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Background: Taiwan has a substantial number of veterans, but knowledge regarding their emergency department (ED) visits during the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic remains limited. This study examined the characteristics of veterans' ED visits during Taiwan's COVID-19 epidemic. Methods: This was a cross-sectional study conducted at the ED of a large veteran medical center located in Taipei, Taiwan, from May 2018 to October 2021. We analyzed the numbers and features of visits in summer and autumn according to the first wave of the COVID-19 epidemic in Taiwan in 2021. Results: Medical institutions were positively associated with veteran status. Emergency department complaints of trauma (adjusted odds ratio [AOR] = 1.15, 95% CI: 1.06-1.25; summer P < .01) and chest pain/tightness (AOR = 1.65, 95% CI: 1.45-1.87; summer P < .01; AOR = 1.4, 95% CI: 1.26-1.55; P < .01) were associated with increased odds of being a veteran. Triage levels above 2 were positively associated with veteran status in the autumn model (AOR = 1.14, 95% CI: 1.07-1.22; P < .01). Patients hospitalized after ED visits were associated with reduced odds of veteran status (P < .01). Those who spent a long time in the ED were more likely to be veterans than those who spent a shorter time in the ED (P < .01). Veterans were less likely to visit the ED regardless of the time frame of the study period (P < .01), except during the COVID-19 outbreak in the autumn (2019-2020). Conclusions: The distinctions in ED visits highlighted the individuality of veterans' medical needs. Our findings suggest that the veteran medical system can add to the focus on improving senior-friendly care, fall prevention, quality of life of institutionalized veterans, access for homeless veterans, and care for ambulatory care–sensitive conditions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

When learning to write Chinese characters, it is essential for students to learn and maintain the correct order of the strokes. Chinese teachers often use computer-supported drill and practice to develop students' ability to write in the correct order, but such devices are rarely designed to stimulate learners' memory-manipulation in cognitive processes. To enhance the effect of the stimuli, a computer game called Chinese order of strokes was designed for students to practice their sensorimotor skill by providing a different color (i.e., red) to evoke learners' memory-manipulation cognitive processes. To understand the effect of this game, third-grade students from an elementary school in Taipei were invited to play Chinese order of strokes, and the correlates between their intrinsic cognitive load, gameplay interest, and flow experience were examined. The results showed that intrinsic cognitive load was negatively related to gameplay interest and flow, gameplay interest was positively related to flow, and flow was positively related to learning progress. The results imply that teachers can utilize a digital Chinese order of strokes to implement characters based on their own teaching materials and to facilitate the students' learning of the correct order of strokes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aim: To investigate the effect of whole-body vibration on older people with sarcopenia, and their physical capability, activities of daily living, and sleep quality. Methods: This study is quasi-experimental and adopts single-group pretest–posttest design. The study included participants aged older than 65 years who lived in nursing homes and care centers in Taipei, Taiwan. The whole-body vibration training was performed for 3 months, and during each training session, a participant received ten cycles of 60-sec vibration with 30-sec breaks between the cycles. The physical capability, activities of daily living, and sleep quality of the participants were examined to understand the pretest and posttest results of whole-body vibration training. Concerning the statistical methods adopted, nonparametric method-based tests were employed. Results: In addition to sleep quality (z = 7.367, p > 0.05), significant differences were observed between before and after whole-body vibration training intervention for one-foot balance (z = −2.447, p < 0.05), shoulder and arm flexibility (z = −3.159, p < 0.05), walking speed (z = −2.692, p < 0.05), right-hand grip (z = −3.388, p < 0.05), left-hand grip (z = −3.264, p < 0.05), five sit–stand repetitions (z = −2.936, p < 0.05), skeletal muscle mass index (z = −3.621, p < 0.05), and activities of daily living (z = 1.163, p < 0.05). Conclusions: According to this study, with the 12-week whole-body vibration training in older people with sarcopenia, their physical capability and activities of daily living have improved, though sleeping quality is not statistically significant. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study collected the annual revenue data of the top three supermarket chains in Taiwan (PX Mart, Simple Mart, and Wellcome), shopping frequency in supermarkets, and the average expenditure of the general public in order to construct models for simulating supermarket revenue by calibrating model parameters to the actual data. This study employed the competing destinations model (CDM) to designate supermarket shoppers' shopping areas and simulate supermarket sales. The CDM calculated the probability of consumers selecting each supermarket, simulated the total revenues of supermarkets and the average daily revenue of a single store using the expenditure equation, and added spatial competition and agglomeration effect parameters to the model to observe variations in revenue with changing parameter values. The study results revealed profitable expansion opportunities and highly competitive locations not advised for new outlets. Beitou district had the lowest population density in Taipei City yet a high-sales cluster, making it an area suitable for new PX Mart stores. Shilin and Xinyi districts could also be considered suitable areas for new stores because they had insignificant distributions of stores, high-sales clusters, and competition was not yet severe. The study extends the use of analytical revenue and spatial models to empirically study the agglomeration forces between supermarket chains, analyzes the influence of distance variation on supermarket revenues, and determines the most suitable locations for the future inauguration of supermarket stores in Taipei City. • This study collected the annual revenue data of the top three supermarket chains in Taiwan. • The agglomeration forces between supermarket chains were investigated. • This study constructed models for simulating supermarket revenue by calibrating parameters to the actual data. • The study analyzed the influence of distance variation on supermarket revenues. • The study results revealed profitable expansion opportunities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Since low-level lead exposure is still of concern for neonates, it is worth further characterizing the temporal transition trends of cord blood