The Technology Structure and Appropriation of Server-Based Computing: A Case Study of a Taiwanese High Tech Firm

IT usage is key issue in MIS research. However, a variety of models such as Technology Acceptance Model (TAM) have neglected the role of technology structure in studying IT usage. Alternatively, IT appropriation considers how IT is called into use in terms of IT technology structures. However, the practices of IT appropriation have not yet been convincingly demonstrated. This paper explores the issues of IT appropriation. Specifically, we conduct our study in the context of Server-Based Computing (SBC), due to its unique technology structures, where the issues of appropriation process of SBC becomes relevant and important. In this paper, the Adaptive Structuration Theory (AST) provides a conceptual framework that helps to capture the appropriation process. Drawing on a Taiwanese case study, three perspectives of SBC appropriation process are examined including the faithfulness of appropriation, the attitudes toward use, and the consensus on appropriation. The case findings suggest that incremental change, identity development and interaction are of critical importance in the SBC appropriation process. Our findings contribute to the literature on IT infrastructure deployment, innovation and cooperative behavior, and the social perspective of information management. The implications and future research directions are also discussed

When Does Paternalistic Control Positively Relate to Job Satisfaction and Citizenship Behavior in Taiwan?:The Role of Follower Expectation

Although prior research predicts mainly that followers expect leaders to exert less paternalistic control (such as emphasis on discipline, didactic instruction, and belittling followers), we argue that such an expectation may not be stable overtime or across settings. Based on the connectionist perspectives of implicit leadership theories, we propose a follower expectation model of paternalistic control, in which followers compare their perceived with expected levels of paternalistic control. Two inconsistent conditions—insufficient and excessive control—are identified, and the consistency between perceived and expected paternalistic control is predicted to relate to favorable follower outcomes. We examine this model by conducting two daily experience sampling studies in Taiwan. Our findings indicate that insufficient control is as unfavorable as excessive control in lowering followers’ job satisfaction and citizenship behavior, and this pattern is particularly salient in terms of emphasis on discipline and the belittling of followers. A supplemental, qualitative analysis additionally demonstrated the conditions under which the expectation–perception consistency regarding belittling followers relates to favorable follower responses. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2023 APA, all rights reserved

Changes in corneal curvature after wearing the orthokeratology lens

AbstractIntroductionThe orthokeratology lens (OK lens) is designed to reshape the cornea and correct refraction error. Owing to the convenience of ceasing the use of glasses during the day, the use of the OK lens is increasing in myopic children. In this study, changes in corneal curvature and astigmatism after wearing the OK lens were analyzed.MethodsThis retrospective cohort study included 65 children (130 eyes) who underwent full and regular examinations. None of the participants had any ocular disease other than myopia and astigmatism. The OK lenses used in this study were four-zone, reverse-geometry lenses. The corneal curvature of each patient was checked annually after the patients discontinued daily wearing of the OK lens for 10 days. Student t test and repeated measures analysis of variance (ANOVA) analyses were performed to compare the results.ResultsThe radius of corneal curvature showed a progressive annual increase with significant differences, both in the steepest and flattest radius of the corneal curvature (p < 0.001 and p = 0.001, respectively). The mean radius of the steepest and flattest corneal curvature increased significantly from baseline to the following years consecutively (all p < 0.001). Nevertheless, astigmatism did not change significantly in any of the tests.ConclusionCorneal curvature changed as the patients grew older. There was a statistically significant increase in the radius of the corneal curvature in the myopic children studied. For correct fit of OK lenses, the radius of the corneal curvature should be regularly checked prior to dispensing a new set of lenses

High Altitude Pulmonary Edema in a Patient with Previous Pneumonectomy

High altitude pulmonary edema (HAPE) is a life-threatening illness that can occur in individuals ascending to altitudes exceeding 2400 m. The risk factors are rapid ascent, physical exertion and a previous history of HAPE. This work presents a case study of a 74-year-old man who underwent left side pneumonectomy 40 years ago and subsequently experienced several instances of HAPE. The well-known risk factors for HAPE were excluded in this patient. We suspect that the post-pneumonectomy condition may be a risk factor for HAPE based on this case. [J Formos Med Assoc 2007;106(4):320-322

A Flow-based Method to Measure Traffic Statistics in Software Defined Network

Since software defined network became a revolution of network, many new developments and deployments are put forward. Device operating in software defined network environment will need a controller to store control policy. As a result of flow is one of traffic presentation units in software defined network, hence, this paper proposed a prototype of flow-based method to measure traffic statistics which can be used in OpenFlow network. By analysis of flow table, active flows which managed by controller can be listed, and information of each flow can be presented with developed module on the controller. After gathered port statistics from OpenFlow switch and entries in flow table, information of each flow can be presented on a developed graphic interface. By using this method, Traffic statistics of each flow may be more adaptive and realizable for measurement for observation

Therapeutic Effect of C-Phycocyanin Extracted from Blue Green Algae in a Rat Model of Acute Lung Injury Induced by Lipopolysaccharide

