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Abstract Background Computational thinking (CT) is crucial to fostering critical thinking and problem-solving skills. Many elementary schools have been cultivating students’ CT through block-based programming languages such as Scratch using traditional teacher-centered teaching methods. However, the approach excessively relies on teacher lectures, so the teacher’s teaching load is hefty, and most students cannot receive timely assistance from teachers, thus reducing students’ programming learning performance, interest, and confidence. Therefore, this study designs a Jigsaw collaborative learning method implemented in a metaverse virtual space (JCLM-MVS) for peer-to-peer Scratch programming learning to promote learners’ programming learning performance, CT, and learning attitudes. This study used a quasi-experimental research method, with 48 fifth-grade students from two classes in Taiwan’s elementary school as the research participants. One class of 24 students was randomly assigned to the experimental group using JCLM-MVS to conduct Scratch programming learning, whereas the other class of 24 students was assigned to the control group using the traditional teacher-centered teaching method. Main findings The study found that the experimental group of learners showed significantly better Scratch programming learning performance and attitude than the control group, and there was no statistically significant difference in CT between both groups, but both learning approaches effectively promoted CT. Additionally, the interview results showed that most interviewees stated that using JCLM-MVS for Scratch programming learning could receive timely assistance from peers, make collaborative learning more efficient and learning more enjoyable, and more intend to use JCLM-MVS for Scratch programming learning than using traditional teacher-centered teaching method due to the effective collaborative interaction mechanisms and realistic learning space provided in the metaverse virtual space. Conclusions/potential implications This study presents a novel and engaging learning approach by integrating a metaverse virtual space with the Jigsaw collaborative learning method, referred to as JCLM-MVS, which enhances the effectiveness of the Jigsaw collaborative learning method in promoting Scratch programming learning performance, CT, and attitudes.

The microstructure and uniformity of Cu metallization in the through glass via (TGV) structure were investigated through electron backscatter diffraction (EBSD) analysis system and finite element analysis (FEA) method. Two different direct current (DC) electroplating methods were employed for the TGV metallization, including single- and multiple-step electroplating methods. We found that the multiple-step electroplating process with appropriate current density (j)/plating time (t) can efficiently enhance the throwing power (TP) value (uniformity) of electroplated Cu in the TGV metallization. Moreover, the Cu electrodeposition via the multiple-step electroplating process possessed larger grain sizes and high fraction of high angle grain boundaries (HAGBs), including twin boundaries (TBs), which are very beneficial to the mechanical and electrical properties of Cu interconnects. Detailed analyses of the uniformity (i.e., TP), crystallographic microstructure (e.g., grain size), and mechanical characteristics (e.g., ductility) of electroplated Cu derived from single- and multiple-step electroplating process were discussed in this paper.

Leishmania is a parasitic protozoan belonging to the family Trypanosomatidae. Leishmaniasis, caused by infection with Leishmania parasites, can manifest in three primary forms: cutaneous, mucocutaneous, and visceral. Approximately 2 million individuals worldwide are affected by leishmaniasis, with an estimated 0.7–1 million new cases occurring annually and around 20,000–65,000 deaths reported annually. Current chemotherapy for leishmaniasis faces several challenges, including high costs, adverse effects, drug resistance, and disease relapse. Consequently, there is an urgent need for alternative treatments. Drug repurposing presents a promising strategy for discovering and developing new antileishmanial therapeutics. This review aims to explore and summarize recent advances in the identification of antileishmanial drugs, highlighting the successful repurposing of existing drugs for leishmaniasis and their transition from academic research to industrial application. These advancements are primarily based on integrated computational and experimental approaches, including in silico, in vitro, and in vivo screening, as well as biological and biochemical analyses to identify effective antileishmanial agents. Further studies are needed to elucidate the mechanisms of action of these new leads and to conduct preclinical and clinical evaluations of the identified drugs for potential antileishmanial therapy.

Carbapenem-resistant Enterobacter cloacae complex is a significant global healthcare threat, particularly carbapenemase-producing Enterobacter hormaechei (CPEH). From January 2017 to January 2021, twenty-two CPEH isolates from a regional teaching hospital in central Taiwan were identified with the carriage of carbapenemase genes blaKPC-2, blaIMP-8, and predominantly blaOXA-48. Over 80% of these CPEH strains clustered into the high-risk ST78 lineage, carrying a blaOXA-48 IncL plasmid (pOXA48-CREH), nearly identical to the endemic plasmid pOXA48-KP in ST11 Klebsiella pneumoniae. This OXA-48-producing ST78 lineage disseminated clonally from 2018 to 2021 and transferred pOXA48-CREH to ST66 and ST90 E. hormaechei. An IMP-8-producing ST78 strain harbouring a blaIMP-8-carrying pIncHI2 plasmid appeared in 2018, and by late 2020, a KPC-2-producing ST78 strain was identified after acquiring a novel blaKPC-2-carrying IncFII plasmid. These findings suggest that the high-risk ST78 lineage of E. hormaechei has emerged as the primary driver behind the transmission of CPEH. ST78 has not only acquired various carbapenemase-gene-carrying plasmids but has also facilitated the transfer of pOXA48-CREH to other lineages. Continuous genomic surveillance and targeted interventions are urgently needed to control the spread of emerging CPEH clones in hospital settings.

Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a neurodevelopmental disorder affecting over 1% of the global population. Individuals with ASD often exhibit complex behavioral conditions, including significant social difficulties and repetitive behaviors. Moreover, ASD often co-occurs with several other conditions, including intellectual disabilities and anxiety disorders. The etiology of ASD remains largely unknown owing to its complex genetic variations and associated environmental risks. Ultimately, this poses a fundamental challenge for the development of effective ASD treatment strategies. Previously, we demonstrated that daily supplementation with the probiotic Lactiplantibacillus plantarum PS128 (PS128) alleviates ASD symptoms in children. However, the mechanism underlying this improvement in ASD-associated behaviors remains unclear. Here, we used a well-established ASD mouse model, induced by prenatal exposure to valproic acid (VPA), to study the physiological roles of PS128 in vivo. Overall, we showed that PS128 selectively ameliorates behavioral abnormalities in social and spatial memory in VPA-induced ASD mice. Morphological examination of dendritic architecture further revealed that PS128 facilitated the restoration of dendritic arborization and spine density in the hippocampus and prefrontal cortex of ASD mice. Notably, PS128 was crucial for restoring oxytocin levels in the paraventricular nucleus and oxytocin receptor signaling in the hippocampus. Moreover, PS128 alters the gut microbiota composition and increases the abundance of Bifidobacterium spp. and PS128-induced changes in Bifidobacterium abundance positively correlated with PS128-induced behavioral improvements. Together, our results show that PS128 treatment can effectively ameliorate ASD-associated behaviors and reinstate oxytocin levels in VPA-induced mice, thereby providing a promising strategy for the future development of ASD therapeutics.

