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This study examined the implementation of content and language integrated learning (CLIL) as a bilingual approach to a school subject at the elementary level in Taiwan. The findings show that the CLIL lessons, that is, bilingual lessons were led by the language teacher (i.e. the native English-speaking teacher in this study) and were favourably perceived by the content teachers. However, the content teachers and the language teacher were not familiar with bilingual approaches, and the instruction of the bilingual lessons was language-focused. Additionally, the bilingual lessons were disconnected from the regular curriculum of the subject. Given the findings, the author made suggestions for the implementation of bilingual curricula and bilingual teacher education, such as jointly developing bilingual curricula by the content teacher and language teacher, equipping teachers with knowledge about the underpinnings of bilingual approaches, and catering to the content teachers' needs by providing English language training.

While existing literature supports the use of smartphones to teach English vocabulary, limited studies have addressed how learned words can be transferred to college students' writing. This action research study designed pretest, treatment on mobile phones, posttest, and out-of-class pair-work, followed by a delayed posttest after three weeks to promote academic vocabulary use in writing. In the four-week treatment, academic words and collocations were designed using Quizlet units, combined with in-class writing practice. In the pair-work stage, the participants were allowed freedom to choose words they desired to learn and to exchange each other's word logs with recycling of taught vocabulary designed in the treatment. Assessment of the pretest, posttest, and the delayed posttest involved (a) a general academic vocabulary test (receptive knowledge), (b) a vocabulary test of target words (gap-filling), and (c) an in-class writing task. Results show that our mobile-assisted language learning (MALL) project helped participants remember more words after their MALL experiences and apply them in their writing; meanwhile, such improvement could be maintained. Pair work was more favored than individual work as the participants indicated a stronger preference and endorsed collaborative learning. We argue that mobile devices should be combined with new learning strategies for both in-class and out-of-class learning.

Guided notes were introduced decades ago, but there is still debate over their efficacy in improving student outcomes. The purpose of this study is to examine peer-reviewed research on guided notes for adult learners in general populations since 2009, understanding the effects of guided notes on student learning, the knowledge and content areas supported by guided notes, and the impact of modality. Results of the 22 included studies indicate that students perceive guided notes in a positive light, and guided notes improve results in certain knowledge domains especially with complex content. However, modality does not influence the efficacy of guided notes. Implications for practice in teaching and learning and recommendations for research were provided.

Background: Many gamification applications (apps) have been designed to motivate students to learn particular content. Based on the brain activation approach, the present study adapted an app, named Shaking-On, which requires students to shake their mobile devices to send their answers to multiple-choice questions to the teacher. Students then learn from their performance. Objectives: To understand how this approach can stimulate participants' emotions when achieving their learning goals, the present study compared Shaking-On to Kahoot! by checking participants' gameplay anxiety, learning interest, perceived learning value, and learning achievement while learning the Taiwanese language. Methods: The students were divided into two groups to play with one of the two apps, Shaking-On or Kahoot!, as part of a quasi-experimental study in which they used the assigned app six times in 6 weeks. Moreover, a questionnaire was distributed to participants and 151 useful responses from the Shaking-On group, and 148 from the Kahoot! group were returned. Results and Conclusions: After statistical analysis, the results of this study revealed that besides no difference in gameplay anxiety when comparing the two groups of students, there were significant differences in game interest, flow experience, perceived learning value, and learning achievement, further indicating that Shaking-On with hands-on shaking outperformed Kahoot!.

This study investigates Taiwanese university students' experience of English use, aims of learning English and attitudes toward English as a lingua franca (ELF). The notion of ELF has been researched in the field of English language teaching. However, English teaching practice targeting native-speaker (NS) norms is still prevailing in English classrooms. To better respond to learner needs of using English in the age of globalization, this study explores learners' English learning and use in relation to their attitudes toward ELF. Research methods including interviewing and questionnaire survey were employed to collect data from English majors at a university in Taiwan. The study finds that the learners were aware of the communicative value of ELF and actually used ELF in intercultural communication. The learners' use of English in context affected their attitudes toward ELF and aims of learning English. It is found that the learners preferred English conforming to NS norms; yet, they wished to learn local variation of English concerning accents and word use. In light of the findings, the author suggests that English teachers incorporate an ELF perspective into English instruction and help learners develop intercultural awareness and competencies.

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.

