Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Time-Varying Exchange Rate Exposure: Evidence from Emerging Markets

This paper examines exchange rate exposure of country level stock returns in three emerging market economies: Korea, Taiwan and Thailand. The analysis is carried out at country level using stock indexes and trade-weighted exchange rates. Time-varying exchange rate exposure coefficients are obtained by estimating a Multivariate GARCH-M model with explicit focus on the non-orthogonality between exchange rate changes and market returns. Findings of the paper indicate that, although they are likely to vary over time, exchange rate exposure coefficients for Korea and Taiwan follow mean-reverting long-memory processes. However, the exposure coefficient for Thailand is found to be characterized by a non-stationary unit root process. The presence of mean-reverting exchange rate exposure coefficients has important implications for investment and hedging strategies.
Reciprocal Relations Between Social Self-Efficacy and Loneliness Among Chinese International Students

Among international students in the United States, those with a Chinese cultural heritage (e.g., students from China, Taiwan, and Hong Kong) now constitute the largest group, representing over a 3rd of all such students. However, relatively little is known about the psychosocial factors that may predict successful transition into the United States. As such, independent of the effects of perceived English proficiency and social isolation, the present study assessed the relations between social self-efficacy and loneliness among Chinese international students in a 3-wave cross-lagged study (i.e., timeline ranging from prearrival to their 2nd semester in the United States). Their associations with social isolation and sources of friendship (i.e., U.S. friends, Chinese friends, or international friends) were also examined. Participants were 409 Chinese international students (57% female) enrolled in universities across the United States. Findings revealed bidirectional relations between social self-efficacy and loneliness across all 3 time points. Furthermore, we found that those with higher levels of social self-efficacy had a proportionally higher number of American friends during their 1st semester in the United States. In other words, having perceived close friendships with Americans may be an important factor associated with the social adjustment of Chinese international students. Implications of these findings are discussed.
5 FRIEND OR FOE ? The Ambivalent Relationship between Mobile Technology and its Users

This paper reports on an empirical study that examined the total user experience of mobile technology users. We held a total of 33 focus group sessions comprised of 222 active mobile device users in four highly developed countries (Finland, Japan, Hong Kong, and the United States) with high penetration of mobile technology. We are specifically focusing on manifestations of paradoxes with regard to mobile technology. We identify eight major technology paradoxes that play a central role in the mobile technology usage experience: (1) empowerment-enslavement, (2) independencedependence, (3) fulfills needs-creates needs, (4) competence-incompetence, (5) planningimprovisation, (6) engaging-disengaging, (7)public-private, and (8) illusiondisillusion. Our findings suggest conceptualizing the phenomenon of mobile technology usage experience from a context-based and process-oriented perspective where paradoxes of technology shape user experience and determine coping strategies. 30 Part 2: Individual Consequences
Online Appendix: Volatility, Intermediaries, and Exchange Rates

In this appendix, we characterize all the equilibrium conditions of our model. Domestic and foreign households’ consumption aggregation: C ε−1 ε t = (1−α)C ε−1 ε x,t +αC ε−1 ε y,t , (1) C∗ t ε−1 ε = αC∗ x,t ε−1 ε +(1−α)C∗ y,t ε−1 ε . (2) Domestic and foreign households’ optimality conditions for relative consumption and relative price: Cy,t Cx,t = ( Px,t Py,t α 1−α )ε , (3) C∗ y,t C∗ x,t = ( Px,t Py,t 1−α α )ε . (4) Domestic and foreign households’ period budget constraint: Px,tCx,t +Py,tCy,t =Ct , (5) Px,tC x,t +Py,tC ∗ y,t = QtC ∗ t . (6) *HKU Business School, University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China. E-mail addresses: yangliu5@hku.hk (Y. Liu), xiangf@hku.hk (X. Fang).
Jaunųjų Lietuvos badmintono žaidėjų motyvacijos sportuoti ypatumai

