83 results
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2. Seismic performance assessments of school buildings in Taiwan using artificial intelligence theories.
- Author
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Chen, Ching-Shan
- Subjects
EARTHQUAKE resistant design ,SCHOOL buildings ,SCHOOL facilities ,ARTIFICIAL intelligence ,ARTIFICIAL neural networks ,COLUMN design & construction ,SUPPORT vector machines ,PRINCIPAL components analysis - Abstract
Purpose: Taiwan experiences frequent seismic activity. Major earthquakes in recent history have seriously damaged the school buildings. School buildings in Taiwan are intended to serve both as places of education and as temporary shelters in the aftermath of major earthquakes. Therefore, the seismic performance assessments of school buildings are critical issues that deserve investigation. Design/methodology/approach: This paper develops a methodology that uses principal component analysis to generalize the seismic factors from the basic seismic parameters of school buildings, uses data mining to cluster different school building sizes and uses grey theory to analyze the relationship between seismic factors and the seismic performance of school buildings. Additionally, this paper employs the Artificial Neural Network (ANN) to deduce the seismic assessment model for school buildings. Finally, it adopts support vector machine to validate the ANN's deductive results. Findings: An empirical study was conducted on 326 school buildings in the central area of Taichung City, Taiwan, to illustrate the effectiveness of the proposed approach. Results show that thickness of wall and width of middle-row column relate significantly with school-building seismic performance. Originality/value: This paper provides a model that structural engineers or architects may use to design school buildings that are adequately resistant to earthquakes as well as a reference for future academic research. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
- Published
- 2020
- Full Text
- View/download PDF
3. Call for papers.
- Subjects
COMPUTER software conferences - Abstract
The article offers information on 39th Annual International Computer, Software & Applications Conference to be held in Taichung, Taiwan on July 1-5, 2015.
- Published
- 2014
- Full Text
- View/download PDF
4. New land use regression model to estimate atmospheric temperature and heat island intensity in Taiwan.
- Author
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Hsu, Chin-Yu, Ng, Uen-Ching, Chen, Chiao-Ying, Chen, Yu-Cheng, Chen, Mu-Jean, Chen, Nai-Tzu, Lung, Shih-Chun Candice, Su, Huey-Jen, and Wu, Chih-Da
- Subjects
ATMOSPHERIC temperature ,REGRESSION analysis ,LAND use ,METEOROLOGICAL services ,ATMOSPHERIC models ,URBAN heat islands - Abstract
This paper is about spatial–temporal variability of atmospheric temperature across Taiwan, an island with diverse local emission sources partly because of its Asian cultural characteristics. To develop a new land use regression (LUR) model for this study, we used the temperature data collected by the Taiwan Central Weather Bureau from 2000 and 2016, while using the data from 2017 as the external data verification to assess model reliability. Because incense and joss money burning is a cultural-specific emission source in Asia, we further included location of temples, cemeteries, and crematoriums as potential predictors. The overall model performance and tenfold cross-validated are R
2 of 0.88 and R2 of 0.87, respectively, which presents a high level of prediction performance. Moreover, we used our LUR model to estimate urban heat islands intensity (UHII) for six metropolises in Taiwan and found Taichung City has the highest UHII value (4.60 °C) among them. These results provide important insights in expanding the remote sensing application on spatial–temporal variation of atmospheric temperature and its further application on UHI effects. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]- Published
- 2020
- Full Text
- View/download PDF
5. A study on nitrogen oxide emission prediction in Taichung thermal power plant using artificial intelligence (AI) model.
- Author
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Liou, Jian-Liang, Liao, Kuo-Chien, Wen, Hung-Ta, and Wu, Hom-Yu
- Subjects
- *
ARTIFICIAL intelligence , *NITROGEN oxides , *POWER plants , *BOILER efficiency , *PREDICTION models , *REGRESSION analysis , *ARTIFICIAL neural networks - Abstract
In recent studies, artificial intelligence models have been developed for the prediction of nitrogen oxide emissions from thermal power plants. This research utilizes an artificial intelligence prediction model with more coal input features than boiler features, including volatility, ash content, sulfur content, fixed carbon, total moisture, calorific value, grinding rate, fuel ratio, coal feeding rate, boiler efficiency, total air volume, and excess air volume. The paper delves into the importance analysis of input features for artificial intelligence models. Moreover, feature importance analysis is not only a prerequisite for predicting nitrogen oxide emissions but also a study providing insights into model performance. An artificial neural networks (ANN) regression model is employed to predict nitrogen oxide emissions, and the results demonstrate that the number of feature importance significantly impacts model performance. The best model performance is achieved with eight specific input features. Finally, after the training and validation processes, the ANN model yields the optimal coefficient of determination (R2) value. • Development of an artificial intelligence prediction model for nitrogen oxide emissions from thermal power plants. • A comprehensive set of input features is utilized for emissions prediction. • Importance analysis of input features significantly impacts model performance. • Optimal model performance was achieved with eight specific input features. • The robust coefficient of determination (R2) value demonstrates the accuracy of the ANN model. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
- Published
- 2024
- Full Text
- View/download PDF
6. Integrated smart robot with earthquake early warning system for automated inspection and emergency response.
- Author
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Lin, Tzu-Hsuan, Huang, Jing-Ting, and Putranto, Alan
- Subjects
CHI-chi Earthquake, Taiwan, 1999 ,EARTHQUAKE hazard analysis ,ROBOT motion ,EARTHQUAKES ,WIRELESS communications ,IMAGE recognition (Computer vision) ,ROBOT design & construction - Abstract
Earthquakes as a natural hazard have caused substantial economic losses and human life loss in many countries. Taiwan, which is located on the western Circum-Pacific seismic belt, encountered this problem in the form of the Meishan, Hsinchu-Taichung, and Chi-Chi earthquakes a few years ago. In this paper, the researchers propose a novel robot-event integrated system capable of doing the automated inspection and emergency response due to a significant earthquake. As the household's earthquake warning receiving device picks up an alert, its built-in wireless communications system will send a signal to the robot. The robot will then commence the inspection of the indoor area via real-time image recognition and tracking. Upon detecting fallen people, it will approach them, regulating their movements via the robot operating system monitoring interface. The robot is designed to operate in a house that remains standing with acceptable damage in which the furniture might be falling and injure the occupants after an earthquake hit. The indoor experiment was conducted to verify the robot system and operation with a designed condition such as fallen and non-fallen people as the detected object. The precision of the robot arm was tested in the case of the delivery of supplies to the fallen people while waiting for the rescuers to arrive. The tests indicated that the proposed smart robot has prospective implementation in real-world applications with more research and development. The smart robot integrated with an earthquake early warning system is a promising approach to the temporary care of people affected by earthquakes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
- Published
- 2022
- Full Text
- View/download PDF
7. Place attachment and youth entrepreneurship community participation in Guangfu Village, Taichung, Taiwan.
- Author
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Hsu, Kuo-Wei, Chao, Jen-Chih, and Chao, Chieh-Yu
- Subjects
COMMUNITY involvement ,PLACE attachment (Psychology) ,ENTREPRENEURSHIP ,ECONOMIC development ,SOCIAL influence ,COMMUNITIES - Abstract
Amid the global dilemma of youth unemployment, youth entrepreneurship has had an important impact on social, cultural and economic progress, and various countries have actively promoted relevant frameworks and strategies. Taiwan has many cultural assets whose original functions are no longer preserved. Fortunately, the public sector has thought a variety of redevelopment strategies to promote sustainable development, and new functions and usage patterns for these sites have emerged. However, there is a lack of research investigating the links between youth entrepreneurship, community participation and place attachment in local-development projects: a gap that this paper intends to fill. Against the backdrop of one such project, this study discusses the interrelationships of youth entrepreneurship, community participation, place dependence and place identity. Its results indicate that the different personal backgrounds of young entrepreneurs had little or no bearing on the extent of their community participation, place dependence or place identity. However, such community participation had a moderately positive correlation with place dependence and place identity, leading the authors to conclude that the participation of a community of young entrepreneurs brings new opportunities for local development that transcend the mere reduction of youth unemployment. That is, in addition to maintaining and preserving historic spaces, it boosts both sustainable development and diversity in the broader local community. They also calls for future research to assess whether community participation influences place attachment in other parts of the world. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
- Published
- 2021
- Full Text
- View/download PDF
8. Call for Papers House Advertisement.
- Subjects
COMPUTER software conferences - Abstract
The article offers information on the 39th Annual International Computer, Software and Applications Conference to be held from July 1-5, 2015 at Tungai University in Taichung, Taiwan.
- Published
- 2014
- Full Text
- View/download PDF
9. A unified extension of super-efficiency in additive data envelopment analysis with integer-valued inputs and outputs: an application to a municipal bus system.
