Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Returnee entrepreneurial entry decisions among forced and voluntary returnees in Ethiopia: A comparative study

ABSTRACT Returnee entrepreneurship has become an important topic of interest due both to the increasing number of return migrants and the particular nature of their entrepreneurial activities. In some cases, such as in Taiwan, China, and Israel, voluntary returnees have made a significant impact on their home country’s economic development. However, some expatriates are forced to return due to rapid changes in the political and economic situations of their host countries. We compare and examine these two different cohorts in Ethiopia to understand what attributes are transportable and facilitate entrepreneurship, as well as barriers for the two different groups. Scholarly understanding of what drives returnee entrepreneurial entry decisions remains limited, even more so regarding sub-Sahara Africa. Using the mixed embeddedness perspective, this paper aims to unveil the multi-level drivers of returnee entrepreneurial entry decisions by comparing forced and voluntary returnees to Ethiopia. Based on in-depth interviews with 25 returnees, abductively, the findings indicate the interactive influence of personal and interpersonal factors, simultaneous engagement, and opportunity promise on returnee entrepreneurial entry decisions. Specifically, for the voluntary returnees, childhood aspirations, altruistic desire, simultaneous engagement, and nostalgia, coupled with migration capital and opportunity promise influence their business entry decisions. For the forced returnees, lack of options, regrets about migration, preconceptions, tacit capital, and government support drive their entry decisions. We discuss how these factors are contingent on migrants’ pre-, post-, and during-migration conditions in facilitating returnee entrepreneurship. We also illuminate the distinctive differences between forced and voluntary returnees. Implications for theory and practice are indicated.
Along‐strike continuity of structure, stratigraphy, and kinematic history in the Himalayan thrust belt: The view from Northeastern India

The Himalaya consists of thrust sheets tectonically shingled together since ~58 Ma as India collided with and slid beneath Asia. Major Himalayan structures, including the South Tibetan Detachment (STD), Main Central Thrust (MCT), Lesser Himalayan Duplex (LHD), Main Boundary Thrust (MBT), and Main Frontal Thrust (MFT), persist along strike from northwestern India to Arunachal Pradesh near the eastern end of the orogenic belt. Previous work suggests significant basement involvement and a kinematic history unique to the Arunachal Himalaya. We present new geologic and geochronologic data to support a regional structural cross section and kinematic restoration of the Arunachal Himalaya. Large Paleoproterozoic orthogneiss bodies (Bomdila Gneiss) previously interpreted as Indian basement have ages of ~1774–1810 Ma, approximately 50 Ma younger than Lesser Himalayan strata into which their granitic protoliths intruded. Bomdila Gneiss is therefore part of the Lesser Himalayan cover sequence, and no evidence exists for basement involvement in the Arunachal Himalaya. Minimum shortening in rocks structurally beneath the STD is ~421 km. The MCT was active during the early Miocene; STD extension overlapped MCT shortening and continued until approximately 15–12 Ma; and growth of the LHD began ~11 Ma, followed by slip along the MBT (post‐7.5 Ma) and MFT (post‐1 Ma) systems. Earlier thrusting events involved long‐distance transport of strong, low‐taper thrust sheets, whereas events after 12–10 Ma stacked smaller, weaker thrust sheets into a steeply tapered orogenic wedge dominated by duplexing. A coeval kinematic transition is observed in other Himalayan regions, suggesting that orogenic wedge behavior was controlled by rock strength and erodibility.
Adolescent oral sex, peer popularity, and perceptions of best friends' sexual behavior.

