Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Clergy stress: Seventh-day Adventist pastors in Hong Kong, Singapore, and Taiwan

OF THE DISSERTATION Clergy Stress: Seventh-day Adventist Pastors in Hong Kong, Singapore, and Taiwan by Onn Liang Doctor of Philosophy, Graduate Program in Marital and Family Therapy Loma Linda University, June 2009 Dr. Colwick M. Wilson and Dr. Ian Chand, Chairpersons This research utilized an expanded ABC-X model of family stress, one that incorporated the culture and boundary ambiguity constructs of the contextual approach as a paradigm to examine the outcomes of job-related stress experienced by the Seventh-day Adventist pastors in Hong Kong, Singapore, and Taiwan. All together 89 Adventist pastors or 86.4% of the total pastoral workforce in the three regions participated in the 52 self-administered questionnaire survey. In addition, two focus groups made up of 15 pastors in Taiwan were utilized to generate descriptive data related to pastors and their families in the context of stressful situations. This research verified higher ministry demands would reduce pastor's personal wellbeing, higher levels of support resources available to pastors would reduce the effects of ministry demands, and the perception of the stressor events would more strongly correlate with the outcomes of the pastors' wellbeing than either the stressor events. This research has demonstrated the robustness of ABC-X model in the study of clergy stress from an ethnic cultural context and has expanded the research literature on clergy, stress from a cross-cultural perspective. Furthermore, this research enhances our understanding of the function of social support, especially that of the family, as a significant predictor of the pastor's overall wellbeing.
Xanthomonas campestris PqqD in the pyrroloquinoline quinone biosynthesis operon adopts a novel saddle‐like fold that possibly serves as a PQQ carrier

Xanthomonas campestris PqqD in the pyrroloquinoline quinone biosynthesis operon adopts a novel saddle-like fold that possibly serves as a PQQ carrier Tung-Yi Tsai, Chao-Yu Yang, Hui-Ling Shih, Andrew H. -J. Wang, and Shan-Ho Chou* 1 Institute of Biochemistry, National Chung-Hsing University, Taichung, 40227, Taiwan, Republic of China 2 Core Facility for Protein Crystallography, Academia Sinica, Nankang, Taipei, Taiwan, Republic of China 3 Institute of Biological Chemistry, Academia Sinica, Nankang, Taipei, Taiwan, Republic of China 4 National Chung Hsing University Biotechnology Center, National Chung-Hsing University, Taichung, 40227, Taiwan, Republic of China
A comparative case study of the internationalization strategies of Malaysian, Singaporean and Taiwanese firms

Comparative empirical research on the internationalization strategies of Asian multinational enterprises (MNEs) from countries at different levels of development is lacking. This paper examines and analyzes the internationalization characteristics and strategies of MNEs from three Asian countries at two different levels of development. Primary data from matched sample firms from Malaysia (a fast developing economy) and Singapore and Taiwan (representing newly industrialized economies) in the textile and electronics industries are used for this study. The findings indicate some differences among the Malaysian, Singaporean and Taiwanese MNEs. These differences and their implications are examined. The empirical findings, particularly the contextual aspects of internationalization, and propositions for further research are discussed.
Global securities analysts' evaluations of family firms in emerging markets: The sociological perspective on the operations of financial markets

This dissertation advances a sociological view of the stock exchange market. I examine how multiple institutional logics – profession-based logic at the global level and corporate governance-based logic at the national level – influence analysts’ coverage and ratings for family-dominated firms in emerging markets. Specifically, I aim to address the following three questions: (1) how do multiple forms of logics affect a brokerage firm’s decision to cover family-dominated firms? (2) how do multiple logics influence analysts’ earnings forecasts and recommendations of family-dominated firms? and (3) how do several theoretically-relevant contingencies strengthen or weaken the influence of multiple institutional logics on analysts’ coverage and ratings? I examine these questions by conducting a longitudinal study of global analysts’ coverage and ratings of all publicly listed firms in South Korea and Taiwan during the period of 1996 to 2005.
Lactobacillus plantarum: a dominant microflora in Mesu- a nonsaltedfermented bamboo shoot product from Sikkim, India.