Self-assembled monolayers (SAMs) with short organic chains terminated with specific functional groups are attractive for modifying surface properties for a variety of applications, including being a copper diffusion barrier layer on Si wafer. However, SAM formation is process-sensitive and ideal SAM is difficult to obtain, both of which need to carefully deal with before practical use. Herein we developed a system to achieve seamless electroless deposited copper (ELD Cu) film on an amino-terminated silane SAM modified Si wafer with the help of a bifunctional polyvinyl alcohol-capped Pd nanocluster (PVA-Pd) catalyst. The PVA-Pd acts as a catalyst for ELD Cu as well as a healing agent to fix defects of the amino silane SAM. The sheet resistance, cross-sectional morphology analysis and adhesion of ELD Cu on the Si wafer are extensively studied. By controlling the abundancy of PVA in PVA-Pd, the diffusion barrier property of a flawed amino-terminated silane SAM remains reliably effective even after a 500 °C rapid thermal annealing (RTA), evidencing the superior healing function of PVA. The whole thickness of the PVA-Pd/amino-terminated silane SAM before and after RTA is 〜6 nm and 〜2 nm, respectively, which is applicable for advanced microelectronic manufacturing.

Compared with traditional face-to-face classroom teaching, the nature of distance learning restricts the number of face-to-face exchanges between learners and teachers, as well as between learners and learners, which reduces the emotional and learning connection between learners, and results in a lesser degree of familiarity between learners and their peers than that of the physical classroom.

"This article aims to enhance our understanding of the reliability and appropriateness of information presented in archival compilations by examining the editorial notes of different compilations through comparative analysis. By investigating the editor's purpose, background, and scope of each publication, as well as the employed editing symbols, presented information, and problem-solving approaches, this study provides valuable guidelines for the compilation of archival documents. To ensure consistency across different temporal and spatial contexts, this research analyzes the contents of graduation theses from the Department of History at National Chengchi University over a 20-year period (2003-2022). Furthermore, it examines the cited documents related to the history of the Republic of China government during the mainland period (1912-1949). From this analysis, archival documents published in China during this specific period are filtered, compiled, and reviewed. The study also scrutinizes the information, contents, and methodologies employed by various archival collections and editors in compiling records from this period, providing a valuable scholarly reference for future research endeavors."

Carbapenem-resistant ST11_KL64 Klebsiella pneumoniae emerged as a significant public health concern in Taiwan, peaking between 2013 and 2015, with the majority of isolates exhibiting OXA-48 as the sole carbapenemase. In this study, we employed whole-genome sequencing to investigate the molecular underpinnings of ST11_KL64 isolates collected from 2013 to 2021. Phylogenomic analysis revealed a notable genetic divergence between the ST11_KL64 strains in Taiwan and those in China, suggesting an independent evolutionary trajectory. Our findings indicated that the ST11_KL64_Taiwan lineage originated from the ST11_KL64 lineage in Brazil, with recombination events leading to the integration of ICEKp11 and a 27-kb fragment at the tRNAASN sites, shaping its unique genomic landscape. To further elucidate this unique sublineage, we examined the plasmid contents. In contrast to ST11_KL64_Brazil strains, which predominantly carried blaKPC-2, ST11_KL64_Taiwan strains exhibited the acquisition of an epidemic blaOXA-48-carrying IncL plasmid. Additionally, ST11_KL64_Taiwan strains consistently harbored a multi-drug resistance IncC plasmid, along with a collection of gene clusters that conferred resistance to heavy metals and the phage shock protein system via various Inc-type plasmids. Although few, there were still rare ST11_KL64_Taiwan strains that have evolved into hypervirulent CRKP through the horizontal acquisition of pLVPK variants. Comprehensive characterization of the high-risk ST11_KL64 lineage in Taiwan not only sheds light on its epidemic success but also provides essential data for ongoing surveillance efforts aimed at tracking the spread and evolution of ST11_KL64 across different geographical regions. Understanding the molecular underpinnings of CRKP evolution is crucial for developing effective strategies to combat its emergence and dissemination.

Sn-3Ag-0.5Cu (SAC305)- and Sn-9Zn-based alloys (Sn-Zn-X, X = Al, In) are lead-free solders used in the fabrication of solder joints with Cu metallization. Electroplating is a facile technology used to fabricate Cu metallization. However, the addition of functional additive molecules in the plating solution may result in impurity residues in the Cu electroplated layer, causing damage to the solder joints. This study investigates the impurity effect on solder joints constructed by joining various solder alloys to the Cu electroplated layers. Functional additives are formulated to fabricate high-impurity and low-impurity Cu electroplated samples. The as-joined solder joint samples are thermally aged at 120 °C and 170 °C to explore the interfacial reactions between solder alloys and Cu. The results show that the impurity effect on the interfacial reactions between SAC305 and Cu is significant. Voids are massively formed at the SAC305/Cu interface incorporated with a high impurity content, and the Cu6Sn5 intermetallic compound (IMC) grows at a faster rate. In contrast, the growth of the Cu5Zn8 IMC formed in the SnZn-based solder joints is not significantly influenced by the impurity content in the Cu electroplated layers. Voids are not observed in the SnZn-based solder joints regardless of the impurity content, indicative of an insignificant impurity effect. The discrepancy of the impurity effect is rationalized by the differences in the IMC formation and associated atomic interdiffusion in the SAC305- and SnZn-based solder joints.

This work investigates a two-way communication retrial queue with synchronous working vacation and a constant retrial policy. During the idle time, a server makes an outgoing call after a random length. The service time of the incoming call and outgoing call obeys exponential distribution with different rates. If the incoming call finds all servers to be unavailable, it may or may not enter orbit. All servers immediately go on vacation simultaneously as soon as they find an empty system after the service finishes. During vacation, the servers can provide a service to those incoming calls, but this is at a lower-speed rate. The stationary probability distribution and the ergodic condition are obtained utilizing the matrix geometric technique. Some system characteristics are developed. Using MATLAB software, the variation in average orbit length, idle ratio, and the average number of servers in different server states is plotted for different values of the incoming/outgoing call rate and retrial rate. We further propose a multi-objective optimization model from which the optimal rate of outgoing calls and optimal vacation rate are explicitly obtained.

