Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Multi-country currency unions in East Asia

With the growing integration of the world economy, many countries tend to experience relatively higher volatility in exchange rates under the floating exchange rate system due to destablising speculation and money market disturbances. The Asian currency crisis and the successful launch of the euro in the European Monetary Union have increased interest in policy coordination to achieve greater regional exchange rate stability. A regional currency agreement would provide stable intra-regional exchange rates and maintain flexibility of the exchange rates against that of non-members. There are pros and cons for different countries to join a union and adopt a common currency. Several studies evaluate whether natural currency areas emerge based on historical pattern of international trade and of co-movements of prices and outputs, and found a well-defined dollar and euro areas but no clear yen area. This paper applies three different time series methods to determine if there are multi-country currency unions in the East Asian region. The countries included in this study are the high-performing Asian economies, namely Japan, Hong Kong, South Korea, and the five founding ASEAN member countries. The suitability of the yen as an anchor currency for these countries will be analysed.
Modeling store loyalty: perceived value in market orientation practice

– This study developed a model of customer store loyalty for retail service based on a value‐based market orientation practice, staff performance and customer satisfaction. , – A comprehensive qualitative study was undertaken to develop measurements, derived from both perspectives of firms and consumers. The model was then tested empirically in a retail setting in Taiwan, using a dyadic data collection approach. For each service provider from a random sample of hairdressing salons in Taiwan included in our survey, a matched set of customers provided information concerning their expectation and evaluation of service. , – Our findings provide an insight into the effect of perceived customer value in market orientation practice as well as its impact on customer retention. The model indicates that marketing practitioners should manage customer satisfaction and perceptions of value in their implementation of market orientation as they are directly related to customer store loyalty. , – This study involved only one service industry (hairdressing salons) in one country (Taiwan). However the scales and methodology described here could and should be replicated in other settings. , – By using our scale and results, service providers may be able to enhance their customers' perception of value and increase their degree of store loyalty. , – Despite the importance of customer value for organizations seeking to become market oriented, customer value measures are not included in market orientation scales. This study shows how including customer value into market orientation measurements can assist in enhancing business performance via customer retention.
HIV-positive gay and bisexual men: Predictors of unsafe sex

This paper describes the sexual risk practices of 322 HIV-positive gay and bisexual men who reported having unprotected anal, oral or vaginal sex with an HIV-negative or unknown status partner(s) during the previous four months. Descriptive data on type of sex, partner types and number of partners are presented. Determinants of unprotected anal and oral intercourse were examined using a social cognitive framework. More unprotected anal sex was associated with having a steady versus a casual partner, not being on triple drug therapy, increased use of drugs and alcohol, and lower outcome expectancies for condom use and negotiation of safer sex practices. Unprotected oral sex wasassociated with partner type; men with casual partners had less unprotected oral sex as compared to men with steady partners. Findings are discussed in relation to the development of sexual risk reduction interventions for HIV-positive individuals.
Association between Semen Microcystin Levels and Reproductive Quality: A Cross-Sectional Study in Jiangsu and Anhui Provinces, China

Dihui Xu,1,2* Wen Yu,3* Yuhan Ma,1,2 Yang Luo,1,2 Guanghui Xu,1,2 Zou Xiang,4 Yabing Chen,1,2 and Xiaodong Han1,2 Immunology and Reproduction Biology Laboratory & State Key Laboratory of Analytical Chemistry for Life Science, Medical School, Nanjing University, Nanjing, China Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Molecular Medicine, Nanjing University, Nanjing, China Department of Andrology, Affiliated Drum Tower Hospital, School of Medicine, Nanjing University, Nanjing, China Department of Health Technology and Informatics, Faculty of Health and Social Sciences, Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Hong Kong, China
How to avoid drug resistance during treatment and prevention of urinary tract infections

