Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Technocrats and Democratic Transition: The Cases of China and Mexico

The most important change in the leadership in post-Mao China is the dramatic rise of the political elites with higher education, especially those majoring in science and engineering. Beijing is now dominated by technocrats whose main concern is to solve China's problems. Of the top seven party leaders, five have degrees from prestigious Chinese universities. In 2001, of the seven members of the Politburo’s Standing Committee, China’s supreme decision-making body, six are engineers and one is architect. This pattern repeats itself throughout the State Council and the ministerial and provincial government (Li 2001b: 25 26). Below them, younger technocrats – some western-trained – hold high posts in the banks, regulatory bodies, and think tanks. Meanwhile, technocrats have occupied a large share of top posts in the Mexican regime. Traditional politicians with electoral/partisan backgrounds have become less powerful. This process was especially notable during the de la Madrid (1982 –88), Salinas (1988–94), and Zedillo (1994–2000) administrations, whose senior positions were staffed largely by individuals fitting the technocratic stereotype.
Macroeconomic risk influences on the property stock market

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to provide an analysis of the relationship between expected risk premia on property stocks and some major macroeconomic risk factors as reflected in the general business and financial conditionsDesign/methodology/approach – Employs a three‐step estimation strategy (principal component analysis, GARCH (1,1) and GMM) to model the macroeconomic risk variables (GDP growth, INDP growth, unexpected inflation, money supply, interest rate and exchange rate) and relate them to the first and second moments on property stock excess returns of four major markets, namely, Singapore, Hong Kong, Japan and the UK. Macroeconomic risk is measured by the conditional volatility of macroeconomic variables.Findings – The expected risk premia and the conditional volatilities of the risk premia on property stocks are time‐varying and dynamically linked to the conditional volatilities of the macroeconomic risk factors. However there are some disparities in the significance, as well as direct.
Electrostatics of DNA–DNA juxtapositions: consequences for type II topoisomerase function

Type II topoisomerases resolve problematic DNA topologies such as knots, catenanes, and supercoils that arise as a consequence of DNA replication and recombination. Failure to remove problematic DNA topologies prohibits cell division and can result in cell death or genetic mutation. Such catastrophic consequences make topoisomerases an effective target for antibiotics and anticancer agents. Despite their biological and clinical importance, little is understood about how a topoisomerase differentiates DNA topologies in a molecule that is significantly larger than the topoisomerase itself. It has been proposed that type II topoisomerases recognize angle and curvature between two DNA helices characteristic of knotted and catenated DNA to account for the enzyme’s preference to unlink instead of link DNA. Here we consider the electrostatic potential of DNA juxtapositions to determine the possibility of juxtapositions occurring through Brownian diffusion. We found that despite the large negative electrostatic potential formed between two juxtaposed DNA helices, a bulk counterion concentration as small as 50 mM provides sufficient electrostatic screening to prohibit significant interaction beyond an interhelical separation of 3 nm in both hooked and free juxtapositions. This suggests that instead of electrostatics, mechanical forces such as those occurring in anaphase, knots, catenanes, or the writhe of supercoiled DNA may be responsible for the formation of DNA juxtapositions.
Efficacy and Safety of Cisplatin/Pemetrexed Versus Cisplatin/Gemcitabine as First-Line Treatment in East Asian Patients with Advanced Non-small Cell Lung Cancer: Results of an Exploratory Subgroup Analysis of a Phase III Trial

