Cpefl/flxIns1Cre/+) lack mature insulin granules and have elevated proinsulin in plasma; however, glucose-and KCl-stimulated insulin secretion in βCpeKO islets remained intact. High fat diet-fed βCpeKO mice showed comparable weight gain and glucose tolerance compared toWtlittermates. Notably, beta-cell area was increased in chow-fed βCpeKO mice and beta-cell replication was elevated in βCpeKO islets. Transcriptomic analysis of βCpeKO beta cells revealed elevated glycolysis andHif1α-target gene expression. Upon high glucose challenge, beta cells from βCpeKO mice showed reduced mitochondrial membrane potential, increased reactive oxygen species, reducedMafA, and elevatedAldh1a3transcript levels. Following multiple low-dose streptozotocin treatment, βCpeKO mice had accelerated hyperglycemia with reduced beta-cell insulin and Glut2 expression. These findings suggest thatCpeand proper proinsulin processing are critical in maintaining beta cell function during the development of diabetes.

In vertebrates, several forms of memory-relevant synaptic plasticity involve postsynaptic rearrangements of glutamate receptors. In contrast, previous work indicates that Drosophila and other invertebrates store memories using presynaptic plasticity of cholinergic synapses. Here, we provide evidence for postsynaptic plasticity at cholinergic output synapses from the Drosophila mushroom bodies (MBs). We find that the nicotinic acetylcholine receptor (nAChR) subunit α5 is required within specific MB output neurons for appetitive memory induction but is dispensable for aversive memories. In addition, nAChR α2 subunits mediate memory expression and likely function downstream of α5 and the postsynaptic scaffold protein discs large (Dlg). We show that postsynaptic plasticity traces can be induced independently of the presynapse, and that in vivo dynamics of α2 nAChR subunits are changed both in the context of associative and non-associative (familiarity) memory formation, underlying different plasticity rules. Therefore, regardless of neurotransmitter identity, key principles of postsynaptic plasticity support memory storage across phyla.

Angiogenesis plays an important role in the development of bone and bone regeneration to provide the required molecules. Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) are pluripotent, self-renewing, and spindle-shaped cells, which can differentiate into multiple lineages such as chondrocytes, osteocytes, and adipocytes. MSCs derived from bone marrow (BMMSCs), adipose tissue (ADMSCs), and Wharton’s jelly (UCMSCs) are popular in the field of tissue regeneration. MSCs have been proposed that can promote bone regeneration by enhancing vascularization. In this study, the angiogenic potential of secretomes of undifferentiated and osteo-differentiated BMMSCs, ADMSCs, and UCMSCs seeded on human decellularized allogeneic bone were compared. Human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs) were treated with MSC secretomes. Cell growth, cell migration, and angiogenesis of HUVECs were analyzed by MTT, wound healing, and tube formation assays. Angiogenic gene expression levels of MSCs were evaluated using real-time quantitative PCR. Antibody neutralization was performed to validate the candidate target. Our study demonstrates that the angiogenic gene expression profile is tissue-dependent and the angiogenic ability of secretomes is independent of the state of differentiation. We also explore that IL-1b is important for MSC angiogenic potential. Taken together, this study proves that IL-1b in the secretomes plays a vital role in angiogenesis.