Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Oral Human Papillomavirus in Men Having Sex with Men: Risk-Factors and Sampling

Background Human papillomavirus (HPV)-associated oropharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma is becoming more common. We examined prevalence and risk factors for oral HPV among men who have sex with men (MSM) and compared sampling and transport methods. Methods In 2010, 500 MSM (249 HIV-positive) attending Melbourne Sexual Health Centre answered a questionnaire, swabbed their mouth and throat and collected a gargled oral rinse sample. Half the oral rinse was transported absorbed in a tampon (to enable postage). HPV was detected by polymerase chain reaction, and genotyped by Roche Linear Array®. Men with HPV 16 or 18 were retested after six months. Results Any HPV genotype was detected in 19% (95% confidence intervals (CI) 15–25%) of HIV-infected men and 7% (95% CI 4–11%) of HIV-negative men (p<0.001), and HPV 16 was detected in 4.4% (95% CI 2–8%) of HIV-infected men and 0.8% (0.1–2.8%) of HIV-negative men. Oral HPV was associated with: current smoking (adjusted odds ratio (aOR) 2.2 (95%CI: 1.2–3.9)), time since tooth-brushing (aOR per hour 0.87, 95%CI: 0.8–0.96) and number of lifetime tongue-kissing partners aOR 3.2 95%CI: (1.2–8.4) for 26–100 partners and 4.9 95%CI: (1.9–12.5) for>100 partners. Lifetime oral-penile sex partner numbers were significantly associated in a separate model: aOR 2.8(1.2–6.3) for 26–100 partners and 3.2(1.4–7.2) for>100 partners. HPV 16 and 18 persisted in 10 of 12 men after a median six months. Sensitivities of sampling methods compared to all methods combined were: oral rinse 97%, tampon-absorbed oral rinse 69%, swab 32%. Conclusions Oral HPV was associated with HIV infection, smoking, recent tooth-brushing, and more lifetime tongue-kissing and oral sex partners. The liquid oral rinse sample was more sensitive than a tampon-absorbed oral rinse or a self-collected swab.
Economic Growth and Policy Reform in the APEC Region: Trade and Welfare Implications by 2005

This paper examines the impacts of key trade reforms likely to affect the APEC region over the next decade. It does so by taking an economy-wide perspective using projections to the year 2005, based on the global CGE model known as GTAP. The paper begins by showing that the empirical impact of implementing the Uruguay Round depends significantly on how China and Taiwan are treated. It then explores the market implications of increased economic growth in China, as well as several policy shocks. It is shown that increased industrial growth in China – due to China integrating more into the global economy – would be beneficial to the world, since it would boost industrialization in other Asian countries. Failure to honour Uruguay Round obligations to open textile and clothing markets in OECD countries, on the other hand, is shown to reduce East Asia’s industrialization and thereby slow the growth in this region’s net imports. Further MFN trade liberalization by APEC members, however, could add substantially to the growth and structural changes expected in the region and beyond over the next decade. The latter benefits are shown, though, to depend heavily on the inclusion of agriculture in the APEC reform, something that Northeast Asian countries have been reluctant to do.
Chinese Justice: Civil Dispute Resolution In Contemporary China

Part I. Legal Development and Institutional Tensions: 1. From mediatory to adjudicatory justice: the limits of civil justice reform in China Fu Hualing and Richard Cullen 2. Judicial disciplinary systems for incorrectly decided cases: the imperial Chinese heritage lives on Carl Minzner 3. Proceduralism and rivalry in China's two legal states Douglas B. Grob 4. Economic development and the development of the legal profession in China Randall Peerenboom Part II. Pu Fa and the Dissemination of Law in the Chinese Context: 5. The impact of nationalist and Maoist legacies on popular trust in legal institutions Pierre F. Landry 6. Popular attitudes toward official justice in Beijing and rural China Ethan Michelson and Benjamin Read 7. Users and non-users: legal experience and its effect on legal consciousness Mary Gallagher and Yuhua Wang 8. With or without law: the changing meaning of ordinary legal work in China, 1979-2003 Sida Liu Part III. Law from the Bottom Up: 9. A populist threat to China's courts? Benjamin L. Liebman 10. Dispute resolution and China's grassroots legal services Fu Yulin 11. Constitutionalism with Chinese characteristics? Thomas E. Kellogg.
Communication in Political Campaigns