- Author
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Yu, Shih-Heng and Hsu, Chia-Wei
- Subjects
DATA envelopment analysis - Abstract
Conventional data envelopment analysis (DEA) may generate the non-integer targets for integer-valued inputs and outputs of decision-making units (DMUs). To derive the convincing projections, integer-valued DEA has attracted much attention. Given the integrality restriction, Du et al. (Eur J Oper Res 218(1):186–192, 2012) proposed the super-efficiency approach consisting of additive integer-valued and additive super-efficiency integer-valued models for the differentiation of efficient DMUs, thereby raising the discriminatory power. This paper extends their approach to develop a simpler but stricter version, which we refer to as the unified additive super-efficiency model. The newly-developed model has three advantages. First, the slacks of input excess, input saving, output shortage and output surplus can be directly computed in a single program to obtain the efficiencies of inefficient DMUs and super-efficiencies of efficient DMUs. Secondly, it suggests the strongly Pareto-efficient projections for efficient DMUs. Finally, the identified super-efficiencies allow for the property of continuity. A comparison of the proposed model, with Du et al.'s (2012) and standard additive super-efficiency approaches is discussed using a numerical example. In addition, the applicability of the proposed model is illustrated by a data set covering 13 bus companies operating in the municipal bus system of Taichung. Our work not only provides managerial insights into the primary sources of inefficiency and super-efficiency but also contributes to the current understanding of how super-efficiency would be effectively and accurately measured in the presence of integer-valued data. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
- Published
- 2020
- Full Text
- View/download PDF
10. Urban Renewal Practice Based on the Activation Use of Greenbelts: A Case Study of Greenways in Taichung.
- Author
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ZHANG Yinan and LIN Jingwei
- Subjects
URBAN renewal ,GREENBELTS ,GREENWAYS ,URBAN planning - Abstract
The greenway system in Taichung is a successful case that regenerates urban greenbelts through various activation strategies. This paper takes greenways in Taichung for example, analyzes their renewal plans, and finds out their experience of regeneration. The greenways in Taichung were first designed to control urban sprawl and then became idle greenbelts. Afterwards, the greenways were transformed into an urban vitality belt with the joint efforts of multiple parties. The existing greenbelt model in many cities does have some deficiencies. Therefore, it is recommended that there be room for growth in urban development in these cities and they can draw lessons from Taichung. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
- Published
- 2018
- Full Text
- View/download PDF
11. UPLIFT CAPACITY OF A WELL-INSTRUMENTED HAND-DUG CAISSON IN TAICHUNG GRAVEL.
- Author
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Tin-Mei Lin, Ting-Ling Tseng, Hsii-Sheng Hsieh, and Kun-Ruey Wang
- Subjects
CAISSONS ,GRAVEL ,GROUNDWATER ,SKYSCRAPERS ,TALL buildings - Abstract
Hand-dug caissons are often used in Taichung City to serve as a structural element to counter the buoyance induced by ground water for high-rise buildings with multi-level basement. The subsurface of Taichung City consists predominately of very dense sandy gravel that cannot be sampled for routine laboratory tests, thus impeding the use of empirical equations to estimate the capacities of caissons for lack of strength or index parameters of gravels. This paper presented the pile loading test result of a well-instrumented hand-dug caisson to shed a light on the uplift behavior of caisson within Taichung gravel. It is found that ultimate side friction of this caisson is about 25% higher than the maximum values stipulated in local design code, and the mobilized side friction is likely a function of the overburden pressure. Using the β-method as a basis, the ratio of ultimate skin friction to the overburden pressure of this test is calibrated against the published average curve. The calibrated curve was found shifting to the right of the original curve, indicating that Taichung gravel is perhaps more capable of providing a higher uplift capacity than average gravels. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
- Published
- 2022
- Full Text
- View/download PDF
12. Enhancing Hospital Efficiency and Patient Care: Real-Time Tracking and Data-Driven Dispatch in Patient Transport.
- Author
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Huang, Su-Wen, Chiou, Shyue-Yow, Chen, Rung-Ching, and Sub-r-pa, Chayanon
- Subjects
TRANSPORTATION of patients ,PROCESS capability ,PATIENT care ,HOSPITAL patients ,HEALTH care industry - Abstract
Inefficient patient transport in hospitals often leads to delays, overworked staff, and suboptimal resource utilization, ultimately impacting patient care. Existing dispatch management algorithms are often evaluated in simulation environments, raising concerns about their real-world applicability. This study presents a real-world experiment that bridges the gap between theoretical dispatch algorithms and real-world implementation. It applies process capability analysis at Taichung Veterans General Hospital in Taichung, Taiwan, and utilizes IoT for real-time tracking of staff and medical devices to address challenges associated with manual dispatch processes. Experimental data collected from the hospital underwent statistical evaluation between January 2021 and December 2021. The results of our experiment, which compared the use of traditional dispatch methods with the Beacon dispatch method, found that traditional dispatch had an overtime delay of 41.0%; in comparison, the Beacon dispatch method had an overtime delay of 26.5%. These findings demonstrate the transformative potential of this solution for not only hospital operations but also for improving service quality across the healthcare industry in the context of smart hospitals. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
- Published
- 2024
- Full Text
- View/download PDF
13. Exploring the 'lost' 2019 Taichung East Asian Youth Games: a governance theory perspective.
- Author
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Chiu, Hung-Ju, Lee, Ping-Chao, Chiu, Yu-Yuan, and Jiang, Ren-Shiang
- Subjects
EAST Asians ,REFERENDUM ,GAME theory - Abstract
This research analyses the key factors that contributed to the cancellation of the 2019 Taichung East Asian Youth Games. The systemic governance approach is used to frame and interpret dynamic relations and interactions in the network, illustrating changes in events. In addition, documentary analysis is used to construct the background context, and responses from in-depth interviews provide diverse perspectives. The East Asian Olympic Committee (EAOC) revoked Taichung's hosting rights in 2018 after the proposal of a name rectification referendum, which was seen as a challenge to the Olympic Protocol specified in the Lausanne Agreement. However, based on the relationships and interactions among stakeholders, the cancellation was strategically manipulated to achieve specific goals. A stakeholder with close relations in the network can obtain support from others to determine the outcome. The results show how critical political considerations are to Taiwan/ROC when interacting with China/PRC in the same network. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
- Published
- 2024
- Full Text
- View/download PDF
14. Role of governance in the achievement of 20-fold increase in bus ridership – A case study of Taichung City.
- Author
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Lin, Liang-Tay, Yeh, Chao-Fu, Chen, Simon C.Y., and Huang, Chi-Chang
- Subjects
- *
BUS ridership , *PUBLIC transit , *INSTITUTIONAL economics , *URBAN planning - Abstract
In the face of continuing development and the demands associated with the active lifestyle of its residents, the Taichung City Government needed to construct a complete public transportation network with high quality bus service. Since 2002, the Taichung City Government has proposed a series of reforms to gradually improve bus operations. As a result, bus ridership grew more than 20 times from 13,000 per day in 2001 to 330,000 per day in 2014. These successful reforms have led to increased public acceptance of bus service and created a win-win-win situation for the government, the public and the bus companies. The main purpose of this paper is to analyze the crucial strategies and policies that resulted in the successful implementation of bus reforms in Taichung City. The causes and effects, in terms of new institutional economics, are also discussed. The results showed that before the implementation of reforms, the Taichung bus market was locked in a vicious cycle. The Taichung City Government re-shaped the market structure through fare adjustment, electronic fare payment, subsidies and promotional efforts. Through institutional change, a new market-oriented framework was created. Institutional change is a gradual process that involves numerous interactions among relevant parties and interest groups. Policy progress is not made by the government alone, but rather through limited consensus among interest groups. The results of this paper also suggested that the government play the role of initiator of a new institutional environment and provide direction for institutional evolution. The case of Taichung City bus reform provides a good reference for similar-sized cities planning to upgrade or reform their public transportation system. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
- Published
- 2017
- Full Text
- View/download PDF
15. Unveiling the Proximate, Sensory, Microbial, And Shelf Life of Leavening Agent modified Gluten-Free Cookies Formulated with Indigenous Nepalese Hill Grains.