Urinary tract infections (UTIs), defined as the presence of bacteria above the bladder sphincter, are among the most common infectious diseases. They remain a significant cause of antibiotic prescription worldwide. The incidence is much higher among women, especially of reproductive age, than among men. If the infection occurs at least 3 times a year or twice within 6 months, it is classified as recurrent urinary tract infection (rUTI). Among the causal pathogens, the vast majority are Gram-negative bacteria, the most common of which is Escherichia coli. Recommended treatment regimens differ depending on the diagnosed disease entity and the patient’s clinical situation. Empirical antibiotic therapy is most often used. The first-line treatment in patients with acute simple cystitis include nitrofurantoin, trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole, or fosfomycin. Beta-lactams and fluoroquinolones should be considered as a second-line agent. In particular cases (pregnancy or rUTIs) targeted treatment, based on the results of urine culture and antibiogram, is implemented. During pregnancy recommended treatment includes administration of cephalosporins (e.g. cefuroxime) or nitrofurantoin. In patients with uncomplicated pyelonephritis fluoroquinolones should be considered as the first-line regimen. In the case of rUTIs, there are no uniform guidelines for prophylactic management. Repeated administration of antibiotics due to infections leads to a growing problem of drug resistance. Most recommendations suggest not to use antibiotic prophylaxis routinely. Growing evidence favours non-antibiotic prophylaxis regimens for recurrent UTIs. Until now only one product – oral immunostimulant OM-89 – has been sufficiently investigated. Wider implementation of immunoprophylaxis in the future may reduce possible side effects of inappropriate antibiotic consumption.
Neuroinvasion and anosmia are independent phenomena upon infection with SARS-CoV-2 and its variants

SUMMARY Anosmia was identified as a hallmark of COVID-19 early in the pandemic, however, with the emergence of variants of concern, the clinical profile induced by SARS-CoV-2 infection has changed, with anosmia being less frequent. Here, we assessed the clinical, olfactory and neuroinflammatory conditions of golden hamsters infected with the original Wuhan SARS-CoV-2 strain, its isogenic ORF7-deletion mutant and three variants: Gamma, Delta, and Omicron/BA.1. We show that infected animals developed a variant-dependent clinical disease including anosmia, and that the ORF7 of SARS-CoV-2 contributes to the induction of olfactory dysfunction. Conversely, all SARS- CoV-2 variants were found to be neuroinvasive, regardless of the clinical presentation they induce. Taken together, this confirms that neuroinvasion and anosmia are independent phenomena upon SARS-CoV-2 infection. Using newly generated nanoluciferase-expressing SARS-CoV-2, we validated the olfactory pathway as a major entry point into the brain in vivo and demonstrated in vitro that SARS-CoV-2 travels retrogradely and anterogradely along axons in microfluidic neuron-epithelial networks. Graphical abstract
How can impact strategies be developed that better support universities to address twenty-first-century challenges?

To better address twenty-first-century challenges, research institutions often develop and publish research impact strategies, but as a tool, impact strategies are poorly understood. This study provides the first formal analysis of impact strategies from the UK, Canada, Australia, Denmark, New Zealand and Hong Kong, China, and from independent research institutes. Two types of strategy emerged. First, ‘achieving impact’ strategies tended to be bottom-up and co-productive, with a strong emphasis on partnerships and engagement, but they were more likely to target specific beneficiaries with structured implementation plans, use boundary organisations to co-produce research and impact, and recognise impact with less reliance on extrinsic incentives. Second, ‘enabling impact’ strategies were more top-down and incentive-driven, developed to build impact capacity and culture across an institution, faculty or centre, with a strong focus on partnerships and engagement, and they invested in dedicated impact teams and academic impact roles, supported by extrinsic incentives including promotion criteria. This typology offers a new way to categorise, analyse and understand research impact strategies, alongside insights that may be used by practitioners to guide the design of future strategies, considering the limitations of top-down, incentive-driven approaches versus more bottom-up, co-productive approaches.
History As Propaganda

