National Dong Hwa University

Plastic is ubiquitous, found around us and within us. Plastic pollution represents a critical global environmental challenge, with single-use plastics driving the triple planetary crisis and impacting all nine planetary boundaries. While the circular economy emerges as a sustainable alternative to the linear economy, interconnected barriers such as cultural, market, regulatory, and technological exist. Cultural challenges are frequently highlighted as critical impediments to the transition to a circular economy. This study aims to identify topical circular economy attributes, evaluate their importance and real-world performance, and reveal high priority circular economy attributes through importance-performance analysis in Taiwan. The analysis identified key attributes requiring immediate attention from the policymakers in Taiwan, including implementing no single-use plastics policies at restaurants, night markets, and shops; creating government-directed policies; providing financial incentives for consumers; improving government-business collaborations; and enhancing awareness campaigns. Based on the findings, we recommend empowering consumers to adopt a zero waste lifestyle, increasing learning hours for environmental education, setting up reusable cutlery stations at night markets, subsidizing for-profit businesses that engage in the circular economy, and reducing the price of reusable tableware through targeted subsidies, among others. Achieving a successful transition to a circular economy requires a cultural shift in consumer behaviour, emphasizing awareness, affordability, and the accessibility of reusable products. Consumers are key stakeholders in driving real-world impact by reducing consumption, refusing unnecessary products and practices, recycling, choosing eco-friendly and sustainable products, and supporting circular business models.

The pandemic has significantly disrupted the tourism sector, prompting a reevaluation of factors influencing travel decisions. Central to this study is the exploration of the interplay between country image, animosity, and tourist xenophobia, and their impact on travel intentions. Based on online survey data from 558 Australian travelers, the research examines the complex role of affective country image and integrates emotions into the theory of reasoned action to better understand travel intentions after the pandemic. Using partial least squares structural equation modeling, our findings demonstrate the negative influence of animosity and tourist xenophobia on both country image and travel intention, such as the indirect effect of affective country image was overall stronger when China was the destination in comparison to the United States, United Kingdom, or Japan. The findings aim to provide a reflection on the political dimension of country image and travel intentions and insights into the long-term implications of shifts in perception, offering a novel contribution to the understanding of post-pandemic travel behavior. This research holds significant implications for tourism management in the evolving post-COVID-19 era.

We report on the defect engineering in n-type Bi1.8Sb0.2Te3 end-compound via Te non-stoichiometry (Bi1.8Sb0.2Te3−x) intending to enhance the thermoelectric performance at low and near room temperature regime (10–350 K). Contemplating the asymmetry in electronic and phonon transport, the extrinsic anionic disorders successfully modulate the thermoelectric transport. Systematic manipulation of Te and Bi/Sb vacancies increases the electrical conductivity, leading to the highest power factor of 534 μW mK⁻² at 350 K. The self-doping effect created via anionic disorders resulted in an enhancement in the thermoelectric performance compared to the Bi1.8Sb0.2Te3 compound. Increased ZT values, accompanied by the thermoelectric quality factor, confirm the quality factor as one of the decisive parameters in elevating the thermoelectric performance. The sample with x = 0.08 has the highest ZT value of 0.081 at 350 K. A 174% increase in compatibility factor is also observed, indicating the state-of-the-art applicability of Bi1.8Sb0.2Te3 in segmented thermoelectric generators.

Inconsistent estimation issues in the Matérn covariance function pose significant challenges to constructing confidence intervals using traditional methods. This paper addresses these challenges by employing the bootstrap method and comparing two straightforward approaches: the percentile bootstrap (PB) and the reverse percentile interval (RPI). We assess their efficacy through coverage rates and interval scores, focusing on accuracy and breadth. Theoretically, we prove that PB outperforms RPI, a claim substantiated by simulation experiments showing its superior coverage accuracy and interval scores. Moreover, the simulation results show strongly interdependent phenomena between parameters. Accordingly, by exploring the micro‐ergodic parameter's impact, the study provides insights into these findings' underlying factors, particularly relevant for large spatial datasets. In the empirical study, our approach exhibits greater reliability and effectiveness in confidence interval estimation for large datasets with uniformly and non‐uniformly distributed locations, as compared to several other methods. Furthermore, we applied the method to sea surface temperature data, demonstrating its strong applicability for analysis. This study provides theoretical insight and practical guidance for constructing confidence intervals, particularly in mitigating inconsistent estimation issues, especially in the context of the Matérn covariance function.