Introduction: We conducted an exploratory, post hoc, subgroup analysis of the East Asian (EA) patients in a multinational phase III trial to determine whether the efficacy results for this subgroup were consistent with those observed for the entire study population. Methods: Thousand seven hundred twenty-five patients with advanced non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC), including 126 EA patients (7.3%) from Taiwan and Korea, were enrolled in the trial and randomly assigned first-line chemotherapy with cisplatin and pemetrexed (CP; n = 862) or cisplatin and gemcitabine (CG; n = 863). Adjusted Cox proportional hazards models were used to compare overall survival and progression-free survival between the treatment arms in the EA subgroup. Median time-to-event data were estimated with the Kaplan-Meier method. Results: Consistent with the results for the entire study population, survival in the EA subgroup trended in favor of CP over CG in patients with nonsquamous histology, despite the more frequent use of postdiscontinuation targeted therapy in the CG arm. The opposite trend was noted for patients with squamous tumors. A higher proportion of patients in the EA subgroup were never smokers compared with the entire study population. A trend toward improved survival with CP compared with CG was seen regardless of smoking status, particularly in nonsquamous patients. Conclusions: The key finding of this subgroup analysis was that the NSCLC histology effect on treatment outcomes for pemetrexed-treated patients seen in the entire study population was also apparent in the EA subgroup. The potential prognostic influence of race, histology subtype, and smoking status should be assessed in future NSCLC studies.
Prevalence of asthma among Chinese adolescents living in Canada and in China

Background: Studies of the prevalence of asthma among migrating populations may help in identifying environmental risk factors. Methods: We analyzed data from Vancouver, Canada, and from Guangzhou, Beijing and Hong Kong, China, collected during phase 3 of the International Study of Asthma and Allergies in Childhood. We subdivided the Vancouver adolescents according to whether they were Chinese immigrants to Canada, Canadian-born Chinese or Canadian-born non-Chinese. We compared the prevalence of asthma and wheezing among Chinese adolescents born in Canada, Chinese adolescents who had immigrated to Canada and Chinese adolescents living in China. Results: Of 7794 Chinese adolescents who met the inclusion criteria, 3058 were from Guangzhou, 2824 were from Beijing, and 1912 were from Hong Kong. Of 2235 adolescents in Vancouver, Canada, 475 were Chinese immigrants, 617 were Canadian-born Chinese, and 1143 were Canadian-born non-Chinese. The prevalence of current wheezing among boys ranged from 5.9% in Guangzhou to 11.2% in Canadian-born Chinese adolescents. For girls, the range was 4.3% in Guangzhou to 9.8% in Canadian-born Chinese adolescents. The prevalence of ever having had asthma ranged from 6.6% to 16.6% for boys and from 2.9% to 15.0% for girls. Prevalence gradients persisted after adjustment for other environmental variables (odds ratios for ever having had asthma among Canadian-born Chinese compared with native Chinese in Guangzhou: 2.72 [95% confidence interval 1.75–4.23] for boys and 5.50 [95% confidence interval 3.21–9.44] for girls; p < 0.001 for both). Among Chinese adolescents living in Vancouver, the prevalence of ever wheezing increased with duration of residence, from 14.5% among those living in Canada for less than 7 years to 20.9% among those living their entire life in Canada. The same pattern was observed for the prevalence of ever having had asthma, from 7.7% to 15.9%. Interpretation: Asthma symptoms in Chinese adolescents were lowest among residents of mainland China, were greater for those in Hong Kong and those who had immigrated to Canada, and were highest among those born in Canada. These findings suggest that environmental factors and duration of exposure influence asthma prevalence.
Demographic and Behavioral Differences Among Participants, Nonparticipants, and Dropouts in a Cohort Study of Men who Have Sex with Men

Background and Objectives: Results of prospective cohort studies can be biased when subjects selectively refuse to participate or be included in follow-up. Goal of this Study: To assess the potential for bias in a longitudinal study of sexual risk behavior among men who have sex with men. Study Design: This was a cross-sectional comparison of clinical data regarding men who have sex with men attending an urban human immunodeficiency virus testing clinic. Results: Of 3,390 men who have sex with men invited to participate, 2,063 refused, 589 dropped out after completing an initial study questionnaire, and 738 participated in follow-up at 6 months. There were no significant differences in the same-gender sexual behaviors of participants, dropouts, and nonparticipants, with one exception: Nonparticipants were more likely to abstain from receptive oral sex (27%) compared with participants (18%) or dropouts (21%). Conclusion: The similarities in reported activities among participants, dropouts, and nonparticipants suggest that selection bias may have limited impact on cohort studies of sexual behavior.
The predictive value of rheumatoid factor isotypes, anti-cyclic citrullinated peptide antibodies, and antineutrophil cytoplasmic antibodies for mortality in patients with rheumatoid arthritis.

