Area In Southern Taiwan Research Articles

Modification of Hybrid Receptor Model for Atmospheric Fine Particles (PM2.5) in 2020 Daejeon, Korea, Using an ACERWT Model

Hybrid receptor models overestimate the contribution of background areas (no specific emission sources), like the Yellow Sea in Korea. This study aimed to improve model performances using Advanced Concentration Emission and Retention Time Weighted Trajectory (ACERWT). ACERWT was combined with a positive matrix factorization (PMF), back trajectory, and Regional Emission Inventory in Asia (REAS). The PMF receptor model used one year of data from Korea’s Central Air Environment Research Center. In the PMF receptor model, eight sources (dust/soil, secondary nitrate, biomass burning, vehicles, secondary sulfate, industry, coal combustion and sea salt) influenced PM2.5 pollution at the receptor site (Daejeon, Korea). Secondary sulfate was the most dominant source, followed by secondary nitrate and vehicle sources. ACERWT results showed high contributions from China, Japan, and Korean regions, while the contribution from the Yellow Sea was significantly lower. Several regions, such as the eastern and south-eastern areas of China, the southern area of Taiwan, the western area of Tokyo, and the central area of Korea, showed high contributions due to large-scale emission facilities and industrial complexes. In this study, the ACERWT model significantly improved its performance regarding regional contributions to PM2.5 pollution at the receptor site.

Impact of flowering temperature on litchi yield under climate change: A case study in Taiwan

Litchi is a subtropical fruit tree that undergoes flower bud differentiation under low-temperature conditions. However, climate change has affected litchi production in Taiwan, causing litchi farmers to experience economic losses. This study explored the influence of flowering temperature on litchi yield under climate change in Taiwan by analyzing litchi production data from 2001 to 2020 and observation data from meteorological stations in litchi-producing areas. Historical observed data were used to construct several regression models relating temperature to yield, with the performance of the models used to determine critical temperature thresholds for litchi flower bud differentiation. Analytical climate data (CMIP5) were used to project yield changes in Taiwan’s litchi-producing regions under anticipated low-temperature conditions for the mid- (2036–2065) and late- (2071–2100) 21st century. The variable that exhibited the highest correlation with yield changes was the number of days with an average flowering temperature below 16 °C. The production yield, in terms of yield variation per hectare, is expected to decrease by 12 % to 35 % by the end of the 21st century (2071–2100). Given the projected decline in the number of cooler days due to climate change, existing litchi cultivars may become unsuitable for cultivation in production areas in southern Taiwan. Practical ImplicationsSome fruit trees require a period of low temperature before their flowering stage. Climate change is expected to cause warming of winter temperatures in Taiwan, which is likely to lead to reduced litchi flowering. The current study assessed the potential effects of climate change on litchi flowering in the future.Historical observed data were used to establish models, and critical temperature thresholds for litchi flowering were determined on the basis of model performance. Days with average temperatures below 16 °C exhibited the highest correlation with litchi yield among the tested thresholds. According to our results, farmers can use this 16 °C threshold to evaluate the potential effects of future climate change at their current farm locations and to identify other areas with similar or more favorable conditions for litchi cultivation. For agricultural researchers, this temperature threshold could provide a target for new litchi variety breeding and a reference basis for research on optimal cultivation methods.Notably, because climate change projection data have a high degree of uncertainty, the results of this study may differ from those of studies using different databases. In this study, we used an ensemble of CMIP5 projections incorporating data from models from various research centers around the world, which can provide more robust results based on an ensemble mean than those obtainable from a single model or a few models. In addition, rainfall is a crucial factor during the flowering growth stage. Future studies should consider the effects of rainfall and temperature on yield and should consider using a model with yield being considered a function of both of these variables to improve model accuracy.To conclude, the present study provides researchers, policymakers, and other stakeholders with insights into the primary effects of climate change on litchi production. It also lays the groundwork for future climate adaptation strategies in Taiwan’s litchi industry.