OBJECTIVE To provided initial descriptive information regarding adolescents' engagement in oral sex and to investigate adolescents' perceptions of their best friends' sexual behavior and peer-reported popularity as two social mechanisms that may influence engagement in oral sex. METHODS A total of 212 tenth graders reported their engagement in oral sex and intercourse, number of sexual partners, and use of sexually transmitted infection (STI) protection, as well as perceptions of their best friends' sexual behaviors. Sociometric assessment yielded peer-reported measures of adolescents' preference- and reputation-based popularity. RESULTS Adolescents were more likely to report engagement in oral sex than intercourse, report more oral sex partners than intercourse partners, and were unlikely to report use of STI protection during oral sex. Perceptions of best friends' behavior were significantly associated with adolescents' own oral sex behavior, but not intercourse. Adolescents who reported sexual activity had high levels of reputation-based popularity, but not likeability among peers; however, sex with more partners was associated with lower levels of popularity. CONCLUSIONS Implications for prevention programs are discussed.
Influenza Virus in Human Exhaled Breath: An Observational Study

Background Recent studies suggest that humans exhale fine particles during tidal breathing but little is known of their composition, particularly during infection. Methodology/Principal Findings We conducted a study of influenza infected patients to characterize influenza virus and particle concentrations in their exhaled breath. Patients presenting with influenza-like-illness, confirmed influenza A or B virus by rapid test, and onset within 3 days were recruited at three clinics in Hong Kong, China. We collected exhaled breath from each subject onto Teflon filters and measured exhaled particle concentrations using an optical particle counter. Filters were analyzed for influenza A and B viruses by quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qPCR). Twelve out of thirteen rapid test positive patients provided exhaled breath filter samples (7 subjects infected with influenza B virus and 5 subjects infected with influenza A virus). We detected influenza virus RNA in the exhaled breath of 4 (33%) subjects–three (60%) of the five patients infected with influenza A virus and one (14%) of the seven infected with influenza B virus. Exhaled influenza virus RNA generation rates ranged from <3.2 to 20 influenza virus RNA particles per minute. Over 87% of particles exhaled were under 1 µm in diameter. Conclusions These findings regarding influenza virus RNA suggest that influenza virus may be contained in fine particles generated during tidal breathing, and add to the body of literature suggesting that fine particle aerosols may play a role in influenza transmission.
Poisoning the Well: Exploring the Great Firewall's Poisoned DNS Responses

One of the primary filtering methods that the Great Firewall of China (GFW) relies on is poisoning DNS responses for certain domains. When a DNS request is poisoned by the GFW, multiple DNS responses are received - both legitimate and poisoned responses. While most prior research into the GFW focuses on the poisoned responses, ours also considers the legitimate responses from the DNS servers themselves. We find that even when we ignored the immediate poisoned responses, the cache from the DNS servers themselves are also poisoned. We also find and discuss the IP addresses within the DNS responses we get; in particular 9 IP addresses that are returned as a result for many different poisoned domains. We present the argument that this type of attack may not be primarily targeted directly at users, but at the underlying DNS infrastructure within China.
Beliefs about the state, goals, and objects of sexual desire.

Little is known about how men women conceptualize sexual desire. This descriptive study explored beliefs about the nature of sexual desire. Participants defined sexual desire in a free response format. The results suggest that there is no single common understanding of sexual desire. In particular, although men and women conceptualize the state of sexual desire in a manner similar to researchers and theorists (i.e., as a subjective, psychological experience rather than as a physiological or behavioral sexual event), sexual desire represents a more romantic, interpersonal experience for women than for men. Significantly more women than men believed that love and emotional intimacy are important goals of sexual desire, and fewer women than men viewed sexual activity as a goal of sexual desire.
Conceptions of Teaching

From interviews of 253 adults and teachers of adults in Canada, the People's Republic of China, Hong Kong, Singapore, and the United States, five conceptions of teaching emerged: Engineering–Delivering Content; Apprenticeship–Modeling Ways of Being; Developmental–Cultivating the Intellect; Nurturing–Facilitating Personal Agency; and, Social Reform–Seeking a Better Society. Variation amongst conceptions was examined in relation to three interdependent aspects of each conception: actions, intentions, and beliefs related to one or more of five elements and the relationship amongst those elements: teacher, learner, content, context, and/or an ideal vision for society. Findings have implications for cross-cultural work, the evaluation of teaching, and the development of teachers.
Assessing the Effectiveness of Quality Management in a Global Context