This book offers a comprehensive guide to political campaign communication using functional theory as a framework. An authoritative account packed with real life examples from campaigns across the globe, the book examines all of the important variables in political campaign communication. Considering campaign media - from television spots and debates to candidate webpages and direct-mail advertising - it looks closely at news coverage of campaigns, and examines the sources of campaign messages, the various ways of responding to scandal, the process of voter decision-making, and the ways in which context affects a political campaign. Chapters consider a full range of races, from presidential to congressional to gubernatorial, and look at political campaigns in the United States and many other countries including France, Israel, South Korea, and Taiwan. Communication in Political Campaigns introduces readers to both theory and research on the topic, and is an ideal text for courses on political campaigns.
Self-Compassion and Self-Construal in the United States, Thailand, and Taiwan

Self-compassion is a self-attitude construct derived from Buddhist psychology (Neff, 2003a). It entails being kind rather than harshly critical toward oneself, perceiving one's experiences as part of the larger human experience, and holding painful feelings in mindful awareness. Given that self-compassion is an Asian construct, this study compares self-compassion levels in the United States, Thailand, and Taiwan. Results indicate that self-compassion is highest in Thailand and lowest in Taiwan, with the United States falling in between. Interdependence is linked to self-compassion in Thailand only, whereas independence is linked to self-compassion in Taiwan and the United States. Results suggest that self-compassion levels in these societies are linked to specific cultural features rather than general East—West differences. However, self-compassion is significantly associated with well-being in all three cultures.
The Predictive Power of Implied Volatility of Options Traded OTC and on Exchanges

This paper investigates the efficiency of stock index options traded over-the-counter (OTC) and on the exchanges in Hong Kong and Japan. Our findings suggest that implied volatility is superior to either historical volatility or a GARCH-type volatility forecast in predicting future volatility in both the OTC and exchange markets. This paper is also one of the first to compare the predictive power of the implied volatility of stock index options traded OTC to that of exchange-traded stock index options. Our evidence suggests that the OTC market is more efficient than the exchanges in Japan, but that the opposite is true in Hong Kong.
The Prudence of Mexican Consumers

The ENIGH household surveys are used to investigate the strength of the precautionary motive in Mexico, using pseudo-panel methods to obtain estimates of the coefficient of relative prudence for Mexican consumers. The method provided accounts for the aggregation problems arising from unequally-spaced surveys. The low levels of prudence found can help explain why consumers had insufficient savings to smooth consumption during the peso crisis. Differences in prudence may also explain the low household savings rates in Mexico compared to the high savings rates in East Asian countries such as Taiwan.
NGOs, States and Donors: Too Close for Comfort?

Foreword T.M. Shaw Preface David Hulme, M.Edwards and N.Banks PART 1: NGOs, STATES AND DONORS: AN OVERVIEW AND KEY ISSUES 1. NGOs, States and Donors: An Overview D.Hulme and M.Edwards 2. Donors, Democratization and Civil Society: Relating Theory to Practice H.Blair 3. The State, Popular Participation and the Voluntary Sector J.Clark 4. Privatising the Voluntary Sector: NGOs as Public Service Contractors M.Robinson 5. States Without Citizens: The Problem of the Franchise State G.Wood 6. Finding Common Ground in Asia-Pacific Development H.Morales and I.Serrano PART 2: NGO-DONOR RELATIONSHIPS: WHEN YOUR HAND IS IN ANOTHER PERSON'S POCKET. 7. Heavy Hands, Hidden Hands, Holding Hands? Donors, Intermediary NGOs and Civil Society Organisations A.Bebbington and R.Riddell 8. Appeasing the Gods of Sustainability: The Future of International NGOs in Microfinance T.Dichter 9. World Vision International and Donors: Too Close for Comfort? S.Commins 10. In Unequal Dialogue with Donors: The Experience of the Sarvodaya Shramadana Movement J.Perera 11. Elephant Loose in the Jungle: The World Bank and NGOs in Sri Lanka R. Hodson PART 3: NGO-STATE RELATIONSHIPS: RELUCTANT PARTNERS REVISITED? 12. The Associative Phenomenon in the Arab World: Engine of Democratization or Witness to the Crisis? M.Marzouk 13. NGO-State Relations in Post-Mao China J.Howell 14. The State-NGO Relationship: Rights, Interests and Accountability R.Wanigaratne 15. NGOs and Development in Brazil: Roles and Responsibilities in a 'New World Order' M.Bosch 16. Mice Amongst the Tigers: Adding Value in NGO-Government Relations in South East Asia R.Mawer PART 4: NGOs, THE POOR AND DISADVANTAGED: RETURNING TO THE ROOTS? 17. Between Cooption and Irrelevance? Latin American NGOs in the 1990s J.Pearce 18. Conclusion D.Hulme and M.Edwards Afterword D.Hulme, M.Edwards and N.Banks
Seasonal and Day-of-the-Week Effects in Four Emerging Stock Markets

