Effects of R&D intensity on firm performance in Taiwan’s semiconductor industry

This study examined the impact of research and development (R&D) investment behaviour on the corporate performance of the Taiwanese semiconductor industry, which faced the economic downturn caused by the global financial crisis of 2008, for the period 2005–2016. A dynamic panel data model was used to empirically analyse the impact of R&D intensity on business performance. A generalised method of moments estimator was adopted to avoid endogeneity problems caused by adding dynamics to the model. Further, the model was used to explore the impact of the lag effect of R&D investments on business performance. It was found that significant R&D investments in a given period may reduce business performance in the same period and continue to influence it in the next few periods, thus indicating the presence of a positive and lagged effect of R&D investments in the high-tech industry. Firm size was also found to be positively correlated with business performance, that is, the larger the firm size, the greater is the use of resources for R&D, which, in turn, leads to more sophisticated technologies and profitable outcomes, forming a positive cycle. This indicates that R&D expenditures affect firms’sustainable management

Session F4E, Saratoga Springs, NY 38 th ASEE/IEEE Frontiers in Education Conference F4E-21 Research on the Influence of Computer Network Supported Cooperative Learning on Sentence Construction Skills of Elementary School Students

Abstract -This study concentrates on the improvement of students' sentence construction skills from using the sentence construction learning website, which is based on computer network, supported cooperative learning. Nonequivalent pretest-posttest control group design was adopted in this research. Different sentence construction learning methods served as independent variables, while discussions focused on their effects on dependent variables, such as use of words and punctuation, wrong words, predicates, and rhetoric ability. After both the experiment group and the control group took the sentence construction pretest, the teacher divided the students into heterogeneous groups according to results of the assessment, and the groups started a sentence solitaire activity. The result indicated that after using the website, students in the experimental group showed significant improvement in use of words punctuation, adjectives, adverbs, similes and metaphors

Preparation and in Vitro Bioactivity of Micron-sized Bioactive Glass Particles Using Spray Drying Method

In recent years, bioactive glasses (BGs) have attracted enormous attention with their superior bioactivity, non-toxicity and degradability. Owing to their properties, they have been applied in various biological applications. In the present work, we demonstrated that micron-sized BGs can be prepared with a spray drying method. This technique offers the advantages of low contamination and the ability of mass production, in contrast to the two major synthetic methods, conventional glass-melting and sol-gel, previously used for preparation of BGs. Characterizations of phase composition, morphology and specific surface area of spray dried BG powders were carried out and bioactivity was examined in vitro with respect to the ability to form a hydroxyapatite layer on the surface of the particles after they were immersed in simulated body fluid

Entry of Scotophilus Bat Coronavirus-512 and Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus in Human and Multiple Animal Cells

Bats are natural reservoirs of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus (SARS-CoV) and Middle East respiratory syndrome CoV (MERS-CoV). Scotophilus bat CoV-512 demonstrates potential for cross-species transmission because its viral RNA and specific antibodies have been detected in three bat species of Taiwan. Understanding the cell tropism of Scotophilus bat CoV-512 is the first step for studying the mechanism of cross-species transmission. In this study, a lentivirus-based pseudovirus was produced using the spike (S) protein of Scotophilus bat CoV-512 or SARS-CoV as a surface protein to test the interaction between coronaviral S protein and its cell receptor on 11 different cells. Susceptible cells expressed red fluorescence protein (RFP) after the entry of RFP-bound green fluorescence protein (GFP)-fused S protein of Scotophilus bat CoV-512 (RFP-Sco-S-eGFP) or RFP-SARS-S pseudovirus, and firefly luciferase (FLuc) activity expressed by cells infected with FLuc-Sco-S-eGFP or FLuc-SARS-S pseudovirus was quantified. Scotophilus bat CoV-512 pseudovirus had significantly higher entry efficiencies in Madin Darby dog kidney epithelial cells (MDCK), black flying fox brain cells (Pabr), and rat small intestine epithelial cells (IEC-6). SARS-CoV pseudovirus had significantly higher entry efficiencies in human embryonic kidney epithelial cells (HEK-293T), pig kidney epithelial cells (PK15), and MDCK cells. These findings demonstrated that Scotophilus bat CoV-512 had a broad host range for cross-species transmission like SARS-CoV

Rational Use of Antibiotics and Education Improved <i>Aeromonas</i> Necrotizing Fasciitis Outcomes in Taiwan: A 19-Year Experience

