Yunlin County Research Articles

An economic analysis of hard clam (Meretrix meretrix) farmer polyculture with milkfish (Chanos chanos), silver sea bream (Rhabdosargus sarba), and shrimps at different hard clam stocking densities: a case study of Yunlin County, Taiwan

This study uses a translog cost function model based on two different hard clam stocking densities to estimate the cost and price elasticity of input factors to evaluate whether the hard clam polycultures in Yunlin County, Taiwan, have economies of scale and economies of scope and to assess the substitutability between inputs. The study found that farmers with hard clam stocking densities higher than 1,500,000 individuals/ha (high-density farmers) generated more profit than farmers with stocking densities below 1,500,000 individuals/ha (low-density farmers), because they experienced lower average costs and higher production outputs. Moreover, the own price elasticity of labor input (−1.162) was more responsive to price changes for high-density farmers than for low-density farmers. That is, wage increases have a significant effect on reducing labor demand for high-density farmers. For these farmers, the Allen partial cross-price elasticities of the variable inputs labor-seed and labor-feed were 1.973 and 2.326, respectively. These positive elasticities indicate that labor-seed and labor-feed are substitutes. That is, increases in seed and feed prices could be compensated for by increasing labor inputs for high-density farmers. This study established the existence of constant overall scale economies and economies of scope for high- and low-density farmers. In addition, the study suggests that hard clam farmers with fish and shrimp polycultures consider cost complementarities and product-specific economies of scope at various levels of production. Low-density farmers are also advised to increase the milkfish population in their polycultures, whereas high-density farmers might increase silver sea bream and shrimp densities.

The effects of promoting reading on children’s education outcomes: a case study of public kindergartens in Yunlin County, Taiwan

The effects of promoting reading on children’s education outcomes: a case study of public kindergartens in Yunlin County, Taiwan

Personal Water Footprint in Taiwan: A Case Study of Yunlin County

Extreme weather events have affected the environment and water resources in Taiwan for the last two decades. Heavy rainfall, typhoons, and rising sea levels have caused severe flooding along the Southwest Coast in Taiwan. Yunlin County, an important agricultural region, will be significantly affected by climate changes, especially in coastal areas with severe land subsidence. Therefore, using the concept of the water footprint and questionnaire surveys, this study examines personal water footprints in townships in Yunlin County to explore the effectiveness and sustainability of water management. The purpose of the water footprint concept is to quantify environmental burdens imposed by individuals’ demand for water. An individual water footprint involves direct and indirect water usage that is associated with personal habits. Analytical results show that the most individual water consumption is highest along coastal areas, such as Kouhu and Taixi, and mountainous areas, such as Gukeng, Douliu, and Linnei. Furthermore, one-way ANOVA of individuals’ daily water footprint reveals that individual water footprints vary significantly among Douliu, Gukeng, and Mailiao. The mean daily water footprint per capita in Douliu and Gukeng significantly exceeds that in Mailiao. This study considers the location quotients of industries in these three townships, which indicate that the location quotients of the accommodation and food and beverage industries in Douliu and Gukeng significantly exceed those of Mailiao. The individual virtual water use that is associated with the aforementioned industries is large. Clearly, individual water use habits in townships are related to the industry type. Douliu and Gukeng are major centers of the tertiary industry, which has a higher location quotient than in Mailiao. Mailiao is a major center of manufacturing as a secondary industry. Therefore, flourishing regions with tertiary industries have high virtual water consumption. These findings suggest that personal water use habits can explain why personal water footprints are larger in Yunlin County than in other counties in Taiwan.

