Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Environmental Restoration by New Technology for Prevention of Soil Erosion and Revegetation on Bare Slopes

In order to prevent soil erosion and promote reforestation on devastated bare slopes, the ecological new technology using MS (Mulching Sheet: nonwoven fabric sheet with two to four layer structures) and GB (Green Bag: made of MS containing plant seeds, fertilizers, vegetation base materials, and mycorrhizal fungi) has been applied to bare slopes not only in Japan but also in Korea, Taiwan, China, Indonesia, Vietnam etc. since 1990. From the results of them, the following conclusions were obtained: (1) This technology was significantly effective in preventing soil erosion and promoting the early revegetation on bare slopes; (2) It was suggested that the initial reforestation period could be accelerated for about 50 years by this technology in the Temperate Zone by many field data obtained.
Epidemiology of Orthopedic Fractures and Other Injuries among Inpatients Admitted due to Traffic Accidents: A 10-Year Nationwide Survey in Taiwan

To investigate the major injury patterns associated with traffic accidents and evaluate the risk factors of the main injury, a survey of Taiwan's national insurance admission data between 2002 and 2011 was performed. The incidence of traffic-accidents-related hospitalization was between 9.17% and 11.54% and the average mortality rate of the inpatients admitted due to traffic accidents was 0.68%. Of all inpatients due to road traffic accidents in Taiwan, orthopedic fractures were the most common injuries that accounted for 29.36% of them. There were a total of 391,197 cases of three orthopedic fracture groups that were divided into (1) fracture of upper limb, (2) fracture of lower limb, and (3) fracture of spine and trunk. An increase in national medical cost used for inpatients with orthopedic fractures was noted and ranged from US$ 45.6 million to US$ 86 million annually. These orthopedic fracture patterns were frequently associated with other injuries especially head injuries (ranged from 14% to 26%). A significant relation to male gender, older age, low income, and admission to high-level hospital to the observed fracture patterns was observed.
Recombinant Goose Circoviruses Circulating in Domesticated and Wild Geese in Poland

Circoviruses are circular single-stranded DNA (ssDNA) viruses that infect a variety of animals, both domestic and wild. Circovirus infection in birds is associated with immunosuppression and this in turn predisposes the infected animals to secondary infections that can lead to mortality. Farmed geese (Anser anser) in many parts of the world are infected with circoviruses. The majority of the current genomic information for goose circoviruses (GoCVs) (n = 40) are from birds sampled in China and Taiwan, and only two genome sequences are available from Europe (Germany and Poland). In this study, we sampled 23 wild and 19 domestic geese from the Gopło Lake area in Poland. We determined the genomes of GoCV from 21 geese; 14 domestic Greylag geese (Anser anser), three wild Greylag geese (A. anser), three bean geese (A. fabalis), and one white fronted goose (A. albifrons). These genomes share 83–95% nucleotide pairwise identities with previously identified GoCV genomes, most are recombinants with exchanged fragment sizes up to 50% of the genome. Higher diversity levels can be seen within the genomes from domestic geese compared with those from wild geese. In the GoCV capsid protein (cp) and replication associated protein (rep) gene sequences we found that episodic positive selection appears to largely mirror those of beak and feather disease virus and pigeon circovirus. Analysis of the secondary structure of the ssDNA genome revealed a conserved stem-loop structure with the G-C rich stem having a high degree of negative selection on these nucleotides.
A genome-wide association study of cleft lip with and without cleft palate identifies risk variants near MAFB and ABCA 4