The North Eastern part of India is a land of diverse culture and tradition. Several fermented foods are prepared and consumed by different ethnic-people of North-East India; particularly bamboo shoots are an important and inseparable component. The current study is based on isolation and characterization of dominant bacteria in Mesu, a non-salted fermented bamboo shoot, obtained from Sikkim, India. A total of 15 lactic acid bacteria (LAB) cultures were isolated from Mesu, all were identified to be Gram-positive, rod shape and catalase negative, fermentative use of glucose under microaerophilic conditions. Biochemical tests were performed for their identification and Scanning Electron Microscopy was carried out for purity and cell-morphology study. Further, molecular techniques like RAPD, rep-PCR, 16S rDNA PCR was performed to study the diversity. Fingerprinting of two isolates E1 (Eup obtained from Arunachal Pradesh), Me3 (Mesu) was carried out by sequencing rRNA gene of these isolates. Phylogenetic tree of E1 & Me3 was constructed; the relatedness was studied and indicated the presence of Lb. plantarum in Mesu that is unique from other Lb plantarum reported. It is a homo-fermentative LAB could be a dominant culture associated with rapid acidification of Mesu. Well characterized Lb. plantarum obtained from fermented bamboo shoot could be a suitable starter culture for industrial production of Mesu.
Phylogenetic and Population Analysis of Lettuce mosaic virus Isolates Based on the Coat Protein Gene

Lettuce mosaic virus (LMV) is one of the most important and destructive members of Potyviruses in the family Potyviridae that is transmitted by aphid and seed which cause economic damage and serious yield losses to different crops around the world. To explore phylogenetic relationships, population evolution, and the effect of selection forces on the complete coat protein (CP) gene of LMV isolates, 36 complete coat protein gene sequences retrieved from the GenBank database in several different countries in four continents: Central and East Asia (China, Taiwan, South Korea, and Turkey), Europe (France), Africa (Tunisia), and America (Chile and Brazil). The phylogenetic tree of LMV isolates was grouped into independent clades with the significance of FST values (>0.27). The ratio of dN/dS is calculated less than one and showed that the LMV-CP has been under negative selection. Statistical tests (Tajima’s D, Fu and Li’s D* and F*) were used to estimate non-significantly negative values for all clades and geographic populations except for the Brazilian population and Clade III in a phylogenetic group. The negatives values revealed that there is less polymorphism estimation. All geographic populations in four phylogroups of LMV seem to be at equilibrium because all neutrality test statistics were non-significant. The findings suggested that the dynamics of LMV molecular evolution may be dependent on mutation, recombination, and negative selection. No recombination events were observed in this part of the LMV genome. Therefore, this study provides the first time evolution and differentiation between populations of LMV isolates from around the world and suggested that they may be occurred by the transmission of the virus among lettuce plants by types of aphid species, migration in different geographical areas by infected seeds and plant material, and broad host range which seems that these events have played an important role in shaping the LMV population structure.
Healthcare utilization, psychiatric disorders, and physical illnesses shortly before suicide mortality in adolescents in Taiwan

Abstract Background This study examined the pattern of medical utilization and the distribution of comorbidities shortly before death among adolescents who died from suicide and compared these data with those of living controls. Methods From Taiwan's National Health Insurance Research Database, this study identified adolescents aged 10–19 years who died from suicide (n = 935) between 1 January 2000, and 31 December 2016, by linking each patient with the national mortality database. The researchers conducted a nested case–control study through risk set sampling, and for each case, 20 age- and sex-matched controls (n = 18 700) were selected from the general population. The researchers applied conditional logistic regression to investigate differences in medical utilization and physical and psychiatric comorbidities between cases and controls. Results Cases had a higher proportion of contact with the psychiatric department but a similar proportion of contact with any non-psychiatric medical department within 1 year before suicide compared with controls. There were 18.6% of adolescent suicide victims who only had contacted with a psychiatric department 3 months before suicide. Moreover, cases had a higher proportion of contact with non-psychiatric services within 3 months before suicide, particularly with emergency, surgery, and internal medicine departments. Cases had higher risks of several psychiatric disorders and physical illnesses, including heart diseases, pneumonia, and ulcer disease, than did controls. Conclusions The findings of increased medical utilization and higher risks of physical and psychiatric comorbidities in adolescent suicide victims are crucial for developing specific interventions to prevent suicide in this population.
Geosmithia Species Associated With Bark Beetles From China, With the Description of Nine New Species

