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Background: Lockdown is an effective nonpharmaceutical intervention to reduce coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) transmission, but it restricts daily activity. We aimed to investigate the impact of lockdown on pediatric body weight and body mass index (BMI). Methods: The systematic review and meta-analysis were conducted following the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-analysis (PRISMA) statement. Four online databases (EMBASE, Medline, the Cochrane Library and CINAHL) were searched. Results: The pooled results showed that lockdown was associated with significant body weight gain (MD 2.67, 95% CI 2.12–3.23, p &lt, 0.00001). The BMI of children with comorbidities or obesity did not change significantly. The BMI of general population was significantly higher during lockdown than before the pandemic (MD 0.94, 95% CI 0.32–1.56, p = 0.003). However, heterogeneity was high (I2 = 84%). Among changes in weight classification, increases in the rates of obesity (OR 1.23, 95% CI 1.10–1.37, p = 0.0002) and overweight (OR 1.17, 95% CI 1.06–1.29, p = 0.001) were reported. Conclusions: Our meta-analysis showed significant increases in body weight and BMI during lockdown among school-age children and adolescents. The prevalence of obesity and overweight also increased. The COVID-19 pandemic worsened the burden of childhood obesity.

Purpose In this study, we aimed to assess the geographic distribution and molecular characteristics of β-lactamases among Enterobacterales isolates causing intra-abdominal infections (IAIs) from 2015 to 2018 in the Asia–Pacific region. Method Isolates were investigated for extended-spectrum β-lactamases (ESBLs), AmpC β-lactamases, and carbapenemases using multiplex PCR assays and full-gene DNA sequencing. Result A total of 832 Enterobacterales isolates from 8 different countries with β-lactamase genes were analysed. Plasmid-mediated ESBLs and AmpC β-lactamases were encoded in 598 (71.9 %) and 314 (37.7 %) isolates, respectively. In 710 (85.3 %) carbapenemase-negative isolates, positivity for both AmpC β-lactamases and ESBLs was identified in 51 (8.5 %) Escherichia coli and 24 (3.4 %) Klebsiella pneumoniae isolates. The most prevalent countries were Taiwan and Vietnam, and the co-occurrence of CMY/CTX-M in E. coli and DHA-1/ESBLs in K. pneumoniae was predominant. All isolates showed high susceptibility to colistin, but susceptibility to carbapenems varied among different resistance mechanism combinations. Among 122 (14.7 %) isolates encoding carbapenemase, NDM (n = 67, including 64.2 % NDM-1) was the most common, followed by the OXA-48-type (n = 49), KPC (n = 24) and IMP (n = 4). The most prevalent country was Thailand (n = 44), followed by Vietnam (n = 35) and the Philippines (n = 21). Twenty-two isolates were found to encode multiple carbapenemases, 16 of which were collected from Thailand and harbored NDM-1, OXA-232 and CTX-M-15. Despite high susceptibility to amikacin, susceptibility to colistin was only 56 %. Conclusion The emergence of carbapenem-non-susceptible AmpC/ESBL co-occurring Enterobacterales and colistin non-susceptible carbapenemases co-occurring K. pneumoniae highlights potential therapeutic challenges in the Asia–Pacific region.

Traditionally, the performance of a lithography or patterning step is described by its mean size and the spread at a 3 sigma probability. Recent papers by Bristol, Brunner and others have shown this is insufficient to describe the process capability in EUV lithography. To address this challenge, an enormous increase of sampling CD (critical dimension) values is needed to describe the actual distribution on the wafer. We will show how we can address this by leveraging the HMI eP5 e-Beam system to acquire a set of CDs of previously unknown size. We will further show that extended sampling leads to better understanding of this phenomena, as we can probe full distribution behavior even on a limited number of repeated exposures on a wafer.

Cd(Mn,Zn)Te-based ternary compound semiconductors with wide band-gaps are important in the detection of radiation and photovoltaic applications. This study characterizes Cd 1-x Mn x Te epilayers on Si substrates with various Mn compositions grown by molecular beam epitaxy. The surface smoothness, crystallinity and optical quality all are significantly improved with increasing Mn content. The Cd 0.61 Mn 0.39 Te epilayer with a thickness of only about 500 nm yields a full width at half maximum of the X-ray rocking curve of 165 arcsec. Photoluminescence spectra at 10 K show that the intensity of defect-related emissions is much lower than that of binary CdTe epilayers, reaching zero from the samples with high Mn content, while the integral intensity of the exciton-related emissions is increased by more than two orders of magnitude. Raman scattering spectra reveal that the intensity of the Te–Te related defect vibration modes falls significantly as the Mn content increase, even disappearing altogether in the samples with high Mn content. This work proposes that incorporating Mn atoms during epitaxial growth can promote the decomposition of Te 2 sources, owing to the high sticking coefficient of Mn and the high cohesive energy of the Mn–Te bond, and then reduce the number of Te–Te related stacking fault defects, yielding high-quality CdMnTe epilayers. Our results herein demonstrate that the CdMnTe ternary epilayers are much more promising in terms of material quality than the CdZnTe ternary epilayers.