Case-parent trios were used in a genome wide association study of cleft lip with/without cleft palate (CL/P). SNPs near two genes not previously associated with CL/P [MAFB: most significant SNP rs13041247, with odds ratio per minor allele OR=0.704; 95%CI=0.635,0.778; p=2.05*10−11; and ABCA4: most significant SNP rs560426, with OR=1.432; 95%CI=1.292,1.587; p=5.70*10−12] and two previously identified regions (chr. 8q24 and IRF6) attained genome wide significance. Stratifying trios into European and Asian ancestry groups revealed differences in statistical significance, although estimated effect sizes were similar. Replication studies from several populations showed confirming evidence, with families of European ancestry giving stronger evidence for markers in 8q24 while Asian families showed stronger evidence for MAFB and ABCA4. Expression studies support a role for MAFB in palate development. Corresponding author: THB (tbeaty@jhsph.edu). NIH Public Access Author Manuscript Nat Genet. Author manuscript; available in PMC 2010 September 17. Published in final edited form as: Nat Genet. 2010 June ; 42(6): 525–529. doi:10.1038/ng.580. N IH PA Athor M anscript N IH PA Athor M anscript N IH PA Athor M anscript Cleft lip with or without cleft palate (CL/P) is a common human birth defect with documented genetic and environmental risk factors1. While CL/P can occur in many Mendelian malformation syndromes, the isolated, non-syndromic form constitutes 70% of all cases2. Evidence for genetic control of CL/P is compelling: recurrence risks are 20–30 times greater than population prevalences3,4 and both twin and family studies5 suggest a major role for genes, Mutations in IRF6 cause VanderWoude syndrome, the most common Mendelian syndrome including CL/P, and markers in IRF6 have repeatedly shown evidence of association with isolated, non-syndromic CL/P6–9. An allele disrupting an AP2 binding site near IRF6 showed particularly strong evidence among European CL families, although multiple risk alleles are likely10. Birnbaum et al.11 conducted a case-control genome wide association study (GWAS) in Germany and found significant evidence of association with markers in 8q24.21, and a US case-control GWAS confirmed this region12, with rs987525 being the most significant marker in both studies. Here we present a GWAS using a case-parent trio design in a consortium drawing cases from Europe, the US, China, Taiwan, Singapore, Korea and the Philippines. This design has the advantage of being robust to confounding due to population stratification, which is important when cases from diverse populations are combined.
Phylogeography of the endangered orchid Dendrobium moniliforme in East Asia inferred from chloroplast DNA sequences

Abstract The aim of the current study was to elucidate the phylogeographic history of Dendrobium moniliforme, an endangered orchid species, based on two chloroplast DNA (cpDNA) markers (trnC-petN and trnE-trnT). One hundred and thirty-five samples were collected from 18 natural populations of D. moniliforme covering the entire range of the Sino-Japanese Floristic Region (SJFR) of East Asia. A total of 35 distinct cpDNA haplotypes were identified in these populations, of which 23 haplotypes were each present in only one sample and thus restricted to a single population. The significantly larger NST value (0.586) than GST (0.328) (p < 0.05) demonstrated the presence of strong phylogeographic structure. Phylogenetic analyses indicated that all haplotypes were clustered into two lineages. The genetic diversity of D. moniliforme was high at the species level, reflected in its haplotype diversity (Hd=0.8862), nucleotide diversity (Pi=0.00361), total genetic diversity (HT=0.9011), and significant differentiation (ΦST=0.5482). Based on mismatch distribution analysis and neutrality tests, population expansion was evident in all sampled populations and also in all populations sampled in mainland China. Three refuge areas were identified, one each in southwestern China, central-southeastern China, and the CKJ (Taiwan, Japan and Korea) Islands. The results supported the hypothesis that glacial refugia were maintained on different spatial-temporal scales in the SJFR during the last glacial maximum or earlier cold periods, suggesting that Quaternary refugial isolation promoted allopatric speciation of D. moniliforme in East Asia.
The Affective and Cognitive Dimensions of Math Anxiety: A Cross-National Study