Santrauka Šiuo tyrimu siekiama atskleisti jaunųjų Lietuvos badmintono žaidėjų motyvacijos sportuoti ypatumus. Tyrimas atliktas 2021 m. kovo ir balandžio mėnesiais ir jame dalyvavo bei į anketoje pateiktus klausimus tinkamai atsakė 206 jaunieji mūsų šalies badmintono žaidėjai – nuo 11 iki 17 m. , amžiaus vidurkis – 14,18 ± 1,7 metų. Šiame tyrime jaunieji badmintono žaidėjai buvo suskirstyti į grupes pagal amžių, lytį ir sportinį meistriškumą. Jaunųjų badmintono žaidėjų motyvacijai tirti buvo naudota Lietuvoje aprobuota (Grajauskas, 2008) Sporto motyvacijos skalė (Pelletier et al., 1995). Skirtumų patikimumui tarp grupių nustatyti buvo taikytas Stjudento t kriterijus nepriklausomoms imtims ir vieno faktoriaus dispersinė analizė (ANOVA) su Games-Howell post hoc testu. Duomenys apdoroti taikant SPSS (angl. Statistical Package for Social Science) statistinio paketo socialiniams mokslams 25.0 versiją. Jaunųjų Lietuvos badmintono žaidėjų sportinės veiklos motyvų raiškos, vertintos penkių balų sistema, tyrimo rezultatai parodė, kad jauniesiems 11–17 m. Lietuvos badmintono žaidėjams labiausiai išreikšta vidinė motyvacija. Nustatyta, kad badmintoną sportuojantiems vaikinams mažiau nei merginoms būdinga vidinės motyvacijos motyvų grupė: merginos labiau nei vaikinai skatinamos sportuoti savo vidinės motyvacijos „sužinoti“ (p < 0,01) ir labiau pritaria vidinės motyvacijos „siekti tobulumo“ ir „patirti“ subskalių teiginiams (p < 0,05). Labiau pažengusiems – meistriškumo ugdymo grupės jauniesiems badmintono žaidėjams – labiau būdinga vidinė motyvacija (p < 0,01): „sužinoti“ (p < 0,01), „siekti tobulumo“ (p < 0,05) ir „patirti“ (p < 0,01) nei pradinio rengimo jauniesiems sportininkams. O pradinio rengimo grupei priklausantiems jauniesiems sportininkams būdingas aukštesnis amotyvacijos (p < 0,01) pasireiškimo lygis, jie labiau pasiduoda „tiesioginiam išoriniam reguliavimui“ (p < 0,05) ir labiau pritaria išorinės motyvacijos „identifikuotis, susitapatinti“ (p < 0,05) subskalės teiginiams. Vertinant jaunųjų badmintono žaidėjų motyvacijos sportuoti skirtumus amžiaus aspektu, statistiškai reikšmingų skirtumų nebuvo nustatyta (p > 0,05). Raktažodžiai: badmintonas, jaunieji žaidėjai, motyvai, vidinė motyvacija, išorinė motyvacija, amotyvacija.
Detecting and Measuring the Polarization Effects of Adversarial Botnets on Twitter

In this paper we use a Twitter dataset collected between December 8, 2021 and February 18, 2022 towards the 2022 Russian invasion of Ukraine to design a data processing pipeline featuring a high accuracy Graph Convolutional Network (GCN) based political camp classifier, a botnet detection algorithm and a robust measure of botnet effects. Our experiments reveal that while the pro-Russian botnet contributes significantly to network polarization, the pro-Ukrainian botnet contributes with moderating effects. In order to understand the factors leading to different effects, we analyze the interactions between the botnets and the barrier-crossing vs. barrier-bound users on their own camps. We observe that, where as the pro-Russian botnet amplifies barrier-bound partisan users on their own camp majority of the time, the pro-Ukrainian botnet amplifies barrier-crossing users on their own camp alongside themselves majority of the time.
PITCH MODIFICATION IN INFANT-DIRECTED SPEECH 1 Lexical and Prosodic Pitch Modifications in Cantonese Infant-directed Speech

Luchang WANG1, Marina KALASHNIKOVA2, René KAGER3, Regine LAI1, and Patrick C.M. WONG1,4 1 Department of Linguistics and Modern Languages, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China; 2 Basque Center on Cognition, Brain and Language, San Sebastian, Spain; 3 Utrecht Institute of Linguistics OTS, Utrecht University, Utrecht, Netherlands; 4 Brain and Mind Institute, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China.
Who Prospers: How Cultural Values Shape Economic And Political Success

