Signs of Change? An Analysis of Taiwan's December 2009 Local Elections
Under special circumstances created by a government decision to partly merge and upgrade six counties and county-level cities to special municipality status, local elections took place on December 5, 2009 in areas covering less than half of Taiwan's population. The results are generally seen as an important, though small, victory for the opposition Democratic Progressive Party (DPP). The ruling Kuomintang (KMT) (Guomindang), however, has remained in a stable position, while the DPP still has a long way to go towards a comeback.
Taiwan's 1998 Local Elections: Appraising Steps in Democratization
The lore of Taiwan politics attributes considerable significance to local elections in the gradual democratization of the Republic of China (ROC). Yet, since the major reforms of the late 1980s, relatively little attention has focused on campaigns and voting for county and large city councillors and for small town mayors and village chiefs. To help fill this lacuna, we observed the January 1998 elections for these offices and compared them with those of January 1994. The importance of these positions and their occupants derives both from partisanship and factionalism surrounding the recruitment of candidates and election of officials and from the winners' participation in government. As local legislators and executives, they share responsibilities for policy and administration of 23 counties and cities in Taiwan Province and two sets of county islands in the remnants of Fujian Province, nestled against the continental mass of the People's Republic of China (PRC). These areas, now predominantly in control of the main opposition party, include more than 70% of the population of the ROC, 69% of local financial expenditures, and 83% of governmental revenues. Literally hundreds of local legislators and executives filling these posts participate in shaping and sharing power, wealth, status, and other valued objects among Taiwan's citizenry.
Use of laser scanning confocal microscopy for morphological taxonomy and the potential for digital type specimens (e-types)
The use of laser scanning confocal microscopy (LSCM) for creating taxonomic descriptions of copepods is investigated. A new technique is described, which employs a contour filter to process digital LSCM images, allowing taxonomic information to be quickly and accu- rately distilled into a simple illustration. LSCM allows the imaging of whole specimens, which can be rotated and viewed from any angle—a major benefit over light microscopy. Using this tech- nique, it is suggested that taxonomic descriptions can be rapidly produced in a fraction of the time required to produce similar descriptions using traditional light microscopy and hand drawing techniques. Good staining of specimens is, however, essential to produce accurate descriptions and more research is required in this area. The use of LSCM for morphological taxonomy shows great potential, not only for producing taxonomic descriptions, but also providing a comple - mentary adjunct to traditional type specimens in the form of 3D digital 'e-types' deposited in recognised international databases.