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The present study investigated how students' attitudes toward bullying were influenced simultaneously by personal and contextual factors in Mainland China, Hong Kong, and Taipei. Participants included 25,338 students (15-year-olds, from grade 7 to 12) and 663 schools from Mainland China, Hong Kong, and Taipei drawn from the Program for International Student Assessment 2018. Multilevel structural equation modeling with Bayesian estimation was conducted for data analysis. The results showed that, for personal factors, girls had stronger anti-bullying attitudes than boys in each sample. Resilience and self-efficacy predicted students' anti-bullying attitudes positively and significantly in all three regions. For family contextual factors, parents' emotional support had positive effects on students' attitudes toward bullying in three regions. For school contextual factors, there was no consistent result among the three regions. School location and school belonging were positive predictors of students' anti-bullying attitudes in Mainland China. By contrast, class size and student behavior hindering learning negatively correlated with students' anti-bullying attitudes in Hong Kong. In Taipei, students in public schools were more likely to form anti-bullying attitudes, and a positive association was found between the student--teacher ratio and students' attitudes toward bullying. Distinguishing the commonalities and differences in the factors influencing students' attitudes toward bullying in Mainland China, Hong Kong, and Taipei provides empirical evidence to understand school bullying prevention and control mechanism.

Formative assessment has been long emphasised as a powerful means for enhancing science learning. However, there is still a lack of research to investigate the impacts of formative assessment on both students' motivational beliefs and behaviours in science learning. This study examined such impacts using data from six Western and six East Asian countries/economies in PISA 2015. 96,491 15-year-old students were included. The SEM analysis of overall data showed that (i) formative assessment had both direct effects on students' science learning behaviours and indirect impacts mediated by students' motivational beliefs and (ii) the total effect of teacher feedback on science learning behaviours was greater than adaptive instruction. The comparison between Western and East Asian datasets indicated that (i) the impact of teacher feedback on East Asian students' motivational beliefs was greater than that on their Western counterparts; (ii) the impact of adaptive instruction on Western students' motivational beliefs was greater than that on East Asian counterparts; and (iii) the direct impacts of teacher feedback and adaptive instruction on science learning behaviours were similar for both groups of students. Suggestions were made on how to effectively implement formative assessment to enhance science learning in different cultural contexts.

The objective of the current study is to examine the impact of an in-school computer-assisted learning (CAL) intervention on the math achievement of rural students in Taiwan, including a marginalized subgroup of rural students called Xinzhumin, and the factors associated with this impact. In order to achieve this, we conducted a cluster randomized controlled trial involving 1,840 fourth- and fifth-grade students at 95 schools in four relatively poor counties and municipalities of Taiwan during the spring semester of 2019. While the Intention-To-Treat (ITT) analysis found that the CAL intervention had no significant impacts on student math achievement, the Local Average Treatment Effect (LATE) analysis revealed significant associations with the math performance of the most active 20% of students in the treatment group. LATE estimates suggest that using CAL for more than 20 minutes per week for ten weeks corresponds to higher math test scores, both in general (0.16 SD-0.22 SD), and for Xinzhumin students specifically (0.3 SD-0.34 SD). Teacher-level characteristics were associated with compliance rates.

A growing body of research has examined the relations of dispositions toward information and communication technology (ICT) to intercultural competence among university students. However, there is little research exploring the associations between ICT-related dispositions and intercultural competence among adolescent students. The mechanism of such relationships also remains unknown. Therefore, from a self-determination theory perspective, this study investigated the relationships of perceived autonomy, competence, and relatedness in ICT usage with global competence--intercultural knowledge, skills and attitudes--among 17,055 15-year-old students from Hong Kong, Macau and Taiwan in PISA 2018. Results of Multilevel Structural Equation Modelling (MSEM) analyses indicated that perceived autonomy in ICT use, perceived competence in ICT use and perceived relatedness in ICT use all positively affected intercultural knowledge, skills and attitudes. Further, the results of the study revealed that the use of social media was a partial mediator in the relationship between perceived autonomy/competence in ICT use and intercultural knowledge/skills; and between perceived relatedness/competence in ICT use and intercultural attitudes. Our findings emphasized the importance of satisfying students' ICT-related needs and acknowledged the role of the use of social media in cultivating their global competence. Implications for teachers, schools and parents were discussed.

There are a multitude of factors influencing the learning outcomes of students, with all previous studies basing their conclusions upon predetermined variables according to different theories and exploring the relevance between them. In this study, two important antecedents--the transfer of teachers' knowledge and student orientation--are put forward based on the knowledge conversion theory and marketing concepts to explore the conspicuousness between various factors within the structural model. This study uses students from colleges in Taiwan as its research samples. Purposive sampling is adopted to acquire the samples required for statistics. A total of 801 participants are involved in this study. The results indicate that knowledge transfer at the teacher level plays a significant role in students' absorptive capacity and learning outcomes, that student orientation at college levels has a great influence on students' absorptive capacity, and that the prior knowledge of students has a positive moderating effect on the influence of teachers' knowledge transfer on students' absorptive capacities. Based on these results, the study provides suggestions for relevant theoretical and practical implications to indicate the contributions of this research.

The identification of geochemical anomalies in oil and gas indicators is a fundamental task in oil and gas exploration, as the process of oil and gas accumulation is a low probability event. Machine learning algorithms for anomaly detection are applicable to the identification of oil and gas geochemical anomalies related to oil and gas accumulation. However, when using oil and gas indicators for anomaly detection, the diversity of these indicators often leads to the influence of the indicator redundancy on the identification of such features. Therefore, it is particularly important to select appropriate oil and gas indicators for anomaly detection. In this study, a hybrid model combining unsupervised machine learning methods and singularity analysis methods was used to evaluate oil and gas indicator anomalies using geochemical data from the Taiwan Strait Basin. The models used in this study include the singularity index model, the principal component model combined with the singularity index model, and the cluster analysis combined with the principal component model and the singularity index model. PCA models can reduce the dimensions of the data and retain as much information as possible. CLA divides data samples into different groups, so that samples within the same group are more similar and samples between different groups are less similar. LSP is mainly used for measuring the setting and singular degree of local anomalies in multi-scale geochemistry, geophysics, and other types of local anomalies, and it has a unique advantage in extracting low and weak anomalies and nonlinear characteristics. The results of the study show that the results obtained using the CLA-PCA-LSP hybrid model are very similar to those obtained by performing PCA on the entire index and then calculating the singularity index. This also verifies that, for the study areas of the Jiulongjiang Depression and Jinjiang Depression, we can select oil and gas indicators that are favorable for exploration analysis, without including all indicators in the analysis scope, thereby improving the computational efficiency. The application of a singularity analysis method and generalized self-similarity principle in extracting the geochemical information of oil and gas indicators in the Taiwan Strait Basin highlights key technologies such as the identification of weak anomalies, decomposition of composite anomalies, and integration of spatial information. The combination anomalies delineated by the singularity analysis method and S-A method not only reflect the spatial relationship with known oil and gas reservoir distribution, but also show the multiple combination anomalies in unknown areas, providing favorable guidance for the next exploration direction in the Taiwan Strait Basin. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A great number of overseas students have studied medicine at Jinan University Medical School over the past decade. Statistics from the past ten years show that these students' test scores on diagnosis and medicine I & II are lower than those of their classmates from mainland China. To address the underlying causes of this phenomenon, we implemented a series of questionnaires for overseas and mainland Chinese medical students. The results indicate that there are no significant differences between overseas students and mainland Chinese students with regard to their attitude towards the study of medicine, their approval of the teaching and learning environments or their ability to improve their independent study capabilities at Jinan University Medical School; however, overseas students prefer to study at night and sleep later than their mainland Chinese classmates. One outstanding difference between these groups is that overseas students like to arrange their studies based on their interests, regardless of available time and subject contents, and this might lead them to perform poorly on examinations during their academic term at Jinan University Medical School. Overseas students might not have achieved scores as high as their Chinese classmates is that they do not completely focus on the content taught by teachers in class, which would later be assessed by exams at the end of each academic term. This observation is actually part of our medical educational concepts, especially in Chinese medical schools. Attention should be paid by both overseas students and medical schools to this discrepancy.

