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The paper presents an in-depth analysis of the language of death in Chinese and discusses the relation between language and occupation as a social factor in analyzing the language of death. In this paper, I address in what specific ways Cognitive Linguistics may serve as a useful analytical framework in studying Chinese idioms used in funerals, in an attempt to uncover cultural elements and viewpoint structure in communicating death. The study introduces basic constructs in Cognitive Linguistics which could be used for such an analysis, and applies this CL machinery to analyzing three selected groups of four-character eulogistic idioms used at funerals in Taiwan. The analysis shows that, in addition to Conceptual Metaphor Theory, which has been considered the classic CL tool for studying abstract concepts like death, the subjectivity/objectivity distinction in Cognitive Grammar may also be employed as a complementary and useful theoretical construct in studying the language of death, as it helps identify the special characteristics of the eulogistic idioms for teachers as a special profession in the Chinese culture. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A decline in physical and/or cognitive function is a common feature of aging, and frailty has been shown to be associated with cognitive impairment and dementia. This study aimed to evaluate the association between dynapenia, sarcopenia, and cognitive impairment among community-dwelling older people in Taiwan. Data from the I-Lan Longitudinal Aging Study (ILAS) were retrieved for study. Global cognitive function was assessed by Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE), whereas the Chinese Version Verbal Learning Test, Boston Naming Test, Verbal Fluency Test, Taylor Complex Figure Test, Digits Backward Test, and Clock Drawing Test were used to assess different domains of cognitive function. Association between sarcopenia and global cognitive function as well as all different dimensions of cognitive function were evaluated. Data from 731 elderly participants (mean age 73.4 ± 5.4 years, 53.8% males) were used for study analysis. The overall prevalence of sarcopenia was 6.8%, which was significantly higher in men (9.3% versus 4.1%, p < 0.05). The mean MMSE score was 23.4 ± 4.4 for all participants, and 10.3% of the study participants were cognitively impaired. Sarcopenia was not significantly associated with global cognitive function (odds ratio [OR] = 1.55, p = 0.317), but global cognitive impairment was significantly associated with low physical performance (OR = 2.31, p = 0.003) and low muscle strength (OR = 2.59, p = 0.011). Nonetheless, sarcopenia was significantly associated with impairment in the verbal fluency test (OR = 3.96, p = 0.006) after adjustment for potential confounders. Dynapenia was significantly associated with cognitive impairment in multiple dimensions and global cognitive function, but sarcopenia was only associated with an impaired verbal fluency test. Reduced muscle strength and/or physical performance related to non-muscle etiology were strongly associated with cognitive impairment. More longitudinal studies are needed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Stakeholder conflict is continually increasing as the preservation of marine resources is emphasized comprehensively. Reducing such conflict of stakeholders has become an important issue during the initial stage of planning Marine Protected Areas (MPAs). When it comes to promoting MPAs, cognitive differences and stakeholder conflict are the two main challenges Taiwan faces. This study collects data from in-depth interviews and consensus meetings, using the IBEFish framework as a systematic analysis tool. The result is that the concept of participation is still lacking among stakeholders. Therefore, it is important to integrate the concept into any discussion of marine resource conservation in both small areas and exclusive areas where environmental protection measures are being implemented. Furthermore, it is further found that emerges the relationship of dynamical balance between government agencies and other stakeholders. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

This study examines the role of cognitive and affective destination-image components in the formation of destination preferences from a multialternative/multiattribute perspective. In addition, the study examines the stability of those roles across three types of destinations. A total of 1,020 Taichung residents in Taiwan were administered an on-site questionnaire. The results indicated that cognitive and affective components of overall destination image influence tourists' destination preferences and that cognitive image impacts affective image. However the importance of the two image components varied across natural, developed, and theme-park destinations. In addition, the findings confirmed that while some image attributes are universally important, other attributes are only important for specific types of destinations. Implications for theory, practice, and future research are provided. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study attempts to examine Six Sigma activities of domestic industries in Taiwan. A suitable research structure includes managerial and performance variables for the industrial environment in Taiwan. Managerial independent variables include the factors of 'strategy', 'project', 'training' and 'customer'. Meanwhile, the performance dependent variables include the factors of 'delivery', 'flexibility', 'quality' and 'cost'. Through questionnaire investigation and collecting samples, this study applies a questionnaire investigation to local and transnational enterprises that have implemented Six Sigma in Taiwan, and then conducts analysis and makes suggestions. The investigation also explores the drivers and obstacles associated with the implementation of Six Sigma. The study sample comprised 19 firms, including ten Taiwanese enterprises, and nine transnational enterprises. Using SPSS statistical skills, topics examined in this investigation included drivers and obstacles associated with the implementation of Six Sigma, analysis of the mean differences between managerial and performance variables, and cognitive analysis of the differences between local enterprises and transnational enterprises in Taiwan. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: This study examined the prevalence of psychological abuse and identified individual characteristics associated with different levels of psychological abuse in a group of randomly selected elderly Taiwanese. A cross-sectional design was performed that utilized a descriptive-correlational approach. Data for this study were gathered from several communities in southern Taiwan. The sample comprised 195 elderly Taiwanese aged 60 years or older, capable of verbal communication, and partially dependent on a caregiver. The Psychological Elder Abuse Scale (PEAS), the Short Portable Mental State Questionnaire (SPMSQ), and the Barthel''s Index were used for data collection. The findings demonstrated that the PEAS score range was 0–24 (mean 6.32±4.6). Moreover, 44 subjects (22.6%) had scores of ten or greater. The most frequently reported indicators in the PEAS were “wishes to see family members unfulfilled” and “economic dependence on others”. The analytical results also showed that the SPMSQ and Barthel''s Index scores were strongly related to the PEAS score (p <0.001), indicating psychological abuse appeared higher among elderly people with lower cognitive and physical functioning. The findings of this study are crucial in developing a national system for protecting the elderly, and a continuing educational plan is required for enforcing communication between caregivers and elders. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]