Classification of weather patterns to study the influence of meteorological characteristics on PM2.5 concentrations in Yunlin County, Taiwan

Yunlin County is located in the central part of western Taiwan with major emissions from the Mailiao industrial park, the Taichung Power Plants and heavy traffic. In order to understand the influence of meteorological conditions on PM2.5 concentrations in Yunlin County, we applied a two-stage cluster analysis method using the daily averaged surface winds from four air quality monitoring stations in Yunlin County to classify the weather pattern. The study period includes 1095 days from Jan 2013 to December 2015. The classification results show that the low PM2.5 concentration occurs when the synoptic weather in Taiwan is affected by the strong southwesterly monsoonal flow. The high PM2.5 concentration occurs when Taiwan is under the influence of weak synoptic weather conditions and continental high-pressure peripheral circulation. A high PM2.5 event was studied and the Weather Research and Forecasting (WRF) meteorological model was performed. The result indicated that due to being blocked by the Central Mountain Range, Yunlin County, which is situated on the leeside of the mountains, exhibits low wind speed and strong subsidence behavior that favors PM2.5 accumulation.

Lessons from the Largest Epidemic of Avian Influenza Viruses in Taiwan, 2015.

The largest epidemic of avian influenza (AI) in history attacked poultry and wild birds throughout Taiwan starting January 6, 2015. This study analyzed surveillance results, epidemiologic characteristics, and viral sequences by using government-released information, with the intention to provide recommendations to minimize future pandemic influenza. The H5 clade 2.3.4.4 highly pathogenic AI viruses (HPAIVs) had not been detected in Taiwan before 2015. During this epidemic, four types of etiologic agents were identified: the three novel subtypes H5N2, H5N8, and H5N3 clade 2.3.4.4 HPAIVs and one endemic chicken H5N2 subtype (Mexican-like lineage) of low pathogenic AI viruses. Cocirculation of mixed subtypes also occurred, with H5N2 clade 2.3.4.4 HPAIVs accompanied by the H5N8 and H5N3 subtypes or old H5N2 viruses in the same farm. More than 90% of domestic geese died from this AI epidemic; geese were affected the most at the early outbreaks. The epidemic peaked in mid-January for all three novel H5 subtypes. Spatial epidemiology found that most affected areas were located in southwestern coastal areas. In terrestrial poultry (mostly chickens), different geographic distributions of AI virus subtypes were detected, with hot spots of H5N2 clade 2.3.4.4 vs. past-endemic old H5N2 viruses in Changhwa (P = 0.03) and Yunlin (P = 0.007) counties, respectively, of central Taiwan. Phylogenetic and sequence analyses of all the early 10 Taiwan H5 clade 2.3.4.4 isolates covering the three subtypes showed that they were very different from the HA of the past local H5 viruses from domestic ducks (75%-80%) and chickens (70%-75%). However, they had the highest sequence identity percentages (99.53%-100%), with the HA of A/crane/Kagoshima/KU13/2014(H5N8) isolated on December 7, 2014, in Japan being higher than those of recent American and Korean H5 HPAIVs [A/Northern pintail/Washington/40964/2014 (H5N2) and A/gyrfalcon/Washington/41088-6/2014 (H5N8): 99.02%-99.54% and A/Baikal teal/Korea/Donglim3/2014 (H5N8): 98.61%-99.08%], implying a likely common ancestor of these H5 clade 2.3.4.4 viruses. The multiple subtypes of H5 clade 2.3.4.4 HPAIVs imply high viral reassortment. We recommend establishing an integrated surveillance system, involving clinical, virologic, and serologic surveillance in poultry and wild birds, swine and other mammals prevalent on multiple-animal mixed-type traditional farms, and high-risk human populations, as a crucially important step to minimize future pandemic influenza.