In order to test the feasibility of the curriculum system of TRIZ used in humanities and social science majors, this study will test whether it is effective to cultivate students' creativity and to train their ability to solve problems. This study designs the randomly experimental targets in the two control groups for pretest and post-test. This study tests creative thinking and student self-evaluation questionnaire by use of the China Taiwan scholar, Wu Jingji's design. The result indicates that the post-test, for the two groups of students, their creative thinking indicators have improved significantly. The results showed that TRIZ had a significant effect on improving students' creativity. Finally, this study has discussed the value of TRIZ Course contained in Humanities and Social Science Teaching and addressed the needs to improve.

Microplastics are widely distributed in deep oceans, with some of the highest concentrations reported in submarine canyons, which are thought to be closely related to turbidity currents. However, the turbidity current role in microplastic transport and deposition is poorly understood. Here, we present temporal variation in microplastic abundance and settling flux from sediment trap observations on the levee of Gaoping Canyon, offshore Taiwan, where turbidity currents occur frequently. The results showed that relatively high microplastic abundance and flux were consistent with the increases of near-bottom suspended sediment concentration caused by turbidity currents. The microplastics, dominated by polypropylene (59%) and polyethylene (21%), were probably derived from Taiwan coastal resuspension and river input and then transported into the submarine canyon by typhoon- or earthquake-triggered turbidity currents. During the turbidity currents, the average microplastic abundance and flux was 4137 particles per kilogram and 40.11 particles per square meter per day, respectively, showing an increase of 49% and 270%, respectively, compared to non–turbidity current periods. The total microplastic flux during the turbidity currents accounted for ∼76% of annual flux. Our study highlights turbidity currents to be the major hydrodynamic process in regulating microplastic transport and settling in a submarine canyon. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study designed a decision-making learning module to engage students in collective decision-making in a collaborative learning environment. The purpose of this study was to explore the interplay of students' regulation learning in groups and their collective decision-making about a socioscientific issue. Thirty-eight 10th-grade students participated in the study. A variety of data were collected to examine the students' collective decision-making and regulation learning while they collaboratively conducted a socioscientific decision-making activity, including worksheets, computer activity recordings, and students' verbal interactions. The results indicated strong associations which showed that students who had sophisticated decision-making in a group tended to have more social shared regulation, and performed more regulation behaviours to refine their collective decision-making. The sequential analysis also indicated that students who manifested the serial nature of regulation processes and goal-driven learning might have exhibited a sophisticated decision-making performance when engaged in collective decision-making. The deficiencies in group interaction identified in this study underscore the need to provide scaffolds for regulation learning in order to refine students' collective decision-making in a SSI context.

The purpose of this study was to examine an adaptation of the Consultation Self-Efficacy Scale (CSES) and its psychometric properties among Chinese-speaking populations. The participants included 428 undergraduate and graduate-level students from school counseling training programs in Taiwan. We performed exploratory factor analyses to examine the factor structure of the Chinese version of the CSES and identified five relevant factors that were different from the original factor structure: (a) Process and Awareness, (b) Client Skills, (c) Cultural Sensitivity, (d) Intervention, and (e) Facilitation. The results of reliability estimates supported the internal consistency of each factor ([omega] and [alpha] >0.91). Collectively, the five factors accounted for 67.59% of the variance among the items, indicating its psychometric adequacy. Possible explanations for the restructuring of the CSES factors with the cross-cultural sample are discussed. The validated Chinese version of the CSES can be utilized as a progress monitoring or outcome measure for pre-service and in-service consultation training purposes in Taiwan. Additional validation research is warranted for generalization of its usage to other Chinese-speaking professions.

Background: Thiopurine co‐therapy with anti‐tumour necrosis factor‐alpha (anti‐TNFα) agents is associated with higher anti‐TNFα drug levels and reduced immunogenicity in inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). Aims: We aimed to evaluate the association between 6‐thioguanine nucleotide (6‐TGN) and anti‐TNFα levels and the optimal 6‐TGN threshold level associated with higher anti‐TNFα levels in combination therapy. Methods: We performed a retrospective cross‐sectional multicentre study of patients with IBD on combination anti‐TNFα and thiopurine maintenance therapy between January 2015 and August 2021. Primary outcomes were infliximab and adalimumab levels. Secondary outcomes were antibodies to infliximab (ATI) or adalimumab (ATA). Univariable and multivariable linear regression were performed to identify variables associated with anti‐TNFα levels. Receiver operator characteristic curves were used to define the optimal 6‐TGN cut‐off levels associated with therapeutic anti‐TNFα levels. Results: The study included 743 paired 6‐TGN and anti‐TNFα levels (640 infliximab and 103 adalimumab). 6‐TGN levels were associated with infliximab levels, but not adalimumab levels, on univariable and multivariable regression. The optimal 6‐TGN cut‐off associated with therapeutic infliximab levels (≥5 mcg/mL) was 261 pmol/8 × 108 red blood cell (RBC) (area under the curve (AUC) = 0.57) for standard infliximab dosing and 227.5 pmol/8 × 108 RBC (AUC = 0.58) for escalated dosing. For therapeutic adalimumab levels (≥7.5 mcg/mL), the 6‐TGN cut‐off was 218.5 pmol/8 × 108 RBC (AUC = 0.59) for standard adalimumab dosing and 237.5 pmol/8 × 108 RBC (AUC = 0.63) for escalated dosing. Conclusion: 6‐TGN levels were weakly associated with infliximab but not adalimumab levels in combination therapy. 6‐TGN levels in the lower end of the therapeutic range (230–260 pmol/8 × 108 RBC) may be adequate to maintain higher infliximab levels, particularly with escalated infliximab dosing. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Using visualized bibliographic data and a range of quantitative research methods, the analysis of the International Journal of Technology and Design Education (IJTDE), which is included in the core collection of Social Science Citation Index, reached a number of conclusions. Firstly, IJTDE is an important platform for the exchange of research results in the field of technology education, and has a significant influence. Secondly, De Vries, Williams, Ankiewicz and a number of others are influential and prolific authors in the IJTDE. Authors from the USA, England, New Zealand, Taiwan and Australia make most contributions to the IJTDE, Delft University of Technology, University of Auckland and the University of Waikato are the more prolific institutions in the IJTDE. Thirdly, technology education, education, design, science, creativity, technology, design education, knowledge, student, technological literacy and problem solving are the most frequency keywords in the IJTDE. Creativity, design education, problem solving, curriculum development, design and critical thinking, practice, engineering education, and STEM education are research trends in the IJTDE between 2000 and 2018. Fourthly, the discipline knowledge base mainly focuses on teaching and design methods in the technological environment, and the definitions of technology-related concepts. The results enable a deeper understanding and consideration of the content and influence of IJTDE, and the research hotspots in the field of technology education.

