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Storytelling is a well-established literary practice in language classrooms. However, approaches influencing its effectiveness and efficiency have rarely been investigated. This study compared the effects of three storytelling approaches on the vocabulary acquisition and response patterns of third-grade students of English as a foreign language (EFL). The storytelling approaches we considered are commonly used in schools, including storytelling alone (S), storytelling with word focus (S+W), and storytelling with activities (S+A). Our research comprised a three-week pilot study and a nine-week main study. For both studies, a pretest-posttest design involving a delayed test was used. Video recordings were also captured to facilitate the categorization of in-class response patterns. Results indicated that storytelling alone achieved the best performance. Vocabulary improvement with word focus or follow-up activities faded over the long term. The groups (S and S+W) which heard more stories generated more responses based on their own knowledge and life experience (as opposed to simply recalling facts) than did the group which completed more supplementary activities (S+A). This article provides both pedagogical implications and invitations for future empirical research.

In recent years, initiatives and the resulting application of precision education have been applied with increasing frequency in Taiwan; the accompanying discourse has focused on identifying potential applications for artificial intelligence and how to use learning analytics to improve teaching quality and learning outcomes. This study used the established dropout risk prediction model to improve student learning effectiveness. The model was based on the academic portfolios of past students and built with statistical learning and deep learning methods. This study used this model to predict the dropout risk of 2205 freshmen enrolled in the fall semester of 2018 (graduated in June 2022) in the field of sustainable education. A total of 176 students with a dropout risk of more than 20% were considered high-risk students. After tracking and the appropriate guidance, the dropout risk of 91 students fell from > 20% to < 20%. To discuss the results from the perspective of gender and financial disadvantages, the improvement rate of the dropout risk for male students was 10.2% better than that of female students at 2.9%. The improvement rate in dropout risk for students with disadvantageous financial situations was as high as 12.0%, surpassing the 5.9% rate among general students. Overall, the dropout rate in the second year of the 2018 freshman cohort was lower than that of the 2016 and 2017 freshman cohorts. A predictive model established by statistical learning and deep learning methods was used as a tool to promote precision education, accurately and efficiently identifying students who are having difficulty learning, as well as leading to a better understanding of AI (artificial intelligence) in smart learning for sustainable education.

This study integrated environmental issues as the initial problem to explore the process of problem-solving of high school students and proposes the concept of environmental problem-solving (EPS) to probe the interaction between high school students' scientific performance and EPS strategies. There were 139 high school students in Taiwan who participated in this study. Participants were required to complete the "Environmental Literacy Scale," "Environmental Scientific Achievement Questionnaire," and "Environmental Problem-Solving Process Questionnaire." The result showed that the students with higher scores in environmental scientific achievement got higher scores in the EPS process as well. However, the students with higher scores in environmental literacy were able to proffer better EPS strategies, analyze EPS solutions incisively, and present multiple plans. Further discussion is provided.

The paper examines the role of organizational commercial slack (OCS) in mediating the relationship between entrepreneurial orientation (EO) and the effectiveness of knowledge transfer (KT) in universities. The paper identifies two types of commercial slack in the university setting: financial and promotional. Four research hypotheses are proposed. Pooled data, that is, a combination of a questionnaire survey of 110 Taiwanese universities with a data set of university KT effectiveness from the Ministry of Education, Taiwan, are collected to test the aforementioned research hypotheses. The empirical results indicate that the EO of a university enables the university to provide appropriate OCS. Furthermore, the commercial slack of a university positively mediates the relationship between EO and KT effectiveness. The paper concludes that developing EO and OCS are crucial for improving the KT effectiveness of a university. Moreover, some managerial and policy implications for promoting EO and OCS in universities are suggested.

This study investigated university students' attitudes towards learning English vocabulary through collaborative group work (GW) versus individual work (IW) while performing vocabulary-focused tasks following reading comprehension. The second year, non-English major, Taiwanese students (N = 44) worked either in mixed ability groups of 3-4 or alone. The same students were exposed to the two treatments: classroom intervention was conducted with alternating sessions (one-week IW, one-week GW) for 12 weeks with accompanying tests of vocabulary learning. Attitude questionnaires (44 students) were administered before the classroom intervention and again after, together with interviews (24 students). Results showed that students increased in favourable attitude to IW more than to GW over the study period, even though their actual vocabulary learning improved more with GW. Nevertheless, by the end they did report GW as less stressful than IW and as providing better support and enabling more efficient work on the tasks, with greater likelihood of correct information being obtained. The findings suggest that enhancing students' vocabulary learning through GW was valuable despite student perceptions of it not being unambiguously favourable, and the use of GW in university English classes needs to be encouraged, albeit with continuity of group membership over time.

This study explores the impact of an action-oriented environmental education course on students' environmental awareness, with 53 college students divided into experimental (N = 27) and control (N = 26) groups. Both groups participated in similar learning activities; however, the experimental group further recorded the amount of waste discharged into the environment by people around them for one and a half months (2 days/week). Students in the experimental group showed a significant difference in six of seven environmental awareness dimensions after this course. These results confirm that an action-oriented environmental education course has a positive effect on changing an individual's awareness of the environment.

This study investigated the effectiveness of group work (GW) in EFL vocabulary learning by second year, non-English major, university students in Taiwan, in comparison with working individually (IW). The students (N = 44) worked in mixed ability groups of 3-4 or in IW to complete vocabulary exercises following reading activities. The classroom intervention followed a repeated measures design with alternating sessions (one week IW, one week GW) for 12 weeks. In order to measure students' word knowledge gains, the modified vocabulary knowledge scale was used in pre-, post- and delayed-post tests, and the scores from the tests were analyzed with paired "t" tests. Qualitative information about vocabulary discovery and retention was further obtained from interviews with 24 students conducted after the classroom intervention. Results showed that students' overall improvement in vocabulary knowledge with group work was significantly higher than that with individual work on immediate post-tests, though both treatments had a beneficial effect. Later retention of word knowledge after GW was only 2% higher than that with IW. Interpretations and implications of these findings are discussed.