Abstract Electroplated Cu has been extensively applied in advanced electronic packaging, and its mechanical properties are critical for reliability. In this study, Cu foils fabricated through electroplating with various bis-(3-sulfopropyl) disulfide (SPS) concentrations are examined using tensile tests. The SPS concentration affects the grain size of the electroplated Cu foils, resulting in different mechanical properties. A significant Hall–Petch effect, $${\sigma }_{y} = 197.4 + 0.12{d}^{\frac{-1}{2}}$$ σ y = 197.4 + 0.12 d - 1 2 , is demonstrated for the electroplated Cu foils. The different concentrations of impurities identified through time-of-flight secondary ion mass spectrometry correspond to the different grain sizes, determining the transgranular and intergranular fracture during the tensile test. The results demonstrate that the SPS concentration controlling the microstructures of the electroplated Cu results in a Hall–Petch effect on the mechanical properties of the electroplated Cu foils.

A historical investigation is a kind of inquiry-based learning, aiming to guide students’ reading and analyzing processes of historical text to enhance the historical thinking. For this reason, a Digital Humanities Research Platform for Mr. Lo Chia-Lun’s Writings (DHRP-MLCLW) with Perspective Change and Chronological Division Tool (PCCDT) is used for assisting senior high school students in inquiry-based learning activities of history course. It is expected to help learners understand historical investigation issues from different perspectives and aspects as well as enhance learners’ understanding and inquiry abilities of interpreting historical text and context. With a pre-experimental research design, a total of 13 Grade 10 students in a senior high school in Taipei City, Taiwan, were recruited as the research participants for DHRP-MLCLW with PCCDT supported history inquiry course to examine whether learners significantly promote inquiry-based learning performance and to investigate students’ learning satisfaction. Furthermore, lag sequential analysis (LSA) is applied to explore the effective behavior transition mode of learners with high learning performance. Semi-structured interview is also utilized for understanding learners’ perception and suggestions about using the DHRP-MLCLW with PCCDT for history inquiry course. The research results show that DHRP-MLCLW with PCCDT supported history inquiry course could effectively enhance learners’ learning performance and led to highly positive learning satisfaction. Moreover, the LSA results reveal that compared with the learners with low learning performance, the behavioral patterns among those with high learning performance using the DHRP-MLCLW with PCCDT for inquiry-based historical investigation better reflect the spirit of inquiry-based learning.

In recent years, many university libraries have begun to develop scholar repositories or academic hubs that can present institutional research results from an author’s perspective instead of the perspective of articles used in the most current institutional repository systems. Accordingly, National Chengchi University Library reshaped the original institutional repository system as an integrated platform called NCCU Academic Hub with a broader range of researcher information, multiple and visualized functions, and an author’s perspective on researcher information for more effectively spreading academic research outcomes. In order to understand the user behavior of this platform, this study used xAPI to record the users’ operation historical processes, and through user behavior analysis, we hope to understand the behavior characteristics and behavior transfer patterns of users in general, users in different regions, and users with high or low download frequency of papers. The analysis is valuable for understanding how users operate the platform, how to improve the service model of this platform, and how to optimize the web pages and functional design of this platform.

ABSTRACT: Objectives: A nosocomial salmonellosis outbreak caused by Salmonella enterica serovar Goldcoast occurred in a respiratory care ward (RCW) of a hospital in central Taiwan between December 24, 2020, and January 21, 2021. Ten isolates recovered from 10 RCW residents were resistant to extended-spectrum cephalosporins. The resistance mechanism needs to be investigated. Methods: Whole-genome sequencing and antimicrobial susceptibility testing were conducted to determine the genetic resistance determinants and the phenotypic resistance in the isolates. Results: Each of the 10 outbreak isolates harbored an IncHI2 plasmid that carried 15 antimicrobial resistance genes aac(3)-IId, aadA22, aph(3’)-Ia, aph(6)-Id, arr-2, blaCTX-M-55, blaLAP-2, blaTEM-1, dfrA14, floR, lnu(F), qnrS13, sul2, sul3, tet(A), an efflux pump regulatory gene ramAp and an IncL plasmid carried a blaOXA-48. The outbreak strains were expected to be resistant to numerous antimicrobials, including aminoglycosides, b-lactams /inhibitors, tetracycline, rifamycin, lincosamide, sulfonamides, trimethoprim, phenicols, fluoroquinolones, and carbapenems. Two outbreak isolates displayed higher minimum inhibitory concentrations than the other eight isolates to cefmetazole and carbapenems, which was linked to a deficiency of a major facilitator superfamily transporter in the two isolates. Conclusion: The carbapenem-resistant outbreak strains could have been derived from extensively drug-resistant S. enterica Goldcoast strains, which have been a major pathogen in Taiwan since 2018, through the acquisition of a blaOXA-48-carrying plasmid. Special efforts are needed in Taiwan to monitor the spread of extremely resistant strains.

Long-term potentiation (LTP) is one of the major cellular mechanisms for learning and memory. Activity-dependent increases in surface AMPA receptors (AMPARs) are important for enhanced synaptic efficacy during LTP. Here, we report a novel function of a secretory trafficking protein, ICA69, in AMPAR trafficking, synaptic plasticity, and animal cognition. ICA69 is first identified as a diabetes-associated protein well characterized for its function in the biogenesis of secretory vesicles and trafficking of insulin from ER, Golgi to post-Golgi in pancreatic beta cells. In the brain, ICA69 is found in the AMPAR protein complex through its interaction with PICK1, which binds directly to GluA2 or GluA3 AMPAR subunits. Here, we showed that ICA69 regulates PICK1's distribution in neurons and stability in the mouse hippocampus, which in turn can impact AMPAR function in the brain. Biochemical analysis of postsynaptic density (PSD) proteins from hippocampi of mice lacking ICA69 (Ica1 knockout) and their wild-type littermates revealed comparable AMPAR protein levels. Electrophysiological recording and morphological analysis of CA1 pyramidal neurons from Ica1 knockout also showed normal AMPAR-mediated currents and dendrite architecture, indicating that ICA69 does not regulate synaptic AMPAR function and neuron morphology at the basal state. However, genetic deletion of ICA69 in mice selectively impairs NMDA receptor (NMDAR)-dependent LTP but not LTD at Schaffer collateral to CA1 synapses, which correlates with behavioral deficits in tests of spatial and associative learning and memory. Together, we identified a critical and selective role of ICA69 in LTP, linking ICA69-mediated synaptic strengthening to hippocampus-dependent learning and memory.

