Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Effects of botanical extracts and formulations against fruit fly, fruit and pod borers on tomato and yard-long bean

R. Srinivasana, M‐Y. Lina, S. Yuleb, C‐C. Huanga and Y‐C. Hsua aAVRDC – The World Vegetable Center, 60 Yi Ming Liao, Shanhua, Tainan 74151, Taiwan; bAVRDC East and Southeast Asia, Kasetsart University, Kamphaeng Saen campus, Nakhon Pathom, Thailand Seed kernel extracts of China berry (Melia azedarach) against oriental fruit fly (Bactrocera dorsalis) and tomato fruit borer (Helicoverpa armigera), and commercial neem formulations containing azadirachtin (Biofree–I and Thai neem 111) against the legume pod borer (Maruca vitrata) were tested in Taiwan and Thailand to confirm their effects on oviposition, feeding, growth and development. Various extracts from M. azedarach seed kernels significantly reduced the oviposition of B. dorsalis and the efficacy was similar to Biofree–I. The green drupe and dry seed kernel extracts of M. azedarach substantially increased larval mortality, and reduced successful pupation, pupal weight, adult emergence, fecundity and egg hatch of H. armigera larvae. Commercial neem formulations exhibited adverse morphogenic effects on various biological parameters of M. vitrata, but they did not reduce oviposition and egg hatch. M. azedarach extracts and commercial neem formulations can be employed together for the sustainable management of B. dorsalis, H. armigera and M. vitrata.
Causality and cointegration of stock markets within the Asian growth triangle

This paper explores the co-integration and causality relationships amongst the Asian Triangle stock exchange indices. These Asian triangle regions consists of the eight key markets of Shanghai, Shenzhen, Hong Kong, Thailand, Philippines, Malaysia, Korea, and Indonesia. In applying modern unit root and cointegration econometric techniques that will allow for structural breaks over our sample period of data (October 2002 to August 2018), we found that there is no co-integration within these markets except for that between Shenzhen and Shanghai. By using Granger causality tests, Johansen, and impulse response functions, we will show that stock price changes in Hong Kong have more impact on Asian triangle markets than that of any other market. More specifically, price changes in the Philippines market can be used to gauge the succeeding movement of the other Asian markets excluding Shenzhen and Shanghai. We develop various potential and current relationships within these markets that would lead one to further empirical research. Our overall finding was that Hong Kong being the epicenter still plays an important role in assisting and motivating emerging markets as shown through our impulse response testing and would therefore not yet rule out the importance of developed economies.
Mymarommatoidea, a Superfamily of Hymenoptera New for the Hawaiian Islands

The family Mymarommatidae, represented by an unidentified species of Palaeomymar Meunier related to P. goethei (Girault), is reported for the first time from the Hawaiian Islands. The first Hawaiian specimen of Palaeomymar Meunier was collected in 1981 by sweep- ing. The specimen was critical point dried and point mounted. During insect survey work on Molokai, one of us (WDP) collected ten additional specimens using yellow sticky board traps hung five to seven feet above the ground in roadside trees. Specimens were removed from the traps with lighter fluid, cleared briefly in 10% KOH, and slide mounted in Canada balsam. The specimens are deposited in the Bernice P. Bishop Museum, (BPBM), Hawaii Department of Agriculture, Honolulu (HDOA), and Canadian National Collection of In- sects (CNCI), Ottawa. Family Mymarommatidae The small family Mymarommatidae (Mymarommidae or Mymaromminae of authors) formerly was classified either in the Chalcidoidea (Debauche 1948, Gauld and Bolton 1988) or in the fossil family Sephitidae of the Proctotrupoidea (Nikol'skaya 1987). It is now often placed in its own superfamily, and is probably the sister group to the Chalcidoidea (Gibson 1986, 1993). Although mymarommatids superficially resemble Mymaridae (Chalcidoidea) in size and general appearance, they differ from all chalcidoids in lacking a prepectus, lacking sensory ridges (longitudinal multiporous plate sensilla) from the funicle segments, and possessing a two-segmented gastral petiole (Fig. 1). The structure of mymarommatid wings is unique in that the hind wing is reduced to a very short, bifurcate halterlike structure without mem- brane, and the forewing (Fig. 1) has reticulate pattern on its surface. The structure of the head is also unique. The front of the head consists of a single hemispherical sclerite bearing the mouthparts, antennae, and eyes. The back of the head is a flat plate separated laterally and dorsally from the rest of the head by a bellows-like membrane. Mymarommatidae is an ancient family whose fossils have been described from Creta- ceous and more recent amber. Palaeomymar Meunier (junior syn. Mymaromma Girault) has eight extant species. It is worldwide in distribution and occurs on all continents and associated continental islands including, for the Pacific region, Japan, Taiwan, Philippines,
Applying Stochastic Frontier Analysis to Measure
the Operating Efficiency of Solar Energy
Companies in China and Taiwan