Fungi of the genus Geosmithia are frequently associated with bark beetles that feed on phloem on various woody hosts. Most studies on Geosmithia were carried out in North and South America and Europe, with only two species being reported from Taiwan, China. This study aimed to investigate the diversity of Geosmithia species in China. Field surveys in Fujian, Guangdong, Guangxi, Hunan, Jiangsu, Jiangxi, Shandong, Shanghai, and Yunnan yielded a total of 178 Geosmithia isolates from 12 beetle species. The isolates were grouped based on morphology. The internal transcribed spacer, β-tubulin, and elongation factor 1-α gene regions of the representatives of each group were sequenced. Phylogenetic trees were constructed based on those sequences. In total, 12 species were identified, with three previously described species (Geosmithia xerotolerans, G. putterillii, and G. pallida) and nine new species which are described in this paper as G. luteobrunnea, G. radiata, G. brevistipitata, G. bombycina, G. granulata (Geosmithia sp. 20), G. subfulva, G. pulverea (G. sp. 3 and Geosmithia sp. 23), G. fusca, and G. pumila sp. nov. The dominant species obtained in this study were G. luteobrunnea and G. pulverea. This study systematically studied the Geosmithia species in China and made an important contribution to filling in the gaps in our understanding of global Geosmithia species diversity.
Race for Immunity: the Russian Stock Market during the COVID-19 Pandemic

ABSTRACT This paper evaluates the stock market performance in Russia during the COVID-19 pandemic from January 3, 2020, to April 30, 2021. The study shows daily abnormal returns of stocks declined on the day when the first coronavirus case was detected. The government’s actions in implementing lockdown restrictions and providing stimulus packages positively influenced the stock market. However, the early lifting of lockdowns sent a negative signal to investors. Despite the skepticism among the population toward the first coronavirus vaccine Sputnik V, the news of its registration, mass vaccination, and Russia’s “vaccine diplomacy” contributed to the stock market’s growth.
AIS Electronic

As one of the internationally leading country in electronic governing, Taiwanese government is facing difficulties in the application of shared service center (SSC), especially the integration of back-office information systems. Taiwanese government is promoting a government organization reform project, being aimed at improving the efficiency and quality of government services. With the advance of reforming, Taiwanese government plans to reinforce the SSC applications in every Ministry. The purpose of this research is through in-depth interviews with the staff in the Ministry of Finance (MOF) 1
Carriage of extended-spectrum beta-lactamase-producing Enterobacteriaceae and the risk of surgical site infection after colorectal surgery: a prospective cohort study.

