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Drawing on interviews with nine PhD students and twelve PhD graduates from a research university in Taiwan, this paper explores students' motivational profiles for pursuing a PhD at a time when that degree is increasingly decoupled from academic employment. Using self‐determination theory as a conceptual lens, the paper identifies common enrolment motivations in the PhD crisis era. Amidst the doctoral enrolment crisis in Taiwan, where the traditional employment path for PhD graduates (i.e., academia) is more of a mirage than a reality, the motivations of students to pursue a PhD do not differ much from those found in the literature concerning the era of PhD expansion. Two typical motivational profiles are predominant, one dominated by the accumulation of career advantages and the other by the search for personal growth. The findings show that the first profile tends to be on the minds of most students. The second profile tends to be adopted by those who have few career concerns or those who have a greater need for self‐improvement. We also find that these motivations have unique nuances, meanings and consequences for universities and doctoral education in the PhD crisis era. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper investigates how legislators respond to an electoral reform by adjusting their positions with respect to co‐partisans and rivals. Using cross‐sectional legislative roll calls over 20 years, we study how the dynamics of blue‐green confrontation are influenced by Taiwan's electoral reform from Single Non‐Transferable Votes (the SNTV) to Single‐Member Districts (SMD). Contrary to existing literature, our empirical evidence shows that the reform significantly fragmented legislator positions within their party and in relation to members from opposing parties, leading to an increase in contentious legislation and higher levels of both inter‐ and intra‐party distance. In the years following the reform, the political confrontation between the Kuomintang and the Democratic Progressive Party gradually diminished, eventually returning to levels seen before the reform. Moreover, our analysis reveals that the 2008 reform had heterogeneous effects on different parties, with each party displaying varying levels of resilience in response. This finding contributes to electoral system literature, providing policy implications for democratic countries contemplating electoral reforms. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The paper explores the concept of cash refund capital reductions (CRCR) in the context of firms listed on the Taiwan Stock Exchange Corporation (TSEC) and GreTai Securities Market (GTSM). CRCR is a distinct and increasingly vital financial tool used by these firms. Taiwan stands alone in adopting CRCR, making it a challenge to establish both a theoretical framework and gather empirical evidence on this subject. In this study, we examined 205 CRCR announcements made between 2002 and 2022, delving into their impact on both bull and bear markets. Our investigation reveals that the market responses to CRCR announcements were more significant during bull markets compared to bear markets. Additionally, we delve into the crucial factors influencing market responses in these varying market conditions. The findings underscore the importance for firms announcing CRCR to carefully consider the prevailing market conditions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper examines the effect of the 2008 financial crisis on Taiwan's fertility by exploiting a natural experiment in which public‐sector workers are unaffected due to job security. The financial crisis reduces the number of children by increasing the first‐birth interval, which leads to a lower probability of first birth. Women aged 33–38 experienced the largest decline in the probability of first birth, increasing the risks of permanent childlessness. Low‐income households and those with less‐educated spouses have a greater increase in the first‐birth interval. The number of children and the probability of first birth remain significantly lower 9 years after 2008. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

South Korea and Taiwan are nimble, mid‐sized economies known for their critical technological competencies in high‐tech industries like semiconductors. These industries have been crucial for their business diversification and specialisation. During the period of globalisation from the 1980s to the 2010s, both nations rapidly climbed the economic ladder. However, the emergence of US‐China trade tensions in the late 2010s disrupted the global landscape. The decoupling of high‐tech value chains in favour of inward‐oriented industrial policies presented a dilemma for semiconductor firms in Korea (e.g. Samsung Electronics) and Taiwan (e.g. TSMC). This paper provides an overview of recent changes in their semiconductor industries and discusses the concerns surrounding industrial value migration. It explores the strategic technological