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This study investigates and compares the learning trajectories of nine Taiwanese university graduates from a Power Mechanical Engineering (PME) program and nine from a cross-disciplinary Humanities and Social Sciences (HSS) program. Participants had received their degrees 4-7 years prior to the study. The findings suggest the relative advantages and disadvantages of different models of educational design. Even though PME graduates complained about the abstract nature of what they had learned during the first part of their undergraduate study, most had successfully entered labor markets related to the PME industry, having obtained appropriate knowledge/skills for application in industry from the latter part of the program. While some prioritized their identity as a PME professional, others admitted that they liked the extrinsic reward of a comfortable living best. In contrast, even though most of the HSS graduates admired the generic curriculum of the program, with its transferability from one context to another and its close connection to the real world, and some deeply identified with the core value of being an agent of societal change once they had entered the labor market, many also admitted that it was difficult to find a suitable industry to enter unless they first acquired a Master's degree with higher specificity.

The linkage between reading for pleasure and language ability has been well established, but the relationship between content-based recreational reading and academic achievement in various subject areas has rarely been explored. To investigate whether reading literature, social studies, and science trade books for pleasure is related to students' growth in achievement for the subjects of Chinese, social studies, and science, respectively, this study used data from 4,730 students at a Taiwanese girls' high school. Based on students' high school entrance exam test scores in three subject areas as control variables, and their college entrance exam scores as the outcomes, the findings indicated that pleasure reading in a specific content area might lead to growth in achievement for that particular content area, and in some cases, reading in other content areas might help as well. A reading program that invites students to engage in self-sponsored reading can promote disciplinary literacy and academic achievement.

The topic of practicing and prospective teachers' readership has received attention in reading research, but there is a gap in Western studies when it comes to comparing teachers' reading status with that of the general population. With data from a national survey in Taiwan on college juniors, this study found that education majors as a subgroup spent significantly less time per day on extracurricular reading than the college juniors as a whole. Their mean score ranked 14 among 17 areas of academic study. However, when the researcher looked at the reading frequency for various reading materials, education majors were found to read significantly more novels, prose/poetry, and non-major academic books than the general population, while spending less time reading magazines and manga.

As a follow-up study to a cross-sectional national study that established the linkage between gender as well as family factors and the likelihood of being Taiwanese adolescent readers, this study attempted to utilize the same data set with longitudinal data to explore whether the association between family factors and being an avid adolescent readers differs between male and female adolescents. The results of the study suggest that unlike their female counterparts, higher parental educational level, richer family cultural environment, and better parental reading modeling might not be as relevant to male adolescents' likelihood of being avid readers: they need support from parent-child literacy interactions along the way as they grow up.

To determine whether the developing semantic lexicon varies with culture, we examined the animal and food naming of children from three communities distinguished by language, cultural heritage, and population density. The children were fve- and seven-year-olds from Australia (n = 197), Taiwan (n = 456), and the US (n = 172). Naming patterns revealed hierarchical and fexible organization of the semantic lexicon. The content of the lexicon, particularly food names, varied with cultural heritage. In all three communities, wild mammals were predominant during animal naming, a likely infuence of children's media. The infuence of the Chinese zodiac was evident in the clustering of animal names in the Taiwanese sample. There was no apparent infuence of population density and little infuence of language, except that the Taiwanese children more frequently named foods at the superordinate level, a possible infuence of the structure of Mandarin. Children develop their lexicons in response to culture as experienced frst-hand or through media.

This study aims to analyze the correlation (N = 335) among technological and vocational school teachers' perceived organizational innovative climate, computer self-efficacy, and continuous use of e-teaching in Taiwan. Teachers' perceived organizational innovative climate includes five factors, namely, job autonomy, innovative leadership, resource support, innovative culture, and group cohesion. Computer self-efficacy includes four factors, namely, playfulness, ease of use, effectiveness, and usefulness. Continuous use of e-teaching includes three factors, namely, goal identification, instructional performance, and flow experience. Participants responded to a 5-point Likert-type scale for each factor. Analysis was conducted using the structural equation modeling (SEM), and a good model fit was found for both the measurement and structural models. Research findings demonstrate that technological and vocational schools teachers' organizational innovative climate significantly and directly influences continuous use of e-teaching. Organizational innovative climate significantly and indirectly influences continuous use of e-teaching by computer self-efficacy. Technological and vocational schools teachers' organizational innovative climate and computer self-efficacy fit the influence model and empirical data of continuous use of e-teaching. (Contains 6 tables and 1 figure.)

This study aimed to construct the organizational innovation indicators of technical universities and institutes. This study held a group discussion and expert focus meeting and afterward, this study generalized seven facets of school organizational innovation: leadership innovation, administration innovation, student guidance and activity innovation, curriculum and instruction innovation, teacher professional development innovation, resource application innovation, and campus construction innovation. Then 25 criteria and 83 indices were developed.