Background Antibiotic prophylaxis covering enteric pathogens is essential in preventing surgical site infection (SSI) after colorectal surgery. Current prophylaxis regimens do not cover extended-spectrum beta lactamase-producing Enterobacteriaceae (ESBL-PE). We aimed to determine whether the risk of SSI following colorectal surgery is higher in ESBL-PE carriers than in non-carriers. Methods We conducted a prospective cohort study of patients undergoing elective colorectal surgery in three hospitals in Israel, Switzerland, and Serbia between 2012-2017. We included patients who were 18 and older, were screened for ESBL-PE carriage before surgery, received routine prophylaxis with a cephalosporin plus metronidazole, and did not have an infection at the time of surgery. The exposed group was all ESBL-PE positive patients. The unexposed group was a random sample of ESBL-PE negative patients. We collected data on patient and surgery characteristics and SSI outcomes. We fit logistic mixed effects models with study site as a random effect. Results A total of 3600 patients were screened for ESBL-PE; 13.8% were carriers (E.coli, 81.3%, other ESBL-PE, 18.7 %). We analyzed 222 ESBL-PE carriers and 440 non-carriers. SSI occurred in 55 carriers (24.8%) and 49 non-carriers (11.1%, P<0.001). In multivariable analysis, ESBL-PE carriage more than doubled the risk of SSI (OR= 2.36, 95% CI: 1.50-3.71). Carriers had higher risk of deep SSI (OR= 2.25 95% CI: 1.27 - 3.99). SSI caused by ESBL-PE occurred in 7.2% of carriers and 1.6% of non-carriers (OR= 4.23, 95% CI: 1.70-10.56). Conclusion ESBL-PE carriers who receive cephalosporin-based prophylaxis are at increased risk of SSI following colorectal surgery.
Emptiness in the Mind-only School of Buddhism

Dzong-ka-ba's (1357-1419) "The Essence of Eloquence" is the one book on wisdom that the Dalai Lama carries with him wherever he goes. Composed by Tibet's great yogi-scholar and founder of the Ge-luk-ba school, it stands as a landmark in Buddhist philosophy. In this first of a three-volume series, Jeffrey Hopkins focuses on how the conflict between appearance and reality is presented in the Mind-Only, or Yogic Practice, School. "The Essence of Eloquence" is so rich that for the last six centuries numerous Tibetan and Mongolian scholars have been drawn into a dynamic process of both finding and creating consistency in Dzong-ka-ba's often terse and cryptic tract. Hopkins makes extensive use of these commentaries to annotate the translation. Included are historical and doctrinal introductions and a critical edition of the text, as well as a lengthy synopsis to aid the general reader. Specialists and nonspecialists alike will find this important book indispensable. This book is the first of a three-volume series of related but stand-alone works on the first two sections of Dzong-ka-ba's "The Essence of Eloquence". The focus of all three volumes is the exposition of emptiness in the Mind-Only School according to numerous Tibetan and Mongolian scholars over the last six centuries who have tried both to find and to create consistency in his often terse and cryptic tract. This first volume is in four parts: a historical and doctrinal introduction; a translation of the General Explanation and the Section on the Mind-Only School in "The Essence of Eloquence" with frequent annotations in brackets, footnotes, and backnotes; a detailed synopsis of the translation; and, a critical edition in Tibetan script of these sections in "The Essence of Eloquence".
Levels, Trends and Inter-Regional Variations in Transfusion Transmissible Infection Positivity among Blood Donors in India: Evidence from India’s National HIV Program

In India, transfusion transmissible infections (TTIs) are monitored for trends at the blood bank level, but limited efforts have been made to analyze data from a large number of blood banks and present it at the national, regional and state levels. The Computerized Management Information System (CMIS), National AIDS Control Organization’s (NACO) online data capturing system, systematically collects information on TTIs in a monthly aggregated format from blood banks across the country. This information is being captured in NACO’s annual reports, but a systematic scientific analysis and publication of the same have not been attempted so far. Hence, the objective of this study is to analyze and report TTIs among blood donors in India at three different levels—national, regional and state—from 497 consistent blood banks reporting through CMIS during 2008-2012. National level analysis shows an increasing trend in voluntary blood donation from 9.28 lakh to 19.02 lakh, and a decreasing trend in TTIs, with female donors constituting only 6% of the entire pool of donors. Of the five TTIs studied, in 2012 Hepatitis-B-surface Antigen (HBsAg) positivity was highest (0.9%), followed by Hepatitis C Virus (HCV) (0.45%), syphilis (0.23%), HIV (0.17%) and malaria (0.03%). Regional analysis indicated that voluntary donation was high in the Eastern and Western regions, with 11% of female donors in Eastern India in 2012. All the TTIs showed a declining trend, except HCV, which showed a rising trend in the Eastern and Southern regions. The level of positivity for all the five TTIs was higher than the national average in the Eastern region. Among the TTIs, HIV positivity among voluntary donors was below the national average, while in Mizoram both HBsAg and HCV of more than 1% seropositivity and VDRL of 1.7% in Arunachal Pradesh had been reported. Malaria has the lowest national positivity, with Nagaland reporting a high positivity of 0.4%. Although the national and regional trends in TTI positivity are declining, regional level variations in TTIs, especially in hepatitis, suggest the importance of advocating for pre-donation counseling and educating donors on self-exclusion.
Globalization and Economic Development

