Hungkuang University Research Articles

The Social Participation Practice Process of University and Community Collaboration to Promote Local Development in Taichung City

Abstract Wuqi District is located along the coastline of Taichung City. In the past, fishing was the main industry. However, the region now faces issues such as population outflow and aging. Although resources such as the Taichung Harbor Transformation Plan, the Mitsui Outlet Mall, and the Farglory Group Township Project have been developed in recent years, this has also impacted Wuqi’s community and residents’ lives. Therefore, constructing a suitable social practice model in Wuqi, one based on the local cultural background, is important for further assisting local development. Hungkuang University, located near Wuqi district, has been actively promoting social responsibility in recent years and has launched the Local Care Project for the Old Town of Wuqi District, aiming to assist local development. This article assesses the driving process and challenges for this development through participatory observation and interviews, and aims to propose ways to promote social responsibility in the future.

Dry, wet depositions for ambient air nitrate, sulfate, and chloride ionic species at mixed (traffic, commercial, and residential) sampling sites in Central Taiwan

This research was focused on the measurements of ambient air pollutants species (Cl−, NO3−, and SO42−) concentrations of wet and dry depositions by using PS-1 (TSP), dry depositions plate and wet depositions tub at mixed (traffic, commercial, and residential) sampling sites. Lu-Liao, characterized by traffic, commercial and residential sites, was selected as the dry deposition measurement site. Hungkuang University, characterized by a traffic site, was selected as the wet deposition collection site. At the Luliao site, the results indicated that the average ionic species (Cl−, NO3−, and SO42−) concentrations were 12.86, 25.58, and 18.37 μg/m3, respectively, in winter and 2.94, 11.37, and 14.09 μg/m3, respectively in spring. The average ionic species (Cl−, NO3−, and SO42−) dry depositions were 284.43, 1808.50, and 412.93 μg/m2 min, respectively, in winter and 147.66, 109.59, and 415.44 μg/m2 min, respectively, in spring. As for the monthly Cl−, NO3−, and SO42− volume weighted mean (VWM) concentrations at the Hungkuang site, the results for January were 5.64, 4.41, and 10.13 mg/L, for May were 0.45, 1.98, and 2.09 mg/L, for June were 0.76, 1.39, and 2.46 mg/L, and for July were 1.83, 2.97, and 5.84 mg/L. The monthly Cl−, NO3−, and SO42− Fw (Fluxwet deposition) at the same site were 355.41, 277.63, and 638.15 mg/m2 month, respectively, for January; 17.01, 99.03, and 362.05 mg/m2 month, respectively, for May; 99.03, 181.18, and 319.45 mg/m2 month, respectively, for June; and 362.05, 587.86, and 1156.49 mg/m2 month, respectively, for July. SO42− had the highest VWM and Fw values when compared with the other ionic species, Cl− and NO3−. The highest VWM values for all ionic species (Cl−, NO3−, and SO42−) all occurred in winter.

Participatory Design among College Youths and Rural Areas

Following the tendency of urbanization and commercial development, people migrate to urban areas to seek for better opportunities that rural areas lose the vast majority of young population and only elders remain. These villages suffer serious recessions continually and lack of inputs from public resources. Therefore the authorities devote new programs to improving rural regenerations. Apart from the rural regeneration plan 2011, a rural migratory plan of college youths Touch Rural Village - How Touching has been activated at the same time. Five sophomores from Department of Cultural and Creative Industries, HungKuang University enrolled the contest of Touch Rural Village - How Touching held by Soil and Water Conservation Bureau in 2014. The classic community development procedure was not applied by these students, but a new vision from non-spatial training background was adopted to determine a new development axis and target thus to propel people and surrounding within the village. This report illustrates the targets, process and results of Touch Rural Village - How Touching. Hopefully the observations and conversations from this differential procedure provide innovative concepts that a future integrative application would contribute to a premised conversation in terms of creative design, solutions and action strategies.

Assessing the mobility of the mandibular condyle by sonography.

