Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Smoking prevalence and factors associated with smoking status among Vietnamese in California.

INTRODUCTION Vietnamese American men have smoking prevalence rates higher than the general population. We analyzed Vietnamese American smoking behavior by demographic and health-related factors, including some specific to Vietnamese, in the largest tobacco-specific survey yet targeting the Vietnamese population. METHODS Using a statewide surname probability sample and computer-assisted telephone interviewing, we surveyed 1,101 Vietnamese men and 1,078 Vietnamese women in California (63.5% participation among successfully contacted eligible individuals) in 2007-2008. We conducted multivariate regression models to analyze the association between Vietnamese male smoking status and demographic and health-related factors. RESULTS Among women, <1% were current smokers and <2% were former smokers. Among men, 25% were current and 24% were former smokers. Regression models for Vietnamese men delineated factors associated with both current and former smoking (vs. never smoking): being married, being employed, having lower educational attainment, and consuming alcohol. Other factors associated with current smoking (vs. never smoking) were having no health insurance, having seen a Vietnamese doctor or no doctor visit in the past year, having Vietnamese military or Vietnamese reeducation camp experience, having less knowledge about the harms of smoking, and reporting higher depression symptoms. Increasing age and not being Buddhist were associated with former (vs. never) smoking. DISCUSSION Smoking patterns of Vietnamese women and Vietnamese men are significantly different from the general California population. Tobacco control efforts targeting Vietnamese men should include community outreach since current smokers have low health care access, utilization, and knowledge.
DRUG OFFENDERS IN TAIWAN AND THE UNITED STATES: A CROSS-CULTURAL ANALYSIS

Using data collected from nationwide surveys of drug-using offenders in the United States and Taiwan, this article compares offender differences with respect to socio-demographic characteristics, childhood experiences, drug use and treatment patterns, and criminal histories. The results suggest that the experiences of U.S. drug-using offenders are more complex, with multiple routes and consequences of drug use, while the social constructionist view is more appropriate to explain the experience of Taiwanese drug-using offenders. Overall, U.S. drug-using offenders reported earlier drug and criminal involvement, experienced more prior arrests, and committed more non-drug-related crimes. Family problems were more prevalent among U.S. drug-using offenders than Taiwanese drug-using offenders. Drug-using offenders in the U.S. also reported using a variety of different drugs and participating in multiple treatment programs. The major agents supplying illicit drugs were known dealers, and friends or acquaintances of U.S. and Taiwanese drug-using offenders, respectively. The article concludes that to effectively eliminate the problem of drug misuse, the Taiwanese government should focus on treatment instead of imprisonment, while the U.S. should target troubled teens and families.
Dual Burdens of Care: “Sandwiched Couples” in East Asia

Objective: To estimate proportions of married couples aged 30 to 59 years who face simultaneous demands from elderly parents and children in China, Japan, Korea, and Taiwan, and the effects on couples’ life and marital satisfaction. Method: Using data from the 2006 East Asian Social Survey, proportions of sandwiched couples were estimated using three definitions: co-residence, co-residence or nearby residence, and co-residence or frequent provision of financial/physical assistance. Logistic regression models were used to assess the effects on life and marital satisfaction. Results: Three-generational co-residence is more common in Taiwan and Japan (24.3% and 21.4%), whereas co-residence or provision for both generations is higher in Taiwan and Korea (53.7% and 44.5%). The strain of being sandwiched is associated with lower life and marital satisfaction only among women. Discussion: Intergenerational transfers of care play a major role in elderly support in East Asia but take a toll on the well-being of married women.
Between Democracy and Revolution: Peasant Support for Insurgency versus Democracy in Nepal