48 Translation © 2003 by M.E. Sharpe, Inc. Adapted from “Globalization and the Economic Development of Undeveloped Countries,” Taiwan Social Studies 37 (March 2000): 91–117, and “Is the Open-Door Policy Advantageous to Economic Development? —How to Evaluate China Joining the World Trade Organization,” Reading 276 (March 2002): 36–44. Ch’ü Wanwen is a member of the Academia Sinica in Taiwan. Translated by Ming Qiang. The Chinese Economy, vol. 36, no. 1, January–February 2003, pp. 48–88. © 2003 M.E. Sharpe, Inc. All rights reserved. ISSN 1097–1475 / 2003 $9.50 + 0.00.
A Geospatial Study to Assess the Land Use Land Cover of Mehao Wildlife Sanctuary in Arunachal Pradesh, India

There is inadequate knowledge of the natural resources in the remote inaccessible protected areas of North East Region (NER) of India. Arunachal Pradesh, which is one of the state in NER is extremely rich in biodiversity and forms a part of the biodiversity hotspots in the Eastern Himalayas. However its biodiversity is under threat due to various factors like infrastructure development, changing socio-economic pattern and other external pressures. Therefore the need of the hour is to map the current biodiversity of the area as well as potential threats in order to conserve the natural resources and create detailed spatial databases. The objective of the present study is to map the land use land cover (LULC) of Mehao Wildlife Sanctuary (WLS) situated in Arunachal Pradesh using Remote Sensing and GIS technology. IRS LISS III satellite image has been used to extract LULC, vegetation maps using hybrid classification. Further a spatial database of the WLS was created which includes contour, drainage, spot height and elevation distribution maps.
Prototype of pulse digitizer and readout electronics for CDEX-10 in CJPL

The CDEX (China Dark matter Experiment) is currently in the stage to upgrade to approximately 10 kg HPGe (High Purity Germanium) detectors (CDEX-10) in CJPL (China Jinping Underground Laboratory) and aims to detect the WIMP (Weakly Interacting Massive Particles). Six analog signals and one inhibited signal are outputted from preamplifier by one HPGe detector (∼ 1 kg) of CDEX-10. The analog signals are conditioned with two 6 μs and one 12 μs shaping amplifiers, and three timing amplifiers respectively. The inhibited signal is used for trigger. The analog signals from shaping and timing amplifiers are digitized to obtain energy spectrum and rise-time distribution. The rise-time distribution is used to discriminate surface, bulk, and very bulk events, which can help to supress the background level in dark matter detection. Composed of commercial modules, the previous DAQ (Data Acquisition Systems) is insufficient in discriminating between bulk and very bulk events due to the limited sampling rate (100 MSPS). Besides, as number of channel increases, the system will be simplified by integrating the trigger logic in FPGA (Field Programmable Gate Array). In this paper, a prototype named RAIN4HPGe is designed with pulse digitizer and readout electronics, integrating 14-bit 100 MSPS ADCs (Analog-to-Digital Converters), 12-bit 1 GSPS ADCs, FPGA etc. . The RAIN1000Z1 readout module based on ZYNQ SoC (System on Chip) is used for readout over Gigabit Ethernet. Better energy resolution, e.g. improving from 558 eV to 474 eV @122 keV, can be achieved by RAIN4HPGe compared to previous DAQ (Data Acquisition Systems) with commercial solution. Moreover, the discrimination performance of bulk, and very bulk events has been improved by RAIN4HPGe with 1 GSPS ADC.