A Study on Perceptions of Electronic Commerce for Taiwan\u27s Small and Medium Enterprises

Although small and medium enterprises (SME) make up the majority of businesses in Taiwan, with limited resources and technological capabilities, they have historically devoted far less than the large corporations to the electronic commerce (EC) frenzy. In order to understand the effects of company background and their constitution on SME top managers’ perceptions of EC, 600 questionnaires were sent out to a random sample of SME top managers in seven industries in the island. The return rate was 10.33%. The results revealed four types of perceptions of SME top managers: profit-making, differential-pricing, practical and supportive, which match closely to the perception types in Cheng’s study on EC-implemented companies in Taiwan. SME top managers characterized its company constitution as self-satisfied, self-dissatisfied, conservative-industrial and new-industrial. Although company constitution did not show significant effects on SME top managers’ perceptions of EC, cross-tabulation showed certain associated relations. One of the future studies may combine Cheng’s results on perception types of EC-implemented companies and the perception types of SME top managers for in-depth EC strategic analyses

The Effect of Substituent on Molecules That Contain a Triple Bond Between Arsenic and Group 13 Elements: Theoretical Designs and Characterizations

The effect of substitution on the potential energy surfaces of RE13≡AsR (E13 = group 13 elements; R = F, OH, H, CH3, and SiH3) is determined using density functional theory (M06‐2X/Def2‐TZVP, B3PW91/Def2‐TZVP, and B3LYP/LANL2DZ+dp). The computational studies demonstrate that all triply bonded RE13≡AsR species prefer to adopt a bent geometry that is consistent with the valence electron model. The theoretical studies also demonstrate that RE13≡AsR molecules with smaller substituents are kinetically unstable, with respect to the intramolecular rearrangements. However, triply bonded R′E13≡AsR′ species with bulkier substituents (R′ = SiMe(SitBu3)2, SiiPrDis2, and NHC) are found to occupy the lowest minimum on the singlet potential energy surface, and they are both kinetically and thermodynamically stable. That is to say, the electronic and steric effects of bulky substituents play an important role in making molecules that feature an E13≡As triple bond as viable synthetic target

Genome-wide analysis of the cis-regulatory modules of divergent gene pairs in yeast

AbstractIn budding yeast, approximately a quarter of adjacent genes are divergently transcribed (divergent gene pairs). Whether genes in a divergent pair share the same regulatory system is still unknown. By examining transcription factor (TF) knockout experiments, we found that most TF knockout only altered the expression of one gene in a divergent pair. This prompted us to conduct a comprehensive analysis in silico to estimate how many divergent pairs are regulated by common sets of TFs (cis-regulatory modules, CRMs) using TF binding sites and expression data. Analyses of ten expression datasets show that only a limited number of divergent gene pairs share CRMs in any single dataset. However, around half of divergent pairs do share a regulatory system in at least one dataset. Our analysis suggests that genes in a divergent pair tend to be co-regulated in at least one condition; however, in most conditions, they may not be co-regulated

Triple Bonds between Bismuth and Group 13 Elements: Theoretical Designs and Characterization

The effect of substitution on the potential energy surfaces of RE13≡BiR (E13 = B, Al, Ga, In, and Tl; R = F, OH, H, CH3, SiH3, Tbt, Ar*, SiMe(SitBu3)2, and SiiPrDis2) is investigated using density functional theories (M06-2X/Def2-TZVP, B3PW91/Def2-TZVP, and B3LYP/LANL2DZ+dp). The theoretical results suggest that all of the triply bonded RE13≡BiR molecules prefer to adopt a bent geometry (i.e., ∠RE13Bi ≈ 180° and ∠E13BiR ≈ 90°), which agrees well with the bonding model (model (B)). It is also demonstrated that the smaller groups, such as R = F, OH, H, CH3, and SiH3, neither kinetically nor thermodynamically stabilize the triply bonded RE13≡BiR compounds, except for the case of H3SiB≡BiSiH3. Nevertheless, the triply bonded RʹE13≡BiRʹ molecules that feature bulkier substituents (Rʹ = Tbt, Ar*, SiMe(SitBu3)2, and SiiPrDis2) are found to have the global minimum on the singlet potential energy surface and are both kinetically and thermodynamically stable. In other words, both the electronic and the steric effects of bulkier substituent groups play an important role in making triply bonded RE13≡BiR (Group 13–Group 15) species synthetically accessible and isolable in a stable form

Successful treatment of methemoglobinemia in an elderly couple with severe cyanosis: two case reports