Abstract Background Castration-resistant prostate cancer (CRPC) with sustained androgen receptor (AR) signaling remains a critical clinical challenge, despite androgen depletion therapy. The Jumonji C-containing histone lysine demethylase family 4 (KDM4) members, KDM4A‒KDM4C, serve as critical coactivators of AR to promote tumor growth in prostate cancer and are candidate therapeutic targets to overcome AR mutations/alterations-mediated resistance in CRPC. Methods In this study, using a structure-based approach, we identified a natural product, myricetin, able to block the demethylation of histone 3 lysine 9 trimethylation by KDM4 members and evaluated its effects on CRPC. A structure-based screening was employed to search for a natural product that inhibited KDM4B. Inhibition kinetics of myricetin was determined. The cytotoxic effect of myricetin on various prostate cancer cells was evaluated. The combined effect of myricetin with enzalutamide, a second-generation AR inhibitor toward C4-2B, a CRPC cell line, was assessed. To improve bioavailability, myricetin encapsulated by poly lactic-co-glycolic acid (PLGA), the US food and drug administration (FDA)-approved material as drug carriers, was synthesized and its antitumor activity alone or with enzalutamide was evaluated using in vivo C4-2B xenografts. Results Myricetin was identified as a potent α-ketoglutarate-type inhibitor that blocks the demethylation activity by KDM4s and significantly reduced the proliferation of both androgen-dependent (LNCaP) and androgen-independent CRPC (CWR22Rv1 and C4-2B). A synergistic cytotoxic effect toward C4-2B was detected for the combination of myricetin and enzalutamide. PLGA-myricetin, enzalutamide, and the combined treatment showed significantly greater antitumor activity than that of the control group in the C4-2B xenograft model. Tumor growth was significantly lower for the combination treatment than for enzalutamide or myricetin treatment alone. Conclusions These results suggest that myricetin is a pan-KDM4 inhibitor and exhibited potent cell cytotoxicity toward CRPC cells. Importantly, the combination of PLGA-encapsulated myricetin with enzalutamide is potentially effective for CRPC.

Leakage with smoke is often accompanied by fire and explosion hazards. Detecting smoke helps gain time for crisis management. This study aims to address this issue by establishing a video smoke detection system, based on a convolutional neural network (CNN), with the help of smoke synthesis, auto-annotation, and an attention mechanism by fusing gray histogram image information. Additionally, the study incorporates the domain adversarial training of neural networks (DANN) to investigate the effect of domain shifts when adapting the smoke detection model from one injection molding machine to another on-site. It achieves the function of domain confusion without requiring labeling, as well as the automatic extraction of domain features and automatic adversarial training, using target domain data. Compared to deep domain confusion (DDC), naïve DANN, and the domain separation network (DSN), the proposed method achieves the highest accuracy rates of 93.17% and 91.35% in both scenarios. Furthermore, the experiment employs t-distributed stochastic neighbor embedding (t-SNE) to facilitate fast training and smoke detection between machines by leveraging domain adaption features.

Numerous studies have confirmed that increasing vocabulary size is a critical part of learning English as a foreign language (EFL). The rapid development of mobile and game technologies has encouraged instructors to consider the potential of Mobile-Assisted Language Learning (MALL) with game. However, a mobile learning game that supports effective English vocabulary learning can only be designed after the effects of key design factors, including concentration, feedback, matching of the challenge to player skill, control, and immersion, on learning performance, have been examined. Therefore, this study assesses the effects of two different game-based English vocabulary learning apps with significantly different game design factors on learners’ performance, sustained attention, relaxation, and vocabulary retention. Analytical results reveal that learners who used the game with weak game design factors exhibited significantly better vocabulary learning performance, retention, and relaxation and significantly lower sustained attention level than those who used the game with strong game design factors. This study also verifies that gender differences existed between the two game-based English vocabulary learning apps with different game design factors. Girls achieved significantly better English vocabulary learning and retention in the game app with weak game design factors. Additionally, based on an interview with several research participants, “matching of the challenge to player skill” and “feedback” were the most important game design factors in game-based English vocabulary learning apps.

The SOAR study method following the reading steps of selection, organization, association, and regulation is an effective strategy of note-taking based on Mayer’s (1996) SOI study strategy following the reading steps of selection, organization, and integration as well as several studies emphasized the act of sharing such structured notes and its effects on English reading comprehension. This study thus investigated the effects of sharing SOAR study notes in a computer-assisted language learning environment on English reading comprehension and English reading anxiety. Thirty-nine Grade 8 students from two classes of a junior high school in Taiwan participated in SOAR note-making activity after reading an English material online. One class with 22 students was randomly assigned to the control group, which was not allowed to share or read their peers’ notes after making their notes, and another class with 17 students was assigned to the experimental group, which was permitted to read their peers’ notes and revise their own notes after the note-making activity. Analytical results show that the students in the experimental group who shared the notes significantly outperformed those in the control group who did not share their notes in English reading comprehension. Also, students with field-independent cognitive style or with low prior knowledge who shared the notes with their peers made more progress in English reading comprehension than those with field-independent cognitive style or with low prior knowledge who did not share the notes with their peers. In addition, students with field-independent cognitive style who shared the notes with their peers had significantly lower anxiety than those with field-independent cognitive style who did not share any notes. This study confirmed that sharing the SOAR study note provides benefits in promoting EFL learners’ reading comprehension and reducing reading anxiety.

Automobile manufacturers have been contributing a large quantity of carbon emission on the earth for decades. This study examined an environmental impact problem of an automobile ignition coil within a supply chain. An assessment based on the methodology of Life Cycle Assessment to certify total carbon emission that a product contributes to the environment at various stages of production, packing and transportation. In this case, a production of every automobile ignition coil will generate a total of 0.8649 kg carbon dioxide equivalents (CO2eq). An analysis exhibits that these constituent parts, including core, insulating filling resin and shell, are the major sources of CO2 emissions, which account for 23.78%, 16.37% and 15.04%, respectively. The major ingredients of these components are iron, epoxy resin and polybutylene terephthalate. A further investigation shows that the carbon emission of the packaging material should be considered in this case, due to paper and wood-containing materials. Also, while setting an environmental impact problem for a product, a generic analysis development can classify into three categories: human health, ecosystem quality and resource consumption. The analysis result showed that both of materials, i.e., polymer and metal, heavily influence the environment, especially metal. For a green manufacturing process, reducing the consumption of these raw materials in manufacturing is essential to achieve sustained economic growth but diminish carbon emission problem in the life cycle of an automobile ignition coil.

