Satellite imagery: a way to monitor water quality for the future?

Monitoring water at high spatial and temporal resolutions is important for maintaining water quality because the cost of pollution remediation is often higher than the cost of early prevention or intervention. In recent decades, the availability and affordability of satellite images have regularly increased, thus supporting higher-frequency and lower-cost alternative methods for monitoring water quality. The core step in satellite remote sensing detection is inverse modeling, which is used to calibrate model parameters and enhance the similarity between the model and the real system being simulated.

Using Landsat 8 imagery for remote monitoring of total phosphorus as a water quality parameter of irrigation ponds in Taiwan.

Monitoring water body quality parameters with high spatial and temporal resolutions is crucial because mitigation of pollution is usually costlier than early prevention/intervention. The existing monitoring methods for irrigation ponds in Taoyuan, Taiwan, are based on field measurements that have low spatial and temporal resolutions. In this study, using Landsat 8 satellite imagery, a multiple regression-derived relationship between the satellite band reflectance and the concentration of total phosphorus (TP) was established.

Dynamic Modeling and Experimental Validation of an Impact-Driven Piezoelectric Energy Harvester in Magnetic Field.

In this study, an impact-driven piezoelectric energy harvester (PEH) in magnetic field is presented. The PEH consists of a piezoelectric cantilever beam and plural magnets. At its initial status, the beam tip magnet is attracted by a second magnet.

Prevalence and clinical correlates of flunitrazepam-related complex sleep behaviors.

Aim: Complex sleep behaviors (CSB) are often associated with the use of hypnotic drugs. This study investigated the prevalence and correlates of CSB among psychiatric patients who were given flunitrazepam.

Methods: From June 2011 to May 2012, a total of 268 psychiatric outpatients who had received flunitrazepam for at least 3 months were enrolled.

Clinical correlates of zolpidem-associated complex sleep-related behaviors: age effect.

Objective: Complex sleep-related behaviors (CSBs) are often associated with hypnotic use, especially zolpidem. The age effect on the occurrence of CSBs has not been adequately investigated. This study aimed to investigate and compare the clinical correlates of CSBs between adult and elderly subjects who were taking zolpidem.

Correlates of dependence and beliefs about the use of hypnotics among zolpidem and zopiclone users.

Background: Zolpidem and zopiclone are the two most commonly prescribed Z-drugs approved to treat insomnia.

Objectives: To examine the demographic and clinical correlates of dependence and beliefs about hypnotic use among long-term zolpidem and zopiclone users in psychiatric treatment for insomnia.

Methods: A total of 392 psychiatric outpatients who received zolpidem or zopiclone treatment for at least 3 months for insomnia were studied.

Severity of alprazolam dependence and associated features among long-term alprazolam users from psychiatric outpatient clinics in Taiwan.

Background/purpose: The aim of this study was to examine the correlations between the severity of alprazolam dependence and socio-demographic characteristics, the characteristics of alprazolam use, psychiatric comorbidity, and beliefs toward alprazolam use among long-term alprazolam users in Taiwan.

Methods: A total of 148 long-term alprazolam users participated in this study. The Chinese version of the Severity of Dependence Scale was used to assess participants' severity of alprazolam dependence in the preceding month.

Effects of paliperidone extended release on the symptoms and functioning of schizophrenia.

Background: We aimed to explore relations between symptomatic remission and functionality evaluation in schizophrenia patients treated with paliperidone extended-release (ER), as seen in a normal day-to-day practice, using flexible dosing regimens of paliperidone ER. We explored symptomatic remission rate in patients treated with flexibly dosed paliperidone ER by 8 items of Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale (PANSS) and change of Personal and Social Performance (PSP) scale.

Method: This was a 12-week multicenter, open-label, prospective clinical study conducted in in-patient and out-patient populations.