OBJECTIVE To evaluate the significance of rheumatoid factor (RF) and its isotypes (IgA RF, IgG RF, and IgM RF), anti-cyclic citrullinated peptide antibodies (anti-CCP), and antineutrophil cytoplasmic antibodies (ANCA) in predicting mortality in patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA). METHODS The study population comprised 604 patients with RA participating in a cross-sectional study in 1987. Presence of RF (n = 604), RF isotypes (n = 206), anti-CCP (n = 184), and ANCA (n = 200) were determined in these patients from available baseline sera. Vital status was assessed in 1999 and multivariate Cox regression analysis used to compare mortality in RA patients with or without different antibodies. RESULTS Of the 604 patients with RA, 55% were positive for RF, 66% for anti-CCP, and 14.5% for perinuclear ANCA. Twelve patients (19%) with RF were anti-CCP-negative and 34 (40%) without RF were anti-CCP-positive. Of the total 604 patients, 160 had died by 1999. Positive RF and high IgA and IgM RF levels predicted increased mortality, while positive anti-CCP or ANCA did not. However, high anti-CCP levels were related to an increased mortality risk. CONCLUSION Patients with RA with positive RF, especially IgA and IgM isotypes, carry a risk of dying earlier than patients without these serological findings.
Baseline serum adipokine levels predict radiographic progression in early rheumatoid arthritis.

OBJECTIVE Adipose tissue can secrete soluble mediators (adipokines) with potent immune regulatory functions. Some adipokines have been previously associated with radiographic damage in patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA). In the present study, we investigated the capacity of baseline adipokine levels to predict radiographic progression over a period of 4 years and studied their contribution relative to that of other known risk factors, such as anti-cyclic citrullinated peptide (anti-CCP) antibodies. METHODS Serum concentrations of leptin, visfatin, resistin, adiponectin, adipsin, tumor necrosis factor α (TNFα), and interleukin-6 (IL-6) were determined in serum samples obtained at baseline from 253 patients with RA from the Early Arthritis Cohort. The association between levels of these adipokines and radiographic progression was determined using a multivariate normal regression model correcting for age, sex, treatment strategy, body mass index (BMI), and the presence of anti-CCP antibodies. RESULTS Levels of IL-6, TNFα, visfatin, and adiponectin were positively associated with radiographic progression over 4 years. This association was independent of BMI. However, only adiponectin levels remained significantly associated with radiographic progression when the model was corrected for the presence of anti-CCP antibodies, whereas a trend was observed for IL-6. The association of both TNFα and visfatin with radiographic damage disappeared after correction for the presence of anti-CCP antibodies, which is consistent with the fact that the levels of both cytokines correlated significantly with anti-CCP antibody levels in these patients. CONCLUSION Our results indicate that adipokines are predictors of radiographic progression in RA, possibly through distinct underlying biologic mechanisms.
Stock and foreign exchange markets in the Pacific Basin Rim

The thesis examines the stock and foreign exchange markets of a group of Pacific Basin countries. The main purpose is to investigate the role of foreign ownership restrictions and taxes on potential linkages between these markets, and their interrelations with the rest of the world. The overall analysis highlights the presence of substantial financial links at the regional and global level. In particular, it shows close financial links even for markets with extensive capital controls. It also finds linkages between their stock and foreign exchange markets and that foreign currency risk is a significant component of domestic stock returns. When examining for potential sources of these close financial links, the research indicates that Country Funds have provided indirect ways of foreign participation in the local stock markets and contributed to these financial links. Furthermore, the thesis also emphasised the role of economic integration. of the Pacific Basin countries for their financial integration. The study found that the Asian financial crisis of mid 1997 had some effects on the financial links of the Pacific Basin Rim at the regional and global level. In addition, while the turmoil has increased the economic integration at the regional level, it has reduced economic integration with the U. S. However, the thesis shows that neither Japan, nor the U. S. , dominates the Pacific Basin Rim. Some countries, such as Thailand, present closer links with the U. S. , and others, such as Korea and Taiwan, with Japan. The evidence provided in the thesis has implications for international portfolio diversification and for the use of foreign exchange restrictions to isolate local capital markets from world market influences.
Corporate Social Responsibility in financial services : a comparison of Chinese and East Asian banks vis-à-vis American banks