This study aims to conduct experimental instruction on the human resource management unit of business management in practical competencies-oriented business program developed by Chen (2005). This study is based on the quasi-experiment method and the subjects are two classes of students in a four-year technical university who have completed the two-credit "Management" class in the previous semester. Experimental results showed that the teaching materials and supplementary cases can enhance students' learning achievement; however, problem-solving attitude is not significantly improved.

Researchers have indicated that the widespread adoption of digital technologies has changed the way we interact with each other and distinguishes digital natives from their older counterparts. Since young people are actively engaged in participatory cultures, this study aims to explore the linkages of aspects of literacy and principles of connected learning to their collective intelligence efficacy and civic engagement. With a sample of 304 Taiwanese college students, the findings suggest that there are three aspects of the expanded conception of literacy. While literacy as readers and information users, as well as literacy as authors and information creators are both linked to collective intelligence efficacy, the third aspect of critical literacy, which reflects an epistemological shift to cope with the participatory information environment, is linked to young people's civic engagement, defined by political expression in various forms and by achieving social change in creative ways. Among the four principles of connected learning, however, the principle of fostering a sense of shared purpose mediated by new media and online communities is strongly associated with collected intelligence efficacy, defined by how young people perceive their capability for collaborating with others and making contributions. Overall, the findings provide empirical support for associations among notions/variables with broadened perspectives and re-conceptualizations that are insightful for understanding the Net generation's new social practices.

Social cognitive career theory (SCCT) was used as a basis for investigating the factors influencing the career intentions of Taiwanese sports management students. Participants (N = 696) completed measures gauging social support, self-efficacy, outcome expectations, career interests, and career intentions. The results of a path analysis supported SCCT, indicating that self-efficacy contributed to career interests, outcome expectations, and career intentions. Social support was related to self-efficacy, and outcome expectations were related to career interests. However, the results did not support the hypotheses that social support and outcome expectations contribute to career intentions. The practical implications of these findings for counseling Taiwanese sports management students are presented.

Purpose: The purpose of this paper is to investigate entrepreneurial competencies of students in practicums within departments of electrical engineering and computer sciences (EECS) in universities of technology. In total, 71 faculty members who advised in entrepreneurial competitions in universities of technology were participants in the questionnaire survey to find the entrepreneurial competencies during practicums of the EECS students. Design/methodology/approach: Analysis was carried out based on the literatures related to off-campus internship in universities of technology and entrepreneurship competency. Then, through the questionnaire survey, the authors can understand what the entrepreneurial abilities should have when they after off-campus internships. The entrepreneurship competency expected of off-campus internship students within EECS was analyzed to derive at the important conclusion in this study. Findings: As the results of this study, the authors found that entrepreneurial processes, entrepreneurial traits/behaviors, communications and interpersonal skills, and digital skills are the entrepreneurial competencies that are emphasized during practicums. Originality/value: The paper suggests that, first, the EECS students take up innovative entrepreneurship programs and take electives such as marketing management, financial management, and related business administration courses. Second, respective universities of technology and internship organizations may co-arrange the incorporation of project-based learning (PBL), PBL into the internship work content. Third, establishing a platform that bridges communication for off-campus internship students.

Adopting self-determination theory and the perceived characteristics of innovation as the theoretical background, this study investigates the school teachers' willingness to adopt and reuse an e-learning system. Three hundred and eighty-eight valid questionnaires were collected for analysis using structural equation modelling. The results demonstrated that perceived autonomy and competence have positive influences on intrinsic motivation, while subjective norm and organisational policy have positive influences on extrinsic motivation in both the reuse and the adoption models. Further, an improvement with regard to perceived characteristics of innovation in the e-learning system can facilitate teachers' intrinsic motivation to continue to use the system usage. Both intrinsic and extrinsic motivations affected the willingness to reuse or adopt the e-learning system differently. Finally, the theoretical and practical implications of this work are also discussed.

This study examines 1630 tertiary students in regard to their entrepreneurial career intentions (ECIs) and their influencing factors. The findings may serve as academic reference for the development of entrepreneurship-related education. The results show that students' computer self-efficacy (CSE) has a significant direct effect on ECIs, and entrepreneurship cognition (EC) has a significant effect on ECIs via CSE. The pattern and empirical data of EC and CSE on ECI have a good fit. This paper provides insights from Taiwan's tertiary institutions about the ECIs of students and contributes to a better understanding of them. We describe the development of the influencing factors, discuss the implications and provide suggestions for entrepreneurship education development.