Despite Chinese efforts to stop foreign countries from granting him visas, the Dalai Lama has become one of the most recognizable and best loved people on the planet, drawing enormous crowds wherever he goes. By contrast, China's charismatically-challenged leaders attract crowds of protestors waving Tibetan flags and shouting "Free Tibet! " whenever they visit foreign countries. By now most Westerners probably think they understand the political situation in Tibet. But, John Powers argues, most Western scholars of Tibet evince a bias in favor of one side or the other in this continuing struggle. Some of the most emotionally charged rhetoric, says Powers, is found in studies of Tibetan history. History is viewed by both sides as crucial to their claims, and both invest a great deal of energy in producing works that purport to tell the "truth" about Tibet's past. Powers shows that the two sides' views are mutually incompatible and that both sides sincerely believe what they say. Both are operating within a particular psychological context in which certain assumptions guide their inquiry and predetermine their conclusions. Both are so thoroughly convinced of the utter rightness of their paradigms that they cannot even imagine that someone might sincerely hold the opposing view, and so they accuse their opponents of deliberately lying and covering up the "facts" and the "truth. " Both reflect the vastly different cultural myths of the societies that produced them. Chinese sources begin with the notion that China is at the center of the world and is the only civilized society, with a mandate to rule over all other countries. Tibetan records are thoroughly infused with Buddhist imagery and presuppositions, and the underlying narrative is the diffusion and glorification of religion. Powers examines works on Tibetan history by Tibetan and Chinese authors that have been produced in English for Western consumption. He finds some of their claims absurd, others highly implausible, some humorous in an unintended way. Both narratives are fraught with internal contradictions and inconsistencies. And even the most ridiculous notions, Powers notes, are often reflected in works by contemporary Western academics. Powers's impartial examination of the competing narratives will help us to better understand the issues involved in debates about Tibetan history-why apparently arcane vestiges of the past are so important to both Tibetan and Chinese nationalist narratives.
The Impact of Covid-19 Restrictions on Women Residing in Juba Municipality, Central Equatoria State of South Sudan

ABSTRACT Coronavirus (COVID-19), is a severe acute respiratory syndrome that was identified and originated in Wuhan, Hubei province, China. The disease’s most well-known symptoms include; fever, cough, and shortness of breath. This study aimed to assess the impact of the novel COVID-19 pandemic on women residing in Juba Municipality, Central Equatorial State of South Sudan. The study findings revealed that; 65.7% of the respondents had experienced the effect of COVID 19 restriction on their salary, resulting into a reduction in salary allowances since they were not working everyday due to the lockdown, whereas 34.3% reported that their salaries were not affected by COVID-19. The results also revealed that; about 51.4% of the respondent lost their jobs, and yet 38.6% reported that there was a decrease in working hours since the coming of COVID-19 which in the long run affected their salaries but about (10.0%) didn’t express any changes in the working hours. In conclusion therefore, it should be noted that, the Covid-19 restrictions, exposed women and other vulnerable sections in society to negative impacts, such as; rise in maternal mortality rates, challenges in accessing sexual and reproductive health services, domestic violence, increased poverty, gender-based violence and an escalating teenage pregnancy. The country lockdown, and the months that followed continued to exacerbate inequalities to the community.
Kebijakan Pemberlakuan Lock Down Sebagai Antisipasi Penyebaran Corona Virus Covid-19