The Maoist insurgency in Nepal presents an anomaly for students of civil war and democratic transitions. How was the Maoist wing of the Nepal Communist Party able to mobilize peasants to support their insurgency when they could not mobilize enough peasants to vote for them in elections? The authors address these questions by exploring the ways in which the persistence of traditional clientelist networks in the countryside enabled rural elites to mobilize peasants to vote for parties other than the Maoist party, even though peasants would have benefited from that party's advocacy for land reform. When that same party used insurgent violence against rural elites, peasants were willing and able to support the insurgency and abstain from voting in the 1999 election in locales where the insurgency succeeded in disrupting clientelist ties. The authors test these arguments with district-level data on election turnout and the distribution of households among several land-tenure categories. Findings support the argument that turnout was greater where land-tenure patterns gave landed elite greater influence over peasant political behavior. Where higher levels of insurgent violence disrupted patterns of clientelist dependency, turnout declined. What electoral democracy could not deliver to peasants — land reform and relief from clientelist dependency — the Maoist insurgency promised to bring through political violence.
The Effect of Leverage and IFRS Convergence on Earnings Management Through Real Activities Manipulation in Asia

Manuscript type: Research PaperResearch aims: This study aims to examine the effect of leverage andInternational Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS) convergence onearnings management through real activities manipulation (RAM),and the moderation role of the IFRS convergence in the relationshipbetween leverage and RAM. This study also explores whether thelinks are different based on institutional contexts such as countryeconomic size, governance quality and IFRS adoption strategy.Design/ Methodology/ Approach: This study employs paneldata and cross country analyses using 19,744 observations fromsix sample countries in Asia that have already adopted the IFRS,namely China, Hong Kong, Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines,and Sri Lanka.Research findings: This study finds that leverage has a significantnegative effect on RAM, and IFRS positively affects RAM. In theperiod after IFRS convergence, the negative effect of leverage onRAM increases. Interestingly, this study provides mixed empiricalevidence of the relationship between leverage and IFRS, and themoderation effect of IFRS on RAM across different settings ofinstitutional contexts. This shows that institutional contexts domatter. Theoretical contributions/ Originality: This study providesempirical evidence on the effect of leverage and IFRS convergenceon RAM across countries in Asia.Practitioner/ Policy implications: Regulators should makeprovisions to protect creditors and increase monitoring to ensurethe quality of financial reporting.Research limitations/ Implications: This study covers only sixcountries in Asia. Future studies should cover other regions soas to enlarge the coverage of the countries that have adopted orfully converged to IFRS. This study uses several firm level controlvariables. Future research may include other control variables suchas investor protection and types of legal system.
Development and evaluation of a new real‐time RT‐PCR assay for detecting the latest H9N2 influenza viruses capable of causing human infection

The H9N2 subtype of avian influenza A viruses (AIV) has spread among domestic poultry and wild birds worldwide. H9N2 AIV is sporadically transmitted to humans from avian species. A total of 42 laboratory‐confirmed cases of non‐fatal human infection with the Eurasian Y280 and G1 lineages have been reported in China, Hong Kong, Bangladesh and Egypt since 1997. H9N2 AIV infections in poultry have become endemic in Asia and the Middle East and are a major source of viral internal genes for other AIV subtypes, such that continuous monitoring of H9N2 AIV is recommended. In this study, a new, one‐step, real‐time RT‐PCR assay was developed to detect two major Eurasian H9 lineages of AIV capable of causing human infection. The sensitivity of this assay was determined using in vitro‐transcribed RNA, and the detection limit was approximately 3 copies/reaction. In this assay, no cross‐reactivity was observed against RNA from H1–15 subtypes of influenza A viruses, influenza B viruses and other viral respiratory pathogens. In addition, this assay could detect the H9 hemagglutinin (HA) gene from artificially reconstituted clinical samples spiked with H9N2 virus without any non‐specific reactions. Therefore, this assay is highly sensitive and specific for H9 HA detection. The assay is useful both for diagnostic purposes in cases of suspected human infection with influenza H9N2 viruses and for the surveillance of both avian and human influenza viruses.
A Systematic Review of Neuropsychological Tests for the Assessment of Dementia in Non-Western, Low-Educated or Illiterate Populations

