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This study presents the meteotsunami behavior in response to different storm types in the coasts of southern Asia-Pacific Ocean from 16 years water level records. Through the size-frequency analysis, the dangerous meteotsunami, wave height exceeding 0.3 m, can occur up to 44 events per year. Notably, during the extreme waves of the 2007 event, wave heights reached approximately 0.9-1.5 m in the Taiwan Strait and the western coastal areas of Taiwan. We have classified storms into six types by radar reflectivity images and satellite-derived precipitation. Findings indicate that predicted wave heights caused by bows and typhoons could reach hazardous magnitude of exceeding 2 m in a 100-yr interval. Spatial and temporal analysis reveals that meteotsunami occurrences are most frequent in the western regions during the winter to early spring months (December to April). Of all meteotsunami occurrences, cluster storms are identified as the most prevalent atmospheric forcing, accounting for 60% of meteostunamis. Typhoons have a 20% association with meteotsunamis along the east coasts of Taiwan during late summer to autumn. On the east coasts, typhoon type-induced events may be attributed to the combination effect of meteotsunamis and infra-gravity waves. Overall, this study provides the first comprehensive examination of meteotsunami-storm characteristics and their associated hazard risks in the coastal areas of the southern Asia-Pacific Ocean. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Patients with Autoimmune Diseases (AD) are at increased risk of complications, which adversely affect the quality of life and prognosis. Recently, a large amount of literature suggested reduced oxidative stress by hydrogen supplements in reducing inflammation and improving prognosis. In this study, clinical trial NCT05196295, we randomly assigned different dosages (low, medium, and high) of hydrogen-rich coral calcium (HRCC) to patients with autoimmune diseases, including Rheumatoid Arthritis (RA) and Systemic Lupus Erythematosus (SLE) patients in Ming-Sheng Hospital in Taiwan (age 54 years, 80% females). Participants were measured with their baseline health biomarkers including inflammatory indicators, haematologic, urinary biomarkers, and health status prior to the trial. Clinical and follow-up assessments were collected after 1 month of the treatment. We performed analyses to compare the baseline with the changes after the HRCC treatment. Together with the groups treated with different dosages, the treatment demonstrated no adverse effects on participants' responses to the HRCC. While the primary endpoint of the trial was met, the potential therapeutic effects of HRCC are addressed for future studies. This clinical trial of HRCC in safety response is the first-in-human study. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

There are many programs and measures in the administrative reform of governments in various countries, where governance related theories are broadly discussed and indeed enhance public administration changing the traditional practice and turn the government into transformation in past years. Government reform in new public management becomes more diffi cult for governments constructing transparent accountability systems. In this case, it is urgent to establish transparent, accountable, and corruption controlled anti-corruption governance strategies for governments' reform. In the process of transforming government administrative reform to governance, it is necessary to establish the core concepts of accountability, openness, transparency, zero-corruption, and high-performance standard. Aiming at employees of Ministry of National Defense in Taiwan, as the empirical objects, total 360 copies of questionnaire are distributed for this study, and 273 valid copies are retrieved, with the retrieval rate 76%. According to the results to propose suggestions, it is expected to help the government draw the goal of transparency in government and promote many measures about anti-corruption to achieve the eff ective utilization of public resources, enhance people's trust in the government, and reinforce government rule legitimacy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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Copyright of International Journal of Educational Psychology is the property of International Journal of Educational Psychology and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Estimates of extreme water level return periods in river systems are crucial for hydraulic engineering design and planning. Recorded historical water level data of Taiwan's rivers are not long enough for traditional frequency analyses when predicting extreme water levels for different return periods. In this study, the integration of a one-dimensional flash flood routing hydrodynamic model with the Monte Carlo simulation was used to predict extreme water levels in the Danshuei River system of northern Taiwan. The numerical model was calibrated and verified with observed water levels using four typhoon events. The results indicated a reasonable agreement between the model simulation and observation data. Seven