- Author
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Pathak, Durga and Manandhar, Prakash
- Subjects
COOKIES ,BUCKWHEAT ,LEAVENING agents ,BAKING powder ,BAKED products ,SACCHAROMYCES cerevisiae ,RICE flour - Abstract
The prevalence of gluten-related disorders has risen due to the increased consumption of bakery products made from refined flour in recent decades. This study focused on employing indigenous hill grain flours, such as Taichung 176 rice flour, maize flour, sweet buckwheat flour, and finger millet flour from Nepal, to create gluten-free cookies by incorporating fungal αamylase, baking powder, and baker's yeast as modified leavening agents, in contrast to the typical refined flour-based cookies. 16 different composite flours were made by combining millet, maize, buckwheat, and glutinous rice flours in a 75:25 percentage, then subjected to 30°C proofing for 1 hour for food grade fungal α-amylase with an improver and baker's yeast treated sample before blending with cream and baking for 20 minutes at 200°C.The ash content, moisture content, sensory qualities, microbial load, and shelf life of cookies were studied and compared with control cookies. Over 60-days storage period, most formulated cookies had moisture content below 5%, except BWBY cookies (6%to 8.37%). The ash percentage of cookies significantly increased from 0.81% to 2.59%. The highest ratings for taste (8.0), texture (7.6), and crunchiness (8.1) were achieved for cookies produced with 75:25% Millet: Taichung 176 rice flour, treated with fungal α-amylase, improver, and baker’s yeast.Utilization of proofing techniques in that sample improved their color, taste and resolved the gritty texture issue Formulated gluten-free cookies (GFC) had higher ash and moisture but were still acceptable despite increased microbial load and moisture until the 60th day of storage. Overall acceptability (OAC) score slightly dropped but remained good (7 of 9) after 2 months of storage. Notably, gluten-free cookies exhibited higher nutritional value and retained their acceptability for up to 60 days when stored at ambient temperature (25 ± 2°C). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
- Published
- 2023
- Full Text
- View/download PDF
16. Empowering Greenhouse Cultivation: Dynamic Factors and Machine Learning Unite for Advanced Microclimate Prediction.
- Author
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Sun, Wei and Chang, Fi-John
- Subjects
EXTREME weather ,MACHINE learning ,GREENHOUSES ,STORMS ,RANDOM forest algorithms - Abstract
Climate change has led to more frequent extreme weather events such as heatwaves, droughts, and storms, which significantly impact agriculture, causing crop damage. Greenhouse cultivation not only provides a manageable environment that protects crops from external weather conditions and pests but also requires precise microclimate control. However, greenhouse microclimates are complex since various heat transfer mechanisms would be difficult to model properly. This study proposes an innovative hybrid model (DF-RF-ANN), which seamlessly fuses three components: the dynamic factor (DF) model to extract unobserved factors, the random forest (RF) to identify key input factors, and a backpropagation neural network (BPNN) to predict greenhouse microclimate, including internal temperature, relative humidity, photosynthetically active radiation, and carbon dioxide. The proposed model utilized gridded meteorological big data and was applied to a greenhouse in Taichung, Taiwan. Two comparative models were configured using the BPNN and the Long short-term memory neural network (LSTM). The results demonstrate that DF-RF-ANN effectively captures the trends of the observations and generates predictions much closer to the observations compared to LSTM and BPNN. The proposed DF-RF-ANN model hits a milestone in multi-horizon and multi-factor microclimate predictions and offers a cost-effective and easily accessible approach. This approach could be particularly beneficial for small-scale farmers to make the best use of resources under extreme climatic events for contributing to sustainable development goals (SDGs) and the transition towards a green economy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
- Published
- 2023
- Full Text
- View/download PDF
17. Genetic effects of F1 pollen sterility genes S-b, S-d and S-e in rice (Oryza sativa L.).
- Author
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MINGSONG JIANG, JIANDI XU, FENG CHEN, and WENYIN ZHU
- Subjects
RICE ,POLLEN ,HYBRID rice ,GENES ,CHROMOSOMES ,GENE targeting - Abstract
An experimental population commonly used in genetic analyses of gene or quantitative trait loci (QTLs) in rice is chromosome segment substitution lines (CSSLs). In the present study, with the typical indica variety Guangluai 4 as a donor and japonica variety Taichung 65 as a recipient, seven CSSLs carrying F
1 pollen sterility genes S-b, S-d, S-e, S-b/S-d, S-b/S-e, S-d/S-e, and S-b/S-d/S-e were obtained by specific selection for the target genes, non-specific selection for the genome of the recurrent parents in four backcross populations (BC1 F2 , BC2 F2 , BC3 F2 and BC3 F3 ). We evaluated the genetic effect of the F1 pollen sterility genes using 35 F1 hybrid individuals in crosses derived from CSSLs and Taichung 65. Pollen fertility of F1 hybrid plants was observed and the results indicated that the single genes S-b, S-d and S-e can cause 67.7%, 14.6% and 53.2% of pollen sterility, respectively. Multiple genes S-b/S-d, S-b/S-e, S-d/S-e, and S-b/S-d/S-e can cause 76.6%, 85%, 68.7%, and 93% of pollen sterility, respectively. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]- Published
- 2019
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18. Catching the Urban Atmosphere of Taichung, Taiwan: An Auto‐Phenomenographic Commented City Walk Sketching Landscape Paintings on Switch Powerboxes.
- Author
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Richard, Theodoor A. M. and Pai, Hui‐Chuan
- Subjects
ATMOSPHERE ,LANDSCAPE painting ,PICTURES ,PHOTOGRAPHY ,STREET art ,EVERYDAY life - Abstract
This article proposes an ethno‐phenomenographic essay combining writing and photography to examine the contemporary atmosphere in Taichung, Taiwan. It explores the atmospheric effect of painted powerboxes. A selection of situations and atmospheric characteristics is described from different angles, and the history of the painting of these boxes is reflected upon, while themes and colorization of their peinture (painted image, my translation) are presented. Combined methods of photography and commented walk show an overall picture of this effect. The photographs illustrate how these boxes are present as people pass them by in their daily lives. Our comments sketch how these boxes and their environments weave themselves in and out of the perception of passers‐by to create a certain city atmosphere. We use photographs and writing in this way to support each other through dialogue. We contribute to the discussion of the phenomenology of the atmosphere through the use of visual anthropology. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
- Published
- 2023
- Full Text
- View/download PDF
19. Breeding records, urban habitat, and threats to the masked palm civet in Taiwan.
- Author
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Lim, Pin Xuan, Lin, Si‐Min, Lin, Wen‐Loung, and Tseng, Hui‐Yun
- Subjects
WILDLIFE conservation ,DOG attacks ,SPRING ,URBAN ecology ,HABITATS ,ORPHANS - Abstract
An increasing number of mammalian species worldwide have adapted to urban environments following the alteration and fragmentation of natural habitats. In recent years, the masked palm civet (Paguma larvata) has increased in several highly populated cities in Taiwan. Twelve‐years (2010–2021) of civet records in Taichung (the largest city in central Taiwan) from the rescue center of Taichung Wildlife Conservation Group report the population of civets has grown steadily since 2017, with the number of records in 2020 (n = 58) and 2021 (n = 55) approximately 5 times of that in 2010–2014 (mean ± SD = 5.0 ± 2.6). Our objective was to use the records from the rescue center to evaluate the potential sexual dimorphism of urban civets, explore temporal variation of civet activity and age structure, identify major threats to civets inhabiting urban areas, and investigate the environmental characteristics surrounding civet nesting sites in urban environments. The civet breeding season lasts from spring to autumn, with primary mating season in spring. The main cause of mortality in adults was dog attack followed by car accident, while the main rescue reason for young civets was because they were considered orphans following human interferences. Many civets in urban areas inhabit locations where >90% of the land cover is covered by buildings and man‐made structures, and even nest inside buildings. Our results demonstrated the need for new civet conservation and management policies to minimize dog attacks on civets to enhance co‐existence between wildlife and humans. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
- Published
- 2023
- Full Text
- View/download PDF
20. Thermal comfort of a walking environment under an elevated urban railway: A case study of Taichung overpass.
- Author
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Hsu, Kuo-Wei, Chao, Jen-Chih, and Su, Ting-Yin
- Subjects
THERMAL comfort ,PUBLIC spaces ,CITIES & towns ,GREENBELTS ,SATISFACTION ,URBAN planning ,PEDESTRIANS - Abstract
For urban environmental managers confronting the considerable challenges and impacts of both rapid urbanization and climate change, improving cities' walking environments has emerged as an important sustainable development strategy. The thermal comfort of the walking environment is a key factor that affects its frequency of use and users' satisfaction. For that reason, the shade provided by elevated railways has often been taken into account by those planning sustainable urban green belts and walking spaces. However, academic research on thermal comfort is rare and has mostly focused on indoor environments. Accordingly, this study uses wet-bulb globe temperature to evaluate a particular area of green space under a railway overpass, in terms of the factors driving urban pedestrians' thermal comfort in this outdoor environment. The results indicate that the amount of shade, greening, and ventilation are influential factors on walkers' thermal comfort. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
- Published
- 2023
- Full Text
- View/download PDF
21. Research on the utilization and management of corporate volunteers: Taking enterprises in Taichung as illustrative examples.