Abstract2020 is a worrying year for all countries, including Indonesia. This is due to the emergence of the Corona virus outbreak, which originated in Wuhan City of China, and spread throughout the world. Initially the government did not follow the method used by several other countries related to information provided about the corona covid-19 virus, namely by conducting a quick reaction of prevention socialization. The reason is so that the Indonesian people are not worried about issues that are worrying, other than to minimize the existence of Hoax news from a handful of irresponsible people. Finally the covid-19 outbreak also became a concern for the community, because many Indonesians were affected by the transmission of this virus. Therefore, the government took the initiative to take a lockdown policy for 14 days to anticipate the transmission of this corona outbreak. The study uses qualitative research methods with a literary and empirical approach. The data obtained comes from several regulations, such as the Governor of DKI Jakarta and several other regulations and policies, as well as phenomena that occur in the field. The results of the study stated that Indonesia had experienced a condition where the community's concern about Covid-19 was quite large, so that a government policy to lockdown was needed, as an effort to break the chain of the spread of the Corona Covid-19 virus.Keywords: Corona Virus, Lock Down, Government Policy AbstrakTahun 2020 merupakan tahun yang mengkhawatirkan seluruh negara, tanpa terkecuali negara Indonesia. Hal itu disebabkan munculkan wabah virus Corona, yang bermula dari Kota Wuhan China, dan menyebar ke seluruh penjuru dunia. Awalnya pemerintah tidak mengikuti cara yang digunakan oleh beberapa negara lainnya terkait informasi yang diberikan mengenai virus corona covid-19, yaitu dengan melakukan reaksi cepat sosialisasi pencegahan. Penyebabnya, agar masyarakat Indonesia tidak khawatir dengan isu yang mengkhawatirkan, selain untuk meminimalisir adanya berita Hoax dari segelintir orang yang tidak bertanggung jawab. Akhirnya wabah covid-19 ini juga menjadi hal yang mengkhawatirkan bagi masyarakat, karena banyak warga Indonesia yang terkena dampak penularan virus ini. Oleh karenanya, pemerintah berinisiatif untuk mengambil kebijakan lockdown selama 14 hari guna mengantisipasi penularan wabah corona ini. Penelitian menggunakan metode penelitian kualitatif dengan pendekatan literatur dan empiris. Data yang didapat berasal dari beberapa Peraturan, seperti Peraturan Gubernur DKI Jakarta dan beberapa peraturan dan kebijakan lainnya, serta fenomena yang terjadi di lapangan. Hasil penelitian menyatakan bahwa Indonesia sudah mengalami kondisi dimana kekhawatiran masyarakat terhadap covid-19 cukup besar, sehingga diperlukan kebijakan pemerintah untuk melakukan Lockdown, sebagai upaya memutus mata rantai penyebaran virus corona Covid-19Kata kunci : Virus Corona, Lock Down, Kebijakan Pemerintah
Four new species of Zeugodacus Hendel (Diptera, Tephritidae, Dacinae, Dacini) and new records of dacines from India

﻿Abstract Four new species of Zeugodacus Hendel are described from India viz., Zeugodacusmomordicae David & Ajaykumara, sp. nov. from Arunachal Pradesh infesting male flower buds of Momordicadioica, Zeugodacusnasivittatus David & Abhishek, sp. nov. from Meghalaya, Zeugodacus (Sinodacus) sinuvittatus David & Abhishek, sp. nov. from Himachal Pradesh and Zeugodacus (Zeugodacus) umiam David & Kennedy, sp. nov. from Meghalaya. An illustrated key to all species of Zeugodacus from India is also included. Bactrocera (Parazeugodacus) abbreviata (Hardy) and Dacus (Mellesis) vijaysegarani Drew & Hancock are recorded for the first time from India.
Exploring Self-Regulation in Ego Depletion and Under Relationship PowerPressure: The Example of Young Femalesâ Oral Sex Behaviour

The present study explored complex aspects of selfregulation involved in managing females’ oral sex behaviour in ego depletion and under relationship power pressure. Online survey on sexual behaviour was completed by 248 female university students aged 18-24. Impulsivity, normative beliefs, attitudes to oral sex, motivation to control sexual behaviour, trait self-control and sex-related self-control were measured. Stepwise hierarchical regression was used to identify the predictors of engagement in oral sex. Causal relationships between the main predictors were explored by structural equation modelling (SEM). The study found sex-related self-control and motivation to control sexual behaviour to be the two important components of self-regulation serving the same purpose but working in different ways. The effect of sexrelated self-control on oral sex behaviour varied depending on females’ individual trait self-control and relationship power pressure. Besides the main effects of self-control and motivation, the important role of attitudes to oral sex and normative beliefs in engagement in oral sex behaviour was demonstrated. Exploring relationship between all variables involved in regulating oral sex behaviour proposed the path by which they can influence engagement in oral sex. Findings from this study have implications on theoretical and practical level.
Attitudes, behaviour, and engagement toward water consumption and conservation in a higher education setting