Since Taiwanese readers have international and multicultural reading interests and habits, this study aims to develop a Chinese title recognition test, a translated title recognition test (TTRT), and a Chinese author recognition test as measures of print exposure for fifth graders in Taiwan, and to investigate the relative extent to which print-exposure scores, diary estimates of reading time, reading attitude, and activity preference help predict performance on number of Chinese characters recognized and reading comprehension score. The sample consisted of 318 (153 boys and 165 girls) fifth graders in 11 classes from three elementary schools in Northern Taiwan. Data analysis was performed by Pearson moments correlation and hierarchical regression analysis. We found that, TTRT and TRT composite scores had substantial prediction power for vocabulary size beyond the book-reading time estimates and print-disposition variables, and for reading comprehension beyond vocabulary size, the book-reading time estimates, and print-disposition variables. Our findings corroborate those of previous Western studies on the linkage between print exposure and reading abilities. At the same time, they invite more conversation about evaluating the various instruments used in the area of reading habits, reading disposition, and print exposure, and provide a rationale for developing an instrument of print exposure for children from non-English speaking countries.

This study set out to develop a Chinese Author Recognition Test (CART) that might be used as a measure of objective print exposure for college students in Taiwan. We found that there is a linkage between print exposure and general reading achievement for college students. We also found that, among self-reported reading habits, comparative reading habits and CART, primary print knowledge scores within the CART family have the strongest prediction power for both the "General Scholastic Ability Test-Chinese" and the "Department Required Test-Chinese" beyond the joint contributions of vocabulary size and reading comprehension. By sharing the process of developing the instrument, we shed some light for researchers from regions other than English-speaking countries on how they might move forward in future investigations.

This study explores how motivational factors are associated with Taiwanese college students' cognitive, personal, and social development by incorporating both relatively global, static self-attributes, such as social-oriented achievement motivation and individual-oriented achievement motivation, which are considered to be culturally balanced conceptions of achievement motivation for Chinese people, and more domain-specific self-attributes, such as achievement goals, which are widely adopted internationally. The findings suggest that institutions can encourage students to set their own motivational goals, rather than adopting goals set by the family or the clan, and to focus on self-referenced competence development and personal improvement.

The Hutoubi Reservoir and its mainstream, Huyuan Stream, in the southern mountainous region of Taiwan, have experienced riverbed sedimentation and flood disasters for the past 150 years. In addition to climate change, it is necessary to scientifically consider its regulation for the next hundred years. This study adopted a collaborative approach, involving industry, government, and academia, using Nature-based Solutions (NbS) to enhance ecosystem services. The solution layout is constructed by widening the channel and constructing additional farm ponds and wetlands. An hydraulic simulation indicated that flood control was addressed. The restoration project would create diverse aquatic habitats by simulating and evaluating the distribution of ecological biotopes, using porous materials as revetments. It provided urban residents with forest leisure and recreational sites and supported the local agricultural and forestry products. The restoration has propagated local culture and created environmental and professional education. Therefore, ecological services are enhanced regarding regulation, support, provision, and culture. This pilot study, led by researchers, aimed to promote comprehensive management concepts considering all stakeholders and their active participation. We integrated NbS into the watershed and its river system as a pathway for facing the challenges of rapid urbanization and climate change and improving ecosystem services. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The purpose of this study was to examine the role of organizational learning as a mediator variable between support for innovation and organizational innovation. Samples for this study were randomly selected from 22 technological colleges in Taiwan. The final sample included 322 participants in the full sample which accounted for 58.42 % of the sample. A structural equation modeling (SEM) approach was used to evaluate the complex structure of the proposed research constructs. The study concluded that organizational learning was an important determinant of organizational innovation in technological colleges. Support for innovation had a positive relationship on organizational learning and organizational innovation.

This study expanded the definition of reading practices to include both print- and Internet-based reading, and examined the relationship of reading profiles to Taiwanese college students' performance on various practices. The results showed that more time was spent on Internet-than print-based extracurricular reading, and that the three most-popular reading practices were: visiting social networking sites, reading online news, and browsing electronic Bulletin Board Systems. When we compared four reading profiles, a consistent pattern emerged: More diversified the readers self-estimated faster reading speed, reading more complex materials, better reading comprehension, and higher overall language proficiencies. Also, more diversified readers self-reported engaging in a wider variety of conversation topics with other people.

