INVESTIGATING SATISFIED BUT DISLOYAL BUSINESS CUSTOMERS

Ming-Chih Tsai,Rico Merkert,Shiau-Chi Lin,Mei-Ting Tsai 글로벌지식마케팅경영학회 2018 Global Marketing Conference Vol.2018 No.07

Satisfaction paradox indicates customer satisfaction does not necessarily translate into customer repurchase. Competitor’s attractiveness and customer demographics are two main moderators for the paradoxical phenomenon. Competitor’s attractiveness exhibits customer switching effect, whereas customer demographics imply customers moored with their current service provider. Still, the cases were few investigated in B2B settings where customers are in general more complex than consumers as involving more intricate organizational network influences. In a business network, transactions may incur buyer/seller relational activities that mitigate paradoxical behavior. Nonetheless, the variable is yet identified and the interacting effects between the moderating variables are not clarified. Thus, this study aims to develop an operational model to classify satisfied customers into loyal, moored and paradoxical segments using three genres of moderators: competitor’s attractiveness, organizational and transactional variables in a B2B setting. In the model, the theoretical bases of switching behaviors are applied for four statistical analysis executed in a logic sequence, including a factor analysis to consolidate quality measurements, a quadrant analysis to locate the effect of competitor’s attractiveness, a clustering analysis to segment satisfied customers into four segments, and finally, nonparametric tests to validate the organizational and transactional segmentation variables. Empirically, we study Taiwanese manufacturers who engaged in global trade and have had experiences in choosing the global air express services that form an oligopolistic market and a strategic group so competitor’s attractiveness can be better calibrated. A total of 180 valid samples are collected and analyzed. The results contribute to the literatures of B2B service marketing.

Tenofovir Alafenamide for Chronic Hepatitis B Patients with Advanced Fibrosis and Partial Virologic Responses to Oral Nucleos(T)Ide Analogues- Interim Report

( Ming-lung Yu ),( Ming-lun Yeh ),( Chi-yi Chen ),( Pin-nan Cheng ),( Ming-jong Bair ),( Jyh-jou Chen ),( Ching-chu Lo ),( Chi-ming Tai ),( Ching-yang Tsai ),( Kuo-chih Tseng ),( Chien-hung Chen ),( C 대한간학회 2020 춘·추계 학술대회 (KASL) Vol.2020 No.1

Aims: Insufficient data regarding the treatment strategy for partial response to nucleot(s)ide analogue (NUC) raised the aim of investigating tenofovir alafenamide (TAF) switching for chronic hepatitis B (CHB) patients with advanced fibrosis and partial response to other NUCs. Methods: CHB patients with advanced fibrosis (stage 3 or 4) and under NUC (except TAF) therapy with detectable hepatitis B virus (HBV) DNA for >52 weeks are enrolled to TAF 25 mg/day for 96 weeks. The objectives are viral suppression, alanine aminotransferase (ALT) normalization and safety. Results: From Feb. 2019, 34 patients, including 21 (61.8%) with entecavir, 10 (29.4%) TDF and 3 (8.8%) lamivudine or adefovir, were enrolled (15 [44.1%] male, median 53 years). The fibroscan demonstrated a mean of 10.5 kPa (7 [20.6%] cirrhotic). Sixteen (47.1%) patients were HBV e antigen positive, seven (20.6%) had YMDD mutation. The median HBV DNA level declined from 68.5 IU/mL at enrollment to 27.0 IU/mL at 4^th week, and undetectable at 12^th, 24^th, 36^th week, respectively, after TAF switching, with undetectable HBV DNA in 14/34 (41.2%), 17/33 (51.5%), 15/25 (60.0%), and 9/15 (60.0%) patients and rate of ALT normalization (≤40 U/L) of 85.3%, 85.3%, 84.8%, 92.0%, and 80.0%, respectively, after TAF switching. (figure 1) Two patients experienced transient virological breakthrough and another one developed at the final time follow up. Serum creatinine and eGFR levels were stable after TAF switching (figure 1). Two patients early terminated including one at 12^th week due to personal reason, and another one accidently died at 20^th week due to acute heart attack. Others suffered only mild degrees of adverse events which were considered unrelated to treatment. Conclusions: The preliminary results demonstrated the TAF switching is effective and safe in viral suppression for CHB patients with advanced fibrosis and partial virologic responses to other NUCs.