C-Phycocyanin (CPC), extracted from blue green algae, is a dietary nutritional supplement due to its several beneficial pharmacological effects. This study was conducted to evaluate whether CPC protects against lipopolysaccharide- (LPS-) induced acute lung injury (ALI) in rats. Rats were challenged with LPS (5 mg/kg body weight) intratracheally to induce ALI. After 3 h LPS instillation, rats were administrated with CPC (50 mg/kg body weight, i.p.) for another 3 h. Our results showed that posttreatment with CPC significantly inhibited LPS-induced elevation of protein concentration, nitrite/nitrate level, release of proinflammatory cytokines, the number of total polymorphonuclear cells in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid, and lung edema evidenced by decrease of lung wet/dry weight ratio accompanied by a remarkable improvement of lung histopathological alterations. Furthermore, CPC significantly attenuated LPS-induced myeloperoxidase activity, O2− formation, expression of inducible nitric oxide synthase, and cyclooxygenase-2 as well as nuclear factor-kappa B (NF-κB) activation in lungs. Additionally, CPC significantly downregulated proapoptotic proteins such as caspase-3 and Bax, but upregulated antiapoptotic proteins such as Bcl-2 and Bcl-XL in lungs exposed to LPS. These findings indicate that CPC could be potentially useful for treatment of LPS-related ALI by inhibiting inflammatory responses and apoptosis in lung tissues

Socioeconomic impacts of innovative dairy supply chain practices. The case of the Laiterie du Berger in the Senegalese Sahel

This study analyzes the Laiterie Du Berger (LDB)'s milk supply chain and its contribution to strengthening the food security and socioeconomic resources of Senegalese Sahelian pastoral households. Porter's value chain model is used to characterize the innovations introduced by the LDB dairy in its milk inbound logistics and supplier relationships. A socioeconomic food security index and qualitative data are used to assess the dairy's supply chain's contribution to strengthen smallholder households' livelihoods. Data for this research were obtained through individual surveys, focus groups and in-depth interviews of LDB managers and milk suppliers. Results show that milk income contributes significantly to household food security. Suppliers who stabilize their dairy income between rainy and dry seasons, diversify income sources and have larger herds are more likely to remain food secure. The LDB innovations contribute by helping herders access biophysical and economic resources, leading to better livestock feed and household food security. (Résumé d'auteur

A feeder-free culture using autogeneic conditioned medium for undifferentiated growth of human embryonic stem cells: Comparative expression profiles of mRNAs, microRNAs and proteins among different feeders and conditioned media

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Human embryonic stem (hES) cell lines were derived from the inner cell mass of human blastocysts, and were cultured on mouse embryonic fibroblast (MEF) feeder to maintain undifferentiated growth, extensive renewal capacity, and pluripotency. The hES-T3 cell line with normal female karyotype was previously used to differentiate into autogeneic fibroblast-like cells (T3HDF) as feeder to support the undifferentiated growth of hES-T3 cells (T3/HDF) for 14 passages.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>A feeder-free culture on Matrigel in hES medium conditioned by the autogeneic feeder cells (T3HDF) was established to maintain the undifferentiated growth of hES-T3 cells (T3/CMHDF) for 8 passages in this investigation. The gene expression profiles of mRNAs, microRNAs and proteins between the undifferentiated T3/HDF and T3/CMHDF cells were shown to be very similar, and their expression profiles were also found to be similar to those of T3/MEF and T3/CMMEF cells grown on MEF feeder and feeder-free Matrigel in MEF-conditioned medium, respectively. The undifferentiated state of T3/HDF and T3/CMHDF as well as T3/MEF andT3/CMMEF cells was evidenced by the very high expression levels of "stemness" genes and low expression levels of differentiation markers of ectoderm, mesoderm and endoderm in addition to the strong staining of OCT4 and NANOG.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>The T3HDF feeder and T3HDF-conditioned medium were able to support the undifferentiated growth of hES cells, and they would be useful for drug development and toxicity testing in addition to the reduced risks of xenogeneic pathogens when used for medical applications such as cell therapies.</p

Effects of human parvovirus B19 VP1 unique region protein on macrophage responses

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Activity of secreted phospholipase A (sPLA2) has been implicated in a wide range of cellular responses. However, little is known about the function of human parvovirus B19-VP1 unique region (VP1u) with sPLA2 activity on macrophage.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>To investigate the roles of B19-VP1u in response to macrophage, phospholipase A2 activity, cell migration assay, phagocytosis activity, metalloproteinase assay, RT-PCR and immunoblotting were performed.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>In the present study, we report that migration, phagocytosis, IL-6, IL-1β mRNA, and MMP9 activity are significantly increased in RAW264.7 cells by B19-VP1u protein with sPLA2 activity, but not by B19-VP1uD175A protein that is mutated and lacks sPLA2 activity. Additionally, significant increases of phosphorylated ERK1/2 and JNK proteins were detected in macrophages that were treated with B19-VP1u protein, but not when they were treated with B19-VP1uD175A protein.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>Taken together, our experimental results suggest that B19-VP1u with sPLA2 activity affects production of IL-6, IL-1β mRNA, and MMP9 activity, possibly through the involvement of ERK1/2 and JNK signaling pathways. These findings could provide clues in understanding the role of B19-VP1u and its sPLA2 enzymatic activity in B19 infection and B19-related diseases.</p