Dependence of stress and resistivity of sputtered copper films on deposition conditions

Stress and resistivity in sputtered copper films on glass and polyimide (Kapton H) substrates were studied as functions of deposition rate and argon working gas pressure. For deposition rates from 1 A/sec to 5 A/sec, three regions were studied at different argon gas pressures : (1) a compressive region at 2 mTorr, (2) a tensile region at 10 mTorr and (3) an intermediate region at 3.5 mTorr with a deposition rate of 4.8 A/sec corresponding to the transition from the tensile to the compressive region. Our results and discussions suggest that the morphology and impurity level are important factors in determining the resistivity and stress in the film. We found that either an increase in the deposition rate or a decrease in the working gas pressure result in a more continuous film with lower resistivity (or higher conductivity). A crude stress generation model and an impurity model were used to explain most of the resistivity and stress behavior observed

Primary ovary transitional cell carcinoma after renal transplantation

AbstractTransitional cell carcinoma (TCC) of the urinary tract is the most frequent malignancy following renal transplantation reported in Taiwan. A 67-year-old female underwent bilateral nephrouretectomy and bladder cuff excision because of bilateral hydronephrosis 5 years after cadaveric renal transplantation. The pathologic report was only atrophied kidney. Pelvic sonography and abdominal computed tomography showed a pelvic mass 8 years after transplantation. After gynecological surgery, the pathologic report of the left ovarian tumor was TCC, high grade, stage IIA. The patient then underwent four cycles of postoperative chemotherapy with carboplatin and gemcitabine. TCC of the ovary is a rare, recently recognized subtype of ovarian surface epithelial cancer. We present the first case of primary ovarian TCC following renal transplant

Investigating member commitment to virtual communities using an integrated perspective

[[abstract]]Purpose – Although the number of virtual communities has increased dramatically over the past few years, attracting and maintaining members remains the biggest challenge to establishing virtual social networks. This study seeks to integrate the roles of individual factors (issue involvement), social factors (social interaction), and system factors (system interactivity), and to explore how these factors contribute to member commitment in virtual communities. Design/methodology/approach – A total of 402 undergraduate students, who are all current members of virtual communities, participated in this study. Data were analyzed using structural equation modeling (SEM). Findings – The findings reveal that member commitment to communities was influenced more by their issue involvement compared to their perceived social interaction or perceived system interactivity. Originality/value – This research contributes to online community literature by integrating critical antecedent factors in the field of community commitment behavior. The findings indicate that issue involvement is more important than social interaction and system interactivity for influencing member commitment to communities. Additionally, the findings suggest that online community administrators should consider community positioning and topic selecting programs when attempting to influence users to commit to communities.[[notice]]補正完畢[[incitationindex]]SSCI[[booktype]]紙

An Observational, Prospective Survey Assessing the Control of Atrial Fibrillation in Asia Pacific: Rationale and Design of the RecordAF-AP Registry

Background The literature suggests that the prevalence of atrial fibrillation (AF) may be lower in Asian countries than in Western countries. Nevertheless, AF remains a significant public health problem in the region. The burden of AF, the experiences of previous trials and the lack of data on AF and its management in Asia Pacific highlight the need for a comprehensive prospective study of AF management. Methods The REgistry on Cardiac rhythm disORDers assessing the control of Atrial Fibrillation Asia Pacific (RecordAF-AP) is a prospective, observational survey of the management of recently diagnosed AF patients with 1-year follow-up in 8 countries across Asia Pacific. Eligible patients presenting with AF, treated or not, will be included in the registry and data will be recorded prospectively during follow-up visits at 6 and 12 months. Results RecordAF-AP will recruit more than 3000 patients. Study recruitment commenced in April 2009 and the final results anticipated at the end of 2011. Conclusions RecordAF-AP will assess the real-life management of AF patients in Asia Pacific, including a comparison of clinical outcomes in rhythm versus rate control strategies, providing much needed insight into the costs, treatment choices and clinical outcomes of AF patients in this region

In vitro assay to estimate tea astringency via observing flotation of artificial oil bodies sheltered by caleosin fused with histatin 3