Climate change and the depletion of fossil fuels are the biggest challenges that humanity faces today. Solar energy can be used to mitigate climate change and reduce the demand for fossil fuels. Therefore, governments in different countries have actively developed the solar energy industry as a renewable energy industry. Although China and Taiwan respectively occupy first and second place in the current global output of solar energy products, they face serious pressure in the international market. To measure the operating efficiency of solar energy companies in China and Taiwan, this study combines the Shephard distance function and stochastic frontier analysis incorporating environmental variables. The empirical results show that: (1) China has better labour efficiency, (2) Taiwan has better operating cost efficiency, (3) both regions have extremely poor expenditure efficiency on R&D and the R&D expenditure rate is low, (4) the larger a company’s size, the higher the labour efficiency and cost efficiency, and (5) the prices of raw materials have a direct impact on operating costs. It is hoped that the results of this research can provide recommendations for and promote changes in the operating and management strategies of the solar energy industry, improving its operating efficiency.
Analysis of Recent Interception Records Reveals Frequent Transport of Arboreal Ants and Potential Predictors for Ant Invasion in Taiwan

We uncovered taxonomic diversity, country of origin and commodity type of intercepted ants at Taiwanese borders based on an 8 year database of 439 interception records. We found intercepted ants arrived predominantly via timber, a pattern likely reflecting the high domestic demand for foreign timber in Taiwan. The most frequently intercepted species were either arboreal or wood-dwelling ants, raising a concern of these ants constituting a next wave of ant invasion in Taiwan. Further analyses indicate that the taxonomic composition of intercepted ants does not match that of established non-native ant species, suggesting that interception data alone fails to provide adequate power to predict the establishment success of ants. Yet, interception frequency and selected life-history traits (i.e., flexible colony founding mode and general nesting habits) were shown to jointly serve as a practical predictor of the establishment risk of non-native ants. Consistent with other border interception databases, secondary introduction (i.e., species arriving from their introduced ranges instead of their native ranges) also represents a major pathway for transport of invasive ants into Taiwan, suggesting its role in shaping the global invasion of ants. Our findings offer baseline information for constructing a prediction framework for future ant invasions and assist in the decision-making process of quarantine authorities in Taiwan.
Transmissibility of coronavirus disease 2019 in Chinese cities with different dynamics of imported cases

Background Monitoring the reproduction number (Rt) of the disease could help determine whether there is sustained transmission in a population, but areas with similar epidemic trends could have different transmission dynamics given the risk from imported cases varied across regions. In this study, we examined the Rt of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) by taking different dynamics of imported cases into account and compared the transmissibility of COVID-19 at different intervention periods in Hangzhou and Shenzhen. Methods We obtained the daily aggregated counts of laboratory-confirmed imported and local cases of COVID-19 infections in Hangzhou and Shenzhen from January 1 to March 13, 2020. Daily Rt and piecewise Rt before and after Wuhan lockdown were estimated, accounting for imported cases. Results Since the epidemic of COVID-19 in Shenzhen was dominated by imported cases, Rt was around 0.1 to 0.7 before the Wuhan lockdown. After the lockdown of Wuhan and the initialization of measures in response to the outbreak, local transmission was well-controlled as indicated by a low estimated value of piecewise Rt, 0.15 (95% CI [0.09–0.21]). On the contrary, Rt obtained for Hangzhou ranged from 1.2 to 4.9 with a piecewise Rt of 2.55 (95% CI [2.13–2.97]) before the lockdown of Wuhan due to the surge in local cases. Because of the Wuhan lockdown and other outbreak response measures, Rt dropped below unity in mid-February. Conclusions Even though Shenzhen had more cases than Hangzhou, local transmission did not sustain probably due to limited transmission from imported cases owing to the reduction in local susceptibles as residents left the city during Chunyun. The lockdown measures and local outbreak responses helped reduce the local transmissibility.
Financial Inscriptions and Social Accountability Processes