This research used a quasiexperimental method to explore whether integrating Science Magic (SM) into 5E Learning Cycle (5ELC) in the development of teaching materials for a friction unit would impact students' learning outcomes and attitudes toward science. A total of 68 eighth-grade students were divided into experimental and control groups. The experimental group was taught using teaching materials and methods developed using the SM-based 5ELC, while the control group adhered solely to textbook-based materials, which were also based on the 5ELC but did not involve SM activities. Two major findings were obtained in this research. First, learning effects for the experimental group were significantly higher than the control group, especially in relation to characteristics of static friction, factors that affect friction, and relationships between frictional and normal force. Second, the experimental group showed significant improvements in their attitudes toward science when juxtaposed with the control group.

This study aimed to determine how the learning stimulation and intrinsic motivation of students affect their culture sharing in volunteering via general altruism and intention. Stratified random sampling was used, and 850 invitation questionnaires were sent to participants, of whom 264 returned valid questionnaires (return rate, 31.06%), which were analyzed with the partial least squares method. It was found that students' intrinsic motivation for overseas volunteering increases their understanding of global issues. Thus, schools or organizations should develop a mechanism for volunteering students to interact with others within a professional virtual community in order to enhance their volunteering experience and inspire their continuous learning from overseas volunteering.

The issue of phrasal verb learning has caused much discussion and attracted vigorous investigation. Inspired by the theory of conceptual metaphor, a pedagogical experiment was conducted to investigate whether an approach focussing on sense extension of particle "out" in terms of conceptual metaphors can enhance the learning of phrasal verbs containing "out." One control group was instructed with general reading materials embedded with various phrasal verbs, and two experimental groups with self-constructed lessons, in which six sense types of "out" were identified and corresponding phrasal verbs were selected, and in addition, an L1 lexical item was employed to illustrate the mechanism of metaphorical extension for one experimental group. The result showed that learners receiving a cognitive inspired approach to instruction achieved significantly better learning outcomes than those receiving the traditional approach, not only on taught items but also on untaught items. However, the use of L1 lexical items to illustrate sense extension was not as effective as expected in boosting the learning of "out-phrasal verbs." It was concluded by discussing the benefit of the proposed approach to phrasal verb instruction and, more importantly, the need of teaching materials providing more profound understanding of phrasal verbs so as to facilitate phrasal verb learning.

This article examines sulfur manufacturing and refining methods in the early modern Chinese borderlands in the context of global trade and tribute networks. The increasing demands for high-quality sulfur, crucial for gunpowder and mineral drugs, facilitated the further development of sulfur-production and -refining techniques. Constrained by limited local sulfur deposits, sulfur production in China proper relied primarily on domestic pyrite ores or pyritic nodules in coal mines, alongside imports from the Ryukyu Islands. This article focuses on case studies of various local practices in the natural sulfuric hot springs region of China's borderlands, particularly in Yunnan and Taiwan from the sixteenth to the twentieth centuries. It examines alternative methods of sulfur manufacturing that utilized geothermal resources at hot springs for various local and regional military and medical demands in global contexts. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Simple Summary: Germline and somatic deficiencies of mismatch repair proteins (MMRd) are related to colorectal and endometrial cancers, but the survival impact in Asian patients remains unclear. We investigated the prevalence and outcomes of patients with germline and/or somatic MMRd. Germline and somatic MMRd were determined by gene sequencing and protein staining of tumor samples, respectively. We found that colorectal and endometrial cancer patients with germline MMRd have favorable survival outcomes compared to those without, regardless of somatic MMRd status. These findings highlight the importance of germline genetic testing when tumor MMRd is detected. Germline (Lynch syndrome, LS) and somatic deficiencies of mismatch repair proteins (MMRd) are linked to colorectal and endometrial cancer; however, their prognostic impact in Asian populations remains unclear. This prospective cohort study aimed to determine the prevalence and outcome of germline and somatic MMRd in cancer patients suspected of LS. Patients with colorectal or endometrial cancer suspected of LS were enrolled and underwent gene sequencing for germline MMRd (gMMRd) and immunohistochemistry staining of MMR proteins in a subset of the pathological samples (pMMRd). Among the 451 enrolled patients, 36 patients were gMMRd (+). Compared with gMMRd (−) patients, the 10-year relapse-free survival in gMMRd (+) patients was significantly higher (100% vs. 77.9%; p = 0.006), whereas the 10-year overall survival was similar (100% vs. 90.9%; p = 0.12). Among the 102 gMMRd (−) patients with available pMMR status, 13.7% were pMMRd (+). The 5-year relapse-free survival was 62.9% in gMMRd (−) pMMRd (+) patients and 35.0% in gMMRd (−) pMMRd (−) patients, both lower than gMMRd (+) patients (100%; p < 0.001). This study showed that having LS confers a favorable outcome in colorectal and endometrial cancer patients and highlights the importance of germline genetic testing following the detection of somatic MMRd. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We investigate consumers' attitudes and behaviours when receiving customised website advertising, the effect of their psychological beings and content of advertising messages, using a 2 (customisation: customised vs non-customised) × 2 (product attributes: utilitarian vs hedonic) × 2 (self-esteem: high vs low) experiment on 240 participants, aged 16–34 living in Taiwan, to explain their effects on advertising effectiveness and the mediating role of advertising value. High self-esteem consumers have a more favourable attitude and behaviour when receiving a customised ad. For low self-esteem consumers, the customised ad effectively influences purchase intention. In the non-customised advertising condition, a hedonic product attribute fosters greater purchase intention. High self-esteem consumers have a stronger purchase intention when receiving the hedonic product attribute in the non-customised ad condition. Furthermore, customisation influences attitude and purchase intention. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The purpose of this study was to explore the learning performance of sixth grade elementary school students using newspapers in science teaching. A quasi-experimental design with a single group was used in this study. Thirty-three sixth grade elementary school students participated in this study. The research instruments consisted of three questionnaires, a "Learning Attitude toward Newspapers in Education Scale" (29 items, Cronbach's a = 0.90), a "Science Reading Attitude Scale" (15 items, Cronbach's a = 0.93), and an "Attitude toward Science Scale" (27 items, Cronbach's a = 0.92). All three questionnaires have good reliabilities. Furthermore, the validity of these questionnaires has been confirmed by three science educators. The results showed that the use of newspapers in education and multiple instructional strategies can (1) effectively enhance the sixth graders' learning attitudes towards the use of newspapers in science education and enhance their reading of science articles and involvement in science experiments; (2) effectively promote the sixth graders' attitudes toward science reading and enhance their science reading understanding; and (3) enhance the sixth graders' performance in scientific attitudes and significantly strengthen their science learning and interest. The research results showed that the use of newspapers in science teaching effectively enhances the science learning performance of the sixth grade students.

