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Hsin- Yueh Lu,1,* Chiu-Fan Chen,2,3,* David Lin Lee,2,3 Yi-Ju Tsai,4 Pei-Chin Lin4,5 1Division of Respiratory Therapy, Department of Internal Medicine, Kaohsiung Veterans General Hospital, Kaohsiung, Taiwan; 2Division of Chest Medicine, Department of Internal Medicine, Kaohsiung Veterans General Hospital, Kaohsiung, Taiwan; 3School of Medicine, College of Medicine, National Yang Ming Chiao Tung University, Hsinchu City, Taiwan; 4Department of Medical Education and Research, Kaohsiung Veterans General Hospital, Kaohsiung, Taiwan; 5Department of Pharmacy, School of Pharmacy, Kaohsiung Medical University, Kaohsiung, Taiwan*These authors contributed equally to this workCorrespondence: Pei-Chin Lin, Department of Medical Education and Research, Kaohsiung Veterans General Hospital, No. 386, Dazhong 1st Road, Zuoying District, Kaohsiung, 813, Taiwan, Tel +886-7-3422121 ext 71584, Email pclin@vghks.gov.twBackground: Pulmonary rehabilitation (PR) effectively improves symptoms and exercise ability in patients with stable chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). However, the effectiveness and timing of early PR on hospitalized patients with acute exacerbation of COPD (AECOPD) is still debated.Methods: This study conducted a meta-analysis to compare the outcome benefits between early PR and usual care for patient hospitalized due to AECOPD. A systematic search was performed for retrieving randomized control trials (RCTs) from the PubMed, Embase, and Cochrane library until November 2021. RCTs reporting early PR for AECOPD with hospitalization, either during admission or within four weeks of discharge, were enrolled for systematic review and meta-analysis.Results: Twenty RCTs (1274 participants) were included. Early PR showed significantly improved readmission rate (ten trials, risk ratio 0.68, 95% confidence interval (CI) 0.50– 0.92), 6-minute walking distance (6MWD, twelve trials, MD 59.73, 95% CI 36.34– 83.12), St George’s Respiratory Questionnaire score (eight trials, MD − 10.65, 95% CI − 14.78 to − 6.52), Borg score (eight trials, MD − 0.79, 95% CI − 1.26 to − 0.32), and modified Medical Research Council dyspnea scale (eight trials, MD − 0.38, 95% CI − 0.5 to − 0.25). However, the trend of mortality (six trials, risk ratio 0.72, 95% CI 0.39– 1.34) benefit was not significant. The subgroup analysis showed non-significant trends of better effect in early PR during admission than those after discharge for outcomes of 6MWD, quality of life, and dyspnea. However, non-significant trends of less benefits on mortality and readmission rate were found in early PR during the admission.Conclusion: Overall, early PR is beneficial for AECOPD with hospitalization, and there was no significant outcome difference between PR initiated during admission or within 4 weeks of discharge.Keywords: chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, exacerbation, hospitalization, pulmonary rehabilitation