Social media is changing the practice of social accountability. The release of the Panama Papers on April 3, 2016 by the International Consortium of Investigative Journalists (ICIJ) unleashed a tsunami of over 5 million tweets decrying corrupt politicians and tax-avoiding business elites, calling for policy change from governments, and demanding accountability from corporate and private tax avoiders. The current study uses 297,000+ original English-language geo-codable tweets with the hashtags #PanamaGate, #PanamaPapers, or #PanamaLeaks to consider how financial inscriptions participated in the subsequent Twitter conversation. We specifically examine four aspects of the Twitter- based social accountability process that get at, respectively, the public’s message-based reactions to the Panama Papers, the nature of the emergent social accountability interest network, the participation of financial inscriptions in network interest definition activities, and the “reactivation” of network members by the subsequent release of the Paradise Papers in late 2017. The results illustrate that financial inscriptions, as well as value-based inscriptions, participated in the emergence and coalescing of a social accountability interest network. Furthermore, both active and latent network participants were subsequently reactivated by the release of the Paradise Papers a year and a half later.
Genomic Epidemiology of SARS-CoV-2 From Mainland China With Newly Obtained Genomes From Henan Province

Even though the COVID-19 epidemic in China has been successfully put under control within a few months, it is still very important to infer the origin time and genetic diversity from the perspective of the whole genome sequence of its agent, SARS-CoV-2. Yet, the sequence of the entire virus genome from China in the current public database is very unevenly distributed with reference to time and place of collection. In particular, only one sequence was obtained in Henan province, adjacent to China's worst-case province, Hubei Province. Herein, we used high-throughput sequencing techniques to get 19 whole-genome sequences of SARS-CoV-2 from 18 severe patients admitted to the First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, a provincial designated hospital for the treatment of severe COVID-19 cases in Henan province. The demographic, baseline, and clinical characteristics of these patients were described. To investigate the molecular epidemiology of SARS-CoV-2 of the current COVID-19 outbreak in China, 729 genome sequences (including 19 sequences from this study) sampled from Mainland China were analyzed with state-of-the-art comprehensive methods, including likelihood-mapping, split network, ML phylogenetic, and Bayesian time-scaled phylogenetic analyses. We estimated that the evolutionary rate and the time to the most recent common ancestor (TMRCA) of SARS-CoV-2 from Mainland China were 9.25 × 10−4 substitutions per site per year (95% BCI: 6.75 × 10−4 to 1.28 × 10−3) and October 1, 2019 (95% BCI: August 22, 2019 to November 6, 2019), respectively. Our results contribute to studying the molecular epidemiology and genetic diversity of SARS-CoV-2 over time in Mainland China.
IS TRADING WITH CHINA DIFFERENT? SELF-INTEREST, NATIONAL PRIDE, AND TRADE PREFERENCES

Abstract Despite increasing economic integrations with China, worries exist in China's neighboring countries about China's implicit political intention. Do people view trading with China differently? In this article, we incorporate the political context of trade agreements by showing that trade with partners who come with political costs is less likely to be supported. Using a nationally representative survey experiment from Taiwan, we find that trading with China garners less support than trading with Japan or Malaysia, and nationalism suppresses self-interest when the proposed trading partner is China. We show that national attachment, which is neither a proxy for political identification nor a proxy for national chauvinism, becomes a stronger predictor of trade preferences toward China. While the political tension between China and Taiwan is unique, many countries see at least one other country posing a negative externality. Our finding suggests strongly identified nationalists would oppose engaging with a hostile outsider regardless of their self-interest.
Human Papillomavirus Vaccine to End Oropharyngeal Cancer. A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