Summary Objective of study Alcohol use disorder is one of the most important factors contributing to dementia. This study examined the protective effect of thiamine administration on the incidence of dementia among patients with alcohol use disorder in Taiwan by evaluating a nationwide database. Methods We retrieved data for this retrospective cohort study from the Longitudinal Health Insurance Database 1995–2000. Patients receiving thiamine therapy after the diagnosis of alcohol use disorder were recruited as the thiamine therapy (TT) group, and the comparison group without TT (NTT group) included randomly assigned and age-, sex-, and index year-matched individuals with alcohol use disorder. Demographic data, comorbid medical disorders, and psychotropic medication use were evaluated and controlled. The cumulative defined daily dose (DDD) was analyzed to demonstrate the dose effect. Results Each group had 5059 patients. The TT group had a lower crude hazard ratio (0.76; 95% confidence interval: 0.60–0.96) of dementia than the NTT group. After adjusting for demographic data, comorbidity, and psychotropic medication use, the adjusted hazard ratio was 0.54 (95% confidence interval: 0.43–0.69). The significance existed among TT subjects with cumulative DDD higher than 23. The Kaplan–Meier analysis demonstrated a lower cumulative incidence of dementia in the TT group than in the NTT group. Conclusion The results indicated that thiamine therapy could be a protective factor for dementia development in patients with alcohol use disorder. Thiamine therapy should be a crucial part of the treatment plan and health policies to prevent dementia development or progression among patients with alcohol use disorder.

Purpose: Tai Chi Chuan (TCC) training is usually considered as useful training methods for improving postural stability during human movement performance. Whether the jumps, spin, and balance required in dance movements can be reinforced through TCC training is not certain. This study was to investigate the influence of 8-week TCC training on the selected dance movements. Method: A total of 16 senior high school dancers participated in this study (8 in the training group and 8 in the control group). A force platform and a 3D motion analysis system were used to analyze the movements of saute (jump), passe (balance), and pirouette en dehors (spin). Results: The results showed that the training group demonstrated greater improvement than did the control group in the following areas: (a) The maximum lower extremity push-off force and air hang time during saute jumps; (b) The center of gravity (COG) shift distance and shift speed during passe balance; (c) The working leg hip joint external rotation angle, the supporting leg plantar flexion angle, and the COG shift distance during pirouette en dehors spin. Conclusion: TCC training facilitated reinforcing dance movements and may be used as part of physical training program for improving dance performance.

Background Several studies have hypothesized that the pattern of health care utilization among maltreated children differ from others without the experience. However, the conclusions have not been consistent. Objective The study aims to examine whether the pattern of health care utilization among children 0–5 years old with maltreatment different from their counterparts without maltreatment in Taiwan. Subjects and Setting All children born in 2007 in Taiwan. Method This is a population-based and case-controlled study. Cases are children under five years of ago with maltreatment-related diagnosis in the claims data of the National Health Insurance in Taiwan during the 2007–2013 period. For each case, there were 10 birth date-matched controls. Exposure variables include the number of injury or non-injury-related outpatients, emergency department (ED) visits, and hospitalization. Multivariate models were employed, with adjustment for sex, urbanization level, and comorbidities of children. Results Of children born in 2007, 382 had maltreatment-related diagnosis during the age of 0–5. The adjusted odds ratio (aOR) for having two or more ED visits with or without injury-related diagnosis is 3.52 (95% CI 1.75–7.07) and 2.0-0 (95% CI 1.47–2.72), respectively. Children with maltreatment also had significantly higher number of hospitalization without injury-related diagnosis and aOR for those having two more hospitalizations stands at 2.47 (95% CI 1.59–3.83). Conclusions Children with maltreatment when 0–5 years old had higher number of ED visits with injury-related diagnosis, as well as hospitalization without injury-related diagnosis. Recognition of the health care utilization is conducive to early identification of children with risk for maltreatment.