Man-Chen Hung,1 Chuen-Fei Chen,1 Meng-Ting Tsou,2 Hsin-Hui Lin,2 Lee-Ching Hwang,1,2 Ching-Ping Hsu2 1Department of Medicine, Mackay Medical College, New Taipei City, Taiwan; 2Department of Family Medicine, Mackay Memorial Hospital, Taipei, TaiwanCorrespondence: Ching-Ping HsuDepartment of Family Medicine, Mackay Memorial Hospital, No. 92, Sec. 2, Zhongshan N. Road, Zhongshan District, Taipei City 104, TaiwanTel +886-2-25433535Fax +886-2-25213847Email drhsuinfo@gmail.comBackground: The prevalence of gallstone disease (GSD) increases with age, and the elderly have a much higher mortality risk and incidence of surgical comorbidities. The aim of this study was to explore the relationship between GSD and cardiometabolic risk factors in elderly people with non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD).Methods: In this cross-sectional study, we analyzed the data of elderly people who underwent annual health check-ups at a Northern Taiwan health examination center. These data were collected from physical examination, blood tests, abdominal ultrasonography, and medical histories. We excluded those with hepatitis B or C infections, heavy alcohol consumption, or cholecystectomy.Results: The analysis included 3,037 participants with a mean age of 73.6± 6.0 years. Over 70% were overweight or obese, and the overall prevalence of GSD was 17.7%. In our univariate analysis, GSD was positively correlated with age, body mass index, metabolic syndrome, diabetes mellitus (DM), hypertension (HTN), and various metabolic factors (fasting plasma glucose [FPG], triglyceride, uric acid, and high-density lipoprotein cholesterol [HDL-C] levels). After adjustment for age, gender, and body mass index, metabolic syndrome showed a positive association with GSD (odds ratio [OR] 1.31 [95% confidence interval [CI], 1.05– 1.64]; P=0.020). Specific components of metabolic syndrome that increased the risk for GSD in NAFLD elderly include lower levels of HDL-C (OR 1.35 [95% CI, 1.10– 1.66]; P< 0.001) and elevated FPG (OR 1.36 [95% CI, 1.10– 1.69]; P< 0.001).Conclusion: Our study concluded that GSD is significantly associated with metabolic syndrome in elderly people with NAFLD. Reduced HDL-C and elevated FPG both heighten the risk of developing GSD. Therefore, to lower the risk of GSD in NAFLD patients, their FPG levels and HDL-C levels must be regularly followed-up, and these patients should be educated about the symptoms of GSD if they meet the criteria for metabolic syndrome.Keywords: gallstone disease, cardiometabolic risk factors, metabolic syndrome

Wei-Quan Liang,1,* De Zeng,2,* Chun-Fa Chen,1 Shu-Ming Sun,1 Xiao-Feng Lu,1 Chun-yan Peng,3 Hao-Yu Lin1 1Department of Thyroid and Breast Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital of Shantou University Medical College, Shantou, Guangdong 515000, People’s Republic of China; 2Department of Medical Oncology, Cancer Hospital of Shantou University Medical College, Shantou 515031, People’s Republic of China; 3Department of Clinical Laboratory, Taihe Hospital of Hubei University of Medicine, Hubei 442008, People’s Republic of China *These authors contributed equally to this work Background: Growing evidence has indicated that the long noncoding RNA H19 (lncRNA H19), frequently deregulated in almost all tumor types tested, acted as a pivotal contributor to both cancer initiation and progression. However, the role of lncRNA H19 in human papillary thyroid carcinoma (PTC) remains controversial. The aim of the study was to investigate the expression and potential function of lncRNA H19 in human PTC.Patients and methods: The lncRNA H19 level was determined by quantitative real-time (RT)-PCR analyses in 58 PTC tissue samples and their paired paracancerous tissue samples. RNA interference, RT-PCR analysis, and Western blot assay were used to determine the impact of lncRNA H19 on epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) markers in human PTC cells. The migratory and invasive capacities of PTC cells were determined by wound-healing and transwell migration and invasion assays.Results: lncRNA H19 expression was 2.417-fold higher in PTC tissues than their paired paracancerous tissue (95% CI: 1.898–2.935, P

Na Zhang,1 Chun-Fu Chen2 1Department of Emergency Medicine, Shandong Provincial Qianfoshan Hospital, Shandong University, Jinan 250014, China; 2Department of Neurology, Shandong Provincial Hospital, Shandong University, Jinan 250021, China Objective: The clinical characteristics of migraine with and without allodynia were compared to evaluate the risk factors of cutaneous allodynia in migraine. The effects of prophylactic therapy on allodynia in patients with migraine were assessed based on the change in pain threshold after therapy. Patients and methods: A total of 71 patients with migraine admitted to the Department of Neurology of Shandong Provincial Hospital were recruited in this study. The included patients were aged 18–70 years and did not present positive symptoms according to the nervous system examination. The variation in cutaneous allodynia was assessed for the role of classic prophylactic therapy in migraine-related allodynia, also termed as central sensitization (CS). Patients with migraine were randomized into two groups (topiramate and flunarizine groups), and the effect of drugs was evaluated by the change in cutaneous pain threshold between the two groups. Fifty-five patients were tested for pain threshold due to instrument failure. Pressure allodynia was measured with a force gage, and pricking was measured with Electronic von Frey Anesthesiometer. The pain threshold was measured every 3 months for 6 months. The variations in pain threshold after treatment were compared using t-test and X2 test. Results: Allodynia was seen in 70.4% of the patients; of these, 76.3% were females. Female gender, duration of illness, and frequency of migraine attacks per month were significantly associated with allodynia. The rate of allodynia and frequency of headache declined significantly, the number of patients with allodynia was reduced, and the pain threshold improved dramatically after treatment. The composite adverse events were low after treatment with topiramate and flunarizine. Conclusion: Allodynia was observed, especially in females who experienced frequent migraine attacks for a prolonged period. Gender, duration of illness, and number of migraine attacks per month were the major predictors of allodynia. Topiramate and flunarizine administered orally for a short duration can effectively improve the pain threshold and CS of patients with migraine, and efficiently relieve allodynia. Keywords: migraine, prophylaxis, topiramate, flunarizine, allodynia, central sensitization