INTRODUCTION: Methemoglobinemia should be considered in all cyanotic patients who remain unresponsive to oxygen therapy. Rapid diagnosis is very important in emergency cases. Here, we present the cases of two patients, a married couple, admitted to our hospital with methemoglobinemia after exposure to sodium nitrite. CASE PRESENTATION: Two patients, a married couple, presented with methemoglobinemia. The 72-year-old Taiwanese man and 68-year-old Taiwanese woman were referred to our hospital with dizziness and tachypnea. On examination, their mucous membranes were cyanotic, and their blood samples showed the classic ‘chocolate brown’ appearance. The man also reported having experienced twitching of his right arm for a few minutes before arrival at the hospital. The symptoms of both patients failed to improve in response to supplemental oxygen delivered via oxygen masks, although the arterial blood gas data of these patients were normal and their pulse oximetry showed oxyhemoglobin levels of approximately 85%. A carbon monoxide-oximeter showed that the man’s methemoglobin concentration was 48.3%, and the woman’s was 36.4%. Methylene blue (100mg) was administered intravenously to both patients, and their symptoms improved dramatically. They were admitted to the intensive care unit and discharged three days later, without neurological sequelae. CONCLUSION: Severe methemoglobinemia is a life-threatening condition and, if untreated, may result in death. Early diagnosis and appropriate antidotal treatment are crucial in treating this emergency situation

A Deep Learning Approach to Radar-based QPE

In this study, we propose a volume-to-point framework for quantitative precipitation estimation (QPE) based on the Quantitative Precipitation Estimation and Segregation Using Multiple Sensor (QPESUMS) Mosaic Radar data set. With a data volume consisting of the time series of gridded radar reflectivities over the Taiwan area, we used machine learning algorithms to establish a statistical model for QPE in weather stations. The model extracts spatial and temporal features from the input data volume and then associates these features with the location-specific precipitations. In contrast to QPE methods based on the Z-R relation, we leverage the machine learning algorithms to automatically detect the evolution and movement of weather systems and associate these patterns to a location with specific topographic attributes. Specifically, we evaluated this framework with the hourly precipitation data of 45 weather stations in Taipei during 2013-2016. In comparison to the operational QPE scheme used by the Central Weather Bureau, the volume-to-point framework performed comparably well in general cases and excelled in detecting heavy-rainfall events. By using the current results as the reference benchmark, the proposed method can integrate the heterogeneous data sources and potentially improve the forecast in extreme precipitation scenarios.Comment: 22 pages, 11 figures. Published in Earth and Space Scienc

Photoproducts of indomethacin exhibit decreased hydroxyl radical scavenging and xanthine oxidase inhibition activities

AbstractIndomethacin (IN) is a widely used nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug. In this study, four photoproducts of IN (IN1–IN4) were produced and isolated from photoirradiated IN. This study investigated the abilities of IN and its photoproducts to scavenge hydroxyl radicals and inhibit xanthine oxidase (XO). The hydroxyl radical-scavenging activity was measured in vitro by electron spin resonance spectrometry using 5,5-dimethyl-1-pyrroline-N-oxide as a spin trapping agent. Enzyme activity was measured by continuous monitoring of uric acid formation, using xanthine as a substrate. The results showed that, among all the related products, IN has the strongest hydroxyl radical-scavenging (IC50 = 65 μM) and XO inhibitory (IC50 = 86 μM) effects. To further understand the stereochemistry of the reactions between these IN derivatives and XO, we performed computer-aided molecular modeling. IN was the most potent inhibitor with the most favorable interaction in the reactive site. Various photoproducts exhibited affinity toward XO as a result of the absence of hydrogen bonding with molybdopterin domain

Relationships among Constitution, Stress, and Discomfort in the First Trimester

The purpose of this study was to explore correlations among constitution, stress, and discomfort symptoms during the first trimester of pregnancy. We adopted a descriptive and correlational research design and collected data from 261 pregnant women during their first trimester in southern Taiwan using structured questionnaires. Results showed that (1) stress was significantly and positively correlated with Yang-Xu, Yin-Xu, and Tan-Shi-Yu-Zhi constitutions, respectively; (2) Yin-Xu and Tan-Shi-Yu-Zhi constitutions had significant correlations with all symptoms of discomfort, while Yang-Xu had significant correlations with all symptoms of discomfort except for “running nose”; (3) Tan-Shi-Yu-Zhi constitution and stress were two indicators for “fatigue”; Tan-Shi-Yu-Zhi was the indicator for “nausea”; Yang-Xu and Yin-Xu were indicators for “frequent urination.” Our findings also indicate that stress level affects constitutional changes and that stress and constitutional change affect the incidence of discomfort. This research can help healthcare professionals observe these discomforts and provide individualized care for pregnant women, to nurture pregnant women into neutral-type constitution, minimize their levels of discomfort, and promote the health of the fetus and the mother