Search

We sequenced and assembled the complete mitochondrial genome of Philus pallescens from Madou, Tainan County, Taiwan. The complete mitogenome of P. pallescens is 15,750 bp long, and contains 13 protein-coding, 22 tRNA and two rDNA genes. Nucleotide compositions of the mitogenome of P. pallescens are A: 38.08%, T: 32.25%, C: 18.67%, and G: 11.00%. The AT and GC skewness of the mitogenome sequence were 0.0828 and −0.25845 respectively, showing the genome composition skewed toward adenine and cytosine. The phylogenetic position of Chrysomelidae is sister to all the other families in the superfamily Chrysomeloidea. The results indicate that Chrysomeloidea Cerambycidae is not a monophyletic group. Philus is phylogenetically close to Spiniphilus. Vesperidae is monophyletic and sister to Disteniidae. Mitogenomic data from this study will provide useful information for further studies on the population genetics, speciation, and pest management of P. pallescens. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the present report, we described the complete mitochondrial genome of Euwallacea fornicatus from Sindien, New Taipei City, Taiwan. The length of the complete mitogenome of E. fornicatus is 15,743 bp and the mitogenome contains 13 protein-coding, 22 tRNA and two rDNA genes. Nucleotide compositions of the whole mitogenome are 39.41% for A, 33.84% for T, 16.64% for C, and 10.11% for G. The AT and GC skewness of mitogenome sequence was 0.076 and -0.244, showing the A-skew and Cskew. The reconstructed phylogenetic relationships of 33 Curculionid species based on 13 mitochondrial protein-coding genes received absolute support (100%). Euwallacea fornicates is sister to the rest species in Xyleborini. The phylogenetic position of Scolytinae is sister to the clade including Cucurlioninae, Molytinae and Cryptorhynchinae. Mitogenomic data from this study will provide useful information for further studies for the population genetics, invasive history and pest control of E. fornicatus in the future. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this article, we describe the complete mitochondrial genome of Neotermes koshunensis from the Pingtung County, Taiwan. This mitogenome is 15,589 bp long, containing 13 protein-coding genes, 22 tRNA genes, and 2 rDNA genes. Nucleotide composition of the whole mitogenome is 42.86% for A, 25.42% for T, 19.65% for C, and 12.07% for G. The AT and GC skewness of mitogenomic sequences are 0.255 and −0.239, showing the A-skew and C-skew. Neotermes koshunensis grouped within the clade including the other nine Kalotermitidae species was well supported. The phylogenetic position of Kalotermitidae is sister to Neoisoptera (including Termitidae, Rhinotermitidae, Serritermitidae, and Stylotermitidae) in the current phylogenetic analysis. Mitogenomic data from this study will provide useful information for further studies on the phylogeny of Kalotermitidae. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study seeks to assess the implications of the social use of information and communication technologies (ICTs) for online political participation. Past research investigating the link between ICTs and political participation has emphasized the informational use of ICTs, overlooking their communication-enabling potentials for facilitating political talk in interpersonal spaces and subsequently, political participation in public domains. To understand further how ICTs as a means of communication may relate to political participation, we use data from the 2008 Taiwan Social Change Survey (N = 1076) to examine the relationship between the Internet and online political participation by looking at online media use for social interaction and engagement in civic talk online. Our findings suggest that interpersonal factors such as online civic talk and media multiplexity are positively associated with online political participation. Individuals who discuss politics with their friends via the Internet and those who use more types of online media for social interaction are more likely to contact legislators and elected officials directly via the Web and articulate their political thoughts in online public spaces such as forums, blogs, and websites of news media. We further offer an assessment of the findings' implications for political participation, political communication, and digital inequality. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We sequenced and assembled the complete mitochondrial genome of Mnais tenuis from Darshi, Taoyuan County, Taiwan. The complete mitogenome of M. tenuis is 15,131 bp long, and contains 13 protein-coding, 22 tRNA, and two rDNA genes. Nucleotide compositions of the mitogenome of the M. tenuis are A: 40.08%, T: 25.47%, C: 20.38%, and G: 14.07%. The AT and GC skewness of the mitogenome sequence was 0.2228 and −0.183, showing the A-skew and C-skew. The clade including M. tenuis and all the other Odonata species received absolute support (100%). The phylogenetic position of Anisozygoptera is sister to Anisoptera. Mnais is phylogenetically close to Psolodesmus. Mitogenomic data from this study will provide useful information for further studies for the population genetics, speciation and conservation of M. tenuis in the future. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

