Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Involvement of aFGF in spinal cord injury repair processes revealed by a proteomic approach

proteomic approach Ming-Chu Tsai, Li-Fen Shen, Huai-Sheng Kuo, Henrich Cheng, Kin-Fu Chak 1 Institute of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, National Yang-Ming University, School of Life Sciences, Taipei 11221, Taiwan, Republic of China 2 Neural Regeneration Laboratory, Department of Neurosurgery, Neurological Institute, Taipei Veterans General Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan, Republic of China 3 Center for Neural Regeneration, Taipei Veterans General Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan, Republic of China 4 Institute of Pharmacology and Department of Surgery, National Yang-Ming University, School of Medicine, Taipei 11221, Taiwan, Republic of China Running Title: Regeneration of the contusive spinal cord
The Causal Links Between Equity Market Prices: The Case of Australia and Its Major Trading Partners

We examine the equity market price interdependence between Australia, on one hand, and Japan, US, UK, Hong Kong, Singapore, Taiwan and Korea, on the other hand, based on Hacker and Hatemi-J (2003) bootstrap causality tests with leveraged adjustments. We cover the period January 1, 1993 to September 10, 2001 taking into account the Asian financial crisis in 1997. We find that for both periods - before and after the Asian crisis, no causal linkages existed between Australia and these markets. These results imply that the transmission of information between the equity market of Australia and those of its major trading partners is efficient. Given that the correlations between Australia and these markets are relatively low, these results give further confirmation that the latter group of markets can serve as good avenues for portfolio diversification by Australian investors
U.S. Trade Policy and Cigarette Smoking in Asia

During the 1980's and early 1990's, the cigarette markets in Japan, Taiwan, South Korea, and Thailand were opened to U.S. cigarettes through actions taken under Section 301 of the 1974 Trade Act and its subsequent amendments. Using pooled annual time-series data from ten Asian countries, the impact of the Section 301 agreements on the market share of U.S. cigarettes and on per capita cigarette consumption is examined. Estimates from fixed effects models indicate that the market share of U.S. cigarettes in Japan, Taiwan, South Korea, and Thailand increased dramatically after the agreements as consumers switched from the brands produced by domestic monopolies to the brands of U.S. cigarette producers. In addition, simulations based on the regression results indicate that per capita cigarette consumption in 1991 in the four affected countries was nearly ten percent higher than it would have been had the markets remained closed to U.S. cigarettes.
TOP CITED PAPERS IN INTERNATIONAL PSYCHOGERIATRICS: 4. EFFECTS OF INDIVIDUALIZED VS. CLASSICAL “RELAXATION” MUSIC ON THE FREQUENCY OF AGITATION IN ELDERLY PERSONS WITH ALZHEIMER'S DISEASE AND RELATED DISORDERS

While working as a staff development coordinator in a long-term care facility during the mid to late 1980s I witnessed agitation in persons with dementia (PWD) and the negative effects that these behaviors had on both the caregiver and the care recipient. Published research findings validated the widespread prevalence of this problem. Management strategies at the time focused primarily on chemical and physical restraints which, in and of themselves, were fraught with adverse effects. Shortly thereafter I enrolled in graduate school where I focused my efforts on exploring this problem with a clear understanding that there was a need for alternative interventions that were relatively inexpensive and could be readily and easily implemented by trained staff. These efforts eventually led to the development of individualized music as an intervention for the management of agitation in PWD. Individualized music is defined as music that has been integrated into the person's life and is based on personal preference (Gerdner, 1992). Extensive clinical experience along with findings from a pilot study (Gerdner, 1992) served as the foundation for the development of intervention guidelines (Gerdner, 1996) and a mid-range theory of individualized music intervention for agitation (IMIA) (Gerdner, 1997). The publication of the original pilot study (Gerdner and Swanson, 1993) generated a considerable amount of interest resulting in further efforts toward testing the effects of individualized music for the management of agitation in PWD (Casby and Holm, 1994; Cohen-Mansfield and Werner, 1997; Devereaux, 1997; Thomas et al., 1997; Clark et al., 1998). The strengths and limitations of these studies were used to design a more rigorous methodology using a larger sample for the purpose of testing the propositions of IMIA and the effects of individualized music when compared to classical “relaxation” music on the frequency of agitation in PWD. The findings of this study were published in International Psychogeriatrics (Gerdner, 2000). As of January 2009, this article has been cited in 91 scholarly publications and was the impetus for additional studies conducted in the U.S.A. , Sweden, Japan and Taiwan. These efforts have resulted in an expanding body of research to support the use of this intervention for the management of agitation (Ragneskog et al., 2001; Janelli et al., 2002; Suzuki et al. 2004; Sung et al., 2006; 2008; Park, 2008).
Population genetic structure of the neon damsel W sh ( Pomacentrus coelestis ) in the northwestern Paci W c Ocean