Traditional Chinese medicine attenuates hospitalization and mortality risks in diabetic patients with carcinoma in situ in Taiwan

Tsai Li-Jen,Chung Chi-Hsiang,Lin Chien-Jung,Su Sheng-Chiang,Kuo Feng-Chih,Liu Jhih-Syuan,Chen Kuan-Chan,Ho Li-Ju,Kuo Chih-Chun,Chang Chun-Yung,Lin Ming-Hsun,Chu Nain-Feng,Lee Chien-Hsing,Hsieh Chang-H 한국한의학연구원 2022 Integrative Medicine Research Vol.11 No.2

Background: Diabetic patients are at high risk of developing cancer. Traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) has become increasingly popular as an adjuvant treatment for patients with chronic diseases, and some studies have identified its beneficial effect in diabetic patients with cancer. The purpoes of this study was to outline the potential of TCM to attenuate hospitalization and mortality rates in diabetic patients with carcinoma in situ (CIS). Methods: A total of 6,987 diabetic subjects with CIS under TCM therapy were selected from the National Health Insurance Research Database of Taiwan, along with 38,800 of 1:1 sex-, age-, and index year-matched controls without TCM therapy. Cox proportional hazard analysis was conducted to compare hospitalization and mortality rates during an average of 15 years of follow-up. Results: A total of 3,999/1,393 enrolled-subjects (28.62%/9.97%) had hospitalization/mortality, including 1,777/661 in the TCM group (25.43%/9.46%) and 2,222/732 in the control group (31.80%/10.48%). Cox proportional hazard regression analysis showed a lower rate of hospitalization and mortality for subjects in the TCM group (adjusted HR=0.536; 95% CI=0.367–0.780, P<0.001; adjusted HR=0.783; 95% CI=0.574– 0.974, P = 0.022). Kaplan-Meier analysis showed that the cumulative risk of hospitalization and mortality in the case and control groups was significantly different (log rank, P<0.001 and P = 0.011, respectively). Conclusions: Diabetic patients with CIS under TCM therapy were associated with lower hospitalization and mortality rates compared to those without TCM therapy. Thus, TCM application may reduce the burden of national medical resources.

Mesenchymal Stem Cell Secreted-Extracellular Vesicles are Involved in Chondrocyte Production and Reduce Adipogenesis during Stem Cell Differentiation

Tsai Yu-Chen,Cheng Tai-Shan,Liao Hsiu-Jung,Chuang Ming-Hsi,Chen Hui-Ting,Chen Chun-Hung,Zhang Kai-Ling,Chang Chih-Hung,Lin Po-Cheng,Huang Chi-Ying F. 한국조직공학과 재생의학회 2022 조직공학과 재생의학 Vol.19 No.6

BACKGROUND: Extracellular vesicles (EVs) are derived from internal cellular compartments, and have potential as a diagnostic and therapeutic tool in degenerative disease associated with aging. Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) have become a promising tool for functional EVs production. This study investigated the efficacy of EVs and its effect on differentiation capacity. METHODS: The characteristics of MSCs were evaluated by flow cytometry and stem cell differentiation analysis, and a production mode of functional EVs was scaled from MSCs. The concentration and size of EVs were quantitated by Nanoparticle Tracking Analysis (NTA). Western blot analysis was used to assess the protein expression of exosomespecific markers. The effects of MSC-derived EVs were assessed by chondrogenic and adipogenic differentiation analyses and histological observation. RESULTS: The range of the particle size of adipose-derived stem cells (ADSCs)- and Wharton’s jelly -MSCs-derived EVs were from 130 to 150 nm as measured by NTA, which showed positive expression of exosomal markers. The chondrogenic induction ability was weakened in the absence of EVs in vitro. Interestingly, after EV administration, type II collagen, a major component in the cartilage extracellular matrix, was upregulated compared to the EV-free condition. Moreover, EVs decreased the lipid accumulation rate during adipogenic induction. CONCLUSION: The results indicated that the production model could facilitate production of effective EVs and further demonstrated the role of MSC-derived EVs in cell differentiation. MSC-derived EVs could be successfully used in cell-free therapy to guide chondrogenic differentiation of ADSC for future clinical applications in cartilage regeneration.