Background. Aeromonas necrotizing fasciitis (NF) causes high rates of amputation and mortality, even after aggressive surgical debridement and antibacterial therapy. This study investigated the effects of rational use of antibiotics and education by infectious disease (ID) physicians on Aeromonas NF treatment outcomes. Methods. Retrospective review for conducted for four years (period I, without an ID physician, December 2001 to December 2005) and 15 years (period II, with an ID physician, January 2006 to March 2021). In period II, the hospital-wide computerized antimicrobial approval system (HCAAS) was also implemented. A pretest-posttest time series analysis compared the two periods. Differences in clinical outcomes, demographics, comorbidities, signs and symptoms, laboratory findings, Aeromonas antibiotic susceptibility, and antibiotic regimens were compared between the two periods. Results. There were 19 patients in period I and 53 patients in period II. Patients had a lower rate of amputation or mortality in period II (35.8%) compared with period I (63.2%). Forty-four patients (61.1%) had polymicrobial infections. In the emergency room, the rate of misdiagnosis decreased from 47.4% in period I to 28.3% in period II, while effective empiric antibiotic usage increased from 21.1% in period I to 66.0% in period II. After the ID physician’s adjustment, 69.4% received monotherapy in period II compared to 33.3% in period I. Conclusions. Because Aeromonas NF had a high mortality rate and was often polymicrobial, choosing an antibiotic regimen was difficult. Using the HCAAS by an experienced ID physician can improve rational antibiotic usage and clinical outcomes in Aeromonas NF

The Impact of Cefuroxime Susceptibility on <i>Aeromonas</i> Necrotizing Fasciitis Outcomes

Despite aggressive antibiotic therapy and surgical debridement, Aeromonas necrotizing fasciitis (NF) can lead to high amputation and mortality rates. Our study compares the different antibiotic minimum inhibitory concentrations (MICs) via Epsilometer tests (E-tests) between non-survivors and survivors of Aeromonas NF of limbs. A prospective review of 16 patients with Aeromonas NF was conducted for 3.5 years in a tertiary coastal hospital. E-tests were conducted for 15 antimicrobial agents to determine the MIC value for Aeromonas species. These patients were divided into non-survival and survival groups. The clinical outcomes, demographics, comorbidities, presenting signs and symptoms, laboratory findings, and microbiological results between the two periods were compared. A total of four patients died, whereas 12 survived, resulting in a 25% mortality rate. A higher proportion of bloodstream infections (100% vs. 41.7%; p = 0.042), monomicrobial infections (100% vs. 33.3%; p = 0.021), shock (100% vs. 33.3%; p = 0.021), serous bullae (50% vs. 0%; p = 0.009), liver cirrhosis (100% vs. 25%; p = 0.009), chronic kidney disease (100% vs. 33.3%; p = 0.021), lower susceptibility to cefuroxime (25% vs. 83.3%; p = 0.028), and ineffective antibiotic prescriptions (75% vs. 16.7%; p = 0.029) was observed in non-survivors. Aeromonas NF is an extremely rare skin and soft-tissue infection that is associated with high mortality, bacteremia, antibiotic resistance, and polymicrobial infection. Therefore, antibiotic regimen selection is rendered very challenging. To improve clinical outcomes and irrational antimicrobial usage, experienced microbiologists can help physicians identify specific pathogens and test MIC

Implementation of NUDT15 Genotyping to Prevent Azathioprine‐Induced Leukopenia for Patients With Autoimmune Disorders in Chinese Population

Azathioprine (AZA) is commonly used for many autoimmune disorders; however, the limitation of its clinical use is due to potential toxicities, including severe leukopenia. Recent studies have identified genetic NUDT15 variants strongly associated with AZA-induced leukopenia in Asian patients. This study aimed to investigate the strength of above genetic association and evaluate the usefulness of prospective screening of the NUDT15 variants to prevent AZA-induced leukopenia in Chinese patients. AZA-induced leukopenia in patients with autoimmune disorders were enrolled from multiple medical centers in Taiwan/China between 2012 and 2017 to determine the strength of genetic association of NUDT15 or TPMT variants by whole exome sequencing (WES). Furthermore, a prospective study was conducted between 2018 and 2021 to investigate the incidence of AZA-induced leukopenia with and without genetic screening. The WES result showed the genetic variants of NUDT15 R139C (rs116855232) (P&nbsp;=&nbsp;3.7 × 10-25 , odds ratio (OR)&nbsp;=&nbsp;21.7, 95% confidence interval (95% CI)&nbsp;=&nbsp;12.1-38.8) and NUDT15 rs746071566 (P&nbsp;=&nbsp;4.2 × 10-9 , OR&nbsp;=&nbsp;7.1, 95% CI&nbsp;=&nbsp;3.7-13.7), but not TPMT, were associated with AZA-induced leukopenia and NUDT15 R139C variant shows the highest sensitivity with 92.5%. Furthermore, the targeted screening of 1,013 participants for NUDT15 R139C enabled those identified as carriers to use alternative immunosuppressants. This strategy resulted in a significant decrease in the incidence of AZA-induced leukopenia compared with historical incidence (incidence rate&nbsp;=&nbsp;from 7.6% decreased to 0.4%; P&nbsp;=&nbsp;9.3 × 10-20 ). In conclusion, the NUDT15 R139C variant was strongly associated with AZA-induced leukopenia in Chinese patients. The genetic screening of NUDT15 R139C followed by use of alternative immunosuppressants in identified carriers effectively decreased the incidence of AZA leukopenia for patients with autoimmune disorders