AbstractAstringency, a sensory characteristic of food and beverages rich in polyphenols, mainly results from the formation of complexes between polyphenols and salivary proteins, causing a reduction of the lubricating properties of saliva. To develop an in vitro assay to estimate the astringency of oolong tea infusion, artificial oil bodies were constituted with sesame oil sheltered by a modified caleosin fused with histatin 3, one of the human salivary small peptides. Aggregation of artificial oil bodies was induced when they were mixed with oolong tea infusion or its major polyphenolic compound, (−)-epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG) of 100μM as observed in light microscopy. The aggregated artificial oil bodies gradually floated on top of the solution and formed a visible milky layer whose thickness was in proportion to the concentrations of tea infusion. This assay system was applied to test four different oolong tea infusions with sensory astringency corresponding to their EGCG contents. The result showed that relative astringency of the four tea infusions was correlated to the thickness of floated artificial oil bodies, and could be estimated according to the standard curve generated by simultaneously observing a serial dilution of the tea infusion with the highest astringency

In vitro ruminal fermentation and cow-to-mouse fecal transplantations verify the inter-relationship of microbiome and metabolome biomarkers: potential to promote health in dairy cows

IntroductionThere are differences in the gut microbiome and metabolome when the host undergoes different physical or pathological conditions. However, the inter-relationship of microbiome and metabolome biomarkers to potentially promote the health of dairy cows needs to be studied. Further, the development of next-generation probiotics for dairy cattle health promotion has not been demonstrated.ObjectiveIn the present study, we identified the microbiome and metabolome biomarkers associated with healthy cows.MethodsWe analyzed the relationships of the ruminal microorganism profile and metabolites between healthy and mastitis lactating dairy cows. The roles of bacterial biomarker were further verified by in vitro fermentation and cow-to-mouse fecal microbiota transplantation (FMT).ResultsTwo species, Ruminococcus flavefaciens and Bifidobacterium longum subsp. longum, and six rumen metabolites were positively correlated with healthy cows by Spearman’s correlation analysis. Through in vitro ruminal fermentation, inoculating R. flavefaciens and B. longum subsp. longum showed the upregulation of the levels of putrescine, xanthurenic acid, and pyridoxal in the mastitis ruminal fluid, which confirmed the inter-relationships between these microbiota and metabolites associated with healthy cows. Further, we verified the role of R. flavefaciens and B. longum subsp. longum in promoting health by FMT. The administration of R. flavefaciens and B. longum subsp. longum reduced the death rate and recovered the bodyweight loss of germ-free mice caused by FMT mastitis feces.DiscussionWe provided evidence that the bacterial biomarkers alter downstream metabolites. This could indirectly indicate that the two bacterial biomarkers have the potential to be used as next-generation probiotics for dairy cattle, although it needs more evidence to support our hypothesis. Two species, R. flavefaciens and B. longum subsp. longum, with three metabolites, putrescine, xanthurenic acid, and pyridoxal, identified in the ruminal fluid, may point to a new health-promoting and disease-preventing approach for dairy cattle

Altered myocardial response in patients with diabetic retinopathy: an exercise echocardiography study

Additional file 1. Multivariable analysis for individual echocardiography parameters

Antimicrobial resistance of Moraxella catarrhalis isolates in Taiwan

Background/PurposeThe prevalence of ampicillin-resistant Moraxella catarrhalis has been higher in Taiwan than in other countries, with reports of 97.7% in the 1990s. The aims of this study were to assess resistance trends for M. catarrhalis, which causes respiratory tract infections, against several classes of oral antibiotics and to compare the minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) of antimicrobial agents against M. catarrhalis isolates between 1993–1994 and 2001–2004.MethodsClinical isolates of M. catarrhalis (n = 314) were collected from 11 large medical centers in Taiwan between 2001 and 2004. β-Lactamase production tests were performed. The MICs for 13 different oral antibiotics were calculated using the agar dilution method. Pulsed-field gel electrophoresis (PFGE) was performed for 18 randomly selected high-level ampicillin-resistant (BRO-1 β-lactamase-positive, MIC ≥ 32 μg/mL) isolates to investigate their genetic relatedness.ResultsThe overall rate of β-lactamase-producing isolates was 97.8% (307/314). All isolates were susceptible to amoxicillin + clavulanate, chloramphenicol, cefixime, ciprofloxacin, erythromycin, levofloxacin, moxifloxacin, and roxithromycin. The rate of resistance to cefaclor and cefuroxime was 8.3% and 1.3%, respectively, while no resistance was found in 1993–1994. Resistance to trimethoprim–sulfamethoxazole (SXT) and tetracycline was 18.5% and 19.8%, respectively. Comparison of 1993–1994 and 2001–2004 isolates revealed that the zone diameter for amoxicillin + clavulanate disks decreased from 43 mm in 1993–1994 to 32 mm in 2001–2004 (p < 0.001). However, MIC50 (0.25 μg/mL in both 1993–1994 and 2001–2004) and MIC90 (0.5 μg/mL in both 1993–1994 and 2001–2004) for amoxicillin + clavulanate did not differ between the study periods. The PFGE typing results demonstrate that at least two closely related BRO-1 clones are spreading in Taiwan.ConclusionThe rates of resistance to cefaclor, cefuroxime, tetracycline and SXT are now increasing in Taiwan. Molecular typing showed that at least two closely related BRO-1 clones are circulating. Although amoxicillin + clavulanate remains the antimicrobial therapy of choice for M. catarrhalis infections, continued surveillance of antimicrobial susceptibility and application of control measures against further transmission are required to inhibit the emergence of the resistant strains