Abstract Objective: Neuropsychological tests are important instruments to determine a cognitive profile, giving insight into the etiology of dementia; however, these tests cannot readily be used in culturally diverse, low-educated populations, due to their dependence upon (Western) culture, education, and literacy. In this review we aim to give an overview of studies investigating domain-specific cognitive tests used to assess dementia in non-Western, low-educated populations. The second aim was to examine the quality of these studies and of the adaptations for culturally, linguistically, and educationally diverse populations. Method: A systematic review was performed using six databases, without restrictions on the year or language of publication. Results: Forty-four studies were included, stemming mainly from Brazil, Hong Kong, Korea, and considering Hispanics/Latinos residing in the USA. Most studies focused on Alzheimer’s disease (n = 17) or unspecified dementia (n = 16). Memory (n = 18) was studied most often, using 14 different tests. The traditional Western tests in the domains of attention (n = 8) and construction (n = 15), were unsuitable for low-educated patients. There was little variety in instruments measuring executive functioning (two tests, n = 13), and language (n = 12, of which 10 were naming tests). Many studies did not report a thorough adaptation procedure (n = 39) or blinding procedures (n = 29). Conclusions: Various formats of memory tests seem suitable for low-educated, non-Western populations. Promising tasks in other cognitive domains are the Stick Design Test, Five Digit Test, and verbal fluency test. Further research is needed regarding cross-cultural instruments measuring executive functioning and language in low-educated people.
Kocuria kristinae: an emerging pathogen in medical practice.

Introduction. Kocuria kristinae is becoming a growing public health challenge, especially for its ability to cause infections in immunocompromised patients. This bacterium is a Gram+coccus, catalase+, coagulase, and it is a common inhabitant of skin and oral mucosa.Aim. To investigate the spectrum of infections caused by K. K ristinae.Methodology. Between January-March 2018, we carried out a systematic search in PubMed utilizing the key search term 'Kocuria kristinae'. The selection criteria for studies were studies reporting cases of human infections due to K. kristinae, case-control and cohort studies and studies published in English or Spanish.Results. The literature search yielded 48 publications: after title, abstract and full-text analysis, 20 papers were consistent with the selection criteria. These studies were carried out in the period 2001-2017 in the USA, Japan, Taiwan, Hong Kong, Ukraine, Egypt, Bahrain, Serbia, India, Italy, Spain, Turkey and Mexico. K. kristinae was involved in 17 cases of central venous catheter-related bacteremia, four infective endocarditis, three acute peritonitis, one abdominal abscess, umbilical sepsis, acute cholecystitis and urinary tract infection. Additionally, K. kristinae was found in 40 % of carious cavities, although it is not clear whether they are directly involved in the development of caries. Antibiotic susceptibility testing has sometimes revealed multi-drug resistance.Conclusions. The clinical spectrum of K. kristinae infections has recently widened. The increasing spread of this underestimated bacterium and its resistance to antibiotics represent a new challenge for public health, which requires specific actions to limit it.
Incidence of Leptospirosis Infections among Acute Febrile Patients in Lakhimpur and Dhemaji Districts, India

Leptospirosis is a disease condition of infected wild or domestic animals. Humans get this infection when they come in touch with the contaminated soil or water in the infected animal’s urine/excreta of animal reservoirs directly or indirectly. Water logging during rainy session, traditional cultivation with animals and water flow to the rivers are common in Assam. Those events may increase the risk of infection and that is why Lakhimpur and Dhemaji districts were choose for our study area as both districts are neighboring of hilly area (Arunachal Pradesh) and found maximum water logging. Blood samples were collected from the acute febrile patients reported to the laboratory for different tests like typhoid, japanese encephalitis (JE), dengue, malaria etc. Serums were obtained from the whole blood and selected only the JE, dengue, malaria, typhoid negative samples for our studys, Original Research Article Malakar et al.; IJTDH, 15(3): 1-5, 2016; Article no.IJTDH. 25132 2 after the consent from the patients or attendance of the patients. The test results showed that 2.13% (16/750) patients were positive for leptospirosis. Where 12.5% (2/16) positive patients were from Dhemaji district and races were from Lakhimpur. Clinical finding represented fever 100% (16/16), headache 68.75% (11/16), myalgia 50% (8/16), conjunctival suffusion 6.25% (1/16), jaundice 12.5% (2/16), cardiac arrhythmia 12.5%(2/16), skin rash 6.25% (1/16), haemorrhage 6.25% (1/16), unconsciousness/semiconciousness 12.5% (2/16), nausea/vomiting 6.25% (1/16), and abdominal pain 6.25% (1/16) in the positive patients. This proves the prevalence of leptospirosis in the study districts of Assam. An awareness of disease transmission could minimize the disease risk.
A REPORT OF THE 2019 HONG KONG PROTESTS