The population genetic structure of the neon damselWsh (Pomacentrus coelestis) in the northwestern PaciWc Ocean was revealed by the hypervariable control region of the mitochondrial gene (343 bp). In total, 170 individuals were sampled from 8 localities distributed between Taiwan and Japan, and 71 haplotypes were obtained through sequence alignment. High haplotype diversity (h = 0.956 § 0.008) with low nucleotide diversity ( = 0.010 § 0.006) was observed, and the results of the mismatch distribution test suggested that a historical population expansion after a period of population bottleneck might have occurred among P. coelestis populations. Based on the results of the UPGMA tree and AMOVA ( ct = 0.193, P < 0.05) analyses, Wsh populations from eight localities could be divided into two groups: one includes populations from localities around mainland Japan, and the other includes those from Okinawa and southern Taiwan. A genetic break was found between populations from mainland Japan and Okinawa, and this break was congruent with the pattern of phenotypic variations documented in previous studies. This evidence supports the latitudinal variation of reproductive traits among P. coelestis populations likely being genetically based. It is suggested that the changes in sea level and sea surface temperatures during past glaciations might have resulted in population bottlenecks in P. coelestis and the modern populations in the northern West PaciWc are likely the results of recolonization after such events. The Kuroshio Current acts not only as a vehicle for larval transport along its pathway (between populations in southern Taiwan and Okinawa) but also as a barrier for larval dispersal across the Kuroshio axis (between populations in mainland Japan and Okinawa).
Patient Attitudes Toward Western Medicine and the Future of Chinese Medicine for Spondyloarthritis

Spondyloarthritis (SpA) and ankylosing spondylitis (AS) have a significant social and economic impact on ethnic Chinese patients. Western medicine, especially NSAIDs and disease-modifying anti-rheumatic drugs (DMARDs), are standard mainstream therapies for patients with SpA and AS. However, patient compliance with these medications is poor, due to the fear of side effects. In spite of their poor functional status and disease activity, less than 40% of AS patients are regularly treated. Complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) is very popular in Asian countries like China, Korea, Japan, India and Taiwan. A Korean survey in university hospital rheumatology clinics showed that 155 patients (68.5%) reported using at least one form of CAM during the previous 12 months. Herbal remedies and acupuncture were the most frequently used categories of CAM. Compared to conventional Western treatments, CAM is seen to have advantages in terms of a lower incidence of adverse reactions, greater patient choice, psychological comfort, and an increased quality of the patient/ therapist relationship. Common symptoms treated by CAM were pain (80%), decreased functioning (43%), and lack of energy (24%). Tripterygium wilfordii Hook. f. (Lei Gong Teng), Tetrandrine (Tet), acupuncture and Tai Chi are some examples of potential Chinese medicine treatments for spondyloarthritis. CAM usage is a worldwide trend. However, further study, including basic research and well-designed clinical trials, is warranted. Patients should be instructed to discuss treatment strategies for their disease, and the use of CAM, with their rheumatologists.
The 'Luck View' vs. the 'Long View': Some Observations on William Easterly's View of East Asian Growth

