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Current centralized urban water supply depends largely on energy consumption, creating critical water-energy challenge especially for many rapid growing Asian cities. In this context, harvesting rooftop rainwater for non-potable use has enormous potential to ease the worsening water-energy issue. For this, we propose a geographic information system (GIS)-simulation-based design system (GSBDS) to explore how rainwater harvesting systems (RWHSs) can be systematically and cost-effectively designed as an innovative water-energy conservation scheme on a city scale. This GSBDS integrated a rainfall data base, water balance model, spatial technologies, energy-saving investigation, and economic feasibility analysis based on a case study of eight communities in the Taipei metropolitan area, Taiwan. Addressing both the temporal and spatial variations in rainfall, the GSBDS enhanced the broad application of RWHS evaluations. The results indicate that the scheme is feasible based on the optimal design when both water and energy-savings are evaluated. RWHSs were observed to be cost-effective and facilitated 21.6% domestic water-use savings, and 138.6 (kWh/year-family) energy-savings. Furthermore, the cost of per unit-energy-saving is lower than that from solar PV systems in 85% of the RWHS settings. Hence, RWHSs not only enable water-savings, but are also an alternative renewable energy-saving approach that can address the water-energy dilemma caused by rapid urbanization.

Major parameters and optimum storage volumes of rooftop rain water harvesting systems (RRWHSs) have not been investigated in detail in Taiwan. Accordingly, the four major parameters of RRWHSs were herein identified and elucidated using a simulation method. Because the performance of the RRWHSs is sensitive to the runoff coefficient, a field experiment was conducted to determine the runoff coefficient more precisely for various types of roofs. A simulation model including production theory was developed and employed to estimate the most cost effective combination of the roof area and the storage capacity that best supplies a specific volume of water. Consequently, the expansion path of optimum solutions for different volumetric reliability of water supply can be determined. Additionally, the method based on the marginal rate of substitution can be used for determining the rational volumetric reliability. The procedures developed herein constitute an effective tool for preliminarily estimating the most satisfactory storage capacity of any specific roof area and for determining the rational reliability of a corresponding water supply.

This study assessed the performance and developed a simple approach for estimating infiltration capacity of two infiltration gutters by using on-site tests. Permeable-brick and redbrick infiltration gutters were constructed on-site. Water infiltrated from the surfaces of two vertical sides (NFS-2S), bottom (NFS-B), and three faces (NFS-3S) of two gutters were measured under nonflowing and steady-state conditions. Tests results from NFS-2S and NFS-3S indicate that the permeability and water depth for both gutters are linearly dependent on each other. Experimental results also indicate that, when the bottom of the gutter is clogged, the permeable-brick gutter still retains approximately 93 and 79% for redbrick gutter of their infiltration capacity for NFS-3S. On the whole, permeable-brick gutter has an advantage over redbrick gutter in stormwater infiltration. Based on these results, the permeability for different water depths and widths of these two gutters can be obtained.

: Major parameters and optimum storage volumes of rooftop rain water harvesting systems (RRWHSs) have not been investigated in detail in Taiwan. Accordingly, the four major parameters of RRWHSs were herein identified and elucidated using a simulation method. Because the performance of the RRWHSs is sensitive to the runoff coefficient, a field experiment was conducted to determine the runoff coefficient more precisely for various types of roofs. A simulation model including production theory was developed and employed to estimate the most cost effective combination of the roof area and the storage capacity that best supplies a specific volume of water. Consequently, the expansion path of optimum solutions for different volumetric reliability of water supply can be determined. Additionally, the method based on the marginal rate of substitution can be used for determining the rational volumetric reliability. The procedures developed herein constitute an effective tool for preliminarily estimating the most satisfactory storage capacity of any specific roof area and for determining the rational reliability of a corresponding water supply.

Allergic rhinitis is a very common chronic disease. The purpose of this study was to measure the outcome of treating allergic rhinitis with diode laser, over a long-term follow-up of 6 years. Forty-two consecutive patients with newly diagnosed allergic rhinitis that was refractive to conservative medical therapies were enrolled in the study. Treatment was with a diode laser (wavelength 805 nm, laser parameter 12 W, in ‘contact’ mode) under local anesthesia between September 1999 and May 2000. A quality of life questionnaire was used after a follow-up period of 6 years to assess the outcome of diode laser surgery. All 42 patients suffered from either perennial or persistent-type allergic rhinitis. Twenty-five out of 42 patients (60%) replied to the questionnaire 6 years after laser surgery. The mean operation time was 1 min 28 s for each patient. No complications were observed (e.g., major bleeding), and no nasal packing was necessary. Statistical analysis revealed significant improvements in symptom score, medication score and total score 6 years after laser surgery. A total of 60% of the patients described improvements in symptom scores, and 68% of the patients described improvements in total score 6 years after laser treatment. It was evident that the effectiveness of laser surgery persisted through the 6 years of follow-up. Long-term follow-up after 6 years confirmed that diode laser surgery for allergic rhinitis is a useful procedure that has a long-lasting effect and can be performed in an outpatient surgery under local anesthesia. Minimal discomfort, long-term effectiveness and short operation time are other reasons why this treatment should be selected for patients with allergic rhinitis that is refractive to conservative management.

: The Keelung River Basin in northern Taiwan lies immediately upstream of the Taipei metropolitan area. The Shijr area is in the lower basin and is subject to frequent flooding. This work applies micromanagement and source control, including widely distributed infiltration and detention/ retention runoff retarding measures, in the Wudu watershed above Shijr. A method is also developed that combines a genetic algorithm and a rainfall runoff model to optimize the spatial distribution of runoff retarding facilities. Downstream of Wudu in the Shijr area, five dredging schemes are considered. If 10‐year flood flows cannot be confined in the channel, then a levee embankment that corresponds to the respective runoff retarding scheme will be required. The minimum total cost is considered in the rule to select from the regional flood mitigation alternatives. The results of this study reveal that runoff retarding facilities installed in the upper and middle parts of the watershed are most effective in reducing the flood peak. Moreover, as the cost of acquiring land for the levee embankment increases, installing runoff retarding measures in the upper portion of the watershed becomes more economical.