Manufacturers are faced with growing obstacles to quality coordination and assurance, as illustrated by the recent quality failures for toy cars and pet food. The objective of this paper is to contribute insight into these obstacles based on the theoretical domain of competitive capability progression (CCP), as well as the related concept of performance frontiers. Four hypotheses are developed and tested with data collected in a worldwide survey of manufacturing plants. In order to provide a relevant context for both CCP and the theory of performance frontiers, we focus on two sets of countries: more recently industrialized economies in Asia (China, Taiwan, South Korea), and long-standing industrialized economies in Western Europe (Germany, Finland, Italy, Sweden). We analyze the effectiveness of quality management in these two groups in terms of their impact on perceived and actual quality performance, and offer explanations for the difficulties that exist in global quality management. Our findings stress the importance of having a common understanding of what defines good quality across plants globally. Contributions to both theory and practice are highlighted.
Acute Heat Stress Induces Differential Gene Expressions in the Testes of a Broiler-Type Strain of Taiwan Country Chickens

The expression of testicular genes following acute heat stress has been reported in layer-type roosters, but few similar studies have been conducted on broilers. This study investigated the effect of acute heat stress on the gene expression in the testes of a broiler-type strain of Taiwan country chickens. Roosters were subjected to acute heat stress (38°C) for 4 h, and then exposed to 25°C, with testes collected 0, 2, and 6 h after the cessation of heat stress, using non-heat-stressed roosters as controls (n = 3 roosters per group). The body temperature and respiratory rate increased significantly (p<0.05) during the heat stress. The numbers of apoptotic cells increased 2 h after the acute heat stress (79 ± 7 vs. 322 ± 192, control vs. heat stress; p<0.05), which was earlier than the time of increase in layer-type roosters. Based on a chicken 44 K oligo microarray, 163 genes were found to be expressed significantly different in the testes of the heat-stressed chickens from those of the controls, including genes involved in the response to stimulus, protein metabolism, signal transduction, cell adhesion, transcription, and apoptosis. The mRNA expressions of upregulated genes, including HSP25, HSP90AA1, HSPA2, and LPAR2, and of downregulated genes, including CDH5, CTNNA3, EHF, CIRBP, SLA, and NTF3, were confirmed through quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR). Moreover, numerous transcripts in the testes exhibited distinct expressions between the heat-stressed broiler-type and layer-type chickens. We concluded that the transcriptional responses of testes to acute heat stress may differ between the broiler-type and layer-type roosters. Whether the differential expression patterns associate with the heat-tolerance in the strains require a further exploration.
The Secret Success of Nonproliferation Sanctions

Abstract Building on the rationalist literature on sanctions, this article argues that economic and political sanctions are a successful tool of nonproliferation policy, but that selection effects have rendered this success largely hidden. Since the late 1970s—when the United States made the threat of sanctions credible through congressional legislation and began regularly employing sanctions against proliferating states—sanctions have been ineffective in halting ongoing nuclear weapons programs, but they have succeeded in deterring states from starting nuclear weapons programs in the first place and have thus contributed to a decline in the rate of nuclear pursuit. The logic of the argument is simple: rational leaders assess the risk of sanctions before initiating a nuclear weapons program, which produces a selection effect whereby states highly vulnerable to sanctions are deterred from starting nuclear weapons programs in the first place, so long as the threat is credible. Vulnerability is a function of a state's level of economic and security dependence on the United States—states with greater dependence have more to lose from US sanctions and are more likely to be sensitive to US-sponsored norms. The end result of this selection effect is that since the late 1970s, only insulated, inward-looking regimes have pursued nuclear weapons and become the target of imposed sanctions, thus rendering the observed success rate of nonproliferation sanctions low. I find support for the argument based on statistical analysis of a global sample of countries from 1950 to 2000, an original data set of US nonproliferation sanctions episodes, and qualitative analysis of the South Korean and Taiwanese nuclear weapons programs.
Individual-Level Data on the Victims of Nepal’s Civil War, 1996–2006: A New Data Set

