Academia Sinica
  • Taipei, Taiwan
Recent publications
Air pollution is a serious environmental health issue, particularly in heavily polluted urban areas such as Dhaka, Bangladesh. Street vendors, who often work in outdoor environments with high traffic emissions, are among the most vulnerable populations to particulate matter (PM) exposure. This study aims to evaluate the exposure of high-level PM2.5 to twenty street vendors across various locations in Dhaka and to assess the consequent health impacts. AS-LUNG air sensors were utilized to continually measure PM exposure for each vendor for about 48 h, covering both work and rest periods. The data obtained demonstrated that the exposure levels of PM were significantly different among the vendors in various locations. The High Court corner exhibited the highest working period exposure (PM1.0 143.3 ± 64.9 µgm⁻³, PM2.5 247.4 ± 126.5 µgm⁻³), while the Chankharpol area had the lowest (PM1.0 20.8 ± 1.9 µgm⁻³, PM2.5 31.9 ± 3.1 µgm⁻³). The highest exposure was observed in vendor-10 during rest periods (PM1.0 59.7 ± 4.8 µgm⁻³, PM2.5 191.4 ± 9.7 µgm⁻³), while the lowest was observed in vendor-12 (PM1.0 23.7 ± 5.7 µgm⁻³, PM2.5 37.7 ± 9.9 µgm⁻³). In comparison to vendors exposed to lower levels (< 100 µgm⁻³), health assessments revealed that peak flow rates were considerably lower (p < 0.05) in those exposed to higher PM levels (> 100 µgm⁻³). PM exposure was consistently higher during work periods than during rest periods, despite significant indoor exposure was also observed. The findings emphasize the urgent need for guidelines and policies to mitigate PM exposure among street vendors, thereby minimizing associated health risks.
The mechanism underlying the co-occurrence of major depressive disorder (MDD) and gynecological diseases remains unclear. This study aimed to investigate the familial co-aggregation and shared genetic loading between MDD and gynecological diseases, namely dysmenorrhea, endometriosis, uterine leiomyomas (UL), and polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS). Overall, 2,121,632 females born 1970–1999 with parental information were enrolled from the Taiwan National Health Insurance Research Database (NHIRD); 25,142 same-sex twins and 951,779 persons with full-sibling(s) were selected. Genome-wide genotyping data were available for 67,882 unrelated female participants from the Taiwan Biobank linked to the NHIRD. A generalized linear model with a logistic link function was used to examine the associations of individual history, family history in parents/full-siblings/same-sex twins, and polygenic risk scores (PRS) for MDD with the risk of gynecological diseases; generalized estimating equations were used to consider the non-independence of data. Both parents affected with MDD was associated with four gynecological diseases, and its magnitude of association was higher than either affected parent; maternal MDD showed a higher magnitude of association than paternal MDD. Full-siblings of patients with MDD had a higher risk of four gynecological diseases; same-sex twins of patients with MDD had a greater association with dysmenorrhea and PCOS. PRS for MDD was associated with dysmenorrhea and endometriosis. Familial co-aggregation was observed in the co-occurrence of MDD and four gynecological diseases. There exists a shared polygenic liability between MDD and dysmenorrhea and endometriosis. Individuals with MDD-affected relatives or a higher PRS for MDD should be monitored for gynecological diseases.
Fluorescence emission of a typical poly(9,9‐dialkylfluorene) derivative (PF Green B)‐based polymer light‐emitting diodes (PLEDs) clearly demonstrates that it partially involves the contribution of triplet excitons by the triplet–triplet fusion (TTF) process through measuring the magneto‐electroluminescence (MEL) responses of devices at different bias conditions and temperatures. The TTF process to fluorescence intrinsically correlates with the concentration, lifetime, and polaron quenching of triplet excitons, as modulated by different bias regimes and conditions. Varying the cathode configurations of PLEDs by an additional exciton blocking layer and cathode buffer layers in PLEDs, such as a thin layer of bathocuproine, tetractylammonium bromide, or poly(ethylene glycol) dimethyl ether with metal cathodes, changes the carrier dynamics and regulates the magnitude of TTF process to fluorescence. The performance of the devices has increased due to the enhanced TTF process in fluorescence, as characterized by the measurement of MEL responses. The results in this work unveil the “hidden” component of fluorescence emission, which originates from the fusion of triplet excitons to singlet excitons in typical PLEDs. The results elucidate that TTF of triplet excitons to fluorescence emission can be a practicable mechanism that contributes to enhancing the performance of devices.
