National Taiwan Sport University

Retinal thickness has been proposed as a non-invasive biomarker of neurodegeneration, whereas sleep disturbances represent modifiable risk factors for cognitive impairment. However, the combined and temporal associations of these factors with cognition remain unclear. This prospective cohort study (2015-2022) included 257 participants aged ≥ 65years. The retinal nerve fiber layer (RNFL) and ganglion cell-inner plexiform layer (GC-IPL) thickness, sleep variable (sleep quality and daytime sleepiness) were assessed at baseline. Cognitive performance, including global and domain-specific measures, was evaluated at baseline and biennially. Longitudinal associations and interaction effects were evaluated using multilevel generalized linear mixed models, with particular attention to quadrant-level variations. Elevated RNFL thickness was associated with better global cognition over time ( : 0.39 × 10⁻2), with the strongest longitudinal positive associations observed in the temporal ( :17.89 × 10-2) and nasal quadrants ( :18.67 × 10-2). GC-IPL thickness showed a similar longitudinal association ( :0.60 × 10⁻2), which became more pronounced in participants with normal sleep quality ( :1.55 × 10-2) or without excessive daytime sleepiness ( :0.81 × 10-2). Furthermore, GC-IPL thickness significantly interacts with sleep quality (pinteration < 0.0001) and excessive daytime sleepiness (pinteration = 0.003). Retinal biomarkers showed quadrant-specific associations with cognition over time, and these associations were modified by sleep quality and daytime sleepiness. These findings underscore the potential of integrating retinal and sleep measures as early predictors of cognitive health, offering opportunities for targeted interventions in older adults.

Background and ObjectivesSarcopenia prevalence is higher in aged care facilities than in community settings, yet mechanistic pathways remain poorly understood. Although loneliness–sarcopenia associations are established, no studies have examined mediating mechanisms in institutional settings. We examined whether physical and mental fatigability mediate the loneliness–sarcopenia relationship in aged care residents.MethodsThis cross-sectional study included 205 older adults (Mage = 80.5 ± 8.1 years; 52.2% male) from 6 aged care facilities in Taipei. Sarcopenia was assessed using the Asian Working Group for Sarcopenia 2019 criteria. Loneliness was measured via the UCLA Loneliness Scale and perceived fatigability via the validated Traditional Chinese Pittsburgh Fatigability Scale. Causal mediation analysis examined direct and indirect pathways, adjusting for demographic, health, and psychosocial confounders.ResultsThe sarcopenia prevalence was 58.0%. Physical fatigability significantly mediated the loneliness–sarcopenia association (odds ratio = 1.0, 95% confidence interval: 1.0-1.1), accounting for 15.0% of the total effect. The strongest mediation was for physical performance (44.2%). Substantial interaction effects between loneliness and both physical (74.7%) and mental fatigability (80.5%) suggested synergistic influences on sarcopenia risk.Discussion and ImplicationsPhysical fatigability represents a novel, modifiable mediating pathway between loneliness and sarcopenia in aged care, with particularly strong effects on functional mobility. The substantial interaction effects support the use of combined interventions that address both psychosocial and physiological factors. Dual screening for loneliness and fatigability could identify high-risk residents, addressing the 15.0% mediation pathway. These findings inform integrated care approaches that could transform sarcopenia prevention in institutional settings. Replication in community-dwelling populations is warranted.

Summary: On April 3, 2024, an earthquake measuring 7.2 on the Richter scale occurred off the coast of Hualien County, Taiwan. This earthquake was the largest earthquake in Taiwan after the September 21 earthquake in 1999. The Taroko National Park, located in the northern part of Hualien City, had serious rockfalls and collapses; many tourists and vehicles were trapped on the trails and tunnels waiting to be rescued. The non-governmental organization, the Taiwan Development Association for Disaster Medical Teams, the disaster preparedness and rescue group, signed a cooperation agreement with the Special Search and Rescue (SSAR) Team and immediately formed an advance team to carry out the rescue mission. The SSAR team of the National Fire Agency and from neighboring counties and cities were responsible for coordinating rescue missions at the disaster site. Three of these teams have doctors, nurses, and emergency paramedics. Formation of an SSAR medical team to accompany the disaster relief mission. It was anticipated that more people or injuries would be extricated from the Taroko National Park on the second day of the disaster, and initial assessment, medical assistance, and medical evacuation assistance. The disaster medical advance team was dispatched by the on-site command center to perform medical operations at the scene of Taroko National Park with the SSAR medical team, sharing human resources and medical supplies, and at the same time being responsible for the evacuation of patients from the medical station. 181 people were monitored by the medical station and treated by the doctors for the evacuation. This was the first time that the disaster medical team and the SSAR medical teams cooperated in the rescue of a large-scale earthquake disaster in Taiwan in the past 25 years.

