Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
The public understanding of climate change : A case study of Taiwanese youth

THE PUBLIC UNDERSTANDING OF CLIMATE CHANGE: A CASE STUDY OF TAIWANESE YOUTH by Shih-Yun Kuo Global climate change is likely to be the most challenging environmental dilemma of the 21st century because its impacts on ecosystems and human society are transnational in scale and long term in scope. Due to its high scientific complexity and uncertainty and high political and economic sensitivity, mitigating the problem will require interdisciplinary cooperation and collective and sustained efforts on the part of all nations. Sufficient domestic support from both government and the lay public will not only be significant to the success of an international climate regime, but also crucial to the effectiveness of potential domestic climate policies. Such circumstances call for exploration of how the level of the public’s scientific understanding of climate change influences choices for climate protective actions and support for climate policies. Social scientists have the responsibility to explore how people perceive, understand, and respond to global climate change and to investigate the roles and interrelationships of various actors (e.g., scientists, citizens, and elected and appointed officials) in the policy-making process. Compared with numerous social scientific studies of global climate change in North America and Europe, substantially fewer investigations have focused on other regions of the world. Therefore, this doctoral research presents a case study of domestic climate policy formulation premised on the integration of science and citizens in an industrialized Asian society—Taiwan. This dissertation reports the views of Taiwanese youth with respect to global climate change based on data compiled from three empirical studies (i.e., integrated assessment focus groups, preand post-surveys, and a web-based survey). These studies in combination present three primary findings: 1) Most Taiwanese young adults tend to endorse pro-climate protection attitudes and behaviors; 2) These young adults display an extensive but limited scientific understanding pertaining to the problem; 3) A process of experimental participation with scientists enhanced individual scientific understanding and policy making. Further investigation revealed that these perceptions were grounded in a strong sense of ecological citizenship, which is likely influenced by the contemporary environmental movement in Taiwan since the 1980s. While this case study finds that scientific knowledge is less influential in determining individual behavioral intentions than public attitudes toward climate change, the continual enhancement of public ethical awareness about global climate change provides a helpful approach for policy makers seeking to obtain public support. THE PUBLIC UNDERSTANDING OF CLIMATE CHANGE: A CASE STUDY OF TAIWANESE YOUTH
Is looking always more important than listening in tourist experience?

ABSTRACT This study aims to compare the function of soundscape and visualscape in the tourist holistic experience through the lens of the cognition–emotion model. A questionnaire was distributed to collect data from 563 domestic tourists visiting Jiuzhai Valley National Park, China. Partial least squares regression–structural equation modeling (PLS–SEM) and a number of recently developed advanced analysis methods were used. Results indicate that soundscape and visualscape have different impacts on tourist cognition and emotion. Soundscape directly influences tourist overall satisfaction and visualscape observed. Tourist overall satisfaction is based on a listening–looking congruence. The findings suggest that managers should make good use of soundscape and consider its congruence with visualscape when designing tourist experience.
High-urgency kidney transplantation in the Eurotransplant Kidney Allocation System: success or waste of organs? The Eurotransplant 15-year all-centre survey.

BACKGROUND In the Eurotransplant Kidney Allocation System (ETKAS), transplant candidates can be considered for high-urgency (HU) status in case of life-threatening inability to undergo renal replacement therapy. Data on the outcomes of HU transplantation are sparse and the benefit is controversial. METHODS We systematically analysed data from 898 ET HU kidney transplant recipients from 61 transplant centres between 1996 and 2010 and investigated the 5-year patient and graft outcomes and differences between relevant subgroups. RESULTS Kidney recipients with an HU status were younger (median 43 versus 55 years) and spent less time on the waiting list compared with non-HU recipients (34 versus 54 months). They received grafts with significantly more mismatches (mean 3.79 versus 2.42; P < 0.001) and the percentage of retransplantations was remarkably higher (37.5 versus 16.7%). Patient survival (P = 0.0053) and death with a functioning graft (DwFG; P < 0.0001) after HU transplantation were significantly worse than in non-HU recipients, whereas graft outcome was comparable (P = 0.094). Analysis according to the different HU indications revealed that recipients listed HU because of an imminent lack of access for dialysis had a significantly worse patient survival (P = 0.0053) and DwFG (P = 0.0462) compared with recipients with psychological problems and suicidality because of dialysis. In addition, retransplantation had a negative impact on patient and graft outcome. CONCLUSIONS Facing organ shortages, increasing wait times and considerable mortality on dialysis, we question the current policy of HU allocation and propose more restrictive criteria with regard to individuals with vascular complications or repeated retransplantations in order to support patients on the non-HU waiting list with a much better long-term prognosis.
Genetic and environmental regulation of Na/K adenosine triphosphatase activity in diabetic patients.