DETECTION OF BAT CORONAVIRUS AND SPECIFIC ANTIBODIES IN CHESTNUT BAT (SCOTOPHILUS KUHLII) POPULATION IN CENTRAL TAIWAN

Bats can serve as natural reservoirs for severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) and Middle East respiratory syndrome coronavirus (MERS-CoV). Investigating the prevalence of bat CoV is critical for assessing the risks of the outbreaks of emerging CoV. Chestnut bats (Scotophilus kuhlii) were captured in this study for detecting the partial RNA-dependent RNA polymerase (RdRp) gene in their feces through reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) and antibodies to the nucleocapsid (N) protein of bat CoV through western blotting (WB) analysis. Three recombinant N protein fragments (N1, N2, N3) of the isolated Scotophilus bat CoV/CYCU-S1/TW/2013 were expressed by Escherichia coli. WB analyses were performed with bat serum samples and the sera of a patient who recovered from a SARS-CoV infection. Fragment N2 contained a highly conserved motif among CoVs whereas N1 and N3 protein fragments were specific to the S. kuhlii bat CoV. A total of 32 fecal and 19 serum samples were collected in Changhua County and Yunlin County during 2013 and 2014. About 17 fecal samples tested positive for the RdRp gene with an overall prevalence of 53%. Sequences comparison showed that the Scotophilus bat CoV isolates in Taiwan belonged to the genus Alphacoronavirus and were closest to Scotophilus bat CoV/Hainan/China/2005 and Diliman1552G1/Philippines/2008, followed by porcine epidemic diarrhea coronavirus. Only one bat serum sample reacted positively to all 3[Formula: see text]N protein fragments. Cross-reactivity was observed between N2 protein fragment and the sera of a patient recovered from a SARS-CoV infection. The results indicated that Scotophilus bat CoV was circulating endemically in chestnut bat population in Taiwan.

Burden of disease attributable to ambient fine particulate matter exposure in Taiwan.

There is compelling epidemiological evidence that links air pollution to increased risk of mortality from cardiopulmonary disease and lung cancer. We quantified the burden of mortality attributable to ambient fine particulate matter (PM2.5) among the Taiwanese population in 2014 at the national and subnational levels. Subnational PM2.5 exposure levels were obtained from Taiwan Air Quality Monitoring Network. Relative risks were derived from a previously developed exposure-response model. Population attributable fraction for cause-specific mortality was estimated at the county level using the estimated ambient PM2.5 concentrations and the relative risk functions. In 2014, PM2.5 accounted for 6282 deaths [95% confidence interval (CI), 5716-6847], from ischemic heart disease (2244 deaths; 95% CI, 2015-2473), stroke (2140 deaths; 95% CI, 1760-2520), lung cancer (1252 deaths; 95% CI, 995-1509), and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (645 deaths; 95% CI, 418-872). Nationally, the population attributable mortality fraction of PM2.5 for the four disease causes was 18.6% (95% CI, 16.9-20.3%). Substantial geographic variation in PM2.5 attributable mortality fraction was found; the percentage of deaths attributable to PM2.5 ranged from 8.7% in Hualian County to 21.8% in Yunlin County. In terms of absolute number of deaths, New Taipei and Kaohsiung cities had the largest number of deaths associated with PM2.5 (874 and 829 deaths, respectively) among all cities and counties. Ambient PM2.5 pollution is a major mortality risk factor in Taiwan. Aggressive and multisectorial intervention strategies are urgently needed to bring down the impact of air pollution on environment and health.

台湾地区的农村社区土地重划——以云林县古坑乡水碓社区为例

台湾地区的农村社区土地重划——以云林县古坑乡水碓社区为例

Evidence of Specific Healthy Behaviors Positively Associated with General Life Satisfaction among Rural Adults