ventures taken by both economies to navigate this uncertain environment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The East China Sea Kuroshio (ECS‐Kuroshio) and the Ryukyu Current are the major poleward heat carriers in the North Pacific. Anomalous changes of ECS‐Kuroshio and Ryukyu Current could exert substantial influence on the climate in mid‐latitude regions. However, owing to limited observations and coarse resolution of climate models, how they might change under anthropogenic warming remains unknown. Here, we find an accelerating ECS‐Kuroshio (1.5 Sv) and a decelerating (−2.2 Sv) Ryukyu Current using in‐situ observation during 1958–2022, equivalent to 7% strengthening and 20% weakening in the 65 years. The trend is also simulated by four high‐resolution climate models, with multi‐model ensemble‐mean acceleration (deceleration) of the ECS‐Kuroshio (Ryukyu Current) of 1.2 ± 0.6 Sv (−6.2 ± 2.5 Sv) over 1950–2050. The weakening subtropical wind field reduces their summed transport o. Enhanced stratification, which induces uplift of current system and weaker topography‐flow interaction, leads to the intensifying ECS‐Kuroshio and disappearing Ryukyu Current. Plain Language Summary: The East China Sea Kuroshio (ECS‐Kuroshio) and the Ryukyu Current are the major components of western boundary current (WBC) system in the North Pacific. They transport large amount of heat poleward, maintaining the mid‐latitude region warm and habitable. In this study, we find that in both observation and high‐resolution numerical models, the ECS‐Kuroshio is intensifying and the Ryukyu Current is rapidly declining. Particularly, in climate models, the Ryukyu Current is predicted to experience a 45% weakening during 1950–2050. Weakening wind field in the North Pacific tends to reduce the total transport of WBC system. The rapid weakening of the Ryukyu Current is credit to the enhanced stratification under global warming, which induces uplift of the Kuroshio east of Taiwan. Hence, less water will be blocked by bottom topography (Ilan Ridge) and bifurcates into the Ryukyu Current. Our finding highlights the needs for comprehensive studies on the local and climate effects of the evolution of the WBC system in the North Pacific. Key Points: The East China Sea Kuroshio is intensifying while the Ryukyu Current is rapidly declining in a warming climateThe change is mainly caused by enhanced stratification which induces uplift of current system and weaker topography‐flow interaction [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: We aimed to examine the factors associated with treatment outcomes in patients with Alzheimer's disease (AD) after 1 year of acetylcholinesterase inhibitors (AChEI) treatment. Method: We obtained electronic medical records from a medical center in Southern Taiwan between January 2015 and September 2021. Participants aged ≥60 who were newly diagnosed with AD and had been prescribed AChEIs were included. Cognitive assessments were performed before the AChEIs were prescribed and at the 1 year follow‐up. Cognition progressors were defined as a Mini‐Mental State Examination decline of >3 or a Clinical Dementia Rating decline of ≥1 after 1 year of AChEI treatment. The relationship between the baseline characteristics and cognitive status after follow‐up was investigated using logistic regression analysis after adjusting for potential confounders. Results: A total of 1370 patients were included in our study (mean age, 79.86 ± 8.14 years). After adjustment, the body mass index (BMI) was found to be significantly lower in the progressor group [adjusted odds ratio (AOR): 0.970, 95% confidence intervals (95% CIs): 0.943 to 0.997, P = 0.033]. The usage of antipsychotics was significantly higher in the progressor group (AOR: 1.599, 95% CIs: 1.202 to 2.202, P = 0.001). The usage of benzodiazepine receptor agonists also tended to be significantly higher in the progressor group (AOR: 1.290, 95% CIs: 0.996 to 1.697, p = 0.054). Conclusion: These results suggest that patients with AD who receive 1 year of AChEI treatment and have a lower BMI or concurrent treatment with antipsychotics and benzodiazepine receptor agonists are more likely to suffer from cognitive decline. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Tropical cyclones are often accompanied by large amount of precipitation potentially impacting stream hydrochemistry. Global warming is altering typhoon disturbance regime. Little is known about how cyclone changes, especially cyclone‐frequency reduction may affect stream hydrochemistry. In this study, we compared water and nutrient input via precipitation and output via streamflow between a frequent‐typhoon period (2013–2017), with 1.2 typhoon yr−1, and a no‐typhoon period (2018–2022) at a long‐term monitoring site, the Fushan Experimental Forest of Taiwan. Precipitation and streamflow quantities were not different between the two periods because typhoons increased the fluctuation but not the mean of monthly precipitation in the major typhoon months (July–September). Inputs of