Improving Health by Mitigating the Air Pollution? Mortality and Trends caused by PM2.5 in the heavy-industrial areas in southern Taiwan

Improving Health by Mitigating the Air Pollution? Mortality and Trends caused by PM2.5 in the heavy-industrial areas in southern Taiwan

Using cluster algorithms with a machine learning technique and PMF models to quantify local-specific origins of PM2.5 and associated metals in Taiwan

The influence of long-range transport (LRT) of air pollutants on neighboring regions and countries has been documented. The magnitude of LRT aerosols and related constituents can misdirect control strategies for local air quality management. In this study, we aimed to quantify PM2.5 (diameter less than 2.5 μm, PM2.5) and associated metals derived from local sources and LRT in different geographic locations in Taiwan using advanced receptor models. We collected daily PM2.5 samples (n = ∼1000) and analyzed 28 metals every three days from 2016 to 2018 in the northern, central-south, eastern, and southern areas of Taiwan. We first used a machine learning technique with a cluster algorithm coupled with a backward trajectory to classify local, regional, and LRT-related aerosols. We then quantified the source contributions with a positive matrix factorization (PMF) model for Taiwan weighted by region-specific populations. The northern and eastern regions were found to be more vulnerable to LRT-related PM2.5 and metals than the central-south and southern regions in Taiwan. The LRT increased Pb and As concentrations by 90–200% and ∼40% in the northern and central-south regions. Ambient PM2.5-metals mainly originated from local traffic-related emissions in the northern, central-south, and southern regions, whereas oil combustion was the primary source of PM2.5-metals in the eastern region. By subtracting the influence from the LRT, the contributions of domestic emission sources to ambient PM2.5 metals in Taiwan were 35% from traffic-related emission, 17% from non-ferrous metallurgy, 13% from iron ore and steel factories, 12% from coal combustion, 12% from oil combustion, 10% from incinerator emissions, and <1% from cement manufacturing emissions. This study proposed an advanced method for refining local source contributions to ambient PM2.5 metals in Taiwan, which provides useful information on regional control strategies.

Factors underlying urinary arsenic levels in a population residing close to a coastal heavy-industrial area in southern Taiwan

The public in the southwestern Taiwan’s Kaohsiung City expressed concern over risk of arsenic (As) to people living in six of that city’s townships nearby a coastal area with heavy industry. To investigate, we first analyzed urinary total As levels in 539 subjects administered Taiwan’s Nutrition and Health Survey, a nationwide survey of nutritional status 2005-2008 (NAHSIT 2005-8). We found the top three highest median urinary total As levels in residents from Penghu island (136.93 µg/L, n = 24), the upper northern region of Taiwan (78.54 µg/L, n = 69), and the southwestern region of Taiwan (71.87 µg/L, n = 36). We then measured total urinary As levels in 1,801 and 1,927 voluntary residents of the above-mentioned six townships in 2016 and 2018, respectively, and compared with those with people residing in the top three highest total As levels of NAHSIT 2005-8. Median urinary As levels were 84.6 µg/L in 2016 and 72.5 µg/L in 2018, similar to those in southwestern region of Taiwan, but far below those in Penghu island (p &amp;#x3c;0.05). Finally, in 2020, we interviewed 116 healthy and voluntary residents from the same six townships and collected one-spot urine samples to analyze total inorganic-related As (TiAs), a summation of As3+, As5+, monomethylarsonic acid (MMA), and dimethylarsinic acid (DMA). Median urinary TiAs in participants consuming seafood two days before urine sampling (n=15) was 24.0 µg/L, significantly higher than those not consuming seafood then (median: 20.5 µg/L, n=101, p=0.029). The results remained significant after adjusting for other covariates (p = 0.028). These findings suggest that seafood consumption is probably the main source of urinary total As and TiAs in people residing close to that coastal heavy industrial area of southern Taiwan. A future intervention study (dietary control) could be conducted to re-confirm our findings.

Low disease awareness as a contributing factor to the high prevalence of hepatitis C infection in Tzukuan, a hyperendemic area of southern Taiwan.

