An Investigation of Factors Affecting Elementary School Students’ BMI Values Based on the System Dynamics Modeling

This study used system dynamics method to investigate the factors affecting elementary school students’ BMI values. The construction of the dynamic model is divided into the qualitative causal loop and the quantitative system dynamics modeling. According to the system dynamics modeling, this study consisted of research on the four dimensions: student’s personal life style, diet-relevant parenting behaviors, advocacy and implementation of school nutrition education, and students’ peer interaction. The results of this study showed that students with more adequate health concepts usually have better eating behaviors and consequently have less chance of becoming obese. In addition, this study also verified that educational attainment and socioeconomic status of parents have a positive correlation with students’ amounts of physical activity, and nutrition education has a prominent influence on changing students’ high-calorie diets

Investigation of altered retinal microvasculature in female patients with rheumatoid arthritis: optical coherence tomography angiography detection

Background: Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a chronic, systemic autoimmune disorder that primarily causes symmetrical polyarthritis and bone deformity. In RA patients, sight-threatening inflammatory eye complications would be expected. Objective: The objective of the study is to ascertain the macular retinal vessel density changes in RA patients and controls using optical coherence tomography angiography (OCTA), and to investigate the association between disease and microvascular density alterations. Methods: A total of 12 RA patients (24 eyes) and 12 age- and gender-matched control participants (24 eyes) were recruited to the study. We used the Early Treatment Diabetic Retinopathy Study partitioning, hemispheric quadrants and annular partitioning to segment each image into different subregions. The vascular density of superficial retina layer, deep retina layer and conjunctival capillary plexus was quantitatively measured by OCTA and compared with the control group. Correlation analysis was used to explore the relationship between STMI and conjunctival capillaries densities. Results: In the superficial retinal layer, the vascular density of S, I, L, SL, SR, IL and C1-C5 were significantly decreased in the RA group compared with the control group (P<0.05). For the deep retinal layer, the vascular density of S, SL, SR, IL, C1, C2 and C4 also decreased in RA group. A significant positive correlation was indicated between conjunctival vascular and STMI densities (r = 0.713, P<0.05). Conclusion: OCTA results suggest that RA patients present with a reduced macular retinal vascular density. These subtle alterations of ocular microcirculation may precede severe eye involvements and may be a potential biomarker for early distinguishing abnormal eyes from healthy eyes

Detection of Cartilage Oligomeric Matrix Protein Using a Quartz Crystal Microbalance

Current methods for diagnosing early stage osteoarthritis (OA) based on the magnetic resonance imaging and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay methods are specific, but require specialized laboratory facilities and highly trained personal to obtain a definitive result. In this work, a user friendly and non-invasive quartz crystal microbalance (QCM) immunosensor method has been developed to detect Cartilage Oligomeric Matrix Protein (COMP) for early stage OA diagnosis. This QCM immunosensor was fabricated to immobilize COMP antibodies utilizing the self-assembled monolayer technique. The surface properties of the immunosensor were characterized by its FTIR and electrochemical impedance spectra (EIS). The feasibility study was based on urine samples obtained from 41 volunteers. Experiments were carried out in a flow system and the reproducibility of the electrodes was evaluated by the impedance measured by EIS. Its potential dynamically monitored the immunoreaction processes and could increase the efficiency and sensitivity of COMP detection in laboratory-cultured preparations and clinical samples. The frequency responses of the QCM immunosensor changed from 6 kHz when testing 50 ng/mL COMP concentration. The linear regression equation of frequency shift and COMP concentration was determined as: y = 0.0872 x + 1.2138 (R2 = 0.9957). The COMP in urine was also determined by both QCM and EIS for comparison. A highly sensitive, user friendly and cost effective analytical method for the early stage OA diagnosis has thus been successfully developed

Remote Sensing Data with the Conditional Latin Hypercube Sampling and Geostatistical Approach to Delineate Landscape Changes Induced by Large Chronological Physical Disturbances

This study applies variogram analyses of normalized difference vegetation index (NDVI) images derived from SPOT HRV images obtained before and after the ChiChi earthquake in the Chenyulan watershed, Taiwan, as well as images after four large typhoons, to delineate the spatial patterns, spatial structures and spatial variability of landscapes caused by these large disturbances. The conditional Latin hypercube sampling approach was applied to select samples from multiple NDVI images. Kriging and sequential Gaussian simulation with sufficient samples were then used to generate maps of NDVI images. The variography of NDVI image results demonstrate that spatial patterns of disturbed landscapes were successfully delineated by variogram analysis in study areas. The high-magnitude Chi-Chi earthquake created spatial landscape variations in the study area. After the earthquake, the cumulative impacts of typhoons on landscape patterns depended on the magnitudes and paths of typhoons, but were not always evident in the spatiotemporal variability of landscapes in the study area. The statistics and spatial structures of multiple NDVI images were captured by 3,000 samples from 62,500 grids in the NDVI images. Kriging and sequential Gaussian simulation with the 3,000 samples effectively reproduced spatial patterns of NDVI images. However, the proposed approach, which integrates the conditional Latin hypercube sampling approach, variogram, kriging and sequential Gaussian simulation in remotely sensed images, efficiently monitors, samples and maps the effects of large chronological disturbances on spatial characteristics of landscape changes including spatial variability and heterogeneity