In this study we focus on math anxiety, comparing its dimensions, levels, and relationship with mathematics achievement across samples of 6th-grade students from China, Taiwan, and the United States. The results of confirmatory factor analyses supported the theoretical distinction between affective and cognitive dimensions of math anxiety in all 3 national samples. The analyses of structural equation models provided evidence for the differential predictive validity of the 2 dimensions of math anxiety. Specifically, across the 3 national samples, the affective factor of math anxiety was significantly related to mathematics achievement in the negative direction. Gender by nation interactions were also found to be significant for both affective and cognitive math anxiety.
Learner perception of multimodal synchronous computer-mediated communication in foreign language classrooms

Recently, second language (L2) instruction has benefitted from the development of instructional technology such as synchronous computer-mediated communication (SCMC). The present study was conducted to investigate learner perception of the effectiveness of SCMC interactions for L2 learning and building intercultural competence. Students (n = 55) from three different universities in Korea, Japan, and Taiwan participated in a joint online class for one semester. The purpose of the class was to facilitate students’ development of linguistic and intercultural competence by interacting with peers from different cultures online. This study set out to examine the relation between learner perception and interactional features during group discussions. A range of data collection instruments were employed, including a questionnaire to track change in learner perception over time, interviews, and transcripts of interactions during each chat session. Results from linear mixed effect models suggest that among various interactional features, the following two variables were found to be significant predictors of positive attitudes towards SCMC: the amount of students’ attention to language and cultural issues during online discussion. Findings are discussed in light of developing effective SCMC-based language courses.
A Simplified Cerebellar Model with Priority-based Delayed Eligibility Trace Learning for Motor Control

The study of cerebellum has resulted in a common agreement that it is implicated in motor learning for movement coordination. Learning governed by error signal through synaptic eligibility traces has been proposed to be a learning mechanism in cerebellum. In this paper, we extend this idea and suggest a simplified and improved cerebellar model with priority-based delayed eligibility trace learning rule (S-CDE) that enables a mobile robot to freely and smoothly navigate in an environment. S-CDE is constructed in a brain-based device which mimics the anatomy, physiology, and dynamics of cerebellum. The input signal in terms of depth information generated from a simulated laser sensor is encoded as neuronal region activity for velocity and turn rate control. A priority-based delayed eligibility trace learning rule is proposed to maximize the usage of input signals for learning in synapses on Purkinje cell and cells in the deep cerebellar nuclei of cerebellum. Error signal generation and input signal conversion algorithms for turn rate and velocity are designed to facilitate training in an environment containing turns of varying curvatures. S-CDE is tested on a simulated mobile robot which had to randomly navigate maps of Singapore and Hong Kong expressways.
Concepts and Realities of Social Enterprise: A European Perspective

Although rarely used until the mid-1990s, the concepts of "social enterprise", "social entrepreneurship" and "social entrepreneur" are now increasingly discussed in various parts of the world. The bulk of the literature is still being produced in Western Europe and the United States but those three “SE flags” are attracting much interest in other regions, such Central and Eastern Europe, South-Eastern Asia (especially South Korea, Japan and Taiwan) and Latin America.
Growth Accounting, Growth Theory and the East Asian Miracle

This paper develops a method for interpreting growth accounting studies in terms of the neoclassical growth model. In particular it shows that the growth accounting contribution of capital reflects the distance of the economy from its steady state income level. The method is applied to studies of the East Asian economies by Young (1995) and Collins and Bosworth (1996). Contrary to the usual interpretation of these data, it is shown that the data support the argument made by King and Rebelo (1993). Transitional dynamics explain only a small fraction of growth in Hong Kong, Taiwan and South Korea.
Oil consumption and economic growth: A panel data analysis

