Formerly known as Kaohsiung Polytechnic Institute (KPI), I-Shou University (ISU; Chinese: 義守大學) is a private university in Dashu District, Kaohsiung, Taiwan. ISU was established in 1986 by I-Shou Lin, the founder of E United Group (義联集團), to commemorate his mother as well as to benefit the villages and towns where he started his business. KPI was officially renamed I-Shou University on August 1, 1997.ISU has nine colleges and one center: College of Intelligent Science & Technology, College of Science & Engineering, College of Management, College of Communication & Design, International College, College of Tourism & Hospitality, College of Language Arts, College of Medicine, College of Medical Science & Technology ,College of Indigenous Studies, and Center for General Education. It has 43 departments offering 16 master's programs, 7 doctoral programs, 4 bachelor's degree programs for indigenous peoples, 1 international programs, 12 evening bachelor's degree programs, 2 two-year in-service bachelor's degree programs, and 9 in-service master's programs..
This study presents a tannic acid (TA)-mediated strategy to engineer the structure and functionality of chitosan/ polyvinyl alcohol (CS/PVA) packaging films by simultaneously crosslinking polymers and integrating nanoparticles. TA served as a multifunctional structuring agent, forming extensive hydrogen-bonding networks within the CS/PVA matrix and coordinating with MgO-TiO2 nanoparticles to generate stable metal-phenolic interfaces. This dual interaction produced a more compact, integrated film network with enhanced interfacial compatibility and reduced polymer chain mobility. Consequently, the composite film showed a 79% increase in tensile strength (29.3 MPa), along with significant reductions in water vapor permeability (21%) and oxygen permeability (36.4%), indicating improved barrier performance through increased network density and tortuous diffusion pathways. TA-mediated coordination further modified the optical properties of MgO-TiO2, enabling visible-light responsiveness and promoting reactive oxygen species generation, which contributed to strong antibacterial activity, with bacterial reduction exceeding 5 log CFU mL- 1 against Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus aureus within 24 h. In addition, the films exhibited enhanced antioxidant activity and complete UV shielding. When applied to banana preservation, the optimized film effectively delayed ripening, extending shelf life by approximately four days while maintaining acceptable quality. Overall, this work highlights a synergistic approach to tailoring hybrid film networks via polyphenol-mediated crosslinking and metal-phenolic coordination, providing insights into structure-property relationships for the design of advanced active packaging materials.
Osteoporosis is a major and growing health concern in the Asia-Pacific region, y et it remains widely underdiagnosed and undertreated due to limited access to dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA) in many areas. Artificial intelligence (AI) offers new opportunities to improve osteoporosis screening and management, but unvalidated tools pose risks of inconsistent care. This consensus was developed to provide regionally harmonized guidance on the safe, effective, and equitable use of AI in osteoporosis care. Purpose The aim of this work was to establish expert consensus recommendations on the role of AI in osteoporosis screening and management in the Asia-Pacific region. Key objectives were to define appropriate applications of AI (e.g., imaging-based bone assessment and fracture risk prediction) and specify minimum standards for validation and reporting, addressing region-specific implementation challenges and ensuring that AI use aligns with clinical guidelines and ethical principles. Methods This consensus was developed through multidisciplinary collaboration among experts across the Asia-Pacific region. Each participant reviewed draft statements, contributed feedback during virtual meetings, and provided insights based on clinical experience and current evidence. Consensus was reached iteratively until full agreement was achieved for all statements. The process integrated global best practices and regional adaptations, drawing from peer-reviewed studies, international AI guidelines, and local fracture registry data. The final recommendations emphasize the validation, transparency, and ethical implementation of AI within regional healthcare systems, ensuring compatibility with local regulations. Ultimately, twelve consensus statements were established to guide the responsible use of AI for osteoporosis screening and management in the Asia-Pacific region. Results The panel produced 12 consensus statements covering the role of AI as an adjunct for opportunistic osteoporosis screening rather than a diagnostic tool, requirements for imaging quality and AI model transparency, standards for validation and performance reporting, integration of AI with clinical risk stratification, demonstration of clinical utility in real-world settings, adherence to data protection laws and ethical AI principles, training of clinicians in AI use, strategies for implementation and monitoring (including post-market surveillance and feedback loops), and recognition of technical, clinical, and equity limitations of AI. All 12 statements give extensive recommendations for using AI to improve osteoporosis management while ensuring patient safety, accuracy, and equity. Conclusion This first Asia-Pacific consensus on AI in osteoporosis concludes that AI, when appropriately validated and implemented, can help bridge the osteoporosis care gap by identifying high-risk patients who would otherwise remain undiagnosed, thus facilitating earlier intervention. It emphasizes that AI should complement-not replace-standard diagnostic methods and clinical judgment. The guidance emphasizes validation, transparency, and ethical oversight to facilitate early intervention while minimizing risks associated with unvalidated or premature AI adoption.
