Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Growth with Equity in East Asia

Rapid growth and structural change have reduced poverty in East Asian economies. Income inequality has been low in Korea and Taiwan, but has risen in recent years with economic liberalization. In the Southeast Asian economies of Thailand, Malaysia and Indonesia, poverty has declined, while income inequality trends have varied, rising most clearly in Thailand. With its strengthened (private) property rights, market liberalization and sustained rapid growth, China has also experienced increased inequality despite considerable poverty reduction. Hence, the common claim of egalitarian growth in East Asia may have been exaggerated, especially since the 1990s.
The Bates method, elixirs, potions and other cures for myopia: how do they work?

Studies have documented a very high prevalence of myopia among urbanized Asian countries over recent decades, reaching epidemic levels of around 70–80% of young adults living in East Asian countries such as Taiwan, Japan, Hong Kong and Singapore. Prevalence levels are typically lower in young Western adults at around 15–30%, but remain significant. Although myopia can be relatively easily corrected with spectacles, contact lenses or refractive surgery, all can have some negative effects on quality of life in younger patients in terms of perceived appearance and convenience (spectacles, especially higher-powered spectacles), convenience (contact lenses) and significant symptoms and functional impairment for those with complications from refractive surgery. In addition, high myopia is associated with a variety of abnormal conditions, including lacquer cracks, posterior staphyloma, chorioretinal atrophy, choroidal neovascularisation, macular atrophy, retinal detachment, cataracts, glaucoma and poorer visual acuity. It is therefore not surprising that there are large numbers of available treatments. Those treatments that have been appropriately assessed to date have shown limited effectiveness in slowing the progression of myopia and many of the myopia ‘cures’ available on the internet (these include vitamins, fish oils, essential oils and herbs) have not been assessed. Could some of these alternative therapies work, and if so, how?
Feline Morbillivirus, a New Paramyxovirus Possibly Associated with Feline Kidney Disease

Feline morbillivirus (FeMV) was first isolated in stray cats in Hong Kong in 2012. Since its discovery, the virus has been reported in domestic cats worldwide, including in Hong Kong, Japan, Italy, US, Brazil, Turkey, UK, Germany, and Malaysia. FeMV is classified in the Morbillivirus genus within the Paramyxoviridae family. FeMV research has focused primarily on determining the host range, symptoms, and characteristics of persistent infections in vitro. Importantly, there is a potential association between FeMV infection and feline kidney diseases, such as tubulointerstitial nephritis (TIN) and chronic kidney diseases (CKD), which are known to significantly affect feline health and survival. However, the tropism and viral entry mechanism(s) of FeMV remain unknown. In this review, we summarize the FeMV studies up to date, including the discoveries of various FeMV strains, basic virology, pathogenicity, and disease signs.
Use and Trade of Bear Body Parts: Impact and Conservation in Arunachal Pradesh State of India

The trade of bear and its body parts for use in traditional medicines, in cuisine, and as pets is widespread in Arunachal Pradesh State of India. The bile from bear gallbladder is an especially coveted medicine in the State where it is used to treat a variety of serious ailments. Bear paws are considered as a ‘tonic'and a gourmet delicacy. Current level of trade in bear and bear parts, coupled with ongoing habitat loss throughoutAsia, suggests a continuing decline in the sun bear (Helarctos malayanus) and the Asiatic black bear (Ursus thibetanus). Bears are protected in India and neighboring countries. During the survey (2007–2009) we recorded (n=701) bear parts, representing a minimum of (n=99) individual of both bear species. Most items were from Asiatic black bear. There were significant temporal and spatial differences in what items were offered for sale. Prices were low (US$ 4–40 item−1) and the total monetary value of the items for sale was USD $,500-5,500 (including gall bladder). Carcasses, skulls, canines, paws, claws, whole skins, pieces of skin, gall bladders and derivates, were openly displayed, with vendors being frank about prices, origin, and potential buyers.
Public Emotions and Rumors Spread During the COVID-19 Epidemic in China: Web-Based Correlation Study