A BSTRACT Objectives We aimed to identify the early-onset Alzheimer’s disease (EOAD)-causing variants in the Eastern Taiwanese population. Materials and Methods Twenty-one patients diagnosed with EOAD in the memory clinic at Hualien Tzu Chi Hospital were enrolled during 2014–2018. We conducted whole-exome sequencing to identify the disease-causing variations and validated by Sanger sequencing. SIFT, PolyPhen-2, and AlphaFold were applied to predict the functional impact of the identified variants. Results Two unrelated normolipidemic EOAD patients were carrying a rare heterozygous APOE variant ( rs373985746 , NC_000019.10:g. 44905879 G>A , NM_001302688.2:c. 11 G > A , and NP_001289617.1:p.Gly4Glu) with the allele frequency as 0.000206. Sanger sequencing uncovered the ∑ haplotypes in which the c.11G>A variation resided. SIFT predicted that the variant severely impacts protein structure and, maybe thus, function. AlphaFold predicted a dysfunctional conformation of the mutant APOE precursor a protein (p.Gly4Glu). Conclusion Our data strongly suggest that the rare p.Gly4Glu variant is associated with EOAD but does not cause dyslipidemia.

Adipose-derived mesenchymal stem cells (ADSCs) have exhibited promising therapeutic potential in Alzheimer’s disease (AD), although the underlying mechanisms remain poorly understood. Previously established Alzheimer’s disease neuron models derived from Ts21-induced pluripotent stem cells (Ts21-iPSCs) have been shown to exhibit progressive amyloid beta accumulation during neuronal differentiation. In this study, we employed a Transwell co-culture system to investigate the interaction between neurons derived from Ts21-iPSCs and ADSCs. Our findings revealed that co-culture with ADSCs significantly enhanced the survival rate of AD neurons. Proteomics analysis identified significant upregulation of left–right determination factor 2 (LEFTY2) protein in the co-culture medium. Supplementation with 2 nM LEFTY2 markedly improved the survival and growth of AD neurons. Furthermore, LEFTY2 effectively downregulates the expression of apolipoprotein E4 and amyloid beta 1–42, along with attenuating phosphorylated tau231 levels in AD neurons. These results suggest the potential of LEFTY2 as a promising therapeutic candidate for Alzheimer’s disease.

A BSTRACT Objectives The recent global coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, resulting from infection by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2), can cause severe and fatal pneumonia along with other life-threatening complications. Materials and Methods The rare and limited accessibility of approved therapeutic agents or vaccines is of great distress. Swiftly working on designing and identifying inhibitors against all possible viral key protein targets, seven key SARS-CoV-2 viral enzymes were selected as targets, particularly in the action on the virus-entry, viral replication, and immune evasion of COVID-19. Papain-like protease, main protease, RNA-dependent RNA polymerase, endoribonuclease (nsp15), receptor-binding domain-angiotensin-converting enzyme 2, transmembrane serine protease 2 (TMPRSS2), and 2’- O-ribose methyltransferase (2′MTase), which were subjected to an unbiased in silico screening against 22 small molecules originating from Garcinia linii concomitantly with Remdesivir, Nirmatrelvir, and Molnupiravir were approved by Food and Drug Administration as repurposing drugs against SARS-CoV-2 invasion. Results The in silico results showed that natural bioactive compounds containing α-Tocopheryolquinone, 6β-Hydroxystigmast-4-en-3-one, Squalene, Rutin and Quercetin have a high binding affinity with seven selected viral protein targets concurrently with the preference of absorption, distribution, metabolism, excretion, and toxicity and drug-likeness. Conclusion This study provides potential phytoactive compounds from G . linii through multi-target screen with molecular dynamic simulation for combating COVID-19 pandemics that need further experimental validation to confirm the prospective efficacy.

This research investigates the supercapacitor properties of cobalt oxide (Co₃O₄) thin films enhanced by five different additives: urea, ammonium chloride (NH₄Cl), ammonium hydroxide (NH₄OH), ammonium fluoride (NH₄F), and hexamethylenetetramine (HMT)....