Mg2+, NO3−, and SO42− via precipitation were greater in the frequent‐typhoon period than the no‐typhoon period while inputs of other ions were not different between the two periods. Only the output of Mg2+ was different between the two periods, greater in the frequent‐typhoon period. Output/input ratio of NO3− was greater in the no‐typhoon period than the frequent‐typhoon period despite the greater input in the frequent‐typhoon period, while no differences were found for others. Increases in mineralization rates due to warming is suggested to be the cause of the greater NO3− output/input ratio during the no‐typhoon period. Relationships between stream discharge and ion export were similar between the two periods both with and without removing typhoon events. The limited variation in hydrochemistry between periods of contrasting cyclone activities suggests high resilience of the undisturbed subtropical forests to changes in cyclone frequency at the decadal scale. Plain Language Summary: Tropical cyclones often bring large quantity of rainfall through which affect stream water quantity and quality. The frequency and intensity of tropical cyclones is changing because of climate change. We examined how reduction in typhoon frequency affects nutrient cycling in a forest watershed by comparing streamwater quality and quantity between a frequent (six) typhoon period (2013–2017) and a no‐typhoon period (2018–2022) in a forest watershed in Taiwan. Surprisingly, although the typhoons brought substantial rainfall, the annual and typhoon season rainfall and streamwater were similar between the two periods. Input and output of most ions were also similar between the two periods. However, NO3− export was higher in the no‐typhoon period, possibly resulting from greater mineralization associated with warmer temperatures. Patterns of ion export in relation to streamwater were also similar between the two periods. Thus, the hydrochemistry of the undisturbed forest was resilent to changes in typhoon frequency. Key Points: A no‐typhoon period (2018–2022) was observed in Taiwan despite an average of two typhoons per year in 1958–2017Relationships between stream discharge and ion export were similar between the two periodsOutput/input ratio of NO3− was greater in the no‐typhoon period despite the greater input in the frequent‐typhoon period [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aim: Rare species make substantial contributions to coastal ecosystem functions. Functional rarity (FR) and phylogenetic rarity (PR) are important features for biodiversity conservation. This work aimed to discuss the necessity and reasonableness of conserving fish FR and PR in coastal seas. Location: China. Methods: By compiling historical fish investigation data, joint species distribution modelling (JSDM) was applied to model fish communities in coastal China Seas. Biogeographic patterns of FR and PR were explored, and the effectiveness of current MPA networks in terms of match/mismatch with the hotspots of rarity was assessed. Results: A total of 44 functionally rare species and 22 phylogenetically rare species were identified. Six of these species were both functionally and phylogenetically rare, and only one was listed as endangered on the Red List of the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN). Functional rarity hotspots covered 10.27% of the coastal areas, which geographically converged in the southern and eastern coast of Taiwan, the Yangtze River Estuary and the Yellow River Estuary. Phylogenetic rarity hotspots only covered 3.06% of the coastal areas, which were sporadically distributed in the coastal East China Sea, the Bohai Sea and the northern Yellow Sea. Current marine‐protected areas (MPAs) only represented 16.16% of the FR hotspots and 20.48% of the PR hotspots, indicating substantial mismatched areas between the MPAs and the hotspots of FR and PR. Main Conclusions: Only considering threatened species in conservation practices will omit functionally and phylogenetically rare species because FR and PR are not necessarily correlated with species threat status on the IUCN Red List. Functional rarity hotspots do not necessarily overlap with PR hotspots, and current MPAs mismatch the majority of these areas. We therefore advocate that conservation prioritization and expansion of MPA networks should account for FR and PR both at the species and site levels. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

B5G/6G networks are facing challenges in the deployment of additional base stations. However, Taiwan's four major operators have launched VoWi‐Fi calling services to maintain signal quality and coverage for customers. These services pose potential threats when users connect to untrusted Wi‐Fi networks. Therefore, the authors utilised commercial equipment to study the security of VoWi‐Fi calling services offered by Taiwan's four major telecom companies. The authors employed address resolution protocol attack methods to develop two verification attacks that bypass existing security measures: one for dropping session initiation protocol packets and the other for dropping voice call packets, both capable of circumventing current security defences. Through real‐world experiments, the authors confirmed their feasibility and assessed their potential harm. Consequently, two defence methods are proposed. The first is an anti‐attack algorithm for app and device manufacturers to detect the security of the user's calling environment. The second is a recommendation for telecom operators to implement new detection mechanisms to safeguard user rights. The cover image is based on the Case Study VoWi‐Fi security threats: Address resolution protocol attack and countermeasures by Kuan‐Chu Lu et al., https://doi.org/10.1049/ntw2.12113 [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Taiwan offers a distinctive tectonic setting as a collisional orogen, ideal for studying tectonic tremors and the slow deformation process in the mountain‐building process. Using continuous seismic data at many stations, which have become available recently, and employing the envelope correlation method, we detected ∼7,000 tremor events from 2012 to 2022, with waveform characteristics similar to tectonic tremors worldwide. Beyond the previously known tremor zone beneath the southern Central Range, where newly detected tremors align along a low‐angle thrust plane, we identified several new tremor "hotspots" spanning 200 km along the mountain belt. These hotspots are situated at the termination of the subducting slabs and around the deep (25–50 km) extension of the Central Range fault, where repeating earthquakes occur at a depth of 10–25 km. Our findings suggest a strong linkage between the tremor generation mechanism and the mountain‐building process, potentially influenced by underground fluid and temperature anomalies. Plain Language Summary: Since around 2000, tectonic tremors have been discovered worldwide as geophysical phenomena strongly related to slow deformation and fluid movement inside the Earth. While a small cluster of tremors has been identified in Taiwan, where a rapid mountain‐building process occurs, the comprehensive distribution of tremors has remained unknown. Utilizing recently released seismic network records for all of Taiwan, we have clarified a broader pattern of tremor activity, previously unknown, in the region. The tremors are distributed planarly, corresponding to the mountain‐building processes and deep underground deformation in Taiwan. Key Points: Using newly available continuous seismograms, we identified ∼7,000 tectonic tremors in TaiwanSeveral tremor hotspots spanning 200 km were newly identified along the mountain beltTremor distribution suggests planer structures that are contributing to the rapid mountain‐building process [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Wolbachia is a ubiquitous endosymbiotic bacterium that manipulates insect reproduction. A notable feature of Wolbachia is male killing (MK), whereby sons of infected females are killed during development; however, the evolutionary processes by which Wolbachia acquired the MK ability remain unclear. The tea tortrix moth Homona magnanima (Tortricidae) harbours three non‐MK Wolbachia strains (wHm‐a, wHm‐b and wHm‐c) and an MK strain wHm‐t. Although wHm‐t and wHm‐c are closely related, only wHm‐t has an MK‐associated prophage region. To understand the evolutionary processes underlying the emergence of MK wHm‐t, we examined Wolbachia infections and phenotypes in 62 tortricid species collected from 39 localities across Japan, Taiwan, Vietnam and Indonesia. PCR assays detected wHm‐c relatives in 51 species and triple infection of wHm‐a, wHm‐b and wHm‐c in 31 species. Apart from Taiwanese H. magnanima, no species exhibited the MK phenotype and were positive for the wHm‐t‐specific prophage. While wHm‐t infection was dominant in Taiwanese H. magnanima, wHm‐a, wHm‐b and wHm‐c were dominant in Japanese H. magnanima populations. These results suggest that wHm‐a, wHm‐b and wHm‐c strains descended from a common ancestor with repeated infection loss and that wHm‐t evolved from the wHm‐c acquiring MK ability in allopatric populations of H. magnanima. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aim: The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID‐19) pandemic has had a substantial effect on frontline health care workers and caused public health nurses (PHNs) to come under various forms of pressure. PHNs face high‐risk challenges in their work environment, and their professional commitment and adaptability are key concerns. The aim of this qualitative study was to describe the experiences of PHNs during the COVID‐19 outbreak. Methods/Design: Twenty PHNs who worked during the COVID‐19 outbreak were recruited from seven public health centres through posters. Data were collected through in‐depth interviews that comprised semi‐structured and open‐ended questions; subsequently, the data were analysed through content analysis. Results: Three themes emerged from the study findings, namely (1) the disorderliness of COVID‐19 pandemic prevention work, (2) managing stress and fear, and (3) the establishment of a new normal. Because of the severity of the pandemic, the workload and stress associated with epidemic prevention policies continue to increase. PHNs may infect their family members and experience a sense of alienation and distance. They must also deal with irrationality and reactions in the people within their community. Conclusion: Health department directors and policymakers should provide the necessary support and assistance to frontline pandemic prevention workers to increase the efficiency of pandemic prevention efforts. Patient or Public Contribution: The participants agreed to participate in the qualitative study during the study period. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To promote maternal and infant health, there is a need to optimise the dietary pattern of pregnant women to reduce perinatal depression. This prospective cohort study was conducted from June 2020 to February 2022, 300 women from a medical center were interviewed during late pregnancy and at 4–6 weeks postpartum. Dietary patterns were derived by factor analysis using a semiquantitative food frequency questionnaire. Symptomatic depression was defined using the Edinburgh Postpartum Depression Scale (EPDS, ranged 0–30). Their dairy, vegetable and fruit intakes were below the Taiwanese recommendations for pregnant women. Symptomatic depression (EPDS ≥10) affected 31.3% in the third trimester and 35.7% postpartum. Pre‐ and post‐EPDS scores were positively correlated (r = 0.386, p < 0.001). Approximately 55% of those depressed before delivery were also depressed postpartum. For late pregnancy, four dietary patterns were identified ('Good oil', 'Vegetables and fruits', 'Omnivorous' and 'Refined‐grain and organ meats'). Dietary patterns were classified according to quartiles (Q). Higher omnivorous pattern scores reduced the risk of depression. For prenatal depression, with Q1 as a reference, the risk was reduced by 38% for Q2, 43% for Q3 and 59% for Q4 (p for trend = 0.068). These findings became evident postpartum (reduced risk by 68% for Q2, 69% for Q3 and 70% for Q4 (p = 0.031; p for trend = 0.0032). The association between dietary patterns and depression encourages the routine nutritional management of pregnant women. Key messages: Perinatal women have a higher prevalence of symptomatic depression, and more than half of women with antenatal depression also have postpartum depression.Pregnant women often face challenges in trying to achieve a healthy diet, as reflected in our findings on low vegetable and fruit intake.An omnivorous pattern was found to protect against symptomatic depression in late pregnancy, which persisted into the early postpartum period.Through effective nutritional counselling, paying attention to the risk of depression in perinatal women is expected to reduce women's pregnancy anxiety. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study aimed to investigate the association between the steroid use patterns and the risk of AEs in patients with primary immune thrombocytopenia (ITP). A total of 2691 newly diagnosed adults with ITP between 2011 and 2018 were identified from the National Health Insurance Research Database in Taiwan, and the date of first steroid use was defined as the index date. Post-index steroid use was calculated on a 90-day basis as a time-dependent variable and categorized by the average prednisolone-equivalent daily dose (<10 mg vs. ≥10 mg) and intensity (medication possession ratio <80% vs. ≥80%). Patients were followed up for 1 year from the index date for acute AE events, while chronic AEs were assessed until death, or end of 2019. Compared to patients with low-dose+low-intensity steroid use, those with high-dose+high-intensity steroid use were associated with a higher risk of acute AE (adjusted incident rate ratio [aIRR]: 1.57, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.38-1.78, p < 0.01) and chronic AE (aIRR: 1.26, 95% CI: 1.08-1.47, p < 0.01). Metabolic/endocrine and ophthalmologic disorders demonstrated the strongest correlation with a high dose and intensity. The joint effect of steroid dose and intensity was observed in patients with ITP, and the findings suggest that steroids should be used carefully., (© 2024 British Society for Haematology and John Wiley & Sons Ltd.)

By using the misfired missile event from Taiwan to mainland China as an exogenous shock, we identify the causal effect of potential military risk on the Chinese A‐share market. We find that the misfired missile event indeed causes a significant decline in the stock prices of Taiwan‐related A‐share firms, especially for firms that have stronger relationship with Taiwan. Further analysis shows that the increased required rate of return due to higher political uncertainty is the main driving force of the stock price decline. Our findings provide strong support for the existence of priced political risk in the stock market. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]