Purpose – This study compares the associations between Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) and brand value in the financial services industry in East Asia and the USA.Design/methodology/approach – A sample of 84 major banks in East Asia (China, Hong Kong, Japan, South Korea and Taiwan) and the USA is used to test the links between CSR and brand value using ANOVA and multiple regressions.Findings – Brand value is positively related to CSR for the entire sample, but is associated with distinctively different CSR factors depending on the geographic markets. In Japan and South Korea brand value is associated with a bank's appreciation for its employees, while in China, brand value is linked to a focus on the community. East Asia's culture is rooted in Confucianism, a philosophy that emphasises caring for the “greater good” (i.e. for the community) and for one's subordinates. In contrast, Americans are more concerned with “green” issues, and subsequently caring for the environment is associated with brand va.
A Cross-Cultural Analysis of Privacy Notices of the Global 2000

Abstract To build consumer trust online, many companies place their privacy policies on their websites. Online privacy notices are intended to promote consumer choice and reduce the fear of disclosing information online. The current study examines the leading international companies’ online privacy notices. Particularly, this study examines firms listed on Forbes’ Global 2000 company list and are headquartered in Australia, China and Hong Kong, Japan, the United Kingdom, and the United States and assesses their privacy policy notices. Using the content analysis method, privacy policies on the websites from 125 companies were qualitatively examined and coded along the categories based on the FTC’s privacy principles. Different emphases between countries were found and cultural perspectives were explored.
What is the significance of black-white differences in risky sexual behavior?

A sample of African-American and white young adults were classified as having multiple sex partners or one sexual partner. Subjects with multiple sexual partners were more likely to use drugs and practice risky sexual behaviors such as having anal intercourse, having sexual experiences with a prostitute, and having a history of gonorrhea (P < .001) and genital warts (P < .01). Additional analyses were conducted to determine African-American versus white differences in risky sexual behaviors. Results indicated that whites in the multiple partners and single partner groups were more likely to engage in anal and oral sex, while African Americans were more likely to have sex with prostitutes. Attitudes about the use of condoms differed significantly by multiple partner status (P < .004) and gender (P < .007), but not ethnicity. However, angry reactions about the use of condoms occurred more with African Americans (P < .003) and males (P < .05) than with whites or females. While whites reported a greater use of drugs and a significantly higher level of knowledge about HIV/AIDS, African Americans reported a significantly greater perception of risk for being exposed to human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)/acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) (P < .01) and significantly more gonorrhea (P < .10), syphilis (P < .05), and HIV/AIDS (P < .05). No whites in our sample were treated for syphilis nor had they tested positive for HIV/AIDS. On the other hand, 4.5% of the total sample of African Americans reported testing positive for HIV/AIDS. Finally, the results from discriminant analysis indicate that a large number of variables significantly discriminate between subjects who engage in risky sexual behaviors and those who do not. Although there is some similarity in the variables for African Americans and whites, there was tremendous variability between the ethnic groups in the factors that predict risky behaviors. These findings are discussed with reference to the need to develop HIV/AIDS prevention programs for African Americans that are based on data derived from African-American populations rather than from black versus white comparison studies.
Geographic variation in the Japanese islands of Apis cerana japonica and in A. cerana populations bordering its geographic range