Abstract Oropharyngeal cancer (OPC) is currently the most frequent human papillomavirus (HPV)–related malignancy in high-income countries. Oral HPV16 infection is the cause of HPV-related OPC in more than 90% of cases and is primarily (90%) linked to oral sex. This systematic review and meta-analysis aimed at comparing the prevalence of oral vaccine–type HPV infection in individuals vaccinated with HPV vaccines and unvaccinated controls. Three databases (MEDLINE, ScienceDirect, and the Cochrane Library), as well as other sources, were searched by 2 independent reviewers. Controlled studies testing the efficacy or effectiveness of licensed HPV vaccines were included. The primary end point was multiple oral HPV infections in one individual with low-risk and high-risk types. Secondary end point was the number of oral HPV16 infections. Six studies—2 randomized controlled trials and 4 cross-sectional studies—with a total of 15,240 participants were included in a meta-analysis, which showed that vaccinated individuals were 46% (risk ratio, 0.54; 95% confidence interval, 0.32–0.91) less likely to develop oral vaccine–type HPV infection (P = 0.02). A second meta-analysis of 4 studies (1 randomized controlled trial and 3 cross-sectional studies) and 13.285 participants showed 80% (risk ratio, 0.20; 95% confidence interval, 0.09–0.43) less likelihood of oral HPV16 infection (P < 0.0001). This study suggests that HPV vaccines can protect against oral vaccine–type HPV infection including high-risk HPV16 infection, thus reducing the incidence of HPV-related OPC. Vaccination against HPV, especially in males, who are predominantly affected by HPV-related OPC, could result in the prevention of this disease.
Bioethical Threads in the Reflection of Tibetan Refugees in India

This article aims to trace and describe the bioethical threads in medical practice and the understanding of medicine among Tibetan refugees living in India. Taking up such a task results mainly from the fact that only traces of bioethical reflection are visible in Tibetan society, but without the awareness that it requires systematic reflection on its essence and changes that accompany modern medicine. I define the state of the discussion on Tibetan bioethics as preparadigmatic, i.e., one that precedes the recognition of the importance of bioethics and the elaboration of its basic concepts. In this paper, I will show how the Tibetan refugees today, in an unconscious way, approach bioethics, using the example of life-related topics, namely beginning and death. To this end, I chose topics such as abortion, fetal sex reassignment, euthanasia, and suicide. On this basis, I will indicate the main reasons that hinder the emergence of bioethics and those that may contribute to systematic discussions in the future. An introduction to Tibetan medicine will precede these considerations. I will show how medical traditions, especially the Rgyud bzhi text, are related to Tibetan Buddhism and opinions of the 14th Dalai Lama.
The impact of rotavirus vaccination in the prevalence of gastroenteritis and comorbidities among children after suboptimal rotavirus vaccines implementation in Taiwan

Abstract In Taiwan, rotavirus vaccination was implemented in 2006 in the private sector. The population-based impact of rotavirus vaccination on gastroenteritis and comorbidities of children remains under-investigated. We analyzed the annual prevalence of rotavirus-related disease, including gastroenteritis, convulsions, epilepsy, type I diabetes mellitus, intussusception, and biliary atresia among children under 5 years of age. Data were collected from Taiwan's National Health Insurance Research Database, a nationwide population-based database. A 16-year retrospective cohort study was conducted between 2000 and 2015. Among children <5 years of age, the prevalence of gastroenteritis decreased after 2012 (44,259.69 per 100 thousands) and remained lower through 2015 (39,931.11per 100 thousands, P < .001). The prevalence of convulsions rose steadily and significantly from 2007 (775.90 per 100 thousands) to 2015 (962.17 per 100 thousands, P < .001). The prevalence of epilepsy decreased significantly until reaching a nadir in 2013 (from 501.56 to 293.53 per 100 thousands, P < .001). The prevalence of biliary atresia tended upward, and surged suddenly in 2007 with a peak in 2013 (18.74 per 100 thousands). Among infants (<1 year of age) from 2000 to 2015, the prevalence of gastroenteritis declined steadily, and more rapidly after 2007 (22,513 to 17,285 per 100 thousands). In Taiwan, after introducing rotavirus vaccination, gastroenteritis in young children decreased, especially in infancy. However, gastroenteritis is still common in children, given other emerging pathogens. Our results highlight the impact of rotavirus vaccines on children's health in Taiwan and provide indications for future preventive medicine and healthcare strategies in children.
The Great Firewall’s active probing circumvention technique with port knocking and SDN