Purpose: The present study evaluated the applicability of the sentence-focused framework to Mandarin-speaking children with cochlear implants (CIs) by examining the relative contribution of receptive/expressive noun and verb lexicon sizes to later grammatical complexity. Method: Participants were 51 Mandarin-speaking children who received cochlear implantation before 30 months of age. At 12 months after CI activation, parents were asked to endorse words that their child could understand only or understand and say using the infant version of the Early Vocabulary Inventory. At 24 months after CI activation, parents were asked to endorse the grammatical structures that their children were able to say using the Grammatical Complexity subtest in the Mandarin Communicative Development Inventory-Taiwan. Children's receptive/expressive noun and verb lexicon sizes and grammatical complexity scores were computed from these parent checklists. Results: Correlational analyses showed that children's receptive/expressive noun and verb lexicon sizes at 12 months after CI activation were all highly correlated with their grammatical complexity scores at 24 months after CI activation (ps = .52-.63, ps < .001). Regression analyses further revealed that verb lexicon sizes at 12 months after CI activation outweighed noun lexicon sizes in accounting for grammatical complexity at 24 months after CI activation. Conclusions: Our findings supported the prediction of the sentence-focused framework. Emphasizing the role of verbs in early intervention has the potential to enhance grammatical outcomes in Mandarin-speaking children with CIs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: A fixed 10-year lead-time in composite time-trade-off (C-TTO) tasks might compromise the precision of utility values below − 1. This study explored how alternative lead-times (ALTs) influence EQ-5D-5L value sets and their implications in economic evaluations. Methods: Leveraging data from Taiwan's EQ-5D-5L valuation and capitalizing on its exploratory willingness-to-accept question, we explored participants' quantification of "worse-than-dead (WTD)" health states with ALTs up to 50 years. We then derived alternative value sets incorporating these ALTs through interval regression and compared them against those from conventional models. To evaluate their impact on health change valuation, we simulated utility differences for all possible EQ-5D-5L health-state-pairs using each value set. Results: With a salient floor effect observed in the C-TTO values, the model with ALT led to a wider range of predicted utilities (– 2.3897 ~ 1), compared with those of conventional models (generalized least squares (GLS): – 0.7773 ~ 1; Tobit-GLS: – 0.9583 ~ 1). Compared to the Tobit-GLS model, the model with ALT increased the numerical distance in 80% of health-state-pairs, with 11% decreasing and 9% altering direction (e.g., positive to negative) in utility differences. Conclusions: While ALTs offer insights into patient preferences, their integration into economic evaluations might require rescaling. Future research should prioritize advanced rescaling methods or enhanced elicitation strategies for populations with substantial censoring. This is pivotal for improving the elicitation of extreme WTD states and accurately discerning the relative distances between health states. Countries developing EQ-5D-5L value sets should consider pilot studies and incorporating region-specific questions on social determinants, especially where pronounced floor effects are suspected. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study aimed to assess the impact of preoperative chronic kidney disease (CKD) on the oncological outcomes of patients with upper tract urothelial carcinoma (UTUC) who underwent standard radical nephroureterectomy (RNU). A total of 1172 UTUC patients who received RNU at a single center in Taiwan between February 2005 and August 2019 were included. The patients were categorized into two groups based on their preoperative CKD stage: CKD stage ≤3 (811 patients) and CKD stage >3 (361 patients). The estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) was calculated using the Modification of Diet in Renal Disease (MDRD) formula. The study investigated the oncological outcomes, including intravesical recurrence, non-urothelial recurrence, and cancer-specific mortality, stratified by preoperative CKD status. The main findings indicated that UTUC patients with CKD stage >3 in Taiwan exhibited a higher proportion of females (p < 0.001), a greater history of concurrent bladder cancer (p = 0.003), more multifocal tumor behavior (p < 0.001), a higher incidence of carcinoma in situ (p = 0.008), increased rates of intravesical recurrence (p < 0.001), a lower prevalence of smoking history (p = 0.003), lower utilization of adjuvant chemotherapy (p < 0.001), reduced occurrence of non-urothelial recurrence (p < 0.001), and lower cancer-specific mortality (p = 0.006) compared to patients with CKD stage ≤3. Multivariate Cox regression analysis revealed significant differences in intravesical recurrence (p = 0.014) and non-urothelial recurrence (p = 0.006) between the CKD stage >3 and CKD stage ≤3 groups. The study also demonstrated that patients with concurrent bladder cancer and variant histology had higher rates of intravesical recurrence, non-urothelial recurrence, and cancer-specific mortality. The CKD stage >3 group exhibited lower rates of intravesical recurrence (p = 0.0014), higher rates of non-urothelial recurrence (p < 0.0001), and increased cancer-specific mortality (p = 0.0091) compared to the CKD stage ≤3 group in the 5-year free survival analysis. In Taiwan, UTUC patients with CKD stage >3 exhibit distinct characteristics compared to the general population with urothelial carcinoma. They are associated with a non-smoking status, a higher proportion of females, and less aggressive pathological features. Additionally, CKD stage >3 can serve as a clinical indicator for intravesical and non-urothelial recurrence. Further investigation into molecular aspects and treatment modifications for these patients is warranted. [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]