- Author
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Chen, Shin-Shin and Tsai, Meng-Chun
- Subjects
INDUSTRIAL management ,VOLUNTEERS ,VOLUNTEER service ,NONPROFIT organizations ,GOVERNMENT business enterprises ,ENVIRONMENTAL reporting ,SUSTAINABLE development reporting - Abstract
The qualitative research was used to explore the utilization and management of corporate volunteers in the enterprises located in Taichung with a case study method. The researchers invited 5 people who were in charge of corporate volunteer programs in five companies as research participants to conduct in-depth interviews. The study adopted the seven management indicators of the corporate volunteer program of the Points of Light Foundation in the United States as the main research aspects of corporate volunteer management. Finally, based on the integrated research analysis and the researchers' practical work observations, relevant suggestions were made to the government and enterprises for future promoting of corporate volunteer programs as well as to the non-profit organizations that utilize corporate volunteers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
- Published
- 2023
- Full Text
- View/download PDF
22. Music unit infusing global competence issues for content and language integrated learning: A case of secondary school in Taichung.
- Author
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Hsiao, Yu-Wen and Wu, Yen-Ching
- Subjects
SECONDARY schools ,LESSON planning ,LEARNING ,MUSIC education ,SEMI-structured interviews - Abstract
The purpose of this study is to develop a unit design in music infusing global competence issues for content and language integrated learning (CLIL). The design includes two lesson plans, infographics, worksheets and rubrics. To construct the validity of the unit design, the semi-structured interview was conducted with the expert practitioners in music and English education. Furthermore, the vocabulary and the grammar of the tools were examined by an English teacher. These collected suggestions indicate the main advice about the unit design based on the mandated system to examine the dual outcomes within each element in the lesson plan such as the learning objectives, the learning performance, and evaluation. In addition, under an outbreak and emergent suspension of classes, the value of the empathy in music field was much more highlighted. The study of the unit design provides reference for lesson designers for further study. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
- Published
- 2023
- Full Text
- View/download PDF
23. Optimization of Consecutive On-Ramp Control for Urban Freeways: An Application of the Store-and-Forward Approach.
- Author
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Li-Wen Chen and Ta-Yin Hu
- Subjects
METROPOLITAN areas ,MATHEMATICAL optimization ,CITIES & towns - Abstract
Highway congestion is a common problem worldwide, and different management strategies have been proposed and implemented. In Taiwan, commuter trips in urban areas tend to use freeways for daily trips. One particular problem in Taiwan is consecutive on-ramps within metropolitan areas, such as Taipei, Taichung, and Kaohsiung. Three to four on-ramps bring more vehicles to the freeways, and coordinating with an integrated ramp control strategy is critical to avoiding congestion in metropolitan areas. Based on the concept of the store-and-forward method, this study proposes a linear optimal control model to optimize integrated on-ramp control strategies. The storeand-forward method is chosen because freeway congestion is usually observed in these areas, and freeway efficiency depends on avoiding queue length. The developed mathematical program can be solved efficiently through mathematical optimization packages. The objective of the formulation is to minimize the total queue length within considered areas. In the Taipei metropolitan area, numerical experiments were conducted based on three consecutive on-ramps, including Yuanshan, Taipei, and Sanchun ramps. Several scenarios were designed to illustrate the possible benefits of the proposed model. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
- Published
- 2023
- Full Text
- View/download PDF
24. Property Tax Capitalization: Evidence from the Municipal Merger Reform in Taiwan.
- Author
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Da-kai Wu, Yi-shin Chen, Joe Chen, and Shi-wan Lou
- Subjects
PROPERTY tax ,LAND value taxation ,MERGERS & acquisitions ,TAX incidence ,CITIES & towns ,LOCAL elections - Abstract
We exploit exogenous changes in land value tax burden caused by a municipal-level government reform in 2010 to examine the property tax capitalization. In 2010, three pairs of counties and cities were merged into three municipalities (Taichung City, Tainan City, and Kaohsiung City), resulting in increases in taxes of lands of the original cities and decreases in taxes of lands of the original counties. Using 2007-2015 land transaction data, the difference-in-difference estimates suggest robust evidence of capitalization in lands of the original counties. However, there are mixed results on capitalization in the lands of the original cities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
- Published
- 2023
- Full Text
- View/download PDF
25. The Efficacy of Transvaginal Ultrasound-Guided BoNT-A External Sphincter Injection in Female Patients with Underactive Bladder.
- Author
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Tsai, Cheng-Yen, Yeh, Yao-Hung, Tsai, Li-Hsien, and Chou, Eric Chieh-Lung
- Subjects
SPHINCTERS ,WOMEN patients ,BLADDER ,INJECTIONS ,BOTULINUM toxin ,PATIENTS' attitudes ,HIGH-intensity focused ultrasound - Abstract
Owing to the diverse treatment outcomes after a botulinum toxin A (BoNT-A) injection to the external sphincter, this study aimed to develop a new technique: an ultrasound-guided BoNT-A external sphincter injection. This single-center prospective cohort study was conducted at a tertiary medical center in Taichung, Taiwan. From December 2020 to September 2022, 12 women were enrolled. The patients were evaluated for lower urinary tract syndrome using patient perception of bladder condition (PPBC), international prostate symptom score (IPSS), uroflowmetry, post-void residual volume (PVR), cystometry, and external sphincter electromyography. We evaluated the patients the day before surgery and 1 week after the BoNT-A injection. For the patients requiring self-catheterization, we recorded the number of times they required clean intermittent catheterization (CIC) per day before the procedure and 1 month after the procedure. The IPSS, PPBC, and PVR were significantly better after the transvaginal ultrasound-guided BoNT-A external sphincter injection. The number of times the patients required daily CIC was also reduced after the injection. Only one patient developed de novo urge urinary incontinence. Our results demonstrated that a transvaginal ultrasound-guided BoNT-A injection was efficacious and safe in the treatment of underactive bladder. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
- Published
- 2023
- Full Text
- View/download PDF
26. Measurements of ambient air fine (PM≤2.5) and coarse (PM>2.5) particulates concentrations by using of a dust monitoring system.
- Author
-
Fang, Guor-Cheng, Peng, Yen-Ping, Kao, Chao-Lang, and Zhuang, Yuan-Jie
- Subjects
PARTICULATE matter ,RESEARCH parks ,DUST ,AIR pollutants ,POLLUTANTS - Abstract
A Fidas Frog sampler is used to collect ambient air pollutants with various particle sizes at the Taichung Science Park in Taichung, Taiwan. The relationship between particle size and total number of ambient air particles is determined. Fine (PM
≤2.5 ) and coarse (PM>2.5 ) particulate concentrations are obtained as percentages of the total particulate concentration. The mean concentrations of particles of various sizes (PM1 , PM2.5 , PM4 , PM10 , and PMtot ) and the total number of particles were all highest on February 24, and declined from then until June 30. The particle concentration was strongly correlated with particle size (PM1 , PM2.5 , PM4 , PM10 , PMtotal suspended particles (PMtot .)). The relationship was stronger for smaller particles. The fine particulate concentrations (PM≤2.5 ) that were obtained using the Fidas Frog sampler were around 67.7% of those obtained in a previous study at the same sampling site. The coarse particulate concentrations (PM>2.5 ) that were obtained using the Fidas Frog sampler were about 89.4% of those obtained in (a previous study at the same sampling site OR JUST that study) (Fang et al., 2019). Finally, the average coarse particle concentrations that were obtained using the Fidas Frog sampler at this Taichung Science Park site were about 3.1 times the thus obtained fine particles concentrations. The main sources of particulate pollutants at the Taichung Science Park site were abrasion processes, crustal materials and products of vehicle wear. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]- Published
- 2023
- Full Text
- View/download PDF
27. Short-Term PM2.5 Forecasting Using Exponential Smoothing Method: A Comparative Analysis.
- Author
-
Mahajan, Sachit, Chen, Ling-Jyh, and Tsai, Tzu-Chieh
- Subjects
AIR quality monitoring ,STATISTICAL smoothing ,COMPARATIVE method ,FORECASTING ,LOAD forecasting (Electric power systems) ,PARTICULATE matter ,COMPARATIVE studies - Abstract
Air pollution is a global problem and can be perceived as a modern-day curse. One way of dealing with it is by finding economical ways to monitor and forecast air quality. Accurately monitoring and forecasting fine particulate matter (PM2.5) concentrations is a challenging prediction task but Internet of Things (IoT) can help in developing economical and agile ways to design such systems. In this paper, we use a historical data-based approach to perform PM2.5 forecasting. A forecasting method is developed which uses exponential smoothing with drift. Experiments and evaluation were performed using the real-time PM2.5 data obtained from large scale deployment of IoT devices in Taichung region in Taiwan. We used the data from 132 monitoring stations to evaluate our model's performance. A comparison of prediction accuracy and computation time between the proposed model and three widely used forecasting models was done. The results suggest that our method can perform PM2.5 forecast for 132 monitoring stations with error as low as 0.16 μ g/ m 3 and also with an acceptable computation time of 30 s. Further evaluation was done by forecasting PM2.5 for next 3 h. The results show that 90 % of the monitoring stations have error under 1.5 μ g/ m 3 which is significantly low. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