Even if the pathogenesis of diabetic neuropathy is incompletely understood, an impaired Na/K adenosine triphosphatase (ATPase) activity has been involved in this pathogenesis. We previously showed that a restriction fragment length polymorphism (RFLP) of the ATP1-A1 gene encoding for the Na/K ATPase's alpha 1 isoform is associated with a low Na/K ATPase activity in the red blood cells (RBCs) of type 1 diabetic patients. We thus suggested that the presence of the variant of the ATP1A1 gene is a predisposing factor for diabetic neuropathy, with a 6.5% relative risk. Furthermore, there is experimental evidence showing that lack of C-peptide impairs Na/K ATPase activity, and that this activity is positively correlated with C-peptide level. The aim of this study was to evaluate the respective influence of genetic (ATP1-A1 polymorphism) and environmental (lack of C-peptide) factors on RBC's Na/K ATPase activity. Healthy and diabetic European and North African subjects were studied. North Africans were studied because there is a high prevalence and severity of neuropathy in this diabetic population, and ethnic differences in RBC's Na/K ATPase activity are described. In Europeans, Na/K ATPase activity was significantly lower in type 1 (285 +/- 8 nmol Pi/mg protein/h) than in type 2 diabetic patients (335 +/- 13 nmol Pi/mg protein/h) or healthy subjects (395 +/- 9 nmol Pi/mg protein/h). Among type 2 diabetic patients, there was a significant correlation between RBC's Na/K ATPase activity and fasting plasma C-peptide level (r = 0.32, P <.05). In North Africans, we confirm the ethnic RBC's Na/K ATPase activity decrease in healthy subjects (296 +/- 26 v 395 +/- 9 nmol Pi/mg protein/h, r < 0.05), as well as in type 1 diabetic patients (246 +/- 20 v 285 +/- 8 nmol Pi/mg protein/h; P <.05). However, there is no relationship between the ATP1A1 gene polymorphism and Na/K ATPase activity. ATP1A1 gene polymorphism could not explain the ethnic difference. We previously showed that Na/K ATPase activity is higher in type 1 diabetic patients without the restriction site on ATP1A1 than in those heterozygous for the restriction site. This fact was not observed in healthy subjects. In type 2 diabetic patients, association between ATP1A1 gene polymorphism and decreased enzyme activity was found only in patients with a low C-peptide level. Therefore, the ATP1-A1 gene polymorphism influences Na/K ATPase activity only in case of complete or partial C-peptide deficiency, as observed in type 1 and some type 2 diabetic patients, without any correlation with hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c). Correlation observed between C-peptide levels and RBC's Na/K ATPase suggests that the deleterious effect of C peptide deficiency on Na/K ATPase activity is worse in the presence of the restriction site. This may explain the high relative risk of developing the neuropathy observed in type 1 diabetic patients bearing the variant allele.
Ontogenic expression of TGFbeta 1, 2, and 3 and its receptors in the rat gastric mucosa.