Purpose This study investigates how differences in brand image and product type influence consumers' perceived novelty and hedonic perception. Furthermore, it examines whether these perceptions ultimately influence consumers' brand attitudes toward the partnering brands. Using the cross-industry collaboration between LEGO and Formula 1 (F1) as the research context, the study explores the psychological mechanism of distinct fan groups. Design/methodology/approach Online survey is utilized for data collection from F1 fans (N = 241) and LEGO fans (N = 500). Multi-group structural equation modeling (multi-group SEM) is conducted to test the proposed hypotheses. Findings This study reveals distinct psychological mechanisms between different fan groups when evaluating brand collaborations. F1 fans are more sensitive to brand image differences while LEGO fans respond more strongly to differences in product type. Although the two groups are triggered by different types of differences, perceived novelty enhances hedonic perception in both groups. Moreover, perceived novelty and hedonic perception positively influence brand attitudes toward collaborative brands, suggesting that both cognitive and affective dimensions play critical roles in evaluating brand partnerships. Originality/value This study makes two critical theoretical contributions. First, it extends Schema Congruity Theory by distinguishing between brand image differences and product type differences, showing how each interacts with audience-specific schema structures to form their attitude toward the partnering brands. Second, the study highlights the importance of consumer characteristics in cross-industry brand collaborations, emphasizing that the effectiveness of such partnerships depends on the interplay between brand differences and hedonic/novelty perception.

BackgroundGiven that limited research has examined the relationships between lifestyle activities of varying intensities, including moderate-to-vigorous physical activity (MVPA), light physical activity (LPA), and sedentary behavior (SB), and dynapenia, which refers to an age-related decline in muscle function, this study aimed to investigate the longitudinal associations between MVPA, LPA, and SB and the risk of dynapenia among older adults in Taiwan.MethodsThis longitudinal study included older adults aged ≥ 65 years with independent mobility, recruited from the National Taiwan University Hospital. Baseline data were collected from September 2020 to December 2021 and follow-up data were collected until December 2022. Participants wore a tri-axial accelerometer (GT3X + ActiGraph) on the hip for seven consecutive days to evaluate baseline time spent of MVPA (≥ 2020 counts/min), LPA (100–2019 counts/min), and SB (< 100 counts/min). To confirm the dynapenia classification at baseline and follow-up, participants underwent standard assessments, including handgrip dynamometry for muscle strength, bioelectrical impedance analysis for muscle mass, and a 6-m walk test for physical performance. Adjusted binary logistic regression analyses were conducted to examine the association between lifestyle activities and dynapenia risks.ResultsAmong 154 participants (mean age 80.3 ± 7.2 years; 53.9% women), 53.9% were classified as having dynapenia at baseline, compared to 55.2% at follow-up. Participants spent an average of 16.9 (± 26.6) min in MVPA, 249.5 (± 85.7) min in LPA, and 604.5 (± 76.4) min in SB daily. The longitudinal analysis results indicated that higher MVPA time was significantly associated with lower odds of dynapenia in both the unadjusted (odds ratio [OR] = 0.625, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.466–0.837) and fully adjusted models (OR = 0.578, 95% CI: 0.406–0.823). Each additional 10 min/day of MVPA was associated with 42.2% lower odds of dynapenia in the adjusted model. No significant prospective associations were observed between the LPA or SB time and dynapenia.ConclusionThis study provides longitudinal evidence that higher MVPA levels are significantly associated with a reduced dynapenia risks among community-dwelling older adults in Taiwan. These findings underscore the importance of promoting MVPA as a part of lifestyle interventions aimed at preserving muscle function and preventing dynapenia in older populations.

To meet the growing demand for neutron-related applications, a quasi-monoenergetic neutron (QMN) beam has been established at the National Atomic Research Institute in Taiwan. To ensure quality assurance and support downstream applications of this neutron source, we developed a time-of-flight (TOF) spectrometer to experimentally verify the QMN beam spectrum. The spectrometer comprises two 2 -inch EJ-309 scintillation detectors, each positioned 20 cm away at a 45-degree angle from the neutron beam port to detect gamma rays emitted from the target, and a 3-inch EJ-309 detector located at a flight distance of 294 cm to measure neutrons. The QMN beam is produced via the <tex xmlns:mml="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" xmlns:xlink="http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink">${ }^{9} \text{Be}(\mathrm{p}, \mathrm{n}){ }^{9} ~\mathrm{B}$</tex> reaction by irradiating a 1 -mm-thick <tex xmlns:mml="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" xmlns:xlink="http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink">${ }^{9} \text{Be}$</tex> target with <tex xmlns:mml="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" xmlns:xlink="http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink">$30-\text{MeV}$</tex> proton bunches from the cyclotron. With an operating frequency of 73.13 MHz, the cyclotron produces proton bunches at 13.67 -ns intervals, resulting in repetitive gamma-ray and neutron bursts that produce periodic gamma-ray/gamma-ray and gamma-ray/neutron coincidence events in the measured TOF spectrum. A dedicated method was developed to extract the neutron spectrum from these repetitive distributions. An effective time window of 13.67 ns was identified to resolve neutron energies within a constrained range of 16.19 to 30 MeV. The measured neutron spectrum exhibits a quasi-monoenergetic distribution with a clear peak at 26 MeV, in excellent agreement with the spectrum simulated by a Monte Carlo model in prior work. This technique provides a reliable approach for implementing quality assurance of proton-cyclotron-based neutron sources.