In several recent papers, Easterly has propounded a ‘Luck View’ of the East Asian growth. This view is untenable, unwarranted, and unfortunate. It is untenable, because the ‘Luck View’ cannot explain the geographical concentration of the East Asian growth phenomenon. It is unwarranted, because such a portrayal is not necessary to discount the validity of the new growth models whose equilibrium growth rates depend on country specific characteristics. Finally, it is unfortunate, because East Asian nations achieved economic growth through considerable labor and ingenuity, so that describing this growth as a matter of luck may not be a fair characterization. Proper understanding of the East Asian growth rather requires taking a ‘Long View’ that sees this growth as a part of the transition of human societies from a pre-industrial to the industrial level on a global scale through the process of diffusion. From this viewpoint, Japan can be seen as another focal point for diffusion of industrialization in Asia. Many particularistic historical conditions were necessary for Japan to play this role and for the Gang of Four, namely Hong Kong, Korea, Singapore, and Taiwan, to emerge as the first batch of NIEs. However, with the road paved, it has become easier for other nations to follow the route, as the experience of other East Asian countries such as Thailand, Malaysia, Indonesia, and recently China and Vietnam, shows. The proposition of industrialization through export-led growth thus has become more general. Neoclassical growth theories, both of the original and new varieties, are not geared to capture sweeping historical processes. However, the rapid growth of the NIEs and the subsequent tapering off of their growth rates can to some extent be seen as compatible with the convergence implication of the original neoclassical growth theory. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Isolation, Identification and Characterization of Arbuscular Mycorrhizal Fungi in Apple (Malus domestica Borkh) Growing Area of Kashmir Himalaya

Apple (Malus domestica Borkh.) is a premier table fruit, rich in nutrients especially fats, carbohydrates, calcium, phosphorus and iron. It is cultivated in temperate regions of the world and, to some extent, in cool highlands of some sub-tropical regions such as East Africa, Northern parts of India etc. India in terms of apple fruit production ranks fourth in the world. In India, apple cultivation alone accounts for 55 per cent of the total area and 75 per cent of the total production under temperate fruits in the country (Chadha, 1993). Commercial cultivation of apple fruit in India is confined to the States of Jammu and Kashmir and Himachal Pradesh, and some selected areas of Uttrakhand, Arunachal Pradesh, Manipur and Sikkim. In Jammu and Kashmir apple is grown on an area of 1.07 lakh ha with annual production of 12.08 lakh metric tonnes, which constitutes about 84 per cent of total fruit production in the State (Malik et al., 2016). In Horticulture sector the largest area of 43.53% is occupied by apple out of total area under fruit and 65.46% out of fresh fruit area (Anonymous, 2016) thereby making it the largest contributor to the state GDP among the horticulture produce.
Elevated IgA antiphospholipid antibodies in healthy pregnant women in Sudan but not Sweden, without corresponding increase in IgA anti-β2 glycoprotein I domain 1 antibodies

Objective The role of antiphospholipid antibodies (aPL) during apparently normal pregnancy is still unclear. IgA aPL are prevalent in populations of African origin. Our aim was to measure all isotypes of anticardiolipin (anti-CL) and anti–β2 glycoprotein I (anti-β2GPI) in healthy pregnant and non-pregnant women of different ethnicities. Methods Healthy Sudanese pregnant women (n = 165; 53 sampled shortly after delivery), 96 age-matched Sudanese female controls and 42 healthy pregnant and 249 non-pregnant Swedish women were included. IgA/G/M anti-CL and anti-β2GPI were tested at one time point only with two independent assays in Sudanese and serially in pregnant Swedes. IgA anti-β2GPI domain 1 and as controls IgA/G/M rheumatoid factor (RF), IgG anti–cyclic citrullinated peptide 2 (anti-CCP2) and anti–thyroid peroxidase (anti-TPO) were investigated in Sudanese females. Results Pregnant Sudanese women had significantly higher median levels of IgA anti-CL, IgA anti-β2GPI (p < 0.0001 for both antibodies using two assays) and IgM anti-β2GPI (both assays; p < 0.0001 and 0.008) compared with non-pregnant Sudanese. IgA anti-CL and anti-β2GPI occurrence was increased among Sudanese pregnant women compared with national controls. No corresponding increase during pregnancy was found for IgA anti-β2GPI domain 1 antibodies. Both IgG anti-CL and IgG control autoantibodies decreased during and directly after pregnancy among Sudanese. Serially followed Swedish women showed no changes in IgA aPL, whereas IgG/M anti-CL decreased. Conclusions IgA aPL are increased in Sudanese but not in Swedish women, without corresponding increase in IgA domain 1. Whether due to ethnicity and/or environmental influences the occurrence of IgA aPL during Sudanese pregnancies, and its clinical significance, is yet to be determined.
Identification and Characterization of Carmovirus on Carnation (Dianthus Caryophyllus L.) in West Java, Indonesia