Occupants' adaptive strategies play an important role in the energy consumption of office buildings. Previous research has mostly focused on the adaptive strategies triggered by occupants' indoor discomfort; however, it is crucial to understand if specific adaptive strategies are linked to occupants' energy-saving intentions. This study explores the relationships among employees’ heuristic decision-making in their first choice of adaptive strategies (technological solutions or personal adjustments) when facing extreme discomfort conditions, and their energy-saving intentions, then links these patterns with building design, workplace contextual factors, and demographics. A cross-sectional survey was collected among university employees from China, Brazil, Italy, Poland, Switzerland, and the US. Our results demonstrated that the accessibility to indoor environmental controls (IECs) and office type are the significant factors for adaptive strategies. There was a positive relationship between the number of IEC features and the percentage of employees choosing a technological solution. When feeling too hot, occupants in private offices are more likely to adopt a technological solution, whereas occupants in cubicles are more likely to choose a personal adjustment. Occupants with energy-saving intentions are less likely to choose thermostat adjustments or use portable devices as adaptive strategies than their counterparts. Finally, the cluster analysis suggests females were more likely to use adaptive strategies for energy-saving purposes than males. The majority of occupants would turn on/off lighting to save energy. The study provides the contributions in the connection between the heuristic decision-making process and energy-saving intentions and recommendations on design strategies for building architects, engineers, and managers.

Indoor environmental quality (IEQ) plays a key role in determining occupants' productivity at work; however, analyses of the interconnected factors among building physical, attitudinal, social and demographic components in one study are lacking. To fill this research gap, this study investigates these interconnected factors' influence on occupants’ IEQ-productivity belief, defined as a personal, subjective evaluation of the linkage between the impacts of five IEQ aspects (the quality of indoor temperature, air, natural and electric lighting, and acoustics) and productivity. A cross-sectional survey data was collected in university offices from six countries (Brazil, Italy, Poland, Switzerland, Taiwan and the U.S.). Results of multiple linear regression models indicate that IEQ satisfaction is the strongest positive predictor of the IEQ-productivity belief and this relationship is stronger in private offices. Country of residence is the second primary predictor. Several attitudinal-behavioral factors, including thermal comfort, perceived ease of controlling indoor environmental features, and attitudes toward sharing controls are all positively associated with IEQ-productivity belief. Interestingly, the level of control accessibility to light switches has the strongest impact as opposed to other controls. On the other hand, group norms and conformity intention are not significant predictors. Regarding demographics, men are more likely than women to perceive the IEQs to have positive impacts on their productivity, without considering other variables in the regression model; however, women are more likely than men to consider all IEQs as having positive impacts on productivity, after considering other variables. Our findings provide suggestions for prioritizing wellness in the workplace since the early design stage.

This study investigates human-building interaction in office spaces across multiple countries including Brazil, Italy, Poland, Switzerland, the United States, and Taiwan. We analyze social-psychological, contextual, and demographic factors to explain cross-country differences in adaptive thermal actions (i.e. cooling and heating behaviors) and conformity to the norms of sharing indoor environmental control features, an indicator of energy consumption. Specifically, personal adjustments such as putting on extra clothes are generally preferred over technological solutions such as adjusting thermostats in reaction to thermal discomfort. Social-psychological factors including attitudes, perceived behavioral control, injunctive norms, and perceived impact of indoor environmental quality on work productivity influence occupants’ intention to conform to the norms of sharing environmental control features. Lastly, accessibility to environmental control features, office type, gender, and age are also important factors. These findings demonstrate the roles of social-psychological and certain contextual factors in occupants’ interactions with building design as well as their behavior of sharing environmental control features, both of which significantly influence building energy consumption, and thus, broader decarbonization.

