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Past studies have provided important insights into the relationship between science education and information and communication technologies (ICTs). However, few studies have sought to promote learning by integrating science education with indigenous culture via ICTs. Indigenous culture is a treasure of human civilization, but there is a crisis of rapid disappearance. Integrating indigenous culture into students' science education may help them understand the scientific implications of their culture, and preserve and participate in their cultural activities. This study explores the relationships between science education and indigenous culture through the use of ICTs in the context of Taiwan's Rukai tribe. A research process was proposed with three steps: planning, execution, and evaluation. There were 15 indigenous pre-service teachers from six tribes participating in the study. The results show that ICTs help them understand the scientific principles of their own culture, and develop practical materials and lesson plans that can be used for future teaching. It also makes them aware of the meaning and importance of their own culture.

A Holstein dairy cow on a farm located in central Taiwan gave birth after 281 days of gestation; however fetal membranes were not expelled until 12 h post-parturition. Preventive antibiotics of ceftiofur (750 mg) combined with flunixin (750 mg) were administered intramuscularly for three consecutive days. On day 11 postpartum, expulsion of partial fetal membranes and reddish-brown vaginal discharge with an offensive odor were reported. Intrauterine lavage using 800 ml of sterile saline and 500 ml of 0.2% chlorhexidine solution was performed, followed by intrauterine infusion with 300 ml of 0.5% povidone iodine. On day 21 postpartum, a vaginal discharge score (VDS) of 3 was graded by Metricheck ® and uterine cytology revealed 76.1% polymorphonuclear neutrophils (PMNs), all of which suggested endometritis. An additional intrauterine infusion of 0.5% povidone iodine was subsequently prescribed, followed by two low doses of PGF 2 α to control uterine infection. On day 49 postpartum, a VDS of 0 with a proportion of 3.8% PMNs was revealed, indicating available criteria for breeding. Estrus induction and timed artificial insemination were scheduled and pregnancy was confirmed 33 days after artificial insemination. In summary, we have demonstrated a successful two-step treatment for a Holstein having retained fetal membranes (RFMs) combined with puerperal metritis (PM) to have a favorable result of 65 days open. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In recent years, bilingual education has become a critical index, and with its growth, internationalization has been significantly improved in the Republic of China (Taiwan). Therefore, countries worldwide are promoting all-English teaching, taking English as a medium of instruction and indicator of university education while moving toward an internationalized curriculum and teaching excellence. Finding the required number of bilingual teachers is also one of the keys to increasing the index. If information technology can be adopted to reduce the time and cost of bilingual teacher training, it will significantly improve the effectiveness of bilingual education promotion. However, the current traditional online training system only focuses on the delivery of one-way training content, and it cannot assist in judging the training effectiveness of the trainees. In this paper, we integrate the pose estimation technology into the online teacher training system to analyze the interactive content of the trainees during the training. We can assist in recording and interpreting the teaching demonstration process in classroom observation. We also verify the result by comparing our method's efficiency and judgment accuracy with the traditional way. The results show that our approach is more convenient and cost-efficient. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: In this paper, we cross-examine anomalies before four major earthquakes, Sumatra (Indonesia) 2004.12.26 M9.3; Pingtung (Taiwan) 2006.12.26 M7.0×2; Chuetsu Oki (Japan) 2007.7.16 M6.8; and Wenchuan (China) 2008.5.12 M8.0. Measurements of the crustal stress, infrasonic wave, and budgerigar jumping rate recorded at Institute of Earthquake Prediction are used to monitor in the lithosphere and atmosphere, while the total electron content over the four epicenters are employed to detect anomalies in the ionosphere. These cross-examinations allow us to have better understanding on the leading time of the four observed anomalies, the earthquake preparation process, and the lithosphere–atmosphere–ionosphere coupling before the earthquakes. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

The main goal of this study is to develop a virtual reality (VR)-based scenario of bullying that is more effective in investigating the motivational factors (i.e., emotion, self-efficacy) of adolescents' bystander behavior than the traditional text method. The second goal is to examine how emotion and defender self-efficacy relate to adolescent bystander behavior. Eighth graders (N = 229) from Taiwan participated in 2 (presentation mode: VR vs. text) x 2 (participant sex: boys vs. girls) x 2 (actor sex: boys vs. girls) experimental trials. The results of MANCOVAs indicated that boys displayed less outsider and pro-bullying behavior in the VR group than in the text group; however, there were no differences in bystander behavior for girls. The subjects in the VR group experienced more fear and excitement, less empathy, and a lower level of defender self-efficacy than those in the text group. The results of regression analyses showed that higher levels of anger and defender self-efficacy significantly predicted positive bystander behavior. Qualitative data revealed that VR provided the subjects with a vivid and realistic bullying experience and enabled them to experience emotions such as anger, empathy, and fear. The findings demonstrate that VR increases students' antibullying attitudes, justice emotions, and positive bystander behavior. However, VR does not provoke more empathy and self-efficacy, as expected. VR might capture a different dimension of response to bullying than the traditional text method. Nevertheless, VR has promise as an educational tool for developing bystander intervention in high school. • Boys showed lower pro-bullying and outsider behavior in the VR group. • There were no differences in empathy or anger between the VR group and the text group. • There was no difference in defender self-efficacy between the VR group and the text group. • Anger and defender self-efficacy distinguish features of diverse bystander behavior. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: To assess the prevalence of drunkenness among adolescents in Hanoi, Shanghai, and Taipei and explore the association between heavy drinking and other health risk behaviors., Methods: The data are drawn from the Three-city Collaborative Study of Adolescent Health, conducted in Hanoi, Shanghai, and Taipei in 2006. A sample of 17,016 adolescents and young adults, aged 15-24 years, was selected by multistage sampling. Descriptive analysis was used to estimate the proportion of drunkenness and other health risk behaviors. Multivariate logistic regression was used to investigate relationships between drunkenness and risky health behaviors., Results: The proportions of the sample getting drunk during the past month were 6.36%, 4.53%, and 8.47% in Hanoi, Shanghai, and Taipei, respectively. More males than females reported drunkenness in all three cities, with the difference highest in Hanoi (11.08% vs. 1.14%) and lowest in Taipei (9.69% vs. 7.18%). Different levels of relationship between drunkenness and health risk behaviors, such as anxiety, suicidal ideation, smoking, gambling, fighting, drinking and driving, and having sexual intercourse, were found across the three cities; an exception was nonuse of contraception., Conclusion: Drunkenness was positively associated with many health risk behaviors. It may serve as an indicator of other risky behaviors. Interventions to reduce drinking and drunkenness may contribute considerably to the prevention of other risk behaviors and to adolescent safety and well-being., (Copyright © 2014 Elsevier Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved.)