We describe a facile one-step fabrication process of thin film conjugated polymers for efficient optoelectronic devices from naphthalenes by plasma polymerization through a new monomer feeding method. The resulting 3-D aromatic chain networks of the polymerized films were in good agreement with the predictions based on monomer bond rupture routes analysis. The photoluminescence (PL) spectra of plasma-polymerized films featured short-lived intermolecular emissions arising from self-assembly of the naphthalene units in the crosslinked architectures. When functioning between the electrodes for light emitting, the plasma films manifested electroluminescence (EL) spectra that showed a steep rise at the threshold wavelength red-shifted relative to the PL spectra, indicating prevailing charge tunneling to lower excited states by the accumulated interfacial charges. The wide distribution of conjugation lengths in the plasma films provided the subsequent energy transfer routes and gave rise to the broad EL emission band that produced stable pure white light of CIE coordinates of (0.34, 0.33) with excellent efficiencies. This dry deposition process allows the use of multiple monomers for property tailoring and may be used for large-area depositions.

Burning multi-fuel, including gases, liquid fuels and coal, whose flow rates and heating values vary all the time, a typical boiler in the steel and iron plant poses a challenge to achieving optimal operation. The present study proposes to develop an adaptive data-driven thermal efficiency estimator of multi-fuel boilers based on statistical identification of key variables. With the available on-line efficiency model, the model-based controller is hence readily applicable to improve the boiler efficiency. Real operation data taken from two industrial boilers are used to verify the effectiveness of the proposed method. The first half part of data serves to develop statistical models while the second half part serves to be simulated as virtual plants. The application of the proposed methods improved 1.94% of the thermal efficiency of a boiler burning multi-gas and 0.73% of a boiler burning coal and multi-gas in the virtual plant simulations.

Rationale, aims and objectives The improvement of survival with time for cancers has been observed worldwide. However, whether and to what extent such an improvement is attributed to early detection or the advance in medical technology is barely addressed. Method We developed a novel graphic method to calculate attributable proportions related to two factors. This graphic method was first to calculate adjusted survival curve by the application of direct standardized epidemiological method to tumour staging. The crude survival curve was then compared with the adjusted survival curve. Results Cumulative survival curves of two time epochs, 1989–1993 (period 1) and 1994–1998 (period 2), on six common cancers collected from cancer registry of National Taiwan University between 1989 and 1998, were compared. The attributable proportions due to early detection and medical care were 77% and 23% for breast cancer, 50% and 50% for cervical cancer, 52% and 48% for colorectal cancer, 76% and 24% for gastric cancer, 66% and 34% for liver cancer, and 30% and 70% for prostate cancer respectively. Conclusion Distinguishing between early detection from advance in medical care associated with the improvement of survival trend using our graphic method has a significant implication for secondary and tertiary prevention of common cancers.

Oxidative modification of LDL is evidenced by alterations in both the protein and lipid components of the particle. Progressive oxidation of the apoprotein is associated with loss of specific amino acids and a gradual increase in electronegativity. Electronegative LDL has been isolated from human plasma (LDL − ) by several groups using liquid chromatographic techniques and appears to be oxidized based on increased lipid peroxide levels and cholesterol oxidation products (ChOx). Formation of LDL − also takes place following Cu 2+ -induced oxidation. Cu 2+ -induced oxidation caused a small fraction of the normal unoxidized LDL (n-LDL) to convert to LDL − during the oxidative lag phase while minimal increases in conjugated dienes were apparent. After the lag phase, there was a further increase in LDL − , a rapid accumulation of conjugated dienes, and another more electronegative particle was formed (LDL 2− ). By the end of the lag phase, approximately 30% and 12% of the total LDL converted to LDL − and LDL 2− , respectively. Nearly 40% of the total ChOx formed was present by the end of the lag period, accompanied by small increases in conjugated dienes. The major products accumulating during this time were 7-ketocholesterol, cholesterol- β -epoxide and 7- α -hydroxycholesterol. Accumulation of cholesterol- β -epoxide and 7-ketocholesterol predominated during the subsequent propagation phase. At the end of propagation phase there was a six-fold increase in conjugated dienes and total ChOx increased eight-fold. It appears that a subpopulation of LDL rapidly converts to LDL − , representing a mildly oxidized but oxidant sensitive LDL population. Oxidation of cholesterol accompanies these early events in LDL oxidation with formation of specific ChOx. © 1997 Elsevier Science Inc.

This paper applies weighted mean to construct interval-valued fuzzy relations for grayscale image edge detection. This fuzzy relation image shows the changes in intensity values between a 3×3 window central pixel and its eight neighbor pixels. We employ two weighting parameters, and perform the weighted mean aggregation for the central pixel and its eight neighbor pixels in a sliding window across the image to lead to the fuzzy edge images. Finally, the image edge map is obtained through a threshold operation. Moreover, to decrease the edge detection error, weighting parameters of the mean can be learned by the gradient method caste in discrete formulation. By the training results of eight grayscale synthetic images with adding random noises, we have shown that the integration of interval-valued fuzzy relations with the weighted mean aggregation algorithm will produce a more robust response in detecting the image edge. Finally, by applying the optimal edge detection parameters to natural images, we have found that it is better compared to the well-known Canny edge detector.

In this paper, we present an architecture and implementation of a measurement-based energy profiling tool for mobile devices, called PowerMemo (power meter for mobile). The tool composes of a software event profiler and power measurement hardware to analyze process-level and function-level power consumption of mobile applications on Linux operating system and Dalvik virtual machine. Wireless signal attenuators and RF-shielded chambers are further integrated with the tool so that developers are able to emulate a real-life mobility scenario that a mobile device may encounter. The proposed tool overcomes the issue for profiling asynchronous I/Os and can correlate energy consumption of I/O events with software activities. This tool gives developers a broader view of software energy consumption in a mobile environment so that the developers can optimize the energy efficiency of their mobile applications.

Internet addiction is a worldwide mental health problem among adolescents. This study aimed to evaluate the prediction of the Behaviour Inhibition System (BIS) and the Behaviour Approach System (BAS) on the occurrence of Internet addiction, and determine whether Internet addiction would make any difference on the development of BIS/BAS among adolescents. Adolescents in grade 7 were recruited to complete assessment for Internet addiction and BIS/BAS. Then, a follow-up was performed 1 year later. The results demonstrated that higher BAS and BAS fun seeking predicted the occurrence of Internet addiction. Adolescents with Internet addiction decreased more on BAS and BIS 1 year later than the non-addiction group. These results suggest that higher BAS and fun seeking are risk factors for Internet addiction among adolescents. Besides, interventions for Internet addiction should pay attention to the disturbed development of BAS and BIS.

Escherichia coli (E. coli) are the most common aerobic gram-negative bacilli in a normal intestinal tract. They cause most of the intra-abdominal infections, wound infections associated with abdominal surgery, and septicemia. Most of these infections are of endogenous intestinal origin. Lactoferrin (LF) is an iron-binding glycoprotein found in milk and various external secretions. This protein has been found to have a number of biological functions, including antimicrobial, anti-cancer, antioxidant, and immunomodulatory effects. Partial degradation of LF by pepsin can give rise to peptides termed lactoferricin (LFcin) with more potent antimicrobial activity. LF and LFcin have been shown to inhibit the growth of a number of pathogenic bacteria (including E. coli and antibiotic-resistant strains), fungi, and even viruses in both in vitro and in vivo studies. We previously demonstrated that both recombinant porcine LF (pLF) produced from yeast and a synthetic 20-residue porcine LFcin peptide exhibit antimicrobial activity in vitro. In one of our recent studies, we performed pathogen challenges, including pathogenic E. coli, Staphylococcus aureus and Candida albicans, of the digestive tract of a transgenic milk-fed animal model. The results showed that LF has broad spectrum antimicrobial activity in the digestive tract and protects the mucosa of the small intestine from injury. Our following study also revealed that pLF as a feedstuff additive enhances avian immunity, including antibody formation and cell-mediated immunity. All of these results suggest that LF could be a novel natural protein in the treatment and prevention of infections with E. coli or antibiotic-resistant bacteria strains.

Efficient full-spectrum white polymer light- emitting diodes (WPLEDs) were fabricated using single- layer luminescent polymer produced by one-step plasma polymerization from naphthalene (PEN) (and carbazole (PENCB)) derivatives. WPLEDs based on the plasma polymers had demonstrated efficient pure white light electroluminescence that covers the full visible spectral range with excellent color stability. A new monomer injection method enables excellent structural retention and excellent device reproducibility. Monomers of good luminescent quality and charge transport behavior can be selected to synthesize the light-emitting polymer without considering their individual chemical behaviors. It provides an opportunity of one-step reaction with molecularly smooth, pinhole free and high quality films. Full- spectrum electroluminescence (EL) emission was originated f rom molecular excitons, intermolecular excimers and electromers. It was produced pure stable white light emission at CIE coordinates of (0.33,0.34). Excellent luminance efficiency of 9.8 cd/A and a power efficiency of 2.1 lm/W were obtained. The efficiency reported here was based on films and devices not yet optimized. This new method merits further study as it manifests great potentials for simplifying the WPLEDs proce ss to enable a new type of high efficient, low-cost, and large- area-compatible processes.

We have previously shown that oxidized low-density lipoprotein (LDL) induces damage to the macrophage lysosomal membranes, with ensuing leakage of lysosomal contents and macrophage cell death. Cholesterol oxidation products (ChOx) have been reported to be the major cytotoxic components of oxidized LDL/LDL- and also to stimulate cholesterol accumulation in vascular cells. In the present study, we characterized the initial events during macrophage damage induced by cholesterol oxidation products (ChOx). Within 24 h of exposure, ChOx caused lysosomal destabilization, release to the cytosol of the lysosomal marker-enzyme cathepsin D, apoptosis, and postapoptotic necrosis. Enhanced autophagocytosis and chromatin margination was found 12 h after the exposure to ChOx, whereas apoptosis and postapoptotic necrosis was pronounced 24 and 48 h after the exposure. Some lysosomal vacuoles were then filled with degraded cellular organelles, indicating phagocytosis of apoptotic bodies by surviving cells. Because caspase-3 activation was detected in the ChOx-exposed cells, lysosomal destabilization may associate with the leakage of lysosomal enzymes, and activation of the caspase cascade. MnSOD mRNA levels were markedly increased after 24 h of exposure to ChOx, suggesting associated induction of mitochondrial protection repair or turnover. We conclude that ChOx-induced damage to lysosomes and mitochondria are sequelae to the cascade of oxysterol cytotoxic events. The early disruption of lysosomes induced by ChOx, with resultant autophagocytosis may be a critical event in apoptosis and/or necrosis of macrophages/foam cells during the development of atherosclerotic lesions.

Background/Purpose Little is known about the factors associated with syphilis among human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-infected men who have sex with men (MSM) with access to combination antiretroviral therapy (cART) in Taiwan, where MSM has re-emerged as the leading risk group for HIV transmission. Methods From March to October 2011, MSM who regularly attended HIV clinics at a university hospital were invited to participate in the study. A structured questionnaire interview was conducted to collect information on sociodemographic characteristics, immunologic and virologic status, sexual partners and patterns of sexual behavior, and use of recreational drugs. Results During the study period, 310 HIV-infected MSM with a mean age of 35.5 years were enrolled, of which 82.3% ( n = 255) were sexually active and 37.4% ( n = 116) used recreational drugs in the past 6 months. Syphilis was self-reported in 46.5% ( n = 144) of the participants after HIV infection was diagnosed and 37.5% (112/299) had serologic evidence of syphilis within 1 year before enrollment. Multivariate logistic regression analysis limited to those who were receiving cART showed that higher CD4 counts [adjusted odds ratio (AOR): 1.17; 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.02–1.34], lower educational achievement (AOR: 1.95; 95% CI: 1.05–3.63), serosorting (AOR: 3.32; 95% CI: 1.04–10.63), and use of recreational drugs (AOR: 2.55; 95% CI: 1.26–5.13) were associated with syphilis. Conclusion Improved immune status, lower educational achievement, serosorting, and use of recreational drugs were associated with syphilis among HIV-infected MSM who were receiving cART. These findings suggest that strengthening client-specific counseling is needed to reduce risks for syphilis among HIV-infected MSM in Taiwan.

Background Aerobic exercise can decrease postprandial triglyceride (TG) concentrations but the relationship between exercise-induced energy deficits and postprandial lipemia is still unclear. The aim of the present study was to examine the effect of a single bout of aerobic exercise, with and without energy replacement, on postprandial lipemia and on peripheral blood mononuclear cell (PBMC) mRNA expression of very low density lipoprotein (VLDL) and low density lipoprotein (LDL) receptors and 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl-CoA reductase (HMGCR). Methods Nine healthy male humans completed three two-day trials in a random order. On day 1, volunteers rested (CON), completed 60 minutes of treadmill walking at 50% of VO2peak (EX) or completed the same bout of walking but with the energy replaced afterwards with a glucose solution (EXG). On day 2, volunteers rested and consumed a high fat test meal in the morning. Results Total and incremental TG AUC were significantly lower on the EXG (P 0.05). Conclusions In conclusion, energy replacement by glucose did not affect the decrease in postprandial TG concentrations observed after moderate intensity exercise and exercise does not affect changes in PBMC HMGCR, VLDL and LDL receptor mRNA expression.