The present study aimed to investigate factors predicting inquiry-based teaching in science across One Belt One Road countries and regions (OBOR economies). Teacher-level (N = 8,603) and school-level (N = 1,385) data were drawn from the Program for International Student Assessment (PISA) 2015. Hierarchical linear modeling was adopted for data analysis. The results showed at the teacher level that teacher collaboration was positively correlated with inquiry-based teaching in OBOR economies, and that teacher beliefs were positively associated with inquiry-based teaching in each sample. At the school level, no consistent result was found among OBOR economies. School location was positively related to inquiry-based teaching in the Dominican Republic, Macao, and the United Arab Emirates. By contrast, science-specific resources showed a negative association with inquiry-based teaching in Taiwan, the Czech Republic, and Macao. Other specific findings were presented and the implications of all findings were discussed.

The current study was conducted in Taiwan to examine the effectiveness of using a self-monitoring strategy to increase the percentage of completion of classroom tasks for three high school seniors with moderate intellectual disability. We used a multiple-probe-across-subjects single-case design to evaluate the use of a self-monitoring tool to increase task completion. The unique feature for this study is that learning characteristics of participants were considered while designing the self-monitoring strategy. The primary result of the study is that the self-monitoring strategy was effective. Participants used the self-monitoring tool more often when guided by visual prompts and rhymes, and their differential decision-making and reasoning behaviors increased their motivation for learning. We share implications for research and suggestions for teachers when applying the self-monitoring strategy.

Contextual learning has been recognized as an important method for English as a Foreign Language (EFL) learning and drama was also usually employed to be a good activity for EFL learning which guided learners to interact and use body language to practice English. However, there were few studies to consider both drama and authentic contexts together with mobile devices to facilitate EFL learning. In this research, we developed a contextual drama (CD) system in mobile devices for EFL learning. Students can use CD system to prepare, make, and conduct drama with voices, photos, and texts in authentic contexts to improve English learning. Our goal is to examine how CD system and collaborative CD influences students' learning behaviors and achievement. One quasi-experiment design was conducted with 78 participants, who were the fifth-grade elementary school students during a 5-week experimental period. The results demonstrated that drama-based learning in authentic contexts resulted in better learning achievements than traditional methods. Moreover, we found that collaboration, as key in drama-based EFL learning, could promote peer discussion and therefore help students improve students' storytelling and writing abilities. Students' improved abilities were demonstrated in their sentence complexity and diversity. Additional analysis results derived from the interviews and observations also revealed that students' body languages usage and their engagement in drama activities have significant effect on their learning achievement.

Geometry students have few opportunities to apply geometric concepts and solve geometry problems in authentic contexts. We developed a Ubiquitous Geometry (UG) system to teach geometry to elementary students by using it to measure common objects in authentic contexts. The instant study investigates the effects of UG on student geometry estimation ability, geometry learning achievement, spatial ability, and learning geometric concepts and explores the correlations. Participants were 82 fifth grade students divided into the experiment group (EG), the ruler measurement group (RG), and the control group (CG). The results revealed that the EG students performed significantly better than the others in geometry estimation ability, geometry learning achievement, spatial ability, and understanding geometric concepts. We found that geometry estimation ability is significantly related to spatial ability and geometry learning achievement, which means fostering estimation ability through measuring authentic objects could help students to learn geometry. Finally, students perceived that UG engaged them more in geometry and improved their interest in learning because the activity designs related more to their daily life, thereby enhancing their sense of confidence and satisfaction. Conclusions include that UG effectively enhances student geometry estimation ability, geometry learning achievement, spatial ability, and understanding of geometric concepts.

This systematic review is built on the seminal work by the New London Group in 1996. Few endeavours have synthesized findings of empirical studies pertaining to the effects and challenges of multiliteracies practices in various schooling and geographical contexts. Through a five-point Likert scale and a deductive and inductive thematic analysis, we conducted a systematic review of 66 multiliteracies articles from the ProQuest® database. These studies were empirical, qualitative/mixed-method, and ranged from 2006 to 2015. Findings show a burgeoning number of multiliteracies studies occurring in 15 countries, with Canada being the most prominently involved. Our evaluation of the reviewed studies was generally favourable with strengths identified in researchers' articulation of pertinent theoretical frameworks and connections to existent literature. Our findings refer to insufficient information of data collection and data analysis in a certain number of papers. We also elaborate on major affordances, challenges, and oversights of the multiliteracies practices as reported by the reviewed studies and discuss implications for future multiliteracies research, policies on literacy education, and teacher education in diverse contexts.