The "January effect" and the "weekend effect" have proven to be persistent anomalies in U.S. equity markets. The objective of this paper is to examine seasonal and daily patterns in equity returns of four emerging markets: Hong Kong, Singapore, Malaysia, and the Philippines. These markets are gaining importance with the globalization of business; therefore, it is necessary to examine the efficiency and functioning of these capital markets. Our analysis uses daily data for the 12 years from September 1, 1976, to June 30, 1988. The results support the existence of a seasonal pattern in these markets. Returns in the month of January are higher than any other month for all markets examined except the Philippines. A robust day-of-the-week effect is also found. These markets exhibit a weekend effect of their own in the form of low Monday returns. In addition, there exists a strong "Tuesday effect," which may be related to the +13 hour time difference between New York and these emerging markets. Copyright 1989 by MIT Press.
Trends and Determinants of Social Expenditure in Korea, Japan and Taiwan

Social expenditure analyses have always been a central topic of research for welfare states in Western Europe, with more institutional approaches added to such studies later in time. Research on welfare states in Japan, South Korea and Taiwan, on the contrary, has a shorter history, and attention has been paid more on understanding politico-economic institutions on a case-by-case basis, instead of focusing on social expenditure causes and dynamics. This study aims to contribute to the literature with an up-to-date comparative perspective in the study of public social expenditures in Japan, South Korea and Taiwan, in a two-fold way. First, after discussing briefly the state of art of research on welfare in East Asia, descriptive data on public social expenditure trends in Korea, Japan and Taiwan are presented in comparison with industrialized welfare states in the West. Second, a pooled cross-sectional regression analysis for panel data is run to uncover the determinants of social expenditure in Korea, Japan and Taiwan. A new comparative dataset has been constructed by merging secondary data on public social expenditures and socio-economic and political variables made publicly available by the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development, the World Bank, the Asian Development Bank and the Taiwanese national government. Results seem to suggest that there is a serious need of better conceptualizing political determinants of welfare expenditures in East Asia, since they will probably represent the most important field for welfare development in these countries in years to come.
Presidential Action and Public Opinion about U.S. Nicaraguan Policy: Limits to the “Rally ‘Round the Flag” Syndrome

The Reagan-Bush Administration vigorously pursued a “Reagan Doctrine” of aiding anti-communist freedom fighters worldwide, in no place with more controversy than toward the anti-US Sandinista Government of Nicaragua. Why, then, would the new presidency of George Bush quickly have agreed to defer asking Congress for military aid to the Contras, have agreed to send only humanitarian aid instead, and have agreed to permit four separate congressional committees each to determine whether any aid at all should be continued? Unravelling this odd turn of events can help us better to understand the under-rated influence of public opinion on American foreign policy. Most of us assume the public usually to follow presidential leadership when it comes to foreign affairs. Indeed, though very few truths are undisputed when political scientists discuss Americans' opinions on questions of public importance, one accepted inference—borne out by much scientifically-verified evidence—is the “rally ‘round the flag” syndrome. The syndrome is simple: presidential popularity in public opinion polls rises when a president acts decisively toward an international crisis. These changes in Americans' stated opinions have been measured in international crises for several decades. “Rallies” occur only when special “crisis” conditions are met. These crisis situations usually involve threats to America which are (1) remote from the everyday experience of Americans, and (2) involve threats about which the president personally informs the public, usually over the dramatically effective medium of television, and (3) involve decisive—and usually military—response at the president's direction.
The Genesis and Evolution of H9N2 Influenza Viruses in Poultry from Southern China, 2000 to 2005