- Published
- 2018
- Full Text
- View/download PDF
28. Identification of a stripe rust resistance gene YrSF in Chinese wheat (Triticum aestivum) landrace Sifangmai.
- Author
-
Feng, Jing, Sun, Jian Lu, Shah, Syed Jawad Ahmad, Wang, Fengtao, Yao, Qiang, Guo, Qingyun, Lin, Ruiming, and Xu, Shichang
- Subjects
STRIPE rust ,WHEAT ,WHEAT rusts ,DOMINANCE (Genetics) ,MICROSATELLITE repeats ,RUST diseases - Abstract
Wheat stripe rust is an important disease and can seriously threaten wheat production. The most economical, safe and effective approach to manage this disease is to breed and deploy resistant varieties. Sifangmai is a Chinese wheat landrace and maintained adequate resistance to the Chinese stripe rust races. In order to decipher genetic bases of resistance in Sifangmai, the F1, F2 and F2:3 of the cross Sifangmai/Taichung 29 were tested at adult stage with race CYR32. Genetic analysis revealed that resistance in Sifangmai was controlled by a single dominant gene named as YrSF. Six SSR on chromosome 5BS showed polymorphism among 'Taichung 29', Sifangmai, and resistant and susceptible bulks. Chinese Spring nulli‐tetrasomic and monosomic lines were confirmed YrSF on chromosome 5B. A linkage map of YrSF was constructed and the closely linked marker to YrSF was Xgpw8015 with 1.8 cM. Based on the comparisons of resistance infection type, pedigree analysis, gene origin and chromosomal position of previously reported Yr genes on chromosome 5B, YrSF is different from these known genes and is likely a novel gene. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
- Published
- 2022
- Full Text
- View/download PDF
29. A Technical and Operational Perspective on Quality Analysis of Stitching Images with Multi-Row Panorama and Multimedia Sources for Visualizing the Tourism Site of Onshore Wind Farm.
- Author
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Lai, Jhe-Syuan, Tsai, Yi-Hung, Chang, Min-Jhen, Huang, Jun-Yi, and Chi, Chao-Ming
- Subjects
IMAGE quality analysis ,DIGITAL single-lens reflex cameras ,WIND power plants ,OFFSHORE wind power plants ,STANDARD deviations ,PANORAMAS ,VIRTUAL tourism ,PANORAMIC radiography - Abstract
A virtual tour of the onshore wind farm near Gaomei Wetland, Taichung City, Taiwan, was produced by producing panoramic images of the site by stitching images captured with a full-frame digital single-lens reflex camera and a multi-row panorama instrument, which automatically and precisely divided each scene into several images. Subsequently, the image stitching quality was improved by calculating the root mean square error (RMSE) of tie point matching and adjusting the tie points. Errors due to eccentricity attributed to the camera's relative position to the rotational axis of the multi-row panorama instrument were examined and solved; the effect of the overlap rate on image stitching quality was also investigated. According to the study results, the overlap rate between the original images was inversely proportional to the RMSE and directly proportional to the time required for photography and image processing. The stitching quality was improved by resolving eccentricity and by increasing the number of tie points. The RMSEs of the panoramas of all stations were all less than 5 pixels. Subsequently, multimedia materials providing information on wind turbine attributes were combined with the panorama platform to establish a virtual reality tour platform. The content of the platform could be accessed with a smartphone and viewed with a virtual reality device and could promote both tourist attractions and wind energy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
- Published
- 2022
- Full Text
- View/download PDF
30. Insecticide Resistance and Control Failure Likelihood Analysis in Plutella xylostella (Lepidoptera: Plutellidae) Populations From Taiwan.
- Author
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Pudasaini, Rameshwor, Chou, Ming-Yi, Wu, Tsung-Jung, and Dai, Shu-Mei
- Subjects
DIAMONDBACK moth ,INSECTICIDE resistance ,PLUTELLIDAE ,FAILURE analysis ,INSECTICIDES ,EMAMECTIN benzoate - Abstract
The status of insecticide resistance levels is important for applying suitable pest management approaches. The present study investigated the insecticide resistance of Plutella xylostella (Linnaeus) (Lepidoptera: Plutellidae) populations from five major cruciferous growing areas in Taiwan. The surveyed locations were distributed from central to southern Taiwan and included Taichung, Changhua, Yunlin, Chiayi, and Kaohsiung. High levels of resistance to spinosad, indoxacarb, metaflumizone, and chlorantraniliprole were recorded among the surveyed populations except in Taichung. The resistance ratios ranged from 2.376 to 1,236-fold for spinosad and 24.63–1,511-fold for indoxacarb. Similarly, those for metaflumizone and chlorantraniliprole, were 2.563–76.21- and 4.457–683.0-fold, respectively. However, Bacillus thuringiensis subsp. aizawai , Bacillus thuringiensis subsp. kurstaki , emamectin benzoate, and diafenthiuron were still relatively effective against most field populations of P. xylostella. After approximately 10 generations of being maintained in the laboratory without exposure to insecticides, the resistance ratios of the Kaohsiung and Changhua populations declined to approximately 1.4–10-fold, and insecticides with control failure likelihood also began to show a negligible risk of control failure. Although spinosad, indoxacarb, metaflumizone, and chlorantraniliprole have lost their effectiveness in most field populations of P. xylostella in Taiwan, their effectiveness may be recovered in the absence of insecticide-selection pressure for approximately 10 generations. Therefore, we suggest that a constant survey of insecticide resistance and well-designed insecticide rotation based on the survey results are necessary for the effective control and insecticide resistance management of P. xylostella. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
- Published
- 2022
- Full Text
- View/download PDF
31. Recent Research from National Chin Yi University of Technology Highlight Findings in Electronics (Optimization of Silicon Ingot Manufacturing for High Production Rates).
- Subjects
INGOTS ,SEMICONDUCTOR manufacturing ,POLYCRYSTALLINE silicon ,SILICON ,CRYSTAL growth - Abstract
Researchers from the National Chin Yi University of Technology in Taichung, Taiwan have conducted a study on the optimization of the Czochralski (CZ) crystal growth process, which is a crucial technique in semiconductor device manufacturing. The study focused on key variables such as thermal shield thickness, shield gap size, cooling jacket length, crucible dimensions, and rotation speed. Through the use of a computational model and experimental data, the researchers found that increasing the thermal shield thickness and cooling jacket length improved crystal-pulling speed and uniformity, although more heater power was required. This research has been peer-reviewed and may be of interest to those studying advanced manufacturing technology. [Extracted from the article]
- Published
- 2024
32. Adaptation capability of rainfall hotspots in water resilient cities using QGIS: a case study of Taichung City in Taiwan.
- Author
-
Cheng, Ming-jen, Sia, Wei-liang, Liao, Feng-chi, and Chang, Li-shin
- Subjects
RAINWATER ,CLIMATE extremes ,METEOROLOGICAL services ,WATER harvesting ,CITIES & towns ,IMAGE recognition (Computer vision) ,TOPOGRAPHY - Abstract
In the context of extreme climate due to global climate transition, rainwater adaptation in resilient cities is a key issue for countries. The purpose of this study is to identify the rainfall hotspots in urban areas and investigate whether these hotspots have environmental conditions for rainfall adaptation. The study site is located in the Taichung area. This study collects rainfall data from rainfall stations at elevations below 500 m, employs QGIS (quantum GIS) to create an inverse distance weighted graphical distribution of rainfall to determine the hotspots where the maximum and minimum rainfalls occur, identifies the topography, green spaces, water areas, and buildings in the catchment, integrates the coverage area in the project, and estimates the amount of rainwater that could be directly absorbed by the land within the catchment. The results of this study show that, among the rainfall stations at an elevation below 100 m where most urban areas are located, the Taichung rainfall station is the area with the highest number of rainfall events from May to August. Without reliance on gully or river drainage, the natural infiltration of the land in the catchment could only adjust to 80 mm of heavy precipitation within 24 h of the rainfall warning level of the Central Weather Bureau. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
- Published
- 2022
- Full Text
- View/download PDF
33. The α subunit of the heterotrimeric G protein regulates mesophyll CO2 conductance and drought tolerance in rice.
- Author
-
Zait, Yotam, Ferrero‐Serrano, Ángel, and Assmann, Sarah M.