Aim: To evaluate real‐world abatacept retention and clinical outcomes in patients with rheumatoid arthritis in Taiwan. Methods: This prospective, observational study enrolled patients with rheumatoid arthritis aged ≥20 years who received abatacept in real‐world practice. The primary endpoint was the abatacept retention rate at 24 months. Patients were categorized into subgroups based on abatacept treatment status and previous biological disease‐modifying antirheumatic drug (bDMARD) therapy. Risk factors affecting abatacept retention were determined by regression analysis. Results: A total of 212 patients were enrolled. The overall abatacept retention rate at 24 months among all patients was 59.9% (95% confidence interval 53.0%–66.6%). Patients who were ongoing users of abatacept and bDMARD‐naïve had the highest retention rate (76.3%); of these, 31.6% achieved low disease activity or remission after 2 years. Previous treatment with bDMARDs was associated with an increased risk of abatacept discontinuation (hazard ratio 1.99; p =.002). The most common reasons for abatacept discontinuation were drug switch (11.3%) and loss to follow‐up (6.1%). Abatacept was well‐tolerated with no new safety signals. Conclusion: The 24‐month retention rate of abatacept was 59.9%; abatacept was associated with improved clinical outcomes and was well‐tolerated in the real‐world setting in Taiwan. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Biotic exchanges between Taiwan and Mainland China have shaped the biodiversity and ecosystems of both regions. Exchanges from Mainland China to Taiwan have received more attention, mainly studied in terrestrial vertebrates, while the reverse direction and invertebrates have largely been overlooked. Here, we explore the dispersal events between these two regions based on the moths of three species groups of Obeidia, including Taiwan taxa and its relatives from mainland. We conducted mixed methods and analysis, including reconstructing a phylogenetic tree, estimating associated divergence times and inferring ancestral areas and source regions, to explore the phylogeographical structure and genetic pattern of three groups based on eight genes. Our results revealed a structure of three clades and every clade included at least one Taiwanese taxa and its closest relatives of mainland of China, and also served Taiwan as an important source region of two mainland taxa. Our study revealed various origin pattern and dispersal models on the basis of three species groups of Obeidia. Bi‐directional biotic exchange via a land bridge were found: four Taiwanese taxa originated from mainland, and two of them migrated back to mainland. Both eastern Himalayas and south China are important origin areas for Taiwan biota, and the dominant source region may need multiple insect cases to confirm. Our study also provided evidences for disjunct distribution from the perspective of insecta molecular phylogeny. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Simple Summary: The study examined the relationship between Human Papillomavirus (HPV) and various types of skin cancer, including squamous cell carcinoma, basal cell carcinoma, and melanoma. It aimed to assess how HPV influenced the likelihood of developing these cancers, considering factors such as age, gender, urbanization, and existing health conditions. Through statistical models, the research quantified the risk of skin cancer in individuals with HPV compared to those without, underscoring how behaviors related to sun exposure and protection practices could alter these risks. The findings were crucial for guiding prevention and treatment strategies and were of significant interest to medical professionals and public health policymakers. Overall, the study enhanced our understanding of the risks associated with HPV, potentially leading to more effective health interventions. Human papillomavirus (HPV) has been implicated in various cancers, including those affecting the skin. The study assessed the long-term risk of skin cancer associated with HPV infection in Taiwan region, using data from the National Health Insurance Research Database between 2007 and 2015. Our analysis revealed a significant increase in skin cancer risk among those with HPV, particularly for squamous cell carcinoma (SCC), the subtype with the highest observed adjusted hazard ratio (aHR) = 5.97, 95% CI: 4.96–7.19). The overall aHR for HPV-related skin cancer was 5.22 (95% CI: 4.70–5.80), indicating a notably higher risk in the HPV-positive group. The risk of skin cancer was further stratified by type, with basal cell carcinoma (aHR = 4.88, 95% CI: 4.14–5.74), and melanoma (aHR = 4.36, 95% CI: 2.76–6.89) also showing significant associations with HPV. The study also highlighted regional variations, with increased risks in southern Taiwan and the Kaohsiung-Pingtung area. Key findings emphasize the importance of sun protection, particularly in regions of high UV exposure and among individuals in high-risk occupations. This research contributes to a better understanding of the complex interactions between HPV and skin cancer risk, reinforcing the importance of preventive strategies in public health. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper complicates the classic security dilemma by considering the notions of ontological security and relational deterrence. It studies how the ontological security dilemma has emerged between the US, China, and Taiwan from the relational perspective and how these spiral chains will further develop in the future. The paper incurs the literature on relational analysis to expound on how different ontological security concerns allude to relational deterrence between the three actors. Taiwan's separatism is more of a threat to China's relational self than to physical security because the separatist does not belong to any already agreed relationship. A geometric model and a few simulations yield three unconventional findings. 1) The less advantaged the US military is over China, the less likely armed unification will occur. 2) The US anti-Chinese tendency is irrelevant in determining the probability of armed unification. 3) What may escalate the spiral are China's anti-Taiwan independence and Taiwan's anti-unification. Case sensitivity indicates the ontological sensibilities of a security dilemma. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Individuals with shoulder impingement syndrome (SIS) exhibit changes in corticospinal excitability, scapular kinematics, and scapular muscle-activation patterns. To restore the scapular kinematics and muscle-activation patterns in individuals with SIS, treatment protocols usually include scapula-focused exercises, such as scapular-orientation and strength training. To investigate whether scapular-orientation and strength training can reverse the altered corticospinal excitability of recreational overhead athletes with SIS. Randomized controlled clinical trial. University laboratory. Forty-one recreational overhead athletes with SIS: 20 in the scapular-orientation group (age = 26.45 ± 4.13 years, height = 171.85 ± 7.88 cm, mass = 66.70 ± 10.68 kg) and 21 in the strengthening group (age = 26.43 ± 5.55 years, height = 171.62 ± 5.87 cm, mass = 68.67 ± 10.18 kg). Both groups performed a 30-minute training protocol consisting of 3 exercises to strengthen the lower trapezius (LT) and serratus anterior muscles without overactivating the upper trapezius muscles. Participants in the scapular-orientation group were instructed to consciously activate their scapular muscles with electromyographic biofeedback and cues, whereas the strengthening group did not receive biofeedback or cues for scapular motion. Corticospinal excitability was assessed using transcranial magnetic stimulation. Scapular kinematics and muscle activation during arm elevation were also measured. After training, both groups demonstrated an increase in motor-evoked potentials in the LT (P =.004) and increases in scapular upward rotation (P =.03), LT activation (P <.001), and serratus anterior activation (P <.001) during arm elevation. Moreover, the scapular-orientation group showed higher LT activation levels during arm elevation after training than the strengthening group (P =.03). With or without biofeedback and cues, scapula-focused exercises improved scapular control and increased corticospinal excitability. Adding biofeedback and cues for scapular control during exercise helped facilitate greater LT activation, so feedback and cues are recommended during scapula-focused training. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The purpose of this study was to investigate the relationship among Taiwanese high school students' learning style, sense of presence, cognitive load, and affective and cognitive learning outcomes in an immersive virtual reality-based learning environment. This study used a teaching experiment intervention method. Seventy-seven students participated in the virtual reality-based learning environment and completed related scales and a test. This study found that although the students' learning style does not influence learning outcomes, it may influence the subjective sense of presence and cognitive load in the learning process. Regarding the affective learning outcome, involvement/immersion, sensory fidelity, and mental effort are positive predictors. In addition, involvement/immersion, interface quality, mental load, and mental effort are negative predictors of cognitive learning outcomes. The conclusion from this study is that students with some learning style preferences must bear a greater cognitive load to achieve the same learning outcomes as other students. This study also points out that the components of sense of presence and cognitive load generate inconsistent predictive effects on affective and cognitive learning outcomes, respectively. Therefore, it is important to deeply explore the influence of sense of presence and cognitive load structure on learning in virtual environments.

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.

This longitudinal study examines change in maternal interaction strategies in Taiwanese mothers across time, and the synchronic and diachronic relationships between maternal interaction strategies and children's language and early literacy skills. Forty-two mother-child dyads participated in this study. Their interactions during joint book-reading were tape-recorded, transcribed, and analyzed when the children were fourteen, twenty-six, and thirty-six months of age. The children received a battery of language and early literacy tests when they were thirty-six months old. Findings showed that Taiwanese mothers adjusted their use of interaction strategies as their children grew. Maternal use of description, performance, prediction inference, and print-related talk were positively correlated with their children's language and literacy skills. Significant negative correlations were found between use of task-behavioral regulation strategy and text reading in mothers and their children's language performance. This study suggests that age-appropriate interaction strategies are important for children's language and early literacy development.

This study explored students' learning behavior before and after participating in an introduction to learning how to learn. This four-week intervention included the Massive Open Online Course "Learning How to Learn," further discussions on the content of this MOOC, and hands-on practice using learning platforms. Its purpose was to investigate whether any changes in learning behavior remain observable during the next semester and whether proficiency in the target language would be significantly higher than in a control group. Analyses of students' questionnaires before the intervention and at the end of the second semester, observations of students' study behavior during the second semester, and students' academic performances during the two semesters were collected. At the end of the study period, students of the experimental group reported cramming less, using more learning techniques, redoing exercises with answers covered, and spacing repetitions more often instead of massing. Students' online study behavior verified their answers to the questionnaire and showed a more efficient use of the learning platforms. Students also benefited from this intervention by scoring higher in the final proficiency test of the second semester.