Objective: In 1998, an epidemic of hand-foot-mouth disease/herpangina was caused by human enterovirus 71 infection in Taiwan. The underlying factors of widespread emergence of viral infection are unclear. The purpose of this study was to assess the epidemiology of hand-foot-mouth disease/herpangina in Taiwan between March 1998 and December 2005., Methods: We analyzed data reported to surveillance systems at the Taiwan Center for Disease Control. Viral isolation was performed by 11 reference virus laboratories at medical centers as well as the Taiwan Center for Disease Control., Results: During the 8-year study period, the reported incidence of mild cases of hand-foot-mouth disease/herpangina varied from 0.8 to 19.9 cases per sentinel physician per week, peaking in 1998. Seasonal variations in incidence were observed, with an incidence peak observed during the summer season. Annual incidence changed significantly from 1998 to 2005. Both age-specific incidence and fatality of severe hand-foot-mouth disease/herpangina decreased as age increased. Most (93%) cases occurred in children who were aged 4 years and younger. Inpatients had a higher rate of enterovirus 71 infection than outpatients. Among severe cases, the majority (80%) had pulmonary edema/hemorrhage and encephalitis., Conclusions: Hand-foot-mouth disease/herpangina is a common disease in Taiwan. Enterovirus 71 infection has emerged as an important public problem causing serious clinical illness and, potentially, death in young children. Vaccine development is recommended for prevention of enterovirus 71 infection in the future.

In recent years, suspended particle pollution has become a serious problem in Taiwan. The carbonaceous materials EC and OC are play important roles in various atmospheric processes. The primary OC/EC ratio approach is applied to assess the contribution of secondary organic aerosol (SOA) to the PM(2.5) and PM(10) mass at the Taichung harbor sampling site. The results indicated that the average EC and OC concentration were 1.06 and 6.50 microg m(-3), respectively, in fine particulate. And the average EC and OC concentration were 4.04 and 40.32 microg m(-3), respectively, in coarse particulate at Taichung Harbor sampling site. In addition, and the average EC/OC rations was 8.72 in fine particle, respectively, at Taichung Harbor, Taiwan during summer and autumn period of 2005. The fine particle exhibited high particulate concentrations in October, and lower concentration particulate occurred in August. And in this study OC and EC concentrations in this study are compared with those in other cities. The results of EC and OC concentration in this study are also compare with those other cities.

In 1998, an epidemic of enterovirus 71 (EV 71) infection occurred in Taiwan. The purpose of this study was to assess the epidemiology of EV 71 infection in Taiwan. Between March 1998 and December 2005, a total of 1,548 severe cases of hand-foot-mouth disease and herpangina (HFMD/HA) was reported to the Center for Disease Control in Taiwan. A seasonal variation in number of severe cases was observed, with the annual peak in second quarter. Deaths from severe HFMD/HA varied from year to year (chi(2) for trend = 6.781, P = 0.009). Most (92%) cases occurred in children

Background: There has not been a comprehensive multi-center study investigating the microbial profile of community acquired pneumonia (CAP) in Taiwan., Methods: A prospective study of adult CAP patients requiring hospitalization between December 2001 and April 2002 was carried out in 13 hospitals in Taiwan. Etiology was determined based on laboratory data from blood and sputum cultures plus serology from paired serum and urine antigen detection tests., Results: Etiology was assigned to 99 (58.9%) of the 168 patients having the most complete data for etiology determination, with mixed infection in 21 (12.5%) patients. More than half (51.8%) of the patients were>60 years and 63.7% of the patients were males. The most common etiologic agent was Streptococcus pneumoniae (40, 23.8%), the majority (60%, 24 cases) of which was detected by positive urine antigen test. Other common agents included Mycoplasma pneumoniae (24, 14.3%), Chlamydia pneumoniae (12, 7.1%), Influenza A virus (11, 6.5%), Klebsiella pneumoniae (8, 4.8%) and Haemophilus influenzae (8, 4.8%). The prevalence of S. pneumoniae and M. pneumoniae was highest in patients>60 years (25/87, 28.7%), and<44 years (12/59, 19%), respectively; while K. pneumoniae comprised a larger proportion (4/22, 18%) in the 45-59 years group., Conclusions: S. pneumoniae was the most common etiology agent in adult patients hospitalized due to CAP in Taiwan and the spectrum of other major pathogens was similar to studies conducted elsewhere in the world. Empiric treatment recommendations developed in other parts of the world may be appropriately adapted for local use after taking into account local resistance profiles. Our data also support the recommendation that urine antigen test be added as an adjunct to adult CAP etiology diagnosis protocol.