Galangin Prevents Acute Hepatorenal Toxicity in Novel Propacetamol-Induced Acetaminophen-Overdosed Mice

Ming-Shiun Tsai,Chia-Chih Chien,Ting-Hui Lin,Chia-Chi Liu,Rosa Huang Liu,Hong-Lin Su,Yung-Tsung Chiu,Sue-Hong Wang 한국식품영양과학회 2015 Journal of medicinal food Vol.18 No.11

Acetaminophen (APAP) overdose causes severe liver and kidney damage. APAP-induced liver injury (AILI) represents the most frequent cause of drug-induced liver failure. APAP is relatively insoluble and can only be taken orally; however, its prodrug, propacetamol, is water soluble and usually injected directly. In this study, we examined the timedependent effects of AILI after propacetamol injection in mice. After analyses of alanine aminotransferase and aspartate aminotransferase activities and liver histopathology, we demonstrated that a novel AILI mouse model can be established by single propacetamol injection. Furthermore, we compared the protective and therapeutic effects of galangin with a known liver protective extract, silymarin, and the only clinical agent for treating APAP toxicity, N-acetylcysteine (NAC), at the same dose in the model mice. We observed that galangin and silymarin were more effective than NAC for protecting against AILI. However, only NAC greatly improved both the survival time and rate consequent to a lethal dose of propacetamol. To decipher the hepatic protective mechanism(s) of galangin, galangin pretreatment significantly decreased the hepatic oxidative stress, increased hepatic glutathione level, and decreased hepatic microsomal CYP2E1 levels induced by propacetamol injection. In addition, propacetamol injection also reproduced the probability of APAP-induced kidney injury (AIKI), appearing similar to a clinical APAP overdose. Only galangin pretreatment showed the protective effect of AIKI. Thus, we have established a novel mouse model for AILI and AIKI using a single propacetamol injection. We also demonstrated that galangin provides significant protection against AILI and AIKI in this mouse model.

Original Article : The Risk of Cellulitis in Cirrhotic Patients: A Nationwide Population-Based Study in Taiwan

( Ming Nan Lin ),( Chen Chi Tsai ),( Tsung Hsing Hung ),( Chih Chun Tsai ) The Editorial Office of Gut and Liver 2012 Gut and Liver Vol.6 No.4

Background/Aims: Cellulitis is a common infectious disease. However, the risk of cellulitis in cirrhotic patients is not well established, and whether liver cirrhosis is a risk factor for cellulitis remains unknown. This study evaluated the relationship between cellulitis and liver cirrhosis. Methods: The National Health Insurance Database, which was derived from the Taiwan National Health Insurance program, was used to identify patients. The study group consisted of 39,966 patients with liver cirrhosis, and the comparison group consisted of 39,701 randomly selected age- and sex-matched patients. Results: During the 3-year follow-up period, 2,674 (6.7%) patients with liver cirrhosis developed cellulitis, and 1,587 (4.0%) patients without liver cirrhosis developed cellulitis (p<0.001). Following a Cox`s regression analysis adjusted for age, sex, and underlying medical disorders, the cirrhotic patients demonstrated a greater risk for the occurrence of cellulitis than the non-cirrhotic patients during the 3-year period (hazard ratio [HR], 1.66; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.55 to 1.77; p<0.001). Additionally, cirrhotic patients with complications also had a greater risk for the occurrence of cellulitis than those patients without complications (HR, 1.23; 95% CI, 1.14 to 1.33; p<0.001). Conclusions: We conclude that cirrhotic patients have a greater risk of cellulitis than non-cirrhotic patients. (Gut Liver 2012;6:482-485)

Development of Computer Integrated Testing Systems for Humanoid Robot Ex-work Inspection

Chi-Sheng Tsai,Jia-Ming Shyu 제어로봇시스템학회 2010 제어로봇시스템학회 국제학술대회 논문집 Vol.2010 No.10

The humanoid robot is a combination of biped, intelligent and mimetic robot to serve human beings in non-production sectors. Since it is a very complicate automatic walking and working machinery, and it works interactively with people in daily life, its correctness and reliability in terms of its functions and performances need to be checked intensively after final assemble and before it is shipped. A novel developed computer integrated testing system (CITS) to inspect every ex-work robot before shipping with the appearance, motion, walking, sensing and recognition, intelligence as well as possessed service expert knowledge is developed in this paper. The use of this fully automated CITS will simplify the human intervenient inspection and testing of the humanoid robot, shorten the testing time and cost, and avoid human errors while in manufacturing, software loading and ex-work inspection.