While traditional electrocardiogram (ECG) monitoring provides vital clinical information, its electrode-based setup restricts patient movement. To address this limitation, contactless ECG monitoring using frequency-modulated continuous-wave (FMCW) radar and deep learning have been developed. However, such approaches face challenges owing to the limited availability of training data and inherent discrepancies between radar and ECG signals. This paper introduces a novel approach to transforming high-fidelity ECG signals from millimeter-wave (mmWave) radar signals reflecting cardiac mechanical activity. The proposed method uses a cascade framework with a cross-modal autoencoder trained using joint waveforms, spectrograms, and deep feature losses. This strategy enables the model to leverage a pre-trained ECG-to-ECG autoencoder and cardiac event predictor for learning general ECG representations while simultaneously capturing time- and frequency-domain features from limited data. We evaluated the effectiveness of the proposed autoencoder model in terms of the signal quality and cardiac event integrity using ablation studies on data from 20 healthy participants. The model achieved high transformation accuracy with a cross-correlation of 0.914 and average timing errors below 31 ms for critical ECG features. These findings demonstrate the feasibility and effectiveness of the proposed FMCW radar-based contactless ECG monitoring method, particularly in overcoming the limitations imposed by small datasets and domain discrepancies.
Giant tetrahedral molecules have sparked significant interest in the past decade due to their unique and diverse supramolecular nanostructures. The longer and bulkier peripheral substituents create deep molecular concavities and thus contribute to the different self‐assembly behaviors compared to the conventional small tetrahedral molecules. In this study, a molecular giant tetrahedra, TetraNDI, was synthesized to investigate the important roles of the molecular concavities in the self‐assembly mechanism. Single‐crystal structural characterizations indicate that the TetraNDI takes its trigonal concavities to form 1D supramolecular columns, and its tetragonal concavities to reach close inter‐columnar packing. The difficulty in occupying the concavities leads to the path‐dependent phase behaviors of the giant tetrahedra. It is also found that the remaining molecular concavities in the supramolecular scaffolds affect the CO2 affinity of TetraNDI. With an understanding of the packing principles of molecular giant tetrahedra, the structure‐property relationships could be better evaluated in the future and might broaden the horizon of porous materials.
Improper inhaler use has been a persistent issue lacking clear and standardized guidelines for accurate assessment. This research aims to address this problem by developing an innovative sound-sensing device that provides immediate feedback to patients and medical professionals, ensuring correct medication usage. The study introduces a novel approach to minimizing noise interference by structurally filtering sound through an acoustic simulation system before it reaches the microphone. This method results in a peak flow error of less than 1 L/min and an inhalation duration error of less than 0.5 seconds. In a clinical trial involving 40 participants, the technology demonstrated over 91% accuracy in medication identification. The development of this highly accurate and standardized system has the potential to significantly improve current clinical practices for inhaler education, setting a new benchmark for correct medication usage.
It is challenging to select ground motion models (GMMs) for seismic hazard assessments for a region with sparse recorded data. In this study, data on the 2020 M w 5 Moc-Chau earthquake and its aftershocks were used to select an appropriate GMM for northern Vietnam (NVN). The 204 strong motion records were collected from 32 seismic stations and then used to compare eleven non-Vietnamese and two simplified Vietnamese local GMMs to assess their model prediction efficiencies. Among all the candidates, the global NGA-West2 GMMs performed the best fit with the data. Our analyses revealed the possibility of damage resulting from shaking in the Hanoi metropolitan area caused by recognized earthquake sources in NVN. In our examination of total residuals of differences between the GMM predictions and observed data, the average standard deviation from ASK14 was slightly higher than the limit accepted for modern seismic hazard assessments. ASK14 was further adjusted by the spatially varying coefficients that were derived from observations ground motion of this event. The adjusted ASK14 was used to evaluate seismic risk scenarios of large earthquakes in NVN and compared with the structures' design spectra of the Hanoi area. To increase the prediction efficiency, additional local data are required to develop a region-specific GMM for NVN. We suggest that GMM be developed in the near future by regionalizing the ASK14 GMM according to additional local data further collected from existing broadband seismic observations and new accumulating continuous recording data from Vietnam's broadband seismic networks.