SUMMARY Exterior partially infilled walls of RC condominium buildings are often monolithically cast with beams and/or columns in Taiwan. In practice, they are regarded as non-structural elements in usual structural design, and only their weight is conservatively considered. In this study, effects of three common types of exterior partially infilled walls on the progressive collapse potential of an RC building are investigated. Linear and nonlinear static analyses under different column-loss scenarios are carried out. Analysis results indicate that influence of the partially infilled walls differs from each type. Changes in the demand-to-capacity ratios indicate that without considering the walls, the moment demand of beams may be overestimated. However, their shear demand may be underestimated, especially with the panel-type walls. Meanwhile, they may increase the collapse resistance of the building frame under column loss but with decreased ductility capacity. From the structural aspect, with a constant opening rate of 60%, the wing-type wall is a better option than the parapet- and panel-type walls. The panel-type wall appears to be the worst choice since shear failure of their connected beam members may be induced. Copyright © 2011 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Summary: Background: Fatigue among older patients and cancer patients is often reported in the literatures. However, relatively few studies can conclude whether fatigue happens more frequently in older patients with advanced cancer. We designed our study to examine the prevalence and features of fatigue among older advanced cancer patients in Taiwan. Methods: Because self-reporting from patients is the most effective method to measure fatigue, the instrument of International Classification of Diseases-10 criteria for fatigue was applied. The questionnaire was translated to Chinese and approved by experts. Patients were collected from a palliative clinic or ward. Results: Two hundred patients were interviewed between October 21, 2008, and October 28, 2009. There were 187 patients (93.5%) complaining of fatigue, and 130 of them (65%) met the criteria of cancer-related fatigue (CRF). Among the patients who were older than 65 years, 69 (92%) felt fatigue subjectively and 53 (71%) met the criteria of CRF. Feeling weak or heavy, having difficulty finishing something that had been started, and losing the interest or desire to the things that were usually done were more frequently seen among older cancer patients who experienced fatigue. Older cancer patients with CRF had a significantly higher incidence of feeling weak or heavy all over. Conclusion: High incidence of fatigue among older patients with advanced cancer was noted. Fatigue in this population was related to physical and psychosocial factors. Physical factor plays an important role in older cancer patients with CRF. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Simple Summary: The longan lanternfly, Pyrops candelaria (L.), was recently introduced to Taiwan, and the ongoing spreading of the species may have an impact on native fauna, flora, and environment. The adult of this species is known to prefer the longan tree as a host; however, the preferred host plants for the immature stages have not yet been determined until this study. Thus, we aimed to (1) determine the host range for egg-laying, (2) verify the host plants preferred by nymphs, and (3) analyze the shift of host ranges with different developmental stages. Triadica sebifera (L.) Small is the main host plant for nymphs according to our investigations in different locations around northern Taiwan. The results of this study provide great strategic value for decision-makers to allow for effective control of the target tree species. The longan lanternfly, Pyrops candelaria (L.), has been invading mainland Taiwan since 2018, but the distribution of the species has been confined to northern Taiwan until now. The manual removal of the adult insects from the longan is still the main control strategy because of the uncertainty around other key host plants, especially for eggs and nymphs. In this study, large numbers of eggs and nymphs were found on Triadica sebifera (L.) Small and Acacia confusa Merr. The occurrence of immature individuals on Triadica sebifera increased with developmental stage from eggs to the last instar from May to July 2021. On 30 April, the first egg mass was recorded. More egg masses were recorded in May, and some could be found in July. In May, only two younger instars were detected. Third and fourth instars began to appear from June, while the fifth instar was mainly recorded from July onwards. The results of this study provide great strategic value for decision-makers to allow for effective control of the target tree species. For now, we proved that longan and pomelo trees, preferred by adults, are not the key hosts for the immature stages of this insect, because few immature individuals were found on them. Therefore, we suggest that the existence of Triadica sebifera should be considered when analyzing possible spreading areas of this invasive lanternfly in Taiwan. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study examined the occurrence of diabetes and sustainable risk factors in residents aged 30 and above of a community in Taoyuan County, Taiwan. The main purpose of this research was to explore the correlations between related variables and the occurrence of diabetes. The demographic variables, health exam variables, healthy behavior variables, and environmental variables had obvious impacts on the risk of diabetes. As age increased, the risk of developing the disease also increased; higher educational levels lowered risk, while unemployment raised it. Also, analysis of the health exam variables showed that abnormal BMIs, waist-hip ratios, and body fat percentages had significant impacts on individuals' risk of diabetes. Moreover, it was found that smoking affected the risk of having diabetes: smokers, particularly male smokers, had a relatively higher risk of developing the disease. Lastly, the results showed that exposure to second-hand smoke did not have a significant effect on the diabetes proportion in the male population. However, a significantly higher proportion of females who had been exposed to second-hand smoke had diabetes.

This study proposed the optimal parameter settings for the hospital supply chain system (HSCS) when either the total system cost (TSC) or patient safety level (PSL) (or both simultaneously) was considered as the measure of the HSCS's performance. Four parameters were considered in the HSCS: safety stock, maximum inventory level, transportation capacity, and the reliability of the HSCS. A full-factor experimental design was used to simulate an HSCS for the purpose of collecting data. The response surface method (RSM) was used to construct the regression model, and a genetic algorithm (GA) was applied to obtain the optimal parameter settings for the HSCS. The results show that the best method of obtaining the optimal parameter settings for the HSCS is the simultaneous consideration of both the TSC and the PSL to measure performance. Also, the results of sensitivity analysis based on the optimal parameter settings were used to derive adjustable strategies for the decision-makers.