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A destructive rockfall event occurred in northern Taiwan, wherein the falling blocks severely damaged the retaining structures of a mountain road. To elucidate the trajectory of rockfalls, a series of investigations was conducted to produce high-precision topographical models. In addition, the discontinuity distribution of the source area, geometries of the fallen blocks, and damage to the retaining structures were measured. These data were used to perform a full-scale three-dimensional numerical simulation of the rockfall event and its influence area. The runout paths and velocity variations of the rockfall and structural damage were successfully simulated. Furthermore, potential areas affected by subsequent disasters were evaluated using scenario modeling. This study proposed a method for analyzing the impact of rockfall on the retaining structure, which provides more information than the runout path and kinetic energy of the block, as well as the failure mechanisms and condition of impacted structures. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

On August 7, 2021, a disastrous rainfall-induced landslide occurred at Mt. Silabaku in the Yusui Stream source area, Taiwan. The huge deposits from the Silabaku landslide severely damaged the Minbaklu Bridge, and minor collapses in the Yusui Stream disrupted the only major road, Expressway No. 20. More than 400 residents from the three adjacent villages were stranded for 19 days in the mountainous area. The analysis of rainfall data, seismic records, topographic and geologic data, and historical orthoimages of the slope conditions, landform evolution, and current status of the Silabaku landslide revealed that the landslide resulted from slate avalanche induced by heavy rains, with local failures during Typhoon Morakot in 2009. Based on the high-resolution topographic data of light detection and ranging and an unmanned aerial vehicle, the debris deposits accumulated along the Yusui Stream were estimated to be above 8 million m3. In addition, a fan volume of 2 million m3 changed the flow line of the Laonong River, and the thick deposits pose a considerable threat to the safety of the nearby villages and infrastructures. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Outburst flooding after a landslide dam breach causes global fatalities and devastation. Information on the timing, magnitude, and location of the landslide dam is crucial to hazard assessment. Despite recent efforts, successful real-time detection of landslide dams in mountain valleys and dam breakages is rare. Here, we present a series of seismic analysis including landslide detection, identification of landslide dam formations, and monitoring of dam breaches. We show the working of our analysis on a recent landslide dam that occurred in eastern Taiwan. The results indicate that our seismic analysis provides important information on the location and magnitude of landslides and the dam forming based on data acquired from a regional broadband seismic network. Furthermore, we see that the failure of the landslide dam is directly caught by the riverside seismic signals. To provide warning times for impending floods to downstream areas, we believe that proximal high-quality seismic signals along the river channel are viable options for an operational real-time monitoring system, for landslide dams occurring in mountain valleys. Our work can be a starting point to raise awareness in the community. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Newmark displacement analysis (NDA) has been widely used to study the initiation and kinematics of earthquake-induced landslides. The classical NDA for earthquake-induced wedge slides assumes that the wedge is a rigid block (assumption A1). The vertical and horizontal accelerations perpendicular to the sliding direction are neglected (assumptions A2 and A3). Moreover, the friction angles (friction coefficients) of the sliding surfaces are assumed to be constant during sliding (assumption A4). This study evaluates the influences of these four assumptions on the kinematics of huge wedges adopted, where the shear stress could not be identical to the sliding direction. Different rock wedge shapes subjected to synthetic seismic loads are modeled, and the sensitivity of removing unnecessary assumptions from the analysis is evaluated. A case study of the earthquake-induced Daguangbao landslide (wedge slide) is provided to assess the influence of the rigid wedge assumption and adopted strengths along wedge planes on the sliding kinematics. Our study shows that the rigid wedge method (RWM) incorporated into NDA (A1) always yields an unconservative prediction of permanent displacement comparing to maximum shear stress method (MSSM), particularly for huge, narrow wedges. The MSSM, which assumes that the shear stress perpendicular to the sliding direction equals the shear strength, should be considered owing to wedge deformation if huge rock masses are involved. Neglecting the vertical acceleration (A2) induced an underestimation of permanent displacement, particularly for narrow wedges with a gentle plunge of the intersection line. Although horizontal acceleration perpendicular to the trend of I-Line does influence the NDA results for asymmetrical wedges, the effect (A3) is insignificant. Assuming a constant strength on the wedge plane (A4) only predicted stick-slip behavior but not a frequently observed high-mobility phenomenon of huge landslides. Finally, the rapid and long run-out sliding of the Daguangbao landslide can be successfully predicted if the velocity-displacement dependent friction law is appropriately incorporated into NDA using MSSM. • Assumptions of the classical Newmark displacement analysis for a wedge slide are evaluated. • Considering inertial force and applying seismic loads on the base of the sliding wedge. • A deformable wedge incorporating velocity-weakening strength yields higher mobility. • Neglecting vertical acceleration yields underestimated permanent displacement. • Remove unrealistic assumptions; the kinematics of the Daguangbao landslide can be predicted. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper, we make use of the replicating asset for statistical arbitrage trading, where the replicating asset is constructed by a portfolio that mimics the returns from a factor model. Using the replicating asset in the context of statistical arbitrage has never been done before in the literature. A novel optimal statistical arbitrage trading model is applied, and we derive the average transaction length and return for the Berkshire A stock and its replicating asset. The results show that the statistical arbitrage method proposed by Bertram (2010) is profitable by using the replicating asset. We also compute the average returns under different transaction costs. For the statistical arbitrage using the replicating asset of the factor model, average annual returns were at least 33%. Robustness is examined with the S&P500. Our results can provide hedge fund managers with a new technique for conducting statistical arbitrage. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The major regions of Taiwan consist of high-relief terrain exposed to frequent typhoons and earthquakes. Recently, thousands of potential large-scale landslides have been delineated via remote sensing analysis and field surveys. However, little attention has been paid to the stability of colluvium, which is a potential hazard. This study investigated a paleo-rockslide site in detail and proposes a geological model to explain the failure mechanism. The studied area is in Jiasian, Southern Taiwan, and the site is a dip slope consisting of Miocene sedimentary rocks. Detailed topographic features, including residual slip surfaces, platforms, scarps, and colluviums, are identified using the slope map of a 1- m airborne remotely sensed digital elevation model. Platforms beneath the residual slip surfaces represent the topographic features of the paleo-rockslide, an interpretation validated by field works and core analysis. The platforms consist of a displaced rock mass (DRM) with a gentle bedding dip angle and interbedded structure that has been preserved. A geological model is established according to the data compiled; outcrops of DRM and colluviums on bedrock were delineated in the geological map and profiles. Outcrops of shear off, buckling, and compressive ridges within the alternating sandstone and shale are distributed at the toe of the residual slip surfaces. A geological model with identified topographic features is adopted to establish the geomorphological evolution of the site. A buckling-induced rockslide model in the dip slope of the interbedded layers is proposed, and potential future slope failure scenarios can be evaluated using the geomorphological evolution model. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this article, we apply the threshold autoregressive model to examine oil price thresholds and the relationship between oil prices and the returns of 25 benchmark portfolios formed on size and book-to-market. Our results show that the relationship between the change in oil prices and portfolio returns reverses depending on whether the current oil price is above or below the estimated oil price threshold. Additional results show that this threshold effect is concentrated in the small stock portfolios. Finally, our finding that there is a threshold effect of oil price changes on stock returns is consistent with the theoretical model of investor sentiment presented by Barberis, Shleifer, and Vishny (1998) and is intuitively consistent with the economic dynamics and structure of the oil industry. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The critical taper model has been widely used to evaluate the strength contrast between the wedge and the basal detachment of fold-and-thrust belts and accretionary wedges. However, determination of the strength parameters using the traditional critical taper model, which adopts the Mohr–Coulomb failure criterion, is difficult, if not impossible. In this study, we propose a modified critical taper model that incorporates the non-linear Hoek–Brown failure criterion. The parameters in the proposed critical Hoek–Brown wedge CHBW model can be directly evaluated via field investigations and laboratory tests. Meanwhile, the wedge strength is a function of the wedge thickness, which is oriented from stress non-linearity. The fold-and-thrust belt in western central Taiwan was used as an example to validate the proposed model. The determined wedge strength was 0.86 using a representative wedge thickness of 5.3 km; this was close to the inferred value of 0.6 from the critical taper. Interestingly, a concave topographic relief is predicted as a result of the wedge thickness dependency of the wedge strength, even if the wedge is composed of homogeneous materials and if the strength of the detachment is uniform. This study demonstrates that the influence of wedge strength on the critical taper angle can be quantified by the spatial distribution of strength variables and by the consideration of the wedge thickness dependency of wedge strength. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: In Taiwan, severe enteroviral infections must be reported to the government within 24 hours to ensure that severe enterovirus 71 (EV71) infections can be detected early. The objective of this research was to ascertain whether over-reporting is a problem in mandatory disease-reporting systems. Methodology: A multiyear cross-sectional study methodology was applied based on secondary data analyses. Data from the national notifiable communicable disease surveillance system of Taiwan Centers for Disease Control were analyzed to assess the trends and factors influencing reporting accuracy. Results: From July 1999 to December 2008, 2,611 cases of severe enteroviral infection were reported in Taiwan. Among these cases, 1,516 were confirmed to be EV71 cases, and the remaining 1,095 were confirmed to be non-EV71 infections. The overall accuracy rate was 58%. The accuracy rate was 60%-70% higher during epidemics (2000-2002, 2005, and 2008) and high seasons than it was in other seasons. The accuracy rate was highest among medical centers and lowest among district hospitals. Conclusions: The results indicated that reports are more accurate during high seasons and peak years than during other periods. This might be attributable to the adequate level of specific educational programs for professionals when more cases occur, which could facilitate identification. Based on experiences in Taiwan, optimal training can ensure that surveillance systems are not inundated by false-positive reports. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] • Controlled synthesis of metal–organic framework-derived Mg-Zn hybrid nanostructures. • MgO nanoparticles encapsulated in Zn-MOF or decorated on MOF-derived ZnO. • Ultrafine MgO crystallite (<5 nm), high basicity and surface area (1048.5 m2/g). • High yield (73.3%) and high cyclic stability at a stoichiometric feed ratio. Controlled synthesis of metal–organic framework (MOF)-derived Mg-Zn hybrid nanostructure was demonstrated for the development of basic catalysts applied in biodiesel production from soybean oil. Two types of Mg-Zn hybrid nanostructures were successfully fabricated under different atmospheres (Ar, air), (1) MgO nanoparticles encapsulated in Zn-based MOF (MgO@Zn-MOF) and (2) MgO nanoparticles uniformly decorated on ZnO nanoparticles derived from Zn-MOF (MgO@ZnO), respectively. Ultrafine MgO nanoparticles (<5 nm for MgO@Zn-MOF and ≈10 nm for MgO@ZnO) were successfully synthesized and homogeneously dispersed in the MOF-derived Mg-Zn hybrid nanostructures. Significant increases in the specific surface area (i.e., a maximum of 1048.5 m2/g) and corresponding basicity (i.e., by a maximum of 2.1 times) were achievable by using MOF-based strategy comparing to the Mg-Zn catalyst prepared by a conventional solution-based approach. High 3-cycle stability and high yields of fatty acid methyl esters at a stoichiometric feed ratio 3 were both achievable, 67.6% and 73.3%, by using MgO@Zn-MOF and MgO@ZnO as the catalysts, respectively. The work demonstrates a prototype study of utilizing MOF to develop high-performance basic nanocatalysts through fundamental understanding of material synthesis by design versus their corresponding activities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: This study determined volatile fatty acids (VFA) from ruminal microbial fermentation in relation to oxidation reduction potential (ORP) and electricity generation from straw in microbial fuel cells. The effect of substrate straw to grain ratio on gas production, VFA, pH, and ORP during rumen microbial incubation with or without the presence of protozoa was evaluated. Increasing straw relative to grain in the substrate mixture resulted in lower gas levels, VFA, and ORP, but a higher pH. The ratio of acetate to propionate increased when more straw was included in the mixture. When straw was the sole substrate, the ratio of acetate to propionate decreased in response to increasing straw addition to the fermentation tubes. A correlation analysis showed that ORP values were inversely correlated with the ratio of acetate to propionate, with a coefficient of −0.712. When straw was added to MFCs, the VFA increased almost two-fold after inoculation with ruminal fluid. Maximum power density reached 0.00309 mW/m2 following a second transfer of spent fermentation fluid to fresh MFCs. Acetate was the major VFA in the straw-fed MFC, followed by propionate and butyrate. Their concentrations were negatively associated with voltage output. However, the acetate to propionate ratio was positively linked to electricity production. The results illustrate that the VFA profile during ruminal microbial fermentation could be influential on ORP and electricity generation in MFCs. The results provide evidence that native fiber and straw could be utilized for electricity production by ruminal microbial MFCs. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: The protection of patients’ health information is a very important concern in the information age. The purpose of this study is to ascertain what constitutes an effective legal framework in protecting both the security and privacy of health information, especially electronic medical records. All sorts of bills regarding electronic medical data protection have been proposed around the world including Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) of the U.S. The trend of a centralized bill that focuses on managing computerized health information is the part that needs our further attention. Under the sponsor of Taiwan''s Department of Health (DOH), our expert panel drafted the “Medical Information Security and Privacy Protection Guidelines”, which identifies nine principles and entails 12 articles, in the hope that medical organizations will have an effective reference in how to manage their medical information in a confidential and secured fashion especially in electronic transactions. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

The 2024 Hualien earthquake on April 3, eastern Taiwan, with a magnitude of 7.2, resulted in 18 fatalities and 1,155 injuries. Road networks suffered extensive damage, with 55 roadside landslides exacerbating the disruption. Preliminary mapping identified over 3,239 landslides with sizes ranging from 62 to 524,113 m2, primarily clustered in areas experiencing peak ground acceleration exceeding 250 cm/s2. Four landslide dams were formed post-event, including one near a hydropower station. The following impacts heighten concerns about hazards such as frequent unstable slope failures, debris flows caused by intense rainfall, and subsequent coseismic rockfalls occur due to strong aftershocks. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Aerosol-based synthesis of Mg-Al-O composite nanocatalyst for biodiesel production. • Surface area of MgO nanocatalyst increased via hybridization with Al 2 O 3. • A maximum of 3.4× in yield by using Mg-Al-O composite nanocatalyst. • Strong basic site and catalytic activity increased by hybridization MgO with Al 2 O 3. • Sufficient high operation stability and chemical stability in cyclic test. A facile, aerosol-based controlled synthesis of porous Mg-Al-O composite nanoparticle is demonstrated for developing solid base catalysts with high performance for transesterification of soybean oil to biodiesel. Pore size, crystallite size and chemical composition of the Mg-Al-O composite nanoparticle are tunable by design. A significantly higher surface area (by 1.8 times) and a smaller pore size (i.e., decreased by 20%) of the Mg-Al-O composite particle achieved by using the aerosol-based synthesis than the conventional method. Hybridization with Al 2 O 3 remarkably increased surface area of the MgO particle by decreasing pore size using homogenous Al precursor or increasing pore volume via choosing heterogeneous Al precursor. The fatty acid methyl esters (FAME) yield catalyzed by Mg-Al-O composite particle was significantly higher in comparison to the results without catalysts (i.e., a maximum of 3.4×). The FAME yield was proportional to methanol-to-oil molar ratio, and the highest yield was identified at Mg/Al = 4, in accordance to the highest number of strong basic site quantified via a CO 2 -based temperature-programmed desorption study. Operation stability (i.e., FAME yield declined by <4%) and chemical stability (i.e., mass leaching <0.06% of total catalyst mass) were sufficiently high for the synthesized porous Mg-Al-O composite nanoparticle based on the 3-cycle test. The work establishes a prototype study of developing porous Mg-Al-O composite nanostructure by applying a gas-phase evaporation-induced self-assembly to achieve high activity and operation stability. The study also shows promise to further enhance strong basicity and corresponding catalytic activity through mechanistic understanding of the designed composite nanocatalyst. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Heavy rainfalls or strong earthquakes may induce catastrophic landslides and affect the topographic evolution in a mountainous region. The major parts of Taiwan are high relief terrains exposed to frequent typhoons and earthquakes. Recently, thousands of large-scale potential landslides have been delineated via remote sensing analysis and field survey. However, not much attention has been paid to the slope-failure recurrence of the colluvium resulted from paleo landslides. This study aims to investigate a large-scale paleo landslide site in detail. The studied slope locates near Jiasian in southern Taiwan. The slope is a dip slope consist of Miocene sedimentary rocks. Site investigation includes topographic interpretation, field geology, geophysics tests and borehole exploration. A geologic model was established according to the compiled information; outcrops, paleo displaced rock masses and colluviums covered on bedrock were delineated in the proposed model. Detail geomorphic features including scarps, displaced rock masses, residual slip surfaces and colluviums were identified using the data of 1m- resolution airborne LiDAR. The geologic model together with the identified geomorphic features can be used for the evaluation of slope stability. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The essence of global budget is to set a cap on the total national health insurance expenditure for a year, which is one form of prospective payment systems. It has always been argued that prospective payment, such as global budgeting, will deter the development of high-tech services in the healthcare industry. The objectives of this study are to explore the impact of global budgeting on the diffusion of high tech equipment in terms of utilization by using Positron Emission Tomography (PET) as an example.Methods: The study population is the hospitals in Taiwan. We tried to compare the diffusion patterns of Computed Tomography (CT), Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) and PET scanners among these hospitals by analyzing the National Health Insurance (NHI) Database from 1997 to 2010.Results: From 2004 to 2010, 79,380 PET scans in total were performed under the NHI scheme. By the year 2010, the annual reimbursed scans have reached 19,700. The volume curve of cumulative PET services resembles an S diffusion curve with the R2 at 0.95. The results indicated the growth of cumulative PET service volume does correspond with the innovation diffusion model. The cumulative utilizations of CT, MRI and PET demonstrate good correlation with no significant difference in their growth rates.Conclusions: Therefore, we can infer that even though PET was reimbursed after the implementation of global budgeting, its diffusion was not deterred by this cost containment measure when compared with CT and MRI in the same time span after the inauguration of the NHI. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Minbaklu Bridge, an essential segment of the southern cross-island expressway in Taiwan, was destroyed owing to debris flow in the Yusui Stream. To elucidate the development of debris flow in the Yusui Stream and the bridge collapse event, this study proposed a hybrid model of the discrete element method and depth-averaged model to simulate the event through three stages: formation of the natural dam, debris flow triggered by dam braking, and bridge collapse owing to the debris flow. The simulation results obtained indicate that the proposed model can provide reasonable simulations of the formation of natural dam in both time line and spatial distribution. Further, it indicated that the erosion developed at the river bed of the flow region, and illustrated the failure process of the Minbaklu Bridge, which revealed that it was uplifted before being pushed away. Furthermore, the final deposition of the alluvial fan deposition was demonstrated as well. Overall, the proposed hybrid model provides a useful tool for investigating debris flow and interaction with engineering structures. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Background: The purpose of this study was to assess the risk of being sued in district courts for care for head-injury patients from the perspective of epidemiology. Methods: This research was designed to be a retrospective population-based cohort study. We researched the incidences of litigations arising from head-injury inpatients under neurosurgical care, all neurosurgical inpatients, and birth inpatients in Taiwan, and computed their relative risks. The study period was from 1998 to 2002. Results: The average annual incidence rate of becoming a plaintiff for head-injury neurosurgical inpatients was 15 per million; for all neurosurgical inpatients 11.8 per million; and for birth patients 33.5 per million. The relative risk comparing head-injured neurosurgical inpatients against all neurosurgical inpatients was 1.27; whereas comparing head-injury neurosurgical inpatients against birth inpatients was 0.45, and comparing all neurosurgical inpatients against birth inpatients, 0.35. Conclusions: The findings of our population-based study indicate that for the inpatient populations, whether head-injury patients or not, neurosurgeons in Taiwan are facing a relatively lower rate of litigation in comparison with those treating birth patients. Nonetheless, head-injury patients still pose a major challenge in the ED, and misdiagnosis remains the major complaint of plaintiffs in subsequent litigations. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