Occupant behavior influences office building energy performance. The level of human-building interactions (HBIs) in shared offices strongly influences building energy use and occupant well-being. This study explored the link between occupant personality types and their behaviors of sharing energy and environment control systems and interactions with their colleagues. Inspired by the Five-Factor Model (FFM), we classified HBI behaviors into four dimensions: willingness to share control, knowledge of control, group decision behavior, and adaptive strategies. These four variables can be mapped to the four personality traits proposed by the FFM: agreeableness, openness, extraversion, and conscientiousness. Our cluster analysis identified six behavioral patterns: average (17.7%), reserved (15.3%), environmentally friendly (16.6%), role model (24.2%), self-centered (17.2%), and mechanist (9.0%). We further applied association rules, a widely utilized machine learning technique, to discover how demographics, building-related contextual factors, and perception-attitudinal factors influence HBI behaviors. Country, control feature accessibility, and group dynamics were found to be the three most influential factors that determine occupants’ HBI behaviors. The study provides insights about building design and operation, as well as policy to promote socially and environmentally desirable HBI behaviors in a shared office environment.

This study introduces an interdisciplinary framework for investigating building-user interaction in office spaces. The framework is a synthesis of theories from building physics and social psychology including social cognitive theory, the theory of planned behavior, and the drivers-needs-actions-systems ontology for energy-related behaviors. The goal of the research framework is to investigate the effects of various behavioral adaptations and building controls (i.e., adjusting thermostats, operating windows, blinds and shades, and switching on/off artificial lights) to determine impacts on occupant comfort and energy-related operational costs in the office environment. This study attempts to expand state-of-the-art understanding of: (1) the environmental, personal, and behavioral drivers motivating occupants to interact with building control systems across four seasons, (2) how occupants’ intention to share controls is influenced by social-psychological variables such as attitudes, subjective norms, and perceived behavioral control in group negotiation dynamic, (3) the perceived ease of usage and knowledge of building technologies, and (4) perceived satisfaction and productivity. To ground the validation of the theoretical framework in diverse office settings and contexts at the international scale, an online survey was designed to collect cross-country responses from office occupants among 14 universities and research centers within the United States, Europe, China, and Australia.

Occupant behavior has significant impacts on building energy performance and occupant comfort. However, occupant behavior is not well understood and is often oversimplified in the building life cycle, due to its stochastic, diverse, complex, and interdisciplinary nature. The use of simplified methods or tools to quantify the impacts of occupant behavior in building performance simulations significantly contributes to performance gaps between simulated models and actual building energy consumption. Therefore, it is crucial to understand occupant behavior in a comprehensive way, integrating qualitative approaches and data- and model-driven quantitative approaches, and employing appropriate tools to guide the design and operation of low-energy residential and commercial buildings that integrate technological and human dimensions. This paper presents ten questions, highlighting some of the most important issues regarding concepts, applications, and methodologies in occupant behavior research. The proposed questions and answers aim to provide insights into occupant behavior for current and future researchers, designers, and policy makers, and most importantly, to inspire innovative research and applications to increase energy efficiency and reduce energy use in buildings.