* Introduction: Progress and Poverty Without Marx Success Stories * Brazil Immigrant Entrepreneurs Drive Growth * Spain: The Enlightenment and the Industrial Revolution Finally Arrive * Taiwan and Korea: The Entrepreneurial Power of Confucianism * The Japanese Miracle: The Meiji Restoration Shows the Way The Fortunes Of Ethnic Groups In America * The Chinese, the Japanese, and the Koreans * The Mexicans * The Blacks The Erosion Of American Culture * The Fault, Dear Brutus, Is Not in Japan
Sources of tropospheric ozone along the Asian Pacific Rim: An analysis of ozonesonde observations

[1] The sources contributing to tropospheric ozone over the Asian Pacific Rim in different seasons are quantified by analysis of Hong Kong and Japanese ozonesonde observations with a global three-dimensional (3-D) chemical transport model (GEOS-CHEM) driven by assimilated meteorological observations. Particular focus is placed on the extensive observations available from Hong Kong in 1996. In the middle-upper troposphere (MT-UT), maximum Asian pollution influence along the Pacific Rim occurs in summer, reflecting rapid convective transport of surface pollution. In the lower troposphere (LT) the season of maximum Asian pollution influence shifts to summer at midlatitudes from fall at low latitudes due to monsoonal influence. The UT ozone minimum and high variability observed over Hong Kong in winter reflects frequent tropical intrusions alternating with stratospheric intrusions. Asian biomass burning makes a major contribution to ozone at <32°N in spring. Maximum European pollution influence (<5 ppbv) occurs in spring in the LT. North American pollution influence exceeds European influence in the UT-MT, reflecting the uplift from convection and the warm conveyor belts over the eastern seaboard of North America. African outflow makes a major contribution to ozone in the low-latitude MT-UT over the Pacific Rim during November–April. Lightning influence over the Pacific Rim is minimum in summer due to westward UT transport at low latitudes associated with the Tibetan anticyclone. The Asian outflow flux of ozone to the Pacific is maximum in spring and fall and includes a major contribution from Asian anthropogenic sources year-round.
Enhancing the efficiency of a polymerase chain reaction using gold nanoparticles

The authors would like to apologize for an error in the Acknowledgements of their article. The correct Acknowledgement should read as follows: The authors would like to thank the Center for Micro/Nano Technology Research, National Cheng Kung University, Tainan, Taiwan, Republic of China for access to their equipment and for their technical support. The funding from the Ministry of Education and the National Science Council of Taiwan, Republic of China under contract no. NSC 93-2320-B-006-015 is gratefully acknowledged. Funding to pay the Open Access publication charges for this article was provided by National Science Council of Taiwan.
Using knowledge interventions to determine stress and future preventative behaviour regarding cervical cancer and the human papilloma virus

Cervical cancer, the human papilloma virus (HPV) and cervical screening have recently become a target for mass media attention. Partially due to recent events, one example being the debate as to whether the National Health Service should lower the age that cervical screening begins (Department of Health 2009). Additionally, the human papilloma virus vaccine has recently been introduced in schools, which aims to target young girls before they start having sexual intercourse. Media attention, such as this, can have benefits, particularly in bringing awareness to a potentially life-threatening condition and emphasising the importance of taking preventative behaviours. However, when a sensitive subject matter receives mass media attention, great harm can also be caused, such as inducing fear (Clarke and Everest 2006).
Within‐plant variation in reproductive investment: consequences for selection on flowering time

Variation among the leaves, flowers or fruit produced by a plant is often regarded as a nuisance to the experimenter and an impediment to selection. Here, we suggest that within‐plant variation can drive selection on other plant‐level traits. We examine within‐plant variation in floral sex allocation and in fruit set and predict that such variation generates variation in male success among plants, thereby driving selection on flowering time. We tested this prediction in a simulation model estimating selection on flowering time through male fitness when floral sex allocation and/or fruit set vary directionally among flowers on plants. We parameterized the model through a quantitative literature survey of within‐plant change in sex allocation. As predicted, within‐plant variation in floral sex allocation and in fruit set probability can generate selection on flowering time through male fitness. Declining fruit set from first to last flowers on plants, as occurs in many species, selected for early flowering onset through male fitness. This result was robust to self‐incompatibility and to varying returns on male versus female investment. Selection caused by declining fruit set was strong enough to reverse the selection for late flowering that can be caused by intrafloral protandry. Our model provides testable predictions regarding selection on flowering time through male fitness. The model also establishes the intriguing possibility that within‐plant variation may influence selection on other traits, regardless of whether that variation is under selection itself.
Is there any Gap between Patient‟s Expectations and Level of Satisfaction with Nursing Care?