Carnation has a highly economic demand of cut flower in Indonesia. Field observations in West Java Indonesia was conducted in order to find the typical mottle symptoms that was a suspect caused by a virus disease. Identification of the virus was respectively conducted by performing ELISA test with four anti sera and characterizations held by bioassay, observing of virion particles, detecting of nucleic acid by RT-PCR and nucleotide sequencing. Total of 403 samples were collected from plants with or no virus-like symptoms. Among those all tested, 83% were found to be infected by Carnation mottle virus (CarMV), but negatively against Carnation ringspot virus (CRSV), Carnation laten virus (CLV), and Carnation vein mottle virus (CVMV) antisera. By mechanical inoculation, the virus was able to infect systemically Cenopodium quinoa and locally infect on others . However on Phalaenopsis sp and Gomprena globosa, there was symptompless found. The isometric CarMV particles size was approximately 30 nm. RT-PCR using specific primers of CP gene of CarMV successfully amplified a DNA sized 1000 bp. CarMV West Java Indonesian (Idn-WJ) isolates possessed the highest nucleotide and amino acid homology with CarMV from Spain and was in the same cluster with CarMV from China, Taiwan and Israel.
Infection of tobacco plants by a begomovirus improves nutritional assimilation by a whitefly

The invasive Middle East‐Asia Minor 1 (MEAM1) cryptic species (formerly referred to as the B ‘biotype’) of the whitefly Bemisia tabaci (Gennadius) (Hemiptera: Aleyrodidae) complex has become a major crop pest worldwide due to its global invasion as well as epidemics of begomoviruses it transmits. Previous studies demonstrated that MEAM1 performed better on tobacco [Nicotiana tabacum L. (Solanaceae)] plants infected by Tomato yellow leaf curl China virus (TYLCCNV) than on uninfected plants. However, mechanisms underlying the interactions are not completely understood. In this study, we compared the composition of sugars and amino acids in the phloem sap of uninfected and TYLCCNV‐infected tobacco plants with or without whiteflies feeding on the plants. No significant differences were detected in terms of amino acid profiles, percentage of essential amino acids, and sugars:amino acids ratio. However, whiteflies feeding on TYLCCNV‐infected plants excreted comparatively a lower percentage of amino acids, especially essential amino acids, or proportionally a higher level of sugars than those feeding on uninfected plants, suggesting that whiteflies feeding on virus‐infected plants are able to achieve a more balanced nutritional assimilation. We also compared the honeydew excreted by viruliferous and non‐viruliferous whiteflies feeding on cotton [Gossypium hirsutum L. (Malvaceae)], a non‐host plant for TYLCCNV, to test the direct effects of the virus on whiteflies. Although the amino acids profiles in honeydew were similar between viruliferous and non‐viruliferous whiteflies, the sugars:amino acids ratio in honeydew excreted by viruliferous whiteflies was lower than that of non‐viruliferous whiteflies, suggesting that the viruliferous whiteflies assimilated a more imbalanced nutrition with proportionally more sugar. Taken together, our data indicate that although a plant virus may exert negative direct effects on its vector, feeding by the vector on virus‐infected plants may improve nutritional assimilation and consequently performance of the vector.
COVID-19 and Malaria: A Fatal Attraction for SARS CoV-2?

We examined trends and differences in the average cumulative rates of COVID-19 cases and deaths per million (incidence and mortality rates) among 11 Asian nations where malaria is endemic (China, Hong Kong, South Korea, Thailand, Vietnam, Cambodia, India, Pakistan, Malaysia, Indonesia and the Philippines) and compared these trends and differences to 11 western nations (United States, Canada, Great Britain, Spain, Italy, Germany, France, Portugal, Netherlands, Switzerland and Austria) during the five month period, 1/1/2020-5/31/2020. The mean rates of incidence and mortality for the two sets of countries diverge markedly and as of May 31, 2020, the incidence and mortality rates for Asian countries (130 per million and 3.6 per million, respectively) were 1/27th and 1/89th of the corresponding rates for North American and Western European countries (3,481 per million and 321 per million). In contrast, annual incidence rates of malaria are negligible in North America and Europe whereas malaria is endemic in Southeast Asia (3.5 per 1,000). Chronic infections by malarial plasmodia induce interferons and neutralizing antibodies with proven impact against infection by the corona viruses responsible for SARS, MERS and COVID-19. Therefore, there may be natural immunity against infection by SARS CoV-2 in populations that have a longstanding history of widespread exposure to malarial infections. Such populations may be a valuable resource for development of effective vaccines and serological agents for the prevention and therapy of COVID-19.
China’s foreign aid architecture in a transitional period, 1964–1976