Background: (18)F-fluoro-2-deoxyglucose positron emission tomography ((18)F-FDG PET) imaging has been shown to be an accurate method for diagnosing pulmonary lesions, and the standardized uptake value (SUV) has been shown to be useful in differentiating benign from malignant lesions. Purpose: To survey the interobserver variability of SUV(max) and SUV(mean) measurements on (18)F-FDG PET/CT scans and compare them with tumor size measurements on diagnostic CT scans in the same group of patients with focal pulmonary lesions. Material and Methods: Forty-three pulmonary nodules were measured on both (18)F-FDG PET/CT and diagnostic chest CT examinations. Four independent readers measured the SUV(max) and SUV(mean) of the (18)F-FDG PET images, and the unidimensional nodule size of the diagnostic CT scans (UD(CT)) in all nodules. The region of interest (ROI) for the SUV measurements was drawn manually around each tumor on all consecutive slices that contained the nodule. The interobserver reliability and variability, represented by the intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC) and coefficient of variation (COV), respectively, were compared among the three parameters. The correlation between the SUV(max) and SUV(mean) was also analyzed. Results: There was 100% agreement in the SUV(max) measurements among the 4 readers in the 43 pulmonary tumors. The ICCs for the SUV(max), SUV(mean), and UD(CT) by the four readers were 1.00, 0.97, and 0.97, respectively. The root-mean-square values of the COVs for the SUV(max), SUV(mean), and UD(CT) by the four readers were 0%, 13.56%, and 11.03%, respectively. There was a high correlation observed between the SUV(max) and SUV(mean) (Pearson's r=0.958; P <0.01). Conclusion: This study has shown that the SUV(max) of lung nodules can be calculated without any interobserver variation. These findings indicate that SUV(max) is a more valuable parameter than the SUV(mean) or UD(CT) for the evaluation of therapeutic effects of chemotherapy or radiation therapy on serial studies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Evodia rutaecarpa (ER) and Tetradium glabrifolium (TG) are closely related species collected from different locations, with processed versus unprocessed and fresh versus 1-year-old samples. The purpose of this study is to determine the variability of their bioactive constituents; evodiamine, dehydroevodiamine, rutaecarpine and synephrine--as well as their relaxing effects on an isolated rat aortas and uterus using the extracts of the test specimens. The vasorelaxation was greater in ER from Taiwan than from China in spite of lower levels of the relaxing alkaloids evodiamine, dehydroevodiamine and rutaecarpine. On the other hand, the uterine relaxation of ER from China was better than the one from Taiwan, even though constricting synephrine was only contained in Chinese ER. After processing, the relaxation of ER from China in the uterus was increased while the vasorelaxation remained unchanged. Conversely, TG from Wu-ling contained more relaxing alkaloids than that from Lee Mountain. However, the relaxation in both the uterus and the aorta was less in TG from Wu-ling. After 1 year of storage, the vasorelaxation of TG from Lee Mountain was not changed. Taken together, a significant finding in the present study is the lack of correction between chemical composition and relaxing activities. This strongly supports our assumption that biological function evaluations, instead of chemical standardization, is the more adequate way of showing meaningful consistency of natural preparations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Z-DNA, a left-handed helical form of DNA, plays a significant role in genomic stability and gene regulation. Its formation, associated with high GC content and repetitive sequences, is linked to genomic instability, potentially leading to large-scale deletions and contributing to phenotypic diversity and evolutionary adaptation., Results: In this study, we analyzed the density of Z-DNA-prone motifs of 154 avian genomes using the non-B DNA Motif Search Tool (nBMST). Our findings indicate a higher prevalence of Z-DNA motifs in promoter regions across all avian species compared to other genomic regions. A negative correlation was observed between Z-DNA density and developmental time in birds, suggesting that species with shorter developmental periods tend to have higher Z-DNA densities. This relationship implies that Z-DNA may influence the timing and regulation of development in avian species. Furthermore, Z-DNA density showed associations with traits such as body mass, egg mass, and genome size, highlighting the complex interactions between genome architecture and phenotypic characteristics. Gene Ontology (GO) analysis revealed that Z-DNA motifs are enriched in genes involved in nucleic acid binding, kinase activity, and translation regulation, suggesting a role in fine-tuning gene expression essential for cellular functions and responses to environmental changes. Additionally, the potential of Z-DNA to drive genomic instability and facilitate adaptive evolution underscores its importance in shaping phenotypic diversity., Conclusions: This study emphasizes the role of Z-DNA as a dynamic genomic element contributing to gene regulation, genomic stability, and phenotypic diversity in avian species. Future research should experimentally validate these associations and explore the molecular mechanisms by which Z-DNA influences avian biology., Competing Interests: Declarations. Ethics approval and consent to participate: Not applicable. Consent for publication: Not applicable. Competing interests: The authors declare no competing interests., (© 2024. The Author(s).)

Chiral macrocyclic arenes possess confined three-dimensional asymmetric cavities, electron-rich structures, chiral luminescence properties and excellent enantioselective recognition properties and have become a frontier and hotspot of macrocyclic chemistry and supramolecular chemistry. In recent years, there has been growing interest in the development of novel chiral macrocyclic arenes, which have found applications in various research areas. In this review, the construction, properties and functional applications of novel chiral macrocyclic arenes in enantioselective recognition, chiral sorting and construction of chiral luminescent materials according to their chiral types, including central, axial, planar, and inherent chiralities, are summarized. It is expected that this review will be helpful for research on supramolecular chemistry and for promoting the development of synthetic chemistry, materials chemistry and biochemistry.