In recent works on the determination of pseudotachylyte within the principal slip zone (PSZ) of the Chelungpu fault (Taiwan), we demonstrated that frictional melting occurred at shallow depths during the 1999 Mw 7.6 Chi-Chi earthquake. Thus, the characteristics of melts are of paramount importance to investigate processes controlling dynamic fault mechanics during seismic slips. We conducted rock friction experiments on siltstone recovered from the Taiwan Chelungpu fault Drilling Project (TCDP) at a slip rate of 1.3 m/s and a normal stress of 1 MPa. Here we not only target to characterize experimental pseudotachylyte and evaluate the associated frictional behavior, but also compare it with natural frictional melts of TCDP. Our results show that (1) initial shear stress drop was related to the generation of low viscosity melt patches, (2) the evolution of shear stress in the postmelting regime was congruent with frictional melt rheology, and (3) the slip strengthening presumably resulted from the extremely low content of water of the frictional melt. In particular, the state-of-art of in situ synchrotron analyses (X-ray diffraction and Transmission X-ray Microscope) determine the presence of ultrafine spherical quartz (USQ) grains (~ 10 nm to 50 nm) in the glassy matrices presumably produced at high temperature. Our observations confirm that the USQ grains formed in rock friction experiments do occur in natural faults. We surmise the USQ is the result of frictional melting on siltstone and represents the latest slip zones of the Chelungpu fault, and further infer that the viscous melts may terminate seismic slips at shallow crustal conditions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Mega-earthquakes and extreme climate events accompanied by intrinsic fragile geology lead to numerous landslides along mountain highways in Taiwan, causing enormous life and economic losses. In this study, a system for rapid slope disaster information integration and assessment is proposed with the aim of providing information on landslide occurrence, failure mechanisms, and subsequent landslide-affected areas to the highway authority rapidly. The functionality of the proposed system is deployed into three units: (1) geohazard rapid report (GeoPORT I), (2) multidisciplinary geological survey report (GeoPORT II), and (3) site-specific landslide simulation report (GeoPORT III). After landslide occurrence, the seismology-based monitoring network rapidly provides the initial slope disaster information, including preliminary location, event magnitude, earthquake activity, and source dynamics, within an hour. Within 3 days of the landslide, a multidisciplinary geological survey is conducted to collect high-precision topographical, geological, and remote-sensing data to determine the possible failure mechanism. After integrating the aforementioned information, a full-scale three-dimensional landslide simulation based on the discrete element method is performed within 10 days to reveal the failure process and to identify the areas potentially affected by subsequent disasters through scenario modeling. Overall, the proposed system can promptly provide comprehensive and objective information to relevant authorities after the event occurrence for hazard assessment. The proposed system was validated using a landslide event in the Central Cross-Island Highway of Taiwan. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy and temperature-programmed reaction/desorption have been employed to study the thermal dissociation of HSCH2CH2OH on the Cu(111) surface. An exposure of 1.5 Langmuir (L) HSCH2CH2OH renders a chemisorption monolayer at 100K. For the exposures (1.6, 3.0 and 8.0L) investigated, it is found that two surface intermediates of –SCH2CH2OH and –SCH2CH2O– are generated from successive dehydrogenation of HSCH2CH2OH on Cu(111) before it totally decomposes into gaseous products with (or without) carbon left on the surface at a temperature higher than ∼350K. XPS study of 1.6L exposure shows that both the C1s peak intensities of –SCH2CH2OH generated at ∼225K are comparable. However, for the same intermediate prepared using 8.0L, the C1s peak intensity of the SCH2 moiety is only 0.58 of that of the CH2OH. Between ∼230–350K, –SCH2CH2OH and –SCH2CH2O– coexist on the surface, but the reactivity for –SCH2CH2OH dehydrogenation to form –SCH2CH2O– decreases in the order of 1.6, 3.0 and 8.0L. The surface –SCH2CH2OH and –SCH2CH2O– diminish in the temperature range 350–450K and generate reaction products of H2, H2O, CH4, C2H4 and CH3CHO. However, the evolution temperatures of these products formed at 8.0L are higher than those formed at 1.6L by ∼20–30K. The observed exposure-dependent C1s peak intensities, –SCH2CH2OH dehydrogenation reactivity, and product desorption temperatures are suggested to be due to the change of –SCH2CH2OH geometry (trans or gauche) and/or orientation (tilting angle relative to the surface) with HSCH2CH2OH exposure. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Landslides have caused extensive infrastructure damage and caused human fatalities for centuries. Intense precipitation and large earthquakes are considered to be two major landslide triggers, particularly in the case of catastrophic landslides. The most widely accepted mechanistic explanation for landslides is the effective-stress dependent shear strength reduction due to increases in pore water pressure. The Chashan landslide site, selected for the present study, has been intensively studied from geological, geophysical, geodetic, geotechnical, hydrological, and seismological perspectives. Our seismic monitoring of daily relative velocity changes (dv/v) indicated that landslide material decreases coincided with the first half of the rainy period and increased during the latter half of the rainy period. The geodetic surveys before and after the rainy period identified vertical subsidence without horizontal movement. The results from the multidisciplinary investigation enabled us to draw a conceptual model of the landslide recovery process induced by water loading. Where all sliding materials were stable (safety factor > 1.0), unconsolidated landslide colluvium and impermeable sliding surfaces trapped the seepage water to form a water tank, provided that compact forces were acting on the materials below the sliding boundary. The vertical force of compaction facilitates an increase in the cohesion and strength of landslide materials, thereby increasing the landslide materials' stability. We demonstrated that the recovery process periodically occurs only under the combined conditions of prolonged and intense precipitation and the related stability conditions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Regional monitoring of rock slope failures using the seismic technique is rarely undertaken due to significant source location errors; this method also still lacks the signal features needed to understand events of this type because of the complex mass movement involved. To better comprehend