This paper explored the relationships among career development, personality trait, and organizational commitment and examines whether career development mediates the relationship between personality trait and organizational commitment. The sample was 275 sport communication technology talents in Taiwan. The instrument included the Personality Trait Scale, Career Development Scale, and Organizational Commitment Scale. The relationship between personality trait and organizational commitment was mediated by career development. According the findings, some suggestions and recommendations for administration agency, and further researchers were made.

This study aimed to explore different scientific creativity tests' prediction of students' science performance and domain-general creativity abilities. Two scientific creativity tests were chosen: the "Scientific Creativity Test" and the "Creative Scientific Ability Test (C-SAT)". The Science Performance Test (SPT) and Domain-General Creativity Test (DGCT) were also adapted to allow a check of the correlation between students' scientific creativity, science performance, and general creativity. Sixty junior high school students participated in this study by taking these four tests. Each test needed to be completed within 30 minutes, and the interval between each test was 2 weeks. The results showed that both the students' science performance and domain-general creativity could reflect their performance of scientific creativity better in the scores of the "Scientific Creativity Test" than in those of the C-SAT. Limitations are discussed.

In Taiwan, most students with disabilities receive education in an inclusive setting. Literature has documented the effects of interventions in increasing students' positive behaviors in inclusive settings, including students with disabilities in Western countries; however, effectiveness of such interventions in an Asian context remains unclear. The Class-Wide Function-Related Intervention Teams (CW-FIT) is one of the interventions that applies reinforcement-based strategies and provides multi-tiered supports to students with various severity of challenging behaviors. This study investigates the effects of CW-FIT Tier I (i.e. class-wide intervention) and Tier II (i.e. self-management) on the on-task and disruptive behaviors of a student with Autism Spectrum Disorder in an inclusive elementary classroom in Taiwan. Across nine weeks of intervention, the researchers used a reversal single-case design A-B-C-B-C to demonstrate experimental control over five phases. In addition, the researchers administered interviews and questionnaires to collect social validity data from the teacher and peers' perceptions toward the intervention. Findings from this study support that the CW-FIT is an effective intervention in increasing a student's on-task behaviors and decreasing disruptive behaviors in an inclusive classroom in an Asian context. The effect of implementing multiple tiers of CW-FIT was much more effective than implementing solely Tier I (class-wide intervention). The intervention was also well-received by the general education teacher and students.