parameters, including the astronomical tide and surge height at the mouth of the Danshuei River and the river discharge at five gauge stations, were adopted to calculate the joint probability and generate stochastic scenarios via the Monte Carlo simulation. The validated hydrodynamic model driven by the stochastic scenarios was then used to simulate extreme water levels for further frequency analysis. The design water level was estimated using different probability distributions in the frequency analysis at five stations. The design high-water levels for a 200-year return period at Guandu Bridge, Taipei Bridge, Hsin-Hai Bridge, Da-Zhi Bridge, and Chung-Cheng Bridge were 2.90, 5.13, 6.38, 6.05, and 9.94 m, respectively. The estimated design water levels plus the freeboard are proposed and recommended for further engineering design and planning. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Taiwan usually suffers severe inundation disasters during typhoons and strong rainstorms, and therefore flood mitigation is considered an important issue. To assess the effect of the Yuansantze flood diversion tunnel (YFDT) on flood mitigation at the upstream reaches of the Keelung River, a three-dimensional, unstructured grid, Finite-Volume, primitive equation Community Ocean Model (FVCOM) was used. The model was validated with observed data for water levels and inundation extent during different typhoon events. The simulated results show a good agreement with field measurements of water level with three historical typhoon events but underestimated the measured inundation extent with Typhoon Nari. The validated model was then applied to assess the flood mitigation and economic loss with the YFDT. The results demonstrated that the river level decreases approximately 3 m with the YFDT and that the inundation extent decreases by more than 50% in the Ruifang District with YFDT. The YDFT aims to not only mitigate hazards but also reduce economic losses. The average annual expected benefit after construction of the YFDT is approximately 184 million NTD in the Ruifang District. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The epidemiologic profile of ethnic Chinese patients with Dupuytren's disease is unknown. We therefore investigated the epidemiology of Dupuytren's disease using Taiwan's National Health Insurance Research Database. Methods: Patients who filed claims for treatment for Dupuytren's disease between January 2000 and December 2011 were identified in the database. Age- and gender-specific incidences were estimated by dividing the incidence number by population data. Results: We identified 1,078 patients with Dupuytren's disease (681 men, 397 women; male/female ratio: 1:1.72). The annual incidence rate ranged from 0.39-0.63/105 for men and 0.14-0.44/105 for women. A trend analysis revealed a rising trend in the annual incidence from 2001 to 2011 (p = 0.0199). The prevalence rate increased steadily from 0.46/105 in 2000 to 4.52/105 in 2011 (p = 0.0186). The mean age at onset was significantly higher in men than in women (60.7 ± 18.4 vs. 53.7 ± 15.5 years). Peak age at onset for men was 70-79 (28.1%) and for women was 50-59 (33.5%). Men > 60 years old had higher incidence rates than did women (incidence rate ratios: 2.0, 4.5, and 6.6 for those 60-69, 70-79, and = 80, respectively). Hypertension (29.6%), diabetes mellitus (21.9%), hyperlipidemia (14.8%), ischemic heart disease (10.5%), and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (8.0%) were the most common comorbidities. Conclusions: The incidence and prevalence of Dupuytren's disease and the male/female ratio were significantly lower in ethnic Chinese than in Western ethnic groups. Moreover, the age at onset was significantly lower in ethnic Chinese women. However, the incidences of three comorbidities (hypertension, diabetes mellitus, and hyperlipidemia) were similar to those in other ethnicities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A new species of chondracanthid copepod, Parapercicola inflata n. sp., parasitic in the nasal cavity of the red bigeye, Priacanthus macracanthus Cuvier, 1829, caught off the southern coast of Taiwan, is described. This is the second species of a recently established genus, Parapercicola Ho, Liu & Lin, 2011. It is distinguishable from its only known congener, P. formosana Ho, Liu & Lin, 2011, in having in the female (1) a short trunk that is distinctly wider than long, (2) a greatly inflated antennule, (3) a labrum with knobs on the free posterior margin, (4) a less reduced endopod in legs 1 and 2; and in the male in having (5) a spinulose terminal process on the caudal ramus and (6) a maxilliped with a patch of denticles on the second segment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article discusses a study on six species of copepods, Lernanthropidae (Crustacea: Copepoda), that were found parasitic on marine fishes of Taiwan. The species include Lernanthropodes chorinemi Pillai, 1962 on Scomberoides commersonnianus Lacepède (Carangidae); Lernanthropodes trachinoti Pillai, 1962 on Trachinotus blochii (Lacepède) (Carangidae); and Sagum folium sp. nov. on Paracaesio caerulea (Katayama). It also provides a key to the 18 lernanthropid species from Taiwan.

