The Information Systems Academic Discipline in Taiwan: A Focus on Top-Tier Universities

Information Systems (IS) as a relatively new business discipline in Taiwan has grown rapidly in the last two decades and was once the first choice for high school students entering business schools. Even after the dot com bubble burst in 2000, it is still one of the most popular majors for college and graduate students. Most graduates have no problem finding jobs in high-tech manufacturing or service industries. This study explores the status of IS as a discipline in Taiwan by analyzing historical data collected from the IS professional association - the Chinese Association of Information Management (CSIM) and by examining characteristics of IS programs and IS research across 9 top-tier Taiwan universities. The findings indicate that the IS discipline is highly professionalized and is identified as a separate and mature field that enjoys a high level of respect in Taiwanese universities

THE EFFECTS OF CORE STABILITY TRAINING ON THE FUNCTIONAL MOVEMENT SCREEN AND POSTURAL STABILITY IN COLLEGIATE STUDENTS

This study evaluated effects of core stability training (CST) on the functional movement screen (FMS) and postural stability (PS) in healthy young collegiate students. 28 healthy collegiate female students were assigned to an experimental (CST exercises twice a week for six weeks) or control group (equal time of warm-up and stretching exercises only). The CST combined Pilates and Swiss ball exercise for fifty minutes, twice per week, for six weeks. FMS scores were evaluated by a certified professional. The PS was evaluated by the 8-direction limits of stability (LOS) test using the Biodex Balance System. Repeated measures analyses of variance (ANOVAs) revealed the FMS and LOS performances in the experiment group were significantly improved after training. It was concluded that regular CST can improve the performance of FMS and dynamic postural stability in healthy young students

THE EFFECTS OF CORE STABILITY TRAINING ON DYNAMIC BALANCE IN HEALTHY YOUNG STUDENTS

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effects of core stability training (CST) on dynamic balance in healthy young students. 24 healthy collegiate female students volunteered and underwent a series of CST exercise. Dynamic balance was evaluated by the 8-direction limits of stability (LOS) test. The CST combined the Pilates mat and Swiss ball exercise, ninety minutes, twice per week, for six weeks. The LOS performance in right and backward-right directions at level 3 was significant improved in post-training than pre-training. Furthermore, The LOS performance in overall, forward, right, forward,left, backward-right, and backward-left directions at level 6 were significant improved in post-training than pre-training. It is concluded that regular CST can improve the dynamic postural stability in healthy young students

THE RELATIONSHIPS BETWEEN THE FUNCTIONAL MOVEMENT SCREEN AND THE POSTURAL STABILITY IN COLLEGIATE ATHLETES

The Functional Movement Screen (FMS) is a tool developed recently not only to aid in the prevention of injury by objectively measuring dysfunction and asymmetries within movement patterns, but also could be used as a baseline for further strength, conditioning, or athletic development. The purpose of this study was to examine the relationships between the scores of FMS in relation to the postural stability (PS) in collegiate athletes. A total of 30 male, basketball athletes volunteered to join this study. The PS were measured by the Biodex Balance System as the displacements of the center of foot pressure (COP) in the limits of stability. The score of FMS were evaluated by one certified professional experts. The results showed that the score of FMS has relation to the performance of the PS in a certain extent, especially in the FMS-shoulder mobility to the LOS overall level 6 (r=.26-.41), in the FMS-active straight leg raise to the LOS forward, backward, right, right-back level 6 (r=.30-.39), and in the FMS-trunk stability push-up to the LOS right, back, and right-forward. It was concluded that the score of FMS might be used to evaluate and/or predict the performance of the PS in young, collegiate athletes

Effects of Ox-LDL on Macrophages NAD(P)H Autofluorescence Changes by Two-photon Microscopy

Ox-LDL uptakes by macrophage play a critical role in the happening of atherosclerosis. Because of its low damage on observed cells and better signal-to- background ratio, two-photon excitation fluorescence microscopy is used to observe NAD(P)H autofluorescence of macrophage under difference cultured conditions- bare cover glass, coated with fibronectin or poly-D-lysine. The results show that the optimal condition is fibronectin coated surface, on which, macrophages profile can be clearly identified on NAD(P)H autofluorescence images collected by two-photon microscopy. Moreover, different morphology and intensities of autofluorescence under different conditions were observed as well. In the future, effects of ox-LDL on macrophages will be investigated by purposed system to research etiology of atherosclerosis.Comment: Submitted on behalf of TIMA Editions (http://irevues.inist.fr/tima-editions

Investigation of a Photoelectrochemical Passivated ZnO-Based Glucose Biosensor

A vapor cooling condensation system was used to deposit high quality intrinsic ZnO thin films and intrinsic ZnO nanorods as the sensing membrane of extended-gate field-effect-transistor (EGFET) glucose biosensors. The sensing sensitivity of the resulting glucose biosensors operated in the linear range was 13.4 μA mM−1 cm−2. To improve the sensing sensitivity of the ZnO-based glucose biosensors, the photoelectrochemical method was utilized to passivate the sidewall surfaces of the ZnO nanorods. The sensing sensitivity of the ZnO-based glucose biosensors with passivated ZnO nanorods was significantly improved to 20.33 μA mM−1 cm−2 under the same measurement conditions. The experimental results verified that the sensing sensitivity improvement was the result of the mitigation of the Fermi level pinning effect caused by the dangling bonds and the surface states induced on the sidewall surface of the ZnO nanorods