of the master’s thesis Author Pavel Liubinskii Title The Great Firewall’s active probing circumvention technique with port knocking and SDN Degree programme Computer, Communication and Information Sciences Major Communications Engineering Code of major ELEC24 Supervisor Prof. Jukka Manner Advisor MSc Markus Peuhkuri Date 31.12. 2020 Number of pages 65 Language English
EXPLAINING DEMOCRATIC DECONSOLIDATION: EVIDENCE FROM ASIAN DEMOCRACIES

Are Asian democracies deconsolidating, in line with world-wide trends? This article examines four consolidated democracies in Asia: Japan, South Korea, and Taiwan, plus Indonesia, whose own consolidation has been problematic. Using public opinion data, we evaluate two competing models�civic culture and political economy�to test whether there is a decline in democratic support. We report that the political economy model is more persuasive. Declines in democratic support are associated more consistently with democratic performance and education. Because education levels are tending to rise, and political socialization continues into adulthood, we conclude that there should be little fear that Asian democracies will deconsolidate.
Misinformation and Hate Speech: The Case of Anti-Asian Hate Speech During the COVID-19 Pandemic

Donald Trump linked COVID-19 to Chinese people on March 16, 2020, by calling it the Chinese virus. Using 59,337 US tweets related to COVID-19 and anti-Asian hate, we analyzed how Trump’s anti-Asian speech altered online hate speech content. Trump increased the prevalence of both anti-Asian hate speech and counterhate speech. In addition, there is a linkage between hate speech and misinformation. Both before and after Trump’s tweet, hate speech speakers shared misinformation regarding the role of the Chinese government in the origin and spread of COVID-19. However, this tendency was amplified in the post-Trump tweet period. The literature on misinformation and hate speech has been developed in parallel, yet misinformation and hate speech are often interwoven in practice. This association may exist because biased people justify and defend their hate speech using misinformation.
Safety in Developing Countries: Professional and Bureaucratic Problems

In the United States, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) was created to enhance safety in the workplace. Employers are subject to OSHA site inspections and must conform to a set of comprehensive rules and regulations. In contrast, in a developing country such as India, comprehensive and universal safety regulations have not been developed. Workers are generally unskilled or semiskilled, poorly paid, temporarily employed, exhibit low production (productivity) rates, and often migrate in a group from one place to another in search of work. Typically, laborers are not trained in safe work practices, and there tends to be a lack of management commitment to safety programs and various safety procedures. In contrast, in a newly developed country such as Taiwan, the owner and the contractor are assigned joint responsibility for claims resulting from occupational accidents. A basic safety-control system, emphasizing the establishment of a safety committee and self inspection, has been develo.
Harming and Shaming through Naming: Examining Why Calling the Coronavirus the “COVID-19 Virus,” Not the “Chinese Virus,” Matters

ABSTRACT In an effort to stave off racial and geographic prejudices, The World Health Organization (WHO) has advised against naming pathogens for geographic regions. Despite this, some media reports, and prominent politicians, have persisted in calling the coronavirus the “Chinese Virus,” or some variant thereof. In this pre-registered online experiment (N = 614), we examined the effect media frames and individual factors (i.e., political affiliation and party) had on perceptions of COVID-19, prejudice against Chinese- and Asian-Americans, and attributing blame to China for the coronavirus. We found that articles that labeled the coronavirus the “Chinese Virus” (versus the “COVID-19 Virus”) were perceived less favorably by Democrats and liberals, in comparison to Republicans and conservatives, who were also more likely to express greater racial prejudice against Chinese- and Asian-Americans and to blame China for the pandemic. Findings from this study suggest that amongst a host of other variables, media framing has an effect on the public’s attitudes and feelings of blame for the pandemic.