Six species of Chondracanthidae (Copepoda, Poecilostomatoida) parasitic on flatfishes of Taiwan are reported. They are ectoparasites attaching to the host's gill filaments. The species of parasites and their hosts are: Bactrochondria formosana n. sp. on Paraplagusia bilineata (Bloch, 1787); B. longitruncus (Yamaguti, 1939) on P. japonica (Temminck & Schlegel, 1846); B. tuase n. sp. on P. blochii (Bleeker, 1851); Ceratochondria brevicollis (Krøyer, 1863) on Pseudorhombus arsius (Hamilton, 1822) and P. oligodon (Bleeker, 1954); Heterochondria longicephalus (Yü & Wu, 1932) on P. arsius, P. neglectus Bleeker, 1865, and P. oligodon; and Heterochondria sp. on P. oligodon. Chondracanthus cynoglottidis Thompson & A. Scott, 1903 is moved to the genus Heterochondria Yü, 1935. Literature search on the flatfish-parasitizing chondracanthids revealed that (1) flatfishes of the Far East do not carry species of Chondracanthus on the one hand and rarely harbour species of Acanthochondria, on the other; (2) although Bothidae is the most speciose family, only one of its 163 members carries a chondracanthid parasite; (3) Paralichthyidae carry the heaviest burden of chondracanthid parasites, with 22 species of its members carrying 17 species of chondracanthids; and (4) Pseudorhombus of the family Paralichthyidae carry nine species of chondracanthids classified in five genera (Bereacanthus, Ceratochondria, Heterochondria, Pseudoblias, and Pseudochondracanthus), and all of them are parasitic on the host's gill filaments. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A three-dimensional hydrodynamic model was created to study the Danshuei River estuarine system and adjacent coastal ocean in Taiwan. The model was verified using measurements of the time-series water surface elevation, tidal current, and salinity from 1999. We conclude that our model is consistent with these observations. Our particle-tracking model was also used to explore the transport of particles released from the Hsin-Hai Bridge, an area that is heavily polluted. The results suggest that it takes a much longer time for the estuary to be flushed out under low freshwater discharge conditions than with high freshwater discharge. We conclude that the northeast and southwest winds minimally impact particle dispersion in the estuary. The particles fail to settle to the bottom in the absence of density-induced circulation. Our model was also used to simulate the ocean outfall at the Bali. Our experimental results suggest that the tidal current dominates the particle trajectories and influences the transport properties in the absence of a wind stress condition. The particles tend to move northeast or southwest along the coast when northeast or southwest winds prevail. Our data suggest that wind-driven currents and tidal currents play important roles in water movement as linked with ocean outfall in the context of the Danshuei River. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The objective of this study was to investigate the spatio-temporal difference of larval fish assemblages related to the local hydrographic features during (winter) and after (spring) northeasterly monsoon in the waters around Taiwan. A total of 426 taxa of larval fish belonging to 213 genera and 109 families were recognized in our samples. Larval fish abundances in the two seasons were similar, but species composition showed significant differences and the species composition was more diverse in spring than in winter. Multi-dimensional scaling analysis revealed two seasonal station groups. Higher abundance and lower species diversity generally were found in waters west of Taiwan where the China Coastal Current prevails, and an opposite trend was observed in the waters east of Taiwan where the Kuroshio Current dominates. The distribution patterns in abundance and species assemblages were closely linked with the hydrographic conditions, and well matched with abundance of phyto- and zooplankton. Food availability may be another important factor affecting the distribution of larval fish assemblages in the waters around Taiwan. In addition, the intrusion of the Kuroshio Branch Current may bring larvae of some fish species into the Taiwan Strait in spring. The succession of water masses induced by the monsoon may also affect the distribution patterns of larval fish assemblages in the waters around Taiwan. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

We examined how tidal changes and which physical factors affected holo- and meroplankton assemblages in a subtropical estuary in Taiwan in February 1999. A factor analysis showed that during tidal flooding, the water mass properties changed from low salinity (5–16) and high particulate organic carbon (POC, 2.6–4.5 mg L−1) content to increasing salinity and high total suspended matter content (29.0–104.5 mg L−1). With a receding tide, the water became more saline again, and its velocity increased (from non-detectable to 0.67 m s−1). One-way ANOVA showed that the distributions of four dominant taxa were affected by the ebb tide and exhibited two distinct groups. The first group consisted of non-motile invertebrate eggs and weakly swimming polychaete sabellid embryos and larvae (at densities of 1.25–1.40 ind. L−1), while the second consisted of better-swimming copepods and polychaete spionid larvae (at densities of 0.70–1.65 ind. L−1). A canonical correlation analysis demonstrated that the former group occurred at sites with greater freshwater input, higher POC content and greater depth, whereas the latter group was significantly associated with sites subject to seawater and faster flows. We propose that a two-layered circulation process and tidally induced oscillations in water movements might account for the distributional differences between these two groups. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