Understanding the barriers and tackling the hurdles of hepatitis C virus (HCV) care cascades is key to HCV elimination. The current study aimed to investigate the rates of disease awareness, link-to-care, and treatment uptake of HCV in a hyperendemic area in Taiwan. Tzukuan residents from 2000 to 2018 were invited to participate in the questionnaire-based interviews for HCV. The rates of disease awareness, accessibility, and anti-HCV therapy were evaluated in anti-HCV-seropositive participants. Among 10,348 residents, 1789 (17.3%) were anti-HCV seropositive. Of these 1789 anti-HCV-seropositive participants, data of 594 participants from questionnaire-based interviews in 2005-2018 were analyzed for HCV care cascades. Overall, 24.9% of anti-HCV-seropositive HCV participants had disease awareness, 53.9% of aware participants had accessibility, and 79.8% of assessed participants had received HCV treatment, with a community effectiveness of 10.7%. HCV prevalence decreased over time, from 21.2% in the early cohort to 9.3% in the recent cohort. Disease awareness increased over time, from 15.6% to 41.7%, with the community effectiveness increasing from 1.3% to 28.8%. Lower education levels and normal liver biochemistry were associated with a lower rate of disease awareness. Notably, 68% of participants with abnormal liver biochemistry and 69% of those with advanced fibrosis (FIB-4 > 3.25) were unaware of their HCV disease. We demonstrated huge gaps in disease awareness, link-to-care, and treatment uptake in the HCV care cascade in an HCV-hyperendemic area, even in the initial era of direct-acting antiviral agents. There is an urgent need to overcome these hurdles to achieve HCV elimination.

Flood Risk Assessment in Urban Areas of Southern Taiwan

A flood risk assessment of urban areas in Kaohsiung city along the Dianbao River was performed based on flood hazards and social vulnerability. In terms of hazard analysis, a rainfall-runoff model (HEC-HMS) was adopted to simulate discharges in the watershed, and the simulated discharges were utilized as inputs for the inundation model (FLO-2D). Comparisons between the observed and simulated discharges at the Wulilin Bridge flow station during Typhoon Kongrey (2013) and Typhoon Megi (2016) were used for the HEC-HMS model calibration and validation, respectively. The observed water levels at the Changrun Bridge station during Typhoon Kongrey and Typhoon Megi were utilized for the FLO-2D model calibration and validation, respectively. The results indicated that the simulated discharges and water levels reasonably reproduced the observations. The validated model was then applied to predict the inundation depths and extents under 50-, 100-, and 200-year rainfall return periods to form hazard maps. For social vulnerability, the fuzzy Delphi method and the analytic hierarchy process were employed to select the main factors affecting social vulnerability and to yield the weight of each social vulnerability factor. Subsequently, a social vulnerability map was built. A risk map was developed that compiled both flood hazards and social vulnerability levels. Based on the risk map, flood mitigation strategies with structural and nonstructural measures were proposed for consideration by decision-makers.

Traffic-Related Airborne VOC Profiles Variation on Road Sites and Residential Area within a Microscale in Urban Area in Southern Taiwan

The sampling sites, including roadsides and residential areas, were set up to collect ambient air and determine the volatile organic species it contained. For the roadside air, the average VOCs (volatile organic compounds) abundant at rush hour periods was two times that at non-rush hour periods. In the residential area, the VOC concentrationswere106 and 129 ppb during rush hour periods. The VOC concentration ratios of roadside and residential areas were in the range of 1.08–1.75 and the traffic emissions were related to the VOCs abundant in air. The highest VOC concentration was 168 ppb at midnight at residential sites and the VOC abundance could be two times that of roadside sites. This level of concentration could be attributed to the application of solvents and to human activity in a nearby motorcycle/vehicle maintenance plant, laundry rooms, etc. High abundant species were similar in both the roadside and residential air samples. These highly abundant species included toluene, acetone, acetonitrile, m,p-xylene and n-pentane, all of which can be emitted from traffic exhaust. Benzene, acrolein, formaldehyde, vinyl chloride and 1,3-butadiene were the main species with health impacts collected at both sites. In the micro-scale environment, the residential ambient air was affected by traffic flow from morning to night. In the midnight period, some local activities (a motorcycle/vehicle maintenance shop and laundry shops) affected the concentrations of certain VOCs (acetonitrile, toluene, hexane, 2-methylpentane, methyl cyclopentane and 3-methylpentane). The traffic and motor vehicles’ effects were determined, which could be useful for air quality management and strategy development in an urban area.