Abstract Oil is obviously vital for economic growth and industry development. This paper attempts to explore whether or not there is a inverted-U relationship between oil consumption and economic growth. To this end, we employ a panel data analysis with fixed effect or random effect models using the set of data from 61 countries for the year 1990-2008. In conclusion, a statistically significant inverted-U relationship between per capita consumption of oil and per capita GDP is found. However, the level of per capita GDP at the peak point of per capita oil consumption is estimated to be 65,072 in 2005 international constant dollars, which is much larger than economic scales of sampled countries. Thus, as per capita GDP grows, per capita oil consumption is predicted to increase until eventually reaching the peak. Key words : oil consumption, economic growth, panel data analysis 1. Introduction Oil has been widely accepted as a vital input to industrial development and economic growth. However, the prospect of future oil consumption has resulted in forecasts of even future wars and high price. Thus, the issue of oil risk has received increasing attention in global in both developed and developing countries. According to ‘Energy Outlook 2030’ (BPa, 2011), oil is expected to be gradually growing fuel over the next 20 years. Nevertheless, global liquids demand (oil, biofuels, and other liquids) is likely to rise by 16.5 mega barrels per day (Mb/d), exceeding 102 Mb/d by 2030. Furthermore, the growth of liquids demand comes exclusively from rapidly growing developing economies. Developing countries, like China, India, Brazil etc., account for more than three quarters of the global increase, rising by nearly 13Mb/d. However, indeveloped countries, oil consumption increase has been slowed down or oil consumption itself has gradually decreased.Reynolds (2000) emphasized that oil is the main energy source of large mobile machinery operation and the main driver of economic growth. Thus, Tao (2010) predicted that the oil consumption increases more than twice from 2000 to 2025 in China. In the past several decades, numerous studies have examined the relationship between oil consumption and economic growth. Most of them concern Granger-causality test between the two. For example, Yang (2000), Aqeel and Butt (2001), Fatai et al. (2004), Rufael (2004), Lee and Chang (2005), Zou and Chau (2006), Yoo (2006), Usama (2011) dealt with the issue for Taiwan, Pakistan, New Zealand, Shanghai of China, Taiwan, China, Korea, and the Middle East and North African countries, respectively. In the recent literature on environmental economics, an important empirical finding has been
Measuring Corruption in China: An Expenditure‐Based Approach Using Household Survey Data

Most existing microâ€ level empirical analyses of corruption rely on administrative records, specialâ€ purpose surveys or field experiments, which can be difficult or very costly to obtain in some situations. In this paper, we apply an expenditureâ€ based method of quantifying the extent of corruption in a particular country using household survey data. This method utilizes discrepancies between consumption and reported income to measure corruption. Another contribution of this paper is that it provides the first objective estimate of the extent of corruption in China. We use a quadratic clothing expenditure function to estimate the extent of corruption in China in 2002.
Genetic Differentiation of the Fejervarya limnocharis Complex from Bangladesh and Other Asian Countries Elucidated by Allozyme Analyses

Abstract The present study was conducted to elucidate the genetic divergence and the phylogenetic relationships in the F. limnocharis complex from Bangladesh and other Asian countries such as Sri Lanka, Thailand, Malaysia, Taiwan and Japan by allozyme analyses. We used a total of 95 frogs of the F. limnocharis complex from these countries and F. cancrivora from the Philippines as an outgroup. Based on body size, the F. limnocharis complex from Bangladesh was divided into three distinct groups: large, medium and small types. Allozyme analyses were carried out with 28 loci encoding 20 enzymes and two blood proteins by horizontal starch-gel electrophoresis. When Nei's (1972) genetic distance was calculated, distinct divergence was found among the three types: mean genetic distance was 0.782 between the small and medium types, 1.458 between the large and medium types, and 1.520 between the large and small types. Phylogenetic trees based on genetic distance showed that all populations of Bangladesh small type strongly formed a cluster and were found to be most closely related to the Sri Lanka population; that all populations of Bangladesh large type formed a very strong cluster and were grouped with several populations from Thailand, Malaysia, Japan, and Taiwan; and that the medium type was segregated from all other groups. This may imply that each of the three types is a different species, and that the medium type is possibly an undescribed taxon.
Investigating the relationship between competency development and organizational performance

