Revision of Polygonatum (Asparagaceae, Nolinoideae, Polygonateae) of Taiwan

Polygonatum is widely distributed in the northern hemisphere, especially in eastern Asia. There has been no comprehensive taxonomic study of Taiwanese taxa for some time, and researchers could not agree on a consistent treatment of the genus. Therefore, we revised the genus by literature review and type specimen examination along with comparison of morphology, karyotype and pollen characteristics. Only one species P. arisanense Hayata was recognized in this study. P. chingshuishanianum Ying and P. formosanum (Hayata) Masamune & Simada are regarded as varieties of P. arisanense and are here presented as two new combinations, P. arisanense var. chingshuishanianum and P. arisanense var. formosanum

Taxonomic revision of Disporum Salisb. (Colchicaceae, Uvularioideae) of Taiwan

A taxonomic revision of Disporum of Taiwan is presented with two species and one variety being recognised. The diagnostic characters of Disporum include the colour of tepals, stolon morphology, the trichomes of filaments and style and leaf morphology. These characters, along with karyotype and pollen morphology, are discussed and evaluated amongst different taxa. As a result, D. kawakamii and D. shimadae are treated as independent species, rather than varieties of D. cantoniense and D. sessile, respectively. Disporum nantouense is treated as a synonym of D. sessile var. intermedium stat. nov. Detailed descriptions, type information, diagnostic key, line drawings, photos and distribution maps are provided

A Smartphone APP for Health and Tourism Promotion

The main purpose of this study is to develop an APP by integrating GPS to provide the digitized information of local cultural spots to guide tourists for tourism promotion and the digitized information of mountaineering trails to monitor energy expenditure (EE) for health promotion. The provided cultural information is also adopted for educational purpose. Extended Technology Acceptance Model (TAM) was used to evaluate the usefulness and behavior intention of the provided information and functions in the developed system. Most users agreed that the system is useful for health promotion, tourism promotion, and folk-culture education. They also showed strong intention and positive attitude toward continuous use of the APP

A User Authentication Scheme Using Physiological and Behavioral Biometrics for Multitouch Devices

With the rapid growth of mobile network, tablets and smart phones have become sorts of keys to access personal secured services in our daily life. People use these devices to manage personal finances, shop on the Internet, and even pay at vending machines. Besides, it also helps us get connected with friends and business partners through social network applications, which were widely used as personal identifications in both real and virtual societies. However, these devices use inherently weak authentication mechanism, based upon passwords and PINs that is not changed all the time. Although forcing users to change password periodically can enhance the security level, it may also be considered annoyances for users. Biometric technologies are straightforward because of the simple authentication process. However, most of the traditional biometrics methodologies require diverse equipment to acquire biometric information, which may be expensive and not portable. This paper proposes a multibiometric user authentication scheme with both physiological and behavioral biometrics. Only simple rotations with fingers on multitouch devices are required to enhance the security level without annoyances for users. In addition, the user credential is replaceable to prevent from the privacy leakage

Spatial modelling and mapping of teen birth rates in Taiwan in the period 1995-2010

Geographical variations in teen birth rates (TBR) still persist despite controlling for contextual factors. The aim of this research was to identify spatial patterns of TBR in Taiwan and to examine spatial relationships among different contextual factors. Using townships as the unit of analysis (N=359), this research used social and demographic variables for the years 1995, 2000, 2005 and 2010 and conducted spatial modelling of TBR. Geographical maps of TBR were presented, and Local Indicator of Spatial Autocorrelations was used to identify TBR clustering. Comparisons were made between ordinary least-squares models and spatial lag models, in which township-level TBRs were regressed on other township-level contextual characteristics. Our study found that townships with a high TBR were mostly in eastern, central and some southern regions of Taiwan, while townships with a low TBR were in the vicinity of metropolitan areas. The significant spatial lag indicated that townships would have a higher expected prevalence rate if adjacent townships have had higher rates. Results also indicated that the percentage of aborigines and the percentage of college-educated people were consistently associated with TBR over the years. Interventions aimed at reducing TBR in Taiwan should consider the presence of spatial correlations and should incorporate neighbouring townships

Contextual factors and spatial patterns of childhood malnutrition in provinces of Burkina Faso

Background: Approximately 45% of all children's deaths are associated with malnutrition, and sub-Saharan Africa is hardest hit by this phenomenon. However, information on geographical variations of malnutrition in developing countries is limited. This study examined the geographical distribution and community characteristics associated with child malnutrition in Burkina Faso. Design: Data from the 2011 Burkina Faso Demographic Health Survey were analyzed. A general Kriging interpolation method was used to generate spatial malnutrition patterns. The global Moran's I test was used to identify significant malnutrition spatial patterns. Generalized estimating equations (GEEs) were fitted to examine the association between community level factors and malnutrition. Results: Average rates of stunting and wasting in the communities were 32.48% and 15.05%, respectively. Stunting hotspots were observed in the eastern and northeastern parts of Burkina Faso (i.e. Oudolan, Séno and Yagha, among others), while high rates of wasting were observed in the north-central part. The GEE results revealed lower stunting rates in communities with a higher percentage of households with improved sanitation. Communities with higher rates of professionally assisted births were associated with low wasting rates, while communities with higher rates of households with a low wealth index reported higher rates of wasting. Conclusions: Spatial statistical models of malnutrition prevalence are useful for indicating hotspots over wide areas and hence, for guiding intervention strategies. This study revealed significant geographical patterns and community factors associated with childhood malnutrition. These factors should be considered in future programs aimed at reducing malnutrition in Burkina Faso

Identification of Postoperative Prognostic MicroRNA Predictors in Hepatocellular Carcinoma

Comparison of microRNA (miRNA) expression profiles in the noncancerous liver tissues adjacent to hepatocelluar carcinomas (HCCs) was a strategy to identify postoperative prognostic predictors in this study. Expression profiles of 270 miRNAs were determined in the paraneoplastic liver tissues of 12 HCC patients with known postoperative prognosis. A panel of candidate miRNA predictors was identified. The prognostic predictive value of these candidate miRNAs was then verified in 216 postoperative HCC patients. Univariate analysis identified 8 and 3 miRNA predictors for recurrence-free (RFS) and overall (OS) survivals, respectively. Multivariate analysis revealed high expression levels of miR-155 (HR, 2.002 [1.324–3.027]; P = .001), miR-15a (HR, 0.478 [0.248–0.920]; P = .027), miR-432 (HR, 1.816 [1.203–2.740]; P = .015), miR-486-3p (HR, 0.543 [0.330–0.893]; P = .016), miR-15b (HR, 1.074 [1.002–1.152]; P = .043) and miR-30b (HR, 1.102 [1.025–1.185]; P = .009) were significantly associated with RFS. When clinicopathological predictors were included, multivariate analysis revealed that tumor number and miR-432, miR-486-3p, and miR-30b expression levels remained significant as independent predictors for RFS. Additionally, expression knockdown of miR-155 in J7 and Mahlavu hepatoma cells resulted in decreased cell growth and enhanced cell death in xenograft tumors, suggesting an oncogenic effect of miR-155. In conclusion, significant prognostic miRNA predictors were identified through examination of miRNA expression levels in paraneoplastic liver tissues. Functional analysis of a miRNA predictor, miR-155, suggested that the prognostic miRNA predictors identified under this strategy could serve as potential molecular targets for anticancer therapy