Application of social ecological model to Taiwanese end-of-life communication and healthcare planning

<h2>ABSTRACT</h2><h3>Background</h3> Cultural and social backgrounds shape how people regard health, illness and death, and also play a significant role in end-of-life (EOL) decision-making in the face of uncertainty and distress. EOL communication and planning can be complex in a society where families play an important role in decision-making for EOL care in Taiwan. <h3>Aim</h3> This study aimed to identify the significance of cultural, community, interpersonal and individual determinants of EOL communication and healthcare planning. <h3>Methods</h3> A social ecological model was applied to underpin the study. A random sample of 2000 adults aged 20 years or above was selected from the electoral roll in a metropolitan area in southern Taiwan. Adults were told that if they did not wish to participate in the study, they could either return a non-participation form or not complete the questionnaires. Hierarchical multiple regression analyses were used to determine the significance of different societal levels of factors on EOL communication and healthcare planning. <h3>Findings</h3> Four hundred and seventy-four valid questionnaires were returned. Hierarchical multiple regression analyses revealed that the models of modified Measures of Public Preferences (<i>p</i> < .0001) were significant, with 22.7% of variance in facilitation, 81.9% of variance in content and 22.9% of variance in support being explained by variables at cultural, community, interpersonal and intrapersonal levels. The model of Advance Directives Attitude Survey (<i>p</i> < .0001) was significant with 25.6% of variance being explained by variables at cultural, community, interpersonal and intrapersonal levels. <h3>Discussion</h3> This study offers empirical evidence embedded within a social ecological perspective of the significance of cultural, social and contextual factors on individuals' preferences for EOL communication and healthcare planning. <h3>Conclusion</h3> Such information is important to enable health professionals to prepare individuals and their families for dealing with challenges related to EOL communication and healthcare.

The Application of Capillary Electrophoresis on the Characterization of Protein in Royal Jelly

The objective of this study was to characterize the protein fractions in royal jelly made from Apis mellifera ligustica from middle and southern areas of Taiwan. The total nitrogen content of fresh royal jelly was 2.46%, and the total amino acid nitrogen was 2.34%, suggesting that the nitrogen compound in royal jelly was mostly derived from protein . The nitrogen content of free amino acid in royal jelly was 0.11%, and the amino type nitrogen was 0.20%, indicating that the protein in royal jelly existed mainly in the form of large moleculars. To characterize the protein, royal jelly was dissolved in 0.1 M phosphate buffer(pH 7.0), followed by centrifugation, ammonia sulfate precipitation and dialysis to separate the protein into water soluble and water insoluble fractions. Water soluble fraction accounts for more than 60 % of the total protein in royal jelly, and was further investigated by DEAE-Sephacel, SDS-PAGE and capillary electrophoresis. By DEAE-Sephacel, two fraction peaks (F1 and F2) were identified and collected. By SDS-PAGE, F1 fraction was further separated into two bands, and the molecular weight was determined to be 50 KDa and 44 KDa, whereas F2 fraction was shown to have only one band with molecular weight of 55 KDa. By capillary zone electrophoresis, four poorly-separated peaks were observed in F1 fraction, and two well-separated peaks in F2 fraction. By capillary gel electrophoresis, two peaks were identified in F1 fraction, of which the molecular weight was estimated to be 59 KDa and 73 KDa. By contrast, only one peak was identified in F2 fraction, of which the molecular weight was estimated to be 118 KDa. However, by capillary isoelectric focusing, 6 peaks were identified in F1 fraction with pI of 6.9, 6.7, 6.3, 5.9, 5.7 and 5.5, respectively. Of that, pI of 4.8 and 4.7 were identified in F2 fraction.

Geographic variation of genotype 6 hepatitis C virus infection in an endemic area of southern Taiwan

Taiwan is a hepatitis C virus (HCV) endemic country with geographic variation of prevalence and main genotypes(GTs) are 1b and 2a. We recently reported high GT6 prevalence in Tainan of southern Taiwan. To clarify this special genotype as a local endemic disease and its geographic variation, the prevalence rates of HCV GTs of 37 districts of Tainan were analyzed. A total of 3040 patients with HCV viremia were enrolled. The prevalence rates of HCV GT 1a, 1b, 2, 3, 4, 6 and mixed types were 3.9%, 31.6%, 45.9%, 0.6%, 0.2%, 17.1% and 0.5% respectively. GT6 prevalence showed marked variation from 0 to 39.2%. Four districts with GT6 prevalence >30% are located between Jishui and Zengwen rivers. Preliminary subtyping data were 6g/a/w. This geographic variation with spatial restriction by two rivers with 6g/w is suggestive of local endemic infection of preexisting GT 6 HCV for centuries.