- Subjects
G proteins ,DROUGHT tolerance ,DROUGHTS ,WATER efficiency ,LEAF anatomy ,CULTIVATED plants ,LEAF physiology - Abstract
Summary: Mesophyll conductance gm determines CO2 diffusion rates from mesophyll intercellular air spaces to the chloroplasts and is an important factor limiting photosynthesis. Increasing gm in cultivated plants is a potential strategy to increase photosynthesis and intrinsic water use efficiency (WUEi). The anatomy of the leaf and metabolic factors such as aquaporins and carbonic anhydrases have been identified as important determinants of gm. However, genes involved in the regulation and modulation of gm remain largely unknown.In this work, we investigated the role of heterotrimeric G proteins in gm and drought tolerance in rice d1 mutants, which harbor a null mutation in the Gα subunit gene, RGA1.d1 mutants in both cv Nipponbare and cv Taichung 65 exhibited increased gm, fostering improvement in photosynthesis, WUEi, and drought tolerance compared with wild‐type. The increased surface area of mesophyll cells and chloroplasts exposed to intercellular airspaces and the reduced cell wall and chloroplast thickness in the d1 mutant are evident contributors to the increase in gm.Our results indicate that manipulation of heterotrimeric G protein signaling has the potential to improve crop WUEi and productivity under drought. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
- Published
- 2021
- Full Text
- View/download PDF
34. Evaluating Effectiveness of Fu's Subcutaneous Needling for the Pain Nature and Quality of Life in Patients with Knee Osteoarthritis: A Study Protocol of Randomized Clinical Trial.
- Author
-
Chiu, Po-En, Fu, Zhonghua, Jian, Guan-Wei, Huang, Ching-Hsuan, Li, Te-Mao, and Chou, Li-Wei
- Subjects
KNEE pain ,OSTEOARTHRITIS ,RESEARCH protocols ,KNEE osteoarthritis ,TRANSCUTANEOUS electrical nerve stimulation ,RADIOGRAPHIC films ,QUALITY of life measurement - Abstract
Background: Knee osteoarthritis (OA) is a common clinical disease. Knee pain is the major symptom of knee OA and the primary reason why patients seek treatment. Fu's subcutaneous needling (FSN) has been used to treat knee OA for more than 20 years. However, the establishment of treatment methods and rigorous evaluation of FSN's efficacy are still lacking. A randomized single-blind clinical trial will be conducted to evaluate whether FSN treatment can immediately alleviate pain due to knee OA surrounding the patella and the curative effective of 1-week and 2-week treatments. In addition, the feasibility and initial effect of FSN treatment for patients with knee OA will be discussed. Materials and Methods: Patients with confirmed knee OA, as diagnosed by doctors using X-ray films or from clinical symptoms, who are over 50 years old will be participants recruited. They will be randomly assigned either FSN treatment or transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation treatment. In addition, their pressure pain threshold, muscle tone of lower leg muscle, and physical ability will be measured. Participants will be asked to complete the questionnaires of Western Ontario and McMaster Universities Osteoarthritis Index and Lequesne' index as the measurements for quality of life. Results: The findings of this study will reveal whether FSN or transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation is clinically efficacious for treating pain due to knee OA, with respect to muscle stiffness, gait, dynamic balance, the pressure pain threshold, and quality of life before and after treatment. Study Registration: This study is approved by the Research Ethics Committee of China Medical University & Hospital, Taichung, Taiwan (CMUH107-REC3-027) and registered at the ClinicalTrials.gov Protocol Registration and Results System (registration number NCT04356651). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
- Published
- 2021
- Full Text
- View/download PDF
35. Foliar Application or Seed Priming of Cholic Acid-Glycine Conjugates can Mitigate/Prevent the Rice Bacterial Leaf Blight Disease via Activating Plant Defense Genes.
- Author
-
Pal, Garima, Mehta, Devashish, Singh, Saurabh, Magal, Kalai, Gupta, Siddhi, Jha, Gopaljee, Bajaj, Avinash, and Ramu, Vemanna S.
- Subjects
PLANT genes ,PLANT defenses ,PLANT plasma membranes ,RICE sheath blight ,XANTHOMONAS oryzae - Abstract
Xanthomonas Oryzae pv. oryzae (Xoo) causes bacterial blight and Rhizoctonia solani (R. solani) causes sheath blight in rice accounting for >75% of crop losses. Therefore, there is an urgent need to develop strategies for the mitigation of these pathogen infections. In this study, we report the antimicrobial efficacy of Cholic Acid-Glycine Conjugates (CAGCs) against Xoo and R. solani. We show that CAGC C6 is a broad-spectrum antimicrobial and is also able to degrade biofilms. The application of C6 did not hamper plant growth and showed minimal effect on the plant cell membranes. Exogenous application of C6 on pre-infection or post-infection of Xoo on rice susceptible genotype Taichung native (TN1) can mitigate the bacterial load and improve resistance through upregulation of plant defense genes. We further demonstrate that C6 can induce plant defense responses when seeds were primed with C6 CAGC. Therefore, this study demonstrates the potential of CAGCs as effective antimicrobials for crop protection that can be further explored for field applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
- Published
- 2021
- Full Text
- View/download PDF
36. New Arrhythmia Findings from National Chin Yi University of Technology Described (Automated Detection of Heart Arrhythmia Signals By Using a Convolutional Takagi-sugeno-kang-type Fuzzy Neural Network).
- Subjects
FUZZY neural networks ,ARRHYTHMIA ,HEART - Published
- 2024
37. Predicting Tourist Loyalty toward Cultural Creative Attractions the Moderating Role of Demographic Factors.
- Author
-
Lu, Carol Y., Dean, David, Suhartanto, Dwi, Hussein, Ananda Sabil, Suwatno, Kusdibyo, Lusianus, Chen, Brendan T., and Gunawan, Arie Indra
- Subjects
LOYALTY ,TOURISTS ,DEMOGRAPHIC characteristics ,PERCEIVED quality ,FORECASTING - Abstract
The objective of this study is to assess the role of tourist motivation and demographic factors in influencing tourist loyalty toward cultural creative attractions. This study uses self-administered questionnaires to collect the data from five cultural creative attractions in Taichung, Taiwan. Overall, 304 responses were gathered to examine the proposed hypotheses. The results reveal that tourist experience is a key factor in determining loyalty toward cultural creative attractions while tourist motivation strengthens experience quality and perceived value. The multi-group analysis did not find any significant path differences between loyalty and its determinants across the demographic characteristics. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
- Published
- 2021
- Full Text
- View/download PDF
38. Research on Effects of Leisure Constraints and Leisure Participation Motivation of Bunun Middle-Aged and Elderly Indigenous People in Taichung City on Leisure Satisfaction.
- Author
-
Mu-Cheng Wu
- Subjects
LEISURE ,INDIGENOUS peoples ,STRUCTURAL equation modeling ,POPULATION aging ,DEVELOPMENTAL psychology & motivation - Abstract
This study aims to probe into effects of leisure constraints and leisure participation motivation of Bunun middle-aged and elderly indigenous people in Taichung City on leisure satisfaction. It treats Bunun middle-aged and elderly indigenous people in Taichung City as subjects. By convenience sampling, it extracts 300 participants as subjects and retrieves 270 samples. Return rate is 90%; there are 264 valid questionnaires and valid questionnaire rate is 97%. As to data analysis, by descriptive statistics, it analyzes the subjects' background variables. Through structural equation modeling, it examines the effects of leisure constraints and leisure participation motivation on leisure satisfaction. According to findings, (1) leisure participation motivation does not significantly influence leisure constraints; (2) leisure participation motivation significantly influences leisure satisfaction; (3) leisure constraints do not significantly influence leisure satisfaction. Based on the results, this study proposes the suggestions to serve as reference for the following related research and promotion of activities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
- Published
- 2019
39. Characterization and validation of QTLs for adult plant stripe rust resistance in Chinese wheat landrace Dabaimai.
- Author
-
Wang, M. Y., Xu, M. R., Wang, F. T., Shah, S. J. A., Feng, J., Lin, R. M., and Xu, S. C.
- Subjects
STRIPE rust ,PUCCINIA striiformis ,WHEAT rusts ,WHEAT ,WHEAT diseases & pests ,PHENOTYPES ,STEEL corrosion - Abstract
Wheat stripe/yellow rust, caused by Puccinia striiformis f. sp. tritici (Pst), is one of the serious diseases of wheat. The application of resistance cultivars underpins control of wheat stripe rust. The Chinese wheat landrace Dabaimai displayed resistance to most of the Chinese yellow rust races. To decipher the genetic bases of resistance in Dabaimai, a total of 202 recombinant inbred lines F
6 of Taichung 29/Dabaimai were tested under field conditions with a predominant Pst race CYR32. Based on SSR markers and field resistance data, two resistance QTLs were detected and named QYr.caas-1AS and QYr.caas-4BS, respectively. QYr.caas-1AS, located on chromosome 1AS between markers Xgwm136 and Xcfd15, can explain 45.97% and 26.83% of the phenotypic variance for infection type (IT) and disease severity (DS), respectively. QYr.caas-4BS, located on chromosome 4BS between markers Xwmc652 and Xgpw4388, can explain 43.38% and 21.30% of the phenotypic variance for IT and DS, respectively. The adult plant stripe rust resistance loci and linked SSR markers will be valuable in combining with other effective genes for combating wheat stripe rust. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]- Published
