Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Market Performance and Technical Efficiency of Domestic and Foreign-invested Service Industries in China 中外資服務業的比較分析

Although the Chinese manufacturing industry has attracted a vast amount of foreign direct investment (FDI) and has made rapid development, the Chinese service sector is still heftily-protected and has absorbed little FDI since the open door policy adopted in 1978. As a result, the share of the service output is just around 41% of China’s GDP. This is clearly unsatisfactory as the service sector has been able to create more jobs proportionally in many other developed and less developed countries than that in China. This paper is the first attempt in the literature to conduct an empirical comparative study of the competitiveness and technical efficiency of the domestic and foreign-invested service industries in China in 2004. It provides some policy implications such as whether China should continue to open her service market and what would be the likely consequences if this is indeed the case. Acknowledgement This paper is presented at the inaugural All China Economics (ACE) International Conference, organized by APEC Study Center, Faculty of Business of City University of Hong Kong, 18-20 December 2006. The author is grateful for the invitation by Dr Kui-Wai Li, the Conference Director, to participate in this Conference, and for the useful comments and suggestions by LI Wenpu and WANG Ruifang, LI Sung Ko, CHENG Yuk Shing, TSANG Shu Ki, ZENG Jinli, NG Ying Chu, MO Pak Hung, and other seminar participants from Economics Department, Hong Kong Baptist University, on an earlier draft of the paper. The author is also thankful to LI Xiaoqing, SHEN Nan from the National Bureau of Statistics of China for their help on data processing. This research was supported by a Competitive Earmarked Research Grant (No. LU3110/03H) from the RGC of Hong Kong SAR Government, and an open-bid research grant from Office of State Council of the First China Economic Census, Beijing (No. JP27). However, the author is responsible for any remaining errors. * Yue Ma, Department of Economics, Lingnan University, Tuen Mun, Hong Kong, China. (馬躍, 香港嶺南大學經濟學系教授;廈門大學宏觀經濟研究中心王亞南客座教授) Fax: +(852) 2891 7940; Tel +(852)2616 7202; Email: yuema@Ln.edu.hk. Homepage: http://www.Ln.edu.hk/econ/staff/yuema; and Macroeconomic Research Centre, Xiamen University, China.
An observational study comparing HPV prevalence and type distribution between HPV-vaccinated and -unvaccinated girls after introduction of school-based HPV vaccination in Norway

Background Many countries have initiated school-based human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccination programs. The real-life effectiveness of HPV vaccines has become increasingly evident, especially among girls vaccinated before HPV exposure in countries with high vaccine uptake. In 2009, Norway initiated a school-based HPV vaccination program for 12-year-old girls using the quadrivalent HPV vaccine (Gardasil®), which targets HPV6, 11, 16, and 18. Here, we aim to assess type-specific vaginal and oral HPV prevalence in vaccinated compared with unvaccinated girls in the first birth cohort eligible for school-based vaccination (born in 1997). Methods This observational, cross-sectional study measured the HPV prevalence ratio (PR) between vaccinated and unvaccinated girls in Norway. Facebook advertisement was used to recruit participants and disseminate information about the study. Participants self-sampled vaginal and oral specimens using an Evalyn® Brush and a FLOQSwab™, respectively. Sexual behavior was ascertained through a short questionnaire. Results Among the 312 participants, 239 (76.6%) had received at least one dose of HPV vaccine prior to sexual debut. 39.1% of vaginal samples were positive for any HPV type, with similar prevalence among vaccinated and unvaccinated girls (38.5% vs 41.1%, PR: 0.93, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.62–1.41). For vaccine-targeted types there was some evidence of lower prevalence in the vaccinated (0.4%) compared to the unvaccinated (6.8%) group (PR: 0.06, 95%CI: 0.01–0.52). This difference remained after adjusting for sexual behavior (PR: 0.04, 95%CI: 0.00–0.42). Only four oral samples were positive for any HPV type, and all of these participants had received at least one dose of HPV vaccine at least 1 year before oral sexual debut. Conclusion There is evidence of a lower prevalence of vaccine-targeted HPV types in the vagina of vaccinated girls from the first birth cohort eligible for school-based HPV vaccination in Norway; this was not the case when considering all HPV types or types not included in the quadrivalent HPV vaccine.
Identification and characterization of new LuxR/LuxI-type quorum sensing systems from metagenomic libraries.