The Western Taiwan Strait (WTS) Economic Zone connects the Yangtze River Delta and the Pearl River Delta, playing a significant role in China's coastal economy and forming part of the East Asian economic structure. This study used panel data from 20 cities in the WTS Economic Zone, spanning 2011 to 2020, to investigate urban land use efficiency and its dynamic evolution characteristics. The study used a super-efficiency EBM model, which accounts for undesirable outputs, combined with kernel density estimation and Malmquist–Luenberger (ML) index analysis, to thoroughly examine the changes in total factor productivity (TFP) of urban land use and the factors driving these changes within the WTS Economic Zone. The findings are as follows: (1) From 2011 to 2020, the overall trend of urban land use efficiency in the WTS Economic Zone was upward, with coastal areas generally exhibiting higher urban land use efficiency compared to inland areas. (2) The urban land use efficiency of cities in the WTS Economic Zone displayed four types of changes: rising, stable, "U"-shaped, and inverted "U"-shaped. (3) The TEP index of the WTS Economic Zone exhibited a right-leaning "M" trend. Technological change was the primary driver of enhanced urban land use efficiency, although there is still room for improvement in technical efficiency. Based on these findings, this study proposes policy insights to foster high-quality development of urban land use efficiency in the WTS Economic Zone. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background and Hypothesis The potential role of anesthesia as an independent risk factor for childhood bipolar disorder (BD) remains unclear. To address this, we conducted a population-based cohort study employing propensity score matching to compare BD incidence between pediatric patients undergoing surgery with and without general anesthesia. Study Design Our study included patients aged 0–3 years who received at least 1 episode of general anesthesia and were hospitalized for over 1 day in Taiwan between January 2004 and December 2014. They were matched 1:1 with a population not receiving general anesthesia to assess pediatric BD incidence. Study Results The study cohort comprised 15 070 patients, equally distributed between the general anesthesia and nongeneral anesthesia groups (7535 each). Multivariate Cox regression analysis revealed adjusted hazard ratios (aHRs; 95% CIs) for pediatric BD in the general anesthesia group as 1.26 (1.04–1.54; P  = .021) compared to the nongeneral anesthesia group. Moreover, the incidence rate ratio (95% CI) for the general anesthesia group was 1.26 (1.03–1.53) compared to the nongeneral anesthesia group. Conclusions Early childhood exposure to general anesthesia is significantly associated with an increased risk of pediatric BD. This expands understanding of pediatric BD's complex development, informing preventive strategies, and enhancing mental health outcomes for vulnerable young patients and global pediatric healthcare. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Due to the high cost and complexity, the oral glucose tolerance test is not adopted as the screening method for identifying diabetes patients, which leads to the misdiagnosis of patients with isolated post‐challenge hyperglycemia (IPH), that is., patients with normal fasting plasma glucose (<7.0 mmoL/L) and abnormal 2‐h postprandial blood glucose (≥11.1 mmoL/L). We aimed to develop a model to differentiate individuals with IPH from the normal population. Methods: Data from 54301 eligible participants were obtained from the Risk Evaluation of Cancers in Chinese Diabetic Individuals: a longitudinal (REACTION) study in China. Data from 37740 participants were used to develop the diagnostic system. External validation was performed among 16561 participants. Three machine learning algorithms were used to create the predictive models, which were further evaluated by various classification algorithms to establish the best predictive model. Results: Ten features were selected to develop an IPH diagnosis system (IPHDS) based on an artificial neural network. In external validation, the AUC of the IPHDS was 0.823 (95% CI 0.811–0.836), which was significantly higher than the AUC of the Taiwan model [0.799 (0.786–0.813)] and that of the Chinese Diabetes Risk Score model [0.648 (0.635–0.662)]. The IPHDS model had a sensitivity of 75.6% and a specificity of 74.6%. This model outperformed the Taiwan and CDRS models in subgroup analyses. An online site with instant predictions was deployed at https://app‐iphds‐e1fc405c8a69.herokuapp.com/. Conclusions: The proposed IPHDS could be a convenient and user‐friendly screening tool for diabetes during health examinations in a large general population. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The purpose of this research study was to explore the influence of Confucian-heritage culture on Chinese learners' online learning and engagement in online discussion in U.S. higher education. More specifically, this research studied Chinese learners' perceptions of power distance and its impact on their interactions with instructors and peers in an online setting. This study was conducted at a research university in the southwestern U.S. Twelve undergraduate students from the Confucian-heritage culture, including mainland China, Taiwan, and Hong Kong, participated in the study. This study provided evidence that the online setting benefited these Chinese learners' engagement in class discussion, but it may increase the level of anxiety in their participation. Learning, perceived by the Chinese learners, was more instructor-centered. Instructors were viewed by students as authorities, major sources of knowledge, and possessing high power. As a result, when encountering difficulties in learning, the Chinese learners were intimidated to interact with their instructors. Instead, they tended to seek help from peers, particularly those who shared similar cultural and linguistic backgrounds.

Probable maximum precipitation (PMP) is defined as the greatest depth of precipitation that is physically possible over a particular location after a storm. Changes in the frequency and intensity of precipitation extremes associated with climate change may alter established PMP values, calling for updated approaches for estimating PMP to inform water resources management. In this study, we established a framework to update PMP for Hong Kong, a major coastal metropolis in south China where precipitation extremes are intensifying in a changing climate. The methods explored are adaptations of a traditional statistical method, a local storm moisture maximization method, and a storm transposition method. As inputs to the associated models, (1) data from annual maximum rainfall series at various durations (4-, 6-, 12-, 24-h) from 1884 to 2015 in Hong Kong and its surrounding regions, Taiwan; (2) dewpoint data at an hourly resolution spanning from 1984 to 2015 in Hong Kong; and (3) hourly rainfall and dewpoint data observed during three major typhoons in Taiwan were incorporated. Although our data were available until 2015, it is worth noting that no more recent extreme precipitation events have surpassed the values recorded during the study period. Finally, we present a new dataset of the updated point- and area-scale PMP values for Hong Kong for multiple durations (4-, 6-, 12-, 24-h). These updated values were assessed and verified to be reasonable through comparisons with regional storm records, PMP estimates from adjacent areas, and historical PMP values for Hong Kong. The updated PMP values for Hong Kong can serve as a reference for the design of hydraulic structures and preparation for extreme precipitation events. Further, the proposed framework for updating PMP values can be transferred to other coastal metropolises for flood design. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Speciation in the face of gene flow is usually associated with a heterogeneous genomic landscape of divergence in nascent species pairs. However, multiple factors, such as divergent selection and local recombination rate variation, can influence the formation of these genomic islands. Examination of the genomic landscapes of species pairs that are still in the early stages of speciation provides an insight into this conundrum. In this study, population genomic analyses were undertaken using a wide range of sampling and whole-genome resequencing data from 96 unrelated individuals of Kentish plover (Charadrius alexandrinus) and white-faced plover (Charadrius dealbatus). We suggest that the two species exhibit varying levels of population admixture along the Chinese coast and on the Taiwan Island. Genome-wide analyses for introgression indicate that ancient introgression had occurred in Taiwan population, and gene flow is still ongoing in mainland coastal populations. Furthermore, we identified a few genomic regions with significant levels of interspecific differentiation and local recombination suppression, which contain several genes potentially associated with disease resistance, coloration, and regulation of plumage molting and thus may be relevant to the phenotypic and ecological divergence of the two nascent species. Overall, our findings suggest that divergent selection in low recombination regions may be a main force in shaping the genomic islands in two incipient shorebird species. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper aims to address the research questions of whether individual's oral health status is associated with subjective well-being, as well as if there is possible moderating role of self-rated oral health among two groups of Chinese older adults (≥55 years old) in Honolulu, Hawaiʻi and Taichung, Taiwan. Using survey data collected in 2018 (N = 430, Honolulu) and in 2017 (N = 645, Taichung), ordinary least square regressions were applied. Results showed that, for both samples, oral health status was negatively and significantly associated with subjective well-being, and both associations were moderated by self-rated oral health. In addition, the moderating effects were more salient for the Honolulu sample, who enjoyed higher levels of self-rated oral health and life satisfaction. These results suggest the significant associations of both oral health status and self-rated oral health on individual health and well-being for Chinese older adults residing in different cultural contexts. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Concept of word--the awareness of how words differ from nonwords or other linguistic properties--is important to learning to read Chinese because words in Chinese texts are not separated by space, and most characters can be productively compounded with other characters to form new words. The current study examined the effects of reader, word, and character attributes on Chinese children's concept of word in text. A total of 164 fifth-grade Chinese children participated in this study. Concept of word was measured by children's lexical decisions about words and nonwords embedded in strings of characters. Cross-classified multilevel logistic models showed that reader attributes, including reading comprehension, vocabulary knowledge, and morphological awareness, interacted with certain word or character attributes in predicting children's lexical decisions about words or nonwords. This study sheds light on the complex relationships between reader, word, and character attributes in the formation of concept of word in Chinese.