Few studies have investigated the subcellular effects of low temperature on gene expression in shrimp and most other crustaceans. Before gene expression analysis is conducted, suitable housekeeping genes (HKGs) must be confirmed to account for differences in reverse transcription process efficiency among samples. Thus, this study aimed to verify five frequently used HKGs, namely 18S ribosomal RNA (18S rRNA), ATPase, histone 3, β-actin, and glyceraldehyde 3-phosphate dehydrogenase (gapdh) for use in experiments for assessing the molecular-scale effects of cryopreservation on coral banded shrimp (Stenopus hispidus) embryos. To conduct chilling studies, we subjected S. hispidus embryos to incubation at either 26 °C (control) or 5 °C for 0, 4, 8, 16, or 32 h. The software tools GeNorm, NormFinder, and Bestkeeper were employed to identify the most suitable HKG. GeNorm identified histone 3 and 18S rRNA as the most stable genes. By contrast, NormFinder determined that 18S rRNA is a stable gene for eye-formation and pre-hatch stage samples. Finally, Bestkeeper determined that gapdh and β-actin are the most suitable genes. This study is the first to identify suitable HKGs for studying shrimp embryos at low temperatures. Its findings can aid future research on evaluating the effects of cryopreservation on gene expression in crustaceans.

Environmental literacy plays a crucial role in promoting sustainable behavior and increasing public participation in environmental protection. This study investigates the environmental literacy of the general public in Chiayi County, Taiwan, focusing on five key dimensions: environmental awareness, knowledge, attitudes, action skills, and behavior. A cross-sectional survey was conducted using a structured questionnaire, with data analyzed through SPSS, including descriptive statistics, factor analysis, reliability testing, hierarchical regression analysis, and moderation analysis. The results indicate that while respondents demonstrate high awareness of environmental issues and positive attitudes toward sustainability, there are significant gaps in environmental knowledge and action skills. Furthermore, demographic factors such as education, age, gender, and occupation moderate the relationships between these dimensions. These findings highlight the need for targeted educational initiatives and policy interventions to bridge the gap between awareness and actual environmental behavior. This study provides empirical insights for environmental education programs, emphasizing the importance of practical skill development, community engagement, and policy-driven support. By refining environmental education strategies, Taiwan can foster a more environmentally responsible society, contributing to long-term sustainability goals.

This article presents ab initio research on the structural stability, mechanical, and thermodynamic properties of magnesium–iridium alloys. Using the VASP program, thermodynamic properties such as free energy, specific heat, phonon dispersion, and thermal expansion coefficient were determined. Mechanical properties, including bulk, Young’s, and shear modulus, Poisson’s ratio, Vickers hardness, wave velocities, and Debye temperature, were also calculated. Due to dynamic instability, the Ir3Mg13 phase’s mechanical properties were not assessed. This theoretical study is a preliminary investigation into the magnesium–iridium system’s phases.

The thermoelectric properties of Bi2Se3 single crystals were investigated with Sb and Te co-doping using a modified vertical Bridgman method, complemented by theoretical studies. X-ray diffraction confirmed the rhombohedral crystal structure with an R $\overline{3 }$ m space group. High-resolution X-ray diffraction (HR-XRD) analysis revealed a high degree of periodicity, threefold symmetry, and c-axis growth through θ − 2θ scans. Hall effect and Seebeck coefficient measurements indicated n-type conductivity across all samples, with a carrier concentration of approximately 10²⁵ m⁻³. At 300 K, the electrical resistivity of the (Bi0.96Sb0.04)2Se2.7Te0.3 crystal was reduced by a factor of ~ 8.0 compared to pristine BiSe3. Additionally, the power factor and figure of merit of the (Bi0.96Sb0.04)2Se2.7Te0.3 compound improved by 3 times and 1.2 times, respectively. Theoretical studies using density functional theory (DFT) supported these experimental findings, showing that substituting Sb in Bi2Se3 enhances its electrical properties.

This research investigates the interplay between community engagement, psychological factors, and coral reef conservation in the context of Bali's marine tourism bioeconomy. By examining psychological drivers such as belief in climate change, trust in government initiatives, and personal experiences with marine pollution, we show how these social factors shape community responses and participation in coral reef conservation. Through the use of Importance‐Performance Analysis and logistic regression models, we identify critical factors that either promote or impede community involvement in coral reef protection efforts. Key indicators assessed included: the implementation of coral nurseries, marine protected areas, public education campaigns, responsible tourism workshops, volunteer programs for reef cleaning, incentivized conservation actions, local conservation committees, and stakeholder engagement sessions. The findings indicated that effective coral reef management strategies must address not only ecological challenges but also socio‐economic realities. Integrating community insights and psychological perspectives into coral reef conservation efforts is shown to significantly bolster their effectiveness and sustainability. This study highlights the need for adaptive management approaches that are informed by both ecological data and community feedback, aiming to cultivate resilient marine ecosystems and communities in the face of global climate change.