This study focuses on the cooperative attitude and intention of retail stores in Taiwan to cooperate with the government’s related pandemic prevention measures. The study is based on the Theory of Planned Behavior (TPB). The study includes factors such as perceived risk of infection, job stress, pandemic prevention IT (information technology) convenience, pandemic prevention attitude, and pandemic prevention intention. Pandemic prevention attitude is used as a mediating variable to establish the research framework. This study collected research data through a questionnaire survey. A total of 457 valid questionnaires were collected through an electronic questionnaire platform. The findings showed that perceived risk of infection and pandemic prevention IT convenience had a positive and significant effect on pandemic prevention attitude (β = 0.567; β = 0.422) and pandemic prevention intention (β = 0.424; β = 0.296). Job stress has a significant negative effect on attitude (β = −0.173). In addition, job stress influenced intention through attitudes. Finally, perceived risk, job stress, and IT convenience had high explanatory power (R2 = 0.706) on attitudes. Perceived risk, IT convenience, and attitude also had moderate explanatory power (R2 = 0.588) on prevention intention. The study also suggests practical recommendations to improve and cooperate with pandemic prevention intention.

The development of multiple intelligences used to focus on kindergartens and elementary schools as educational experts and officials considered that the development of students' multiple intelligences should be cultivated from childhood and slowly promoted to other levels. Nevertheless, the framework of multiple intelligences should not be simply promoted in kindergartens and elementary schools, but was also suitable in high schools, universities, and even graduate schools or in-service training. Taking employees in Southern Taiwan Science Park as the research subjects, total 314 employees in high-tech industry are preceded the 16-week (3 h per week for total 48 h) experimental teaching research. The research results show that (1) teaching with multiple intelligences would affect learning motivation, (2) teaching with multiple intelligences would affect learning achievement, and (3) learning motivation reveals remarkably positive effects on learning achievement. According to the results to proposed discussions, it is expected to help high-tech industry, when developing human resource potential, effectively well-utilize people's gifted uniqueness

It is difficult for students to learn the concepts of chemical laboratory safety education from actual experiences because the traditional teaching model prohibits students from performing dangerous operations. Therefore, this study develops a novel mixed reality-based chemistry experiment learning system (MRCELS) to allow learners to conduct inquiry-based experimental operations in an environment integrating virtual and physical space by using a free and safe way so that chemical laboratory safety problems that usually occur in actual chemical laboratories that may hurt learners can be avoided. A total of 36 Grade 11 students from a girl's high school in Taipei City, Taiwan, were recruited to participate in the experiment. A total of 17 students were randomly assigned to the experimental group using the MRCELS to conduct chemical laboratory safety education, while the remaining 19 students were randomly assigned to the control group taught by a teacher in a physical-chemical laboratory. The research results show that the learning effectiveness of experimental group learners in chemical laboratory safety education is significantly superior to that of the control group. Besides, experimental and control groups significantly improved their attitudes toward laboratory safety after the instruction experiment, but no significant differences existed between them. Both groups of learners showed high satisfaction with the learning model they used, but no significant differences existed between them. Encouragingly, according to the interview results, learners preferred to adopt the MRCELS to support learning. They stated that the immersion experience in operating the chemical experiments through the MRCELS could enhance their awareness of hazardous operations and the development of laboratory safety concepts. The developed MRCELS contributes an effective and innovative learning model to chemical laboratory safety education.

The performance improvement of advanced electronic packaging material is an important topic to meet the stringent demands of modern semiconductor devices. This paper studies the incorporation of nano-alumina powder and thermoplastic elastomer (TPE) into thermoplastic polystyrene matrix to tune the thermal and mechanical properties after injection molding process. In the sample preparation, acetone was employed as a solvent to avoid the powder escape into surrounding during the mechanical mixing in a twin-screw mixer. The pressure and shear force were able to mix the composite with good uniformity in compositions. The samples with different compositions were fabricated using injection molding. The measured results showed that adding 5 wt.% of TPE into the simple polystyrene was able to raise the melt flow index from 12.3 to 13.4 g/10 min while the thermal decomposition temperature remained nearly unchanged. Moreover, the addition of small amount of nano-alumina powder could quickly improve the mechanical property by raising its storage modulus. For example, the addition of 3 wt.% of nano-alumina powder had an increase of 7.3% in storage modulus. Over doping of nano-alumina powder in the composite, such as 10 wt.%, on the other hand, lowered the storage modulus from 2404 MPa to 2069 MPa. The experimental study demonstrated that the tuning in the polystyrene’s thermal and mechanical properties is feasible by composition modification with nano-alumina powder and TPE. The better concentration of the additives should be determined according to the specific applications.

Solder/Cu joints are important components responsible for interconnection in microelectronics. Construction of the solder/Cu joints through liquid/solid (L/S) reactions accompanies the formation of the Cu–Sn intermetallic compounds (IMCs) at the joint interface. The Cu6Sn5 IMC exhibits remarkable distinctions in thickness and morphology upon increasing the L/S reaction time. Effects of the initial characteristics of thickness and morphology on the growth kinetics of Cu6Sn5 during subsequent isothermal aging were investigated. SAC305 solder was reflowed on a Cu electroplated layer at 265 °C for 1 to 60 min to produce the Cu6Sn5 IMC with different thickness and morphology at the SAC305/Cu interface. The as-fabricated SAC305/Cu joint samples were aged at 200 °C for 72 to 360 h to investigate the growth kinetics of Cu6Sn5. The results show that the initial characteristics of thickness and morphology significantly influenced the growth kinetics of Cu6Sn5 during the subsequent solid/solid (S/S) reaction. A prolonged L/S reaction time of 60 min (L/S-60) produced a scallop-type Cu6Sn5 IMC with a larger grain size and a thicker thickness, which reduced the quantity of fast diffusion path (grain boundary) and the magnitude of concentration gradient, thus slowing down the growth rate of Cu6Sn5. According to the growth kinetics analysis, the growth rate constant of Cu6Sn5 could be remarkably reduced to 0.151 µm/h0.5 for the L/S-60 sample, representing a significant reduction of 70 % compared to that of the L/S-1 sample (0.508 µm/h0.5 for L/S reaction time of 1 min).