ABSTRACT H9N2 influenza viruses have become established in terrestrial poultry in different Asian countries over the last 2 decades. Our previous study demonstrated that quail harbor increasingly diverse novel H9N2 reassortants, including both Chicken/Beijing/1/94 (Ck/Bei-like) and Quail/Hong Kong/G1/97 (G1-like) viruses. However, since 1999, the genesis and evolution of H9N2 viruses in different types of poultry have not been investigated systematically. In the present study, H9N2 viruses isolated from chickens, ducks, and other minor poultry species were characterized genetically and antigenically. Our findings demonstrate that Ck/Bei-like H9N2 viruses have been introduced into many different types of poultry in southern China, including quail, partridges, chukar, pheasant, guinea fowl, and domestic ducks, while G1-like viruses were commonly detected in quail, less frequently detected in other minor poultry species, and not detected in chickens and ducks. Genetic analysis revealed 35 genotypes of H9N2 viruses, including 14 novel genotypes that have not been recognized before. Our results also suggested that two-way interspecies transmission exists between different types of poultry. Our study demonstrates that the long-term cocirculation of multiple virus lineages (e.g., H5N1 and H9N2 viruses) in different types of poultry has facilitated the frequent reassortment events that are mostly responsible for the current great genetic diversity in H9N2 and H5N1 influenza viruses in this region. This situation favors the emergence of influenza viruses with pandemic potential.
Identification and Analysis of Potential Genes Regulated by an Alphasatellite (TYLCCNA) that Contribute to Host Resistance against Tomato Yellow Leaf Curl China Virus and Its Betasatellite (TYLCCNV/TYLCCNB) Infection in Nicotiana benthamiana

Recently, begomovirus/betasatellite disease complexes were found to be associated with alphasatellites, and their presence modulated disease symptoms and/or viral DNA accumulation in infected plants. However, the biological functions of alphasatellites during begomovirus/betasatellite infections remain unclear. Tomato yellow leaf curl China virus (TYLCCNV) associated with a betasatellite (TYLCCNB) is a widespread monopartite begomovirus in China. In the Yunnan province of China, the TYLCCNV/TYLCCNB disease complex is found in association with an alphasatellite (TYLCCNA). In this study, in order to explain the mechanisms underlying TYLCCNV/TYLCCNB infection and reductions in viral DNA accumulation caused by TYLCCNA, we analyzed the transcriptome profiles of Nicotiana benthamiana seedlings challenged by TYLCCNV/TYLCCNB or TYLCCNV/TYLCCNB/TYLCCNA using RNA sequencing. In total, 2272 and 1207 differentially expressed genes (DEGs) were identified to respond to TYLCCNV/TYLCCNB and TYLCCNV/TYLCCNB/TYLCCNA infections, respectively. Compared with the DEGs in the TYLCCNV/TYLCCNB-infected N. benthamiana seedlings, the number of DEGs in plants co-infected with TYLCCNV/TYLCCNB + TYLCCNA was significantly reduced. Additionally, 36 DEGs were identified to be regulated by TYLCCNA, six of which were further analyzed using the virus-induced gene silencing (VIGS) approach. Silencing of these six TYLCCNA responsive DEGs caused more severe disease symptoms and higher viral DNA accumulation levels, suggesting that TYLCCNA responsive DEGs may attenuate TYLCCNV/TYLCCNB infection.
Learning problems in History subject among the Secondary School-Students of Papum-pare district of Arunachal Pradesh

This study focused to find out the learning problems of the students in the subjects of history. The study is not a fault finding assessment, rather it is an attempt to find out the problems of the students in understanding the subject, to identify the weaknesses in learning history and to suggest ways and means in alleviating the difficulties to the students. For this purpose normative survey method of research was employed. The sample consists of 100 students from government school and private secondary school of Papum-pare district of Arunachal Pradesh. The study indicates that government school students face more difficulty in learning history on regarding lengthy syllabus and content, conventional method of teaching, irregular used of teaching-learning materials, less interaction and feedback after the examination. This study thus assumes significance as it will help the teacher to have bird’s eye view on the whole learning situation of the subjects.
Combined methylprednisolone and dexamethasone therapy for paraquat poisoning