Quorum sensing (QS) cell-cell communication systems are utilized by bacteria to coordinate their behaviour according to cell density. Several different types of QS signal molecules have been identified, among which acyl-homoserine lactones (AHLs) produced by Proteobacteria have been studied to the greatest extent. Although QS has been studied extensively in cultured microorganisms, little is known about the QS systems of uncultured microorganisms and the roles of these systems in microbial communities. To extend our knowledge of QS systems and to better understand the signalling that takes place in the natural environment, metagenomic libraries constructed using DNA from activated sludge and soil were screened, using an Agrobacterium biosensor strain, for novel QS synthase genes. Three cosmids (QS6-1, QS10-1 and QS10-2) that encode the production of QS signals were identified and DNA sequence analysis revealed that all three clones encode a novel luxI family AHL synthase and a luxR family transcriptional regulator. Thin layer chromatography revealed that these LuxI homologue proteins are able to synthesize multiple AHL signals. Tandem mass spectrometry analysis revealed that LuxI(QS6-1) directs the synthesis of at least three AHLs, 3-O-C14:1 HSL, 3-O-C16:1 HSL and 3-O-C14 HSL; LuxI(QS10-1) directs the synthesis of at least 3-O-C12 HSL and 3-O-C14 HSL; while LuxI(QS10-2) directs the synthesis of at least C8 HSL and C10 HSL. Two possible new AHLs, C14:3 HSL and (? )-hydroxymethyl-3-O-C14 HSL, were also found to be synthesized by LuxI(QS6-1).
Geographical Disparities in Pooled Stroke Incidence and Case Fatality in Mainland China, Hong Kong, and Macao: Protocol for a Systematic Review and Meta-analysis

Background Geographical variations in stroke incidence and case fatality in China have been reported. Nonetheless, pooled estimates in major Chinese regions are unknown. Objective This systematic review and meta-analysis aims to investigate pooled estimates of incidence and short-term case fatality of stroke in Mainland China, Hong Kong, and Macao. Methods Longitudinal studies published in English and indexed in PubMed/MEDLINE, Embase, CINAHL, and Web of Science, or in Chinese and indexed in SinoMed and CQVIP will be targeted. Articles reporting on adults living in China who experience first-ever stroke or die within 1 year from newly onset stroke will be included. The 95% confidence intervals of the event will be estimated using the exact method based on the Poisson distribution. The log incidence rates together with their corresponding log standard errors will be meta-analyzed using DerSimonian and Laird random effects models. Pooled case fatality rates will also be estimated using a random effect model. Time trends in pooled age-standardized stroke incidence and case fatality will be estimated. The heterogeneity of the included studies will be measured using the I2 statistic and meta-regressions will be run to analyze the effect of reported covariates on found heterogeneity. Risk of bias will be examined using the Newcastle-Ottawa Scale. Publication bias will be tested using funnel plots and Egger tests. Sensitivity analysis will be run by risk of bias. Results This study was funded and registered in 2020. The systematic searches, study selections, and quality assessments were completed in July 2021. Data extraction and analysis and manuscript writing are scheduled to be completed by December 2021. Conclusions This will be the first study to provide regional differences in pooled estimates of stroke incidence with case fatality in Mainland China, Hong Kong, and Macao. This study will assist in addressing inequalities in stroke care across China. Trial Registration PROSPERO International Prospective Register of Systematic Reviews CRD42020170724; https://www.crd. york.ac. uk/prospero/display_record. php? RecordID=170724 International Registered Report Identifier (IRRID) PRR1-10.2196/32566
The 14th Dalai Lama’s Image on Western and Chinese Social Media

