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In 2014 and 2015, Southern Taiwan experienced two unprecedented outbreaks, with more than 10,000 laboratory-confirmed dengue cases in each outbreak. The present study was aimed to investigate the influence of meteorological and spatial factors on dengue outbreaks in Southern Taiwan and was conducted in Kaohsiung City, which is the most affected area in Taiwan. The distributed lag nonlinear model was used to investigate the role of climatic factors in the 2014 and 2015 dengue outbreaks. Spatial statistics in the Geographic Information System was applied to study the relationship between the dengue spreading pattern and locations of traditional markets (human motility) in the 2015 dengue outbreak. Meteorological analysis results suggested that the relative risk of dengue fever increased when the weekly average temperature was more than 15°C at lagged weeks 5 to 18. Elevated relative risk of dengue was observed when the weekly average rainfall was more than 150 mm at lagged weeks 12 to 20. The spatial analysis revealed that approximately 83% of dengue cases were located in the 1000 m buffer zone of traditional market, with statistical significance. These findings support the influence of climatic factors and human motility on dengue outbreaks. Furthermore, the study analysis may help authorities to identify hotspots and decide the timing for implementation of dengue control programs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study proposes the use of cradle-to-cradle production programming for waste furniture and aims to achieve optimal efficiency by reusing waste furniture and maximizing the corresponding benefits so that the furniture industry is in line with cradle-to-cradle manufacturing. This study is increasingly important to manage products through a comprehensive green reverse logistics system that consists of three procedures, i.e., recycling, reuse, and remanufacturing of waste items. This study proposes a mathematical formula to establish a cradle-to-cradle production programming model for waste furniture. The fuzzy set theory is used to define the attributes that reflect production and market demands such as degree of damage, technical feasibility, market demands, environmental protection laws and regulations, and environmental performance. In addition, particle swarm optimization is adopted to ascertain the optimal profit from waste furniture sales. Through situational simulations and analyses, the fuzzy set information from Taiwan, Germany, and China is compared. The result reveals that the qualitative information proposed has a significant impact on the profit of waste furniture reuse. The production model can effectively assist in the production programming of waste furniture, thereby optimizing profit for cradle-to-cradle production planning. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose. To report the epidemiological and clinical data as well as surgical outcomes of canalicular lacerations with Mini-Monoka insertion at a tertiary center in Taiwan and to discuss differences in traumatic pattern, pathogenesis, and surgical outcomes between Taiwan and other countries. Methods. From 2009 to 2018, all 48 patients who underwent canalicular laceration repair with Mini-Monoka stent at a tertiary center in Taiwan were retrospectively analyzed. Demographic and clinical data and surgical outcomes were recorded. Results. The mean age of the 48 patients was 38 years. Single lower canaliculus was involved in 37 (77.1%) patients, upper canaliculus in 10 (20.8%) patients, and both in 1 (2.1%) patient. The most common etiology was motorcycle accident (41.7%), and all traffic accident injuries accounted for 68.75% of cases. Subgroup classification revealed 64.6% of patients (n=31) were categorized in the deep laceration group, and lower anatomical and functional outcomes were noted in deep laceration. The mean follow-up time was 14.5 months. Overall, the anatomical success rate was 87.5%, and the functional success rate was 91.7% after stent removal. Conclusion. Canalicular laceration caused by traffic accidents occurred with a relatively high frequency in Taiwan. Affected patients tended to be middle-aged, and deep laceration accounted for 64.6% of patients. These were contributed by the avulsive eyelid injury mechanism caused by traffic accidents. Furthermore, the deeper lacerated site was located, and the lower anatomical and functional success rates were observed. Early repair after trauma with Mini-Monoka stents achieved good eyelid position (100%) as well as good anatomical (87.5%) and functional (91.7%) success without serious complication. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Qigong is a gentle exercise that promotes health and well-being. This study evaluated the acute physiological and psychological effects of one session of qigong exercise in older practitioners. A total of 45 participants (mean age, 65.14 years) were recruited. Meridian electrical conductance, State-Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI), heart rate variability (HRV), and Short Form 36 (SF-36) were evaluated and compared before and after one session of qigong exercise. The results revealed that the electrical conductance of all meridians, except spleen and bladder meridians, increased significantly (p<0.05). Compared with baseline values, upper to lower body ratio and sympathetic/vagal index were significantly improved and closer to 1 (p=0.011 and p=0.007, resp.). STAI-S and STAI-T scores decreased significantly (p<0.001 and p=0.001, resp.). The RR interval of HRV decreased significantly (p=0.035), a significant positive correlation was observed between kidney meridian electrical conductance and SF-36 physical scores (r=0.74, p=0.018), and a positive correlation was observed between pericardium meridian electrical conductance and SF-36 mental scores (r=0.50, p=0.06). In conclusion, one session of qigong exercise increased meridian electrical conductance, reduced anxiety, and improved body and autonomic nervous system balance. These findings provide scientific evidence for acute physiological and psychological effects of qigong exercise in older practitioners. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Second-generation antipsychotics (SGA) augmentation treatment has showed better efficacy in patients with major depressive disorder (MDD). However, the association between SGA and diabetes mellitus (DM) in MDD patients deserves further investigation. The study aimed to examine the risk of new onset type II DM in MDD patients receiving SGA treatment.Methods: From the Psychiatric Inpatient Medical Claim Dataset, MDD patients treated with SGA continuously for more than 8 weeks were analyzed in a 1:1 propensity score matched pair sample to 1,049 patients that had never been treated with SGA. Patients were followed up to 5 years based on ICD-9 CM codes indicating incident type II DM. Cumulative incidences of type II DM were calculated and the Cox proportional hazards model with competing risk was applied to determine the risk factors for type II DM onset.Results: Cumulative incidences of new-onset type II DM between the two groups were similar. Use of SGA showed no significant increase in risk for new-onset type II DM (hazard ratio [HR] = 0.898; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.605-1.334; P-value = 0.596). Increased risk for type II DM was shown to be associated with aging (per year) (HR = 1.039; 95% CI, 1.026-1.053; P-value < 0.001) and history of hyperlipidemia (HR = 2.323; 95% CI, 1.469-3.675; P-value < 0.001).Conclusions: This study indicated that there is no significant difference in the risk of developing type II DM between MDD patients with and without SGA exposure. More studies focused on the benefit-risk assessment of SGA treatment in patients with MDD are warranted. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study integrates cone-beam computed tomography (CBCT)/laser scan image superposition, computer-aided design (CAD), and 3D printing (3DP) to develop a technology for producing customized dental (orthodontic) miniscrew surgical templates using polymer material. Maxillary bone solid models with the bone and teeth reconstructed using CBCT images and teeth and mucosa outer profile acquired using laser scanning were superimposed to allow miniscrew visual insertion planning and permit surgical template fabrication. The customized surgical template CAD model was fabricated offset based on the teeth/mucosa/bracket contour profiles in the superimposition model and exported to duplicate the plastic template using the 3DP technique and polymer material. An anterior retraction and intrusion clinical test for the maxillary canines/incisors showed that two miniscrews were placed safely and did not produce inflammation or other discomfort symptoms one week after surgery. The fitness between the mucosa and template indicated that the average gap sizes were found smaller than 0.5 mm and confirmed that the surgical template presented good holding power and well-fitting adaption. This study addressed integrating CBCT and laser scan image superposition; CAD and 3DP techniques can be applied to fabricate an accurate customized surgical template for dental orthodontic miniscrews. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]