- 2021
- Full Text
- View/download PDF
40. Recent developments on alternative fuels, energy and environment for sustainability.
- Author
-
Kumar, Gopalakrishnan, Kim, Sang-Hyoun, Lay, Chyi-How, and Ponnusamy, Vinoth Kumar
- Subjects
- *
RENEWABLE energy sources , *ENERGY consumption , *SUSTAINABLE development , *FOSSIL fuels , *ALTERNATIVE fuels , *ENERGY development , *SUSTAINABLE urban development , *SUSTAINABILITY - Abstract
Enhancing energy and environmental systems through sustainable development, in particular integrating concepts of circular economy and cleaner production are important for the emerging needs of humankind. In recent years, the developments in alternative sources of renewable energy counterparts has been prompted to substitute the nonrenewable fossil fuel consumptions towards clearner environment. However, environmental problems arising currently must be carefully addressed and to be solved to conserve the energy, water and other environmental resources for the future. This article highlights the recent developments on alternative energy sources that mainly focus on energy and environmental sustainability, that has been discussed on "The 4th International Conference on Alternative Fuels & Energy (ICAFE–2019)", which was held at Taichung City, Taiwan on October 18–21, 2019. Additionally, it provides useful insights from some of the papers published on a virtual special issue (VSI) of the Bioresourse Technology Journal. The highlighted research works in this review can be used as route-map towards sustainable development and energy efficiency. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
- Published
- 2020
- Full Text
- View/download PDF
41. The development of the "Storm Tracker" and its applications for atmospheric high-resolution upper-air observations.
- Author
-
Hwang, Wei-Chun, Lin, Po-Hsiung, and Yu, Hungjui
- Subjects
THUNDERSTORMS ,SOLAR heating ,ATMOSPHERIC sciences ,SEVERE storms ,TROPICAL cyclones ,WEATHER - Abstract
In this study, we introduce a newly developed upper-air observational instrument for atmospheric research. The "Storm Tracker" is an ultra-lightweight (about 20 g including battery), multi-channel simultaneous capable radiosonde designed by the Department of Atmospheric Sciences at National Taiwan University. Developed in 2016, the Storm Tracker aims to provide an alternative for observing atmospheric vertical profiles with a high temporal resolution, especially the lower-level atmosphere under severe weather conditions such as extreme thunderstorms and tropical cyclones. Field experiments were conducted as trial runs in Wu-Chi, Taichung, Taiwan, to examine the ability of the Storm Tracker to observe the boundary layer, in addition to the intercomparison between the Storm Tracker and the widely used Vaisala RS41-SGP radiosonde. Among the co-launches of the Storm Tracker and Vaisala RS41 radiosondes, the measurements of pressure, wind speed, and wind direction are highly consistent between the measurements of the Storm Tracker and the Vaisala RS41-SGP. However, a significant daytime warm bias in the Storm Tracker was found due to solar heating. A metal shield specifically for the Storm Tracker was thus installed and showed mitigation for the warm biases and the overall variance. With the much lower costs of the radiosondes and the simultaneous multi-channel receiver, the Storm Tracker system has shown great potential for high-frequency observational needs in atmospheric research. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
- Published
- 2020
- Full Text
- View/download PDF
42. Simulation and analysis of causes of a haze episode by combining CMAQ-IPR and brute force source sensitivity method.
- Author
-
Chen, Tu-Fu, Chang, Ken-Hui, and Lee, Chiu-Hsuan
- Subjects
- *
AIR quality monitoring stations , *AIR pollutants , *DUST , *DIESEL motor exhaust gas , *CHEMICAL processes , *EMISSION control , *HAZE , *FECAL contamination - Abstract
In other studies the Integrated Process Rate (IPR) method was widely used to analyze the impact of various physical and chemical processes and their relative significance on PM 2.5 in pollution episodes for specific sites; however, sources of pollution and their effect in planning emission control strategies were not considered. Using results of a brute force source sensitivity (BFSS) method may complement IPR. This paper integrates CMAQ-IPR and BFSS to examine the causes of a PM 2.5 episode on Jan 15, 2010 across two air quality monitoring stations in Taichung, Taiwan (Shalu, a rural station and Situn, an urban station). Two pollution deterioration events (time intervals) were observed and simulated. When only CMAQ-IPR was used for simulation, the results revealed most pollution (>60%) was from local sources at the Situn Station. The two deterioration intervals differed however, as interval 1 showed a contribution from local emissions (49%), vertical advection (41%) and aerosols processes (10%). Interval 2 at Shalu Station was categorized as a downwind monitoring station, where emission from the grid constituted only 37%, and the majority of pollutants travelling by horizontal advection (56%), and to some extent, aerosols process (6%). Simulation by integrating IPR and BFSS (including diesel vehicles, gasoline vehicles/motorcycles, construction/road dust, iron/steel industries, and power plants around Taiwan) rendered to the type of physical or chemical process in which pollutants went through and its impact on the concentration of PM 2.5 in the air quality monitoring station, which helped planning of emission control measures. Simulation results indicated improvement of PM 2.5 concentrations in Situn and Shalu would be limited (only 0.2–4.2% contribution to deteriorating PM 2.5 levels at the stations) even the emissions of the power plants and iron/steel industries in whole Taiwan were under control. However, by controlling the emissions of diesel vehicles, gasoline vehicles/motorcycles, and construction/road dust in whole Taiwan, the improvent is much enhanced (49–79% contribution to deteriorating PM 2.5 levels at the stations), but it cost a lot. Nonethless, the improvement was quite significant by controlling the local emissions (around the monitoring station) of diesel vehicles, gasoline vehicles/motorcycles, and construction/road dust for Situn Station as they accounted for 72–85% of these three sources contribution to deteriorating PM 2.5 levels at the station. For Shalu Station, it required a wide area of controlling the emissions from diesel vehicles, gasoline vehicles/motorcycles, and construction/road dust because there was 22–53% of these three sources contribution to deteriorating PM 2.5 levels at the station from horizontal or vertical advection. Image 1 • Combination of BFSS and IPR is applied in the development of control strategies. • Improving Situn (urban) PM 2.5 requires only controlling the nearby specific sources. • Improving Shalu (rural) PM 2.5 requires a wide area of controlling emission sources. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
- Published
- 2019
- Full Text
- View/download PDF
43. Chung Shan Medical University Reports Findings in Coronavirus (New insight into the intravenous immunoglobulin treatment in Multisystem Inflammatory Syndrome in children and adults).
- Subjects
MULTISYSTEM inflammatory syndrome in children ,CORONAVIRUS diseases ,CORONAVIRUSES ,MEDICAL personnel ,COVID-19 ,BLOOD proteins - Abstract
A report from Chung Shan Medical University in Taichung, Taiwan discusses the use of intravenous immunoglobulin (IVIG) therapy in the treatment of Multisystem Inflammatory Syndrome in Children (MIS-C) and Multisystem Inflammatory Syndrome in Adults (MIS-A), which are associated with previous infections of the SARS-CoV-2 virus. The research highlights the effectiveness of IVIG and steroids as first-line agents in managing MIS-C, but notes that there is still no consensus on the use of IVIG in adults. The study concludes that further research is needed to establish treatment guidelines, including the optimal dose, frequency, and duration of treatment. [Extracted from the article]
- Published
- 2024
44. Study Findings from National Chung Hsing University Provide New Insights into Autoantibodies (Modified Yolo Network Model for Metaphase Cell Detection In Antinuclear Antibody Images).
- Subjects
ANTINUCLEAR factors ,AUTOANTIBODIES ,PROGNOSIS ,BLOOD proteins ,RESEARCH personnel - Abstract
A study conducted by researchers at National Chung Hsing University in Taichung, Taiwan, has developed a modified Yolo network model for the detection of metaphase cells in antinuclear antibody (ANA) images. The ANA test is used for screening, diagnosis, treatment, and prognosis of autoimmune diseases, but it is time-consuming and relies on the interpretation of experienced medical examiners. The researchers aimed to design an object detection model that can directly identify the key features of ANA images, specifically the metaphase cells. Their modified Yolo model achieved improved performance in ANA metaphase identification compared to other CNN models, with a Kappa value of 0.82, indicating almost perfect agreement with ANA experts. [Extracted from the article]