Background Various online rumors have led to inappropriate behaviors among the public in response to the COVID-19 epidemic in China. These rumors adversely affect people’s physical and mental health. Therefore, a better understanding of the relationship between public emotions and rumors during the epidemic may help generate useful strategies for guiding public emotions and dispelling rumors. Objective This study aimed to explore whether public emotions are related to the dissemination of online rumors in the context of COVID-19. Methods We used the web-crawling tool Scrapy to gather data published by People’s Daily on Sina Weibo, a popular social media platform in China, after January 8, 2020. Netizens’ comments under each Weibo post were collected. Nearly 1 million comments thus collected were divided into 5 categories: happiness, sadness, anger, fear, and neutral, based on the underlying emotional information identified and extracted from the comments by using a manual identification process. Data on rumors spread online were collected through Tencent’s Jiaozhen platform. Time-lagged cross-correlation analyses were performed to examine the relationship between public emotions and rumors. Results Our results indicated that the angrier the public felt, the more rumors there would likely be (r=0.48, P<.001). Similar results were observed for the relationship between fear and rumors (r=0.51, P<.001) and between sadness and rumors (r=0.47, P<.001). Furthermore, we found a positive correlation between happiness and rumors, with happiness lagging the emergence of rumors by 1 day (r=0.56, P<.001). In addition, our data showed a significant positive correlation between fear and fearful rumors (r=0.34, P=.02). Conclusions Our findings confirm that public emotions are related to the rumors spread online in the context of COVID-19 in China. Moreover, these findings provide several suggestions, such as the use of web-based monitoring methods, for relevant authorities and policy makers to guide public emotions and behavior during this public health emergency.
C-X-C Chemokine Receptor-3 as a Diagnostic Biomarker in Patients with Rheumatoid Arthritis

Background: Rheumatoid Arthritis (RA) is a chronic and systemic inflammatory disease characterized by synovial inflammation and the progressive destruction of joint ligaments and bones. CXCR3 is a seven-transmembrane G-protein-coupled chemokine receptor that has been appeared to play a vital role in a variety of inflammatory and immunological responses. We aimed to evaluate the utility of serum C-X-C chemokine receptor 3 (CXCR3) levels in the diagnosis, monitor, and follow-up of RA patients. Methods: Sixty RA patients were divided into 30 early RA patients with disease duration < 2 years and 30 longstanding RA patients with disease duration ≥ 2 years. Thirty healthy subjects were recruited as a control group. Medical history and clinical data were taken. All the patients were assessed for erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR), C-reactive protein (CRP), rheumatoid factor (RF), anti-cyclic citrullinated peptide (anti-CCP), and CXCR3 serum levels. Results: Serum CXCR3 level was significantly elevated in RA patients compared to healthy normal controls with a highly statistically significant difference (p< 0.001). The serum levels of CXCR3 were elevated in long-standing RA more than early RA. Serum level of CXCR3 was only positively correlated with the duration of disease (r= 0.540, p= >0.001) and combined treatment (r= 0.296, p= 0.022). Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves were plotted for the prediction of serum CXCR3 in RA patients. The best cut-off value that indicates the presence of early RA disease is 4.026 ng/mL serum CXCR3 with 71.7% sensitivity and 70% specificity (p= 0.005). Conclusion: Serum CXCR3 is an imperative predictive biomarker for the diagnosis of RA, an indicator for early RA disease, and endorses the established RA disease.
Estimated Prevalence and Incidence of Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis and SOD1 and C9orf72 Genetic Variants