In this study, we reveal the deformational structure of the crust of the northern part of the Ryukyu Arc and Okinawa Trough using ambient noise tomography. Compared with southern Ryukyu, the northern segment exhibits a wide and shallow basin, a crust without localized thinning, slow extension rates, and highly arc‐oblique, right‐lateral retreat of the Ryukyu Arc. We present both isotropic and azimuthally anisotropic shear‐wave velocity models using data recorded by an ocean‐bottom seismometer array and nearby island stations. The isotropic model demonstrates a monotonic decrease in velocity from the backarc to the forearc, in accord with the accretionary‐prism origin of the latter. The resolved azimuthal anisotropy exhibits arc‐parallel and arc‐perpendicular fast shear‐wave polarization directions in the upper to mid‐crust and the lower crust to uppermost mantle in much of the arc and backarc, respectively. We interpret the arc‐parallel anisotropy as resulting from the anisotropic fabrics aligned by the vertical shearing imposed by the right‐lateral motion of the Ryukyu Arc. The underlying arc‐perpendicular anisotropy may be attributed to horizontal shearing driven by corner flow in the mantle wedge. We found arc‐perpendicular anisotropy in the forearc upper crust, which may reflect crack alignment caused by the collision of the Amami Plateau. The oblique arc retreat and the resolved deformation fabrics in the arc and backarc together attest to the shear‐dominant, transtensional nature of the northern Ryukyu continental rift system. Some of the features in northern Ryukyu may be better explained from the perspective of transtensional rifting.
As the demand for polycarbonate (PC) plastic increases over the years, the development of a chemical recycling system to produce virgin‐like‐quality monomers is indispensable not only to attain completely sustainable cycles but also to contribute to the decrease in global plastic pollution. Herein, potassium carbonate (K2CO3) was used as a low‐cost, readily available, and highly active solid base catalyst for low‐temperature PC methanolysis in the presence of THF as a solvent, producing highly pure and crystalline bisphenol A (BPA) and with a catalytic performance higher than group IIA metal oxides (MgO, CaO, and SrO) and some group IA metal carbonates (NaHCO3, KHCO3, and Na2CO3). THF was the best solvent in aiding the reaction owing to it having a similar polar parameter (δp) to that of PC according to Hansen solubility parameters. By the reaction over the catalyst, 100% PC conversion, 97% BPA yield, and 86% dimethyl carbonate yield were achieved within just 20 min at 60 °C. The catalyst possessed an apparent activation energy (Ea) of 52.3 kJ mol⁻¹, which is the lowest value so far for heterogeneous catalysts, while the mechanistic study revealed that the reaction proceeded via the methoxide pathway. The reusability test demonstrated that the catalyst was reusable at least four times. Furthermore, this catalytic system was successfully applied to actual post‐consumer PC wastes and polyesters, including polyethylene terephthalate (PET) and polylactic acid (PLA).
Electrocatalytic properties of a series of tetrakis(ethoxycarbonyl)porphyrin (TECP) 3d-metal complexes, and the influence of ester groups on the hydrogen evolution reaction (HER), were investigated using trifluoroacetic acid in a 0.1 M [Bu4N]PF6 DMF solution. [Co(TECP)], [Ni(TECP)], and [Cu(TECP)] exhibited three redox couples, with reversibility decreasing at more negative potentials. The third reduction couple was predominantly ligand-centered. Upon addition of TFA, the second reduction waves became catalytic, increasing proportionally with TFA concentration, indicating that the molecular nature of the [M(TECP)] complexes plays a role in facilitating HER. Electrochemical and catalytic studies revealed that [Cu(TECP)] demonstrated the highest Faradaic efficiency (FE) of 98% and the lowest overpotential (0.7 V) while maintaining strong acid tolerance. [Co(TECP)] became effective at overpotentials exceeding 800 mV, suggesting the predominance of EECC pathway at more negative potential. The roles of the ester groups extended beyond a simple inductive effect, as confirmed by controlled potential electrolysis and spectroelectrochemical analyses. The superior HER activity of [Cu(TECP)] compared to [Cu(TPrP)] and [Cu(TPP)] highlights the contribution of the carbonyl groups to catalytic performance. This work underscores the importance of ester groups placement within the porphyrin framework and suggests that meso-ester groups can influence both the stability and catalytic performance, paving the way for further investigations.