Patient satisfaction has been viewed as a valid outcome measure of a healthcare delivery system. Satisfaction evaluations reflect the expectations from the patients’ point of view and compare with the realities of the care received. A study was carried with the objectives of finding out patient’s expectation and level of satisfaction and their relationship. A cross-sectional descriptive survey was conducted with 100 purposively selected patients admitted in Tomo Riba State Hospital, Arunachal Pradesh. Demographic data was collected by using an interview schedule; Patients’ expectation and satisfaction were measured by rating scale. The results revealed that all (100%) patients had high expectations regarding nursing care. All (100%) patients had high expectations regarding comprehensive care, psychological care, communication and comfort. In the area of elimination, 32% of the patients had low expectation. Most (96%) of the patients were satisfied with psychological care and ethical performance of the nurses. 43% patients were highly satisfied with comprehensive care. 93% of them were satisfied with diet and comfort provided by the nurses. 37% patients expressed their high satisfaction in patient education. The obtained “r” value (0.072, df 98 at 0.05) implies that there is very weak positive relationship exists between patient’s expectation and level of satisfaction.
Pengaruh ekspor Asia Timur terhadap pengangguran di Indonesia

Current economic growth is seen from the ability of a country to produce goods and services that can compete with other countries. Therefore, the purpose of this study is 1) To find out developments in Asia and Indonesia in 2000-2016 and 2) To find out and analyze exports to East Asia at the unemployment rate in Indonesia. This research uses secondary data and several countries as export destinations. Indonesia such as Japan, Hong Kong, South Korea, Taiwan, China, and others. The analytical method used in this study is quantitative and quantitative descriptive. The results of this study indicate the average exports of Asian countries during the 2000-2016 period amounted to 59,328 thousand US $. In addition, the relationship between exports and unemployment has positive and negative relations. The country's export variables that have a positive and significant impact on unemployment in Indonesia are South Korea and other Asian exports. Meanwhile, exports of countries that have a negative and significant impact on unemployment are Chinese and Hong Kong exports. There are also insignificant countries that affect unemployment such as Japan despite high exports and Taiwan countries with higher export levels than Hong Kong.
Altered Gut Microbiome and Environmental Factors Associated with Development of Eczema in Hong Kong Infants: A 4-Month Pilot Study

Eczema is a multifactorial skin disease that affects 20% of children worldwide and has a complex relationship with microbial, nutritional, parental and environmental factors. In this study, we investigated the potential association of eczema with the gut microbiome and environmental factors. One hundred and fifty-two newborn subjects and their mothers were recruited within 10 days postnatally at the Prince of Wales Hospital in Hong Kong, China and asked to complete questionnaires on allergies, maternal diet and environmental assessment at enrolment. Then, the participants were classified as with or without eczema at four months after birth based on the Comprehensive Early Childhood Allergy Questionnaire (CECAQ) and SCORing Atopic Dermatitis (SCORAD) index (n = 48, with 24 in each group). Stool samples were collected from both groups at the same time. Microbial DNA was extracted from each stool sample, and 16S rRNA sequencing was performed to analyze the gut microbiome profiles of the subjects. Our results indicated that the abundance of Bifidobacterium was significantly higher in the eczema group than in the control group (p = 0.04). A multivariable logistic regression analysis was conducted, and the results showed that the father’s education level and maternal intake of cereal products and nutritional supplements during pregnancy were associated with the development of eczema (p = 0.008, 0.032 and 0.015, respectively). In conclusion, this study provided preliminary information about the potential risk factors of eczema development in Hong Kong infants in support of a future full study.
Anti-SARS-CoV-2 hyperimmune immunoglobulin provides potent and robust neutralization capacity and antibody-dependent cellular cytotoxicity and phagocytosis induction through N and S proteins