Competency development and human resources are increasingly valued by organizations. Employees are confronted by the question of how to enhance their abilities to meet the needs of organizations. For organizations, talent is a crucial enterprise resource in the era of the knowledge economy. One of the key success factors in enterprise management is finding and developing the right talent for the organization. The competency of employees at every level must be established through recruitment, promotion, educational training, and employee career development methods to enhance talent quality and competitiveness, and ensure that enterprises achieve their performance goals. This study investigated (a) the current condition of competency implementation in enterprises; (b) the interconnectedness of competency and recruitment, training, and performance; and (c) the correlation and causality between competency and enterprise performance. Interviews were conducted with professionals and organizations awarded with the Taiwan's National Training Quality Award to understand the implementation and application of competency in these organizations, which will serve as a reference for enterprises with the intention to advance in competency implementation.
Anti-Mutated Citrullinated Vimentin Antibodies in Rheumatoid Arthritis compared with anti-cyclic citrullinated peptides

Background: Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is characterized by synovial joint inflammation, which often leads to progressive joint destruction and disability. Several other auto-antibodies specific to RA have been found. Among them, antibodies against cyclic citrullinated peptides (CCP) are useful for diagnosing RA. Antibodies to mutated citrullinated vimentin (MCV) were described recently in RA. The aims of this study were to evaluate the usefulness of anti-MCV for diagnosing and assessing severity of RA compared to anti-CCP. Patients and methods: We studied 50 RA patients (aged 18 - 60 years with 80% females) and 25 healthy controls, matched age and sex. Functional disability was evaluated using Health Assessment Questionnaire (HAQ). CBC and ESR for all subjects were done. Anti-CCP and anti-MCV levels were assayed using ElISA technique. IgM rheumatoid factor was determined by turbidimetry. Postero-anterior radiographs of hands, wrists, and forefeet were taken. Results: RA group was significantly higher than control group as regard ESR, CRP, RF, Anti-CCP, and Anti- MCV. Also, Anti- MCV had higher parameters than each of RF or anti-CCP as regard sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value, negative predictive value and odd ratio in diagnosing RA and prognostic assessment. A significant correlations of RF with Anti-CCP and Larsen score, Anti-MCV with disease duration, VAS, HAQ, DAS 28, ESR, Anti-CCP and Larsen score, and there were significant correlations of Anti-CCP with VAS, DAS 28, RF, Anti-MCV and Larsen score. Conclusion: Anti-MCV antibody is very useful in RA since higher sensitivity and specificities are obtained compared with the anti-CCP assay and RF. (Ismail Ashraf Khalifa, Abdel wahab Mohammed Lotfy, Mahmoud Afifi Elsayed
Watch Your Step! Detecting Stepping Stones in Programmable Networks

Hackers hide behind compromised intermediate hosts and pose advanced persistent threats (APTs). The compromised hosts are used as stepping stones to launch real attacks, as is evident from an incident that shook the world in 2016 — Panama Papers Leak. The major attack would not go unnoticed if the compromised stepping stone, in this case an email server, could be identified in time. In this paper, we explore how today's programmable networks could be retrofitted with effective stepping stone detection mechanisms to correlate flows. We share initial results to prove that such a setup exists. Lastly, we analyze scalability issues associated with the setup and explore recent developments in network monitoring which have potential to address these issues.
Global Havoc due to COVID-19 and Its Impact on Dentistry: A Review

The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), originated in Wuhan, China. The disease has now affected more than 100 countries around the world. In the light of the WHO declaring COVID-19 as a public health emergency of international concern, despite global efforts to prevent the spreading of the disease, the cases are still increasing. Dentistry is facing its darkest hour, with the growth and spread of this pandemic. Dental surgeons are among the highest risk because they are in direct contact with saliva. COVID-19 had a serious impact on the dental profession. There are lot many articles published relating to Dentistry and the disease. But dentistry has various specialties and each of them has specific therapeutic considerations. The article concisely elaborates specific considerations in various specialties in dentistry. Key words: COVID-19, Dentistry, Impact on dentistry, Therapeutic considerations, Review.