PurposeTraditionally, the measurement of the maximal mouth opening was regarded as the mobility of the temporomandibular joint. The information, however, was not reliable. Sonography was often used to diagnose disc displacement in the temporomandibular joint and its validity was well established. The tool was also appropriate for measuring the outcome of temporomandibular disorders management. Therefore, the purpose of the study was to examine completely the reliability and error for evaluating the mobility of the mandibular condyle by sonography. In addition, the existing methods were modified to improve the repeatability.Patients and methodsThe reliability examinations included between-image and within-image explorations to represent the reliabilities of the image capturing and the mobility measuring, respectively. Sixty-two subjects were recruited to receive ultrasonic examination for condylar mobility. The images of the condyle in mouth closing and opening were captured and the horizontal displacement of the condyles was measured as the anterior translation of the condyle. To confirm that the probe did not move during mouth opening, a marker was placed between the skin and the ultrasonic probe as the landmark.ResultsThe results demonstrated that the intrarater and interrater reliabilities in the within-image test were 0.986 and 0.970 and the reliabilities in the between-image test were 0.904 and 0.857, respectively. The standard errors of measurement in the within-image and between-image tests were 0.04 cm and 0.09 cm, respectively.ConclusionSonography is a reliable tool to assess condylar mobility and can be used to measure the treatment outcome for temporomandibular disorders.

Teachers’ Beliefs in Teaching English for Kids at a Kindergarten: A Case Study of Students from the Department of Applied English

The main purpose of this study was to explore the changes in teachers’ beliefs before and after teachings among four students from the Department of Applied English at Hungkuang University, who were conducting English teaching at a kindergarten. Teacher’s beliefs included four aspects in terms of English teaching, teacher-student interaction in class, curriculum planning and English learning. The study results revealed that before and after teachings, there were no significant differences in teachers’ beliefs between the aspects of English teaching (e.g. teaching resources and the preparation of lesson plan) and English learning (e.g. understanding of the kids’ learning conditions). Inconsistent viewpoints in the beliefs of teacher-student interaction in class and curriculum planning were reported. Constructive suggestions to the curriculum plans for Module of Teaching Children English at the Department of Applied English were proposed for assisting students interested in teaching children English and undertaking further research on this topic.

The effectiveness of essential oils for patients with neck pain: a randomized controlled study.

To assess the efficacy of aromatic essential oils on neck pain. Sixty participants with a history of neck pain and Neck Disability Index (NDI) score >10% were selected and randomly divided into control and experimental groups. Motion analysis laboratory at Hungkuang University. For the experimental group, the intervention included 3% concentration cream composed of four essential oils: marjoram, black pepper, lavender, and peppermint. For the control group, only an unscented cream was provided. For 4 weeks, all patients applied 2 g cream directly to the affected area daily after showering or bathing. Assessment was performed by using a visual analogue scale (VAS), NDI, pressure pain threshold (PPT) evaluated with a pressure meter, and neck-joint range evaluated with Motion Analysis System (MAS). A t-test statistical analysis by SPSS statistical software indicated that VAS scores improved significantly for both groups (p<0.05). In addition, the experimental group had improved pain tolerance in the left upper trapezius (mean±standard deviation, 2.96±2.54) and right upper trapezius (2.88±2.90) as measured by the PPT. According to the NDI, the experimental group also showed significant improvement (p=0.02). Comparison of MAS values before and after the intervention showed significant improvement in the 10 motion areas in the experimental group. This finding suggests that the experimental group had better results than the control group. The essential oil cream developed in this study can be used to improve neck pain. This study appears to be the first to quantify this by using PPT and MAS.

Metallic Element Composition of Particulate Matter During Day and Night Sampling at a Traffic Site

Day and night period sampling programs were carried out using a versatile air pollutant system to collect fine particulate matter (PM2.5) and coarse particulate matter (PM2.5–10) simultaneously at a traffic junction that is only 60 m from HungKuang University located in Central Taiwan. Therefore, HungKuang University is regarded as the traffic sampling site in this study. Similar measurements were carried out in a previous 2013 study by Fang and colleagues during October 2012 to November 2012. Determination of metallic element composition of fine and coarse particulates collected during the day and the night was accomplished with inductively coupled plasma atomic emission spectrometry (ICP-AES). The results indicated that there were no significant differences in composition of metallic elements Zn, Cu, Cr, Mn, Fe, Pb, and Cd in either coarse or fine particles for both day and night sampling periods. The statistical results indicated no significant differences for metallic elements in the PM2.5–10 particulates for day and night sampling periods. Also, no significant differences were noted for metallic elements in the PM2.5 particulates for day and night sampling periods at this traffic sampling site. The proposed reason is the limited sampling period employed in this study. Another potential reason is the presence of traffic that runs heavily both day and night being a major contributor to the ambient air metallic pollutants in this region.