With China’s rising status and the increasing of media exposures on Tibet issues, the 14th Dalai Lama’s image studies have become a heated research topic in communication studies. China is the most-frequently studied nation in Asian mass communication research. The past the 14th Dalai Lama’s image studies mainly focus on Western mainstream newspapers, due to the fact that these newspapers are well established and frequently read by policy-makers and other influential individuals. In recent years, “Social media” has become a new buzzword. Social media platforms like Facebook, Twitter and Weibo etc. have made a considerable impact on contemporary life. What is the 14th Dalai Lama’s image as it is represented via Western social media? Do Western social media publish the 14th Dalai Lama’s different contents, from a different perspective, or in a different way from that of the standard Western mainstream news outlets? Are there any differences between the image of the 14th Dalai Lama on Western social media and on mainstream media? What are differences between the image of the 14th Dalai Lama on Western and Chinese social media when discussing the same event or topic? The research aims to answer these questions the 14th Dalai Lama; Western social media; Chinese social media.
Partial Mobilization: Tracking Multilingual Information Flows Amongst Russian Media Outlets and Telegram

In response to disinformation and propaganda from Russian online media following the invasion of Ukraine, Russian media outlets such as Russia Today and Sputnik News were banned throughout Europe. To maintain viewership, many of these Russian outlets began to heavily promote their content on messaging services like Telegram. In this work, we study how 16 Russian media outlets interacted with and utilized 732 Telegram channels throughout 2022. Leveraging the foundational model MPNet, DP-means clustering, and Hawkes processes, we trace how narratives spread between news sites and Telegram channels. We show that news outlets not only propagate existing narratives through Telegram but that they source material from the messaging platform. For example, across the websites in our study, between 2.3% (ura.news) and 26.7% (ukraina.ru) of articles discussed content that originated/resulted from activity on Telegram. Finally, tracking the spread of individual topics, we measure the rate at which news outlets and Telegram channels disseminate content within the Russian media ecosystem, finding that websites like ura.news and Telegram channels such as @genshab are the most effective at disseminating their content.
Dots and Lines in the South China Sea: Insights from the Law of Map Evidence

On 7 May 2009, the People's Republic of China (PRC) protested Vietnamese and joint Malaysian-Vietnamese submissions to the Commission on the Limits of the Continental Shelf (CLCS). In support of Chinese claims, a map was annexed to the letter of protest portraying a dotted U-shaped line engulfing the greater part of the South China Sea. Following a brief primer on the genesis of the U-line, this article aims to decipher the text of the protest letter accompanying the U-line, suggesting several possible interpretations. This contribution argues that the map is of doubtful probative value in the light of various factors fleshed out in international jurisprudence regarding map evidence. Attention will be paid to the reactions of third-party states to the U-line. This article maintains that effective protest on the part of regional states has prevented the map from becoming opposable to them.
Permanently online and permanently connected: Taiwanese university students’ attachment style, mobile phone usage, and well-being

Taiwan has been the top country worldwide in terms of its adoption and use of mobile phones. This study explores the permanently online (PO) and permanently connected (PC) phenomenon in mobile phone use among Taiwanese university students. It seeks to determine whether attachment styles are a distinctive factor that influences PO and PC (POPC) behavior and leads to various levels of well-being. The results of this study provide initial evidence that Taiwanese users highly depend on their mobile phones for PC and PO activities but perceive that being permanently connected causes interpersonal stress. Although the findings showed that all styles were positively associated with PO, only the secure and anxious styles predicted PC. Regarding mobile phone activities, the avoidant attachment style was not associated with any activities, the secure attachment style was positively associated with online and voice communication as well as information-seeking activities, and the anxious attachment style was associated only with voice communication. Furthermore, attachment styles lead to various levels of interpersonal stress through PO and PC behavior. The anxious style interacts with PO on interpersonal stress. This study provides evidence that attachment style is a significant antecedent of POPC and its consequences in mobile phone usage.
What factors determine student performance in East Asia? New evidence from TIMSS 2007

