AN EXPLORATORY STUDY OF IT FIT MOTIVATION IN A CLOUD-COMPUTING CLASSROOM

In recent years, digital learning has received more attention from the field of education, and many schools in Taiwan have begun to introduce the cloud-computing classroom platform as another learning environment for students. However, as there remains a lack of research on fit and performance in the cloud-computing classroom, this study attempts to explore students’ views and effects when using the cloud-computing classroom. The research methods include case study and survey. Case study involved interviews with 18 students regarding their motivations and usage of the Ming Chuan University cloud-computing classroom. Based on the interview results, this study proposed three propositions, which were converted to three hypotheses. We collected data from a field survey and our results showed that (1) the user’s needs positively and affect the perceived fit; (2) the user’s usage of the cloud-computing classroom positively and affects the perceived fit; (3) the perceived fit in the usage of the cloud-computing classroom positively and affect user performance. Implications for academic researchers and practitioners are discussed

Potential Changes in Soil Microbial Composition under 1,2-Dichlorobenzene Contamination

Chlorine-containing organic compounds are important industrial solvents but are severely toxic to humans and the environment. Because of their stability and dense non-aqueous phase, they barely biodegrade when released into soil and groundwater systems and may significantly impact the soil environment. One bioremediation approach, biostimulation, adds rate-limiting nutrients to the soil to promote biodegradation processes, but the link remains unclear between stimulated microbial communities and nutrient inputs in anaerobic environments. This study evaluated changes to soil microbial communities in 1,2-dichlorobenzene (1,2-DCB)-contaminated soil under diverse carbon (C) and nutrient conditions. The experiments used anaerobic microcosms that were amended with various C and nutrient sources, and the analysis employed real-time PCR and next-generation sequencing. The results reveal that methanogens may have high resistance to 1,2-DCB in oligotrophic conditions. However, bacteria such as Pseudomonas, Sphingomonas, and some uncultured genera in the Xanthomonadaceae, Pseudomonadaceae, and Bacillales families can resist high 1,2-DCB concentrations when N and P sources are available. These results indicate that external N and P sources are important for stabilizing soil microbial communities and their processes in contaminant sites

Lymphomatoid papulosis: a clinical and histopathologic review and follow-up study of 34 cases in Taiwan

Background: Lymphomatoid papulosis (LyP) is a rare condition within the spectrum of CD30+ cutaneous lymphoproliferative disorders that is not well documented in Taiwan. This study aimed to analyze its clinical manifestations, diagnostic histopathology, clinical course, and treatment response among Taiwanese. Methods: A retrospective chart review was performed on patients diagnosed with LyP at a Taiwanese medical center from 1992 to 2008. Results: There were 34 patients with biopsy-proven LyP. The mean age at diagnosis was 36 years (range: 10–75 years), with male predominance (male:female ratio 3:2). Type-A LyP was identified in 32 patients and Type C in 2 patients. Seven cases showed CD4 predominance and six cases showed CD8 predominance. Of the 34 LyP patients, 2 had coexistent non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma, 1 (3%, 1/34) diagnosed before LyP onset and 1 (3%, 1/34) developed lymphoma 3 years after LyP. All of the patients were alive after a mean of 5.2 years (range: 3–12.7 years) of follow-up. Conclusions: Most of our cases are Type A LyP. No clinical features or pathologic features can predict increased risk for developing malignancy. Although only 6% (2/34) of LyP patients were found to have lymphoma in 3-year follow-up, longer follow up is needed. Regardless of treatment modalities, two-thirds of the patients have a recurrent and relapsing course. Observation is a reasonable approach for patients without cosmetic or symptomatic concerns

Niche Differentiation of Active Methane-Oxidizing Bacteria in Estuarine Mangrove Forest Soils in Taiwan

Mangrove forests are one of the important ecosystems in tropical coasts because of their high primary production, which they sustain by sequestering a substantial amount of CO2 into plant biomass. These forests often experience various levels of inundation and play an important role in CH4 emissions, but the taxonomy of methanotrophs in these systems remains poorly understood. In this study, DNA-based stable isotope probing showed significant niche differentiation in active aerobic methanotrophs in response to niche differentiation in upstream and downstream mangrove soils of the Tamsui estuary in northwestern Taiwan, in which salinity levels differ between winter and summer. Methylobacter and Methylomicrobium-like Type I methanotrophs dominated methane-oxidizing communities in the field conditions and were significantly 13C-labeled in both upstream and downstream sites, while Methylobacter were well adapted to high salinity and low temperature. The Type II methanotroph Methylocystis comprised only 10–15% of all the methane oxidizers in the upstream site but less than 5% at the downstream site under field conditions. 13C-DNA levels in Methylocystis were significantly lower than those in Type I methanotrophs, while phylogenetic analysis further revealed the presence of novel methane oxidizers that are phylogenetically distantly related to Type Ia in fresh and incubated soils at a downstream site. These results suggest that Type I methanotrophs display niche differentiation associated with environmental differences between upstream and downstream mangrove soils

Characterization of Phosphorus in a Toposequence of Subtropical Perhumid Forest Soils Facing a Subalpine Lake

The productivity of forests is often considered to be limited by the availability of phosphorus (P). Knowledge of the role of organic and inorganic P in humid subtropical forest soils is lacking. In this study, we used chemical fractionation and 31P nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy to characterize the form of P and its distribution in undisturbed perhumid Taiwan false cypress (Chamaecyparis formosensis Matsum.) forest soils. The toposequence of transects was investigated for the humic layer from summit to footslope and lakeshore. The clay layer combined with a placic-like horizon in the subsoil may affect the distribution of soil P because both total P and organic P (Po) contents in all studied soils decreased with soil depth. In addition, Po content was negatively correlated with soil crystalline Fe oxide content, whereas inorganic P (Pi) content was positively correlated with soil crystalline Fe oxide content and slightly increased with soil depth. Thus, Pi may be mostly adsorbed by soil crystalline Fe oxides in the soils. Among all extractable P fractions, the NaOH-Po fraction appeared to be the major component, followed by NaHCO3-Po; the resin-P and HCl-Pi fractions were lowest. In addition, we found no typical trend for Pi and Po contents in soils with topographical change among the three sites. From the 31P-NMR spectra, the dominant Po form in soils from all study sites was monoesters with similar spectra. The 31P-NMR findings were basically consistent with those from chemical extraction. Soil formation processes may be the critical factor affecting the distribution of soil P. High precipitation and year-round high humidity may be important in the differentiation of the P species in this landscape