Background: Chronic diseases are the leading causes of death worldwide. Evidence suggests that infrequent adopting healthy behaviors correlated with many chronic diseases. Healthy behaviors can lead to a marked reduction of morbidity and mortality. Life satisfaction is an important parameter of well-being. Few studies have focused on the association between healthy behaviors and life satisfaction among adults in rural areas. Aim: To establish the determinant and modifiable lifestyle factors associated with life satisfaction among rural adults. Methods: We analyzed our previous health promotion program in a rural area in 2013 obtained from 27 villages (n = 8024) in Yunlin County, Taiwan. The assessment comprised one question assessing self-reported life satisfaction on a 5-point scale (dichotomous: low satisfaction/high satisfaction) and four domain-specific items of health-related behaviors (smoking, oral hygiene, exercise, healthy diet). Logistic regression was used to examine the association between health-related behaviors and life satisfaction adjusted for age, sex, and education. Findings: The mean age was 47.6 years (SD = 16.2), and 56.7% (n = 4551) of the participants were female. Participants with lower life satisfaction reported frequently perceived dissatisfaction with sleep quality (p < 0.001) and health status (p < 0.001). After adjusting for potential confounding variables, the associated risk factors for lower life satisfaction were smoking (OR = 1.20, p = 0.006), less frequently adopted healthy behaviors including dental check (OR = 1.23, p < 0.001), infrequent teeth brushing (OR = 1.12, p = 0.022), infrequent use of dental floss (OR = 1.12, p = 0.028), infrequent consumption of a balanced diet (OR = 1.64, p < 0.001), insufficient vegetable intake (OR = 1.19, p = 0.001), insufficient water intake (OR = 1.14, p = 0.009), and infrequent regular exercise (OR = 1.26, p < 0.001). Conclusions: The findings showed that many adults did not adopt healthy habits in their life. This study identified significant unhealthy behaviors associated with lower life satisfaction, including cigarette smoking, unhealthy diet, poor oral hygiene, and physical inactivity. The enhancement of health promotion programs to improve life satisfaction through decreasing unhealthy habits is necessary for rural adults.

Time series variation of plankton in a remote industrial island, Taiwan Strait, southwestern Taiwan

Eighteen years of monitoring data at four sections along the coastline of Taisi Township, Yunlin County, between 1993 and 2010 were used to study the effects of power plant on plankton. Sampling was conducted at depths of 10 m and 20 m in each section. Among the four seasons, the fourth quarter (October to December) had the lowest average abundance of plankton over the years. However, the peak abundance of different types of plankton occurred in different seasons. Zooplankton had the highest abundance during the first and second seasons (January to June) while phytoplankton, shrimp larvae and crab larvae had the greatest abundance in the 2nd quarter (April to June) and the peak in fish egg and fish larvae occurred from the 1st to the 3rd quarter (January to September). Cumulative data from 18 years shows that the pH of SEC5 often dipped below 7.8 since the 3rd quarter of 2000. pH value lower than 7.8 were frequently measured in the stations of section 5. Each time the pH value is under 7.8, the quantities of zooplankton (75±69 ind./m), phytoplankton ((1.60±2.28)×10 cell/L), shrimp larvae (2.4±5.8 ind./m), crab larvae (1.9±5.0 ind./m), fish egg (0.88±1.10 ind./m), and fish larvae (0.16±0.32 ind./m) showed significant low values (only the half of the total average). Accordingly, we strongly suggest that the warm water effluents discharging from a power plant should maintain the pH above 7.8 in the coastal waters to reduce the negative impact on the marine zooplankton biodiversity and abundance.

Metabolic syndrome and health-related behaviours associated with pre-oral cancerous lesions among adults aged 20–80 years in Yunlin County, Taiwan: a cross-sectional study

ObjectivesTo explore the associations of health-related behaviours, metabolic syndrome and risk factors in adults with pre-oral cancerous (POC) lesions in rural, disadvantaged communities with a high prevalence of oral cancer.DesignA...

Comparison of the influences of structured on-the-job training and classroom training approaches on trainees’ motivation to learn

Increasing trainees’ learning motivation is critical to help them perform well in the training programme. This paper aims to examine the influences of the structured on-the-job training (S-OJT) and classroom training approaches on trainees’ learning motivation and learning performance. An exploratory study was conducted with 90 students from a vocational school located at the Yunlin County in the Midwest of Taiwan who enrolled in a course entitled ‘hair coloring’. The training modules for S-OJT and classroom training were developed and delivered in the training courses. The survey was administered prior to and after the training courses to assess the influences of the training approaches. It was found that the trainees who received S-OJT generated higher learning motivation and learning performance compared with those who received the classroom training. Moreover, the trainees with lower initial learning motivation were motivated more and generated higher learning performance after receiving S-OJT. This study provides the potential theoretical and practical implications and can serve as reference when choosing the training approach for a designed training programme.

