BackgroundThe application of internet technology for telerehabilitation in patients with stroke has developed rapidly.ObjectiveThe current study aimed to evaluate the effect of a bidirectional and multi-user telerehabilitation system on balance and satisfaction in patients with chronic stroke living in long-term care facilities (LTCFs).MethodThis pilot study used a multi-site, blocked randomization design. Twenty-four participants from three LTCFs were recruited, and the participants were randomly assigned into the telerehabilitation (Tele) and conventional therapy (Conv) groups within each LTCF. Tele group received telerehabilitation but the Conv group received conventional therapy with two persons in each group for three sessions per week and for four weeks. The outcome measures included Berg Balance Scale (BBS), Barthel Index (BI), and the telerehabilitation satisfaction of the participants.SettingA telerehabilitation system included “therapist end” in a laboratory, and the “client end” in LTCFs. The conventional therapy was conducted in LTCFs.ResultsTraining programs conducted for both the Tele and Conv groups showed significant effects within groups on the participant BBS as well as the total and self-care scores of BI. No significant difference between groups could be demonstrated. The satisfaction of participants between the Tele and the Conv groups also did not show significant difference.ConclusionsThis pilot study indicated that the multi-user telerehabilitation program is feasible for improving the balance and functional activity similar to conventional therapy in patients with chronic stroke living in LTCFs.

This study examines the determinants of social entrepreneurial intention (SEI) through two models: a revised Hockerts' model based on the theory of planned behavior that replaced moral obligation with social responsibility and an alternative model incorporating social cognitive career theory. A survey of 472 residents in Taiwan is conducted for analysis. Results of the revised Hockerts' model observe direct positive effects of perceived social support and social responsibility on SEI, whereas results of the alternative model suggest that social entrepreneurial self-efficacy and outcome expectations act as critical mediators on SEI. This study also demonstrates that extrinsic reward moderates the relationship between outcome expectations and SEI. Theoretical contributions and practical implications are correspondingly discussed.

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The authors report on the 394nm UV light emission from low-temperature sputtered n-ZnO∕SiO2 thin films on top of the p-GaN heterostructure. They compare samples with and without a SiO2 current blocking layer. With a SiO2 layer, electroluminescence spectrum shows a sharp emission peak at 394nm, which is attributed to the recombination of accumulated carriers between n-ZnO∕SiO2 and p-GaN∕SiO2 junctions. As for the sample without a SiO2 layer, a broadband ranging from 400to800nm is observed, which is due to Mg+ deep-level transition in the GaN along with defects in the ZnO layers.

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