Objective To report a severe case of paraquat poisoning successfully treated with repeated-pulse therapy of methylprednisolone. Design Case study. Setting University Hospital, Lin-Kou Medical Center, Taipei, Taiwan, Republic of China. Patients A 60-yr-old man with paraquat poisoning with severe acute renal failure (serum creatinine level of 11.8 mg/dL and serum paraquat level of 3.66 &mgr;g/mL at 10 hrs after ingestion) and severe hypoxemia (Pao2, 66.6 mm Hg). Intervention Repeated 3-day pulse therapy with methylprednisolone, one course of 2-day cyclophosphamide, and a high dose of dexamethasone for 33 days. Measurements and Main Outcome Arterial blood gas analysis was obtained regularly. A chest radiography was obtained every week. The arterial blood oxygen concentrations dramatically elevated from 66 mm Hg to 97 mm Hg, and the chest radiographs markedly improved after repeated-pulse therapy with anti-inflammatory agents and cyclophosphamide. Conclusions We successfully treated a severe paraquat poisoned patient with repeated methylprednisolone pulse therapy and prolonged dexamethasone treatment. This case demonstrates that the severe inflammation, not the fibrosis, of the lungs plays a major role in the lethal hypoxemia of patients with paraquat poisoning during the subacute period and confirms our previous hypotheses. Clearly, the use of anti-inflammatory therapy to treat paraquat-poisoned patients needs further evaluation; however, anti-inflammatory therapy may be an effective treatment after failure of standard therapies.
Great Power Rivalries, Domestic Politics and Southeast Asian Foreign Policy: Exploring the Linkages

ABSTRACT Southeast Asian states increasingly face a strategic environment characterized by rising Sino-American tensions at the same time that domestic factors are increasingly influencing foreign policy. In recent decades, Southeast Asian states have sought to maintain their strategic autonomy by adopting hedging strategies to secure economic and security benefits from different partners. Since hedging is a rational response to strategic uncertainty, one would predict that as China’s assertiveness in the South China Sea has made clear its intentions to revise the status quo in ways that directly threaten the national interests of the Philippines Vietnam, Malaysia, and Indonesia, that they would begin to balance against China, in part by improving ties with Washington. In contrast to these predictions, no Southeast Asian country is balancing against China today, partly because of the economic incentives offered by China and partly because of the disincentives created by US pressure on democracy and human rights. In the Philippines, Duterte’s strategic re-orientation away from the United States toward China was triggered partly by US condemnation of his bloody war on drugs while US criticism of Thailand’s military coup has weakened the alliance. The unprecedented role of public pressure, interest groups and legislatures is forcing Southeast Asian leaders to publically debate policy decisions long made in private. Public opinion in Southeast Asia has often been anti-American but anti-Chinese sentiment is rising. As domestic and foreign policy becomes increasingly intertwined, Southeast Asian foreign policy is likely to continue to deviate from structurally based alignment predictions and become more erratic.
Viral Hepatitis C in Hong Kong

Objective: Hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection can lead to serious liver disease. Its medico-socio-economic burden on society can be immense. This study investigates the epidemiology of HCV infection in Hong Kong. Methods: Data from the Department of Health, relevant publications from Medline search and data from two acute hospitals were reviewed. Results: The prevalence of anti-HCV among voluntary blood donors is stable, remaining at approximately 0.035–0.099% over the past 10 years, and is higher in the older age group. Among the high-risk groups, the anti-HCV prevalence is as follows: (1) hospital patients 0.8%, (2) intravenous drug users 46.0%, (3) patients infected with HIV 7.9%, (4) children with transfusion-dependent hematologic disease 16.3%, (5) patients on continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis 1.8%, patients on hemodialysis 16.4%, recipients of kidney transplants 6.2% and (6) patients with hepatocellular carcinoma 7.3%. Among blood donors, 58.8% were infected with HCV genotype 1b and 27.0% with genotype 6a. Genotype 6a is particularly common among intravenous drug users. Conclusion: Hong Kong has a low prevalence of HCV infection. Patients are mostly infected through transfusion with blood or products prior to the introduction of anti-HCV screening to the blood transfusion service. Illicit drug use constitutes another significant risk. Since 1997, there has been a great increase in population movement between China and Hong Kong which might affect the epidemiology of HCV infection.