Observing Land Subsidence and Revealing the Factors That Influence It Using a Multi-Sensor Approach in Yunlin County, Taiwan

Land subsidence is a worldwide problem that is typically caused by human activities, primarily the removal of groundwater. In Western Taiwan, groundwater has been pumped for industrial, residential, agricultural, and aquacultural uses for over 40 years. In this study, a multisensor monitoring system comprising GPS stations, leveling surveys, monitoring wells, and Persistent Scatterer Interferometric Synthetic Aperture Radar (PS-InSAR) was employed to monitor land subsidence in Western Taiwan. The results indicate that land subsidence in Yunlin County was mainly affected by the compaction of subsurface soils and over-pumping of groundwater from deep soils. The study area comprised western foothills, characterized by sediments containing predominantly gravel, and coastal areas, where clay was predominant. The subsidence in coastal areas was more severe than that in the western foothills, as a result of groundwater removal. An additional factor affecting subsidence was the compaction of deep layers caused by deep groundwater removal and the deep-layer compaction was difficult to recover. Based on multisensor monitoring results, severe subsidence is mainly affected by compaction of subsurface soils, over-pumping of groundwater from deep soils, and deep soil compaction.

Voting Shift in the November 2014 Local Elections in Taiwan

(ProQuest: ... denotes non-US-ASCII text omitted.)Strong rebuke to Ma Ying-jeou's government and policies and landslide victory for the DPP.On 29 November 2014, Taiwan held the largest series of local elections in its history, in a nine-in-one format combining polls for 11,130 positions, ranging from mayors of municipalities and cities (zhixiashi/shizhang...), county magistrates (xianzhang ...), city and county councillors (shi/xian yihuiyuan ?/????), township chiefs (zhenzhang ??, xiangzhang ??), and village and borough chiefs (cunzhang ??, lizhang ??), to indigenous district chiefs and councillors (zhixiashi shandi yuanzhumin quzhang, qumin daibiao??????????, ?? ??). All were elected for four-year terms. Two-and-a-half years into the second presidential term of Ma Ying-jeou, the nation-wide elections were seen as a mid-term test for his administration and a prelude to the next legislative and presidential elections in early 2016.(1)The big prizes consisted of the six special municipalities of Taipei, New Taipei, Taichung, Tainan, Kaohsiung, and, for the first time, Taoyuan. They represent around 70% of Taiwan's 18.5 million registered voters, with the other 30% distributed among 16 counties and cities of smaller size or more rural character.Before the vote, four municipalities (Taipei, New Taipei, Taichung, and Taoyuan) and 12 counties and cities were held by the ruling Kuomintang (KMT) or its Blue camp allies, with a virtual monopoly over central and northern Taiwan, and only Ilan on the north-east coast being led by the opposition Democratic Progressive Party (DPP). The DPP mostly ruled in the south, heading the two municipalities of Tainan and Kaohsiung, along with Yunlin, Chiayi, and Pingtung counties. Due to media concentration and the national pre-eminence of the candidates, coverage of the electoral campaigning largely concentrated on the capital Taipei, where KMT candidate Sean Lien Sheng-wen ???, son of the former prime minister, vice-president, and KMT chairman Lien Chan ??, opposed the independent candidate Ko Wen-je ? ? ? , a National Taiwan University Hospital surgeon supported by the DPP; and on the central city of Taichung, where KMT mayor Jason Hu Chih-chiang ... attempted to win a fourth term against DPP legislator Lin Chia-lung ....The DPP and its Green camp ally, the Taiwan Solidarity Union (TSU Taiwan tuanjie lianmeng ...), mainly campaigned on the strength of local governance - its mayors repeatedly winning top positions based on popularity and local government quality in public opinion surveys - and on support for a renewed grass-roots and democratic spirit on the heels of the Sunflower Movement of last spring. But it also surfed on the low approval rate of Ma and the KMT, rising social and economic inequality, and widespread anger over government corruption and housing prices. In the Blue camp, the high level of popular discontent toward the KMT administration and the way the country has been ruled, and the tepid results of its main policies, including its trumpeted cross-strait economic and political rapprochement, left the KMT candidates with few national or local policy achievements to run with. In many cases, Ma was seen as so politically toxic that candidates declined to stand with him on a public stage. In a desperate attempt, Lien Sheng-wen and the KMT tried to nationalise and polarise the campaign into a classic Blue-Green battle around cross-strait relations and identity, pushing the "save the Republic of China (ROC)" card to rally deepBlue voters and prop up their campaign. It had the mostly opposite result of showing even more clearly the disconnect between today's mainstream national Taiwanese identity and the KMT mainlander old guard such as former premiers Hau Pei-tsun ??? and Lien Chan, aggravated by repeated vulgarities and expression of contempt and racism from the latter toward native Taiwanese. (2)Overall election resultsElection turnout was 67. …