Introduction: Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is a rare neurological disorder characterized by progressive deterioration of motor neurons. Assessment of the size/geographic distribution of the ALS population, including ALS with genetic origin, is needed to understand the burden of the disease and the need for clinical intervention and therapy. Objectives: The main objective of this study was to estimate the number of prevalent and incident ALS cases overall and superoxide dismutase 1 (SOD1) and chromosome 9 open reading frame 72 (C9orf72) ALS in 22 countries across Europe (Belgium, France, Germany, Ireland, Italy, Netherlands, Norway, Russia, Spain, Sweden, and UK), North America (USA and Canada), Latin America (Argentina, Brazil, Colombia, Mexico, and Uruguay), and Asia (China, Japan, South Korea, and Taiwan). Methods: A comprehensive literature search was conducted to identify population-based studies reporting ALS prevalence and/or incidence rates. Pooled prevalence and incidence rates were obtained using a meta-analysis approach at the country and regional geographic level. A country-level pooled estimate was used when ≥2 studies were available per country and geographic regional pooled estimates were used otherwise. The proportion of cases with a SOD1 or C9orf72 mutation among sporadic (sALS) and familial (fALS) cases were obtained from a previous systematic review and meta-analysis. Results: Pooled prevalence rates (per 100,000 persons) and incidence rates (per 100,000 person-years) were 6.22 and 2.31 for Europe, 5.20 and 2.35 for North America, 3.41 and 1.25 for Latin America, 3.01 and 0.93 for Asian countries excluding Japan, and 7.96 and 1.76 for Japan, respectively. Significant heterogeneity in reported incidence and prevalence was observed within and between countries/geographic regions. The estimated number of 2020 ALS cases across the 22 countries is 121,028 prevalent and 41,128 incident cases. The total estimated number of prevalent SOD1 cases is 2,876 cases, of which, 1,342 (47%) were fALS and 1,534 (53%) were sALS, and the number of incident SOD1 cases is 946 (434 [46%] fALS and 512 [54%] sALS). The total estimated number of prevalent C9orf72 cases is 4,545 (1,198 [26%] fALS, 3,347 [74%] sALS), and the number of incident C9orf72 cases is 1,706 (450 [26%] fALS and 1,256 [74%] sALS). Discussion: The estimated number of patients with SOD1 and C9orf72 ALS suggests that although the proportions of SOD1 and C9orf72 are higher among those with fALS, the majority of SOD1 and C9orf72 ALS cases may be found among those with sALS (about 53 and 74%, respectively). These results suggest that classification of fALS based on reported family history does not capture the full picture of ALS of genetic origin.
Phylogeography of the Endemic Goby, Rhinogobius maculafasciatus (Pisces: Gobiidae), in Taiwan

Hui-Ling Cheng, Shong Huang, and Sin-Che Lee (2005) Phylogeography of the endemic goby, Rhinogobius maculafasciatus (Pisces: Gobiidae), in Taiwan. Zoological Studies 44(3): 329-336. Genetic diversity within and among populations of the spot-banded goby, Rhinogobius maculafasciatus, in Taiwan was studied by analyzing mitochondrial DNA sequences. The sequence length varied from 2124 to 2126 bp and included the complete cytochrome b gene, 2 tRNA genes, and the control region of mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA). Forty-one haplotypes were identified from 60 specimens. Sequence analysis indicated that 2 distinct clades exist in R. maculafasciatus, and that each clade is divided into 2 subgroups. The 3 populations of the Kaoping River were not included in the same clade. The population sampled from the Lanyang River in northeastern Taiwan probably originated from the eastern coast of China and is connected with populations in southwestern Taiwan by the Coastal Current which flows along the western coast of Taiwan. A hierarchical examination of 6 populations in 3 drainage basins using analysis of molecular variance indicated high genetic differentiation (68.37%) among populations within basins. The results support the hypothesis that the current genetic structure was strongly affected by changes in drainage patterns due to geomorphological processes that occurred in the recent past when the main island of Taiwan formed and separated from the Asian continent 0.55 My before the present.
Regional Blocks and Imperial Legacies: Mapping the Global Offshore FDI Network