Digital content curation refers to the process of concentrating, extracting, insighting, mashing and serializing digital resources based on the theme through a screening mechanism, and presenting high-quality content with a single or combined method after information organization. With the popularity of digital technology, the University Archives has begun to apply digital content curation to present school history archives diversified, immediacy and interactively, thereby expanding the vision of visitors and hoping to be closer to the audience. This article discusses the connotation and implementation stage of digital content curation, and the collaborative relationship among the experts, crowdsourcing and virtual-reality exhibition, and provides the development principles of digital content curation, and the way to choose the digital content curation tools. It also lists several applications, innovative styles of digital content curation, and recommends the implementation process and method for the digital curatorial planning practice, in order to provide a reference for the university archivists to plan the digital content curation in the future.

This study developed an interactive test dashboard with diagnosis and feedback mechanisms (ITD-DFM) that can generate visualized, rich, and high-quality test feedback for each learner’s learning reflection and review based on simultaneously considering test response time and correctness to assist students’ learning. A quasi-experimental research was conducted with 50 Grade 8 students from two classes in a public junior high school in Taiwan to assess the learning performance of ITD-DFM. One class with 26 students was assigned to the experimental group using the ITD-DFM to support learning, whereas the other class with 24 students was assigned to the control group using the traditional test system without diagnosis and feedback mechanisms (TTS-NDFM). Experimental results reveal that the learning performance, physics self-efficacy, and technology acceptance of the experimental group were significantly better than those of the control group. The ITD-DFM has the same effect on promoting the learning performance of learners with different prior knowledge levels as well as learners with either high or low prior knowledge level in the experimental group exhibited significant improvement in physics self-efficacy, but no such results in the control group. The ITD-DFM provides more benefit in promoting the technology acceptance of learners with high prior knowledge level.

New interval clustering technology for symbolic data analysis (SDA) on smart phones is shown to be beneficial for mobile computing devices for smart data analysis in this paper. A new interval clustering method that combined the rough set with interval possibilistic fuzzy C-means (IPFCM) algorithm under Euclidean distance is proposed and implemented on smart phones. Symbolic clustering algorithms (SCAs) have been widely used for pattern recognition, data mining, artificial intelligence, etc. In general, the SCA is unsupervised classification that is divided into groups according to symbolic data sets. However, the traditional interval fuzzy C-means (IFCM) clustering method still has noisy and data overlapping problems associated with these symbolic interval data. Hence, a new rough set with the interval possibilistic fuzzy C-means (RIPFCM) clustering algorithm with Euclidean distance was proposed to address the symbolic interval data (SID). That is, the proposed method can perform better than the traditional IFCM clustering algorithm for SID clustering in noisy environments and with data overlapping problems. The new RIPFCM algorithm under the Euclidean distance method was proposed to deal with SID on new applications in smart phones. Consequently, this method shows the expansion of the smart phone’s computing power and its future application in new SDA.

Objectives: Tophi may occur within the knee joint causing limited knee-joint range of motion (knee motion). We investigated the relationships between knee motion, total intra-articular tophi size (tIA-tophi), and total subcutaneous tophi size (tSC-tophi) and determined knee motion improvement after continual urate-lowering therapy (ULT).Methods: A total of 26 patients with tophaceous gout and limited knee motion were enrolled. Inclusion criteria were age ≤ 60 years and preserved knee joint space on a plain radiograph. tSC-tophi were measured using a Vernier caliper and tIA-tophi were measured using magnetic resonance imaging software. All patients were re-evaluated after 12–24 months of continual ULT. Upon initial visit, knee motion was related to tIA-tophi and tSC-tophi.Results: After an average of 18.2 months of ULT, the reduction in tSC-tophi was correlated with the reduction in tIA-tophi (P = 0.014, r = 0.395) and improvement in knee motion (P = 0.038, r = 0.408). Knee motion can be eventually improved even in cases of poor initial knee motion (P = 0.000, r = –0.911) or large initial tIA-tophi (P = 0.014, r = 0.476). Tophi can occur in any location within the knee joint. In multiple lineal regression, knee motion was predicted to improve 8.39° for every 10cm of tIA-tophi reduction.Conclusions: Limited knee motion in patients with intra-articular tophi improved with medical treatment, regardless of initial severity. Furthermore, tSC-tophi can be used as an indicator of limited knee motion and their improvement as a predictor of knee motion improvement.

Skill training games are one kind of educational games, but they differ from the educational games that aim at promoting cognitive or affective effects. The design of skill training games prioritizes assisting learners to learn facts and knowledge and train learners in some skill via repetition and practice. To design a skill training game that supports effective learning, one must explore how the key design factors, including concentration, feedback, challenge that matches player skills, control, and immersion, affect learning performance and emotions. Thus, this study chose two online English typing game sites with significantly different game design factors to investigate the effects of game design factors on the emotions and learning performance of users. Moreover, correlations among game factors, emotions and learning performance of users were explored. The group using Fast Typing Master (FTM) had significantly higher evaluation scores in five design factors than the group using Internet Typing Classroom (ITC). Analytical results show that both sites yielded the same learning performance. However, the FTM site was superior to the ICT in terms of learning performance for males, but no significant difference existed for female learners. Moreover, this study further confirmed that the FTM leaded to significantly more negative emotion for the female learners than the ITC, but no significant difference existed for male learners. The game factor of feedback was significantly correlated with emotion and learning performance of users under most of the considered grouping conditions. Therefore, this study suggests that the most important design factor in English-language typing games is the feedback mechanism. Research results provide valuable references for game designers developing skill training games, and further clarify what is the most important factor in the games.

Objective This study evaluated the supplementary effect of higher concentrations of various disaccharides on processing yield, major physicochemical properties, and sensory attributes of Chinese-style pork jerky (CSPJ). Methods CSPJ samples were prepared by marinating sliced ham (4 mm) with three dissaccharides, including sucrose, lactose, and maltose, at 0%, 15%, 18%, 21%, and 24%. Subsequently, the CSPJ samples were dried and roasted. The moisture content, water activity, crude protein, moisture-to-protein ratio, pH, processing yield, shear force, color, and sensory attributes of the CSPJ samples were evaluated. Results The quality characteristics of CSPJ samples prepared with sucrose were more acceptable. By contrast, CSPJ samples prepared with lactose showed the lowest scores. However, the processing yield and moisture content were the highest for CSPJ samples prepared with lactose, which may be associated with improved benefits for cost reduction. Furthermore, sucrose and lactose supplementation resulted in contrasting quality characteristics; for example, CSPJ samples with sucrose and maltose supplementation had higher sensory scores for color than samples with lactose supplementation. Additionally, most quality characteristics of CSPJ samples with sucrose supplementation contrasted with those of the samples with lactose supplementation; for example, the samples with sucrose supplementation had higher scores for sensory attributes than those with lactose supplementation. Conclusion Sucrose supplementation up to 21% to 24% was associated with the highest overall acceptability scores (5.19 to 5.80), enhanced quality characteristics, increased processing yield, and reduced production cost.