The purpose of this study was to translate Arnold and her colleagues' (Arnold, Fletcher, & Daniels, 2013) Organizational Stressor Indicator for Sport Performers (OSI-SP) into Chinese and examine its psychometric properties with Taiwanese athletes. In study 1, the psychometric properties of the items and the underlying structure of the translated Chinese OSI-SP were examined. In study 2, we used confirmatory factor analysis to examine the factorial structure and examined measurement invariance across genders. In study 3, we examined concurrent and discriminant validity via correlations among the Chinese OSI-SP, coping self-efficacy, perceived stress, and burnout to provide further evidence of criterion validity. Study 4 examined the test-retest reliability of the Chinese OSI-SP. Across these phases, results showed the 5-factor, 16-item Chinese OSI-SP had adequate factor structure, measurement invariance, criterion validity, and reliabilities. We suggest future studies may use this revised Chinese OSI-SP in Taiwan and other Chinese athletic settings.

Background: Previous studies have implicated inherited mutations in mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) in sensorineural hearing loss (SNHL). However, the definitive association between mitochondrial 12S rRNA (MT-RNR1) variants and hearing loss in the population has not been well established, particularly in Asia. The objective of this retrospective cohort study was to assess the association between MT-RNR1 variants and the risk of SNHL in patients in Taiwan. Methods: The cohort included 306,068 participants from Taiwan between January 2003 and December 2020. Participants were classified based on genetic variants, particularly mitochondrial mutations (rs267606618, rs267606619, rs267606617). MT-RNR1 variant cases were matched 1:10 with non-mutant patients by age, gender, and visit year, excluding those with pre-existing hearing loss. The primary endpoint was SNHL, identified using specific ICD-TM codes with a 90% positive predictive value. Medication exposure history was determined via self-report or electronic medical records in the hospital. Cox proportional hazard regression models were used to assess the association between MT-RNR1 variants and hearing loss, adjusting for various covariates. Kaplan-Meier survival curves and log-rank tests compared hearing loss incidence between groups. Results: The mean age of the mtDNA variants group is 32.4 years, with a standard deviation of 19.2 years. The incidence density of hearing loss for the mutation group was 36.42 per 10,000 person-years (95% Confidence Interval [CI], 27.21–47.73), which was higher than the 23.77per 10,000 person-years (95% CI, 21.32–26.42) in the wild-type group (p = 0.0036). Additionally, diabetes mellitus was associated with an increased risk of developing SNHL in individuals with MT-RNR1 variants (adjusted hazard ratio = 1.76 [95% CI, 1.00-3.09], p < 0.05). Conclusion: This study highlights the increased risk of hearing loss in patients carrying MT-RNR1 variants, particularly those with diabetes mellitus. Future research that integrates genetic and clinical data is crucial for developing more precise interventions to monitor and treat hearing loss in this vulnerable population. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

There was an evident increase in the number of earthquakes in the Xinfengjiang Reservoir from June to July 2014 after the landing of Typhoon Hagibis. To understand the spatial and temporal evolution of this microseismicity, we built a high-precision earthquake catalog for 2014 and relocated 2 275 events using recently developed methods for event picking and catalog construction. Seismicity occurred in the southeastern part of the reservoir, with the preferred fault plane orientation aligned along the Heyuan Fault. The total seismic energy peaked when the typhoon passed through the reservoir, and seismicity correlated with typhoon energy. In contrast, a limited seismic response was observed during the later Typhoon Rammasun. Combining data regarding the water level in the Xinfengjiang Reservoir and seismicity frequency changes in the Taiwan region during these two typhoon events, we suggest that typhoon activity may increase microseism energy by impacting fault stability around the Xinfengjiang Reservoir. Whether a fault can be activated also depends on how close the stress accumulation is to its failure point. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The goals of this study are to propose a method to minimize the waste of buildings' exterior walls and to respond to practical technical reports on disaster resistance and reductions in resource extraction. This study's scientific value is its testing of new nearly zero-waste materials and their construction methods for external walls. Four cases using a bamboo and pozzolana wall construction method between 2016 and 2021 in Southern Taiwan were examined. The results show that the materials can be decomposed on site to achieve the goal of nearly zero waste. Steel structures and exterior walls can provide toughness and breathability to resist earthquakes and hot and humid climates. Traditional construction techniques contain elements of technological change and can transcend outdated regulations. The exterior wall materials in this study can replace the local high-carbon-emitting mining industry and are a feasible way to actively respond to net-zero emissions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study explores the potential of machine learning algorithms for earthquake prediction, utilizing fluid chemical anomaly data from hot springs. Six hot springs, located within an active fault zone along the southeastern coast of China, were carefully chosen as hydrochemical monitoring sites for an extended period of two and a half years. Using this data, a prediction model integrating six algorithms was developed to forecast M ≥ 5 earthquakes in Taiwan. The model's performance was validated against recorded earthquake events, and the factors influencing its predictive capability were analyzed. Our comprehensive analysis conclusively demonstrates the superiority of machine learning algorithms over traditional statistical methods for earthquake prediction. Additionally, including sampling time in the data sets significantly improves the model's predictive performance. However, it is important to note that the model's predictive performance varies across different hot spring and indicators type, highlighting the importance of identifying optimal indicators for specific scenarios. The model parameters, including the anomaly detection rate (P) and earthquake response time threshold (M), significantly impact the model's predictive capabilities. Therefore, adjustments are needed to optimize the model's performance for practical use. Despite limitations such as the inability to differentiate pre‐earthquake anomalies from post‐earthquake anomalies and pinpoint the precise location of earthquakes, this study successfully showcases the potential of machine learning algorithms in earthquake prediction, paving the way for further research and improved prediction methods. Plain Language Summary: This study explores the potential of utilizing machine learning algorithms for earthquake prediction based on hydrothermal fluid chemical anomaly data. An earthquake prediction model integrating six machine learning algorithms was developed using continuous hot spring hydrochemical monitoring data. The model's prediction performance was validated using actual earthquake event data, and various factors influencing its predictive capability were analyzed. The results demonstrate that the machine learning algorithm's prediction performance exceeds that of traditional methods, and the selection of hot springs, indicator types, and model parameters significantly impacts the model's prediction performance. This study successfully showcased the potential of machine learning algorithms in earthquake prediction, while also indicating new avenues for further research and improvement of prediction methods. Key Points: An earthquake prediction model based on machine learning using hydrochemical data from hot springs is proposed with sufficient accuracyThe earthquake prediction accuracy of the local outlier factor algorithm outperformed the traditional statistical methodThe predictive performance of the model varies across different hot springs, indicators type, and model parameters [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