This article introduces individual-level microdata on victims of violence in Nepal’s civil war (1996–2006). The data being presented in this study are unique in that they are a census—not a sample—of the known population of victims for which information could be collected. The unit of analysis is the individual victim, and the data provide information on: whether the victim was killed, injured, or disappeared; the districts and villages where they were targeted; their permanent home addresses; the circumstances of the attack (combat, extrajudicial, etc.); socioeconomic information; whether they had any affiliation to rebel groups or other political parties; identification of the perpetrator; and whether the victim was considered to be a government or Maoist informant. After describing the data, an application of the data is performed and some preliminary findings are discussed on the differences in targeting behavior between the government and the Maoist rebels.
Asian Hedge Fund Report

We survey the Asian hedge fund landscape and shed light on the size, investment region, strategy, and performance metrics of funds operating in Asia. Our findings indicate that hedge funds in the region typically maintain close physical proximity to their investment markets. Institutional quality hedge funds with assets under management greater than US$100m tend to focus on Greater China and Japan. Relative to Hong Kong, Japan, and Australia, Singapore harbors the most diverse group of hedge funds in terms of investment strategy. Between January 2000 and December 2011, Greater China focused funds have on average outperformed hedge funds investing in other regions while India focused funds have underperformed. Over the same period, the alphas of CTA/managed futures, macro and event driven funds have eclipsed those of fixed income, multi-strategy, and equity long/short funds. Given the presence of capacity constraints at the strategy level and the significant number of equity long/short funds operating in Asia, our findings suggest that Asian equity long/short may be overcrowded. On balance however, hedge fund performance in Asia appears to be driven more by investment geography than by investment strategy.
The sexual practices of adolescent virgins: genital sexual activities of high school students who have never had vaginal intercourse.

OBJECTIVES The purpose of this study was to determine whether high school-aged virgins engage in sexual practices that can transmit sexually transmitted diseases, including the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV). METHODS Data were collected from an anonymous self-administered survey of 2026 urban students in 9th through 12th grades. RESULTS Forty-seven percent of adolescents were virgins (42% of male adolescents and 53% of female adolescents). Of those who were virgins, 29% and 31% reported that, during the prior year, they had engaged in heterosexual masturbation of a partner and masturbation by a partner, respectively. The corresponding rates for heterosexual fellatio with ejaculation, cunnilingus, and anal intercourse were 9%, 10%, and 1%. Homosexual sexual activities were rare. Condom use for fellatio was also rare. Level of risk of virgins' sexual activities was associated with illicit substance use and other non-sexual risk behaviors, even after demographic variables had been controlled. CONCLUSIONS Few high school-aged virgins engaged in anal intercourse, but many engaged in other genital sexual activities. Some of these activities can transmit disease, and all can indicate a need for counseling about sexual decision making, risk, and prevention.
Economic Benefits and Costs of Jatropha Plantation in North-East India

Energy security, emissions control and environmental concerns are some of the issues that drive India to search for bio-fuels in general and bio-diesel in particular as an alternative source of energy. The inception of National Biofuel Mission in 2003 has resulted in expansion of jatropha plantations in different states of the country. In North-East India, jatropha plantation was started in 2007, mostly at small farmers’ level with direct and indirect initiatives of the government and the private sector. However, adoption and expansion of jatropha plantation in the rural areas largely depend on profitability from such plantations at farmers’ level. The present study has assessed the profitability of jatropha plantation in four states of North-East India, viz. Arunachal Pradesh, Assam, Nagaland and Tripura, through cost-benefit analysis. The study has shown positive returns from the investment on jatropha plantation, making it an economically viable venture for the growers of the region. The investment on such plantation has shown a payback period of five years under the scenario of higher seed yield and accordingly requires adequate state funding support for operation and maintenance of such plantations at least during the initial years.
Geopolitical Risk and Contagion: Evidence from European Stock Markets During the Ukrainian Crisis