Epoxy with low viscosity and good fluidity before curing has been widely applied in the packaging of electronic and electrical devices. Nevertheless, its low flexibility and toughness renders the requirement of property improvement before it can be widely acceptable in dynamic loading applications. This study investigates the possible use of 2-hydroxyethyl methacrylate (HEMA) toughening agent and nano-powders, such as alumina, silicon dioxide, and carbon black, to form epoxy composites for dynamic property improvement. Considering the different combinations of the nano-powders and HEMA toughener, the Taguchi method with an L9 orthogonal array was adopted for composition optimization. The dynamic storage modulus and loss tangent of the prepared specimen were measured by employing a dynamic mechanical analyzer. With polynomial regression, the curve-fitted relationships of the glass transition temperature and storage modulus with respect to the design factors were obtained. It was found that although the raise in the weight fraction of nano-powders was beneficial in increasing the rigidity of the epoxy composite, an optimal amount of HEMA toughener existed for its best damping improvement.

This study utilised the instant semantic analysis and feedback system (ISAFS) to assist learners in the online discussion learning activities of socio-scientific issues (SSIs) and to document their learning process behaviours for behavioural analyses. The aim was to understand the learners' discussion behaviours during the ISAFS assisted learning process and to guide them in exhibiting more effective discussion behaviours in order to facilitate the learning effectiveness of online asynchronous discussions. The research participants were 55 eleventh-grade students from a senior high school in northeastern Taiwan. A single pre-experimental group design was adopted to collect the learning process data. Eventually, 34 effective samples were considered following the online discussions. The results showed that learners with distinct computer-mediated communication competences and personality traits have different behaviour patterns. Overall, the behavioural analyses reveal that different learning behaviours would result in distinct learning effectiveness, and that learners with different computer-mediated communication competences and personality traits would present various learning behaviours. Based on the research results, suggestions for the application of ISAFS in teaching and implications for future developments are proposed. The findings could be instrumental in the improvement of the teaching process through online discussions.

The establishment of domestic university library websites has currently reached 100%, web pages have become the most direct and rapid channels to market the academic resources, and advertisement on the library web pages is utilized for attracting readers' attention to activities. With true-experiment research method, the visual design of web pages to attract readers' attention in this study is integrated with the effects of visual elements on readers' visual behaviors. The design includes the identical advertising contents placed in three different positions on the index page of the library website to compare the differences in readers' visual attention. 54 undergraduate students are selected as the research participants. An eye tracker is utilized for collecting the participants' eye-tracking indicators, and the memory effect of the advertisement is tested. The questionnaire survey and interviews are also proceeded to discuss the effects of advertising positions on the index page of a university library website on readers' visual attention and memory effect. The research findings show the significant differences among the participants on the eye-tracking information, memory effect, browsing order, and overall satisfaction of the three advertisement positions. The participants pay more attention on top-layout advertisement, but stay the vision more on left-layout one. The results also reveal remarkable differences on memory effect of advertisement among three advertisement positions, where the optimal memory effect appears on the left-layout one.

In ensemble learning, accuracy and diversity are the main factors affecting its performance. In previous studies, diversity was regarded only as a regularization term, which does not sufficiently indicate that diversity should implicitly be treated as an accuracy factor. In this study, a two-stage weighted ensemble learning method using the particle swarm optimization (PSO) algorithm is proposed to balance the diversity and accuracy in ensemble learning. The first stage is to enhance the diversity of the individual learner, which can be achieved by manipulating the datasets and the input features via a mixed-binary PSO algorithm to search for a set of individual learners with appropriate diversity. The purpose of the second stage is to improve the accuracy of the ensemble classifier using a weighted ensemble method that considers both diversity and accuracy. The set of weighted classifier ensembles is obtained by optimization via the PSO algorithm. The experimental results on 30 UCI datasets demonstrate that the proposed algorithm outperforms other state-of-the-art baselines.

Background: Most drug-resistant Escherichia coli isolates in dogs come from diseased dogs. Prior to this study, the prevalence and risk factors of fecal carriage drug-resistant E. coli and epidemic clone sequence type (ST) 131 (including subtypes) isolates in dogs were unknown. Methods: Rectal swabs were used for E. coli isolation from 299 non-infectious dogs in a veterinary teaching hospital in Taiwan. Antibiotic resistance and multiplex PCR analyses of E. coli for major STs were performed. Result: There were 43.1% cefazolin-resistant, 22.1% fluoroquinolone-resistant, and 9.4% extended-spectrum beta-lactamase-producing E. coli in our cohort. In the phylogenetic study, B2 was the predominant group (30.1%). The cefazolin-resistant group and ciprofloxacin-resistant group had greater antibiotic exposure in the last 14 days (p < 0.05). The age, sex, and dietary habits of the antibiotic-resistant and -susceptible groups were similar. In the seven isolates of ST131 in fecal colonization, the most predominant subtypes were FimH41 and FimH22. Conclusion: Recent antibiotic exposure was related to the fecal carriage of antibiotic-resistant E. coli isolates. Three major subtypes (FimH41, H22, and H30) of ST131 can thus be found in fecal carriage in dogs in Taiwan.

近年來數位化資訊技術應用於教與學情況已成為趨勢，各國紛紛將數位學習的推動列為國家重要政策，對數位學習領域之研究發展極為重視。本研究採廣義數位學習定義之檢索策略，蒐集2000~2009年間合計2,125篇數位學習領域SSCI期刊文獻，以自動化內容探勘工具CATAR進行剖析，再分別以共現字及書目對進行研究主題分析，藉此歸納數位學習領域的研究主題架構。本研究歸納結果，除幫助研究人員檢視自己的領域專長、掌握數位學習各研究主題發展脈絡、做為學者專家選定研究主題之參考，更有助於瞭解國際間數位學習領域的研究發展現況。With the digital development and the global trend of information technology applying teaching and learning in recent years, every country around the world regards the promotion of e-learning as a very important policy of the country. They lay special emphasis on the development of the subject research in e-learning. The present study adopts the search strategy of generalized definition of e-learning and collects 2,125 SSCI periodical literature in total on e-learning field from the years of 2000 till 2009. They are analyzed with automatic context exploration tool CATAR to proceed to dissection. Then they are respectively analyzed with co-occurrence words and bibliographic coupling to proceed to the research subject analysis. Thus it can integrate the frames of research subjects of e-learning field. Not only can the results of the present study help the researchers to look into their own field specialty, to master the development situation of research subject dimensions and to make reference to the scholars and experts to determine their research subjects, but it can also help understand the research development status of international e-learning field.