Metabolic dysfunction–associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD) is the most prevalent chronic liver disease worldwide, affecting >30% of the global population. Metabolic dysregulation, particularly insulin resistance and its subsequent manifestation as type 2 diabetes mellitus, serves as the fundamental pathogenesis of metabolic liver disease. Clinical evidence of the recent nomenclature evolution is accumulating. The interaction and impacts are bidirectional between MASLD and diabetes in terms of disease course, risk, and prognosis. Therefore, there is an urgent need to highlight the multifaceted links between MASLD and diabetes for both hepatologists and diabetologists. The surveillance strategy, risk stratification of management, and current therapeutic achievements of metabolic liver disease remain the major pillars in a clinical care setting. Therefore, the Taiwan Association for the Study of the Liver (TASL), Taiwanese Association of Diabetes Educators, and Diabetes Association of the Republic of China (Taiwan) collaboratively completed the first guidance in patients with diabetes and MASLD, which provides practical recommendations for patient care.
Causal mediation analysis provides an attractive framework for integrating diverse types of exposure, genomic, and phenotype data. Recently, this field has seen a surge of interest, largely driven by the increasing need for causal mediation analyses in health and social sciences. This article aims to provide a review of recent developments in mediation analysis, encompassing mediation analysis of a single mediator and a large number of mediators, as well as mediation analysis with multiple exposures and mediators. Our review focuses on the recent advancements in statistical inference for causal mediation analysis, especially in the context of high-dimensional mediation analysis. We delve into the complexities of testing mediation effects, especially addressing the challenge of testing a large number of composite null hypotheses. Through extensive simulation studies, we compare the existing methods across a range of scenarios. We also include an analysis of data from the Normative Aging Study, which examines DNA methylation CpG sites as potential mediators of the effect of smoking status on lung function. We discuss the pros and cons of these methods and future research directions.
A/goose/Guangdong/1/96-like (GsGd) highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) H5 viruses cause severe outbreaks in poultry when introduced. Since emergence in 1996, control measures in most countries have suppressed local GsGd transmission following introductions, making persistent transmission in domestic birds rare. However, geographical expansion of clade 2.3.4.4 sublineages has raised concern about establishment of endemic circulation, while mechanistic drivers leading to endemicity remain unknown. We reconstructed the evolutionary history of GsGd sublineage, clade 2.3.4.4c, in Taiwan using a time-heterogeneous rate phylogeographic model. During Taiwan’s initial epidemic wave (January 2015 - August 2016), we inferred that localised outbreaks had multiple origins from rapid spread between counties/cities nationwide. Subsequently, outbreaks predominantly originated from a single county, Yunlin, where persistent transmission harbours the trunk viruses of the sublineage. Endemic hotspots determined by phylogeographic reconstruction largely predicted the locations of re-emerging outbreaks in Yunlin. The transition to endemicity involved a shift to chicken-dominant circulation, following the initial bidirectional spread between chicken and domestic waterfowl. Our results suggest that following their emergence in Taiwan, source-sink dynamics from a single county have maintained GsGd endemicity up until 2023, pointing to where control efforts should be targeted to eliminate the disease.
Current genome-wide association studies (GWAS) for kidney function lack ancestral diversity, limiting the applicability to broader populations. The East-Asian population is especially under-represented, despite having the highest global burden of end-stage kidney disease. We conducted a meta-analysis of multiple GWASs (n = 244,952) on estimated glomerular filtration rate and a replication dataset (n = 27,058) from Taiwan and Japan. This study identified 111 lead SNPs in 97 genomic risk loci. Functional enrichment analyses revealed that variants associated with F12 gene and a missense mutation in ABCG2 may contribute to chronic kidney disease (CKD) through influencing inflammation, coagulation, and urate metabolism pathways. In independent cohorts from Taiwan (n = 25,345) and the United Kingdom (n = 260,245), polygenic risk scores (PRSs) for CKD significantly stratified the risk of CKD (p < 0.0001). Further research is required to evaluate the clinical effectiveness of PRSCKD in the early prevention of kidney disease.
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3,356 members
Jaya Kishore Vandavasi
  • Institute of Chemistry
Chih-Horng Kuo
  • Institute of Plant and Microbial Biology
Sen-Lin Tang
  • Biodiversity Research Center
Shen-Ju Chou
  • Institute of Cellular and Organismic Biology
yi-hsuan Yang
  • Research Center for Information Technology Innovation
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