Improving quality of life among patients with systemic lupus erythematosus: relationship between risk factors, protective factors and depression

Department of Nursing, Taichung Veterans General Hospital and Department of Nursing, Hungkuang University, Taichung, Taiwan

The self-reported experiences of siblings who have a brother or sister diagnosed with childhood cancer: a systematic review of qualitative evidence

1Taiwan Joanna Briggs Institute Collaborating Center, Taiwan, 2School of Nursing, National Yang-Ming University, Taipei, Taiwan, 3School of Nursing, Hungkuang University, Taichung, Taiwan, 4Department of Nursing, Taipei Veterans General Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan, 5Cancer Center, Taipei Veterans General Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan, 6School of Medicine, National Yang-Ming University, Taipei, Taiwan

Stage III malignant mixed Müllerian tumor of the fallopian tube: A case of 5-year survival after optimal debulking and adjuvant chemotherapy with paclitaxel plus carboplatin

Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Taichung Veterans General Hospital, Taichung, Taiwan Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Taichung Veterans General Hospital, Taichung, Taiwan c Institute of Biomedical Nutrition, Hung Kuang University, Taichung, Taiwan d Institute of Biomedical Sciences, National Chung-Hsing University, Taichung, Taiwan Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, National Yang-Ming University School of Medicine, Taipei, Taiwan

Treatment of upper cervical subluxation in pediatric patients

Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Taichung Veterans General Hospital, No.160, Chungkang Rd., Taichung 407, Taiwan Department of Life Science, National Chung-Hsing University, No.250, Guoguang Rd., South District, Taichung City 402, Taiwan Department of Physical Therapy, HungKuang University, No.34, Chung-Chie Rd., Salu, Taichung County 433, Taiwan Department of Internal Medicine, Gaomay Clinics, 5F., No.94, Jhongshan Rd., Cingshuei Township, Taichung County 436, Taiwan

DEVELOPMENT OF LEG MOVEMENTS IN INFANTS: FROM SUPPORTED STEPPING TO WALKING

H-J Luo, S-F Jeng, W-H Hsieh, K-H Lin, and T-W Lu 1 School and Graduate Institute of Physical Therapy, National Taiwan University, Taipei, Taiwan 2 Department of Physical Therapy, Hungkuang University, Taichung, Taiwan 3 Department of Pediatrics, National Taiwan University Hospital, National Taiwan University, Taipei, Taiwan 4 Institute of Biomedical Engineering, National Taiwan University, Taipei, Taiwan

Metallic elements study of fine and coarse particulates using a versatile air pollutant system at a traffic sampling site

Daytime and nighttime period sampling programs were carried out by a versatile air pollutant system (VAPS) to collect the fine (PM 2.5) and coarse (PM 2.5–10) particulates simultaneously at a traffic sampling site in front of Hungkuang University during August to October 2003. Chemical analyses of metallic elements were accomplished by a flame atomic absorption spectrophotometer coupled with hollow cathode lamps. Statistical methods, such as correlation coefficients and principal component analysis (PCA), were used to compare chemical components and to find the possible emission sources at this traffic sampling site. The variations of metallic element concentrations in fine and coarse particulates during daytime and nighttime were also discussed in this study.

A study of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in airborne particulate matter in central Taiwan

Two sampling sites in central Taiwan, at Hungkuang University (HKU) and Tunghai University (THU), were chosen to contrast the content of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) in the atmosphere from November 2000 to April 2001. PAHs that arise from incomplete combustion of organic materials, especially fossil fuels, are the major toxic pollutants in central Taiwan. This study aimed to analyse PAHs, by using a PS-1 sampler and a gas chromatograph/mass selective detector (GC/MSD), and to identify the major sources of PAHs. At the HKU sampling site, the primary emission sources are probably vehicles and coal burning, and vehicular emissions are the primary contributor at the THU sampling site.