abstract While foreign direct investment (FDI) is generally assumed to represent long-term investments within the real economy, approximately 30–50 percent of global FDI is accounted for by networks of offshore shell companies created by corporations and individuals for tax and other purposes. To date, there has been limited systematic research on the global structure of these networks. Here we address this gap by employing principal component analysis to decompose the global bilateral FDI anomaly matrix into its primary constituent subnetworks. We find that the global offshore FDI network is highly globalized, with a centralized core of jurisdictions in Northwest Europe and the Caribbean exercising a largely homogenous worldwide influence. To the extent that the network is internally differentiated, this appears to primarily reflect a historic layering of social and political relationships. We identify four primary offshore FDI subnetworks, bearing the imprint of four key processes and events: European, particularly UK colonialism, the post–WWII hegemonic alliance between the United States and Western Europe, the fall of Soviet communism, and the rise of Chinese capitalism. We also find evidence of qualitative, but not quantitative, variation in offshore FDI based on national rule of law and communist history.
The Georgetown Set: Friends and Rivals in Cold War Washington

were, essentially, a fusion of the period’s cultural panics. The fear of the Soviet Union brought to the surface anxieties regarding various social issues: that women, as mothers, were becoming overly dominant in both the domestic and the political spheres (i.e., Momism); that the populace had become detached from its Judeo-Christian moorings; that tough, plain-speaking, working-class yeomen had become supplanted by effete, upper-class, overeducated weaklings. This “masculinity crisis” resulted in the stabilization of the traditional masculine trope in both national cinema industries. Although Starck shows that Anglo-American Cold War cinematography was linked in terms of the themes directors explored, she is also careful to observe the differences between the two allies. Despite being bound together in their struggle against the Communist threat, the two countries approached this threat from contrasting angles. British films tended to be less overtly anti-Communist, displayed less of a sense of the Red Scare hysteria, and did not glorify the military-industrial complex to the same extent. Finally, when compared to Hollywood, British features tended to be less anti-intellectual. Because British cinema tended to downplay the Cold War or treat it subtly, the British screen ultimately never produced a full-blown Cold Warrior prototype à la John Wayne in Big Jim McLean. Scholars interested in the cultural politics of the early Cold War era will find Starck’s monograph illuminating. Her case studies are instructive, and her analysis is thought-provoking.
Gender’s Effects to the Early Symptoms of Alzheimer’s Disease in 5 Asian Countries

Background: Asia has the greatest population and more patients with dementia in the world. Early recognition of clinical symptoms of Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is crucial for dementia care. In order to foster collaboration in AD care, a uniformed manner to report the early clinical symptoms of AD is necessary. Methods: We have recruited clinically diagnosed patients with AD at their very mild stage with Clinical Dementia Rating (CDR) 0.5 in Taiwan, Japan, China, Philippines, and Singapore. Demographic characteristics and psychometrics including Ascertain of Dementia-8 (AD8) questionnaire were administrated to collect and report the clinical presentation in these countries. Results: In total, 713 clinically diagnosed patients with AD at very mild stage, CDR 0.5, have been recruited from these 5 countries. “Repeats questions, stories, or statements” were consistently the frequently reported symptom across these countries. Taiwan, China, and Singapore have the higher AD8 total score compared to that in Japan and Philippines. Japan and Philippines have the gender-related differences in clinical presentation of early AD. Conclusion: Difficulties in using small trouble appliance and in handling complicated financial affairs were frequently reported in Japan female, compared to male, patients with AD. Identifying the clinical symptom of AD and the gender-related issues would be crucial in the dementia care in Asia.
A COMPARATIVE STUDY OF ADIPOSE LIPID METABOLISM AND EGG YIELDS OF CHICKENS