The stomach of the rat undergoes extensive changes during the formation and maturation of gastric glands. The presence of transforming growth factor beta (TGFbeta) in rat milk and in the gastrointestinal tract of pups may suggest its role in this process. The current study evaluated the in vivo dynamic expression and distribution of TGFbeta1, beta2, beta3 and their receptors TbetaRI and TbetaRII in the gastric epithelium of 20-day fetal rats and 1-, 14-, 21-, and 30-day-old pups. Immunohistochemistry was used to detect the proteins, and staining was classified according to intensity and cell type. The results showed that the gastric epithelium expresses TGFbeta isoforms and receptors throughout development. We found that immunoreactivity paralleled the appearance of differentiated cells, such that surface mucous cells were the first to be immunostained and chief cells were the last. The intensity of reactions followed this same pattern, showing that the expression of TGFbeta isoforms spread along the gland with growth. Of interest, the highest apparent activity of TGFbeta was observed from 21 days onward, a period that is concomitant with weaning and maturation of most gastric cell types. In addition, surface mucous cells were strongly labeled at the basal cytoplasm at 14 days, suggesting an interaction with the connective tissue. In conclusion, the dynamic expression of TGFbeta1, beta2, beta3, and TbetaRI and TbetaRII through stomach development suggests significant paracrine and autocrine roles for this growth factor. We propose that temporal and spatial differences may be regulated by dietary changes, which in turn control cell proliferation and differentiation in the gastric epithelium.
Selective Impairment of P2Y Signaling by Prostaglandin E2 in Macrophages: Implications for Ca2+-Dependent Responses

Extracellular nucleotides have been recognized as important modulators of inflammation via their action on specific pyrimidine receptors (P2). This regulation coexists with the temporal framework of proinflammatory and proresolution mediators released by the cells involved in the inflammatory response, including macrophages. Under proinflammatory conditions, the expression of cyclooxygenase-2 leads to the release of large amounts of PGs, such as PGE2, that exert their effects through EP receptors and other intracellular targets. The effect of these PGs on P2 receptors expressed in murine and human macrophages was investigated. In thioglycollate-elicited and alternatively activated macrophages, PGE2 selectively impairs P2Y but not P2X7 Ca2+ mobilization. This effect is absent in LPS-activated cells and is specific for PGE2 because it cannot be reproduced by other PGs with cyclopentenone structure. The inhibition of P2Y responses by PGE2 involves the activation of nPKCs (PKCε) and PKD that can be abrogated by selective inhibitors or by expression of dominant-negative forms of PKD. The inhibition of P2Y signaling by PGE2 has an impact on the cell migration elicited by P2Y agonists in thioglycollate-elicited and alternatively activated macrophages, which provide new clues to understand the resolution phase of inflammation, when accumulation of PGE2, anti-inflammatory and proresolving mediators occurs.
Saliva urea nitrogen dipstick - a novel bedside diagnostic tool for acute kidney injury.

BACKGROUND AND AIMS Measurement of saliva urea nitrogen (SUN) may be valuable in the screening of kidney failure. Here we evaluate the diagnostic performance of SUN dipsticks in patients with acute kidney injury (AKI). MATERIAL AND METHODS We measured SUN and blood urea nitrogen (BUN) in hospitalized patients diagnosed with AKI based on Acute Kidney Injury Network (AKIN)-criteria. After collection, saliva was transferred to a colorimetric SUN dipstick. We then compared the resultant test-pad color to six standardized color fields indicating SUN of 5 - 14 (#1), 15 - 24 (#2), 25 - 34 (#3), 35 - 54 (#4), 55 - 74 (#5), and ≥ 75 (#6) mg/dL, respectively. We assessed the performance of SUN and BUN to discriminate AKIN 3 from earlier stages by the area under receiver operating characteristic curves (AUC ROC). RESULTS We enrolled 44 patients (59.5 ± 18 years, 58% female; pre-renal AKI: 67%; renal 24%; post-renal 9%) in AKIN stages 1 (59%), 2 (16%), and 3 (25%). SUN and BUN levels were correlated (Spearman rank Rs = 0.69; p < 0.001, n = 44) with the highest correlation in AKIN 1 (Rs = 0.63, p = 0.001, n = 26). SUN allowed a significant discrimination of AKIN 3 from earlier stages (AUC ROC 0.91; 95% CI 0.80 - 1.0), which was comparable to the diagnostic performance of BUN (AUC ROC 0.90; 95% CI 0.78 - 1.0). CONCLUSIONS SUN dipsticks allow the discrimination of AKIN 3 from earlier AKI stages. This low-technology approach may aid the screening of severe AKI in areas where laboratory resources are scarce.
ANALYSIS OF THE IMPACT OF MIGRATIONS AND REMITTANCES ON INCOME DIVERSIFICATION IN RURAL AFRICA: A CASE STUDY OF KENYA

