Tunghai University

Biodegradable Nanoclay–Agarose Hydrogels as Sustainable Substrates for Seed Germination

Conventional seedling substrates such as rockwool and peat raise environmental concerns associated with disposal and resource extraction. Here, we investigate nanoclay–agarose hydrogels as candidate sustainable and biodegradable alternatives for seed germination and early plant g...

Changes in functional fitness among community-dwelling older adults participating in 12-week and 24-week community-based multicomponent exercise programs: a dynamic cohort study

Multicomponent exercise is widely recommended to support functional fitness in older adults, but evidence remains heterogeneous regarding the contribution of intervention duration, particularly in real-world community-based settings. This study examined associations between obser...

Thermodegradation kinetics of hemicelluloses, cellulose, and lignin: A review of mechanistic interpretation and hybrid predictive frameworks

Understanding the thermodegradation kinetics of individual lignocellulosic components is essential for resolving inconsistencies in biomass decomposition modeling and improving predictive accuracy. This review aims to: (1) compare the kinetic models of different lignocellulosic c...

Mixture-of-prompt experts for federated sentiment classification under non-IID data

Federated learning (FL) enables collaborative text classification while preserving data privacy, yet its performance can be degraded under non-IID data. This challenge is particularly severe in natural language processing, where client data may differ in linguistic style, topic d...

From bad to worse: customer mistreatment and service sabotage across encounters

Purpose Customer mistreatment is a significant issue in both practical and academic contexts, especially in the service industry. Drawing on the stressor–emotion model, this study aims to use a sequential two-encounter field design to test the lagged effects of customer mistreatm...

Treatment-Free Interval as a Prognostic Factor for Survival Outcomes in Patients with Advanced or Recurrent Endometrial Cancer Treated with Pembrolizumab Plus Lenvatinib: A Multi-Institutional Real-World Cohort Study

Background/Objectives: The treatment-free interval (TFI) predicts benefit from platinum rechallenge in gynecological cancers, but its prognostic value in patients receiving second-line pembrolizumab plus lenvatinib for recurrent endometrial cancer (EC) is unknown. We evaluated wh...

Optical coherence tomography angiography (OCTA) assessing microvascular and macrovascular health in healthy octogenarians

Subclinical cardiovascular abnormalities are recognized as primary risk factors for cardiovascular disease (CVD). Most studies explore microcirculation, while the associations of peripheral microvascular structures and abnormalities have been understudied. This study aimed to use...

Beyond aerosolization: How antibiotic concentration and redox cycling amplify antibiotic resistance genes in wastewater treatment plant bioaerosols

Abstract Wastewater treatment plants are emission hotspots of airborne antibiotic resistance genes, yet the physicochemical drivers of their amplification remain unclear. Here, we quantified airborne antibiotics and oxidative potential (OP) in particulate matter above an aeration...

Polyphenol-rich jaboticaba (Myrciaria cauliflora) seed extract confers neuroprotection and extends lifespan in Drosophila through enhanced antioxidant and anti-inflammatory capacity

Myrciaria cauliflora (jaboticaba) is widely recognized for its polyphenol-rich fruit; however, its seeds are typically discarded and remain largely underexplored despite their potential bioactive value. This study investigated the effects of different extraction conditions on the...

From motivation to satisfaction in parent–child recreational cycling: The roles of route priorities and perceived benefits

Parent–child recreational cycling combines active recreation, nature contact, and shared family time, yet research often conflates pre-trip motivations, route-selection criteria, perceived benefits, and post-trip satisfaction. This exploratory study distinguishes these constructs...

A class-wise quantum relational calibration network for brain tumor diagnosis

Accurate and reliable brain tumor diagnosis from magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) remains a challenging task, particularly in multi-class settings where inter-class ambiguity and miscalibration may degrade predictive performance. In this work, we propose a Class-wise Quantum Rela...

Using Digital Technologies in Reducing Caregiving Burden in Memory Care: Trends, Strategies, and Opportunities

Caregiver burden in memory care arises from emotional strain, cognitive overload, and logistical complexity. Emerging digital technologies offer promising pathways to reduce this burden. This commentary synthesizes trends, challenges, and opportunities for integrating technology...