[[alternative]]Analysis of Self-publishing Service Evaluation Model

[[abstract]]　　自助出版是新興的出版商務模式，本文根據專家訪談、資料收集與文獻回顧後，針對出版社所提供的自助出版服務平台的評估模型，提出四個構面與十二項評估準則。研究結果發現，通路構面是影響出版社所提供自助出版服務平台最重要的因素，其權重值為0.458，其次則分別是行銷構面(0.293)、價值構面(0.166)以及產品構面(0.083)。而在產品構面中，「協助作者編輯的能力」是最重要的評估準則，其次分別是「編輯系統的有用性」以及「編輯系統的易用性」；至於在價值構面中，「給予作者的利潤」是最重要的評估準則，其次分別是「出版社的穩定度」以及「結帳的週期」；而在有關行銷構面中，「投入行銷活動的資源」是最重要的評估準則，其次分別是「出版社的品牌」以及「協助作者辦簽書會」；最後是有關通路構面，「電子書通路」是最重要的評估準則，其次分別是「連鎖書店通路」以及「其他通路」。而在整體評估準則權重分析的結果知道，「電子書通路」、「投入行銷活動的資源」以及「連鎖書店通路」等三項是最重要的評估準則。[[abstract]]　　Self-funded publishing is a new publishing business model. Based on expert interviews, data collection and literature review, this article proposes four dimensions and twelve evaluation criteria for the evaluation model of the self-funded publishing service platform provided by publishers. The results of the study found that the channel dimension is the most important factor affecting the self-paid publishing service platform provided by the publishing house, and its weight value is 0.458, followed by the marketing dimension (0.293), the value dimension (0.166) and the product dimension ( 0.083). In the value aspect, “the ability to assist authors in editing” is the most important evaluation criterion, followed by “the usefulness of the editing system” and “the ease of use of the editing system.” As for the value aspect, “give Author's profit” is the most important evaluation criterion, followed by “publisher’s stability” and “checkout cycle”; in the relevant marketing aspects, “resources invested in marketing activities” is the most important evaluation criterion. , Followed by the “publisher's brand” and “Assisting the author to organize book signings”; finally, the channel dimension, “e-book channel” is the most important evaluation criterion, followed by “chain bookstore channel” and “other path”. As a result of the weight analysis of the overall evaluation criteria, it is known that the “e-book channel”, “resources invested in marketing activities” and “chain bookstore channel” are the most important evaluation criteria

Relationship of sleep quality, smartphone dependence, and health-related behaviors in female junior college students.

IntroductionSmartphone usage has become commonplace and impact on sleep quality among adolescents. Adolescent girls have a greater tendency toward sleep quality problems. However, relationship of sleep quality, smartphone dependence, and health-related behaviors in female junior college students has not been studied.ObjectivesThis study had the two goals: to investigate the relationship between female college students' sleep quality, smartphone dependence, and health-related behaviors, and to identify predictors of sleep quality.MethodsThis study employed a cross-sectional research approach to gather 409 subjects at a junior college in southern Taiwan, and used a structured questionnaire to collect data. The questionnaire consisted of four parts: basic demographic data, the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index, assessment of smartphone dependence, and the Health Promoting Lifestyle Profile (HPLP). Logistic regression analysis was employed to check for any association between sleep quality and smartphone dependence or HPLP.ResultsSleep quality was significantly associated with degree of smartphone dependence, total HPLP score, and scores on the four HPLP subscales of nutritional behavior, self-actualization, interpersonal support, and stress management behavior. The lower the subjects' degree of smartphone dependence was, the better their sleep quality was. Furthermore, the degree of smartphone dependence and total HPLP score were significant predictors of sleep quality.ConclusionsSmartphone dependence is associated with poor sleep quality among female college students. Improving health-related behaviors (nutritional behavior, self-actualization, interpersonal support, and stress management behavior) can also promote improvement in sleep quality

An Augmented Reality (AR) App Enhances the Pulmonary Function and Potency/Feasibility of Perioperative Rehabilitation in Patients Undergoing Orthopedic Surgery

Perioperative rehabilitation is crucial for patients receiving surgery in order to reduce complications and mortality. Conventional methods such as verbal instructions and pre-recorded video are commonly used, but several disadvantages exist. Therefore, we developed an augmented reality (AR) app that includes respiration training, resistance muscle training, and walking training for surgery preparation. The aim of this pilot study was to compare the effects of AR-based training rehabilitation programs with conventional (non-AR-based) programs considering the objective pulmonary function and subjective feasibility and potency in orthopedic patients. This prospective study was conducted in a medical center in Taiwan between 2018 to 2021. Sixty-six patients undergoing elective orthopedic surgery were allocated with a 1:1 ratio to non-AR or AR groups according to their wishes. After training, the inspiratory flow rate of the AR group was higher than that of the non-AR group pre-operatively. As for the subjective assessment, the feasibility (level of confidence and anxiety reduction) and potency (cooperation and educative effect) were superior in AR-based training, compared with the conventional training model. Our study showed that patients using our AR app had better subjective and objective outcomes compared with a conventional model for perioperative rehabilitation

Surface Antifouling Modification on Polyethylene Filtration Membranes by Plasma Polymerization

Surface modification on microporous polyethylene (PE) membranes was facilitated by plasma polymerizing with two hydrophilic precursors: ethylene oxide vinyl ether (EO1V) and diethylene oxide vinyl ether (EO2V) to effectively improve the fouling against mammalian cells (Chinese hamster ovary, CHO cells) and proteins (bovine serum albumin, BSA). The plasma polymerization procedure incorporated uniform and pin-hole free ethylene oxide-containing moieties on the filtration membrane in a dry single-step process. The successful deposition of the plasma polymers was verified by Fourier-transform infrared (FTIR), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) analyses. Water contact angle measurements and permeation experiments using cell and protein solutions were conducted to evaluate the change in hydrophilicity and fouling resistance for filtrating biomolecules. The EO1V and EO2V plasma deposited PE membranes showed about 1.45 fold higher filtration performance than the pristine membrane. Moreover, the flux recovery reached 80% and 90% by using deionized (DI) water and sodium hydroxide (NaOH) solution, indicating the efficacy of the modification and the good reusability of the modified PE membranes