This study examines factors influencing the operational durations of nursing facilities in Taiwan. It departs from previous closure-focused research by analyzing the duration of facility operation. A Cox regression model was employed to assess the impact of regional, governmental, and individual institutional factors on 199 facilities across diverse areas in Taiwan from 2011 to 2019. Results demonstrate closure hazards associated with rising property prices, particularly for rented facilities, with metropolitan locations exhibiting superior survival rates and lower institutional appraisal grades significantly increasing closure. Additionally, operator background, facility type, and bed occupancy emerged as influential factors. These findings underscore the financial vulnerability of rented facilities to market fluctuations and the challenges associated with adjusting resident fees. Furthermore, the study highlights the unique challenges faced by facilities in low-density areas regarding resident access to resources. Policymakers should closely monitor regional factors and consider proactively implementing early warning systems to address these challenges., Competing Interests: Declaration of Conflicting InterestsThe author(s) declared no potential conflicts of interest with respect to the research, authorship, and/or publication of this article.

Two new macrocyclic arenes H1 and H2 were conveniently synthesized by the one-step reaction of carboxylic acid substituted octopus[3]arene. It was found that H1 was composed of three ethenoanthracene subunits with a rigid hexagonal structure and H2 contained two ethenoanthracene subunits and one anthracene subunit with a rigid house-shaped structure. Among them, H2 exhibited strong blue fluorescence due to the existence of an anthracene subunit. Moreover, both H1 and H2 showed large and electron-rich cavities, which enable them to effectively complex different nitrogen-containing heterocyclic salt guests in solution and the solid state. It was further found that H2 exhibited stronger complexation towards the tested guests than H1 probably due to the stronger charge-transfer interactions between H2 and the guests., (© 2024 Wiley-VCH GmbH.)

Introduction: The comparison between the cementless taper wedge stem and fit-and-fill stem in total hip arthroplasty (THA) for various proximal femoral morphological types has not been thoroughly assessed. This study aimed to compare the risk of leg length discrepancy (LLD) ≥ 10 mm between these two stem types in Dorr type A, B, and C femurs., Materials and Methods: From April 2015 through April 2021, we analyzed 1178 unilateral primary cementless THA procedures. We categorized all procedures into three groups: Dorr type A (N = 220, 18.7%), B (N = 875, 74.3%), and C (N = 83, 7.0%). Within each Dorr type, we compared the incidence and risk of postoperative LLD ≥ 10 mm between the two stem types. The factors considered in the multivariate regression analyses included stem type, age, sex, body mass index, diagnosis, canal flare index, femoral cortical index and stem alignment., Results: The taper wedge stem group had a higher overall incidence of LLD ≥ 10 mm (12.8% vs. 7.4%, P = 0.012) and in Dorr type A femurs (22.2% vs. 7.6%, P = 0.014), compared with the fit-and-fill stem group. In multivariate analysis, the taper wedge stem exhibited an increased risk of LLD ≥ 10 mm only in Dorr type A femurs (aOR: 3.449, 95% CI: 1.325-8.794). The incidence and risk of LLD ≥ 10 mm were not different between the two stems in Dorr type B and C femurs., Conclusions: The taper wedge stem demonstrated an elevated risk of LLD ≥ 10 mm in Dorr type A femurs compared with the fit-and-fill stem, necessitating meticulous preoperative templating and intraoperative femoral canal preparation., Competing Interests: Declarations. Compliance with ethical standards: The ethics committee and institutional review board of Taipei Veterans General Hospital approved this study (2023-011-001BC). The requirement for informed consent was waived due to the retrospective nature of the study. The authors declare that they have no conflicts of interest., (© 2024. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer-Verlag GmbH Germany, part of Springer Nature.)