There is a need to develop more nuanced and playfully informed understandings of people’s attitudes and behaviour toward water consumption and conservation in particular settings, particularly if we are to design initiatives designed to engage and then change behaviour. The Southeast of England, in the United Kingdom, is an example of a water stressed region where better understandings have a potentially key role to play in helping to tackle the issue of water scarcity through attempts to reduce the personal consumption of water. Therefore, this paper presents the findings of a small-scale research project that sought to playfully engage participants in an exploration of their attitudes and behaviour toward water use in a university setting. In particular, an interactive questionnaire was designed whereby participants were encouraged to give their answers by placing counters in buckets of differently coloured water. From an awareness perspective, the study found that whilst females appeared to be more aware of their water usage, participants in general appeared to be unaware of retro fit programmes design to improve water conservation. As a result of these findings, it is suggested that future education campaigns better reflect the needs of different groups, particularly in communities with highly transient populations, such as those in University towns. From an engagement perspective, the interactive nature of the data collection was noted as appearing to be successful in encouraging engagement over time. In conclusion, it is suggested that such playful approaches to data collection and awarweness raising can be a useful in not only enaging but promoting a better understanding and awareness of water usage.
The Effects of Temperature and Relative Humidity on the Viability of the SARS Coronavirus

The main route of transmission of SARS CoV infection is presumed to be respiratory droplets. However the virus is also detectable in other body fluids and excreta. The stability of the virus at different temperatures and relative humidity on smooth surfaces were studied. The dried virus on smooth surfaces retained its viability for over 5 days at temperatures of 22–25°C and relative humidity of 40–50%, that is, typical air-conditioned environments. However, virus viability was rapidly lost (>3 log10) at higher temperatures and higher relative humidity (e.g., 38°C, and relative humidity of >95%). The better stability of SARS coronavirus at low temperature and low humidity environment may facilitate its transmission in community in subtropical area (such as Hong Kong) during the spring and in air-conditioned environments. It may also explain why some Asian countries in tropical area (such as Malaysia, Indonesia or Thailand) with high temperature and high relative humidity environment did not have major community outbreaks of SARS.
Evaluation of Acute oral toxicity of aerial parts of Artemisia parviflora Roxb. in Swiss albino mice

Artemisia parviflora Roxb. (syn. A. japonica; Asteraceae) is a member of Indian tarragon family and is commonly found in many areas of north western Himalayas, central Himalayas, the Nilgiri hills, Arunachal Pradesh and Uttarakhand in India. A. parviflora is a medicinal plant used in traditional system of Indian medicine for its wound healing, febrifuge, digestive, anthelmintic properties. Here, we have performed the acute oral toxicity of ethanolic extract of aerial parts of A. parviflora. In acute toxicity study total four group of mice (n=5 per group) were orally treated with doses of 0.10, 0.50, 1.0 g/kg body weight. And parameters like behavioral change, body weight change, and other abnormalities were observed. Our study showed that A. parviflora did not produce any hazardous symptoms or death in acute toxicity study showing a LD50 higher than 1 g/kg body weight. The administration of this plant material did not showed any significant changes in the body weight or any type of adverse effect on the body of animal. Hence, taken together the study proves that oral administration of ethanolic extract of aerial parts of A. parviflora produced no significant toxic effect in male and female Swiss albino mice, which could stand as an assurance for the medicinal use of this plant in folk medicine.
The aggregation for enterprise distributed databases

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to provide a data framework to support the incremental aggregation of, and an effective data refresh model to maintain the data consistency in, an aggregated centralized database.Design/methodology/approach – It is based on a case study of enterprise distributed databases aggregation for Taiwan's National Immunization Information System (NIIS). Selective data replication aggregated the distributed databases to the central database. The data refresh model assumed heterogeneous aggregation activity within the distributed database systems. The algorithm of the data refresh model followed a lazy replication scheme but update transactions were only allowed on the distributed databases.Findings – It was found that the approach to implement the data refreshment for the aggregation of heterogeneous distributed databases can be more effectively achieved through the design of a refresh algorithm and standardization of message exchange between distributed and central databases.