Taiwan

A breakthrough to tackle the long-standing challenges of heterogeneity and scarcity in extracellular vesicle (EV) research.

Researchers from National Taiwan University reveal how electric scooter battery-swapping systems can enhance grid flexibility and support urban decarbonization.

In-situ phosphatized Ni–N3PC boosts CO2 to CO conversion in acidic electrolyte, suppresses HER, and achieves >90% FECO with high stability.

A joint team from National Taiwan University and Karlsruhe Institute of Technology has developed a novel hydrogel actuator whose movement can be programmed using UV light, enabling precise spatial control of thermoresponsive deformation for presenting a potential application in soft robotics and in vitro muscle models.

Functional cure, defined as durable hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) and hepatitis B virus (HBV) DNA titers below the lower limit of detection (LLOD), is associated with better clinical outcomes of chronic HBV infection and regarded as the preferred treatment endpoint of novel therapeutic agents against HBV. Scientists from the College of Medicine of National Taiwan University and National Taiwan University Children’s Hospital identified that the Hepatitis B e antigen (HBeAg) seroconversion in childhood, high-genetic-barrier nucleos(t)ide analogue(s) therapy before HBeAg seroconversion, and the HBsAg titer < 1000 IU/mL after HBeAg seroconversion are predictors of functional cure. Findings demonstrated the merit of the follow-up and treatment of chronic HBV infection from childhood.

By tailoring crystal shape, researchers boost oxygen reduction performance, paving the way for cost-effective fuel cell technologies.

Phosphorylation of tau protein triggers the formation of phase-separated liquid droplets of tau, known as liquid-liquid phase separation, in a temperature-dependent and reversible mechanism. The modified tau protein (p-tau) had a looser and more flexible shape, as shown by advanced protein analysis. Intracellular tau aggregation formed surrounding the cell nucleus only when cells were treated with this form of tau, similar to what is seen in Alzheimer’s disease brains.

Graph neural networks with uncertainty quantification enable reliable exploration of vast chemical spaces for material and drug discovery.

A sustainable technology is unveiled to decouple chemical biomass oxidation from hydrogen production, offering new opportunities for carbon-neutral manufacturing.

Real-time X-ray analysis reveals how single atoms dynamically adapt to boost CO2-to-CO conversion.

Scientists visualize CO2 turning into carbon monoxide inside live cells using SERS and nanocatalysts.

The rising trend of high-risk colorectal neoplasia rates in people under 50 in Taiwan is prompting a policy of early colorectal cancer screening.

Understanding this molecular arms race between viruses and plant defenses is essential for developing innovative disease-resistance strategies in agriculture.

The study conducted by Prof. Thai-Yen Ling at National Taiwan University underscores the potential of small extracellular vesicle (sEV) therapy and enhances the precision of acute liver failure treatment through the application of click chemistry.

Researchers from the Institute of Polymer Science and Engineering, National Taiwan University, have developed a smart gel that responds to multiple stimuli for precise drug release.

A study shows apixaban lowers clot recurrence in dialysis patients post-thrombectomy, with minor bleeding risks.

Researchers at National Taiwan University discovered how light stabilizes a key stress-response protein, offering insights into improving crop resilience to harsh environments.

* "Survivors of SJS/TEN Face a Higher Risk of Cardiovascular Diseases and Death for Years After the Acute Phase" * "Tailored Strategies Needed for Early Detection, Prevention, and Intervention to Reduce Long-Term Cardiovascular Burdens in SJS/TEN Survivors"

Integrating an emission gain layer in perovskite LEDs enhances Förster resonance energy transfer and the Purcell effect, achieving high luminance and efficiency.

Researchers have found that pressure can scramble the electrical charge order in a material, creating a disordered "charge glass" state before it turns metallic. This discovery in BiNiO3 offers a new perspective on how materials change under pressure, expanding our understanding of phase transitions, and marking a significant advancement in the fields of physics and materials science.

Gene mutations in acute myeloid leukemia (AML) cells can guide treatment options, and machine learning can rapidly guess the existence of gene mutations based on images of leukemia cells.

Cerebellar rhythm loss due to climbing fiber regression is a shared pathophysiology of motor deficits across cerebellar ataxias.

Researchers at National Taiwan University have unveiled an innovative diagnostic tool that significantly improves the speed and accuracy of detecting bacterial infections.

Coronavirus 229E is the earliest reported human coronavirus (hCoV-229E). Here, the authors used cryo-EM, glycoproteomics, and modeling to generate the atomic structure of fully glycosylated and membrane-bound hCoV-229E spike protein bound to its host receptor, human aminopeptidase N (hAPN).

Researchers have developed metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) that efficiently produce hydrogen peroxide (H₂O₂) using small temperature differences, offering a sustainable approach to chemical production.

Concurrent steatotic liver disease (SLD) is prevalent among patients with chronic hepatitis B (CHB); however, the effects of the associated cardiometabolic risk factors on all-cause and cause-specific mortality remain unknown. This study demonstrated that cumulative metabolic burden dose- dependently increased the risks of all-cause, liver-related, and cardiovascular mortality in patients with CHB and SLD. Moreover, new-onset diabetes mellitus, hypertension, and weight gain during the follow-up period further exacerbated these risks. However, patients with SLD had a lower risk of mortality than those without SLD. Thus, routine screening and monitoring of metabolic dysfunctions constitute a key element of daily care for patients with CHB.

This study questions recent claims about the rapid effectiveness of psychedelic drugs for treating depression. Among all psychedelics, only high-dose psilocybin showed greater effectiveness than the placebo in antidepressant trials and outperformed escitalopram.

Eight CO2 capture processes were evaluated in terms of economics, environmental impact, and equipment footprint, based on rigorous modeling.

N-Cadherin is found to boost cardiomyocyte regeneration after injury by stabilizing β-Catenin, suggesting a potential new way to improve the function of human failing hearts.

LES with an idealized terrain configuration reveals the effect of convection-environment interactions in extreme rainfall over mountainous islands.