Bronchiectasis has traditionally been characterized as a neutrophil-driven disease, yet emerging evidence suggested inflammatory heterogeneities. The prognostic significance of elevated serum immunoglobulin E (IgE) in patients without peripheral eosinophilia remains unclear. We conducted a multicenter prospective cohort study between 2017 and 2020 across 16 institutions in Taiwan. Individuals with bronchiectasis but without allergic bronchopulmonary aspergillosis were included. Patients were stratified by baseline absolute eosinophil count (cutoff 300 /uL) and serum IgE level (≤ 100, 100–500, > 500 IU/mL). The primary endpoint was severe exacerbations resulting in hospitalization at one year. Secondary endpoints included all-cause mortality, distribution of sputum pathogen, imaging pattern, and lung function. A total of 579 individuals were enrolled. Nontuberculous mycobacteria (10.7
Ageism, involving stereotypes, prejudice, and discrimination against older adults, affects healthcare, employment, and social domains. The present study developed the Attitudes and Thoughts Toward Older People Scale (AT-TOPS) using the socioecological model to assess institutional, interpersonal, and self-directed ageism in the Taiwanese context, with items in Mandarin Chinese. A 1990–2024 literature review of 27 instruments yielded 196 items, refined to 17 items through expert panel and pilot testing. In 2023–2024, 370 adults aged 50 + years completed AT-TOPS, measures of depressive symptoms, quality of life, physical resilience, and the Short Physical Performance Battery (N = 169). Exploratory factor analysis retained 11 items in a three-factor structure, showing acceptable internal consistency (α/ω = 0.82/0.86, above the 0.7 threshold) but suboptimal test-retest reliability (r = 0.49, below the 0.7 threshold). External measures correlated with institutional ageism (absolute r ranged from 0.11 to 0.20, p < 0.03) and interpersonal ageism (absolute r ranged from 0.05 to 0.25, p < 0.36), albeit relatively weakly, while self-directed ageism showed stronger associations with depressive symptoms (r = 0.29, p < 0.001) and quality of life (r=-0.23, p < 0.001). AT-TOPS supports multidimensional ageism assessment, informing targeted interventions.
Background:Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) is independently associated with increased cardiovascular morbidity, and vitamin D deficiency is highly prevalent in OSA patients. However, whether vitamin D deficiency is associated with an elevated risk of heart failure, specifically within the OSA population, remains unclear. Methods:We conducted a retrospective cohort analysis using data from the TriNetX Global Collaborative Network (2010-2022) to investigate whether vitamin D deficiency, defined as a 25-hydroxyvitamin D concentration < 20 ng/mL, is associated with new-onset heart failure in adults diagnosed with OSA. Patients with sufficient vitamin D levels (≥30 ng/mL) served as controls. Propensity score matching (1:1) was performed to balance the baseline characteristics. The primary outcome was incident heart failure; secondary outcomes included all-cause mortality, secondary pulmonary hypertension, primary pulmonary hypertension, and pulmonary embolism at the 5-year follow-up. Results:After propensity score matching, 36,497 patients were included in each cohort. Vitamin D deficiency was significantly associated with a higher risk of heart failure (HR 1.45; 95% CI 1.37-1.53; p < 0.001), all-cause mortality (HR 1.76; 95% CI 1.64-1.89; p < 0.001), secondary pulmonary hypertension (HR 1.25; 95% CI 1.13-1.38; p < 0.001), and pulmonary embolism (HR 1.31; 95% CI 1.17-1.47; p < 0.001). No significant association was observed with primary pulmonary hypertension (HR 1.22; 95% CI 0.84-1.79; p = 0.300). Dose-response analysis revealed attenuated associations for vitamin D insufficiency (20-29.9 ng/mL). Subgroup analyses demonstrated a stronger association among obese patients (p for interaction = 0.028). Conclusion:Among adults with OSA, vitamin D deficiency was linked to a markedly higher risk of developing heart failure as well as other unfavorable cardiopulmonary events, and this association demonstrated a clear dose-response pattern. These findings suggest that vitamin D status may represent an important factor in cardiovascular risk stratification in patients with OSA.