Care aides in long-term care (LTC) institutions care for older disabled residents at high risk for COVID-19. However, they experienced many stressors during the COVID-19 pandemic. This study aims to explore the working experiences of care aides in LTC institutions following the relaxation of COVID-19 regulations in Taiwan. This qualitative descriptive study included 20 care aides who had cared for residents with COVID-19. Data were obtained via semi-structured interviews. Caring for residents with COVID-19 and the difficulties, resources and teamwork, and impact of care aides' work on their lives were discussed. Consequently, four themes were identified. First, difficulties in care, which included physical limitations by protection, workload, and impact of work schedule on the lives of the care aides. Second, psychological impact, such as worry, social isolation, and burnout. Third, interpersonal relationships with supervisors, colleagues, residents, and their families. Fourth, infection control policy from the institution and government. When infection control policies were relaxed, care aides had difficulties in caring for residents; furthermore, their family and social lives were also affected. They were required to learn knowledge of and skills for COVID-19 management. Institutions were required to provide support in materials, care processes, environment, and management. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background Foot complications are common in people with diabetes mellitus (DM), leading to increased health care utilization, heightened mortality risk, and notable recurrence rates even after treatment. This retrospective cohort study aimed to investigate the impact of repeated occurrence of DM-related foot complications on the risk of all-cause mortality and to identify the potential risk factors associated with repeated events. Methods People with DM admitted with foot complications (ulcer, skin and soft tissue infection, or osteomyelitis) from 2012 to 2014 were identified from Taiwan's National Health Insurance Research Database, with a 3-year follow-up for repeated events. We categorized the study subjects based on their cumulative number of hospital admissions with foot complications. Logistic regression was conducted to explore the potential risk factors associated with repeated diabetic foot events. Kaplan-Meier curves and Cox proportional hazard models were used to examine the associations between repeated diabetic foot events and all-cause mortality. Results In this study, 28 754 eligible individuals were enrolled and classified into 3 groups: no repeated diabetic foot events (76.1%), 1 repeated event (16.0%), and 2 or more repeated events (7.9%). Logistic regression revealed that advanced age, male sex, congestive heart failure, dyslipidemia, hypertension, nephropathy, retinopathy, neuropathy, peripheral vascular disease, diabetes-related preventable hospitalizations, and outpatient visits due to diabetic foot were significantly associated with repeated events of diabetic foot complications. Compared with those with no repeated events, the adjusted hazard ratios for all-cause mortality were 1.26 (95% CI, 1.19–1.34) for 1 repeated event and 1.36 (95% CI, 1.26–1.47) for 2 or more repeated events. Conclusions The significant association between repeated diabetic foot and elevated mortality risk highlights the critical necessity for proactive and targeted patient care within clinical practice. More research to delve into the predictive factors related to the repeated occurrence of diabetic foot is needed to provide additional insights for prevention strategies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To address the complex structures of historical buildings in Mindong, lack of historical reference materials, and heavy workload of traditional surveying and mapping methods in the field, a 3D reconstruction method of historical building based on a wearable mobile scanning system for data acquisition was studied. First, a wearable mobile scanning system is used to scan historical buildings in three dimensions. The data are fused to obtain high-precision three-dimensional point cloud data of historical buildings. Second, based on the processed point cloud, a 2D map of historical buildings is accurately drawn using point cloud slicing. Finally, three-dimensional reconstruction of historical buildings is realized using a 2D atlas of historical buildings and modern modeling technology. The accuracy of the three-dimensional reconstruction model was analyzed using a fitting algorithm and structural geometric relationship to verify the effectiveness and accuracy of the method. An old house in Mindong, Republic of China, was taken as the research object. Experimental analysis revealed that (1) a wearable mobile scanning system is suitable for high-quality point cloud data acquisition of buildings with complex geometric features, solving the problems of low efficiency and poor coverage of traditional surveying and mapping results; and (2) the method realizes 2D results rendering and 3D reconstruction of historical buildings based on the wearable mobile scanning system data with good accuracy, providing a reference for the protection and repair of historical buildings and health assessment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The COVID-19 pandemic necessitated an urgent global response in vaccine deployment, achieving over 70.6% global vaccination coverage with at least one dose. This study focuses on Taiwan's vaccine administration and adverse event reporting, set against a global backdrop. Using data from Taiwan's Vaccine Adverse Event Reporting System (VAERS) and global vaccination data, this study investigates vaccine safety and the public health implications of vaccination strategies from local and global perspectives. Taiwan's proactive approach, resulting in high vaccination rates, provides a case study for the monitoring and management of vaccine-related adverse events. This study offers insights into the safety profiles of various COVID-19 vaccines and further explores the implications of adverse event reporting rates for vaccine policy and public health strategies. The comparative analysis reveals that, while vaccination has been effective in controlling the virus's spread, safety monitoring remains critical for maintaining public trust. It underscores the necessity of enhanced surveillance and the importance of transparent and tailored risk communication to support informed public health decisions. The findings aim to contribute to the global dialogue on vaccine safety, equitable distribution, evidence-based policy-making, and development of mitigation measures with consideration of local demographics in the ongoing fight against COVID-19. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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The deep scattering layer (DSL), a stratum of the marine diel vertical migration (DVM) organisms inhabiting the mesopelagic ocean, plays a crucial role in transporting carbon and nutrients from the surface to depth through the migration of its organisms. Using 18 months of in-situ observations and altimeter sea level data, we reveal for the first time the intraseasonal variations and underlying mechanisms of the DSL and the DVM to the east of the Taiwan Island. Substantial vertical speeds acquired from the Acoustic Doppler Current Profiler were used to examine the distribution and variation of the DVM. Innovatively, the results for the power spectrum analysis of the scattering intensity demonstrated a significant intraseasonal variability (ISV) with an 80- day period in the DSL. Furthermore, the variation in the DVM was closely linked to the DSL and showed an 80-day ISV during the observation. A dynamic relationship between the ISV of the DSL east of Taiwan Island and the westward-propagating mesoscale eddies was established. Anticyclonic (cyclonic) eddy movement toward Taiwan Island triggers downward (upward) bending of the local isotherms, resulting in a layer of DSL warming (cooling) and subsequent upper boundary layer deepening (rising). These findings underscore the substantial influence of mesoscale eddies on biological activity in the mesopelagic ocean, establishing a novel understanding of ISV dynamics in the DSL and their links to eddy-induced processes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Key Points: Question: Is benzodiazepine use during pregnancy associated with miscarriage, taking into account both measured and unmeasured confounding factors? Findings: In this case-time-control study, benzodiazepine use during pregnancy was associated with an increased risk of miscarriage, even after accounting for unmeasured confounders, including those related to genetics and the family environment. Meaning: The observation of an increased risk of miscarriage associated with benzodiazepine use during pregnancy suggests that benzodiazepines should only be used after a thorough evaluation of the potential benefits and risks for both the mother and child. This case-time-control study evaluates the association between benzodiazepine use during pregnancy and risk of miscarriage. Importance: Benzodiazepine use during pregnancy has raised significant concerns due to the potential harmful effects of this drug class on neonates. Studies on the association between benzodiazepine use and the risk of miscarriage are limited. Objective: To quantify the risk of miscarriage associated with benzodiazepine use during pregnancy after controlling for unmeasured confounders and exposure time trends. Design, Setting, and Participants: This was a nationwide, population-based case-time-control study using Taiwan's National Birth Certificate Application database and the National Health Insurance database. Pregnancies resulting in miscarriage between 2004 and 2018 were included in the case group and were 1:1 matched with exposure time-trend control individuals using disease risk score, considering demographic characteristics and prepregnancy comorbidities. Data were analyzed from August 2022 to March 2023. Exposures: Discordant exposures to benzodiazepines during risk period (1-28 days before miscarriage) and 2 reference periods (31-58 days and 181-208 days before the last menstrual period) were compared for each pregnancy. Main Outcomes and Measures: Miscarriage was defined as any pregnancy loss occurring between the first prenatal care visit (usually 8 weeks) and the 19th completed week of pregnancy. Results: This study comprised a total of 3 067 122 pregnancies among 1 957 601 women, 136 134 of which (4.4%) resulted in miscarriage. The mean (SD) age of the study population was 30.61 (5.91) years. The use of benzodiazepines during pregnancy was associated with an increased risk of miscarriage (odds ratio [OR], 1.69; 95% CI, 1.52-1.87), and consistent findings were observed across multiple sensitivity analyses considering different time windows and accounting for misclassification. In subgroup analyses, an increased risk of miscarriage was associated with each commonly used individual benzodiazepine, ranging from case-time-control ORs of 1.39 (95% CI, 1.17-1.66) for alprazolam to 2.52 (95% CI, 1.89-3.36) for fludiazepam. Conclusions and Relevance: This nationwide case-time-control study revealed an increased risk of miscarriage associated with benzodiazepine use during pregnancy after accounting for measurable confounders, and results were unlikely to be due to unmeasured confounding. These findings underscore the necessity for health care professionals to meticulously balance the risk-benefit ratio when considering the use of benzodiazepines to treat psychiatric and sleep disorders during pregnancy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The purpose of this study was to investigate how mental rotation strategies affect the identification of chemical structural formulas. This study conducted event-related potentials (ERPs) experiments. In addition to the data collected in the ERPs, a Chemical Structure Conceptual Questionnaire and interviews were also admin-istered for data collection. Eighteen university students majoring in chemistry were recruited. In the ERP experiments, the participants were required to identify 2D figures, 2D chemical structural formulas, 3D objects and 3D chemical structural formulas. The contours of 2D figures are similar to those of 2D chemical structural formulas, but they contain no content knowledge. Likewise, the contours of 3D objects are similar to 3D chemical structural formulas without content knowledge. The results showed that all students used similar strategies of mental rotation in identifying 2D figures, 3D objects and 3D chemical structural formulas. However, the high-achieving students used different strategies in identifying 2D figures and chemical structural formulas, while the low-achieving students tended to use similar strategies of mental rotation in identifying both 2D figures and chemical structural formulas. The results indicate that some of the difficulties in identifying 2D chemical structural formulas that students encounter are due to their inappropriate strategies of mental rotation. These results could guide teachers and curriculum designers to develop chemistry learning tools and teaching strategies which could promote students' understanding of chemical structural formulas and practice students' representational skills through mental rotation. Furthermore, this study suggests that ERP technology could be used in further studies to explore the effects of mental rotation on science learning.