A technique for quantifying groundwater pumping and land subsidence using a nonlinear stochastic poroelastic model

Subsidence in Yunlin County, Taiwan, is serious and continuous. The Taiwan High Speed Rail (THSR) route crosses the subsidence area and might be affected by differential settlements. It is important to evaluate the pumping quantity for water resource management and to predict the subsidence for land resource management to mitigate the subsidence problem in Taiwan. This study combines first-order second-moment (FOSM) stochastic poroelastic theory with nonlinear parameters to develop a FOSM nonlinear stochastic poroelastic model and applies it to quantify groundwater pumping and future subsidence with uncertainty. The additional loading and discharge are evaluated by fitting the subsidence historical data to the numerical model. The results show that the proposed model well describes the subsidence behavior and quantifies groundwater pumping. However, the numerical results are larger than the monitoring data at various depths, which might be due to the different compaction situations in individual formations of the aquifer system. The predicted subsidence at the Yuanchang monitoring well is the largest (0.32 ± 0.52 m in 2020) with consideration of the climate change effects, achieved by adding an additional discharge of 31.7 %. The large uncertainty is caused by the large variation of hydraulic conductivity caused by the heterogeneity of the aquifer system, which could be improved by doing more experiments or using a conditioned model. The information provided in this study is useful for the safety of THSR and for land and groundwater resource management in Yunlin County, Taiwan.

Characteristics of Concentrations and Metal Compositions for PM2.5 and PM2.5-10 in Yunlin County, Taiwan during Air Quality Deterioration

Concentrations of twenty trace metals in ambient fine and coarse particles were characterized during the period of air quality deterioration of elevated particulate matters (PM episode) in winter in the suburban area, Yunlin County, Taiwan. The potential emission sources of fine- and coarse-size metals were identified using the enrichment factor (EF) analysis, principal component analysis (PCA) and backward trajectory model. The high concentrations of fine and coarse particles and their associated metals were observed during the PM episode in Yunlin County. Al, Fe, and Ca were predominant in fine and coarse particles for sampling periods, accounting for 75- 85% of all selected elements. When the PM episode occurred, mean concentrations of fine-size Pb and As were increased to 132% and 116%, respectively, while average concentrations of coarse-size Fe, Al, Mn, Ti, and Co were increased to 1.1- 2.2 times, in comparison with non-episode period. The mean value of fine-size As (6.67 ng m^(-3)) obtained from the episode period exceeds the proposed European Union standard (6 ng m^(-3)). EF values were decreased with increasing particle size for Sb, Se, As, Mo, Cr, Cu, V, Pb, Zn, Ni and Cd in both episode periods. Fine-size metals is likely to refer to coal combustion (36.5%), iron and steel industry (30.5%), vehicular emission and oil burning (16.3%), and Cu smelting source (13.1%), while coarse-size metals are associated with soil dust and crustal elements (61.6%), traffic-related re-suspended road dust (19.4%), industrial process (10.6%) and coal/oil combustion (6.3%) for the PM episode.