these types of events, 10 known events along highways in Taiwan were analyzed. First, a hybrid method (GeoLoc) composed of cross-correlation-based and amplitude-attenuation-based approaches was applied, and it produced a maximum location error of 3.19 km for the 10 events. We then analyzed the ratio of local magnitude (ML) and duration magnitude (MD) and found that a threshold of 0.85 yields successful classification between rock slope failure and earthquake. Further, GeoLoc can retrieve the seismic parameters, such as signal amplitude at the source (A0) and ML of events, which are crucial for constructing scaling law with source volume (V). Indeed, Log(V) = 1.12 ML + 3.08 and V = 77 290 A00.44 derived in this study provide the lower bound of volume estimation, as the seismic parameters based on peak amplitudes cannot represent the full process of mass loss. Second, while video records correspond to seismic signals, the processes of toppling and sliding present column- and V-shaped spectrograms, respectively. The impacts of rockfall link directly to the pulses of seismic signals. Here, all spectrogram features of events can be identified for events with volumes larger than 2000 m3 , corresponding to the farthest epicenter distance of ∼ 2.5 km. These results were obtained using the GeoLoc scheme for providing the government with rapid reports for reference. Finally, a recent event on 12 June 2020 was used to examine the GeoLoc scheme's feasibility. We estimated the event's volume using two scalings: 3838 and 3019 m3. These values were roughly consistent with the volume estimation of 5142 m3 from the digital elevation model. The physical processes, including rockfall, toppling, and complex motion behaviors of rock interacting with slope inferred from the spectrogram features were comprehensively supported by the video record and field investigation. We also demonstrated that the GeoLoc scheme, which has been implemented in Sinwulyu catchment, Taiwan, can provide fast reports, including the location, volume, and physical process of events, to the public soon after they occur. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Ancient coseismic landslides indicate prehistoric earthquakes and may also be a measure of their intensity. Their identification in the landscape remains, however, challenging. We used field geologic observations of source areas of recent rainfall-induced and earthquake-induced landslides to define a morphometric index that can distinguish between these two types of triggers. Morphometries of 129 landslides from tropical, subtropical and temperate zones developed in a variety of bedrock types were described by using the following parameters: i) depletion index (I d), i.e. the ratio between the length of the depleted part and the length of the source area; ii) relative slope height (H rel) and iii) source area angle (φ S), i.e. the angle between the top of the line connecting the scarp top with the toe of the source area and the horizontal plane. They were obtained using globally available digital elevation models and satellite images. Their combination into an Index of Potential Trigger (I PT) successfully distinguished between the two types of landslide triggers with an overall accuracy of 87%. The rainfall-induced landslides had a significantly lower average I PT value of 0.01 as compared with 0.37 for the coseismic landslides. The index of potential trigger may be a useful and readily implemented morphometric tool for preliminary identification of prehistoric coseismic landslides recorded in the current topography. • A tool for coseismic landslide recognition is presented • The landslide source areas were used to distinguish triggering mechanisms • Global DEMs and satellite images were used to derive Index of Potential Trigger • Effective morphometric tool also for prehistoric landslide events [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Tumoral calcinosis-like metastatic calcification in a patient with uremia on dialysis has rarely been reported in the radiological literatures. This report describes the radiographic, scintigraphic, ultrasound, and CT findings of this condition in a 54-year-old man who had a clinical history of renal dialysis for 6 years. Elevation of serum phosphate and parathyroid hormone levels was noted. Physical examination revealed a hard, movable, and tender mass over his left arm. Plain radiographs of the left shoulder showed an amorphous massive calcification in the upper arm. Scintigraphy showed increased tracer accumulation in the soft tissue of the proximal portion of the left arm and both thighs, where CT scan revealed multilocular, amorphous, calcified masses in these areas. Scintigraphy can help in screening multiple lesions, and CT scan may further help in identifying the extent of a localized lesion such as joint involvement. Ultrasound showed localized multiloculated fluid accumulation within hyperechoic masses and perifocal interstitial fluid collection, which can help to determine the activity of the lesion. Ultrasound findings of tumoral calcinosis have not been reported before. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Background: Nursing administrators are essential to ensuring the quality of healthcare provided in hospitals. The nursing manpower shortage that has affected hospitals in Taiwan over the past decade has weighed particularly heavily on nursing administrators, who are expected to maintain high levels of nursing care quality in frequently understaffed healthcare settings. Purpose: The objective of this study was to explore the relationship between work environment satisfaction and nursing administrator retention in Taiwan. Methods: This study used a cross-sectional, questionnaire-based survey to collect data from a sample population of nursing administrators. A set of indicators of quality nursing work environments was developed and included in the questionnaire. A total of 1,829 questionnaires were distributed, and the effective response rate was 95.57%. Results: The average overall rate of satisfaction with the current work environment across all domains was 3.59 (SD = 0.61). The highest level of satisfaction was found in the domain of safe practice environment (M = 3.83, SD = 0.70), and the lowest was found in the domain of informatics (M = 3.38, SD = 0.91). Length of administrative position tenure was significantly correlated with retention. Each of the eight domains significantly influenced retention. The domain of support and caring was the most significant predictor of nursing administrator retention. Conclusions/Implications for Practice: Length of administrator position tenure was significantly correlated with nursing administrator retention. Moreover, intention to stay among junior administrators was particularly affected by the support and caring domain. Therefore, it is recommended that nursing departments develop effective strategies to assist and encourage junior administrators to strengthen their career prospects and satisfaction. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Rockfall tracking and mass estimation are critical for effective hazard response. While seismic techniques have been applied to the field, systematic analysis remains lacking. In this study, we conducted rockfall experiments using seismic networks to investigate tracking and mass estimation issues. Two methods, time-based and amplitude-based source location methods, were used to identify initial rock-ground impact points. The high-fitness areas (>0.95) overlapping between the two methods showed a location error of <8.7 m for initial rock-ground impact points. However, the combined methods could not track bounce points on the slope. To address the limitation, we further defined a seismic energy ratio, a ratio between target and reference stations. When a reference station was far away from rockfall, the rising or decreasing of high-frequency (70–99 Hz) seismic energy ratios reflected the rock approaching or departing from the target station, respectively. Additionally, the peak low-frequency (1–40 Hz) seismic energy ratio of ground stations indicated the timing of the initial rock-ground impact. Successful implementation of these methods depends on optimal station distribution. The study recommends that different source-to-station distances with triangular station geometry and stations at different elevations provide a reliable location determination and straightforward rockfall tracking. Furthermore, the lowest frequency(f L) satisfied the power spectral threshold of −100 dB during the rockfall moving process correlated with the rock mass(M), M = 38,989F L -2.03 with R2 of 0.62. The relation was practical for estimating rockfalls' mass for future monitoring in the same slope. Our experiments demonstrate that this seismic technique can effectively assist in rockfall assessment. • Hybrid time and amplitude-based methods offer reliable results for an initial rock-ground impact point. • A high-frequency seismic energy ratio can tack a rockfall's movement. • A peak of low-frequency seismic energy ratio indicates an initial rock-ground impact point. • The lowest frequency caused by rockfall's bounce or impact is associated with rock mass. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Neural activity varies continually from moment to moment. Such temporal variability (TV) has been highlighted as a functionally specific brain property playing a fundamental role in cognition. We sought to investigate the mechanisms involved in TV changes between two basic behavioral states, namely having the eyes open (EO) or eyes closed (EC) in vivo in humans. To these ends we acquired BOLD fMRI, ASL, and [ 18 F]-fluoro-deoxyglucose PET in a group of healthy participants ( n  = 15), along with BOLD fMRI and [ 18 F]-flumazenil PET in a separate group ( n  = 19). Focusing on an EO- vs EC-sensitive region in the occipital cortex (identified in an independent sample), we show that TV is constrained in the EO condition compared to EC. This reduction is correlated with an increase in energy consumption and with regional GABA A receptor density. This suggests that the modulation of TV by behavioral state involves an increase in overall neural activity that is related to an increased effect from GABAergic inhibition in addition to any excitatory changes. These findings contribute to our understanding of the mechanisms underlying activity variability in the human brain and its control. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective Patients who have experienced a mild traumatic brain injury (mTBI) are susceptible to symptoms of anxiety or depression. To explore the potential biomarkers for emotional disorders in mTBI patients, we analyzed the frequency domain of heart rate variability (HRV) and serum concentrations of four neurohormones. Methods We assessed mTBI patients on their first visit and follow-up. Symptoms were evaluated by the Beck Anxiety Inventory and the Beck Depression Inventory, respectively. Serum levels of adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH), melatonin, cortisol, and insulin-like growth factor (IGF)-1 and HRV follow-ups were measured and compared. Results mTBI patients were more vulnerable to symptoms of anxiety or depression than healthy controls. Reduced HRV was noted in mTBI patients compared to healthy controls. The mTBI patients demonstrated higher serum levels of ACTH, lower IGF-1 compared to healthy controls. In correlation analysis, only IGF-1 was positively correlated with HRV in mTBI patients. Both HRV and IGF-1 were correlated with symptom of depression while only HRV was correlated with symptom of anxiety in mTBI patients. Conclusions We infer that HRV may be more significantly correlated with emotional disorders than is IGF-1 in mTBI patients. Significance The study is relevant for specific diagnostic markers in mTBI patients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Earthquakes can generate seismic disturbances that propagate vast distances and trigger landslides that can achieve high-speeds. It remains difficult to identify the co-seismic ground motion of these landslides and their triggering earthquakes. In this paper, we report on the analysis of co-seismic ground motions generated by the initiating fracture and deposition impact of the Tsaoling landslide. The landslide, with a source volume of 125 × 10 6 m 3 , was triggered by the 1999 Chi-Chi earthquake in Taiwan. The ground motion was recorded by a strong ground motion station, CHY080, near the scar area. The polarization of the seismic waves indicates that the peak acceleration was parallel to the dip direction. Modified ensemble empirical mode decomposition (EEMD), with additional clustering analysis, was applied to decompose the seismic signals. Two instances were found in the seismic records of a series of peculiar wave packets, with the first being associated with the landslide initiation and the second the landslide impact on the deposit valley. To confirm the first landslide breakage, the decomposed signals were compared with the predictions of the analytic elastic wave model and Newmark analysis. The landslide impact was verified with a computational fluid dynamic simulation. Comparison between the EEMD decomposed signals, elastic wave theory, Newmark rigid body analysis, and numerical simulation demonstrates the claimed landslide motion. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