Background: Stroke may cause debilitating neurological deficiencies that result in motor, sensory, and cognitive deficits and poorer psychosocial functioning. Prior studies have provided some initial evidence for the significant roles of health literacy and poor oral health for old people. However, few studies have focused on the health literacy of individuals who had a stroke; therefore, the relationships between the health literacy and oral health-related quality of life (OHRQoL) among middle-aged and older adults who had a stroke are unknown. We aimed to assess the relationships between stroke prevalence, health literacy status, and OHRQoL in middle-aged and older adults. Methods: We retrieved the data from The Taiwan Longitudinal Study on Aging, a population-based survey. For each eligible subject, we gathered data in 2015 on age, sex, level of education, marital status, health literacy, the activity daily living (ADL), stroke history and OHRQoL. We evaluated the respondents' health literacy by using a nine-item health literacy scale and categorized their health literacy level as low, medium, or high. OHRQoL was identified based on the Taiwan version of the Oral Health Impact Profile (OHIP-7T). Results: The final study contained 7702 community-based dwelling elderly people (3630 male and 4072 female) were analysis in our study. Stroke history was reported in 4.3% of participants, 25.3% reported low health literacy, and 41.9% had at least one ADL disability. Furthermore, 11.3% of participants had depression, 8.3% had cognitive impairment, and 3.4% had poor OHRQoL. Age, health literacy, ADL disability, stroke history, and depression status were significantly associated with poor OHRQoL after sex and marital status was adjusted. Medium (odds ratio [OR] = 1.784, 95% confidence interval [CI] = 1.177, 2.702) to low health literacy (OR = 2.496, 95% CI = 1.628, 3.828) was significantly associated with poor OHRQoL. Conclusions: Base our study results, people with stroke history had poor OHRQoL. Lower health literacy and ADL disability were associated with worse QHRQoL. Further studies are necessary to define practical strategies for reducing the risk of stroke and oral health with constantly lower health literacy, thereby improving the quality of life and providing health care of older people. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Child obesity is frequently associated with dysfunction of autonomic nervous system. Children in pubertal development were suggested to be vulnerable to autonomic nervous system problems such as decrease of heart rate variability from dysregulation of metabolic control. This study explored the influence of pubertal development on autonomic nervous system function in overweight and obese children and the concurrent effects of their physical activity. Eighty-four overweight or obese children and 87 normal weighted controls were recruited. Autonomic nervous system function was studied by measuring heart rate variability. Results showed that the overweight/obese children had significantly lower heart rate variability. Overweight/obese children in puberty had significantly lower heart rate variability which was positively correlated with their physical activity levels. In conclusion, overweight/obesity adversely affects the autonomic nervous system function of children especially during their pubertal development. Overweight/obese children should be encouraged to engage in physical activities during puberty to improve their autonomic nervous system function. (Contains 3 tables and 2 figures.)

As a follow-up study to a cross-sectional national study that established the linkage between gender as well as family factors and the likelihood of being Taiwanese adolescent readers, this study attempted to utilize the same data set with longitudinal data to explore whether the association between family factors and being an avid adolescent readers differs between male and female adolescents. The results of the study suggest that unlike their female counterparts, higher parental education level, richer family cultural environment, and better parental reading modeling might both be as relevant to male adolescents' likelihood of being avid readers: they need support from parent-child literacy interactions along the way as they grow up. (Contains 2 tables.)

There is a lack of research in the area of the influence that task autonomy (TA), organizational learning (OL), and group cohesiveness (GC) can have on technical education teachers' innovation of professional development (IOPD). Therefore, this study aimed to probe into the influences of TA, OL, and GC on IOPD by technical education teachers, and their relationships. We conducted a questionnaire survey on 265 full-time teachers. The results showed that TA, GC, and OL of technical education teachers revealed significant positive relationships with the degree of IOPD. The teachers' TA and OL are critical factors to their IOPD, as they are positive predictors. (Contains 2 tables and 1 figure.)

While studies of reluctant adolescent readers generally focus on "what is not working" and suggest having instructional practices more responsive to students' needs, this study on avid secondary school readers centers its attention on "what might have been working" and provides empirical support for the importance of the influence of parents and teachers. With the data from national surveys on ninth and twelfth graders in Taiwan, this study found gender to be strongly associated with the likelihood of being avid readers, identified by reporting reading a lot of extracurricular books in the previous summer vacation. Family factors and teachers are significant, too. Students who see reading as an activity that plays an important role in the life of their parents have greater chances of being avid readers themselves. Similarly, students whose teachers share their enthusiasm for literature and knowledge in general also have greater chances of being avid readers. (Contains 2 tables.)

Using data from a national survey of adults in Taiwan, this study explored how often older adults participate in and how much they enjoy 2 mostly-solitary leisure activities (reading books and watching TV/DVDs/videos) and 2 mostly-social leisure activities (socializing with friends and engaging in physical activities). According to ordinal regression analyses of these 4 dependent variables, individual characteristics (such as age, health, education level, and rural/urban residence) significantly contributed to older adults' leisure participation and enjoyment. More importantly, such participation and enjoyment also varied by the extent of sociability (social contacts, a preference for being with others, and a desire for making friends through leisure activities). (Contains 4 tables.)

Using data from a national survey of adults in Taiwan, this study presents findings regarding older adults' reading practices with respect to newspapers, magazines, books, and Internet information. The study also identifies four reading profiles defined by the frequency and diversification of the material read: the nonreaders, the less diversified readers, the readers diversified in print format, and the readers diversified in both print and Internet format. While some findings are consistent with the existing Western literature, others address new questions and invite further investigation. Educational implications for developing reading promotional programs best suited to the unique needs of individual reading profiles are also discussed. (Contains 3 tables and 1 figure.)