The purpose of this study was to develop a tool for the optimal placement strategy of structural best management practices (BMPs) at the watershed scale. It consists of three interacting components: a simplified BMPs simulation model, a zero-dimensional reservoir water quality model (unsteady, time-variable Vollenweider model), and an optimization model (genetic algorithms). A posttreatment program that combines BMP simulation, channel routing, reservoir water quality models, and genetic algorithms was developed. Both total suspended solids and total phosphorus were taken into account, and three types of BMPs were considered. By changing the constraints, three scenarios were analyzed in this study. The total phosphorus concentration should satisfy oligotrophic, mesotrophic, and eutrophic conditions, while the total suspended solids concentration should be kept below 25 mg/L. This study analyzes three different time-scale scenarios: short term (March 28, 2003 to April 14, 2003), long term (2002–2003), and design storms (2-year/2-h and 5-year/4-h). Near optimal solutions found in this study were compared with former research on the Fei-Tsui Reservoir watershed. For future detailed planning and designing, decision makers or designers can adopt the BMPs placement strategies developed in this study. Several nonstructural BMPs are also suggested as sound alternatives for nonpoint source pollution control when there are topographic and land ownership problems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article discusses research on the zooplankton distribution patterns along the riverine, estuarine and marine parts of the Danshuei ecosystem in Northern Taiwan. It references a study by Jiang-Shiou Hwang at the National Taiwan Ocean University Institute of Marine Biology, and his colleagues, published in an issue of "Zoological Studies." The researchers examined the abundance and spatiotemporal distributions of mesozooplankton diversity as well as the estimated levels of ammonia to indicate water quality at five different stations in Taipei City. They conclude that marine zooplankton contributes significantly to the estuarine portion of the ecosystem in Danshuei.

This work focused on developing an approach for laboratory sediment oxygen demand (SOD) experiments conducted with undisturbed sediment core samples, where the measured results were incorporated into a water quality model to simulate the dissolved oxygen (DO) distribution in the main Danshuei River estuary of northern Taiwan. Measured results reveal that a higher freshwater discharge results in a lower SOD and that the SOD during the spring tide is lower than that during the neap tide. Throughout a 1-year observation, the measured SOD ranged from 0.63 to 1.81 g/m2/day at the temperature of 20°C, which is within the usual range compared with other systems. Mean values of the measured SOD at each station were adopted in a vertical (laterally averaged) two-dimensional water quality model to simulate the DO distribution along the main stream of the Danshuei River estuary. Modeling results accurately reflect the field-measured DO distribution during the dry and wet seasons. Model sensitivity analyses were also conducted with increasing and decreasing SODs for the dry and wet seasons. The present work with field measurements and numerical modeling will assist in estuarine water quality management in tidal estuaries. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Monitoring data collected from the Mingder Reservoir in Taiwan indicate that the water quality is between mesotrophic and eutrophic. Chlorophyll a concentration is higher in the summer and anoxic conditions occur in the bottom. The data also reveal that a pronounced vertical thermal gradient in summer and vertical mixing the end of fall. A vertical two-dimensional, laterally averaged hydrodynamic and water quality model (CE-QUAL-W2) was adopted to simulate the water surface elevation, water temperature, and water quality conditions in the water column. The modeling effort was supported with monitoring data collected in the field for a 2-year period in the reservoir. The hydrodynamic model reproduced the time series water surface elevation. Spatial and temporal distributions of temperature in the water column of the reservoir were also well reproduced by the hydrodynamic model. Model-calculated concentrations of key water quality constituents such as nutrients, dissolved oxygen, and algal biomass matched the measured values closely in the reservoir. The calibrated model was then applied to simulate water quality response to various nutrient reduction scenarios. Results of the model scenario runs reveal that a 20% and 80% reduction of the phosphorus loads will improve the water quality from eutrophic to mesotrophic and oligotrophic conditions, respectively. The modeling effort has yielded valuable information that can be used by decision makers for the evaluation of different management strategies of reducing watershed nutrient loads. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Keelung River is one of the major branches of the Danshuei River estuarine system, which runs the metropolitan capital city of Taipei, Taiwan, and receives a large of amount of wastewater. The dissolved oxygen (DO) concentration is generally low in the tidal portion of the Keelung River. Hypoxia/anoxia occurs often, particularly during a low-flow period. The sediment oxygen demand (SOD) amounts to a significant value, hence increasing the total oxygen demand load of the river. The present work reports on laboratory SOD made on grab sediment core samples in situ that are undisturbed. The results reveal that SOD values fluctuate with variations in seasons and are higher in summer due to a high-temperature effect. It was found in the laboratory tests that the average SOD (at 20 °C) value is 0.76 g/m2/day and the maximum SOD (at 20 °C) value reaches 1.58 g/m2/day. The mean values of measured SOD at each station were adopted in the vertical two-dimensional water quality model to simulate the DO distribution along the tidal Keelung River. The simulated results are in reasonable agreement with the measured DO distribution in the river. Model sensitivity analyses were also conducted with increasing and decreasing SOD. It reveals that SOD is an important parameter that affects the DO distribution in the tidal estuary. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article discusses the use of a three-dimensional salinity and hydrologic model of the Danshuei River estuarine system and adjacent coastal sea in Taiwan. The model uses data from tidal elevations, salinity, bottom roughness and turbulence. It was verified and calibrated using salinity distributions in a time series. According to the authors, the extensive saltwater intrusion induces a strong residual circulation in the estuary and the downriver velocity in the upper layer increases. This could be the result of deep bathymetric features near the Kuan Du station.