The purpose of this study is to explore the influences of students' learning motivation on Web-based collaborative learning. This study conducted learning materials of Web pages about science and collaborative learning, a motivation questionnaire and interviews were used for data collection. Eighty Grade 5 students and a science teacher were recruited in this study. The controlled group involved 40 students who need to learn the dissolve concept on the Web pages, and complete the homework which was assigned by the Web pages by themselves. The experimental group involved the other 40 students and every four students were grouped in a team. The experimental group students not only need to learn the dissolve concept on Web pages, but also need to complete the homework which was assigned by the Web pages with team members. Besides, the experimental group students need to present their homework to other teams and provide feedbacks and suggestions to other teams. The results showed that experimental group significantly promoted their science learning motivation by using Web-based collaborative learning. (Contains 3 figures and 3 tables.)

This study unveils a tertiary EFL reading teacher's reader identity and its interconnectedness with her pedagogical decisions through narrative inquiry. Community of Practice was employed to elucidate the sources of this reading teacher's reader identity and the interplay between that and her teaching practice. Findings from the categorical content analysis show that this reading teacher's reader identity was projected through her strong passion towards reading. An interactive reading process that results in a better self-understanding is experienced through the reader's reflection on her readings. She reified her reader identity in her teaching practice by forming a readers club. Reader (teacher)-text-reader (student) interaction is thus the most salient feature of this readers club and serves as a mediator that connects the members. Along with this feature, her competence of synchronicity with students was observed in this experienced reading teacher. Pedagogical implications concerning teacher education are discussed.

The accuracy of the current buried pipeline management geographic information system (GIS) is not adequate to serve as base information for road digging control and permit in Taiwan. The existing positioning system for buried pipelines does not offer satisfactorily accurate surveying results for all the scenarios because the positioning accurateness decreases with an increase in the pipeline depth. The costly excavation and direct survey of the exposed pipeline method can provide precise measurement at the designed arbitrary interval and then the discrete point is interpolated into the continuous track. The required traffic controls and excavation permits for roads are the most critical drawback of this technology. The method of in-pipe inertial navigation system (INS) can record the complete, continuous pipe tracks, but such measurement drifts with an increase in the survey length. We proposed a pipeline positioning system by radiating an extremely low-frequency (ELF) magnetic field from the electrical coil placed on the ground to constrain the locating measurement of in-pipe INS. The proposed system could easily expand the diameters or increasing turns of a ground-based coil device to enhance the magnetic field intensity for accurately positioning the deeper buried pipes. The field tests were performed using a ductile cast iron pipe (DIP), and the corresponding results revealed that for the overburden depth of 3.4–4.2 m, the average positioning errors were 0.12 and 1.6 m in the horizontal and vertical directions, respectively. This approach is only plausible for an empty pipeline, and access to both ends of the pipe is required. A four-person crew handled the proposed system to locate the track of a 5-km-long buried pipeline in an 8-h-long working day when the pipeline was unfilled. Any pipeline with diameter larger than 10 cm (4 in.) could apply this system to locate the continuous track with the requirement of accessibility at both ends of the empty pipe. With 1.45-m coil, the maximum detectable buried depth is 15 m, and locating error is less than 20 cm at both directions for the cases with buried depth less than 5 m. Two people need to move and operate the magnetic coil at the ground and another two people must hoist the in-pipe unit at each end of the pipe simultaneously. With this arrangement, the continuous track of buried empty pipe could surveyed for 5 km in length within an 8-h working day. [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]

Previous research indicates that understanding the state of learning motivation enables researchers to deeply understand students' learning processes. Studies have shown that visual programming languages use graphical code, enabling learners to learn effectively, improve learning effectiveness, increase learning fun, and offering various other advantages. This study is a counterbalanced experiment on the students of a class, conducted in three stages. The first stage examines the students' initial motivation states. In the second stage, students use a traditional programming language before a visual programming language to learn a specific data structure topic. Finally, in the third stage, students use a visual programming language before a traditional programming language to learn another specific data structure topic. After collecting the experimental data, we cross analyzed questionnaire results to observe whether there was any correlation between them. We found that the motivation state at stages two and three were significantly higher than at stage one. It can be deduced that the use of a visual programming language in a data structure course has a significant effect on improving learning motivation.

This study assessed the effects of a model that integrated the theory of planned behavior (TPB) with extrinsic motivation (EM) in predicting the intentions of fifth-grade students to not use illicit drugs. A cluster-sampling design was adopted in a cross-sectional survey (N = 571). The structural equation modeling results showed that the model attained an acceptable overall fit and explained 85% of the variance in intention. The EM variables influenced intention through subjective norms and perceived behavioral control. Study findings support the proposed TPB-EM model and show that EM can foster a social cognitive mechanism that indirectly affects intention.