First Report of Maize chlorotic mottle virus on Sweet Corn in Taiwan.

In February 2014, a severe disease on maize (Zea mays L.) broke out in the fields of central and southwestern Taiwan and caused yield losses in sweet corn production. Chlorotic spots first appeared at the base of infected leaves and later developed into systemic mottling. Diffused necrotic patches were also found on leaves or husks of the diseased plants. Moreover, severe rosetting and stunting accompanied by abnormalities in ear production were observed on mature plants. Eighteen leaf samples from symptomatic plants were collected and submitted to our Plant Diagnostic Clinic for virus diagnosis. All of the samples were first tested by reverse transcriptase (RT)-PCR to detect Maize stripe virus (MSpV) and by indirect ELISA to detect Maize dwarf mosaic virus (MDMV) or Sugarcane mosaic virus (SCMV), which were endemic to this area (1). Only 2 out of 18 samples were positive for MDMV, SCMV, or mixed infection of both viruses. Sap inoculation tests conducted on seedlings of sweet corn cv. Honey 236 indicated that the MDMV- and SCMV-negative samples still had an unknown pathogen causing original symptoms in the receptor plants. The isolate from Yunlin county reacted only with the antibody to Maize chlorotic mottle virus (MCMV) (AC Diagnostics, Fayetteville, AR) in ELISA. For further identification, the MCMV-specific primers (forward: MCMVg3514F-GGGAACAACCTGCTCCA; reverse MCMVg4014R-GGACACGGAGTACGAGA) were designed from the nucleotide sequence of MCMV coat protein (CP) gene. In RT-PCR using the AccuPower RT/PCR PreMix kit (Bioneer, Daejeon, Korea), an expected 500-bp DNA fragment was observed. This PCR product was cloned and its nucleotide sequence was determined by Mission Biotech Co., Taipei, Taiwan. BLAST analysis of the CP gene of the MCMV-Yunlin revealed the maximum nucleotide identities (99%) with Chinese Sichuan isolates (GenBank Accession No. JQ984270) and 98% identities to four Chinese Yunnan isolates (GU138674, JQ982468, JQ982469, and KF010583) and one Kenya isolate (JX286709), compared with 97% to Kansas isolate (X14736) and 96% to Nebraska isolate (EU358605). Subsequently, the complete nucleotide sequence of the viral genome (KJ782300) was determined from five overlapping DNA fragments obtained from independent RT-PCR amplification. The virus isolate was infectious to sweet corn cultivars Bai-long-wang, Devotion, SC-34, SC2015, and Zheng-zi-mi, on which similar symptoms were developed after mechanical inoculation. During the spring of 2014, a total of 224 sweet corn samples were collected from the epidemic areas of Taichung, Yunlin, Chiayi, and Kaohsiung counties. Samples (n= 161) reacted positive for MCMV in ELISA and/or RT-PCR. In the field survey, more than 20 adult thrips might be observed on an MCMV-infected plant. Two species of Frankliniella were found on maize plants: F. williamsi Hood and F. intonsa Trybom. Maize thrips (F. williamsi), an occasional pest of maize occurring during winter and spring in Taiwan, was characterized by its abdominal sternite II on which 1 or 2 discal setae of equal length with posteromarginal setae were borne (2). Samples with 1, 5, 10, and 30 F. williamsi collected in the field were tested by RT-PCR; MCMV was detectable not only in the pooled crushed bodies but also in a single maize thrips. This is the first report of MCMV occurrence on maize in Taiwan and of the virus transmitted by maize thrips.

