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This article explores the adoption of geographic information system (GIS) knowledge and skills through in-service training for high school geography teachers in Taiwan. Through statistical analysis of primary data collected from a census of Taiwan's high school geography teachers, it explores what motivates these teachers to undertake GIS training. The design of the questionnaire was largely inspired by the technology acceptance model (TAM) and the social influence model (SIM). The former model postulates the influence of perceived usefulness (PU) and perceived ease of use (PEOU) of GIS on teachers' actual adoption of the technology. The latter, in contrast, postulates that teachers' usage of GIS is affected by their peers and their schools. Statistical findings indicate that PU and school support are important factors influencing teachers' adoption of GIS in Taiwan. (Contains 8 tables and 4 figures.)

A meta-analysis was performed to synthesize existing research comparing the effects of computer applications (i.e., computer-assisted instruction, computer simulations, and Web-based learning) versus traditional instruction on elementary school students' achievement in Taiwan. Forty-eight studies were located from four sources, and their quantitative data were transformed into Effect Size (ES). The overall grand mean of the study-weighted ES for all 48 studies was 0.449. The results suggest that computer application instruction is more effective than traditional instruction for elementary school students in Taiwan. However, none of the 14 individual variables, conjectured to be related to achievement, had a statistically significant impact on the mean ES.

This study explores issues on post-adoption services in intercountry adoptions based on the perspectives of adoption professionals from Taiwan and Australia. Findings revealed that both birth and adoptive families identify service needs for material and emotional support and connection after the adoption process is finalized. However, the current lack of government funding for post-adoption services result in gaps in service delivery. Adoption agencies experience challenges in funding and balancing the interests of the child and the two families. Implications for practice and policy are discussed to enhance the quality of post-adoption services and improve the well-being of the adoption triad. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This present study was undertaken to determine whether beta-blockers produce the cutaneous analgesic effect, comparing them with the long-acting local anesthetic bupivacaine. Using a rat model of infiltrative cutaneous analgesia, the effect of 5 beta-blockers (oxprenolol, carteolol, butaxamine, metoprolol, and acebutolol) and bupivacaine was compared and eventually combined with epinephrine. Among 5 beta-blockers, oxprenolol exhibited the most potent and the longest duration of cutaneous analgesia. In dose-response studies, the rank order of efficacy (ED50 [50% effective dose]) was bupivacaine (0.40 [0.35–0.47] μmol) > oxprenolol (2.33 [2.06–2.64] μmol) > carteolol (4.86 [4.27–5.53] μmol) (p< 0.01). Carteolol provoked a longer duration of analgesia (p< 0.01) than oxprenolol or bupivacaine on an equipotent basis (ED25, ED50, and ED75). Adding epinephrine 1:200,000 to drug preparations (carteolol, oxprenolol, and bupivacaine) at ED95 had a peripheral action in prolonging the duration of action. Oxprenolol and carteolol had greater potencies and longer durations of cutaneous analgesia than butaxamine, metoprolol, and acebutolol. Oxprenolol produced a similar duration of action when compared to bupivacaine, while carteolol had a greater duration of action than bupivacaine. Cutaneous analgesia of oxprenolol (or carteolol) plus adrenaline was greater than that of bupivacaine plus adrenaline. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study observed the cutaneous analgesic effect of adrenergic agonists when combined with lidocaine. We aimed at the usefulness of four adrenergic agonists and epinephrine as analgesics or as tools to prolong the effect of local anesthetics using a model of cutaneous trunci muscle reflex (pinprick pain) in rats. We showed that subcutaneous four adrenergic agonists and epinephrine, as well as the local anesthetic bupivacaine and lidocaine, developed a concentration‐dependent cutaneous analgesia. The rank order of the efficacy of different compounds (ED50; median effective dose) was epinephrine [0.013 (0.012–0.014) μmol] > oxymetazoline [0.25 (0.22–0.28) μmol] > naphazoline [0.42 (0.34–0.53) μmol] = bupivacaine [0.43 (0.37–0.50) μmol] > xylometazoline [1.34 (1.25–1.45) μmol] > lidocaine [5.86 (5.11–6.72) μmol] > tetrahydrozoline [6.76 (6.21–7.36) μmol]. The duration of full recovery caused by tetrahydrozoline, oxymetazoline, or xylometazoline was greater (P < 0.01) than that induced via epinephrine, bupivacaine, lidocaine, or naphazoline at equianesthetic doses (ED25, ED50, and ED75). Co‐administration of lidocaine (ED50) with four adrenergic agonists or epinephrine enhanced the cutaneous analgesic effect. We observed that four adrenergic agonists and epinephrine induce analgesia by themselves, and such an effect has a longer duration than local anesthetics. Co‐administration of lidocaine with the adrenergic agonist enhances the analgesic effect, and the cutaneous analgesic effect of lidocaine plus naphazoline (or oxymetazoline) is greater than that of lidocaine plus epinephrine. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

(1) Background: Oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) is a significant health burden worldwide. This study aimed to determine the potentials of Refametinib, an orally bioavailable selective MEK1/2 inhibitor, to increase the effectiveness of 5-Fluorouracil (5-FU), a common cytotoxic drug, in the SCC4 cell line. (2) Methods: SCC4 cells were treated with increasing concentrations of 5-FU, either alone or in combination with Refametinib. The chemosensitivity to treatment was assessed via cell viability assay, microscopic observation, colony formation assay, and detection of apoptotic markers using Western blotting. The whole-cell expression and surface expression of programmed death-ligand 1 (PD-L1), an immune checkpoint protein which contributes to chemoresistance and affects treatment response, were also determined using Western blotting and flow cytometry, respectively. (3) Results: The combined treatment suppressed cell proliferation and promoted apoptosis in a more potent way than 5-FU treatment alone did. Additionally, MEK/ERK inhibition mitigated 5-FU-induced PD-L1 upregulation. (4) Conclusions: This is the first report of an enhanced anticancer effect and reduced PD-L1 expression for the combination of 5-FU with Refametinib in OSCC, suggesting a new promising combination strategy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]