The energy cost of egg production is significant. The objective of this study was to examine the variation of lipid metabolism in adipose tissue between chickens with different egg yields. Two selected strains of Taiwan country chickens originated from a common population with relatively low (B strain) and high (L2 strain) egg yields were used. Higher levels of glycerol-3-phosphate dehydrogenase (GPDH) activity were detected in the L2 than B hens, suggesting the L2 hens have higher fat storage capacity. The amounts of glycerol released to the medium from the adipocytes isolated from the L2 hens were significantly higher than those from the B hens, reflecting the mobilization of lipid stores from adipose tissue is more effective in the L2 than B hens. Results of reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) analysis showed that the mRNA levels of perilipin and glucose transporter 1 (GLUT1) were significantly higher in the L2 than B hens, while the B hens expressed higher mRNA levels of lipoprotein lipase (LPL) than the L2 hens. Higher levels of genes involved in lipid metabolism were expressed in the high egg-yield strain, although expression of the LPL gene did not correlate with egg yields. Taken together, the results imply that the genes involved in the regulation of the adipose lipid metabolism may contribute to the differences in reproduction performance as observed between the B and L2 hens.
Purifying Indonesia, Purifying Women: The National Commission for Women's Rights and the 1965–1968 anti‐Communist violence

Introduction O n May 29, 2006, Komnas Perempuan, the Indonesian National Commission that advocates for the rights of women, met with a delegation of nineteen women survivors of the 1965–1966 anti-Communist violence to consider their official complaint. The moment was historic: these women officially broke their silence of forty years. Between 1965 and 1968, they had been the victims of horrible acts of violence committed by other Indonesians, their neighbors, colleagues, and even friends. Participating in para-military and vigilante groups, the perpetrators had murdered between half and one million Indonesians and incarcerated more than one million. Accused of harboring Communist sympathies or being active members of the party, many of these women spent decades in jail. For forty years, the Suharto government had forbidden any mention of their plight. Their local communities, at times even their own families, had ostracized them. They had been demonized based on their direct, indirect, or alleged involvement in the Indonesian Communist Party
Antioxidant properties of different portions of organic Anoectochilus formosanus hayata with different drying treatments

Anoectochilus formosanus HAYATA (Orchidaceae) is a valuable herb used as herbal medicine in Taiwan and other Asian countries. In order to enhance the economic efficiency of organic cultivation and understand how the processing affects plant properties, organic A. formosanus extracts were used as the investigative material in this study. The entire plant, the roots, stems and leaves from organic A. formosanus were freeze-dried or hot air-dried; all samples used methanol to extract. The antioxidant properties and active components were analyzed. The results indicated that antioxidant properties of both the freeze-dried and hot air-dried leaves of organic A. formosanus have better performance, including reducing power and α,α-diphenyl-β-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) radical scavenging activity. The contents of phenols and flavonoids showed positive relationships with reducing power, DPPH radical scavenging activity and trolox equivalent antioxidant capacity. The contents of carotenoids positively correlated with trolox equivalent antioxidant capacity and the contents of all active components were negatively correlated with the ferrous ion chelating ability. To summarize the results, freeze-dried leaves of organic A. formosanus have better antioxidant properties at a suitable concentration. This study may raise the economic values of A. formosanus by the organic cultural technique.
Management and Organization Review Special Issue ‘Social Networks ‒ The Dark and Bright Sides of Informal Networks’

Guest Editors: Sven Horak, Fid Afiouni, Yanjie Bian, Alena Ledeneva, and Maral Muratbekova-Touron 1 St. John’s University, USA, 2 American University of Beirut, Lebanon, 3 University of Minnesota, USA, 4 Xi’an Jiatong-Liverpool University, China, 5 University College London, UK, and 6 ESCP Europe, France MOR Deputy Editor: Carl Fey Aalto University, Finland, and Chinese University of Hong Kong, China
Year in review 2016: Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and asthma

Department of Medicine, National University Hospital, Singapore, Department of Medicine and Therapeutics, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China, Helen and Arthur E. Johnson Beth-El College of Nursing and Health Sciences, University of Colorado, Colorado Springs, Colorado, USA, Department of Pulmonology, University Medical Center Groningen, Groningen, The Netherlands, Department of Medicine, Research Centre of Heart, Brain, Hormone and Healthy Aging and Department of Pharmacology and Pharmacy, Research Centre of Heart, Brain, Hormone and Healthy Aging, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong