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Non-volatile resistive switching, also known as memristor 1 effect, where an electric field switches the resistance states of a two-terminal device, has emerged as an important concept in the development of high-density information storage, computing and reconfigurable systems 2 – 9 . The past decade has witnessed substantial advances in non-volatile resistive switching materials such as metal oxides and solid electrolytes. It was long believed that leakage currents would prevent the observation of this phenomenon for nanometre-thin insulating layers. However, the recent discovery of non-volatile resistive switching in two-dimensional monolayers of transition metal dichalcogenide 10 , 11 and hexagonal boron nitride 12 sandwich structures (also known as atomristors) has refuted this belief and added a new materials dimension owing to the benefits of size scaling 10 , 13 . Here we elucidate the origin of the switching mechanism in atomic sheets using monolayer MoS 2 as a model system. Atomistic imaging and spectroscopy reveal that metal substitution into a sulfur vacancy results in a non-volatile change in the resistance, which is corroborated by computational studies of defect structures and electronic states. These findings provide an atomistic understanding of non-volatile switching and open a new direction in precision defect engineering, down to a single defect, towards achieving the smallest memristor for applications in ultra-dense memory, neuromorphic computing and radio-frequency communication systems 2 , 3 , 11 . A combination of atomistic imaging and spectroscopy reveals that metal substitution into a sulfur vacancy is the underlying mechanism for resistive switching in transition metal dichalcogenide monolayers.

Organocatalysis has emerged as a powerful synthetic tool in organic chemistry in the last few decades. Among various classes of organocatalysis, chiral diol-based scaffolds, such as BINOLs, VANOLs, and tartaric acid derivatives, have been widely used to induce enantioselectivity due to the ability of the hydroxyls to coordinate with the Lewis acidic sites of reagents or substrates and create a chiral environment for the transformation. In this review, we will discuss the applications of these diol-based catalysts in different types of reactions, including the scopes of reactions and the modes of catalyst activation. In general, the axially chiral aryl diol BINOL and VANOL derivatives serve as the most competent catalyst for most examples, but examples of exclusive success using other scaffolds, herein, suggests that they should not be overlooked. Lastly, the examples, to date, are mainly from tartrate and biaryl diol catalysts, suggesting that innovation may be available from new diol scaffolds.

[...]the presence of pulseless electrical activity (PEA) or asystole often reflects severe non-cardiogenic pathology or an advanced stage of a cardiogenic cause that may have initially presented with a shockable rhythm. [...]cerebrovascular disease might serve as an “indicator” of underlying disease complexity and severity, ultimately influencing prognosis. [...]we agree with the authors that time, underlying conditions, and early diagnosis are pivotal determinants of 30-day survival among OHCA patients undergoing ECPR.

Edible chrysanthemum (Chrysanthemum morifolium Ramat.), widely consumed in Asia, is rich in bioactive compounds such as polyphenols, flavonoids, and amino acids. Optimizing cultivation temperature is critical for maximizing both yield and quality, especially under the challenges posed by climate change. This study evaluated the growth performance, photosynthetic characteristics, and metabolite accumulation of the ‘Taiwan Hangju No. 1’ variety under five day/night temperature regimes (15/13 °C, 20/15 °C, 25/20 °C, 30/25 °C, and 35/30 °C) over a 220-day period in an artificial climate greenhouse. The 25/20 °C regime promoted the best overall growth, with the highest yields of bud-leaves and flowers, and supported the highest net photosynthetic rate, indicating optimal carbon assimilation under moderate temperatures. In contrast, stomatal conductance, respiration rate, and transpiration rate increased with temperature, peaking at 35/30 °C. Water use efficiency was greatest at 15/13 °C. Bioactive compound accumulation exhibited complex and organ-specific responses to temperature. The concentration of polyphenols, luteolin, and caffeoylquinic acid derivatives (CQAs) increased with temperature in both bud-leaves and flowers, free amino acids decreased in bud-leaves with rising temperature, reaching a peak at 15/13 °C, and flavonoid concentration peaked at 35/30 °C. In flowers, free amino acids accumulated most at 20/15 °C, and flavonoids peaked at 25/20 °C. The differing yields of bud-leaves and flowers under various temperature conditions contributed to variation in the total content of functional compounds. Except for free amino acids, the total of other functional compounds in bud-leaves was highest at 30/25 °C. The total content of all functional compounds in flowers was highest at 25/20 °C. This study demonstrated that 25/20 °C provides the best balance between growth, photosynthetic efficiency, and accumulation of key bioactive compounds and is therefore recommended as the optimal cultivation temperature for ‘Taiwan Hangju No. 1’. These findings reveal temperature-dependent and organ-specific metabolic adjustments, suggesting that moderate warming may enhance crop quality if managed carefully. The results provide a scientific basis for climate-adaptive cultivation strategies of edible chrysanthemums in subtropical regions.

Background There have been no reports regarding clinical features and molecular characteristics of childhood methicillin-susceptible Staphylococcus aureus (MSSA) infections in Taiwan. Methods We prospectively collected clinical S. aureus isolates from patients aged < 18 years in a university-affiliated hospital in 2015. Only the first isolate from each patient was included. Medical records were retrospectively reviewed. Patients were classified as community-associated (CA) or healthcare-associated (HA) by the epidemiologic criteria. All MSSA isolates were molecularly characterized. Results A total of 495  S. aureus isolates were identified, and 178 (36.0%) were MSSA. Among the 131 MSSA-infected patients enrolled, 94 (71.8%) were community-associated and 60 (45.8%) were inpatients. Patients with HA infections was significantly younger than those with CA infections (median, 15 vs. 67.5 months). The most common specimen of MSSA identified was pus or wound (73.3%). Compared to HA-MSSA, CA-MSSA isolates were significantly less frequently from sputum (6.4% vs. 27%, p  = 0.001). Nineteen pulsotypes were identified. Four pulsotypes accounted for 60% of the isolates. Isolates of ST15/pulsotype F were more frequently seen in CA than in HA ( p  = 0.064) while isolates of ST188/pulsotype AX frequently seen in HA ( p  = 0.049). PVL genes were identified in 11 isolates (8.4%), nine of which were characterized as ST59/pulsotype D, same as the local endemic CA-MRSA clone. Conclusions MSSA accounted for around one-third of childhood S. aureus infections in northern Taiwan. SSTI was the most common manifestation. The molecular characteristics of these clinical MSSA isolates were relatively diverse and had certain significant differences between CA and HA isolates.

Objective. The glutamate system plays a major role in the development of neuropsychiatric disorders such as addiction, epilepsy, dementia, and psychosis. MK-801 (dizocilpine), an uncompetitive N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) receptor antagonist, could increase locomotor activity and stereotyped neurobehaviors mimicking schizophrenic-like features in the mouse model. The study would explore the neuropharmacological differences of risperidone and valproic acid on the MK-801-induced neurobehavioral changes. Methods. The subjects were male C57BL/6J mice obtained from the National Laboratory Animal Center. Drug effects were assessed using the open field with a video-tracking system and gaiting tests. After habitation, risperidone (0, 0.1 mg/kg) or valproic acid (0, 200 mg/kg) was injected and ran locomotion for 30 mins. Sequentially, mice were followed by intraperitoneal injection (i.p.) with MK-801 (0, 0.2 mg/kg) and ran locomotion for 60 mins. Gaiting behaviors such as step angles, stride lengths, and stance widths were measured following the study drugs. Results. The results showed that risperidone and valproic acid alone could not alter the locomotor activities. Following the MK-801 injection, the travelled distance and speed in the entire open field dramatically increased. The dose 0.1 mg/kg of risperidone could totally inhibit the MK-801-induced hyperlocomotion compared with that of the saline-injected group (p<0.001). The valproic acid (200 mg/kg) partially suppressed the hyperlocomotion which is induced by MK801. Conclusion. The more dominant effect of risperidone to rescue MK-801 induced hyperlocomotion compared with that of valproic acid. The partial suppression of valproic acid may imply the psychopharmacological evidence as adjuvant effect to treat psychotic patients through tuning glutamatergic neurotransmission.

Avocados may suffer from short-term waterlogging stress when exposed to high temperatures and heavy rainfall during the summer in Taiwan. We compared the waterlogging responses of own-rooted and grafted seedlings of two Taiwan cultivars, ‘Black-Beauty’ and ‘Hung-Hsin-Yuan’, by stomatal conductance (gs) and chlorophyll fluorescence parameters. Four-day waterlogging and four-day post-waterlogging recovery periods were investigated. Both gs and Fv/Fm of own-rooted seedlings of two cultivars were significant reductions in response to short-term waterlogging. The grafted seedlings on the same cultivar rootstock were evaluated by gs and Fv/Fm during the growth and the growth cessation periods, respectively. The combined responses of gs and Fv/Fm under short-term waterlogging showed that ‘Black-Beauty’ was sensitive to stress because of decreased gs after waterlogging or decreased Fv/Fm after the two-day recovery period. ‘Hung-Hsin-Yuan’ showed more tolerance to waterlogging stress, especially during the growth cessation. This indicates that the vegetative dormancy may affect the evaluation of the stress response of avocados. Our results revealed that gs and Fv/Fm can be effective indicators in the four-day waterlogging of avocado, and the growth status of avocado seedlings should be considered during stress-tolerant variety selection.