ABSTRACT This paper reviews China’s foreign aid architecture in a transitional period, from 1964 to 1976. After Zhou Enlai’s 1964 trip to Africa and Asia, China’s foreign aid architecture was increasingly used as an important diplomatic tool, echoing with the shift of China’s foreign policy from the export of revolution to the export of peaceful development. In these years before Chairman Mao Zedong died in 1976, both a “Maoist pragmatism” in foreign policy and a “Chinese modernism” in architectural design matured in relation to each other. This paper examines the evolution of China’s foreign policy, foreign aid architecture, and the associated multidirectional knowledge exchange between China and other countries in this period. Tanzania-Zambia Railway (TAZARA) Terminus in Dar es Salaam built in 1976 is selected for an in-depth case study to demonstrate the presence of a Chinese modernism in architecture as an alternative approach to the Western post-war modernist trends. Graphical Abstract
Psychological Experiences with Gambling

According to the 2021 Worldwide Gambling Statistics website, more than a quarter of the population gambles, which means literally billions of people gamble at least once a year (Casino.org, 2021). However, despite the vast number of people gambling per year, there is a lack of research on how emotion regulation affects their perceptions and experiences of gambling. Thus, the aim of this study was to better understand the role of emotion regulation deficits in gambling. A survey was conducted to assess the relationship between frequency and type of gambling behavior and emotion regulation difficulties. The participants were gathered from the UCR Psychology Subject Pool ( N = 195; after attention checks, N = 162). These participants were directed to a survey that assessed personal experiences and beliefs about gambling and their emotion regulation strategies and difficulties. Results from correlational analyses indicated that people who tend to use cognitive reappraisal (thinking differently to change their emotions), but not expressive suppression (hiding their emotions), gambled in a more controlled way. Suppression tendencies did not predict any gambling experience or belief. In addition, people who generally had greater difficulty regulating their emotions reported gambling less frequently and gambling in a more enjoyable and focused but also stressful way. The findings suggest that cognitive reappraisal may provide a benefit for individuals who gamble in moderation. Furthermore, those who struggle with regulating their emotions may experience gambling in different ways compared to those who struggle less with emotion regulation. to better understanding the role of emotion regulation strategies in gambling. that this stage of to engage in gambling.
The COVID-19 vaccination experience in Bangladesh: Findings from a cross-sectional study

Objectives Vaccination rollout against COVID-19 has started in developed countries in early December 2020. Mass immunization for poor or low-income countries is quite challenging before 2023. Being a lower–middle-income country, Bangladesh has begun a nationwide COVID-19 vaccination drive in early February 2021. Here, we aimed to assess the opinions, experiences, and adverse events of the COVID-19 vaccination in Bangladesh. Methods We conducted this online cross-sectional study from 10 February 2021, to 10 March 2021, in Bangladesh. A self-reported semi-structured survey questionnaire was used using Google forms. We recorded demographics, disease history, medication records, opinions and experiences of vaccination, and associated adverse events symptoms. Results We observed leading comorbid diseases were hypertension (25.9%), diabetes (21.1%), heart diseases (9.3%), and asthma (8.7%). The most frequently reported adverse events were injection site pain (34.3%), fever (32.6%), headache (20.2%), fatigue (16.6%), and cold feeling (15.4%). The chances of having adverse events were significantly higher in males than females (p = 0.039). However, 36.4% of respondents reported no adverse events. Adverse events usually appeared after 12 h and went way within 48 h of vaccination. Besides, 85.5% were happy with the overall vaccination management, while 88.0% of the respondents recommended the COVID-19 vaccine for others for early immunization. Conclusion According to the present findings, reported adverse events after the doses of Covishield in Bangladesh were non-serious and temporary. In Bangladesh, the early vaccination against COVID-19 was possible due to its prudent vaccine deal, previous mass vaccination experience, and vaccine diplomacy.