Fu Jen Catholic University

About: Fu Jen Catholic University is a education organization based out in Taipei, Taiwan. It is known for research contribution in the topics: Population & Medicine. The organization has 6842 authors who have published 9512 publications receiving 171005 citations. The organization is also known as: FJU & Fu Jen.

The Effects of Age Stereotypes on Tour Leader Roles

Abstract: This study explores whether various distance trips and age stereotypes affect tourists’ perceptions of tour leaders’ roles. This research also identifies the moderating effects regarding tour leader age stereotype, age in-group bias, and the respondents’ age on the perceived roles played by tour leaders. A total of 447 subjects participated in the study with a 2 (role-play scenarios: short-distance trip vs. long-distance trip) × 2 (appearances of the tour leader: middle-aged vs. young) between-subjects factorial design. The results showed that the respondents’ perceived roles of a middle-aged appearance tour leader were better than some young appearance counterparts’ components under short- and long-distance conditions. Furthermore, the tour leader age stereotype and age in-group bias could influence respondents’ perceptions of care and interactional and communicative dimensions. In addition, respondents’ age could affect the perceptions of some components of the tour leaders under short- and long-distanc...

Seroprevalence of Hepatitis-B infection amongst Taiwanese university students 18 years following the commencement of a national Hepatitis-B vaccination program

Abstract: In Taiwan, the nation-wide Hepatitis-B virus (HB) vaccination program was first launched in July 1984 and was directed to those infants born to hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) carrier mothers in Taiwan. From July 1986 onwards, all infants born in Taiwan were immunized against HB. This study examined the HB-infection status amongst students at a Taiwanese university 18 years subsequent to the implementation of universal HB vaccination. A total of 1,969 new university entrants in 2005 were grouped into 1 of 3 distinct birth cohorts according to their HB-vaccination schedule (cohort-1 students born prior to July 1, 1984; cohort-3 students born subsequent to June 30, 1986) and were examined for their serum HBsAg, antibody to hepatitis B surface antigen (anti-HBs), and antibody to hepatitis B core antigen (anti-HBc) status. Immunity arising from vaccination was defined as an anti-HBs level 10 mIU/ml. We observed a trend toward a decreasing anti-HBc-positive rate and a decreasing HBsAg carrier rate from, respectively, 26.5 and 8.7% for cohort-1 to 4.7 and 1.7% for cohort-3 students. The prevalence of students featuring seronegativity for all three HB markers increased from 12.3% for cohort-1 to 48.8% for cohort-3 individuals. Amongst the 1,695 subjects revealing seronegativity for HBsAg and anti-HBc, their anti-HBs level was analyzed according to their birth year. The prevalence of students featuring a non-protective anti-HBs level increased from 11.9% for birth-year 1984 individuals to 48.2% for birth-year 1987 students. The introduction of HB vaccine has effectively reduced the transmission of HBV infection in Taiwan, 18 years subsequent to the commencement of the universal HB-vaccination program. A "waning-off" effect of anti-HBs seropositivity acquired from the HB vaccination program has also been observed.

Polysomnographic characteristics in patients with mucopolysaccharidoses.

Abstract: To evaluate the prevalence of obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) and to clarify sleep characteristics in patients with mucopolysaccharidoses (MPS), we performed overnight polysomnographic studies in 24 patients (22 males and 2 females; 3 with MPS I, 15 with MPS II, 1 with MPS III, 1 with MPS IV, and 4 with MPS VI; mean age, 10.8 ± 6.0 years; age range, 2.0–23.7 years; 2 patients ≥18 years of age). The nadir arterial oxygen saturation (SaO2) was 74.5 ± 12.3%, and the average percentage of sleep time with an SaO2 of 10) in 13. Two patients with MPS II who received enzyme replacement therapy had reductions in RDI after treatment (38.9–10.8 and 3.5–2.0, respectively). The prevalence of moderate to severe OSA was 88% (21/24) in patients with MPS. The overnight polysomnography will help to determine the abnormalities of breathing during sleep more precisely and urge the clinicians to take necessary action for patients with severe manifestations. Pediatr Pulmonol. 2010;45:1205–1212. © 2010 Wiley-Liss, Inc.

Pharmacological modulation of TNF production in macrophages.

Abstract: The quantity and duration of production of tumor necrosis factor (TNF) is tightly controlled due to its potential to cause serious harm. For example, TNF release in response to overwhelming bacterial infection has been implicated as the first step in potentially lethal septic shock. Prostaglandins and leukotrienes are thought to play opposing roles in regulating TNF production by monocytes and macrophages. We investigated the effects of 5 drugs on the production of TNF by cells of the murine macrophage line RAW264 after stimulation with bacterial lipopolysaccharide endotoxin (LPS). These drugs were of the following 3 classes: cyclooxygenase inhibitors indomethacin (indo) and ibuprofen (ibu); 5-lipoxygenase inhibitors VZ 65 and AA-861; and methylxanthine pentoxyfilline (PTX). While indo and ibu treatment resulted in increased TNF production, PTX, VZ 65, and AA-861 significantly inhibited TNF production, whether administered simultaneously with LPS or 30 min after LPS treatment. VZ 65 and AA-861 also inhibited prostaglandin E2 (PGE2) production, coupled with an absence of any rise in intracellular cAMP. Leukotriene B4 (LTB4) levels peaked at 15 min and approached background level at 30 min after LPS treatment. Taken together, these data suggest that VZ 65 and AA-861 may inhibit TNF production through mechanism(s) independent of LTB4 production. VZ 65, AA-861, and PTX all diminished the rate of TNF mRNA transcription, yet VZ 65 and AA-861 appeared to enhance message stability. We conclude that while PTX reduced TNF protein levels by inhibiting TNF mRNA transcription, both VZ 65 and AA-861 exerted opposing effects on TNF transcription and increased mRNA stability.

Trust in product review blogs: the influence of self-disclosure and popularity

Abstract: Many modern consumers use blogs as important information sources, which they evaluate on the basis of blog-specific cues. Using the theory of self-disclosure, this study posits that bloggers' product evaluation self-disclosures, social self-disclosures, and blog popularity are key determinants of readers' cognitive and affective trust. Readers' trust in turn should affect their product attitudes and feedback intentions towards the blog. With a survey study involving seven blog articles about dining experience and a structural equation model, this research confirms the positive influences of product evaluation self-disclosures and popularity on readers' cognitive trust and of social self-disclosures on readers' affective trust. Both cognitive and affective forms of trust enhance product attitudes. Affective trust also increases readers' feedback intentions towards the blog. With these findings, this study offers suggestions for bloggers and companies that use blogs as marketing tools.