Magnetowave Induced Plasma Wakefield Acceleration for Ultra High Energy Cosmic Rays

Magnetowave induced plasma wakefield acceleration (MPWA) in a relativistic astrophysical outflow has been proposed as a viable mechanism for the acceleration of cosmic particles to ultra high energies. Here we present simulation results that clearly demonstrate the viability of this mechanism for the first time. We invoke the high frequency and high speed whistler mode for the driving pulse. The plasma wakefield so induced validates precisely the theoretical prediction. We show that under appropriate conditions, the plasma wakefield maintains very high coherence and can sustain high-gradient acceleration over a macroscopic distance. Invoking gamma ray burst (GRB) as the source, we show that MPWA production of ultra high energy cosmic rays (UHECR) beyond ZeV 10^21 eV is possible.Comment: 4 pages, 4 figure

The Image of Taiwan as a Travel Destination: Perspectives from Mainland China

This study presents the perceived and projected image of Taiwan as a travel destination from perspectives from Mainland China. The perceived image of Taiwan was examined by interviewing 28 Mainland Chinese; the projected image of Taiwan was investigated by analyzing articles in China's most popular travel magazines. The different types of images of Taiwan among visitors, nonvisitors, and travel magazines were compared. The projected image changed notably after the opening of Taiwan's tourism to travelers from Mainland China. The results of this study could help destination marketing organizations to assess their marketing strategies for the Mainland Chinese travel market

Historical and recent investigations on the bee fauna of Taiwan (Hymenoptera, Apoidea)

The bee fauna of Taiwan was studied intensively in the first half of last century and was based in large parts on the extensive material collected by Hans Sauter between 1902 and 1914. Subsequent studies on bees of Taiwan have only been sporadic. Within a cooperation between the above mentioned institutions the bee fauna was reinvestigated. It was shown how insufficiently the bee fauna of Taiwan had been investigated so far, in particular, the higher mountain regions. Now about 150 species of bees, belonging to 32 different genera, are known from Taiwan, ten of which have been described or recognized as new for science by the recent cooperation

Quantifying the legacy of the Chinese Neolithic on the maternal genetic heritage of Taiwan and Island Southeast Asia

There has been a long-standing debate concerning the extent to which the spread of Neolithic ceramics and Malay-Polynesian languages in Island Southeast Asia (ISEA) were coupled to an agriculturally driven demic dispersal out of Taiwan 4000 years ago (4 ka). We previously addressed this question using founder analysis of mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) control-region sequences to identify major lineage clusters most likely to have dispersed from Taiwan into ISEA, proposing that the dispersal had a relatively minor impact on the extant genetic structure of ISEA, and that the role of agriculture in the expansion of the Austronesian languages was therefore likely to have been correspondingly minor. Here we test these conclusions by sequencing whole mtDNAs from across Taiwan and ISEA, using their higher chronological precision to resolve the overall proportion that participated in the “out-of-Taiwan” mid-Holocene dispersal as opposed to earlier, postglacial expansions in the Early Holocene. We show that, in total, about 20 % of mtDNA lineages in the modern ISEA pool result from the “out-of-Taiwan” dispersal, with most of the remainder signifying earlier processes, mainly due to sea-level rises after the Last Glacial Maximum. Notably, we show that every one of these founder clusters previously entered Taiwan from China, 6–7 ka, where rice-farming originated, and remained distinct from the indigenous Taiwanese population until after the subsequent dispersal into ISEA

No. 1 in growth

Taiwan ; Economic conditions - Taiwan

Consumers Reactions to Tesco's market entry in Taiwan - a comparison with the UK experience

The purpose of this paper is to research consumer response to retail branding models in Taiwan by means of exploratory qualitative research comparing Tesco’s retail branding in the UK and Taiwan in order to find out the level of consumer acceptance of Tesco in Taiwan as a new market entrant. From the consumers’ viewpoint, Taiwanese Tesco’s retail corporate images, store positioning and retail branding process are not understood or clearly differentiated and identified by local consumers. This was a big problem for grocery shoppers and should therefore be considered as one of the key factors in Tesco`s withdrawal from the Taiwan market. It demonstrates the consumer acceptance issues even a strong retail brand faces transferring its brand to a new market with consumers unfamiliar with its retail brand proposition

Pre-seismic ionospheric anomalies detected before the 2016 Taiwan earthquake

On Feb. 5 2016 (UTC), an earthquake with moment magnitude 6.4 occurred in southern Taiwan, known as the 2016 (Southern) Taiwan earthquake. In this study, evidences of seismic earthquake precursors for this earthquake event are investigated. Results show that ionospheric anomalies in Total Electric Content (TEC) can be observed before the earthquake. These anomalies were obtained by processing TEC data, where such TEC data are calculated from phase delays of signals observed at densely arranged ground-based stations in Taiwan for Global Navigation Satellite Systems. This shows that such anomalies were detected within 1 hour before the event

Taiwan at the crossroads

Taiwan ; Economic development - Taiwan

Resolving the ancestry of Austronesian-speaking populations

There are two very different interpretations of the prehistory of Island Southeast Asia (ISEA), with genetic evidence invoked in support of both. The “out-of-Taiwan” model proposes a major Late Holocene expansion of Neolithic Austronesian speakers from Taiwan. An alternative, proposing that Late Glacial/postglacial sea-level rises triggered largely autochthonous dispersals, accounts for some otherwise enigmatic genetic patterns, but fails to explain the Austronesian language dispersal. Combining mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA), Y-chromosome and genome-wide data, we performed the most comprehensive analysis of the region to date, obtaining highly consistent results across all three systems and allowing us to reconcile the models. We infer a primarily common ancestry for Taiwan/ISEA populations established before the Neolithic, but also detected clear signals of two minor Late Holocene migrations, probably representing Neolithic input from both Mainland Southeast Asia and South China, via Taiwan. This latter may therefore have mediated the Austronesian language dispersal, implying small-scale migration and language shift rather than large-scale expansion

A Pilot Experiment with Reactor Neutrinos in Taiwan

A Collaboration comprising Taiwan and mainland Chinese scientists has been built up since 1996 to pursue a experimental program in neutrino and astro-particle physics in Taiwan. A pilot experiment to be performed at the Nuclear Power Station II in Taiwan is now under intense preparation. It will make use of a 600 kg CsI(Tl) crystal calorimeter to study various neutrino interactions. The feasibility of performing a long baseline reactor neutrino experiment will also be investigated. The conceptual design and the physics to be addressed by the pilot experiment are presented.Comment: 14 pages, 8 figures, 2 table