Background Although progressive COVID-19 vaccinations provide a significant reduction of infection rate in the short-to mid-term, effective COVID-19 treatments will continue to be an urgent need. Methods We have functionally characterized the anti-SARS-CoV-2 hyperimmune immunoglobulin (hIG) prepared from human COVID-19 convalescent plasma. SARS-CoV-2 virus neutralization was evaluated by four different methodologies (plaque reduction, virus induced cytotoxicity, TCID50 reduction and immunofluorimetry-based methodology) performed at four different laboratories and using four geographically different SARS-CoV-2 isolates (one each from USA and Italy; two from Spain). Two of the isolates contained the D614G mutation. Neutralization capacity against the original Wuhan SARS-CoV-2 straom and variants (D614G mutant, B.1.1.7, P.1 and B.1.351 variants) was evaluated using a pseudovirus platform expressing the corresponding spike (S) protein. The capacity to induce antibody-dependent cellular cytotoxicity (ADCC) and antibody-dependent cellular phagocytosis (ADCP) was also evaluated. Results All the SARS-CoV-2 isolates tested were effectively neutralized by hIG solutions. This was confirmed by all four methodologies showing potent neutralization capacity. Wild-type SARS-CoV-2 and variants were effectively neutralized as demonstrated using the pseudovirus platform. The hIG solutions had the capacity to induce ADCC and ADCP against SARS-CoV-2 N and S proteins but not the E protein. Under our experimental conditions, very low concentrations (25-100 µg IgG/mL) were required to induce both effects. Besides the S protein, we observed a clear and potent effect triggered by antibodies in the hIG solutions against the SARS-CoV-2 N protein. Conclusions These results show that, beyond neutralization, other IgG Fc-dependent pathways may play a role in the protection from and/or resolution of SARS-CoV-2 infection when using hIG COVID-19 products. This could be especially relevant for the treatment of more neutralization resistant SARS-CoV-2 variants of concern.
Prevalence of and risk factors associated with HIV, Herpes Simplex Virus-type 2, Chlamydia trachomatis and Neisseria gonorrhoeae infections among 18–24 year old students attending Higher Learning Institutions in Mbeya-Tanzania

Background Sexually transmitted infections (STIs) are common among young people in low- and middle-income countries and are associated with negative reproductive and pregnancy outcomes. Most of the studies have assessed HIV among adolescents and young adults, with limited information on occurrence of other STIs in this population. This study aimed to describe the prevalence of and risk factors associated with Herpes Simplex Virus-type 2 (HSV-2), Chlamydia trachomatis (CT), Neisseria gonorrhoeae (NG), Syphilis and HIV infection among young adults attending Higher Learning Institutions (HLIs) in Mbeya, Tanzania. Methods We conducted a cross-sectional study among students aged 18-24years attending HLIs in Mbeya-Tanzania, randomly selected using a computerized random number. Participants were tested for HSV-2, CT, NG, Syphilis and HIV infection. We used a self-administered questionnaire to collect information on sexual activity and risk factors to the tested STIs. Results We enrolled 504 students from 5 HLIs, with mean age of 21.5 years (SD 1.7). 17% of the students had at least one STI; prevalence was higher among females than males (21.1% versus 14.1%). CT (11%) and HSV-2 (6.1%) were the most common STIs, while NG (1.1%) and HIV (0.7%) infection had the least occurrence. None of the participants was diagnosed with Syphilis. In univariate analysis, predictors for STIs were Sex, inconsistent condom use in the past 4weeks, report of oral sex, sexual orientation (bisexual/homosexual) and having a sexual partner with an age-difference of at least 5years (either older or younger); while in the multivariate analysis, Sex, inconsistent condom use in the past 4weeks and sexual orientation (bisexual/homosexual) remained significant. Conclusion STIs such as Chlamydia and HSV-2 which are commonly asymptomatic are of concern among young adults attending HLIs. The latter is an important group that needs attention and recognition that is pivotal in transmission of STIs considering their risk. Information, Education and Communication (IEC) campaigns targeting young adults, especially those at HLIs, need to focus on exposure-risk minimization. Funding institutions that have invested heavily on HIV prevention campaigns should consider giving similar recognition to other STIs for a streamlined outcome.