ABSTRACT This paper examines the European Union’s (EU) stock market connectedness before and after the Russian invasion of Ukraine. We used the frequency-domain spillover methodology of Baruník and Křehlík 2018 and an event-study approach. We find increased spillover effects, particularly for Central and Eastern European markets. In the long term, the structure of spillover transmission does not substantially change, but the invasion caused a transitory increase in stock market connectedness. We also find confirmation effects accompanied by a transitory decline in EU stock market returns. Although the invasion led to short-term market turbulence, the results indicate little signs of potentially harmful contagion.
Time trends of mortality from Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis.

AIMS The present study served to test whether Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis showed similarities in the temporal variation of their mortality rates among different countries. METHODS Mortality data from 21 different countries between 1951 and 2005 were analysed, including Argentina, Australia, Austria, Belgium, Canada, Chile, Denmark, England, Finland, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, Mexico, Netherlands, Scotland, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Taiwan and USA. The age-specific death rates of each individual country, as well as the average age-specific rates of all countries, were plotted against the period of death. RESULTS Death rates from ulcerative colitis were initially 6-fold higher than those of Crohn's disease. Mortality from ulcerative colitis decreased continuously during the past 50 years. Mortality from Crohn's disease increased from 1951 to 1975 until reaching a similar level as mortality from ulcerative colitis. Since then the death rates of both diseases have followed a parallel time course. A same type of behaviour was found in the time trends of each individual age-group. The data from most countries revealed similar temporal patterns. CONCLUSIONS The relationships between the temporal changes of mortality from Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis might suggest the presence of one primary risk factor responsible for the occurrence of both diseases, and at the existence of one additional secondary risk factor, responsible for the expression of Crohn's disease alone.
An Analysis of the Relationships between Tourism Development and Foreign Direct Investment : An Empirical Study in Selected Major Asian Countries

This study analyses the relationship between the development of tourism industry (ARR) and foreign direct investment (FDI) in selected Asian countries namely Malaysia, Singapore, Thailand, China and Hong Kong utilizing autoregresive distributed lag approach (ARDL.) This approach allows the usage of stationary data at various levels, i.e. I(1) and I(0) and may be applied on small sample size and provide the long and short-run empirical results simultaneously. The result indicates that there is cointegration/long-run relationship between variables for all countries under study. However, the ARR is found to be more significant as compared to the FDI in affecting dependent variables, besides being more elastic. In the short run, it is found that Hong Kong has a bidirectional relationship between the ARR and FDI. As for Malaysia and Thailand, there is a unidirectional relationship between ARR and FDI; while for Singapore and China, there is no relationship between these two variables.
Eradication of cytomegalovirus reactivation disease using high-dose acyclovir and targeted intravenous ganciclovir in kidney and kidney/pancreas transplantation.

BACKGROUND The attack rate of cytomegalovirus (CMV) is over 50% in solid organ transplant recipients at risk for primary CMV infection and in those receiving antilymphocyte antibody therapy. Various CMV prophylaxis regimens over the last few years have reduced the attack rate to around 20% overall. METHODS We report our results using high-dose acyclovir for 3 months after transplant, with targeted intravenous ganciclovir for the duration of any antilymphocyte antibody therapy, in our kidney and simultaneous pancreas/kidney transplant recipients. Records of 109 consecutive patients over a 2-year period were reviewed. RESULTS Six cases of CMV disease were identified. Five cases occurred in 21 patients at risk for primary CMV disease (24%), whereas only one case occurred in 73 patients at risk for CMV reactivation (1.4%). CONCLUSION We conclude that high-dose acyclovir and targeted ganciclovir is excellent prophylaxis against CMV reactivation in kidney and simultaneous pancreas/kidney transplantation.