This article is written by a former Royal Hong Kong Police ofﬁcer whose service included Special Branch engaged in counter-terrorism intelligence, and who is currently resident in Hong Kong. It offers a detailed chronological overview of the development of the 2019 protests in Hong Kong; analyses the problems with the political response on the part of the Hong Kong and Beijing governments; it also looks at the tactics employed by the protesters, and critically examines the tactical and strategic response to the protests by the Hong Kong police. It also discusses the broader social and economic causes of the protests, and how the Hong Kong government might best respond to these challenges.
Improving inland culture performance of juvenile sea cucumbers, Holothuria scabra, by co-culture with red tilapia

Holothuria scabra are tropical sea cucumbers that are widely distributed in the Indo-Pacific Ocean and are considered to be a delicacy in China, Japan, Korea, Hong Kong, and Taiwan. Since they can be easily harvested in the wild, populations in sea beds around Thailand have been decreasing. This problem has led to the construction of hatcheries and growout facilities in order to effectively culture these high-priced species. However, there is a disadvantage in farm-grown production of these species due to its slow growth as it usually takes two years from hatching to marketable size. To increase its growth rate, we have tried co-culturing H. scabra with red tilapia under 30 ppt seawater. We found that growth and survival of the sea cucumbers was significantly higher when being co-cultured than when being cultured alone, while the growth rates of red tilapia showed no change or showed an increase. This co-culture would be a strategy to improve inland culture performance of H. scabra, during which income from growing red tilapia is achieved.
Spatial Variation in Thermal Stress Experienced by Barnacles on Rocky Shores: The Interplay Between Geographic Variation, Tidal Cycles and Microhabitat Temperatures

Thermal stress is an important driver of species’ distribution in the intertidal zone and, with the forecasted increasing frequency of extreme high temperatures associated with climate change, is likely to play an even greater role in the future. To better understand the scales at which thermal stress impacts organisms, we used biomimetic temperature loggers (robobarnacles) to measure latitudinal variation in estimated barnacle body temperatures (Tetraclita spp.) and evaluated the influences of large, geographic, and smaller scale, microhabitat variation on temperatures experienced. Robobarnacles were deployed at nine sites along the West Pacific and South China Sea coast (five sites in Taiwan, three in Hong Kong and one in Thailand, spanning 13–25°N) from May to September 2013. Estimated body temperatures did not follow a latitudinal gradient; instead, they revealed a mosaic of hot (e.g., NE Taiwan and Thailand) and cooler sites (e.g., two sites in Hong Kong). The hot sites were characterized by frequent occurrences of “heat stress” events (estimated body temperatures ≥40°C for ≥2 h which would result in ≥50% Tetraclita entering coma). There was a correlation between hourly air temperatures and robo-temperatures, suggesting that air temperature together with solar radiation and thermal radiation re-emitted by the rocky substrate drove the observed spatial robo-temperature variation. Air temperature mediated by solar radiation and rock thermal radiation are, therefore, important contributors affecting the body temperature of sessile intertidal species in the tropical and subtropical W Pacific and South China Sea and can be a good predictor for body temperature and thermal stress of intertidal barnacles.
Effect of drug-eluting stents on 1-year risk of new-onset atrial fibrillation in patients with acute myocardial infarction treated with percutaneous coronary intervention