Against the backdrop of global economic changes and rapid technological innovation, the sharing economy model is gradually transforming the operational mechanisms of traditional industries. However, some industries have experienced stagnation and recession during this transition, leading to market development constraints. The necessity of this study lies in filling the gap in the existing literature by conducting an in-depth analysis of the critical factors contributing to industrial stagnation and recession in the sharing economy. This study aims to provide concrete countermeasures for businesses and policymakers. The novelty of this research study lies in integrating multiple key variables affecting industrial development, including green production concepts, the circular economy, large-scale production, high-quality product demand driven by industrial automation, the sharing economy, and smart production. By employing multi-criterion decision-making methods, we quantitatively assess the impact of these factors more accurately. This study employs the Multi-Attribute Decision-Making (MADM) model, integrating the Decision-Making Trial and Evaluation Laboratory (DEMATEL) and the Analytic Network Process (ANP) to form D&ANP for analytical research. Highly automated industries are selected as the research subjects. The DEMATEL technique is used to construct the Influential Network Relationship Map (INRM), while the ANP concept is incorporated to develop the D&ANP model. Through the D&ANP method, influential weights are calculated and combined with industry-specific assessments of the suitability of potential causes (or attributes) contributing to economic stagnation and recession to determine the average performance values for each industry. These values are further compared with benchmark suitability performance values to distinguish ideal and non-ideal conditions across industries facing economic stagnation and recession. The analysis results indicate that different industries are influenced by varying factors, requiring strategic adjustments based on their unique development environments. Accordingly, this study provides industry-specific recommendations to optimize business models and resource allocation, mitigate the risks of economic stagnation and recession, and promote sustainable industrial development and economic recovery. The findings of this study not only contribute to empirical research on the impact of the sharing economy on industrial development but also serve as a decision-making reference for businesses. By offering strategic insights, enterprises can better respond to market dynamics, enhance competitiveness, and ensure long-term stable growth.

An investigation combining neutron diffraction and DFT allows determining the most likely hydride migration pathway within the icosahedral metal framework of [RhH2Ag19{S2P(OⁿPr)2}12] (RhH2Ag19). Starting from the experimentally derived solid‐state structures, a computational analysis is able to reveal an energetically favorable migration pathway with a maximum energy barrier of 4.2 kcal mol⁻¹. The two hydrides migrate simultaneously within the Rh@Ag12 icosahedral core, traversing several positional isomers. This study expands the understanding of hydride dynamics in nanoclusters and provides critical insights into the structural flexibility of the superatom framework. These findings have significant implications for hydrogen storage, catalysis, and the design of advanced hydride‐containing materials.

This paper proposes a reversible data hiding technique based on two cover images. The proposed method enhances performance by utilizing Hamming coding (HC), arithmetic coding (AC), and an improved Exploiting Modification Direction (EMD) technique. Since AC provides lossless compression for binary data, it is widely used in image compression and helps maximize the efficiency of data transmission and storage. The EMD technique is recognized as an efficient data hiding method. However, it has a significant limitation: it does not allow for the restoration of the original cover image after data extraction. Additionally, EMD has a data hiding capacity limit of approximately 1.2 bpp. To address these limitations, an improved reversible data hiding technique is proposed. In this study, HC and AC are integrated with an improved EMD technique to enhance data hiding performance, achieving higher embedding capacity while ensuring the complete restoration of the original cover image. In the proposed method, Hamming coding is applied for data encoding and arithmetic coding is used for compression to increase efficiency. The compressed data are then embedded using the improved EMD technique, enabling the receiver to fully restore the original cover image. Experimental results demonstrate that the proposed method achieves an average PSNR of 66 dB and a data embedding capacity of 1.5 bpp, proving to be a promising approach for secure and efficient data hiding applications.