- Published
- 2024
45. Construction of Analytical Models for Driving Energy Consumption of Electric Buses through Machine Learning.
- Author
-
Lin, Kuan-Cheng, Lin, Chuan-Neng, and Ying, Josh Jia-Ching
- Subjects
ELECTRIC motor buses ,ENERGY consumption ,URBAN transportation ,BATTERY management systems ,MACHINE learning ,PASSENGER traffic - Abstract
In recent years, the Taiwan government has been calling for the use of public transportation and has been popularizing pollution-reducing green vehicles. Passenger transport operators are being encouraged to replace traditional buses with electric buses, to increase their use in urban transportation. Reduced energy consumption and operating costs are important operational benefits for passenger transport operators, and driving behavior has a significant impact on fuel consumption. Although many literatures or real-world systems have addressed the issues related to reducing energy consumption with electric buses, these works do not involve the records collected from an on-vehicle battery management system (BMS). Accordingly, the results of analyses of existing works lack in-depth discussions, and therefore the applicability of existing works is insignificant. Therefore, in this study, driving data were collected using a battery management system (BMS), and vehicular power consumption was classified according to energy efficiency. Then, decision trees and random forest were applied to construct energy consumption analytical models. Finally, the driving behaviors that influence energy consumption were investigated. A case study was conducted in which a Taichung passenger transport operator's electric bus driving data on urban routes were collected to construct energy consumption analytical models. The data consisted of two parts, i.e., vehicle records and route records. On the basis of these records, we considered the practicability and applicability of the analytical models by transforming the unstructured records into raw data. Passenger transport operators and drivers can leverage the obtained eco-driving indicators for different bus routes for energy savings and carbon reduction. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
- Published
- 2020
- Full Text
- View/download PDF
46. Nonconformance probability of an air quality index.
- Author
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Lin, Tsai-Yu, Liao, Chen-Tuo, and Liao, Yen-Ya
- Subjects
AIR quality indexes ,AIR quality monitoring ,RANDOM effects model ,PROBABILITY theory ,STATISTICAL decision making - Abstract
Air pollution is one of the most important global environmental issues. Taiwan Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is currently using an Air Quality Index (AQI) to measure and monitor its national air quality. The main objective of this study is to assess the air quality per hour every month in Taichung City of Taiwan from 2014 to 2016 based on the nonconformance probability of the AQI index. The nonconformance probability is defined as the probability that a characteristic of interest falls outside of an acceptance region. A lower confidence bound for the nonconformance probability is applied to test whether the AQI index value exceeds a warning threshold, and then the government could issue warnings according to the decision made by such statistical inference. An unbalanced two-way random effects model is presented for fitting the AQI index values. We evaluate three different lower confidence bound construction methods, including a t-based, an adjusted t-based and a generalized pivotal quantity (GPQ) based methods, through a detailed simulation study. Finally, a hybrid method of the t-based and the adjusted t-based estimators is recommended for practical use. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
- Published
- 2020
- Full Text
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47. A Study of Mazuism Religious Tourism in Taiwan: An Example of Dajia Jenn Lann Temple.
- Author
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Chang Hsiao-Ming, Lin Ching-Hui, and Huang Yen-Chen
- Subjects
RELIGIOUS tourism ,TEMPLES ,QUALITY of service ,RELIGIOUS behaviors ,TOURIST attitudes ,VACATIONS - Abstract
Although the study of Mazuism has been popular among scholars, few have attempted to touch upon its religious tourist behaviour; however, as the purpose of their travel is to worship at the Mazu Temple, it is thus, a tourism destination. Therefore, from the perspective of religious sustainable operation, it is important to understand the tourist behavior patterns of religious tourists visiting Mazu Temple. The purpose of this study is to analyze the interrelationships between destination image, service quality, perceived value, satisfaction, and behavioural intention. This study is conducted with convenience sampling methods for tourists visiting Jenn Lann Temple in Dajia, Taichung, Taiwan, and a total of 408 valid questionnaires are obtained. The valid questionnaires collected in this study are statistically analysed using descriptive statistics and PLS. The results show that destination image, service quality, perceived value, and satisfaction have positive impacts on tourists' behavioural intention. According to the results of the above analysis, this study constructs a religious tourism behaviour model of Mazu believers and gives management advice to the Mazu Temple. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
- Published
- 2020
48. Illegal Drug Use Among Adolescents in Schools and Facilities: 3-Year Surveys in Taiwan.
- Author
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Yang, Shu-Lung, Tzeng, Shuping, Tai, Shen-Feng, and Ku, Yi-Chien
- Subjects
SCHOOL facilities ,TEENAGERS ,DRUGS of abuse ,METROPOLIS ,JUVENILE detention ,SCHOOL-to-prison pipeline - Abstract
This study investigated and compared the prevalence of illegal drug use among students and detainees in Taiwan. Stratified sampling of schools in the major cities of Taiwan, including New Taipei City, Taichung City, and Kaohsiung City, was adopted, and surveys were conducted from 2014 to 2017. The sample in the study consists of 2,190 cohort school students and 125 detained juveniles in the Taipei, Taichung, and Kaohsiung Juvenile Detention Houses each year. The response rate is 87% on average. The results show that 1.5% of students and 65.8% of detained juveniles have ever used drugs. From 2014 to 2017, the survey indicates that over 60% of detained juveniles have ever possessed and used drugs. The findings reveal that ketamine and disguised drugs (e.g., cathinone mix with methylamphetamine, 3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine, and ketamine) are the most popularly used drugs among Taiwanese adolescents. The findings may deserve further attention in tracking and monitoring the juvenile illicit drug use from a comprehensive national prevalence survey. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
- Published
- 2020
- Full Text
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49. An implementation of cloud-based platform with R packages for spatiotemporal analysis of air pollution.
- Author
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Yang, Chao-Tung, Chan, Yu-Wei, Liu, Jung-Chun, and Lou, Ben-Shen
- Subjects
AIR pollution ,AIR analysis ,BOX-Jenkins forecasting ,DISTRIBUTED computing ,ACCURACY of information - Abstract
Recently, the R package has become a popular tool for big data analysis due to its several matured software packages for the data analysis and visualization, including the analysis of air pollution. The air pollution problem is of increasing global concern as it has greatly impacts on the environment and human health. With the rapid development of IoT and the increase in the accuracy of geographical information collected by sensors, a huge amount of air pollution data were generated. Thus, it is difficult to analyze the air pollution data in a single machine environment effectively and reliably due to its inherent characteristic of memory design. In this work, we construct a distributed computing environment based on both the softwares of RHadoop and SparkR for performing the analysis and visualization of air pollution with the R more reliably and effectively. In the work, we firstly use the sensors, called EdiGreen AirBox to collect the air pollution data in Taichung, Taiwan. Then, we adopt the Inverse Distance Weighting method to transform the sensors' data into the density map. Finally, the experimental results show the accuracy of the short-term prediction results of PM2.5 by using the ARIMA model. In addition, the verification with respect to the prediction accuracy with the MAPE method is also presented in the experimental results. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
- Published
- 2020
- Full Text
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50. Responses of earliness and lateness genes for heading to different photoperiods, and specific response of a gene or a pair of genes to short day length in rice.
- Author
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Rana, Birendra Bahadur, Kamimukai, Misa, Bhattarai, Mukunda, Koide, Yohei, and Murai, Masayuki
- Subjects
TARDINESS ,GENES ,GENE enhancers ,RICE - Abstract
Background: Heading time is an important trait for regional and seasonal adaptabilities in rice, and is controlled by genetic factors in relation with environmental factors, mainly day length and temperature. The following genes controlling heading were examined for their responses to six different environmental conditions involving different day lengths using five early near-isogenic lines (NILs) of T65-R and three late NILs of T65wx: two earliness genes, Ef1 and Efx controlling basic vegetative phase (BVG), and m-Ef1, the enhancer to the former gene; and two lateness genes, Se1-pat(t) and se-pat controlling photo-sensitivity and BVG, respectively. T65-R and T65-T were different accessions of Taichung 65. T65wx is a NIL of T65-T carrying wx. Results: The five early NILs of T65-R were in the order of ER50 (Ef1, Efx, m-Ef1) < ER40 (Ef1, m-Ef1) ≤ ER20 (Ef1, Efx) < ER1 (Ef1) ≤ ER21 (Efx) < T65-R regarding days to heading (DTH) under two spring-sowing and one summer-sowing paddy field (PF) conditions. The three late NILs of T65wx were in the order of LF3 (Se1-pat(t)) ≤ LF2 (Se1-pat(t), se-pat) ≤ T65wx < LF1 (se-pat) under two short-day conditions (10-h photoperiod condition with artificial-light and natural short-day condition from autumn to winter). The NILs and T65wx were in the order of T65wx < LF3 < LF1 < LF2 under the two spring-sowing PF (long day) conditions. T65-R (Ac-ef1) was 2.8 or 5.1 days earlier in DTH than T65-T (ac-ef1) under the two spring-sowing PF conditions. However, T65-R was 19 and 10 days earlier than T65-T under the two short-day conditions. Conclusions: Earliness gene(s) and their combinations reduced DTH regardless of photoperiod lengths. Se1-pat(t) increased DTH under long-day conditions but decreased it under short-day conditions, while se-pat elongated DTH under both short-day and long-day conditions indicating that se-pat is responsible for BVG. The se-pat increased DTH by adding its effect over that of Se1-pat(t) under long-day conditions. However, this increasing effect of DTH by se-pat was almost completely masked when it coexisted with Se1-pat(t) under the short-day conditions. Notably, the response of Ac-ef1 to day length was found to delay heading under the short-day conditions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
- Published
- 2019
- Full Text
- View/download PDF
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