The Chinese people have great regard for those who read widely, yet little is known of the extracurricular reading behaviors of Chinese students. This study drew on data from two national surveys to investigate the amount of time Taiwanese college students spend on extracurricular reading. Findings are interpreted in relation to prior research on the reading habits of college students internationally. The study found that: (1) Female students on average did not spend more time on extracurricular reading than males; (2) Students from public institutions, who generally have higher academic competence, did not spend more time reading than students from private institutions; (3) Education majors spent the least time on extracurricular reading; (4) Newspapers, magazines, and bestsellers were the most popular reading materials, but manga (graphic novels) had medium popularity; and (5) Crosscultural differences might have an impact on the amount of time spent reading and on reading interests. (Contains 1 figure and 4 tables.)

The indigenisation and internationalisation of Taiwan emerged as issues of national concern as a result of the democratisation of politics in the late 1980s which profoundly changed the sociopolitical and economic climate. One manifestation of these changes was "new" language-in-education policies. These were the Local-Language-in-Education (LLE) policy to revitalise dying local languages and promote "de-Chinaisation" and "Taiwan identity", and the English Education (EE) policy to develop English communicative proficiency in order for Taiwanese to be competitive in the globalised world. This simultaneous indigenisation and internationalisation was aimed at promoting linguistic pluralism and bilingualism in Taiwan. This study argues that the EE policy was more systematically and thoroughly planned by the central government, and subsequently more vigorously implemented by all parties concerned (e.g. central and local governments, schools, teachers, textbook publishers), than was the LLE policy. In terms of language acquisition, the EE policy implementation seems to have been more effective than the LLE policy. The study identifies a set of logistic situations (the lack of standardisation of local languages, the lack of prior resources and practice, and publishers' reluctance to produce textbooks in LL) as factors leading to the differences. More importantly, it finds that there were different levels and types of motivation on the part of parties concerned (national and local governments, schools, parents and students) to learn and promote local languages. This was influenced by the perceived lower status of local languages, which derived from their limited pragmatic and instrumental functions. However, although the LLE policy was less effective in language maintenance, it assisted in developing a new "Taiwan identity" across ethnic linguistic boundaries.

Based on a portion of the results of a research project that explores the possibilities of using Mandarin children's literature for cultural understanding between the students of Taiwan and Mainland China, this paper discusses in depth what existing U. S. research may or may not help in constructing Mandarin reading lists and thus provides insights for applications in other settings. It also comes up with a new strategy for cultural understanding with twin texts from two cultures.