Despite extensive studies, the relationship between the quality/quantity of tea odorants and oolong tea quality remains unclear. To investigate the key components affecting Bao-chung tea quality, we collected samples of different grades from a tea-tasting competition and determined the content and composition of volatile components and individual catechins using gas chromatography–mass spectrometry and high-performance liquid chromatography. We used an electronic nose (E-nose) to collect odor component signals and established a quality recognition model. The different tea grades did not significantly differ in catechin content, but their specific odor intensity and proportion of odor components varied significantly. Linear discriminant analysis showed that the intensity and proportion of volatile organic compounds could be used for distinguishing the different grades of Bao-chung tea. By combining different quantities of indole, linalool, and butanoic acid and proportions of p-cymene, cis-β-ocimene, nonanal, allo-ocimene, cis-jasmone, and α-farnesene, the ability to distinguish among Bao-chung tea grades was significantly improved. Our results revealed that the quality of Bao-chung tea should be evaluated based on the combined perception of odor component intensity and proportion rather than solely relying on the concentration or composition of specific compounds. Therefore, individuals can judge a Bao-chung tea grade based on the combined perception of odor component intensity and proportion. The E-nose can be used to identify Bao-chung tea grades based on its ability to determine the odorant composition.

Ketamine has been abused as a psychedelic agent and causes diverse neurobehavioral changes. Adolescence is a critical developmental stage but vulnerable to substances and environmental stimuli. Growing evidence shows that ketamine affects glutamatergic neurotransmission, which is important for memory storage, addiction, and psychosis. To explore diverse biological responses, this study was designed to assess ketamine sensitivity in mice of different ages and strains. Male C57BL/6J and BALB/c mice were studied in adolescence and adulthood separately. An open field test assessed motor behavioral changes. After a 30-min baseline habituation, mice were injected with ketamine (0, 25, and 50 mg/kg), and their locomotion was measured for 60 min. Following ketamine injection, the travelled distance and speed significantly increased in C57BL/6J mice between both age groups (p < 0.01), but not in BALB/c mice. The pattern of hyperlocomotion showed that mice were delayed at the higher dose (50 mg/kg) compared to the lower dose (25 mg/kg) of ketamine treatment. Ketamine accentuated locomotor activation in adolescent C57BL/6J mice compared to adults, but not in the BALB/c strain. Here, we show that ketamine-induced locomotor behavior is modulated by dose and age. The discrepancy of neurobehaviors in the two strains of mice indicates that sensitivity to ketamine is biologically determined. This study suggests that individual vulnerability to ketamine’s pharmacological responses varies biologically.

We aimed to analyze CT features of persistent subsolid nodules (SSN) ≦3 cm diagnosed pathologically as adenocarcinoma spectrum to investigate whether parameters enable distinction between invasive pulmonary adenocarcinomas (IPAs) and pre-invasive lesions. A total of 129 patients with 141 SSNs confirmed with surgically pathologic proof were retrospectively reviewed. Of 141 SSNs, there were 57 pure ground-glass nodules (GGNs), 22 heterogeneous GGNs, and 62 part-solid nodules. SSN subclassification showed a significant linear trend with invasive degree of the adenocarcinoma spectrum (pure GGNs 7%; heterogeneous GGNs 36.4%; part-solid nodules 85.5%, P for trend <0.0001). For IPA detection in 141 SSNs, a solid part of ≧3 mm was the most specificity (sensitivity, 76.9%; specificity, 94.7%), followed by air-bronchogram sign (sensitivity, 53.8%; specificity, 89.5%), SSN subclassification (sensitivity, 81.5%; specificity, 88.2%), and a lesion size ≧12 mm (sensitivity, 84.6%; specificity, 76.3%). For IPA detection in 79 pure or heterogeneous GGNs, the heterogeneous GGN sign was the most useful finding, with most specificity (sensitivity, 66.7%; specificity, 79.1%), followed by CT attenuation (HU) of ≧−493 (sensitivity, 75%; specificity, 74.6%) and a lesion size ≧10 mm (sensitivity, 83.3%; specificity, 70.1%). In conclusion, this simple combined visual and semiquantitative analysis of CT features helps distinguish IPAs from pre-invasive lesions.