Linking literacies as a teaching approach has been perceived by language educators as natural and necessary (Dodson 2002; Hinkel 2006). Nevertheless, the literature has not documented much regarding how to adopt this approach in English classes, especially in EFL contexts. The present study was thus conducted to examine how EFL learners perceive a project work, which foregrounds productive skills (writing and speaking) and backgrounds receptive skills (reading and listening). In particular, the researcher intended to investigate which tasks in the skill-integration process would benefit these learners. The study was implemented at a university in central Taiwan. Two high-level English classes, one comprised of Creative Design/Science majors and the other of Social Science majors, participated in this study. The students in each class formed groups to work on an English play project. This project required every group to complete these tasks: revisiting the news stories they had reported, adapting at least one self-selected story to compose a play outline, drafting a play based on the instructor's feedback, revising the draft according to the instructor's advice, reading the scripts to the instructor, and performing the English play in class. At the end of the semester, the instructor conducted a survey to examine how her students perceived the above tasks and then analyzed the students' responses quantitatively and qualitatively. The results show the students in the two classes held different perceptions of news story selection and play outlines; however, the majority of them seemed to consider drafting, revision, performance and, in particular, scripts reading helpful to improve their English proficiency.

In the traditional instructional method used in international trade, teachers provide knowledge to learners by lecturing using slides and setting assignments; however, these methods merely deliver international trade knowledge rather than facilitating student development of relevant skills. To solve these problems, we proposed a simulation-based learning system for international trade, combining international trade-process simulation and business letter writing. We investigated learner opinions toward the system and the quality of business letters by using quantitative and qualitative analyses. Regarding the results, learners perceived that the proposed system improved their knowledge of international trade and business English.

This study aims to explore the Native English-Speaking Teacher (NEST) Program in relation to teachers' instruction and students' learning of English in primary schools in Taiwan. Inviting native English-speakers to teach English in the school system is not an unusual practice in the Asia-Pacific region. As the practice of including NESTs in the school system has become prevalent in Taiwan, alongside other Asian countries, its significance cannot be overlooked. It is worthwhile to look into the impact of NEST programs on local English teachers and students in context. Through interviewing, class observation and questionnaire, this study finds that the NEST Program in Taiwan did not have a considerable impact on teachers' instruction, whereas its effect on teachers' professional development was mainly concerning English language proficiency. As for students' learning, the NESTs in the Program served as a language model in the classroom and were able to arouse students' motivation at the beginning of the school year. Nevertheless, the teachers and the students had unfavorable perceptions of the NESTs due to their unexpected leave without notice. In light of the research findings, the author makes suggestions on the NEST Program.

The purpose of this study was to determine the influence of problem-based learning (PBL) on skill development and learning effectiveness in physical education. One university physical education class was taught using the PBL method, and a second class received traditional instruction. Before and after the teaching experiment, the students were administered a badminton skills test and a learning motivation questionnaire. Differences between the groups were determined using the t test and analysis of covariance. After the teaching intervention, the mean badminton performance and learning motivation scores of the experimental group were higher than those of the control group, with the difference being significant among students at a low ability level. The PBL method facilitates skill development and increases learning motivation by providing students with opportunities to interact with and help one another. From the findings of this study, we recommend incorporating PBL into physical education instruction.

Background: Thrombosis with thrombocytopenia syndrome (TTS) is a very rare prothrombotic disorder that is a safety concern for some COVID-19 vaccines. We aimed to devise a case definition to estimate the incidence of thrombosis with thrombocytopenia as a proxy for TTS in a national insurance claims database. Methods: We conducted a retrospective observational study using the National Health Insurance Research Database (NHIRD) in Taiwan over the three-year period prior to the SARS-COV-2 pandemic (2017–2019). Our case definition was all patients with newly diagnosed thrombosis co-occurring with a diagnosis of thrombocytopenia within seven days before or after the thrombosis diagnosis. Cases were identified using International Classification of Disease-10 codes. Findings: We identified 2010 patients with newly diagnosed thrombosis co-occurring with thrombocytopenia during the study period. The mean age was 64.71 years; female:male ratio 1:1.45. The most frequent thrombotic events were coronary artery disease (18.81%), cerebral infarction (16.87%), and disseminated intravascular coagulation (13.13%). Cerebral venous sinus thrombosis was rare (<0.1%). The average annual incidence rate of co-occurring new diagnoses of thrombosis and thrombocytopenia was 2.84 per 100 000 population. Incidence rates were higher in men than women, except in 20–39 year-olds (higher in females). 20.6% of patients died within the first month after diagnosis. Interpretation: We observed that the demographic and clinical characteristics of thrombosis with co-occurring thrombocytopenia using our case definition is different from that of TTS. Further research is needed to refine the case definition of TTS in the post-COVID-19 vaccination period. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article discusses the use of ultrafast photoemission spectroscopy and photon engineering techniques in the study of quantum materials. These techniques allow scientists to observe the development of electronic band structures and their occupancy over time, providing insights into non-equilibrium characteristics. The National Synchrotron Radiation Research Center in Taiwan is working on enhancing time-resolved spectroscopic methodologies, including the development of a time-resolved photoemission spectroscopy system and a time-resolved angle-resolved photoemission spectroscopy system. These systems aim to deepen our understanding of the electronic and dynamic characteristics of substances and their relationship with fundamental physical attributes. The article highlights the design and specifications of the Tr-ARPES setup, including the laser source, optics, and photon flux generation. The system offers high energy and temporal resolution, making it a powerful tool for studying quantum materials and driving innovation in various scientific and technological fields. [Extracted from the article]