Quantifying sediment mass redistribution from joint time-lapse gravimetry and photogrammetry surveys

Abstract. The accurate quantification of sediment mass redistribution is central to the study of surface processes, yet it remains a challenging task. Here we test a new combination of terrestrial gravity and drone photogrammetry methods to quantify sediment mass redistribution over a 1 km2 area. Gravity and photogrammetry are complementary methods. Indeed, gravity changes are sensitive to mass changes and to their location. Thus, by using photogrammetry data to constrain this location, the sediment mass can be properly estimated from the gravity data. We carried out three joint gravimetry–photogrammetry surveys, once a year in 2015, 2016 and 2017, over a 1 km2 area in southern Taiwan, featuring both a wide meander of the Laonong River and a slow landslide. We first removed the gravity changes from non-sediment effects, such as tides, groundwater, surface displacements and air pressure variations. Then, we inverted the density of the sediment with an attempt to distinguish the density of the landslide from the density of the river sediments. We eventually estimate an average loss of 3.7 ± 0.4 × 109 kg of sediment from 2015 to 2017 mostly due to the slow landslide. Although the gravity devices used in this study are expensive and need week-long surveys, new instrumentation currently being developed will enable dense and continuous measurements at lower cost, making the method that has been developed and tested in this study well-suited for the estimation of erosion, sediment transfer and deposition in landscapes.

Vulnerability Assessment and Adaptation Strategies for the Impact of Climate Change on Agricultural Land in Southern Taiwan

Maintaining a certain amount of agricultural land and promoting its agricultural land utilization efficiency is essential in a country. Many innovative strategies for adapting to climate change have been implemented in developed countries. To achieve the goal of climate change adaptation for agricultural land, a vulnerability assessment of farmland is indispensable. Based on the research framework of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, this study applied the structure of exposure, sensitivity, and adaptation to build criteria and conduct an evaluation of a designated area in Southern Taiwan. We identified the key factors of the vulnerability of farmland, through mapping with spatial analysis, and by using geographic information system tools. The main purpose of the application of a vulnerability assessment is not to explicitly describe the status of agricultural land to climate change, but to help local government and farmers to identify the critical area, and to discuss the appropriated adaptive policies. According to the results of the vulnerability assessment of agricultural land, the entire study region can be divided into three patterns: Pattern 1, located in the western coastal zone, filled with various attributes of high vulnerability; Pattern 2, distributed on the central plain region in the east, with complete blocks of agricultural land and low vulnerability; and Pattern 3, located in the central plain region to the west, a region in which areas with various vulnerability levels. The following three types of adaptation strategies for climate change for farmland were established: (1) the enhancement of agricultural production, (2) the maintenance of agricultural production, and (3) the conservation of the agricultural environment. The current results can serve as valuable guidelines for governments to implement feasible local adaptation strategies in the future.

Simulating the spatiotemporal distribution of BTEX with an hourly grid-scale model.

Modeling approaches have been utilized to simulate ambient pollutant concentrations, but very limited efforts have been made to estimate volatile organic compounds in the atmosphere. For this reason, an hourly grid-scale simulation model was developed to determine ambient air concentrations of benzene, toluene, ethylbenzene, and xylene (BTEX). BTEX data were collected over a one-year time frame from the database of the Taiwan Environmental Protection Administration's photochemical assessment monitoring stations. Multivariate linear regression models were used along with correlation analysis to simulate hourly grid-scale BTEX concentrations, using criteria pollutants and selected meteorological variables as predictors. The simulation model was validated in the southern Taiwan area via a portable micro gas chromatography system (n=121) with significant correlation (r=0.566**, ** indicated p<0.01). Moreover, the grid-scale model was applied to areas covering about 72% of the population in Taiwan. A geographic information system (GIS) was used to visualize the spatial distribution of BTEX concentrations from the modeling results. This new grid-scale modeling strategy, which incorporated the GIS output of the simulated data, provides a useful alternative tool for personal exposure analysis and health risk assessment of ambient air BTEX.