OBJECTIVES: The objective of this research was to develop ethics accreditation standards for hospitals. RESEARCH DESIGN: Our research methods included a literature review, an expert focus group, the Delphi technique and a hospital survey. The entire process was separated into two stages: (1) the development of a draft of hospital ethics accreditation standards; and (2) conducting a nationwide hospital survey of the proposed standards. RESULTS: This study produced a tentative draft of hospital ethics accreditation standards comprised of six chapters and 62 standards based on the expert focus group and Delphi technique. The six chapters are: Medical ethics policies, regulations and leadership; The establishment and operation of a medical ethics committee; The establishment and operation of research-related ethics committees; Medical ethics education; Organisational ethical climate; and Respect for patients' rights and establishment of good hospital-patient relationships. The hospital survey indicated that the concept of an organisational ethical climate was new to most hospital managers, most hospitals disliked the idea of having a separate hospital ethics accreditation system, and small hospitals were concerned about their ability to comply with all of the standards. CONCLUSIONS: Regardless of whether hospital ethics accreditation can be a stand-alone accreditation or just part of existing hospital accreditation programmes, we hope this draft can serve as a good reference for future endeavours by hospital accreditation authorities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Background: Patients suffering head injury in remote islands of Taiwan, which have a shortage of manpower and facilities, depend on EAMS for prompt and definitive treatment. Emergency air medical services are becoming an increasingly important issue in improving the quality of primary care and avoiding medicolegal problems. The purpose of this study was to investigate the characteristics of patients with head injury and use of EAMS. Methods: We reviewed all patients, especially head injury transported by air ambulance from a remote island, Kinmen (400 km from Taiwan Main Island), from January 2001 to December 2003. Data were collected with regard to demographics, disease classification, mechanism of injury, severity of head injury, ventilator use, and mortality rate. Results: A total of 215 patients were transferred, of whom 57 (27%) had head injury. The mean age of patients was 48.6 ± 23.8 years. Males accounted for 72% of the cases (male/female ratio, 2.6:1). Motor-vehicle accidents were the most common mechanism of injury (68%). There were 21 (37%), 20 (35%), and 16 (28%) patients in the minor, moderate, and severe head-injury groups, respectively. Nineteen patients (33%) received mechanical ventilation. The overall mortality rate was 14 % (8/57). In the severe head-injury group, the mortality rate was 44% (7/16). Conclusions: The higher incidence of head injury (26.5%) in EAMS than in ground transportation (19.8%) suggests that preflight assessment and in-flight management of patients conducted by an experienced escort team following guidelines for head injury in EAMS are a very important issue. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

A letter to the editor is presented concerning the interpretation of the fluorodeoxyglucose (FDG) positron emission tomography (PET) in patients with tonsillar lymphoma.

Background: The purpose of this study is to establish teaching hospital accreditation standards anew with the hope that Taiwan's teaching hospitals can live up to the expectations of our society and ensure quality teaching.Methods: The development process lasted two years, 2005-2006, and was separated into three stages. The first stage centered on leadership meetings and consensus building, the second on drafting the new standards with expert focus groups, and the third on a pilot study and subsequent revision.Results: Our new teaching hospital accreditation standards have six categories and 95 standards as follows: educational resources (20 items), teaching and training plans and outcomes (42 items), research and results (9 items), development of clinical faculty and continuing education (8 items), academic exchanges and community education (8 items), and administration (8 items).Conclusions: The new standards have proven feasible and posed reasonable challenges in the pilot study. We hope the new standards will strengthen teaching and research, and improve the quality of hospital services at the same time. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Background: Injury ranked third among the top 10 leading causes of death in Taiwan from 1964 to 1996 and is still among the top 10 presently. Among transportation accidents, motor vehicle–related injury had the highest incidence rate, often resulting in traumatic head injury. Methods: This survey was conducted from July 1, 1994, to June 30, 2002, and was collected from 55 major hospitals in Taiwan. A total of 90250 patients with TBI were enrolled, and 27585 cases were identified to have TIH. In this study, SPSS 10.0 (SPSS, Chicago, Ill) was used to process the data. Regarding the rating model itself, reliability and correlation tests were conducted to calculate the coefficiency, and factor analysis was carried out to verify its validity. Results: The incidence rate of male-to-female ratio was 2.65. Traffic injuries (67.6%) were the leading causes of TIH. Among the traffic injuries, motorcycle-related traumatic injuries had the highest incidence rate (69.6%). In the logistic regression analysis, older patients had the highest risk of developing TIH. Patients without a motorcycle helmet had a higher risk (odds ratio, 1.40) of developing TIH than those with a helmet. As regards the types of injuries, pedestrian injury (odds ratio, 1.61) had the highest risk of developing TIH. Conclusions: Although traffic injuries, especially those caused by motorcycles, are the major cause of intracranial hemorrhage, we have to pay due attention to falling, pedestrian, and bicycle injuries, as these are all major causes of intracranial hemorrhage. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]