Income diversification constitutes an important livelihood strategy for rural households in developing countries in general and Sub-Saharan Africa in particular. Using data collected by the World Bank in rural Kenya, the estimated results from the bivariate and 2SLS models show that the average partial effects of remittances on activity choices indicate that household propensity to seek non-cropping income was higher for households with external remittances than those with internal remittances. In addition, poor households diversified less than better-off households, implying that diversification is viewed more as a means of wealth accumulation than a survival strategy in this part of Kenya.
Identifying adaptive genetic divergence among populations from genome scans

The identification of signatures of natural selection in genomic surveys has become an area of intense research, stimulated by the increasing ease with which genetic markers can be typed. Loci identified as subject to selection may be functionally important, and hence (weak) candidates for involvement in disease causation. They can also be useful in determining the adaptive differentiation of populations, and exploring hypotheses about speciation. Adaptive differentiation has traditionally been identified from differences in allele frequencies among different populations, summarised by an estimate of FST. Low outliers relative to an appropriate neutral population‐genetics model indicate loci subject to balancing selection, whereas high outliers suggest adaptive (directional) selection. However, the problem of identifying statistically significant departures from neutrality is complicated by confounding effects on the distribution of FST estimates, and current methods have not yet been tested in large‐scale simulation experiments. Here, we simulate data from a structured population at many unlinked, diallelic loci that are predominantly neutral but with some loci subject to adaptive or balancing selection. We develop a hierarchical‐Bayesian method, implemented via Markov chain Monte Carlo (MCMC), and assess its performance in distinguishing the loci simulated under selection from the neutral loci. We also compare this performance with that of a frequentist method, based on moment‐based estimates of FST. We find that both methods can identify loci subject to adaptive selection when the selection coefficient is at least five times the migration rate. Neither method could reliably distinguish loci under balancing selection in our simulations, even when the selection coefficient is twenty times the migration rate.
11C-Acetate PET/CT in Localized Prostate Cancer: A Study with MRI and Histopathologic Correlation

This work characterizes the uptake of 11C-acetate in prostate cancer (PCa), benign prostate hyperplasia, and normal prostate tissue in comparison with multiparametric MRI, whole-mount histopathology, and clinical markers to evaluate the potential utility of 11C-acetate for delineating intraprostatic tumors in a population of patients with localized PCa. Methods: Thirty-nine men with presumed localized PCa underwent dynamic–static abdominal–pelvic 11C-acetate PET/CT for 30 min and 3-T multiparametric MRI before prostatectomy. PET/CT images were registered to MR images using pelvic bones for initial rotation–translation, followed by manual adjustments to account for prostate motion and deformation from the MRI endorectal coil. Whole-mount pathology specimens were sectioned using an MRI-based patient-specific mold resulting in improved registration between the MRI, PET, and pathology. 11C-acetate PET standardized uptake values were compared with multiparametric MRI and pathology. Results: 11C-acetate uptake was rapid but reversible, peaking at 3–5 min after injection and reaching a relative plateau at approximately 10 min. The average maximum standardized uptake value (10–12 min) of tumors was significantly higher than that of normal prostate tissue (4.4 ± 2.05 [range, 1.8–9.2] vs. 2.1 ± 0.94 [range, 0.7–3.4], respectively; P < 0.001); however, it was not significantly different from that of benign prostatic hyperplasia (4.8 ± 2.01 [range, 1.8–8.8]). A sector-based comparison with histopathology, including all tumors greater than 0.5 cm, revealed a sensitivity and specificity of 61.6% and 80.0%, respectively, for 11C-acetate PET/CT and 82.3% and 95.1%, respectively, for MRI. The 11C-acetate accuracy was comparable to that of MRI when only tumors greater than 0.9 cm were considered. In a small cohort (n = 9), 11C-acetate uptake was independent of fatty acid synthase expression using immunohistochemistry. Conclusion: 11C-acetate PET/CT demonstrates higher uptake in tumor foci than in normal prostate tissue; however, 11C-acetate uptake in tumors is similar to that in benign prostate hyperplasia nodules. Although 11C-acetate PET/CT is not likely to have utility as an independent modality for evaluation of localized PCa, the high uptake in tumors may make it useful for monitoring focal therapy when tissue damage after therapy may limit anatomic imaging methods.
Founder‐CEOs and Corporate Turnaround Among Declining Firms