Environmental Volunteerism for Social Good: A Longitudinal Study of Older Adults’ Health

Natural disasters and aging societies are increasingly prevalent globally. To improve environmental injustice and contribute to social good, the Tzu Chi Recycling Program engages older adult volunteers in recycling usable materials into eco-friendly blankets for disaster survivors. Drawing on life span and ecological systems theories, this study examined the longitudinal effects of this program on older adults’ mental and physical health. Using a quasi-experimental longitudinal design, data were collected from older adults at recycling stations (intervention group, n = 36) and community centers (control group, n = 36) in rural areas in Southern Taiwan. Findings from two-way repeated measures analysis of variance show that the program significantly improved older adults’ self-compassion, compassion for others, depression, hostility, happiness, and hypertension. Older adults built resilience and contributed to environmental sustainability and social good, which suggest a new avenue for social work practitioners and policy-makers to address social and environmental challenges.

COMPASSION-BASED ENVIRONMENTAL VOLUNTEERISM AMONG OLDER ADULTS: A CASE STUDY OF TZU CHI RECYLING PROGRAM

To promote environmental sustainability and mitigate climate change that causes numerous families to suffer from natural disasters, a group of older residents’ volunteer to recycle usable materials by setting up recycling stations in their communities and transform recycled bottles into eco-friendly blankets for disaster survivors globally. This study examined long-term effects of the peer-led Tzu Chi Recycling Program (TCRP) on older adults’ compassion, psychological and physiological well-being. Using a quasi-experimental design, 1-year longitudinal data were collected from older adults at recycling stations (intervention group n = 36) and community centers (control group n = 36) in rural areas in Southern Taiwan. Findings from two-way repeated analysis of variance show that TCRP significantly improved older adults’ self-compassion, compassion for others, depression, hostility, happiness, and hypertension. Older adults built resilience through environmental volunteering in the TCRP as an environmental sustainability model for health promotion and social good

High prevalence of genotype 6 hepatitis C virus infection in Southern Taiwan using Abbott genotype assays

Abbott RealTime Genotype II assay can effectively identify hepatitis C virus (HCV) genotypes (GTs), but some GT 6 subtypes might not be differentiated from GT 1. Abbott RealTime Genotype II PLUS and sequencing might be needed to resolve these ambiguous results. Unlike the high prevalence of GT 6 in Southeast Asia, GT 6 had rarely been reported in Taiwan except in intravenous drug abusers (IDU). But the prevalence of GT 6 in Taiwan might be underestimated. We conducted this study to determine the GTs in a HCV endemic area in Southern Taiwan. A total of 1147 patients with hepatitis C viremia for direct acting antivirals (DAA) treatment at the Chi Mei medical system in Tainan were enrolled. Genotype was determined using a working flow consisted of Abbott GT II, PLUS assays and 5' untranslated region (5' UTR)/core sequencing. Among the 1147 patients, 883 (77.0%) obtained GT results by GT II, 264 (23.0%) samples with ambiguous results by GT II assay received further tests, including 194 (73.5%) with PLUS assay and 70 (26.5%) with 5'UTR/core sequencing. Nearly three-quarters (73.5%) of ambiguous results by GT II assay were GT 6. Overall, 18.3% of samples were GT 6. Phylogenetic study of 11 samples of GT 6 subtypes showed 7 (63.6%) were 6g. GT 6 is the major factor for high ambiguous rate by GT II. Unexpected high prevalence of GT 6 (18.3%) in Southern Taiwan, especially subtype 6g, closely related to Indonesian strains, is first reported.

Visualisation of the unmet treatment need of osteoporotic fracture in Taiwan: A nationwide cohort study.

Recent clinical guidelines have suggested that patients experience an osteoporotic fracture should initiate anti-osteoporosis medications (AOMs). However, whether clinical guidelines translate well in "real-world" practices remain questioned. This study aimed to evaluate the "real-world" prescription pattern of AOMs and visualise the unmet treatment needs in different geographical areas in Taiwan. Using Taiwan's National Health Insurance Research Database, we identified patients diagnosed with a hip or vertebral fracture between 2009 and 2012. The treatment rate was defined as the proportion of patients receiving AOMs within 1 year after their index fracture. The qualitative geographical information systems approach was adopted to visualise the treatment needs of postfracture patients in different geographical areas. Our study included 276,492 patients diagnosed with a hip or vertebral fracture between 2009 and 2012. The proportion of patients who received AOMs within 1 year after their index fracture increased with age and differed with fracture types and sex. For patients with hip fractures, the treatment rate ranged from 3.43% to 20.88% for female patients and from 0.69% to 10.04% for male patients in different age groups. For patients with vertebral fractures, the treatment rate ranged from 3.23% to 37.08% for female patients and from 1.85% to 23.05% for male patients. Cities in the mid-northern and southern areas of Taiwan had the highest unmet treatment need, with a treatment rate of less than 15%. The treatment rate of osteoporotic fractures with AOMs was diverse and suboptimal in Taiwan, especially among male patients. This study used a visualisation technique to display information about the treatment status in different geographical areas and help policymakers allocate resource appropriately.