Impact of Coastal Land Use Change on Shoreline Dynamics in Yunlin County, Taiwan

Located in the west coast of Taiwan, Yunlin County is considered as one of the most industrialized counties. The impact of land use on the coastal zone is significantly high. The main objective of this study is to analyze the impact of coastal land use changes in Yunlin County between 1996 and 2011 on shoreline dynamics. Two sets of satellite images (SPOT and FORMOSAT-2) are used as major data sources, and all analyses are performed using Geographic Information Systems (GIS) techniques. Land use classification includes seven types. Their area changes and correlations with shoreline area changes are calculated. Results indicate that between 1996 and 2011, the Yunlin coastal zone has experienced substantial land use changes, with dramatic increase of industrial and residential area along with significant loss of sandy coast. For the last sixteen years, Yunlin shoreline has undergone both erosion and accretion position changes. However, accretion is more prominent and common in many places. The net shoreline change observed is an accretion area of 1.65 km2. Results also further reveal that area changes of agriculture, residential, abandoned and aquaculture lands have caused a negative impact on the shoreline, moving it landward. However, area changes of industrial land and the sandy coast have exerted a positive impact (shifting the shoreline towards the sea). This positive impact is mainly due to land reclamation projects and destruction of natural coasts. As such, this is not favorable for natural coastal environments. This study also clearly indicates that, human induced coastal land use changes do exist in Yunlin. These changes may have created long-term shoreline position shifts and significant impact on its coastal environment.

The unprsendant farmland soil monitoring project

Soil and groundwater remediation Act was enacted in year 2000. More than ten years has already passed, Monitoring project has been completed,pollution status has been defined,contaminated sites depollution have been launched,a great progress has been made. This paper majorly to depict the extensive farmland soil qauality monittoring which is unpredent in Taiwan and believe has never been done worldwide. This project was initiated from February 8 th , 2002 to August 8 th , 2002. The project tasks including digitalization of cadastre, farmland listing, basic information collecting, field investigation, sampling & analysis planning, field sampling, soil sample analysis, data evaluation, suggestion of contaminated farmland control, and analysis of potential pollution sources and transfer routes. 2,251 soil samples,had been sampled from Chang-Hwa County, Yun-Lin County, Nan-Tao County, and Chia-Yi City, and been analyzed in this project. 44% of these samples concentration exceed the soil pollution control standard (Table 1), including 492 farmlands (125.65 ha registered) with total contaminated farming area of 108.38 ha in Chang-Hwa, and 6 farmlands (0.39 ha registered) with total contaminated farming area of 0.39 ha in Nan-Tao County. However, the concentration of samples from Ynu-Lin County and Chia-Yi City do not exceed the soil pollution control standard. To coordinate with the investigation results of the relative project regarding to water and sediment quality of irrigation channels in Chang-Hwa area, the pollution sources are preliminary concluded to be the irrigation channels surrounding the farmlands in Chang-Hwa area. As to the Nan-Tao County, the abandoned brick furnace plants neighboring the farmland are suspected to be The pollution sources. The results show that the soil of the investigation area in Chang-Hwa County is the most polluted. Base on the Geostatistics study and the distribution of the irrigation channels; the area neighboring the investigated farmland in this project is suspected being polluted. For the farmlands exceeding soil control standard, Geostatistics method is suggested to coordinate with the information of the irrigation system to clarify the contaminated area so as to be the basis of land control and remediation work. As to the farmlands, not being investigated in this project but with high pollution potential according to the Geostatistics study, detail investigations are suggested. Regarding to soil pollution remediation, it is suggested to coordinate with the effluent control and irrigation channel remediation to achieve an all-out success.

Intent to abuse addictive substances in regions with serious drug abuse among early adolescents

Background: The intentions to use addictive substances among early adolescents residing in geographic areas characterised by severe drug abuse remain poorly understood due to a lack of sufficient research attention.Methods: We assessed participants (N = 217) in grades 5 and 6 in Yunlin County, where severe drug abuse is common. Self-reported data were acquired via questionnaires.Results: Only perceived behavioural control was found to have an effect on addictive substance use intentions. The subject norms and attitude behaviours concerning addictive substances had small, but positive effects, on perceived behavioural control.Conclusion: Our findings suggest that, in high-drug abuse areas, prevention programmes aimed at early adolescents should focus on improving perceived behavioural control. Such interventions may increase adolescents’ likelihood of refraining from drug use while decreasing drug exposure channels.