Red blood cell (RBC) storage solution is used for suspending and preserving RBCs for later use in in vitro immunohematology testing. Proper RBC preservation is crucial for obtaining accurate results in RBC phenotyping and pretransfusion antibody screening tests. Haemolysis or RBC antigen degradation during storage can result in inaccurate RBC phenotyping, thereby decreasing the sensitivity of pretransfusion antibody screening and identification assays. The conventional RBC storage solutions usually contain adenosine, adenine, and antibiotics. We designed an RBC storage solution and determined whether it could preserve RBC integrity for 70 days. The new storage solution has a different formula from that of the conventional solution—in particular, it is strengthened with polyethylene glycol (PEG). The extent of haemolysis and hemagglutination reactivity of the RBC antigen systems, Rh, Duffy, Kidd, Lewis, MNS, P1, and the rare antigen Mia (which has a low prevalence antigen in most parts of the world but a higher prevalence in Taiwan), in the new RBC storage solution was compared with that of the conventionally preserved RBC storage solution. The RBCs preserved in the new solution for 70 days retained a similar haemolysis grade as those preserved in the control solution for 28 days. Although both solutions largely preserved RBC antigenicity, the decline in RBC hemagglutination scores in new solution often occurred later than that in the control solution in most antigen phenotyping assays, especially labile antigens such as D, P1, and M. The new solution reduces haemolysis more effectively and preserves antigenicity throughout the 70-day storage period. Moreover, Mia antigen is more stable in the experimental group. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This research is based on the theory of Technology Acceptance Model to understand consumer behaviors on paid video streaming platforms and explore whether perceived price and user age will moderate user behaviors. Another focus topic is the pricing mechanism of paid video streaming platforms in Taiwan, and we find that most users prefer recurring charges and hybrid plan, which is consistent with the results of the most commonly used paid video streaming platform. The research results prove that when consumers are more satisfied with their personal motivation and system quality, they will increase their satisfaction with perceived ease of use alongside perceived usefulness, thereby improving their overall attitude towards the use of the platform and increasing their willingness to use. In this research, users' age does not contribute to the difference between attitude toward use and actual use behavior. If one holds a positive attitude towards paid video streaming platforms, regardless of age, it will have a positive intention with continued use behavior in the future. Although users' age does not significantly moderate to the relationship between attitudes toward user behaviors, it can still be applied as a distinction for judging the intention to use. Finally, based on the research results, practical suggestions are provided to practitioners of OTT platforms. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: To explore the response and management experiences of nurses and nurse aides in dementia special care units when caring for residents with sundown syndrome based on the person-centered care model. Methods: Focus group interviews were conducted among nurses and nurse aides from four dementia special care units that have been accredited by the Ministry of Health and Welfare in Taiwan. Content analysis was used for data analysis. Results: The 29 nurses and nurse aides were recruited to participate in the study. Analysis of interview content revealed six themes, identifying the intra-individual, inter-individual, and organizational dimensions. The central topic was commitment. Under the umbrella of commitment, six themes including self-preparation, non-suppression, diversion, pacification, continuity of meeting, and collaboration, which had 18 subthemes, emerged as responsive care practices for person-centered care when supporting residents with sundown syndrome. Conclusions: The findings provide responsive care practices based on person-centered care for people living with dementia who develop sundown syndrome. The study can inform practices for quality of care for dementia in long-term care institutions and contribute to the development of materials for nursing training and education. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: Contractual services are characterized by features such as termination fees, long-term commitment, and complex terms. When customers find better deals from other providers, they may want to switch, but contractual obligations prevent them from doing so. Thus, this study aims to draw upon the stimulus-organism-response paradigm and theories of emotion regulation to examine how punitive switching costs (PSCs) can evoke negative emotions (NEs) from customers and, consequently, lead to negative behavioral responses in contractual service settings. Design/methodology/approach: This study collected data from 395 customers of telecommunications companies, fitness centers, tutoring firms/centers, and house leasing companies in Taiwan. We tested the hypotheses using partial least squares structural equation modeling via SmartPLS 3.0. Findings: The results show that NEs partially mediate the relationship between PSC and customers' switching intention and negative word-of-mouth. This study also finds alternative attractiveness (AA) and service recovery (SR) do not moderate the PSCs–NEs relationship, but AA does directly influence NEs. Originality/value: First, this study contributes to the literature on switching costs by exploring how PSC exerts a detrimental impact on behavioral responses. Second, this study adds to the literature on service failures by identifying the mediating role of NEs in such a relationship. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In recent years, initiatives and the resulting application of precision education have been applied with increasing frequency in Taiwan; the accompanying discourse has focused on identifying potential applications for artificial intelligence and how to use learning analytics to improve teaching quality and learning outcomes. This study used the established dropout risk prediction model to improve student learning effectiveness. The model was based on the academic portfolios of past students and built with statistical learning and deep learning methods. This study used this model to predict the dropout risk of 2205 freshmen enrolled in the fall semester of 2018 (graduated in June 2022) in the field of sustainable education. A total of 176 students with a dropout risk of more than 20% were considered high-risk students. After tracking and the appropriate guidance, the dropout risk of 91 students fell from > 20% to < 20%. To discuss the results from the perspective of gender and financial disadvantages, the improvement rate of the dropout risk for male students was 10.2% better than that of female students at 2.9%. The improvement rate in dropout risk for students with disadvantageous financial situations was as high as 12.0%, surpassing the 5.9% rate among general students. Overall, the dropout rate in the second year of the 2018 freshman cohort was lower than that of the 2016 and 2017 freshman cohorts. A predictive model established by statistical learning and deep learning methods was used as a tool to promote precision education, accurately and efficiently identifying students who are having difficulty learning, as well as leading to a better understanding of AI (artificial intelligence) in smart learning for sustainable education. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: As the older adult population in Taiwan continues to increase, primary health centers (PHCs) play a crucial role in geriatric care. This study explored the differences in the PHC experiences and usage needs of older adults in urban versus rural areas. Methods: A qualitative study was conducted. Twenty-one older adults were recruited from PHCs in northern, central, southern, and eastern Taiwan. Semistructured interviews were used to collect data, and the interview guidelines included their reasons for visiting PHCs, the health-care services they received, their evaluation of the services, and the advantages and disadvantages of these centers. The data were analyzed using thematic content analysis. Results: The PHC usage needs of older adults in urban areas differ from those of older adults in rural areas in the following 3 aspects: (1) Medical services: older adults in rural areas demand clinics specializing in various medical domains, mobile and home medical care, and case management, whereas those in urban areas demand mobile health examinations. (2) Environment and transportation: older adults in rural areas demand diverse medical equipment, shuttle services, and accessible facilities, whereas those in urban areas demand recreational facilities. (3) Active aging: older adults in rural areas demand health education courses, and those in urban areas demand diverse senior citizen courses as well as opportunities to volunteer and build interpersonal relationships. Conclusion: The older adults in urban and rural areas had different PHC usage needs. The older adults in rural areas generally focused on medical care and transportation services in PHCs, whereas those in urban areas generally focused on health promotion as a means of social participation and active aging. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Residents in nursing homes are generally highly dependent on others, and unplanned hospitalizations often have major impacts on their physical and cognitive functions. The purpose of this study was to investigate the factors that affect the unplanned hospitalization of nursing home residents. Methods: This retrospective cohort study enrolled 98 residents from a nursing home affiliated with a regional hospital in northern Taiwan. A chart review was performed to transcribe variable data, including demographic characteristics, health status, nutritional status, and the length and frequency of unscheduled transfers to the hospital. Results: A total of 64.3% of the residents experienced one or more unplanned hospitalization. The major causes of unplanned hospitalization were cerebrovascular accident, congestive heart failure, and pneumonia. The factors affecting the unplanned hospitalization of residents were a Barthel index of 20 and the use of a nasogastric or urinary catheter. Conclusion: Strengthening the management of nursing homes and developing preventive guidelines for treating residents with poor ability to perform activities of daily living or using invasive devices are crucial. By implementing preventive measures early and improving the quality of monitoring care, nursing homes can reduce the incidence of unplanned hospitalization. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Social isolation is a pervasive and debilitating condition that has adverse prognostic impacts. This condition often co-occurs with other geriatric syndromes, further exacerbating negative health outcomes. Given these considerations, the present study aims to elucidate the roles of social isolation in older adults with anorexia of aging and/or sarcopenia with respect to long-term mortality using a nationally representative cohort study. Methods: Data were obtained from the Taiwan Longitudinal Study on Aging (TLSA), with a sample size of 3,762 study participants aged 50 years and older. Data from 1999 (wave 4) to 2015 (wave 9) were analyzed. The TLSA questionnaire was used to define social isolation, anorexia, and sarcopenia. Logistic regressions were employed to explore the associations between social isolation, anorexia, and sarcopenia. The Cox proportional hazard model was utilized to examine the synergistic effects of social isolation and anorexia or sarcopenia on 16-year all-cause mortality. Results: After controlling for demographic information and comorbidities, older adults with social isolation were significantly associated with anorexia (adjusted odds ratio [aOR] 1.46 [95% confidence interval: 1.00–2.12, p=0.0475]) and sarcopenia (aOR 1.35 [95% CI: 1.12–1.64, p=0.0021]). Furthermore, the synergistic effects of social isolation with anorexia (aOR 1.65 [95% CI: 1.25–2.18, p=0.0004]) or sarcopenia (aOR 1.65 [95% CI: 1.42–1.92, p<0.0001]) were both significantly associated with higher risks of all-cause mortality, while social isolation alone revealed borderline statistical significance. Conclusions: Our findings indicate that social isolation is closely linked to anorexia and sarcopenia among middle-aged and older adults. Additionally, social isolation significantly exacerbates the long-term mortality risk associated with anorexia of aging and sarcopenia. However, social isolation alone appears to have borderline long-term mortality risk in this cohort. These findings underscore the importance of addressing social isolation in older adults with anorexia and/or sarcopenia to optimize their health outcomes and mitigate long-term mortality risk. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Computerized self-assessment testing can help learners reflect on learning content and can also promote their motivation toward learning. However, a positive affective state is the key to achieving these learning goals. This study aims to examine learning gains and emotional reactions resulting from receiving emotional feedback in the form of applause during computerized self-assessment testing of university students. The participants were asked to solve mathematics problems in a computer-assisted self-assessment system with or without prerecorded applause as emotional feedback while EEG measurements were taken. Using psychological evidence from neuroscience technology, we tested the hypothesis that the part of the brain that generates feelings of reward is more active in male students than in female students during computer-assisted self-assessment testing. The results of this study provide support for the belief that it is useful to reduce negative emotional states in students by using emotional reactions such as applause during computer-assisted self-assessment testing, especially in the case of male students. It is suggested that instructors may wish to create such a positive emotional self-assessment learning environment to encourage students to learn by themselves more efficiently.

Understanding the nature of models and engaging in modeling practice have been emphasized in science education. However, few studies discuss the relationships between students' views of scientific models and their ability to develop those models. Hence, this study explores the relationship between students' views of scientific models and their self-generated models, and also whether views of models and modeling practice may be influenced by other factors, such as science learning performance and interest. The participants were 402 ninth-grade students in Taiwan. Data were collected using the Students' Understanding of Models in Science (SUMS) survey and students' self-evaluations of their own science learning interests and performance on a Likert-scale. The students' self-developed models explaining why three different magnetic phenomena occur were also evaluated on a schema of five levels, from lower (observational and fragmented models) to higher (microscopic and coherent models).The results reveal that most students' models remained only at the level of description of observable magnetic phenomena. A small number of the students were able to visualize unseen mechanisms, but these models were fragmented. However, several students with better science learning performance were able to develop coherent microscopic models to explain the three magnetic phenomena. The analyses indicated that most sub-factors of the SUMS survey were positively correlated with students' self-developed models, science learning performance and science learning interest. This study provides implications for teaching the nature of models and modeling practice.

The purpose of this study was to investigate how learning materials based on Science Magic activities affect student attitudes to science. A quasi-experimental design was conducted to explore the combination of Science Magic with the 5E Instructional Model to develop learning materials for teaching a science unit about friction. The participants were recruited from among the students of a middle school in central Taiwan. Based on our results, we conclude that our combined teaching method involving Science Magic activities and the 5E Instructional Model is effective for developing learning materials for teaching, and that this method improves students' attitudes toward science.

The development and consequences of licensure for counseling psychologists in Taiwan are presented to promote cross-cultural awareness surrounding issues in the counseling psychology profession. The national licensure statute for counseling psychologists in Taiwan was established by the Taiwanese Legislature in 2001. While the licensing system marked an important milestone, it also brought forth a number of internal and external conflicts to the counseling psychology profession in Taiwan. The paper consists of four parts. First, it introduces the development of the Counseling Psychology profession and licensure in Taiwan. Second, challenges triggered by the statute of counseling psychologists are considered. Third, the profession's strategic response to these challenges is addressed. Finally, the profession's ongoing post-licensure development is presented. We hope this article facilitates further exchanges of initiatives undertaken by international colleagues to consolidate the ethical practice of the Counseling Psychology profession in different parts of the world.

The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic continues to represent a challenge for public health globally since transmission of different variants of the virus does not seem to be effectively affected by the current treatments and vaccines. During COVID-19 the outbreak in Taiwan, the patients with mild symptoms were improved after the treatment with NRICM101, a traditional Chinese medicine formula developed by our institute. Here, we investigated the effect and mechanism of action of NRICM101 on improval of COVID-19-induced pulmonary injury using S1 subunit of the SARS-CoV-2 spike proteininduced diffuse alveolar damage (DAD) of hACE2 transgenic mice. The S1 protein induced significant pulmonary injury with the hallmarks of DAD (strong exudation, interstitial and intra-alveolar edema, hyaline membranes, abnormal pneumocyte apoptosis, strong leukocyte infiltration, and cytokine production). NRICM101 effectively reduced all of these hallmarks. We then used nextgeneration sequencing assays to identify 193 genes that were differentially expressed in the S1+NRICM101 group. Of these, three (Ddit4, Ikbke, Tnfaip3) were significantly represented in the top 30 enriched downregulated gene ontology (GO) terms in the S1+NRICM101 group versus the S1+saline group. These terms included the innate immune response, pattern recognition receptor (PRR), and Toll-like receptor signaling pathways. We found that NRICM101 disrupted the interaction of the spike protein of various SARS-CoV-2 variants with the human ACE2 receptor. It also suppressed the expression of cytokines IL-1β, IL-6, TNF-α, MIP-1β, IP-10, and MIP-1α in alveolar macrophages activated by lipopolysaccharide. We conclude that NRICM101 effectively protects against SARS-CoV-2-S1-induced pulmonary injury via modulation of the innate immune response, pattern recognition receptor, and Toll-like receptor signaling pathways to ameliorate DAD. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aims and Objectives: This study examined the changes in patients' parental functioning and the associated factors, including manic, depressive symptoms and social support from before discharge to 6 months post‐discharge. Background: For parents with bipolar disorder and major depression, parenting is a recovery factor for patients, but little research examines the dynamic parental functioning from acute hospitalisation to a remission stage. Design: A longitudinal design was used. The STROBE Checklist were used in presenting this research. Methods: Participants were inpatients with bipolar disorder or major depression (n = 33) recruited within one week before discharge from the acute psychiatric ward in Taiwan. Data on parental functioning was collected four times: before discharge (T1), the 1st (T2), the 3rd (T3) and the 6th (T4) months of post‐discharge. Baseline parental functioning before admitting to the acute word was retrospectively assessed at T0. The questionnaires included positive and negative domains of parenting practice, hypomanic/manic symptoms, depressive symptoms and social support. Generalised estimating equations were applied for data analysis. Results: The negative parenting domains (poor monitoring, inconsistent discipline) decreased during hospitalisation but increased at one month post‐discharge, except corporal punishment at 3‐months discharge. The positive parenting domains (parental involvement and nurturance/responsiveness) did not recovery to baseline. While clinical symptoms remained stable during 6 months post‐discharge, social support decreased at 3 and 6 months post‐discharge. Higher depressive symptoms and low social support were associated with positive parenting domains but not related to negative parenting domains. Manic symptoms were not associated with positive or negative parenting domains. Conclusions: Positive parenting domains did not fully return to the usual situation during 6 months post‐discharge. Relevance to clinical practice: Parenting functioning recovery program targeting at the impacts of depressive symptoms on the parenting functioning and insufficient social support is needed from hospitalisation to post‐discharge. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Previous studies on the field of education abroad have mainly focused on the factors influencing the mobility of international students from developing to developed countries and very few have been conducted to investigate the factors influencing the flow of international students to the Asia Pacific region. As a piece of country-specific research, this study, with an attempt to explore why and how international students travel to Taiwan for the purpose of study and to describe possible implications for the authorities and institutions offering higher education, is timely and worthwhile. A push-pull model is developed to identify the factors relating to the three-phase model of study abroad decision-making process, while the analytic hierarchy process method is used to examine the relative importance of these factors. The findings of this study suggest that policy makers and institutional administrators should focus on offering various kinds of scholarships for international students, designing multilingual websites for international students with different languages, promoting language training programs for international students, and designing student recruitment strategies tailored for the different study groups of international students at the government and the institution levels. This study is of particular significance because global competition between countries for international students and especially for the best among them will be more intense in the future.

The purpose of this study was to analyze how mobile technologies were incorporated and implemented in an outdoor learning activity. Two classes of primary school students participated in the experiment. Using activity theory as an analytical framework, it is found that underlying tensions provided rich insights into system dynamics and that technological affordances could be limited by mismatches between the Tools themselves, and between Tools and the ways that were used by learners or arranged by the instructor. The subtle human factors present in the use of technologies should be carefully considered. The influence of mobile devices on learner experiences in experiential learning is also thoroughly discussed.