Allogeneic Serum Eye Drops for the Treatment of Severe Dry Eye in Patients With Chronic Graft-Versus-Host Disease

Chiang, Chun-Chi,Lin, Jane-Ming,Chen, Wen-Lu,Tsai, Yi-Yu Masson Pub. USA 2007 Cornea Vol.26 No.7

PURPOSE:: To describe the use of allogeneic serum eye drops to treat 2 patients with chronic graft-versus-host disease (GVHD)-induced severe ocular surface disease. METHODS:: Small case series. RESULTS:: Conventional therapy failed to control the ocular symptoms of 2 patients with GVHD who presented with severe dry eye syndrome. Because autologous serum was unavailable in these cases, we used allogeneic serum eye drops as an alternate option for treating their ocular surface disease. Both donors had serologic tests performed before donation. Use of the allogeneic serum eye drops had a beneficial clinical effect, with marked attenuation of the patients’ symptoms. This therapy proved to be safe during 10 months of treatment. CONCLUSIONS:: Allogeneic serum eye drops may be a good alternative treatment for patients with severe dry eyes caused by GVHD.

Platelet-Derived Growth Factor Receptor-α Subunit Targeting Suppresses Metastasis in Advanced Thyroid Cancer In Vitro and In Vivo

( Ching-ling Lin ),( Ming-lin Tsai ),( Yu-hsin Chen ),( Wei-ni Liu ),( Chun-yu Lin ),( Kai-wen Hsu ),( Chien-yu Huang ),( Yu-jia Chang ),( Po-li Wei ),( Shu-huey Chen ),( Li-chi Huang ),( Chia-hwa Lee 한국응용약물학회 2021 Biomolecules & Therapeutics(구 응용약물학회지) Vol.29 No.5

Thyroid cancer is the most common endocrine malignancy. Patients with well-differentiated thyroid cancers, such as papillary and follicular cancers, have a favorable prognosis. However, poorly differentiated thyroid cancers, such as medullary, squamous and anaplastic advanced thyroid cancers, are very aggressive and insensitive to radioiodine treatment. Thus, novel therapies that attenuate metastasis are urgently needed. We found that both PDGFC and PDGFRA are predominantly expressed in thyroid cancers and that the survival rate is significantly lower in patients with high PDGFRA expression. This finding indicates the important role of PDGF/PDGFR signaling in thyroid cancer development. Next, we established a SW579 squamous thyroid cancer cell line with 95.6% PDGFRA gene insertion and deletions (indels) through CRISPR/Cas9. Protein and invasion analysis showed a dramatic loss in EMT marker expression and metastatic ability. Furthermore, xenograft tumors derived from PDGFRA geneedited SW579 cells exhibited a minor decrease in tumor growth. However, distant lung metastasis was completely abolished upon PDGFRA gene editing, implying that PDGFRA could be an effective target to inhibit distant metastasis in advanced thyroid cancers. To translate this finding to the clinic, we used the most relevant multikinase inhibitor, imatinib, to inhibit PDGFRA signaling. The results showed that imatinib significantly suppressed cell growth, induced cell cycle arrest and cell death in SW579 cells. Our developed noninvasive apoptosis detection sensor (NIADS) indicated that imatinib induced cell apoptosis through caspase-3 activation. In conclusion, we believe that developing a specific and selective targeted therapy for PDGFRA would effectively suppress PDGFRA-mediated cancer aggressiveness in advanced thyroid cancers.

The Technical Benefits of Future GNSS for Taiwan

Kai-Wei Chiang,Ming Yang,Meng-Lun Tsai,Yao-Yun Chang,Chi-Kuang Chu 한국항해항만학회 2006 한국항해항만학회 학술대회논문집 Vol.2 No.-

The next decade promises drastic improvements and additions to global navigation satellite systems (GNSS). Plans for GPS modernization include a civilian code measurement on the L2 frequency and a new L5 signal at 1176.45MHz. Current speculations indicate that a fully operational constellation with these improvements could be available by 2013. Simultaneously, the Galileo Joint Undertaking is in the development and validation stages of introducing a parallel GNSS called Galileo. Galileo will also transmit freely available satellite navigation signals on three frequencies and is scheduled to be fully operational as early as 2008. In other words, a dual system receiver (e.g., GPS+GALILEO) for general users can access six civil frequencies transmitted by at least fifty eights navigation satellites in space. The advent of GALILEO and the modernization of GPS raise a lot of attention to the study of the compatibility and interoperability of the two systems. A number of performance analyses have been conducted in a global scale with respect to availability, reliability, accuracy and integrity in different simulated scenarios (such as open sky and urban canyons) for the two systems individually and when integrated. Therefore, the scope of this article aims at providing the technical benefits analysis for Taiwan specifically in terms of the performance indices mentioned above in a local scale, especially in typical urban canyon scenarios. The conclusions gained by this study will be applied by the Land Survey Bureau of Taiwanese as the guideline for developing future GNSS tracking facilities and dual GNSS processing module for precise surveying applications in static and kinematic modes.