The rapid increase of offshore projects at Taiwan Strait in recent decade has been debated for elevated noise levels. However, there are no studies on long-term assessment of noise levels and impact of noise on marine organisms. The passive acoustic monitoring was conducted at the foremost wind farm area in Taiwan to assess the sound levels and the impact of noise on fish vocalization behavior. Predominately, in the soundscape around the Taiwan Strait, two chorusing types (Type 1 and Type 2) from the Sciaenid family of fishes exist. Ambient sound levels significantly increased from 2014 to 2019, while the chorusing Types 1 and 2 were observed in a lower percentage of the recordings. Additionally, chorusing peak intensity and duration significantly reduced over the years for both choruses. This is the first field-based evidence to demonstrate the consequences of increasing anthropogenic noise having the potential to alter the vocalization behavior of the fish., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2024 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

Egg quality is a vital factor in the poultry industry. High-quality eggs not only meet consumer expectations for appearance, taste, and nutritional value but also have high marketability, profitability, and consumer satisfaction. Accordingly, we executed our research with the purpose of determining chromosomal regions and genetic markers associated with egg quality in an F2 cross-bred chicken population under tropical conditions; we determined these through a genome-wide association study and quantitative trait locus (QTL) mapping. This population was created by cross-breeding the L2 line of Taiwan Country chickens, which is adapted to local conditions in Taiwan, with an experimental line (R-line) of Rhode Island Red layer chickens, which was developed by the French National Research Institute for Agriculture, Food and the Environment. A 60 K single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) genotyping array for chickens was employed to execute the analysis. Our analysis revealed 40 QTLs associated with egg quality under tropical conditions, namely 20 QTLs with genome-wide statistical significance and 20 QTLs with chromosome-wide statistical significance. Furthermore, we identified 93 SNPs exerting discernible effects on egg quality, with 10 of these effects exhibiting genome-wide significance and 83 exhibiting potential significance. The majority of the detected QTL regions and SNPs agreed with those identified as having an association with egg quality or production traits in previous studies, thus supporting the interrelationships determined between the studied characteristics. The findings of this study enhance the understanding regarding the genetic regulation governing chicken egg quality, thereby serving as a valuable reference for future functional investigations., (© 2024. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer Nature B.V.)

Various factors can contribute to bone damage or loss, presenting challenges for bone regeneration. Our study explores the potential clinical applications of two processed forms of Wharton's jelly of the human umbilical cord for treating bone loss. Wharton's jelly from fresh umbilical cords underwent two distinct processes: (1) frozen Wharton's jelly (WJF), preserved with cryoprotective agents, and (2) decellularized Wharton's jelly matrix (WJD), prepared only via lyophilization without cryoprotectants. Both WJD and WJF are rich in collagen, hyaluronan, and polysaccharide proteins. Notably, WJD exhibited a porous structure lacking nuclei from human umbilical cord mesenchymal stem cells, unlike WJF. In direct contact experiments, WJD stimulated osteoblast migration, enhanced osteoblast maturation, and promoted calcium deposition for bone formation when administered to cultured rat osteoblasts. Furthermore, in transwell co-culture experiments, both WJD and WJF increased the rat osteoblast expression of RUNX2 and OPN genes, elevated alkaline phosphatase levels, and enhanced extracellular calcium precipitation, indicating their role in osteoblast maturation and new bone formation. Hyaluronic acid, one of the ingredients from WJD and WJF, was identified as a key component triggering osteogenesis. In vivo experiments involved creating circular bone defects in the calvarias of rats, where WJD and WJF were separately implanted and monitored over five months using micro-computerized tomography. Our results demonstrated that both WJD and WJF enhanced angiogenesis, collagen formation, osteoblast maturation, and bone growth within the bone defects. In summary, WJD and WJF, natural biomaterials with biocompatibility and nontoxicity, act not only as effective scaffolds but also promote osteoblast adhesion and differentiation, and accelerate osteogenesis.

In this work, we report the syntheses of three Pt(II) emitters, namely, Pt4N1, Pt4N2, and Pt4N3, to which their tetradentate chelates were assembled by linking two pyrazolate chelates with a single xylenylamino entity. Functionalization of Pt4N1 was achieved upon the addition of electronegative CF 3 substituent on pyridinyl groups and switching to more electron-deficient pyrazinyl groups in giving Pt4N2 and Pt4N3, respectively. The vertically arranged xylenylamino entity has effectively suppressed the inter-molecular π-π stacking and Pt⋅⋅⋅Pt interaction, as shown by the single crystal X-ray structural analyses. Upon fabrication of OLED devices, Pt4N2 and Pt4N3 based devices delivered efficient cyan and green emission, with an EQE max of 15.2 % and 11.2 %, respectively, affirming the successfulness of the tetradentate chelating strategy., (© 2024 The Author(s). Chemistry - A European Journal published by Wiley-VCH GmbH.)