This study introduces the soil water index (SWI) approach, the sum of water depths in the three-layer tank model, with rainfall data to understand landslide occurrence in Taiwan. A total of 236 historical instance data were compiled to investigate the characteristics of different types of landslides: debris flows (DF), shallow landslides (SL), and large-scale landslides (LL). The data shows that most DF occurred near the time of maximum rainfall intensity. However, several SL and LL events indicate that the occurrence of SL and LL has correlations with more than just rainfall intensity or rainfall amount. The SWI and the water depth in the tanks (from top to bottom: H1, H2, H3) provide an intriguing approach to correlate soil moisture content at occurrence time with the landslide types. DF events show the highest H1/SWI value, which indicates the correlation with water content in the surficial soil. LL events after rainfall have the highest H3/SWI ratio, indicating that prolonged rainfall events cause rainwater to infiltrate a deeper soil layer and trigger these LL. We developed a ternary diagram of the water depth-to-SWI ratios to show characteristics of the three landslide types. This study found that the H2/SWI value is typically in the range of 0.2–0.4. In this range, the landslide type gradually shifts from DF to SL, and then to LL, along the H3/SWI axis. Therefore, the ternary diagram can explain landslide type changes with the water depth-to-SWI ratios and better understand landslide occurrence. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aesthetic design of mountain stream facilities has not received much attention in Taiwan. In recent years, in addition to safety concerns, the focus has increasingly been on landscape assessment or the sense of integration with the environment. This research is the first attempt to use visual language translation in qualitative research analysis for the landscape assessment of mountain stream facilities. This method is different from a traditional qualitative narrative analysis. It also addresses the shortcomings of previous quantitative analysis methods, in which the topic discussions are too limited. First, mountain stream engineering projects are selected as the research objects. This study uses questionnaire analysis and on-site surveys to summarize the elements, representations, and perceptions of the mountain stream facilities of the subjects concerned to examine their preferences for the visual system. Furthermore, we also employ the scenic beauty estimation (SBE) method for a comparison between the qualitative and quantitative analyses. This study proposes a new method using visual language translation and SBE that combines the features of qualitative research and quantitative analysis. However, the potential limitations include an inability to have a large sample number and the biases caused by the cultural, regional, or personal characteristics of the subjects. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This qualitative descriptive study aimed to explore expectations of patients and healthcare experts for an online self-management program for rheumatoid arthritis. Participants were recruited from rheumatology clinics, medical centers, and universities in Taiwan. Individual face-to-face, semi-structured interviews were conducted with patients (n = 16) and healthcare experts (n = 7). Content analysis of the interview data resulted in five subthemes for expectations of an online self-management program: information about how the disease trajectory would impact future health status, availability of opportunities for self-monitoring, opportunities to interact with fellow patients and healthcare providers, simplicity and ease-of-use of the program, and methods to facilitate patient-motivation. These subthemes formulated two overarching themes: content and format. An online self-management program for patients with rheumatoid arthritis should provide evidence-based information about disease variables and behaviors aligned with the specific needs of the individual and adopt strategies that encourage and increase motivation and confidence. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Rheumatoid arthritis results in progressive destruction of the joints. However, descriptions of patient's experiences with the disease are limited. This qualitative study aimed to explore patients' personal experiences with rheumatoid arthritis in Taiwan. Face-to-face interviews were conducted with 30 patients from January to May 2019; interview data were analyzed with content analysis. Most participants were female (90%); their mean age was 57 years. Three main categories emerged from analysis of the data: "physical suffering," "limitations of abilities," and "coexisting with the disease." Physical suffering was due to personal lifelong hardships from chronic pain and stiffness. Limitations of abilities occurred from loss of physical function and limited social life, due to participants discomfort with joint deformities and their appearance to others. Participants coexisted with the disease by making changes in their outlook and comparing their lives with others in order to gain a positive perspective. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The current study aimed to explore sex-influenced risk factors for cognitive impairment among community-dwelling older adults in Taiwan. This cross-sectional study was a secondary analysis using a population-based design. We accessed and analyzed data from the Taiwan Longitudinal Study on Aging survey of 2011. Participants were older adults aged ≥55 years living in non-indigenous townships. A total of 3,392 community-dwelling older adults were included. Results showed that the prevalence of cognitive impairment in females and males was 15.3% and 5.7%, respectively. Having a low educational level and being single (i.e., single, widowed, or divorced) were risk factors for cognitive impairment in both sexes. Males who had more than two chronic diseases had a higher risk of cognitive impairment. Self-reported hearing loss and depression increased risk of cognitive impairment in older females. Older age, lower educational level, and single marital status were associated with cognitive impairment among community-dwelling older adults in Taiwan. The effects of self-reported hearing loss, depression, and chronic disease on cognitive impairment were influenced by sex. [Journal of Gerontological Nursing, 48(6), 19–25.] [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Dividing rivers into homogeneous reaches is key for river processes and watershed management. In contrast to downstream fluvially dominated rivers, upstream debris‐flow dominated torrents have steeper channel slopes and smaller valley width/depth ratios. Investigating transition reaches between torrents and fluvially dominated rivers, not only explores the structure of the landscape, but also contributes to hazard management. This study proposed a valley morphology index combining two variables, channel slope and valley width/depth ratio, to determine transition reaches between torrents and rivers. The methodology was applied to 41 mountain streams in Taiwan using a Geographic Information System (GIS)‐based topographic analysis. Plots of valley width/depth ratio versus channel slope were used to determine boundary values of the valley morphology index (Iv) separating torrents from rivers. The plots showed that about 80% of the river basins present "L‐shaped" curves, which indicate sharp decreases in slope for upstream sections and dramatic increases of valley width/depth ratio for downstream sections. Results further demonstrated an average value of Iv 0.0047 across the study sites. Spatial comparison between geographic regions indicated that transition reaches in eastern rivers tend to occur lower in the drainage basin due, in part, to higher terrain. Local factors, such as tributary confluences and landslides promote the transition from torrents to fluvially dominated rivers. Satellite images verified that the approach correctly identified transition reaches, suggesting that it may provide a useful reference for river management. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Sediment flushing and the morphological responses to the procedure of check dam removal are still unclear. Following laboratory experiments that revealed three stages (deepening, widening, and volume release) of check dam adjustment, a check dam built in 2007 at Landao Creek in central Taiwan was adjusted in 2015 by removing central bars and cutting 2.5 m from the middle two piers (stage 1 + 2), with the purpose of regulating sediment transfer and keeping the thalweg at the center of the channel, while also preventing hill slope toe erosion. In 2019, four central piers were removed (stage 3) to increase the volume of sediment released. Annual surveys were conducted after the initial adjustment in 2015 through to 2020 using unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs). The check dam adjustments revealed that the channel had narrowed and stabilized as indicated by regenerating riparian vegetation. Additionally, distinct terraces had formed on the hill slope toes of the creek channel in proximity to the check dam. The meander upstream weakened following the dam adjustments. This study combining laboratory experiments with actual field observation contributed immensely to check dam decommissioning. Additionally, this study illustrated how an adjustable check dam may aid regulation of sediment transport and thereby sediment balance. It can be adjusted accordingly based on the prevailing channel condition. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study aimed to determine whether there were gender differences in the effectiveness of a 12-week dietary self-management program for older community-dwelling adults in northeast Taiwan. This was a secondary analysis of a previous study; participants (N = 58) were purposively sampled from two public health centers. Non-parametric models examined differences in outcome measures because of the small sample size; 20 males and 38 females completed the study. The results showed males scored significantly better than females for nutritional status, internal health locus of control, and responsibility for food preparation, which may have implications for older female adults' nutritional health. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This pretest-posttest pilot study was to examine the effects of how olfactory stimulation (OS) influenced swallowing function in older adults. Forty-four community-dwelling older residents (24 OS & 20 control) from southern Taiwan were recruited. Participants in the intervention group administered pre-meal OS using odor and flavor inhalation. The study found that physiological responses for different food textures significantly differed between groups at post-test (p ≤.02). Within the experimental group, swallowing function, and individual satisfaction showed significant differences before and after the odor inhalation over time (p <.01, η p 2 = 0.16–0.33). An individual's satisfaction to their own swallowing capacity was largely enhanced by the significant interaction between time and group (F [1, 42] = 11.34, p =.002, η p 2 = 0.21), but not for physiological response to OS and swallowing function. The results suggest OS may be advantageous to improving physiological response to OS, swallowing function and satisfaction with swallowing capacity in older adults. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Describes the implementation of an interdisciplinary instructional model with children's literature as the organizing center. Indicates that teachers in Taiwan are interested in using children's literature to support interdisciplinary instruction, and that a website can provide helpful teaching resources. Notes that these teachers have a positive view of learning from the Internet, yet their opinions about using online discussion boards are less positive. (PM)