To comprehend the distributions of salinity, temperature, and suspended sediment in the Danshuei River estuary in Taiwan, monthly field surveys were conducted in 2003. These included several high and low slackwater surveys and intensive surveys. The results show that the Danshuei River estuary is predominately a partially mixed estuary. The highest concentration of suspended sediment is typically observed at the Chung-Hsin Bridge, the most upstream sampling station. The suspended sediment concentration exhibits a general decreasing trend in the downstream direction. It may be concluded that the sediments mostly come from the upstream reach. A locally high concentration of suspended sediment is found at the Kuan-Du station because of the local deep channel bathymetry and two-layered estuarine circulation. A vertical two-dimensional hydrodynamic and sediment transport model is applied to investigate the tidally averaged salinity distribution, residual circulation, and suspended sediment concentration. The modeling results reveal that, under the Q75 flow condition (i.e., low flow), a turbidity maximum occurs at the Kuan-Du station due to the strong estuarine circulation. The model simulation with a much higher river flow condition results in a weaker residual circulation and weaker turbidity maximum. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A vertical (laterally integrated) two-dimensional numerical model was applied to study the salt water intrusion in the Tanshui River estuarine system, Taiwan. The river system has experienced dramatic changes in the past half century because of human intervention. The construction of two reservoirs and water diversion in the upper reaches of the river system significantly reduces the freshwater inflow. The land subsidence within the Taipei basin and the enlargement of the river constriction at Kuan-Du have lowered the river bed. Both changes have contributed farther to the intrusion of tidal flow and salt water in the upstream direction. The model was reverified with the earliest available hydrographic data measured in 1977. The overall performance of the model is in reasonable agreement with the field data. The model was then used to investigate the change in salt water intrusion as a result of reservoir construction and bathymetric changes in the river system. The model simulation study reveals that significant salinity increases have resulted from the combined changes. It has been speculated by ecological researchers that the long-term increase in salinity might be the driving force altering the aquatic ecosystem structure in the lower reach of the estuary and the Kuan-Du mangrove swamp, particularly the enlargement of the mangrove area and the disappearance of freshwater marshes. However, concrete proof has not been available since no prototype salinity data were available prior to the reservoir construction. This case study offers the first quantitative estimate of the salinity changes due to human interference in this natural system. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Field data collected from the Feitsui Reservoir in Taiwan indicate that the water is at a stage between mesotrophic and eutrophic. Recent measurements such as total phosphorus, chlorophyll a and Secchi depth levels suggest that the water quality has been declining. A two-dimensional, laterally averaged, finite difference hydrodynamic and water quality model was used to simulate the water quality in the Feitsui Reservoir in an effort to determine sound water quality management strategies. The model was calibrated and verified using data collected in 1996 and 1997. The calibrated model was used to simulate algal biomass (in terms of chlorophyll a) levels under various wasteload reduction scenarios. Model results show that 50 percent reduction of the total phosphorus load will improve the existing water quality, shifting the trophic status from eutrophic/mesotrophic to oligotrophic. The modeling effort has yielded valuable information that can be used by decision makers for the evaluation of different management strategies of reducing watershed nutrient loads. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Examines the effect of freshwater discharges on the salinity distribution in the Tanshui River estuary system in Taiwan. Turbulent diffusion coefficients; Freshwater inflows to the river; Hydrodynamic properties of the river.

Analyzes the residual current and salinity distributions in the Tanshui River estuary in Taiwan. Components of current velocity; Response of residual circulation to different levels of river discharges; Response of residual circulation to the spring-neap cycle of tidal variation.