Perceived Causes of Autism Spectrum Disorders among Taiwanese Parents of Affected Children: A Qualitative Study

Background: Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASDs) represent a complex group of neurodevelopment and mental disorders. Currently, the etiologies for ASDs are unclear. Consequently, it is important to assess the perceptions of ASDs among parents of affected children, as their perceptions can impact parent-child bonding, disease prognosis and treatment, subsequent education and living environment of the affected child, and interactions with health professionals.  The majority of available research regarding parental perceptions of ASDs has been conducted in the Western countries. Given that culture plays an important role in parents’ views regarding the causes of ASDs, this study aims to examine perceptions of the etiology of ASDs among parents in Taiwan – an Asian country strongly influenced by the Chinese culture.Methods: Participants were recruitment through ASDs organizations in Taiwan. In-depth interviews were performed with 31 mothers and 8 fathers who had at least one child diagnosed with ASDs. All interviews were audio-recorded, transcribed, and subsequently analyzed via content analysis.Results: The themes of ASDs etiologies identified by participants from the highest to the lowest frequencies were: genetics (n=30; 76.9%), problems during mother’s pregnancy (n=18; 46.2%), complications/situations during delivery (n=13; 33.3%), vaccination (n=11; 28.2%), environmental pollutions (n=10; 25.6%), children’s non-ASDs related health problems and unintended injuries (n=9; 23.1%), parenting style (n=7; 17.9%), parents’ occupation (n=7; 17.9%), spiritual or religious factors (n=6; 15.4%), children’s diet (n=2; 5.1%), maternal age at the time of pregnancy (n=1; 2.6%), and children’s use of traditional Chinese medicine (n=1; 2.6%).Discussion: Taiwanese parents held diverse views on the causes of ASDs. Overall, parental beliefs were based on culture, scientific evidence/research and uninformed non-scientific views. Our results may help health professionals and researchers identify gaps in parents’ knowledge of ASDs and understand commonly held misperceptions about the causes of ASDs. Further, findings generated from this qualitative research may serve as the foundation for a research instrument to survey beliefs regarding the causes of ASDs among larger samples of Taiwanese parents who have children affected by ASDs

A model for predicting physical function upon discharge of hospitalized older adults in Taiwan—a machine learning approach based on both electronic health records and comprehensive geriatric assessment

BackgroundPredicting physical function upon discharge among hospitalized older adults is important. This study has aimed to develop a prediction model of physical function upon discharge through use of a machine learning algorithm using electronic health records (EHRs) and comprehensive geriatrics assessments (CGAs) among hospitalized older adults in Taiwan.MethodsData was retrieved from the clinical database of a tertiary medical center in central Taiwan. Older adults admitted to the acute geriatric unit during the period from January 2012 to December 2018 were included for analysis, while those with missing data were excluded. From data of the EHRs and CGAs, a total of 52 clinical features were input for model building. We used 3 different machine learning algorithms, XGBoost, random forest and logistic regression.ResultsIn total, 1,755 older adults were included in final analysis, with a mean age of 80.68 years. For linear models on physical function upon discharge, the accuracy of prediction was 87% for XGBoost, 85% for random forest, and 32% for logistic regression. For classification models on physical function upon discharge, the accuracy for random forest, logistic regression and XGBoost were 94, 92 and 92%, respectively. The auROC reached 98% for XGBoost and random forest, while logistic regression had an auROC of 97%. The top 3 features of importance were activity of daily living (ADL) at baseline, ADL during admission, and mini nutritional status (MNA) during admission.ConclusionThe results showed that physical function upon discharge among hospitalized older adults can be predicted accurately during admission through use of a machine learning model with data taken from EHRs and CGAs