Background: Climate change is expected to alter the factors that drive changes in adaptive variation. This is especially true for species with long life spans and limited dispersal capabilities. Rapid climate changes may disrupt the migration of beneficial genetic variations, making it challenging for them to keep up with changing environments. Understanding adaptive genetic variations in tree species is crucial for conservation and effective forest management. Our study used landscape genomic analyses and phenotypic traits from a thorough sampling across the entire range of Quercus longinux, an oak species native to Taiwan, to investigate the signals of adaptation within this species. Results: Using ecological data, phenotypic traits, and 1,933 single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) from 205 individuals, we classified three genetic groups, which were also phenotypically and ecologically divergent. Thirty-five genes related to drought and freeze resistance displayed signatures of natural selection. The adaptive variation was driven by diverse environmental pressures such as low spring precipitation, low annual temperature, and soil grid sizes. Using linear-regression-based methods, we identified isolation by environment (IBE) as the optimal model for adaptive SNPs. Redundancy analysis (RDA) further revealed a substantial joint influence of demography, geology, and environments, suggesting a covariation between environmental gradients and colonization history. Lastly, we utilized adaptive signals to estimate the genetic offset for each individual under diverse climate change scenarios. The required genetic changes and migration distance are larger in severe climates. Our prediction also reveals potential threats to edge populations in northern and southeastern Taiwan due to escalating temperatures and precipitation reallocation. Conclusions: We demonstrate the intricate influence of ecological heterogeneity on genetic and phenotypic adaptation of an oak species. The adaptation is also driven by some rarely studied environmental factors, including wind speed and soil features. Furthermore, the genetic offset analysis predicted that the edge populations of Q. longinux in lower elevations might face higher risks of local extinctions under climate change. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The present study is aimed to investigate in-service bilingual teachers' perceptions of training needs in the competences and knowledge required to implement bilingual curricula in Taiwan. To this end, this study used mixed methods consisting of questionnaires and individual interviews to collect data from the intended cohort, that is, in-service teachers involved in bilingual curricula at elementary and junior high schools in Taiwan. In this study, data collection comprised questionnaire data from 76 respondents and transcripts of 15 interviews. Descriptive statistics and Grounded Theory method were employed to analyze the research data. The study revealed the differences in training needs of Taiwanese in-service bilingual teachers with regard to the school levels, teacher types, language proficiency levels, and bilingual teaching experiences. From the findings, several suggestions are made for professional development for in-service bilingual teachers in Taiwan. It is suggested that Taiwan's Ministry of Education consider the factors of teacher types and school levels when developing in-service training courses. Additionally, training on the English language needs to be re-evaluated in the professional development courses for bilingual teachers in Taiwan, in particular for English language teachers. Through this study, the author wishes to shed light on training needs of bilingual teachers in Taiwan, and accordingly, to propose suggestions on bilingual teacher training. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Simple Summary: Trismus is a common complication in oral cancer patients that may influence surgical outcomes. This retrospective matched cohort analysis examined the influence of preoperative trismus on survival outcomes in 40 male Taiwanese oral cancer patients undergoing transoral robotic surgery (TORS). Through 1:1 propensity score matching, 20 trismus patients were compared to 20 non-trismus controls. TORS demonstrated comparable short-term surgical outcomes in trismus patients compared to non-trismus patients. There were no significant differences between groups in operation time, blood loss, margin status, flap reconstruction rates, duration of nasogastric tube feeding, or length of hospital stay. Analysis of long-term oncological outcomes demonstrated similar 5-year disease-free survival between groups, indicating comparable tumor control. However, trismus patients experienced significantly poorer 5-year overall survival. After adjusting for confounders, trismus independently conferred a 13-fold higher long-term mortality risk. Ultimately, this study highlights preoperative trismus as a harbinger of non-inferior short-term surgical outcomes, but diminished long-term survival in oral cancer patients treated robotically, even among those with equivalent tumor persistence following surgery. Further research should explore mechanisms linking trismus to mortality and approaches to improve outcomes in this population. Trismus, defined as restricted mouth opening, is a common complication among Taiwanese oral cancer patients, especially those who chew betel quid. However, the impact of trismus on survival outcomes in oral cancer patients undergoing transoral robotic surgery (TORS) is unclear. This study aimed to investigate the associations between trismus and surgical outcomes in Taiwanese male oral cancer patients treated with TORS. We conducted a retrospective propensity score-matched cohort study of 40 Taiwanese male oral cancer patients who underwent TORS between 2016 and 2022. Overall, 20 patients with trismus were matched to 20 patients without trismus. TORS achieved similar operative and short-term clinical outcomes in trismus patients to non-trismus patients. There were no significant differences between groups in operation time, blood loss, margin status, flap reconstruction rates, duration of nasogastric tube feeding, or length of hospital stay. Kaplan–Meier and Cox proportional hazard regression analyses were performed to compare overall survival (OS) and disease-free survival (DFS) between the two groups. The overall survival (OS) rate at three years was significantly lower in patients with trismus than those without trismus (27.1% vs. 95.0%, log-rank p = 0.02). However, there was no significant difference in disease-free survival (DFS) rates between the trismus and non-trismus groups (36.6% vs. 62.7%, log-rank p = 0.87). After adjusting for confounders, trismus was independently associated with a 13-fold increased risk of mortality (adjusted HR 12.87, 95% CI 1.55–106.50, p < 0.05). In conclusion, trismus appears to be an independent prognostic factor for reduced long-term OS in Taiwanese male oral cancer patients undergoing TORS, though short-term surgical outcomes were non-inferior in the trismus patients. Further research is warranted to clarify the mechanisms linking trismus and survival in this population. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study attempts to explore the nature and the potential of various discourse structures and linguistic functions that may facilitate students' learning in English classes co-taught by a native English-speaking teacher (NEST) and a local English teacher in Taiwanese elementary schools. Considering the nature of the study, the author employed a case-study approach to investigate the classroom discourse. In the study, data were analyzed based on a theoretical framework combining discourse analysis schemes, systemic functional theory of language, sociocultural theory of mind and activity theory. The study reveals that repetition drills were commonly used in the classrooms in spite of the difference in the learners' levels, and the Initiating-Responding model was the dominant feature of the classroom discourse structure. The target language, i.e., English, was used by the teachers for demanding information or action, while by the students it was used for repeating and imitating. In light of the findings, the author makes suggestions on co-taught English classes of this kind, for instance, the necessity of creating interactional context for language use, encouraging individual responses from students, and using alternative discourse strategies.

This study looks into issues pertaining to the policy of including native English-speaking teachers (NESTs) in elementary schools in Taiwan, i.e., NEST programs, from the perspective of the teachers involved. Through data gathered from interviews and classroom observations, this qualitative study examines the necessity of NEST programs and reveals the challenges facing NESTs and local English teachers as they negotiate the process of working together. It shows that while a NEST program is not a centralized language teacher policy in Taiwan, its necessity remains a moot point. Moreover, working with Taiwanese homeroom teachers presented challenges to the NESTs, and the local English teachers considered that working with inexperienced NESTs presented unwanted challenges. Finally, suggestions on NEST programs are discussed. (Contains 1 note.)