Background: A lateral hinge fracture is a common complication in medial open wedge high tibial osteotomy (MOWHTO) and is associated with delayed union or nonunion. A comparison of outcomes between patients with or without a lateral hinge fracture after MOWHTO with a structural allograft has not been investigated., Purpose: To validate the outcomes of MOWHTO with a structural allograft, especially in the presence of a lateral hinge fracture., Study Design: Case series; Level of evidence, 4., Methods: We conducted a single-surgeon cohort study at a tertiary referral hospital between April 2017 and August 2022 and included patients who had undergone MOWHTO with a structural allograft for isolated medial compartment osteoarthritis with genu varum. We compared the incidence of delayed union or nonunion events and functional scores between patients with a lateral hinge fracture and those without using the Fisher exact test and independent t test., Results: A total of 88 MOWHTO procedures (77 patients) were analyzed. The overall incidence of lateral hinge fractures was 29.5% (n = 26), including type I (n = 20 [22.7%]) and type II (n = 6 [6.8%]). Notably, 42.3% (n = 11) of these fractures had not been detected intraoperatively but during the follow-up visits. The overall Knee Society Score (KSS), Knee Society Score-Function (KSS-F), and Western Ontario and McMaster Universities Arthritis Index (WOMAC) scores were 90.0 ± 10.0, 93.4 ± 10.8, and 93.8 ± 7.1 points, respectively. None of the patients had delayed union or nonunion, and none underwent a reoperation because of bony union problems. The functional scores (KSS, KSS-F, and WOMAC) were not different between patients who had a lateral hinge fracture and those who did not ( P > .05)., Conclusion: The routine use of a structural allograft was associated with satisfactory outcomes after MOWHTO, regardless of whether there was a lateral hinge fracture., Competing Interests: The authors have declared that there are no conflicts of interest in the authorship and publication of this contribution. AOSSM checks author disclosures against the Open Payments Database (OPD). AOSSM has not conducted an independent investigation on the OPD and disclaims any liability or responsibility relating thereto., (© The Author(s) 2024.)

Rain gardens are widely used for low impact development (LID) or as a nature-based solution (NbS). They help to reduce runoff, mitigate hot temperatures, create habitats for plants and insects, and beautify landscapes. Rain gardens are increasingly being established in urban areas. In Taiwan, the Ministry of Environment (MoE) initiated a rain garden project in Taipei city in 2018, and 15 rain gardens have since been constructed in different cities. These Taiwanese-style rain gardens contain an underground storage tank to collect the filtrated rainwater, which can be used for irrigation. Moreover, the 15 rain gardens are equipped with sensors to monitor temperature, rainfall, and underground water levels. The monitoring data were transmitted with Internet of Things (IoT) technology, enabling the capture and export of real-time values. The water retention, temperature mitigation, water quality, and ecological indices of the rain gardens were quantified using field data. The results from the young rain gardens (1-3 years) showed that nearly 100 % of the rainfall was retained onsite and did not flow out from the rain gardens; however, if the stored water was not used and the tanks were full, the rainwater from subsequent storms could not be stored, and the tanks overflowed. The surface temperatures of the rain garden and nearby impermeable pavement differed by an average of 2-4 °C. This difference exceeded 20 °C in summer at noon. The water in the underground storage tanks had very low levels of SS and BOD, with averages of 1.6 mg/L and 5.6 mg/L, respectively. However, the E. coli concentrations were high, and the average was 6283 CFU/100 mL; therefore, washing or drinking water is not recommended. The ecological indices, i.e., the Shannon and Simpson indices, demonstrated the good flora status of the rain gardens after one year. Although the weather differed by city, the performance of the rain gardens in terms of water retention, temperature mitigation, rainwater harvesting, and providing biological habitats was consistent. However, maintenance influences rain garden performance. If the stored water is not frequently used, the stored volume is reduced, and the stored water quality degrades., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare the following financial interests/personal relationships which may be considered as potential competing interests: Chi-Feng Chen reports financial support was provided by Climate Change Administration, Ministry of Environment, Taiwan. If there are other authors, they declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2024 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)