The Keelung River Basin in northern Taiwan lies immediately upstream of the Taipei metropolitan area. The Shijr area is in the lower basin and is subject to frequent flooding. This work applies micromanagement and source control, including widely distributed infiltration and detention/ retention runoff retarding measures, in the Wudu watershed above Shijr. A method is also developed that combines a genetic algorithm and a rainfall runoff model to optimize the spatial distribution of runoff retarding facilities. Downstream of Wudu in the Shijr area, five dredging schemes are considered. If 10-year flood flows cannot be confined in the channel, then a levee embankment that corresponds to the respective runoff retarding scheme will be required. The minimum total cost is considered in the rule to select from the regional flood mitigation alternatives. The results of this study reveal that runoff retarding facilities installed in the upper and middle parts of the watershed are most effective in reducing the flood peak. Moreover, as the cost of acquiring land for the levee embankment increases, installing runoff retarding measures in the upper portion of the watershed becomes more economical.

Major parameters and optimum storage volumes of rooftop rain water harvesting systems (RRWHSs) have not been investigated in detail in Taiwan. Accordingly, the four major parameters of RRWHSs were herein identified and elucidated using a simulation method. Because the performance of the RRWHSs is sensitive to the runoff coefficient, a field experiment was conducted to determine the runoff coefficient more precisely for various types of roofs. A simulation model including production theory was developed and employed to estimate the most cost effective combination of the roof area and the storage capacity that best supplies a specific volume of water. Consequently, the expansion path of optimum solutions for different volumetric reliability of water supply can be determined. Additionally, the method based on the marginal rate of substitution can be used for determining the rational volumetric reliability. The procedures developed herein constitute an effective tool for preliminarily estimating the most satisfactory storage capacity of any specific roof area and for determining the rational reliability of a corresponding water supply.

In order to study factors affecting homologous recombination in P. falciparum, two constructs were prepared containing the Toxoplasma gondii dhfr-ts gene as the selectable marker. In the first construct (pDHD-Tg23), the T. gondii dhfr-ts was flanked by 5′ and 3′ untranslated flanking regions (UTFRs) from dhfr-ts (chr 4), as well as the 5 ′ UTFR from histidine rich protein 3 (hrp3, chr 13). In the second construct (pHSP-Tg23), the T. gondii dhfr-ts gene was flanked by the 5′ and 3′ UTFRs from heat shock protein 86 (hsp86, chr 7). After transfection of the pyrimethamine-susceptible 3D7 and Haiti 135 strains of P. falciparum by electroporation and selection with pyrimethamine, individual pyrimethamine-resistant clones were selected by limiting dilution. In contrast to the parental 3D7 and Haiti 135 parasites, these pyrimethamine-resistant clones contained both the P. falciparum and T. gondii dhfr-ts genes. Based on chromosomal electrophoresis and hybridization, the P. falciparum dhfr-ts gene was consistently localized to chr 4 in both the parental strains and the transfectants. In contrast, the T. gondii dhfr-ts gene was found on chr 7, and chr 13, after transfection with pHSP-Tg23, and pDHD-Tg23, respectively. Southern blotting and PCR amplification suggest that deletions occurred in the transfected constructs. Two or three copies of the pDHD-Tg23 DNA are present on chromosome 13 (3D7) and 1 copy of the pHSP-Tg23 DNA is on chromosome 7 (Haiti 135) of the pyrimethamine-resistant transfectants. These results suggest that it is possible to direct genes to specific chromosomes in P. falciparum, based on the UTFRs flanking the marker in the construct used for electroporation and selection.

Endoscopy-assisted breast surgery (EABS) performed through minimal axillary and/or periareolar incisions is a possible alternative to open surgery for certain patients with breast cancer. In this study, we report the early results of an EABS program in Taiwan. The medical records of patients who underwent EABS for breast cancer during the period May 2009 to December 2014 were collected from the Taiwan Endoscopic Breast Surgery Cooperative Group database. Data on clinicopathologic characteristics, type of surgery, method of breast reconstruction, complications and recurrence were analyzed to determine the effectiveness and oncologic safety of EABS in Taiwan. A total of 315 EABS procedures were performed in 292 patients with breast cancer, including 23 (7.8%) patients with bilateral disease. The number of breast cancer patients who underwent EABS increased initially from 2009 to 2012 and then stabilized during the period 2012-2014. The most commonly performed EABS was endoscopy-assisted total mastectomy (EATM) (85.4%) followed by endoscopy-assisted partial mastectomy (EAPM) (14.6%). Approximately 74% of the EATM procedures involved breast reconstruction, with the most common types of reconstruction being implant insertion and autologous pedicled TRAM flap surgery. During the six-year study period, there was an increasing trend in the performance of EABS for the management of breast cancer when total mastectomy was indicated. The positive surgical margin rate was 1.9%. Overall, the rate of complications associated with EABS was 15.2% and all were minor and wound-related. During a median follow-up of 26.8 (3.3-68.6) months, there were 3 (1%) cases of local recurrence, 1 (0.3%) case of distant metastasis and 1 (0.3%) death. The preliminary results from the EABS program in Taiwan show that EABS is a safe procedure and results in acceptable cosmetic outcome. These findings could help to promote this under-used surgical technique in the field of breast cancer.