Occurrence of phthalate esters around the major plastic industrial area in southern Taiwan

The increasing usage and disposal of plastic products could cause the wide distribution of phthalate esters (PAEs) in various environmental media. In this study, six PAE compounds, namely dimethyl phthalate, diethyl phthalate, di-n-butyl phthalate, benzyl butyl phthalate, di(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate (DEHP), di-n-octyl phthalate, were analyzed in various samples collected from the major plastic industrial area of southern Taiwan, including soil, fertilizer and plastic products, for the purposes of identifying of the possible sources of PAEs and assessing the related health risk. The results show that PAEs in soil samples was dominated by DEHP, with the total concentrations in the range of 0.7 ± 0.5, 0.2 ± 0.1, and 0.3 ± 0.2 mg kg−1 for soil samples from farmland, household back gardens and the roadside, respectively. Contents of PAEs in chemical fertilizer (ND—0 0.87 mg kg−1) were higher than that in organic fertilizer (ND—0.08 mg kg−1), and PAEs concentrations (ND—316 mg kg−1) in plastic mulching films were much less than those in the other types of plastic products (ND—1719 mg kg−1), implying that major sources of PAEs in agricultural soil could be the use of chemical fertilizer and plastic products other than plastic mulching films. Health risk assessment suggested that, via the exposure to PAEs in soil, the potential non-cancer and carcinogenic risks for adults and children are minimal in most cases, except that a “moderate” carcinogenic risk for children exposure to DEHP. The results of this study can serve as a reference for further pollution prevention and environmental protection plans in relation to the industrial operation and discharge as well as the farming practices.

Saccharomonospora piscinae sp. nov., a novel actinobacterium from fishpond sediment in Taiwan.

Strain 06168H-1T was isolated from a fishpond sediment sample collected from the southern area of Taiwan, and a polyphasic approach was used to determine its taxonomic position. The isolate grew between 20-40 °C and 0-8 % (w/v) NaCl. It produced branched and unfragmented substrate mycelia. Short spore chains (3-10 spores per chain) formed on branched aerial mycelia. The spore chains contained non-motile, smooth-surfaced, oval spores. Galactose, arabinose and ribose were the whole-cell sugars and meso-diaminopimelic acid was present in its peptidoglycan. The polar lipids were diphosphatidylglycerol, phosphatidylglycerol, phosphatidylethanolamine, phosphatidylmethylethanolamine, phosphatidylcholine, hydroxyphosphati dylethanolamine and a ninhydrin-positive phosphoglycolipid. The predominant menaquinone was MK-9(H4) and minor components were MK-8(H4) and MK-9(H6). Mycolic acids were not detected. The major cellular fatty acids were iso-C16 : 0 and C17 : 1ω6c and C17 : 0ω8c. The DNA G+C content of the strain was 70.6 mol%. Phylogenetic analysis based on 16S rRNA gene sequences showed this strain clustered with the members of the genus Saccharomonospora and was closely related to Saccharomonospora xinjiangensis, Saccharomonospora azurea and Saccharomonosporacyanea. The levels of similarity between this strain and the closely related species were: Sxinjiangensis BCRC16887T, 98.34 %; S. azurea BCRC 16220T, 98.27 %; and S. cyanea BCRC 16886T, 97.99 %. Based on phylogenetic characteristics, strain 06168H-1T represents a novel species of the genus Saccharomonospora. We thus propose the name Saccharomonospora piscinae sp. nov. for this novel strain, with strain 06168H-1T (=BCRC 16893T=KCTC 19743T) as the type strain.