With an estimated 2.4 million cases of foodborne illnesses recorded annually in the UK alone, food safety has become a paramount concern among stakeholders. Modern technology has positioned streaming platforms as pivotal conduits for disseminating information. Channels such as YouTube offer detailed recordings of the food production process, granting consumers extensive visibility of the food journey from farm to table. This increased transparency not only promotes vigilant monitoring of food safety practices but also solicits consumer feedback regarding the public exposure to food processing videos. Based on the Theory of Planned Behavior (TPB), this study augments its framework with constructs, such as perceived trust, perceived risk, community experience, and brand identity, to evaluate Taiwan's Generation Z consumer behavioral intentions. With 226 valid responses amassed, structural equation modeling facilitated elucidation of the relationships among the constructs. This analysis yielded three salient insights. First, Generation Z's engagement with food processing videos on streaming platforms is positively correlated with their subsequent purchasing behavior. Second, enriched community experience was correlated with strengthened brand identification. Third, both perceived trust and perceived risk had a constructive impact on behavioral intentions within Gen Z's demographic data. Based on these outcomes, food industry enterprises should proactively develop and bolster community experiential value, thereby encouraging streaming platform users to transform into brand consumers and advocates. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Patients infected with herpes zoster might be at risk for Parkinson's disease (PD). However, antiviral drugs may impede viral deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) synthesis. This study aimed to determine whether the currently observed association between herpes zoster and PD is consistent with previous findings, and whether antiviral drug use is associated with PD. This retrospective cohort study used the Longitudinal Generation Tracking Database. We included patients aged 40 years and above and applied propensity score matching at 1:1 ratio for study comparability. PD risk was evaluated using Cox proportional hazards regression methods. A total of 234,730 people were analyzed. The adjusted hazard ratio (aHR) for PD in patients with herpes zoster was 1.05. Furthermore, the overall incidence of PD was lower in those treated with antiviral drugs than in the untreated ones (3.17 vs. 3.76 per 1,000 person-years); the aHR was 0.84. After stratifying for sex or age, a similar result was observed. In conclusion, herpes zoster may increase the risk of PD, particularly among females, but receiving antiviral treatment reduces the risk by 16%. Therefore, using antiviral drugs may help prevent PD. However, additional research is required to determine the underlying mechanism(s). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Schizophrenia is one of the leading causes of disability. Paliperidone palmitate once-monthly injection (PP1M) was developed to provide consistent drug delivery and improve medication adherence for maintenance treatment. It is well known that patients with schizophrenia have higher cardiovascular risks, however little is known about the cardiovascular risks of patients with schizophrenia treated with PP1M in Asia. Objective: This study aimed to estimate the incidence of cardiovascular events after initiating PP1M treatment and evaluate the cardiovascular risk associations compared with oral second-generation antipsychotics (SGAs). Methods: Data from Taiwan's National Health Insurance Research Database were used to identify a cohort of adult patients with schizophrenia who received any SGAs from 1 March 2012 to 31 December 2018. Patients who initiated PP1M treatment were enrolled for descriptive analysis of incidence rates. PP1M patients were propensity matched 1:1 to patients initiating a new oral SGA, for comparative analysis based on demographics, clinical characteristics and treatment history at baseline, in three-step matching procedures, following the prevalent new-user design to enhance comparability. Follow-up ended at the end of the treatment episode of index drug, death, last record available, or end of the study (31 December 2019). Study endpoints included serious cardiovascular events (including severe ventricular arrhythmia and sudden death), expanded serious cardiovascular events (which further included acute myocardial infarction and ischemic stroke), and cardiovascular hospitalizations. Risks of study endpoints between matched cohorts were compared using Cox regression. Results: Overall, 11,023 patients initiating PP1M treatment were identified (49.5% were females; mean age of 43.2 [12.2] years). Overall incidences for serious cardiovascular events, expanded serious cardiovascular events, and cardiovascular hospitalizations were 3.92, 7.88 and 51.96 per 1000 person-years, respectively. In matched cohort analysis (N = 10,115), the hazard ratios (HRs) between initiating PP1M and a new oral SGA for serious cardiovascular events, expanded serious cardiovascular events, and cardiovascular hospitalizations were 0.86 (95% confidence interval [CI] 0.55–1.36), 0.88 (95% CI 0.63–1.21), and 0.78 (95% CI 0.69–0.89), respectively. Conclusion: This study reported the population-based incidence of cardiovascular events in schizophrenic patients initiating PP1M treatment. PP1M was not associated with increased risks of serious cardiovascular events but was potentially associated with lower risks of cardiovascular hospitalizations compared with oral SGAs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background Prognostic indices can enhance personalized predictions of health burdens. However, a simple, practical, and reproducible tool is lacking for clinical use. This study aimed to develop a machine learning-based prognostic index for predicting all-cause mortality in community-dwelling older individuals. Methods We utilized the Healthy Aging Longitudinal Study in Taiwan (HALST) cohort, encompassing data from 5 663 participants. Over the 5-year follow-up, 447 deaths were confirmed. A machine learning-based routine blood examination prognostic index (MARBE-PI) was developed using common laboratory tests based on machine learning techniques. Participants were grouped into multiple risk categories by stratum-specific likelihood ratio analysis based on their MARBE-PI scores. The MARBE-PI was subsequently externally validated with an independent population-based cohort from Japan. Results Beyond age, sex, education level, and BMI, 6 laboratory tests (low-density lipoprotein, albumin, aspartate aminotransferase, lymphocyte count, high-sensitivity C-reactive protein, and creatinine) emerged as pivotal predictors via stepwise logistic regression (LR) for 5-year mortality. The area under curves of MARBE-PI constructed by LR were 0.799 (95% confidence interval [95% CI]: 0.778–0.819) and 0.756 (95% CI: 0.694–0.814) for the internal and external validation data sets, and were 0.801 (95% CI: 0.790–0.811) and 0.809 (95% CI: 0.774–0.845) for the extended 10-year mortality in both data sets, respectively. Risk categories stratified by MARBE-PI showed a consistent dose–response association with mortality. The MARBE-PI also performed comparably with indices constructed with clinical health deficits and/or laboratory results. Conclusions The MARBE-PI is considered the most applicable measure for risk stratification in busy clinical settings. It holds potential to pinpoint older individuals at elevated mortality risk, thereby aiding clinical decision-making. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper presents the verification results of an experimental site that employed a particle tracking algorithm to assess the transport of tracers through the composite formation of gravel and Cholan in northwest Taiwan. A suitable hydrogeological conceptual model that describes the flow characteristics of the gravel formation and Cholan formation is essential to evaluate groundwater flow and management at this site. Continuous porous medium (CPM) can be easily applied in the gravel formation, while the Cholan formation, characterized by argillaceous sandstone, is commonly treated as a porous medium. However, this study obtains its fracture distribution through geological surveys, and the key fracture parameters are also collected, analyzed, and incorporated into the model. Four hydrogeological conceptual models, including CPM, discrete fracture network (DFN), equivalent continuous porous medium (ECPM), and hybrid DFN/ECPM, are generated for this complex formation. This study combines the conceptual models of the gravel and Cholan formation into four cases to describe the characteristics of the composite formation. The groundwater flow field of four cases is simulated, and the particle tracking method is employed to model the tracer transport. Simulation results from the four hybrid models all yielded a breakthrough curve (BTC) for the first 15 h, indicating that the tracer arrived at the designated outlet within this timeframe and primarily flowed through the gravel formation, while long-time particle tracking revealed a possible flow path through the Cholan formation after 15 h. The breakthrough curve of the four cases shows that the ECPM model is more suitable for representing the heterogeneity of the Cholan formation than the common CPM model. This study provides a suitable numerical algorithm of the conceptual model of the Cholan formation based on strong evidence by considering different models and comparing them with in situ tracer tests. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Truth-telling and life-sustaining treatment decisions are important elements of the quality of patients' care at the end of life. As the primary caregivers of patients at the end of life in intensive care units (ICUs), ICU nurses play an important role in patient decision making and hospice care. This study aimed to investigate and analyze ICU nurses' attitudes toward truth-telling, attitudes toward end-of-life life-sustaining treatment, and end-of-life decision-making behavioral intentions. One hundred twenty-two ICU nurses participated in this cross-sectional survey. Data were collected using a validated questionnaire. The results showed that ICU nurses' attitudes toward telling patients the truth and end-of-life life-sustaining treatment were both positive, but further improvement is needed. Nurses have a higher willingness to make palliative care decisions for patients at the end of life and to help patients achieve a good death. The truth-telling attitude, the life-sustaining treatment attitude, and whether they knew that cardiopulmonary resuscitation could be legally forgone at the end of life were factors influencing ICU nurses' behavioral intention toward decision making for patients at the end of life (all Ps < .05). We conclude that nurses' participation in truth-telling and end-of-life decision making should be promoted, and timely hospice care should be provided to patients to help them achieve a good death. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A novel coagulase-negative Staphylococcus strain (H164T) was isolated from soymilk in Taiwan. Comparative sequence analysis of the 16S rRNA gene revealed that the H164T strain is a member of the genus Staphylococcus. We used multilocus sequence analysis (MLSA) and phylogenomic analyses to demonstrate that the novel strain was closely related to Staphylococcus gallinarum, Staphylococcus nepalensis, Staphylococcus cohnii, and Staphylococcus urealyuticus. The average nucleotide identity and digital DNA-DNA hybridization values between H164T and its closest relatives were <95% and <70%, respectively. The H164T strain could also be distinguished from its closest relatives by the fermentation of d-fructose, d-maltose, d-trehalose, and d-mannitol, as well as by the activities of α-glucosidase and alkaline phosphatase. The major cellular fatty acids were C15:0 iso and C15:0 anteiso, and the predominant menaquinones were MK-7 and MK-8, respectively. The major cellular fatty acids and predominant menaquinones were C15:0 iso and C15:0 anteiso and MK-7 and MK-8, respectively. In conclusion, this strain represents a novel species, named Staphylococcus hsinchuensis sp. nov., with the type strain H164T (=BCRC 81404T = NBRC 116174T). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper aims to achieve two objectives. Firstly, it elicits some of the concerns for universal research ethics. It is argued that ethical codes are never universal; they are geographically sensitive. As such, it is important to "develop authentic individual responses to potentially unique circumstances". Secondly, in going beyond a universal notion of ethics, it is observed that there is a dearth of analysis on post-research ethics. Majority of the existing literature focuses on ethical issues before and during a research; limited attention has been given to ethical decisions beyond its completion. Relationship with the researched community stretches beyond the boundaries of the research process, and should be incorporated into the researcher's "ethics of care". It is suggested that by reciprocating kindness in humble but practical ways, one may also contribute to an ethical research. In all, by highlighting the limitations of prescriptive and universal research ethics and advocating for pluralism in defining an ethical research, it is hoped that this paper contributes to a "geographically sensitive ethics and an ethically sensitive geography".