lead levels (CBLLs) globally and locally in Taipei, Taiwan, after the cessation of leaded gasoline use. A literature review on CBLLs around the world was performed by searching three databanks, i.e., PubMed, Google Scholar and Web of Science, with the search keywords "cord blood" combined with "lead" or "Pb" for studies published from 1975 to May 2021. In total, 66 articles were included. Linear regressions for the reciprocal of sample size weighed CBLLs against calendar year presented a high r2 value (0.722) for the very high Human Development Index (HDI) countries and a moderate r2 value (0.308) for the combined high and medium HDI countries. The predicted CBLLs in 2030 and 2040 were 6.92 (95% CI: 6.02–7.81) μg/L and 5.85 (95% CI: 5.04–6.66) μg/L, respectively, for the very high HDI countries and 13.10 (95% CI: 7.12–19.09) μg/L and 10.63 (95% CI: 5.37–15.89) μg/L, respectively, for the combined high and medium HDI countries. To characterize the CBLL transitions in the Great Taipei metropolitan area, data from five studies conducted from 1985 to 2018 were employed. Although the results of the early four studies indicated that the Great Taipei metropolitan area did not reach the pace in CBLL reduction among the very high HDI countries, the CBLLs of the latest study during 2016–2018 were pretty low (8.1 ± 4.5 μg/L), approximately 3 years in advance of the very high HDI countries as one group to reach this low CBLL. In conclusion, further effective reduction in environmental lead exposure is challenging and must be based on the efforts from the aspects reflected by the HDI index compositions, i.e., economics, education and health, mostly implying health disparity and inequality. [Display omitted] • Global decreasing trends of CBLLs entered a slow and stagnant stage. • CBLL gap between the very high and the high/medium HDI countries remained eminent. • Predicted CBLLs in 2040 were 5.7 and 11.9 μg/L for these two categories of country. • Improvement on economics, education and health is warranted to further reduce CBLLs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background High myopia is associated with multiple ocular morbidities that may lead to irreversible blindness. Because high myopia in an adult is thought to be related to onset of myopia in very early childhood, detecting myopia early and working to improve modifiable risk factors may help reduce the development of high myopia. In this study, we tried to evaluate the prevalence of myopia and associated risk factors in second-grade primary school children in Taipei, Taiwan. Methods A questionnaire was distributed to the participants’ parents, and their written informed consent was obtained before performing eye examinations that included visual acuity testing and cycloplegic autorefraction. Multiple logistic regression models were applied to assess possible risk factors associated with myopia. Myopia was defined as spherical equivalent of −0.50 D or less in either eye. Results The prevalence of myopia in the second graders was 36.4%. After adjustment for other characteristics, the following variables were significantly associated with a higher risk of myopia: male sex [odds ratio (OR) = 1.24, p < 0.001]; suburban residence (vs. urban; OR = 1.10, p = 0.02); lower maternal education level (OR = 1.25, p < 0.001); the presence of myopia in one parent (OR = 1.66, p < 0.001) or both parents (OR = 2.82, p < 0.001); time spent on near-work activity every day (OR = 1.21, p < 0.001); shorter visual distance when doing near-work activity (OR = 1.17, p < 0.001); and participation in an after-school tutorial program (OR = 1.20, p < 0.001). By contrast, resting after 30 minutes of near-work activity (OR = 0.84, p < 0.001) and spending more time participating in outdoor activities on weekends (OR = 0.91, p = 0.03) were significantly associated with a lower risk of myopia. Conclusion Our findings indicate that lifestyle and reading habits impact the development of myopia during early childhood. Behavior modification, such as more time spent outside during the day and limited near-work activity, may be a feasible strategy for curbing the increasingly high prevalence of myopia in Taipei. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: To investigate whether a simplified and personalized Tai-Chi program could be beneficial for practitioners. A prospective quasi-experimental observer-blinded controlled trial was done in Beitou District of Taipei City.Methods: Community-dwelling adults aged 65 and older without debilitating disease (N = 50) participated the study. Those who were willing to participate in exercise program were assigned to individualized Tai-Chi (iTC) group (n = 20), receiving iTC training for 8 weeks, and traditional Tai-Chi (tTC) group (n = 15), receiving tTC training for 8 weeks. Those who were not willing to participate in exercise training were included in the control group (n = 15). Functional balance tests, the Berg Balance Scale (BBS), timed up-and-go (TUG) test, functional-reach test, and measurement of lower-extremity muscle strength were conducted before and 8 weeks after the intervention.Results: Significant improvements were noted in all functional balance tests and strength assessments of 16 major lower-limb muscle groups in participants of the iTC group compared to the control group, whereas only BBS and muscle strength of hips and ankles were improved in the tTC group. Practitioners of iTC outperformed tTC in BBS and strength of two major muscles.Conclusions: Personalized Tai-Chi training designed based on an objective measurement and conducted according to graded intensity and complexity benefitted practitioners after a short period.Trial Registration: Trial registration number: ClinicalTrials.gov ID: NCT03659396 , Unique Protocol ID: 1000087 Date of registration: 03/28/2017 The trial was registered retrospectively. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In order to turn Taipei into a sustainable, green metropolis, in 2009, the Department of Transportation of Taipei City Government launched a public bike rental system (YouBike) to meet people’s daily commute and/or leisure needs. Given that users may return bikes to sites differing from their starting locations, rental stations frequently lack bikes or bike racks. This study sought to identify lacking-bike and/or lacking-bike rack hot spots utilizing spatial-temporal analysis. In addition, it applied retail location theory to determine site selection of further rental stations. Historical data indicated that shortage of bikes was much more severe than shortage of bike racks in the YouBike public bike system and lacking-bike and lacking-bike rack hot spots were clustered significantly. The study demonstrated that spatial-temporal analysis can be used to effectively identify rental stations’ spatial patterns, determine the most suitable locations for further installation of rental stations, help to provide public bike users with a more effective rental system, and greatly assist public bikes’ operational management and decision-making in Taiwan. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]