Genetic variation among Apis cerana japonica isolates from Japan and Apis cerana isolates from the neighboring areas of Russia, South Korea, and Taiwan was determined from DNA sequences of the mitochondrial DNA non-coding region (between tRNA leu and COII). Three haplotypes were identified among 470 colonies samples at 47 Japanese sites. All isolates from the main Japanese Islands of Honshu, Shikoku, and Kyushu belonged to a single haplotype, a previously reported Japan 1 haplotype. Two new haplotypes were found on the far southern Japanese islands of Amami-Oshima and Tsushima (the Japan 3 and Japan 4 haplotypes, respectively). The A. cerana from Russia and South Korea were the Japan 1 isolate, the A. cerana from Taiwan was the previously known Taiwan haplotype. Our studies showed little genetic variation in the mtDNA of A. cerana japonica, indicating that this genomic region is of limited use for detecting genetic variation among closely related populations of A. cerana.ZusammenfassungDie genetische Variation von A. cerana japonica in Japan und A. cerana in den benachbarten Arealen wurde anhand von mitochondrialen DNA Sequenzdaten einer nichtkodierenden Region untersucht. Aus 470 A. cerana japonica Völkern von 47 Standorten in Japan und von 5 A. cerana Völkern einzelner Orte in Russland, Südkorea und Taiwan wurden im Jahr 1997 und 2002 Proben von adulten Arbeiterinnen entnommen. Bei den japanischen Populationen wurden 3 Haplotypen identifiziert, der bereits vorher bekannte Japan 1 Haplotyp und zwei neue Haplotypen (Japan 3 und Japan 4). Der Japan 1 Haplotyp wurde an 43 Lokalitäten auf Honshu, Shikoku und den Kyushu Inseln gefunden, während die Japan 3 und 4 Haplotypen auf den Inseln Amami-Oshima beziehungsweise Tsushima gefunden wurden. Der neue Japan 3 Haplotyp enthielt eine Basensubstitution (T → A) an der einundzwanzigsten Position, der Japan 4 Haplotyp eine an der dreizehnten Position (G → A). Die Ergebnisse zeigten, dass A. cerana japonica eine sehr geringe genetische Variation in der nichtkodierenden Region der mtDNA aufweist
The Taiwan‐Ryukyu subduction‐collision complex: Folding of a viscoelastic slab and the double seismic zone

[1] The termination of the Ryukyu trench against Eurasia and the oblique subduction of the Philippine Sea plate create a subduction-collision complex offshore Taiwan, which has not previously been elucidated in detail. We combine traveltime data from the seismic networks in Taiwan and Japan to better illuminate how the subducting Ryukyu slab deforms in this subduction-collision zone. More than 5000 events recorded by both networks were relocated with the double-difference method using an optimal regional one-dimensional velocity model. The offshore seismicity indicates that the double seismic zone, with a gap of 15–20 km, exists in the subducting slab in the depth range of 40–80 km. Focal mechanisms suggest that the double seismic zone is caused by east-west compression resulting from oblique convergence. The improved hypocentral locations for the first time reveal folding of the slab into a horizontal curvature larger in magnitude than and opposite in sign to that of the Ryukyu trench in the depth range 50–100 km. The anomalous curvature, together with the focal mechanisms, suggests that the slab folds against the Eurasian lithosphere and that this deformation cannot be fully elastic. We model this deformation mode as the developing instability of a viscoelastic Maxwell layer embedded in a viscous medium. The characteristic wavelength of the instability, i.e., ∼250 km, is consistent with folding of a slab whose viscosity is 100 times higher than that of the surrounding mantle for an along-strike elastic membrane strain as small as 0.01, or more than 3 orders of magnitude higher if 5% elastic strain is allowed.
Stock Market Linkages in Emerging Asia-Pacific Markets

This study examines the stock market integration among major stock markets of emerging Asia-Pacific economies, viz. India, Malaysia, Hong Kong, Singapore, South Korea, Taiwan, Japan, China, and Indonesia. The Johansen and Juselius multivariate cointegration test, Granger causality/Block exogeneity Wald test based on the vector error correction model (VECM) approach, and variance decomposition analysis were used to investigate the dynamic linkages between markets. Cointegration test confirmed a well-defined long-run equilibrium relationship among the major stock markets, implying that there exists a common force, such as arbitrage activity, which brings these stock markets together in the long run. The results of Granger causality/Block exogeneity Wald test based on VECM and variance decomposition analysis revealed the stock market interdependencies and dynamic interactions among the selected emerging Asia-Pacific economies. This result implies that investors can gain feasible benefits from international portfolio diversification in the short run. On the whole, the study results suggest that although long-term diversification benefits from exposure to these markets might be limited, short-run benefits might exist due to substantial transitory fluctuations.