Manuscript Type. Empirical. Research Question/Issue. Despite the growing interest in leaders' role in the turnaround process, there is a paucity of research on founder&#8208;CEOs' role in achieving successful turnaround among declining firms. In this study, using insights from the organizational identification literature, we argue that founder&#8208;CEOs play an important role in turnaround attempts due to their strong organizational commitment and psychological attachment to the declining firm as well as the relative absence of agency problem issues common among their non&#8208;founder counterparts. Research Findings/Insights. Using data from a matched pair sample of 142 US firms that experienced performance decline, we found that founder&#8208;CEO leadership significantly increases in declining firms. We also found that, among turnaround firms, those led by founder&#8208;CEOs tend to put more emphasis on market&#8208;based turnaround strategies, such as new product introductions, and less emphasis on retrenchment actions, such as divestments. Theoretical/Academic Implications. Our findings contribute to corporate turnaround research by providing a more nuanced view of leaders' role in the turnaround process by specifically exploring the effect of founder CEO leadership. Furthermore, this study contributes to the turnaround literature by highlighting the strategic choices of founder&#8208;CEO&#8208;led firms and how these choices influence successful turnaround. Finally, by introducing organizational identification perspective, this study provides additional theoretical explanation of leadership antecedents of successful turnarounds. Practitioner/Policy Implications. The findings of this study suggest that boards of directors, shareholders, and consultants who often participate in turnaround management should carefully consider retaining founder&#8208;CEOs and endorsing their leadership during the turnaround process. Further, the findings provide turnaround specialists and other stakeholders with further understanding of not only the importance of product market strategies in the turnaround process but also founder&#8208;CEOs' role in fostering such strategies.
Phosphorus-containing food additives and the accuracy of nutrient databases: implications for renal patients.

OBJECTIVE Phosphorus-containing additives are increasingly being added to food products. We sought to determine the potential impact of these additives. We focused on chicken products as an example. METHODS We purchased a variety of chicken products, prepared them according to package directions, and performed laboratory analyses to determine their actual phosphorus content. We used ESHA Food Processor SQL Software (version 9.8, ESHA Research, Salem, OR) to determine the expected phosphorus content of each product. RESULTS Of 38 chicken products, 35 (92%) had phosphorus-containing additives listed among their ingredients. For every category of chicken products containing additives, the actual phosphorus content was greater than the content expected from nutrient database. For example, actual phosphorus content exceeded expected phosphorus content by an average of 84 mg/100 g for breaded breast strips. There was also a great deal of variation within each category. For example, the difference between actual and expected phosphorus content ranged from 59-165 mg/100 g for breast patties. Two 100-g servings of additive-containing products contained, on average, 440 mg of phosphorus, or about half the total daily recommended intake for dialysis patients. CONCLUSIONS Phosphorus-containing additives significantly increase the amount of phosphorus in chicken products. Available nutrient databases do not reflect this higher phosphorus content, and the variation between similar products makes it impossible for patients and dietitians to accurately estimate phosphorus content. We recommend that dialysis patients limit their intake of additive-containing products, and that the phosphorus content of food products be included on nutrition facts labels.