Copper (Cu) electroplating is a mature technology, and has been extensively applied in microelectronic industry. With the development of advanced microelectronic packaging, Cu electroplating encounters new challenges for atomic deposition on a non-planar substrate and to deliver good throwing power and uniform deposit properties in a high-aspect-ratio trench. The use of organic additives plays an important role in modulating the atomic deposition to achieve successful metallic coverage and filling, which strongly relies on the adsorptive and chemical interactions among additives on the surface of growing film. However, the adsorptive characteristic of organic additives inevitably results in an incorporation of additive-derived impurities in the electroplated Cu film. The incorporation of high-level impurities originating from the use of polyethylene glycol (PEG) and chlorine ions significantly affects the microstructural evolution of the electroplated Cu film, and the electroplated-Cu solder joints, leading to the formation of undesired voids at the joint interface. However, the addition of bis(3-sulfopropyl) disulfide (SPS) with a critical concentration suppresses the impurity incorporation and the void formation. In this article, relevant studies were reviewed, and the focus was placed on the effects of additive formula and plating parameters on the impurity incorporation in the electroplated Cu film, and the void formation in the solder joints.

BACKGROUND: Genotype I (GI) Japanese encephalitis virus (JEV) that replaced GIII virus has become the dominant circulating virus in Asia. Currently, all registered live and inactivated JEV vaccines are derived from genotype III viruses. In Taiwan, the compulsory JEV vaccination policy recommends that children receives four doses of formalin-inactivated Nakayama (GIII) JEV vaccine. METHODOLOGY/PRINCIPAL FINDINGS: To evaluate the influence of genotype replacement on the post-vaccination viral neutralizing ability by GIII and GI viruses, the small panel of vaccinated-children serum specimens was assembled, and the reciprocal 50% plaque-reduction neutralizing antibody titers (PRNT(50)) were measured against Nakayama vaccine strain, CJN GIII human brain isolate and TC2009-1 GI mosquito isolate. The seropositivity rate (PRNT(50) ≥ 1:10) and geometric mean titers (GMT) against the TC2009-1 virus were the lowest among the three viruses. The protective threshold against the CJN and TC2009-1 viruses could only be achieved when the GMT against Nakayama virus was ≥ 1:20 or ≥ 1:80, respectively. Using undiluted vaccinees' sera, the enhancement of JEV infection in K562 cells was observed in some low or non-neutralizing serum specimens. CONCLUSIONS/SIGNIFICANCE: Our preliminary study has shown that neutralizing antibodies, elicited by the mouse brain-derived and formalin-inactivated JEV Nakayama vaccine among a limited number of vaccinees, have reduced neutralizing capacity against circulating GI virus, but more detailed studies are needed to address the potential impact on the future vaccine policy.

Computer supported collaborative writing (CSCW), due to the potential to enhance online collaborative writing performance, has received more and more attention in educational settings in recent years. However, the lack of social presence results in learners not being able to construct group awareness to reduce participation rate and even appear free-riders and suckers. This study thus develops a collaborative writing system with visualization interaction network analysis (CWS-VINA) that can display learners' contribution and interaction relationship through one-mode social network analysis to assist collaborative writing team members in constructing group awareness, facilitate learners' collaborative writing participation behavior, and reduce uneven participation to further promote the learning performance on collaborative writing. With a quasi-experimental design, 50 Grade 8 students of a junior high school in Taipei City were recruited to precede an instruction experiment on collaborative writing. A class of 26 students, as the experimental group, applied CWS-VINA supported collaborative writing, and the other class of 24 students, as the control group, used a collaborative writing system without visualization interaction network analysis (CWS-NVINA). Analytical results show that learners with CWS-VINA supported collaborative writing outperform those with CWS-NVINA on writing performance no matter learners with high or low prior writing ability and high or low CMC competence. Moreover, compared with CWS-NVINA, CWS-VINA provides benefits in promoting learners' overall technology acceptance and perceived usefulness, particularly for learners with low CMC competence. However, there is no significantly statistical difference in promoting the perceived ease of use. According to the interview results, learners indicate that the application of CWS-VINA supported collaborative writing could effectively help them construct group awareness, facilitate team members' communication and coordination, encourage team members to enhance individual contribution, as well as reduce uneven participation.

RNA interference (RNAi) is an evolutionarily conserved mechanism for sequence-specific gene silencing. Recent advances in our understanding of RNAi machinery make it possible to reduce protein expression by introducing short hairpin RNA (shRNA) into cells of many systems, however, the efficacy of RNAi-mediated protein knockdown can be quite variable, especially in intact animals, and this limits its application. We built adaptable molecular tools, pSilencer (pSi) and pReporter (pRe) constructs, to evaluate the impact of different promoters, shRNA structures and overexpression of Ago2, the key enzyme in the RNA-induced silencing complex (RISC), on the efficiency of RNAi. The magnitude of RNAi knockdown was evaluated in cultured cells and intact animals by comparing fluorescence intensity levels of GFP, the RNAi target, relative to mCherry, which was not targeted. Co-expression of human Ago2 with shRNA significantly enhanced efficiency of GFP knockdown in cell lines and in neurons of intact Xenopus tadpoles. Human H1- and U6-promotors alone or the U6-promotor with an enhancer element were equally effective at driving GFP knockdown. shRNA derived from the microRNA-30 design (shRNAmir30) enhanced the efficiency of GFP knockdown. Expressing pSi containing Ago2 with shRNA increased knockdown efficiency of an endogenous neuronal protein, the GluR2 subunit of the AMPA receptor, functionally accessed by recording AMPA receptor-mediated spontaneous synaptic currents in Xenopus CNS neurons. Our data suggest that co-expression of Ago2 and shRNA is a simple method to enhance RNAi in intact animals. While morpholino antisense knockdown is effective in Xenopus and Zebrafish, a principle advantage of the RNAi method is the possibility of spatial and temporal control of protein knockdown by use of cell type specific and regulatable pol II promoters to drive shRNA and Ago2. This should extend the application of RNAi to study gene function of intact brain circuits.