The software that allows financial institutions to track transactions and retailers to optimize inventory levels could help researchers at National Yang-Ming University predict outbreaks of diseases such as the flu and produce vaccines tailored to dominant strains, researchers at a conference said yesterday.
Using epidemiological data collected by the Center of Disease Control (CDC), the analytic tool by the university team will be able to shave months off the process of predicting which strains of influenza to expect during the next flu season, said Yang Ueng-cheng (楊永正), the director of the university's center for systems and synthetic biology.
Yang said that the strains of influenza most prevalent in Taiwan during any given flu season are usually considerably different from those in other countries, which "makes it desirable to produce our own vaccines rather than use the same ones as everyone else."
"However, in order to mass-produce the vaccines in time for the coming season, we need to know the strain that will be most prevalent by March," which is not enough time, he said.
The team is working with Service Oriented Architecture (SOA) software donated by IBM.
SOA programs are used in a variety of business settings where it is necessary to cross-check information from separate databases.
Joe Lu (呂政欣), advisory specialist with IBM Taiwan, gave an example: "Withdrawing money from an ATM is one transaction for the user. But behind the scenes, a series of procedures needs to take place -- from checking the validity of the card to making sure that there are adequate funds in the account."
"It would take us years to write the software ourselves," said Li Guo-bing (
Li said that by this March, the project could be far enough along to analyze the information from this flu season, which is just now peaking.
That means the team could produce predictions theoretically in time to mass produce vaccines for next winter's flu season.
But its too soon to talk about producing influenza vaccines tailored for Taiwan, CDC deputy chairman Shih Wen-yi (
"We don't make our own vaccines yet and there is currently no choice of vaccine types on the market," he said.
PROCEDURE: Although there is already a cross-strait agreement in place for the extradition of criminals, ample notice is meant to be given to the other side first Ten Taiwanese who were involved in fraud-related crimes in China were extradited back to Taiwan via Kinmen County on Wednesday, four of whom are convicted fraudsters in Taiwan. The 10 people arrived via a ferry operating between Xiamen and Kinmen, also known as the “small three links.” The Kinmen County Prosecutors’ Office yesterday said that four of the 10 extradited people were convicted in Taiwan for committing fraud and contravening the Money Laundering Control Act (洗錢防制法), and were on the wanted list. They were immediately arrested upon arrival and sent to Kinmen Prison to serve their sentences following brief questioning, the office said.
Taipei and Kaohsiung have extended an open invitation to Japanese pop star Ayumi Hamasaki after Chinese authorities abruptly canceled her scheduled concert in Shanghai. Hamasaki, 47, had been slated to perform on Saturday before organizers pulled the show at the last minute, citing “force majeure,” a move widely viewed as retaliation for Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi’s recent remark that a Chinese attack on Taiwan could draw a military response from Tokyo. Taipei Mayor Chiang Wan-an (蔣萬安) yesterday said the city “very much welcomes” Hamasaki’s return and would continue to “surprise” her. Hamasaki, who has a large global fan base, including
‘REGRETTABLE’: Travelers reported that Seoul’s online arrival card system lists Taiwan as ‘China (Taiwan),’ the Ministry of Foreign Affairs said The Ministry of Foreign Affairs yesterday urged South Korea to correct the way Taiwan is listed in its newly launched e-Arrival card system, saying the current designation downgrades the nation’s status. South Korea rolled out the online system on Feb. 24 to gradually replace paper arrival cards, which it plans to phase out by next year. Travelers must complete the electronic form up to 72 hours before entering the country. The ministry said it has received multiple complaints from Taiwanese travelers saying that the system lists Taiwan as “China (Taiwan)” in dropdown menus for both “place of departure” and “next
VIGILANT: Enterovirus activity remains in the epidemic phase, with the CDC urging caregivers of infected children to be on the lookout for signs of severe illness Influenza activity is rising in neighboring countries, and, with temperatures forecast to drop this week, flu cases are expected to increase in the next two weeks, the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) said yesterday. Hospitals reported 87,162 visits for flu-like illnesses between Nov. 23 and Saturday, which remained about the same level as the previous week, but nine deaths and 24 cases with serious flu complications were also confirmed last week, CDC Epidemic Intelligence Center Director Guo Hung-wei (郭宏偉) said. Flu activity reached a peak in late September before declining for eight consecutive weeks, CDC Deputy Director-General and spokesman Lin Min-cheng (林明誠)
RSS