This study tested a cross-level moderated mediation model depicting the dynamism of individual resource loss through sickness presenteeism precipitated by long working hours and resource gain from group-level team support and the consequent effect on turnover intention over time. Employing a two-wave survey with 4 months in between, data were obtained from 294 nurses (37 teams) working in 12 hospitals across Taiwan. The hierarchical linear modeling analyses revealed that presenteeism partially mediated the effects of working long hours on later turnover intention. Moreover, group-level team support moderated the presenteeism-turnover linkage. Specifically, the damaging effect of working while ill on heightenedturnover intention was drastically attenuated for those with high team support. Our cross-level moderated mediation model has thus identified team support as a viable resource that can alleviate the damages of working in precarious conditions and help hospitals to retain nurses. We discussed the theoretical and managerial implications of our findings in the context of resource loss and gain, especially when stress and burnout are highly prevalent for the health care professions in the postpandemic era. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Studies on the correlation between high body mass index (BMI) and extended survival among patients receiving immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) have been made, although findings have shown variability. Our research explored the phenomenon of the "obesity paradox" in patients with metastatic urothelial carcinoma (mUC) undergoing treatment with ICIs. Materials and Methods: We conducted a retrospective analysis of patients diagnosed with mUC who received a minimum of one cycle of ICI treatment at two medical centers in Taiwan from September 2015 to January 2023. Features of patients' clinicopathologic factors, including age, sex, primary or metastatic location, treatment line, and BMI were examined. The primary outcome were overall survival (OS) and progression‐free survival (PFS), which were assessed utilizing the Kaplan–Meier method. We employed the Cox‐regression model to adjust for multiple covariates. Results: A total of 215 patients were included, with 128 (59.5%) being male, and the median age was 70 years. In the obese group (BMI ≥25 kg/m2), patients demonstrated significantly better median OS compared to the non‐obese group (BMI <25 kg/m2) (21.9 vs. 8.3 months; p = 0.021). However, there was no significant difference in median PFS between the high and low BMI groups (4.7 vs. 2.8 months; p = 0.16). Post‐hoc subgroup revealed a survival benefit from ICI treatment in male patients within the BMI ≥25 kg/m2 group (HR 0.49, 95% CI 0.30–0.81, p = 0.005). Conclusion: Based on real‐world data from the Asia‐Pacific region, there appears to be a correlation between obesity and prolonged OS in patients receiving ICI treatment for mUC. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Applying education ideas and concepts to education sites, through good educational policies, to complete education tasks is important for developing personal potential. Centered on students, educational objective is to cultivate multiple talents for the future society. In such a rapidly changing era, limited knowledge is not enough to cope with challenge in future societies. In other words, the knowledge possessed presently could not solve the problems faced in the future. The nonequivalent pretest posttest control group design model is utilized in this study. Total 104 students in two classes in Chang Jung Christian University, Taiwan are experimented. The research results show (1) significant effects of exploratory education on creativity, (2) the optimal creativity promoted by exploratory education with virtual reality, (3) remarkable effects of exploratory education on leadership, and (4) the optimal leadership enhanced by exploratory education with virtual reality. Finally, suggestions are proposed according to the research results, expecting to educate students, with technology, to open the door of creativity and leadership.

In recent years, the interactive whiteboard (IWB) has been regarded as the most prominent information and communication technology auxiliary instruction device. It is touted as elevating the traditional teaching environment to a digital teaching environment because of its highly interactive features. The purpose of this study is to investigate elementary students' perceptions of their teachers' use of the different IWBs' interactive functions in class and the effect of different IWB's interactive uses on students' learning attitudes. The findings showed that teachers' use of the IWBs' basic interactive function helps students develop positive learning attitudes, including enjoyment of learning, usefulness of IWB, and willingness to learn. However, such effects from the use of the IWB's advanced interactive functions were not as clear, particularly the effects on usefulness of IWB and willingness to learn. Moreover, the students' personal experience operating the IWB had an effect on their enjoyment of learning and willingness to learn. The article concludes by offering some recommendations concerning integrating the IWB into instruction.