In recent years, the world has witnessed an increased frequency of natural hazards, including floods. Despite advancements in flood prediction, managing such hazards requires a renewed focus on Community-Based Disaster Management (CBDM), which emphasizes participatory approaches that leverage local insights. This study, conducted in Malawi's Karonga and Nkhotakota districts, employed Factor Analysis, Cluster Analysis, and Importance-Performance Analysis (IPA) to evaluate flood CBDM strategies and stakeholder dynamics in adaptive capacity initiatives. (i) It assesses and categorizes various stakeholders based on their perceptions and attitudes toward adaptive capacity programs. (ii) Investigates stakeholders' views regarding diverse adaptive strategies implemented within the CBDM framework in the context of flood responses. (iii) Explores critical factors that can promote sustained engagement in flash flood disaster management efforts. The findings indicate significant weaknesses in essential strategies, such as providing construction loans and promoting dyke building, alongside ineffective information-sharing mechanisms. Disturbingly, the use of early warning systems and disaster education has shown negative trends, highlighting issues in their deployment. In contrast, communities with historically low engagement in flood CBDM—along with participants who are open to resource sharing, influenced by policies, and actively engaged in risk awareness, environmental mitigation, and Nature-Based Solutions—demonstrated significantly higher levels of positive engagement. Additionally, partnerships with governmental and non-governmental organizations proved vital for enhancing stakeholder involvement and improving outcomes. The study recommends a framework tailored to local contexts to strengthen adaptive capacity in developing regions facing resource challenges.

Formamidinium lead bromide (FAPbBr3) perovskites are a rapidly emerging class of materials that have the potential to revolutionize optoelectronic and photovoltaic industries. It is now recognized that FAPbBr3 photoelectronic properties are strongly influenced by the underlying perovskite structure, with static and dynamic disorder among the lattice sites playing prominent roles. We show how these structure-property interactions may be exploited to enhance the photoluminescent properties of FAPbBr3 by increasing the relative amount of FAPbBr3 that is exposed to the surface of a substrate material. For example, encapsulating FAPbBr3 inside the nanopores of a poly(ether ether ketone) (PEEK) membrane or coating it on a yttrium aluminum garnet (YAG) fiber increases photoluminescence stability by a factor of at least 16. FAPbBr3 in these different configurations is then examined with isothermal, pressure-dependent infrared spectroscopy to better understand the origin of this enhancement. In its bulk form, FAPbBr3 undergoes two discernible pressure-induced phase transitions at approximately 0.7 and 1.8 GPa, leading to notable red shifts in NH2 stretching and bending band wavenumbers of the FA+ cations. However, confined and coated forms of FAPbBr3 experience reduced amounts of band shifting across these phase transition pressures. These differences point to some degree of structural stabilization (at least from the perspective of the FA+ cations) upon pressurization.

Despite a century of research, turbulent flows mobilizing bedload remain elusive, while seismic waves generated by surface processes can unravel river dynamics. We studied the seismic signals emitted near rivers in two tributaries characterized by large boulders. Data show an unusually high dominant seismic frequency, reaching >2 times the frequency observed in nearby smoother channels. Consistent high‐frequency content during periods without bedload transport prompts the hypothesis that turbulence is a key contributor to generating higher frequencies. Assuming that dominant turbulent eddies decrease in size due to boulder‐constrained flow, we formulate a frequency scaling relationship that aligns well with field data. A positive relationship of the frequency with water depth breaks at bedload onset, indicating that dissipation of flow energy partitions between turbulence and bedload transport. Our study shows that seismic frequency captures contrasting bed morphologies in mountain streams, offering insights into flow‐roughness interactions.

This study aimed to develop a framework for adaptive municipal solid waste management (MSWM) using an importance-performance (I-P) analysis approach to analyze the factors influencing willingness to participate in waste management solutions. The study highlights the significance of community participation in promoting adaptive MSWM solutions for climate change resilience and green transition The study suggests prioritizing successful programs such as waste-free tourism promotion and waste infrastructure development for hotspots and emphasizing the carbon credit program. We also provide insights for policymakers and researchers interested in promoting community participation in adaptive MSWM solutions between inland and coastal communities. The results of implementing the policies and programs outlined above can support the critical barrier in the green transition and climate change resilience. By promoting waste-free tourism and developing waste infrastructure, reducing carbon footprint through carbon credit programs, tailoring MSWM programs, addressing barriers to participation, and engaging coastal communities and communities living around conservation areas, it is possible to overcome barriers to the transition toward sustainability and resilience in the face of climate change. These efforts can lead to more sustainable MSWM practices and greater commitment to environmental protection, which is essential for achieving a more sustainable future.