The number of natural disasters induced by rainfall events in Taiwan has soared, with typhoons and torrential rains invariably inducing major landslides. In this study, data on major rainfall-generated landslides (605 in total) which occurred between 2006 and 2014 were used to classify landslides as types: shallow landslides (SL, 495), large landslides (LL, 34), and debris flows (DF, 76). LL were defined as landslides having an area, depth, and volume greater than 10 ha, 2 m and 2 × 105 m3, respectively. These were then analysed for their geometric form, geographic distribution, and scale and volume characteristics through a ternary diagram. A significant linear trend was found between the length (L) and volume (V) of SL, with the trend gradually moderating and converging with LL as length increased. The volume of LL displayed a significant increasing trend with depth (H), while SL and DF had less depth and average distribution. The median landslide length/width (L/W) ratios of SL and LL were quite close, and they had relatively similar morphologies; however, SL tended to occur near the slope toe, while large LL, due to their large volume, originated near the mountain ridges and extended to the nearest streams. The power law scaling components of W (β1) and L (β2) of SL were similar because of their (SL) small size, and they were highly concentrated at the centre of the developed ternary diagram. Through logistic regression, we further validated the exponents in classifying the landslides; β1, β2, and β3 (power law scaling component of H) are used in the ternary diagram. Overall, β1 was found to be the best model for classifying DF, SL, and LL having a correct rate of 0.955 and a lowest Akaike information criterion (AIC), 136.115, and Bayesian information criterion (BIC), 153.736. β3, the depth index, though had a poor AIC, was 100% correct in classifying LL. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aims: (a) To identify the frequencies and reasons for missed care by nursing aides in long‐term care facilities and (b) to clarify the correlation between missed care and the characteristics of nursing aides and facilities. Background: Missed care by nursing aides in long‐term care facilities affects the resident's quality of care and, therefore, requires attention. Methods: A cross‐sectional study was conducted, wherein 184 nursing aides and 80 registered nurses were recruited from 10 long‐term care facilities. Results: (a) The most frequently missed item of care by nursing aides was assistance with body cleaning (30.4%). (b) Among all participants, 90.2%, 89.8% and 64% indicated poor communication, labour shortages and material resource insufficiencies, respectively, as the reason for missed care. (c) Participants who perceived staff to be insufficient missed care tasks more frequently than those who perceived staff to be sufficient (p <.05). Conclusions: Missed handover and insufficient nursing aides on duty were identified as the primary reasons for missed care. Implications for Nursing Management: Handover as a nursing process should be improved to promote accuracy and continuity. Flexibility in human resources should be maintained to respond adequately to resident's emergencies, thereby ensuring effective completion of the job. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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Heart rate trajectory patterns integrate information regarding multiple heart rate measurements and their changes with time. Different heart rate patterns may exist in one population, and these are associated with different outcomes. Our study investigated the association of adverse outcomes with heart rate trajectory patterns. This was a prospective cohort study based on the Chin-Shan Community Cardiovascular Cohort in Taiwan. A total of 3,015 Chinese community residents aged > 35 years were enrolled in a prospective investigation of cardiovascular risk factors and outcomes from 1990 to 2013.The primary outcome was all-cause mortality, and the secondary outcome was a composite of coronary artery disease and cerebrovascular accidents. The following trajectory patterns were identified: stable, 61%; decreased, 5%; mildly increased, 32%; and markedly increased, 2%. During follow-up (median, 13.9 years), 557 participants died and 217 experienced secondary outcomes. The adjusted hazard ratios of primary and secondary outcomes for participants with a markedly increased trajectory pattern were 1.80 (95% CI [1.18–2.76]) and 1.45 (95% CI [0.67–3.12]), respectively, compared to those for participants with a stable trajectory pattern. A markedly increased heart rate trajectory pattern may be associated with all-cause mortality risks. Heart rate trajectory patterns demonstrated the utility of repeated heart rate measurements for risk assessment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Based on the means–end chains (MECs) and push–pull–mooring (PPM) model, this study aims to reveal the functional attributes of Facebook (FB) and Instagram (IG), classify them into the PPM model (i.e. push, pull, and mooring effect) and integrate the nature of MECs (i.e. attribute–consequence–value linkages) to examine young people's perceptions of FB and IG and their switching intentions. Mixed methods, including qualitative and quantitative approaches are employed to gather data in Taiwan. Sixty-two one-on-one in-depth interviews were content-analysed to design the survey questionnaire. A total of 457 valid samples were collected to establish a hybrid hierarchical value map (HVM) for MEC and PPM analyses. The hybrid HVM shows that 'privacy protection' and 'information collection' are push effects, which are the unfavourable factors of FB that push users to migrate to IG. By contrast, 'visual interaction', 'relationship maintenance', and 'expanding friendship ties' are pull effects favourable to IG that encourage FB users to migrate. Moreover, 'self-expression' and 'message seeding' belonging to mooring effects are factors that discourage FB users from migrating. Valuable insights may be provided for the design and improvement of social networking sites by understanding the hybrid HVM. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This quasi-experimental and pretest–posttest study was conducted in Taiwan. The effectiveness of three types of oral rinsing solutions (normal saline, 0.2% chlorhexidine [CHX], and boiled water) was compared among 120 elderly patients (40 patients per group). Data on oral mucus, odor, and plaque were collected at admission on Day 1 (Time [T] 0), Day 4 (T1), Day 7 (T2), and Day 10 (T3). The results showed that the oral health condition in terms of mucus, plaque, and odor improved significantly over time. The effect for the oral condition did not differ significantly among the three groups, except for oral odor. At T2, the CHX group experienced higher oral odor than did the boiled water group (Solutions × Time interaction, F = 3.967, p =.002). Boiled water appears to be a safe and effective oral rinsing solution for hospitalized elderly patients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aims: To examine the effects of work–family conflicts and sleep quality on the self‐perceived health status and the mediating effect of sleep quality on the relationship between work–family conflicts and self‐perceived health status among hospital nurses. Background: Studies related to hospital nurses' work–family conflicts, sleep quality and health status are noteworthy but limited. Methods: A total of 575 hospital nurses in Taiwan were recruited. Data were collected using the work–family conflicts Scale, Chinese Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index and Chinese Health Questionnaire. Independent t‐tests, chi‐squared tests, multivariate linear regression analyses and the Sobel test were used for analysis. Results: Fifty‐six per cent of all subjects reported having good health. Significantly more nurses with good sleep reported good health than those with poor sleep (84.2% vs. 44.9%, p < 0.0001). The difference in overall work–family conflict scores between the good health group and poor health group was significant (37.3 ± 12.7 vs. 46.3 ± 14.3, p < 0.0001). The correlation between overall work–family conflicts and the self‐perceived health status was indirect, and sleep quality was a mediator (Sobel test: 5.007, p < 0.001). Conclusions and Implications for Nursing Management: Work–family conflicts and poor sleep quality of hospital nurses were associated with poor health. Shift work influences the sleep quality, which mediates the correlation between work–family conflicts and self‐perceived health status. Hospital administrators should be aware of these stressful factors and the health of hospital nurses can be better promoted. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Landslides produce large quantities of sediment deposits and reduce reservoir life. This study investigated landslides at the Shihmen Reservoir basin in Taiwan that were induced by Typhoon Sinlaku and Typhoon Jangmi in 2008. We formulate scaling relationships between landslide erosion volume and area and conclude that sediment budget can be estimated based on the easier-todetermine landslide erosion area. The methodologies applied for the investigation were geomorphological analysis through 5 m × 5 m digital terrain models (DTMs) of the basin created before and after the landslide events and spatial analysis through a geographic information system. The erosion area and volume of landslides were measured through the subtraction of DTMs produced before and after the events. Statistical analysis revealed that the landslide erosion frequency-magnitude distribution exhibited power-law behaviors with a scaling exponent of 2.15 for the frequency-area distribution and 1.66 for the frequency-volume distribution. This paper proposes different scaling relationships for different moving depths, and landslide erosion volumes were estimated on the basis of depth; thus, landslides of different scales can be distinguished to avoid errors in volume estimation. Two different scaling exponents are proposed: 1.21 for landslide erosions with depths of less than 2 m and 1.01 for landslide erosions with depths of more than 2 m. The proposed scaling relationships are practical for landslide erosion volume estimation by different depths according to the landslide area, and they can provide preliminary results for sediment budget planning in a reservoir basin. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]