Background and Aim: Fecal microbiota transplantation (FMT) is used to treat recurrent or refractory Clostridioides difficile infection (CDI). In the past, screening of fecal donors required surveillance of personal behavior, medical history, and diseases that could be transmitted by the blood or fecal–oral route. In addition, the exclusion of multidrug‐resistant organisms (MDROs) has been recommended since 2018. This task has become more complicated in the era of the coronavirus disease‐2019 (COVID‐19) pandemic. To prevent fecal transmission of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS‐CoV‐2), it is crucial to commence screening for SARS‐CoV‐2, alongside other traditional tests. Our aim was to investigate whether hidden carriers of SARS‐CoV‐2 were enrolled for stool donation, and the status of the presence or incidence of MDRO during fecal donation in Taiwan. Methods: Fecal products collected from March 2019 to December 2022 were tested for MDRO and nucleic acid amplification tests for SARS‐CoV‐2 using the pooling method. The period of fecal product collection crossed the time before and during the COVID pandemic in Taiwan. Results: A total of 151 fecal samples were collected. The fecal products were tested using polymerase chain reaction (PCR) to detect SARS‐CoV‐2. The results were negative for all stocks. This was similar to the results of MDRO testing. The safety of FMT products has been guaranteed during the pandemic. Conclusion: Our FMT center produced MDRO‐free and COVID‐19‐free products before and during the COVID‐19 outbreak in Taiwan. Our protocol was effective for ensuring the safety of FMT products. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The terrain, such as Taiwan Island, have been shown to have complex effects on typhoons and the associated typhoon waves. Terrain effects change with typhoon tracks. In this study, three types of typhoon tracks (northern, middle and southern) were defined according to the relationship between the typhoon tracks and Taiwan Island. Typhoons on these three tracks and typhoon waves were simulated using the Weather Research and Forecasting–Simulating Waves Nearshore model. In each type of typhoon, a control case without the Taiwan topography was simulated to compare with real cases. The results showed that typhoons on different tracks were affected by the terrain of Taiwan Island in different ways. Taiwan Island had weakening, decelerating and deflective effects on typhoons. The ranking for the weakening effect was middle track (81%) > southern track (69%) > northern track (3%). The decelerating effect was 7% in the northern track and 25% in the southern track. The deflective effect of the terrain makes typhoons on the northern (southern) track deflect toward the south (north). When a typhoon on a middle track passed over Taiwan Island, a new center of low pressure would replace the former center and make the track discontinuous. In addition, the influence of typhoons on regions near Taiwan Island changed with the typhoon's tracks. The influence ranking of typhoons in Taiwan Island was the middle track > southern track > northern track, which was consistent with that of typhoons in the Taiwan Strait and opposite to that of typhoons in Fujian Province. The influence ranking of typhoons on the Taiwan Strait was the opposite of the typhoon intensity ranking, which suggests that the intensities of wind and waves in the strait were more related to typhoon tracks than typhoon intensity. The variations in the significant wave height were similar to those of the wind speed, but there was a time lag (2 h) between them due to the wave growth process and swells. In addition, the significant wave height distribution sometimes differed from the wind speed distribution under the influence of swells and terrain. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Based on conservation of resources (COR) theory, we tested a moderated mediation model of presenteeism. We hypothesized that heavy workload would precipitate sickness presenteeism, which would lead to elevated exhaustion and hampered job performance (mediation). We further hypothesized that proactive personality and work reward would mitigate the positive "presenteeism-exhaustion" and the negative "presenteeism-performance" relationships (moderation on the second-stage of the mediation). We conducted a two-wave panel study (with one year interval), collecting data from 218 employees working in diverse industries in Taiwan. We found significant moderating effects of proactive personality and work reward on the indirect effect of workload on job performance via presenteeism over the span of one year. Contrary to our hypotheses, workload related positively and indirectly (via presenteeism) to job performance, but only for those high in proactive personality and work reward. Although the moderating effects of proactive personality and work reward on the "workload-presenteeism-exhaustion" link were insignificant, results did support the buffering role of proactive personality on the positive relationship between presenteeism and exhaustion. Namely, this relationship was found to be positive only for employees with lower levels of proactive personality, whilst the relationship was not significant for employees higher in proactive personality. These results tentatively suggest that resources have different functions for the outcomes of presenteeism. The possibility to integrate the buffering role of resources against the deleterious effects of presenteeism with the enabling role of resources to support functional presenteeism is not only of theoretical interest, but also of important practical implications for better managing the presenteeism behaviour. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: Epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) exon 20 insertions (ex20ins) are associated with poor prognosis and resistance to traditional therapies in patients with non–small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). We aimed to elucidate the characteristics and treatment patterns to improve outcomes among this population in Taiwan. Methods: Patients with advanced or recurrent NSCLC harboring EGFR ex20ins from 2011 to 2021 were reviewed. The treatment groups were classified as platinum-based chemotherapy (PtC), EGFR tyrosine kinase inhibitor (TKI), and others. The response to therapy, objective response rate (ORR), disease control rate (DCR), overall survival (OS), progression-free survival (PFS), and factors associated with survival were analyzed. Results: Among the 71 patients, most were never-smoking males with stage IVB adenocarcinoma. The most common first-line (1L) regimen was PtC, followed by TKI. The most common second-line (2L) regimen was TKI. The median PFS of 1L treatment was 5.03 months, and the median OS was 18.43 months. Compared with that of TKI, 1L PtC use was associated with a higher ORR (26.3% vs. 9.1%) and DCR (60.5% vs. 18.2%) and a longer PFS (5.37 vs. 3.13 months, p = 0.044). PFS was also significantly longer in the 2L PtC group than in the 2L TKI group (4.73 vs. 2.25 months, p = 0.047). No patients receiving an immune checkpoint inhibitor–based regimen exhibited a therapeutic response. Conclusion: This study demonstrated the heterogeneous clinical characteristics and treatment pattern of NSCLC patients with EGFR ex20ins, underscoring the need for more effective therapies for this distinct molecular subtype. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: While the treatment guidelines have been established for pure urothelial carcinoma (pUC), patients with variant type urothelial carcinoma (vUC) face limited effective treatment options. The effectiveness of immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICI) in patients with vUC remains uncertain and necessitates additional research. Method: We conducted a retrospective, multicenter study to explore the effectiveness of ICI in patients with pUC or vUC in Taiwan. We evaluated the overall response rate (ORR) through univariate logistic regression analysis and examined the overall survival (OS) and progression-free survival (PFS) using Kaplan-Meier analysis. Additionally, we employed univariate and multivariate Cox proportional hazards models to analyze the data. Result: A total of 142 patients (116 pUC, 26 vUC) were included in our final analysis. The ORR was marginally higher in patients with pUC compared to those with vUC (34.5% vs. 23.1%, p = 0.26). Among all patients, 12.9% with pUC achieved a complete response (CR) after ICI treatment, while no vUC cases achieved CR (p = 0.05). There were no significant differences in PFS (median 3.6 months vs. 4.1 months, p = 0.34) or OS (median 16.3 months vs. 11.0 months, p = 0.24) when comparing patients with pUC or vUC. In the subgroup analysis, patients with pUC who underwent first-line ICI treatment exhibited significantly improved OS compared to those with vUC (24.6 months vs. 9.1 months, p = 0.004). Conclusion: The use of ICI as monotherapy is a feasible and effective treatment approach for patients with metastatic vUC. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study investigates a computer-assisted pronunciation training (CAPT) technique that combines oral reading with peer review to improve pronunciation of Taiwanese English major students. In addition to traditional in-class instruction, students were given a short passage every week along with a recording of the respective text, read by a native speaker. They practiced at home by listening to the recordings, reading out loud while listening, recording themselves, and comparing their recordings to the native speaker. When satisfied, they posted their own recording to an online discussion board. Every student listened to the recordings of three classmates, supplying feedback through the discussion board. Two control groups received only in-class instruction without the recording and posting assignments. Results show that the integration of the CAPT technique was superior in reducing students' pronunciation problems compared to only in-class instruction.

This article aims to study both similarities and differences in female students' creativity between Mainland China and Taiwan. As two main aspects influencing creativity, playfulness and humor are especially focused on in this comparative study. Empirical data were collected from 831 students in Mainland China and 703 students in Taiwan. Based on data analysis, we find common characteristics, gender differences, and regional differences in the creativity of female postgraduate students. The female students in both regions are less confident in their abilities in scientific research and innovative behavior than males. The female students in Mainland China are less confident in playfulness, humor, and creative life experience than their counterparts. The female students in Taiwan are more masculine than their counterparts in Mainland China.