Over the past century, conscientiousness has become seen as the preeminent trait for predicting performance. This consensus is due in part to these employees' ability to work with traditional 20th-century technology. Such pairings balance the systematic nature of conscientious employees with the technology's need for user input and direction to perform tasks--resulting in a complementary match. However, the 21st century has seen the incorporation of intelligent machines (e.g., artificial intelligence, robots, and algorithms) into employees' jobs. Unlike traditional technology, these new machines are equipped with the capability to make decisions autonomously. Thus, their nature overlaps with the orderliness subdimension of conscientious employees--resulting in a non-complementary mismatch. This calls into question whether the consensus about conscientious employees' effectiveness with 20th-century technology applies to 21st-century jobs. Integrating complementarity and role theory, we refine this consensus. Across three studies using distinct samples (an experience sampling study, a field experiment, and an online experiment from working adults in Malaysia, Taiwan, and the United States), each focused on a different type of intelligent machine, we show not only that using intelligent machines has benefits and consequences, but, importantly, that conscientious (i.e., orderly) employees are less likely to benefit from working with them. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Using a natural experiment in Taiwan, we show that, for men, exposure to male-biased sex ratios at a marriageable age is associated with a greater likelihood of death in later life. In the late 1940s, more than half a million soldiers from mainland China retreated to Taiwan after a civil war and were initially subjected to a marriage ban. When the ban was lifted in 1959, the great influx of mostly male soldiers into the marriage market suddenly tipped the balance in favor of women. We have found that men subjected to this massive marriage market squeeze exhibited higher mortality rates at ages 50–64. We offer several possible explanations. Surprisingly, an elevated mortality rate, albeit of a much smaller magnitude, was also observed among the women of the relevant age groups. We show that this is likely driven by the widowhood effect, as women's mortality rate increased after their husbands' deaths. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Mass spectrometry (MS) assays offer exceptional capabilities in high multiplexity, specificity, and throughput. As proteomics technologies continue advancements to identify new disease biomarkers, transition of these innovations from research settings to clinical applications becomes imperative. To meet the rigorous regulatory standards of clinical laboratories, development of a clinical protein MS assay necessitates adherence to stringent criteria. To illustrate the process, this project focused on using thyroglobulin (Tg) as a biomarker and an immuno-multiple reaction monitoring (iMRM) MS-based assay as a model for establishing a Clinical Laboratory Improvement Amendments (CLIA) compliant laboratory within the Centers of Genomic and Precision Medicine, National Taiwan University. The chosen example also illustrates the clinical utility of MS assays to complement conventional immunoassay-based methods, particularly in cases where the presence of autoantibodies in 10–30% of patients hinders accuracy. The laboratory design entails a comprehensive coordination in spatial layout, workflow organization, equipment selection, ventilation systems, plumbing, electrical infrastructure, documentation procedures, and communication protocols. Practical aspects of the transformation process, including preparing laboratory facilities, testing environments, instrument validation, assay development and validation, quality management, sample testing, and personnel competency, are discussed. Finally, concordant results in proficiency testing demonstrate the harmonization with the University of Washington Medical Center and the quality assurance of the CLIA-equivalent Tg-iMRM MS assay established in Taiwan. The realization of this model protein MS assay in Taiwan highlights the feasibility of international joint development and provides a detailed reference map to expedite the implementation of more MS-based protein assays in clinical laboratories for patient care. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Computer self-efficacy (CSE) continues to be an important construct in research and application. Two measures of CSE, the Brief Inventory of Technology Self-Efficacy (BITS) and the Brief Inventory of Technology Self-Efficacy – Short Form (BITS-SF) were recently developed to correct for issues in other available measures. The BITS and BITS-SF were originally written in English, and their psychometric properties assessed in samples from the United States. The current two studies translated the BITS and BITS-SF into simplified Chinese (Mainland China) and traditional Chinese (Taiwan) and assessed their psychometric properties. In Study 1, 207 adults in Mainland China completed the simplified Chinese BITS and BITS-SF, as well as measures given to assess convergent, discriminant, and concurrent validity. In Study 2, 273 adults in Taiwan did the same, except that they completed the traditional Chinese BITS and BITS-SF. In both studies, the translated BITS showed evidence of a three-factor correlated structure, and the translated BITS-SF yielded several underlying classes consistent with theory and scoring interpretation. Additionally, the translated measures' scores showed solid evidence of convergent, discriminant, and concurrent validity. The results replicate the findings using the original BITS and BITS-SF and extend them to simplified Chinese and traditional Chinese translated versions. These versions are recommended for use in research and applied settings to assess CSE and are available for use. Both the original and translated measures are available for download at www.bitssurvey.com. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The relationship between early childhood exposure to general anesthesia (GA) and the risk of developing Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) is still uncertain and previous studies have presented conflicting results. This population‐based cohort study aimed to investigate the potential relationship between GA exposure and ADHD risk using propensity score matching (PSM) in a large sample size. Methods: The study included 15,072 children aged 0–3 years who received GA and were hospitalized for more than 1 day in Taiwan from 2004 to 2014. The nonexposed group was randomly selected through 1:1 PSM from the Taiwan Maternal and Child Health Database (TMCHD). The primary objectives of this study were to determine the incidence rates (IR) and incidence rate ratios (IRR) of ADHD in the two cohorts, employing Poisson regression models. Results: The GA group and non‐GA group each comprised 7,536 patients. The IR of ADHD was higher in the GA group (122.45 per 10,000 person‐years) than in the non‐GA group (64.15 per 10,000 person‐years), and the IRR of ADHD in the GA group was 1.39 (95% CI: 1.26, 1.55). The study found that the number of times of exposure to GA, duration of exposure, male gender, and central nervous system surgery were significant risk factors for ADHD in the future. Conclusions: This study's findings suggest that there is a significant correlation between early childhood exposure to GA and the risk of developing ADHD, and GA may be an important risk factor for ADHD in children undergoing surgery. The study also identified several risk factors for ADHD, including the number of times of exposure to GA, duration of exposure, male gender, and central nervous system surgery. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Sport event hosting is viewed as an important tool to create a tremendous impact upon humans, society, cities as well as nations. Hosting international sports events has been a long-standing national policy in Taiwan. Due to differences in the scale of the sport events, evaluating their impact may be required in order to tailor to the needs of the locality in terms of scope and context of the event impact assessment. Thus, this paper identifies suitable indicators for assessing the impact of international sports events in Taiwan through the Delphi study. Four scopes for measuring the impact are identified: sporting, economic, social and environmental impact. Specifically, sporting impact is viewed as the essential component for the local scenario. Also, some emerging indicators were unique and used to revise the context for measuring the event impact. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: More intense tropical cyclones (TCs) are expected in the future under a warming climate scenario, but little is known about their mortality effect pattern across countries and over decades. We aim to evaluate the TC-specific mortality risks, periods of concern (POC) and characterize the spatiotemporal pattern and exposure-response (ER) relationships on a multicountry scale. Methods and findings: Daily all-cause, cardiovascular, and respiratory mortality among the general population were collected from 494 locations in 18 countries or territories during 1980 to 2019. Daily TC exposures were defined when the maximum sustained windspeed associated with a TC was ≥34 knots using a parametric wind field model at a 0.5° × 0.5° resolution. We first estimated the TC-specific mortality risks and POC using an advanced flexible statistical framework of mixed Poisson model, accounting for the population changes, natural variation, seasonal and day of the week effects. Then, a mixed meta-regression model was used to pool the TC-specific mortality risks to estimate the overall and country-specific ER relationships of TC characteristics (windspeed, rainfall, and year) with mortality. Overall, 47.7 million all-cause, 15.5 million cardiovascular, and 4.9 million respiratory deaths and 382 TCs were included in our analyses. An overall average POC of around 20 days was observed for TC-related all-cause and cardiopulmonary mortality, with relatively longer POC for the United States of America, Brazil, and Taiwan (>30 days). The TC-specific relative risks (RR) varied substantially, ranging from 1.04 to 1.42, 1.07 to 1.77, and 1.12 to 1.92 among the top 100 TCs with highest RRs for all-cause, cardiovascular, and respiratory mortality, respectively. At country level, relatively higher TC-related mortality risks were observed in Guatemala, Brazil, and New Zealand for all-cause, cardiovascular, and respiratory mortality, respectively. We found an overall monotonically increasing and approximately linear ER curve of TC-related maximum sustained windspeed and cumulative rainfall with mortality, with heterogeneous patterns across countries and regions. The TC-related mortality risks were generally decreasing from 1980 to 2019, especially for the Philippines, Taiwan, and the USA, whereas potentially increasing trends in TC-related all-cause and cardiovascular mortality risks were observed for Japan. Conclusions: The TC mortality risks and POC varied greatly across TC events, locations, and countries. To minimize the TC-related health burdens, targeted strategies are particularly needed for different countries and regions, integrating epidemiological evidence on region-specific POC and ER curves that consider across-TC variability. Author summary: Why was this study done?: Tropical cyclones (TCs), among the most destructive and costliest climate extreme events, are expected to be more intense due to climate change. Despite the widely acknowledged hazards, a consistent and quantitative assessment of the mortality risks of TC across countries is lacking. Such quantitative and comparable evidence across countries is urgently required to better understand the health effects and respond to the potentially increasing hazards. No previous studies have characterized the periods of concern (POC), exposure-response (ER) relationship, and temporal trends of the TC health risks, directly relevant to more precise and effective preparedness and mitigation strategies. What did the researchers do and find?: Using mortality data from 494 TC-exposed locations in 18 countries or territories, we quantified the TC-specific mortality risks and POC of the 382 TC events that affected these locations. The ER relationships and temporal trends were then characterized for each country or territory. TC exposure was associated with a prolonged elevated risk of all-cause, cardiovascular, and respiratory mortality, with an overall average POC of around 20 days. The TC mortality risks and POC varied greatly across TC events, locations, and countries. Overall, the mortality risks increased approximately linearly with increasing TC-related maximum sustained windspeed or cumulative rainfall. Most studied countries or territories witnessed a decreasing TC-related mortality risks from 1980 to 2019, especially for the Philippines, Taiwan, and the USA, while potentially increasing TC-related all-cause and cardiovascular mortality risks were observed for Japan. What do these findings mean?: TC events can exhibit significant variations in their risk patterns, and future risk assessments may need to better account for this large across-TC variability. Targeted and evidence-based disaster management and preparedness strategies need to be developed for different countries to more effectively mitigate the TC hazards. Key study limitations include potential exposure misclassification errors, residual confounding, and limited generalizability. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Taiwan's power system operates as an isolated grid, preventing the export of surplus energy. Excess electricity is either stored or discarded (curtailed). This study aims to estimate the energy storage requirement for the day with the most extreme electricity consumption behavior in a year without energy curtailment. Based on the installed capacity and actual power generation of renewable energy sources in 2022, this research estimates the power generation per GW of the installed capacity at full load. Integrating the government's annual installation capacity plans, this study forecasts the annual power generation of renewable sources. Using the electrical load during the 2023 Spring Festival as a baseline and assuming an annual electricity consumption growth rate of 2%, combined with a minimum gas power output of approximately 6 GW, this study calculates the unused power generation, which represents the pumped-storage hydroelectricity and battery energy storage systems requirements for that day under a no-curtailment scenario. Considering the semi-annual adjustments in installation planning, this study's code is open-sourced and designed to provide updated results with new planning data input, facilitating ongoing adjustments. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]