This study investigates what factors determine students’ academic performance in five major economies in East Asia, using the dataset from the 2007 survey of Trends in International Mathematics and Science Study (TIMSS). We explicitly consider initial maturity differences, endogeneity of class size, and peer effects in regression analysis. We find that a student’s individual and family background is a key determinant of educational performance, while institutional and resource variables have a more limited effect. Peer effects are significant in general, but ability sorting at the school and/or class levels makes it difficult to interpret them in Hong Kong and Singapore.
Organic erectile dysfunction in Taiwan: A nationwide, retrospective, age-matched nonrandomized study

Objective: We aimed to determine the distribution of patients who sought medical help of organic erectile dysfunction (ED) in Taiwan. We further adjusted the age, insurance range, and other comorbidities to determine the potential risk factors for organic ED. Materials and Methods: Data were sourced from the Longitudinal Health Insurance Database 2000 of Taiwan, Republic of China, compiled by the Taiwan National Health Insurance database from 1996 to 2010. The possible risk factors leading to organic ED were also studied. Results: We included 3229 patients with organic ED and 9687 patients for comparison. A logistic regression model used to adjust for age, insurance, and other comorbidities showed that diabetes mellitus (adjusted odds ratio [OR] 1.71; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.51–1.92; P < 0.001), hypertension (adjusted OR, 1.46; 95% CI, 1.32–1.61, P < 0.001), chronic kidney disease (CKD; adjusted OR, 1.46; 95% CI, 1.25–1.69; P < 0.001), dyslipidemia (adjusted OR, 1.61; 95% CI, 1.25–1.69; P < 0.001), and depression (adjusted OR, 1.41; 95% CI, 1.13–1.77; P = 0.003) were potential risk factors for organic ED. Conclusion: On the basis of our results, patients aged above 50 years accounted for over 70% of the organic ED patients who sought treatment. Diabetes mellitus, hypertension, CKD, dyslipidemia, and depression were potential risk factors for organic ED.
A COMPARISON OF THE EARLY CHILDHOOD CURRICULA IN HONG KONG AND SINGAPORE – FROM THE PERSPECTIVE OF MATHEMATICS EDUCATION

Primary and secondary students from Hong Kong and Singapore outperformed students of many countries in mathematics in international studies. Whereas early childhood education is the foundation of elementary education, this paper aims to compare the early childhood curriculum documents of the two cities from the perspective of mathematics education and investigate the similarities and differences, if any, in their curricular intention of mathematics learning and teaching. The curricula are compared from three aspects: (1) the organization of curriculum framework; (2) the orientation of the mathematics-related content; and (3) the focuses of the mathematics-related content. It is found that both cities consider mathematics as an important and distinct learning domain in early childhood education. The analysis result shows that the two cities organize mathematics domain differently in terms of the levels of specification and the areas of emphases. The two curricula have their own characteristics as the two cities differ in cultural context and curriculum is context-specific. In light of the identified differences and similarities, the paper suggests Hong Kong to formulate learning outcomes with closer academic links and explicit expectation with respect to children’s cognitive development in mathematics. It is also suggested Singapore to elaborate the teach Principles and the PRAISE Dispositions with mathematics-related examples. Keywords: Early Childhood Education, Mathematics Education, Curriculum Comparison
Are You Superstitious? A Survey on Chinese Attitudes towards Homophonic Word Taboo

Taboo is the prohibition of an act or the use of a word under pain of punishment. Freud (2000) perceives taboo as superstition owned by the barbarians. This paper is a combination of socio-psychological and linguistic study since homophonic word taboo is a socio-linguistic phenomenon in Chinese culture. The objective of this piece of research is to investigate Chinese attitudes towards homophonic word taboo in Hong Kong. Questionnaires were distributed to 7 groups of students, old and young, male and female, with questions related to number 4, which is phonologically linked to the meaning of ‘death’ in Chinese culture. The Chinese people are afraid of this; therefore, they try to avoid any thing or object dealing with number 4. The findings revealed that old female students were more superstitious than young students; no significant difference was found between old male students and old female students; young male students and young female students were comparatively not superstitious. This study was conducted in Hong Kong with Hong Kong Chinese. Further study can be done in other Asian countries using Chinese as subjects. To conclude, superstition is a social phenomenon and further research is needed to investigate the realm of word taboo in sociolinguistics and psycholinguistics. Keywords: taboos, superstition, sociolinguistics, psycholinguistics
Export diversification and growth in emerging economies