Research Findings: This study examines the amount of attention to print paid by Taiwanese mothers and children during joint book reading over time and the relationship between the use of print referencing by Taiwanese mothers and the print concepts skills of their children measured at age 3;0. A total of 42 Taiwanese mother-child pairs from middle-class families participated in this study. Mother-child interactions during joint book reading were video recorded and analyzed when the children were 1;2, 2;2, and 3;0. The mothers' use of print referencing strategies correlated positively and significantly with children's use of print referencing both synchronically and diachronically during joint book reading. Significant positive correlations were also found between children's performance on a print concepts test at 3;0 and print referencing strategies used by their mothers when the children were 2;2 and 3;0. Practice or Policy: It is suggested that parents and preschool and kindergarten teachers increase their use of print referencing strategies when they read books to young children.

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.

This study investigates how students perceived social loafing and social interdependence influence group learning performance through group affective tone in undergraduate hospitality and tourism curricula. A questionnaire survey was administered to collect data from college students majoring hospitality and tourism management at four Taiwanese universities. Of 660 distributed questionnaires, 634 questionnaires were returned, accounted for a 96% response rate. To justify the aggregated individual data to the group level, this study used the within-group inter-rater agreement (r[subscript wg]) to assess and determine 123 valid learning groups for data analysis. The analytical results show that group affective tone significantly mediates the effect of social loafing and social interdependence on group productivity, but not on group final grades. Specific implications and suggestions are also discussed.

Cooperative learning has many pedagogical benefits. However, if the cooperative learning teams become ineffective, these benefits are lost. Accordingly, this study developed a computer-aided assessment method for identifying ineffective teams at their early stage of dysfunction by using the Mahalanobis distance metric to examine the difference between the sequential test scores of the unknown team and the test scores of a reference group of functioning teams. The effectiveness of the proposed method was verified by conducting field experiments over an 18-week engineering course in Taiwan. Forty-eight students were randomly assigned to cooperative learning teams. The students' learning performance was evaluated by means of unit tests and homework tests. The functioning of the cooperative teams was examined at seven different points during the course of the study. The ineffective teams were identified with quantified type I errors. It was found that some teams failed persistently. Such teams require some form of external intervention to remedy the group dynamics. The results also showed that teams can become ineffective at any stage of the cooperative learning process. Thus, continuous monitoring is required to ensure that appropriate remedial actions are taken in a timely manner.

This study examines a collaborative model of teaching English by native English-speaking teachers (NESTs) and local teachers in Taiwanese elementary schools. This co-teaching model (hereafter referred to as "the CT Model" or "the Model") is proposed by the author based on previous studies in this field as an attempt to improve the performance of teaching practice of this kind. Through multiple research methods, the author examines the utilization of the CT Model, the impact of the Model on the teachers and the elements of a viable co-teaching model. The study shows that the CT Model was considered well formulated, and the components included in the Model were necessary for co-teaching of English. After implementing the Model, the teachers became more aware of their teaching practice. The Model also served as a reminder for the teachers of what they could do when working with their co-teachers. The study indicates that the components of the Model were implemented differently by the teachers. Time constraints, which seem endemic to all teaching professionals, presented a challenge for the teachers when they attempted to work together by following the Model. Finally, implications for the development of plausible collaborative models of teaching English by NESTs and local teachers are discussed.

This study aims to explore a professional development program for teachers of collaborative teaching of English as a foreign language (EFL) in elementary schools in Taiwan. There have been studies of collaborative teaching of EFL by native English-speaking teachers (NESTs) and local English teachers in school systems in the Asia-Pacific region. Yet very few have explored the issues regarding professional development programs for teaching practice of this kind. The purpose of this study is threefold: (1) to explore teachers' perceptions of a professional development program organized by the author; (2) to determine the dimensions of the program that need to be improved; and (3) to define necessary elements in a possible professional development model for collaborative teaching of EFL by NESTs and local teachers. Research methods including individual interviews and a questionnaire were employed to solicit data. The study reveals that the professional development program being studied was perceived by the teachers as a context where they could share experiences and learn from fellow teachers. It also indicates that the teachers preferred professional development programs focusing on teaching skills. It is found, however, that the teachers had different needs for professional development and the modules included in a viable professional development program should reflect teachers' concerns accordingly.

Fipronil, a broad-spectrum insecticide, is widely used in agriculture and veterinary practices. Fipronil-induced neurotoxicity and potential adverse effects on humans and aquatic organisms have raised health concerns. Monitoring programs have been implemented globally to assess fipronil residues in food, including fruits, vegetables, and animal products. However, previous exposure assessments have often focused on specific food categories or subsets of items, resulting in limited insights into the overall health risks. Additionally, the large number of non-detect fipronil residues in food has introduced uncertainties in exposure assessment. To address these issues, a probabilistic exposure assessment and dose-response analysis were adopted in this study, considering the sample distribution below the detection limit to better characterize uncertainties and population variability in health risk assessments. The estimated fipronil exposure to the general public ranges from 6.38 × 10−6 ± 0.00017 mg/kg/day to 9.83 × 10−6 ± 0.00034 mg/kg/day. Only one out of 200,000 simulated individuals had a fipronil dose exceeding the probabilistic reference dose (0.048 mg/kg/day, pRfD), which aims to protect 99% of the population with effects less than 10% extra risk. By incorporating uncertainties in exposure and dose-response data, a more comprehensive understanding of the health risks associated with fipronil exposure in the Taiwanese population has been achieved. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Radiofrequency ablation (RFA) is a minimally invasive management strategy that has been widely applied for benign and recurrent malignant thyroid lesions as an alternative to surgery in Taiwan. Members of academic societies for specialists in interventional radiology, endocrinology, and endocrine surgery collaborated to develop the first consensus regarding thyroid RFA in Taiwan. The modified Delphi method was used to reach a consensus. Based on a comprehensive review of recent and valuable literature and expert opinions, the recommendations included indications, pre-procedural evaluations, procedural techniques, post-procedural monitoring, efficacy, and safety, providing a comprehensive review of the application of RFA. The consensus effectively consolidates advice regarding thyroid RFA in clinical practice for local experts. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the limited space of this short reflection, I trace a few instances of Professor Yingjin Zhang's scholarship during the last decade and a half of his life, focusing on his contributions to our understanding of contemporary Chinese independent documentary, Taiyu films from 1960s Taiwan, playfulness in Chinese cultural production, and the relationship between self and other and politics and poetics. My choice to focus on four articles dating from 2007 to 2019 has much to do with my own scholarly interest. Zhang's insights in these studies are truly inspirational for my current preoccupation with understanding the Dutch filmmaker Joris Ivens and his generation of interwar international avant-gardes and their contemporary transformations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]