Supplemental Digital Content is available in the text Abstract The use of a drug-eluting stent (DES) in patients with acute myocardial infarction (AMI) treated with percutaneous coronary intervention is conventional. However, the effect of DES on new-onset atrial fibrillation (AF) after AMI still remains unclear. By using data from Taiwan's National Health Insurance Research Database, a total of 17,741 patients with ST-elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) and 17,631 patients with non-ST-elevation myocardial infarction (NSTEMI) treated with percutaneous coronary intervention were analyzed to investigate the risk of new-onset AF after index admission of AMI. There were 26.5% (N = 4696) of patients with STEMI and 39.5% (N = 6967) of patients with NSTEMI received DES implantation. Upon 1-year follow-up, we observed that DES placement was associated with a reduced 1-year risk of new-onset AF in the patients with NSTEMI (adjusted hazard ratio [aHR] = 0.74, 95% confidence interval [CI] = 0.59–0.93, P = .009) after adjustment for clinical relevant variables. This benefit was consistent with that in the patients with NSTEMI who were ≥75 years old, had a CHA2DS2-VASc score of ≥2, and did not receive intra-aortic balloon pump insertion (aHR = 0.72, 95% CI = 0.53–0.98, P = .039; aHR = 0.73, 95% CI = 0.586–0.92, P = .006; and aHR = 0.71, 95% CI = 0.56–0.90, P = .004; respectively). However, DES placement had a neutral effect on the risk of new-onset AF in the patients with STEMI. Compared with the use of BMS, the use of DES might reduce the risk of new-onset AF in patients with NSTEMI.
Abundance estimations of ixodid ticks on Boran cattle and Somali sheep in Northern Tanzania

ABSTRACT Assessing tick abundance on live animals is often required for management or research purposes, but tick counts on the entire body are time-consuming. In order to develop models to estimate tick abundance on the entire body of an animal by counting ticks on only one or two body parts, we counted ticks on one lateral side of Boran cattle (n = 44) and Somali sheep (n = 20) in Manyara Ranch, Northern Tanzania. Ticks were counted on nine distinct body parts (head, ears, neck, forelegs, abdomen, udder/groin, hind legs, perineum and rest of body). A total of 2559 ticks representing 10 species were collected from the two livestock species. For cattle, tick counts on the combined head (head and ear) constituted 32.02% of total ticks per animal, and were positively and significantly correlated with tick abundance on the entire host animal. In sheep, tick counts on the head (constituting 32.48% of all ticks on a host) and head including the ears (48.08%) were also highly correlated with tick abundance on the entire body. Linear regression models were established to estimate total tick abundance for cattle and sheep based on tick counts on the head and ears. These models had high predictive power (cattle: R2 = 0.71; sheep: R2 = 0.88) and thus appear to reliably estimate tick abundance on a given host individual. These models allow for much quicker collection time in assessing tick abundance under field conditions and hence reduce examination-related stress to the animal.
Timing, number, and type of sexual partners associated with risk of oropharyngeal cancer

Case‐control studies from the early 2000s demonstrated that human papillomavirus–related oropharyngeal cancer (HPV‐OPC) is a distinct entity associated with number of oral sex partners. Using contemporary data, we investigated novel risk factors (sexual debut behaviors, exposure intensity, and relationship dynamics) and serological markers on odds of HPV‐OPC.
Revising the Canon: How Andy Warhol Became the Most Important American Modern Artist

Quantitative analysis of narratives of art history published since 2000 reveals that scholars and critics now judge that Andy Warhol has surpassed Jackson Pollock and Jasper Johns as the most important modern American painter. Auction prices suggest that collectors share this opinion. Disaggregated analysis of the published narratives by decade reveals that Warhol first gained clear critical recognition as the leading Pop artist in the 1990s, and then as the most important American artist overall in the 2000s. This rise in Warhol’s status appears initially to have been a result of his enormous influence on Jean-Michel Basquiat, Keith Haring, and others in the cohort that transformed the New York art world in the 1980s, and subsequently of his persisting influence on leading artists around the world who have emerged since the 1990s, including Damien Hirst, Takashi Murakami, and Ai Weiwei. Warhol’s many radical conceptual innovations, that transformed both the appearance of art and the behavior of artists, made him not only the most important American artist, but the most important Western artist overall of the second half of the twentieth century.