This paper develops and tests a model of growth in that emphasizes the introduction of new export as the main source of growth in countries that are far within the world technological frontier and that depend for growth on adapting existing products to their economic environment. It seeks to capture the stylized facts behind growth in countries as different as Korea, Taiwan, Mauritius, Finland, China, and Chile, all of which have depended on export diversification for their growth. Thus the widening of comparative advantage is seen as the main force behind economic growth. The hypothesis of export diversification is tested with an empirical growth model. Controlling for other variables that affect growth, export diversification, alone and interacted with per capital export volume growth, is found to be highly significant in explaining per capita GDP growth over the 1980-2003 period.
Survey on HIV/AIDS-related high risk behaviors among male sex workers in two cities in China

Objective:To investigate HIV/AIDS-related high-risk behaviors and condom use among male sex workers (MSW). Design and methods:A cross-sectional survey in which ‘snow-ball’ sampling was used to recruit 85 male sex workers in Beijing and Qingdao City. Face-to-face interviews were conducted to obtain quantitative information on HIV related high-risk behaviors and condom use. Results:The rate of receptive anal intercourse, insertive anal intercourse, receptive oral sex and insertive oral sex with clients was 57.6, 48.2, 65.8 and 65.8%, respectively. The rate of condom use while having above sex with clients was 53.1, 70.7, 23.2 and 19.6%, respectively. Multivariate analysis showed that consistent condom use with commercial receptive anal intercourse was associated with having regular partners, regretting their involvement in the sex trade, serving both male and female clients, and being required to use a condom by clients. Factors associated with condom use in commercial insertive sex included: age older than 20 years, knowing the protective effect of condom use, and being required to use a condom by clients. Conclusion:HIV-related high-risk behaviors were common among male sex workers. HIV prevention activities should be delivered through websites and in the sites where male sex workers and their clients usually meet, such as bars, bathhouses or saunas, and parks. Preventive measures targeting this population are urgently needed, given their particular vulnerability, and infections are likely to disseminate into the general population given the high proportion of bisexual activity and marriage.
Evaluation of cytomegalovirus (CMV)-specific T cell immune reconstitution revealed that baseline antiviral immunity, prophylaxis, or preemptive therapy but not antithymocyte globulin treatment contribute to CMV-specific T cell reconstitution in kidney transplant recipients.

BACKGROUND The ultimate goal of organ transplantation is the reestablishment of organ function and the restoration of a solid immunity to prevent the assault of potentially deadly pathogens. T cell immunity is crucial in controlling cytomegalovirus (CMV) infection. It is still unknown how preexisting antiviral T cell levels, prophylaxis, or preemptive antiviral strategies and pharmacological conditioning affect immune reconstitution. METHODS Seventy preemptively treated CMV-seropositive recipients, 13 prophylaxis-treated CMV-seronegative recipients of seropositive donor transplants, 2 seropositive recipients of seronegative donor kidneys, and 27 pretransplant subjects were enrolled in a cross-sectional study and analyzed for CMV viremia (DNAemia) and CMV-specific T cell response (interferon-gamma enzyme-linked immunospot assay) before transplantation and at 30, 60, 90, 180, and 360 days after transplantation. RESULTS CMV-seropositive transplant recipients displayed a progressive but heterogeneous pattern of immune reconstitution starting from day 60 after transplantation. CMV-seronegative recipients did not mount a detectable T cell response throughout the prophylaxis regimen. A single episode of CMV viremia (CMV copy number, 7000-170,000 copies/mL) was sufficient to prime a protective T cell immune response in CMV-seronegative recipients. Antithymocyte globulin treatment did not significantly affect CMV-specific T cell response. CONCLUSIONS Baseline immunity, antiviral therapy but not antithymocyte globulin treatments profoundly influence T cell reconstitution in kidney transplant recipients.