Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
The representation of ‘Others’ in East Asian television advertisements

This study conducted a content analysis of 442 television advertisements from Hong Kong, Japan, and South Korea to determine their representations of ‘Others’. Findings reveal that in East Asian advertisements, Others are overrepresented, mostly non-celebrities, and depicted in major roles, which is in contrast to previous studies in the United States where ‘Others’ are generally shown in minor or background roles. The results also reveal that Others are predominantly white, demonstrating the importance of whites in these societies and representing some type of racial/ethnic hierarchy. However, Others are also depicted as separate from the majority population. For example, they are usually depicted abroad rather than in a local setting, and they rarely interact with the local population, which sends a message of exclusion and might lead to the conclusion that they do not belong to their respective location. Possible effects and practice implications of these findings are discussed.
Do women prefer caesarean sections? A qualitative evidence synthesis of their views and experiences

Background Caesarean sections (CS) continue to increase worldwide. Multiple and complex factors are contributing to the increase, including non-clinical factors related to individual women, families and their interactions with health providers. This global qualitative evidence synthesis explores women’s preferences for mode of birth and factors underlying preferences for CS. Methods Systematic database searches (MEDLINE, EMBASE, CINAHL, PsycINFO) were conducted in December 2016 and updated in May 2019 and February 2021. Studies conducted across all resource settings were eligible for inclusion, except those from China and Taiwan which have been reported in a companion publication. Phenomena of interest were opinions, views and perspectives of women regarding preferences for mode of birth, attributes of CS, societal and cultural beliefs about modes of birth, and right to choose mode of birth. Thematic synthesis of data was conducted. Confidence in findings was assessed using GRADE-CERQual. Results We included 52 studies, from 28 countries, encompassing the views and perspectives of pregnant women, non-pregnant women, women with previous CS, postpartum women, and women’s partners. Most of the studies were conducted in high-income countries and published between 2011 and 2021. Factors underlying women preferences for CS had to do mainly with strong fear of pain and injuries to the mother and child during labour or birth (High confidence), uncertainty regarding vaginal birth (High confidence), and positive views or perceived advantages of CS (High confidence). Women who preferred CS expressed resoluteness about it, but there were also many women who had a clear preference for vaginal birth and those who even developed strategies to keep their birth plans in environments that were not supportive of vaginal births (High confidence). The findings also identified that social, cultural and personal factors as well as attributes related to health systems impact on the reasons underlying women preferences for various modes of birth (High confidence). Conclusions A wide variety of factors underlie women’s preferences for CS in the absence of medical indications. Major factors contributing to perceptions of CS as preferable include fear of pain, uncertainty with vaginal birth and positive views on CS. Interventions need to address these factors to reduce unnecessary CS.
Positive Association between Individualism and Vaccination Resistance against COVID-19 Vaccination among Chinese Adults: Mediations via Perceived Personal and Societal Benefits

Background: Vaccination resistance is the key hurdle against herd immunity as it limits the final vaccination coverage. This study investigated the prevalence and factors of COVID-19 vaccination resistance (i.e., those indicating definitely not taking up COVID-19 vaccination), including individualism, perceived personal benefits (PPB) and perceived societal benefits (PSB) of COVID-19 vaccination, and related mechanisms of the association. Methods: A random telephone survey interviewed 395 unvaccinated adults aged 18–75 not having scheduled for COVID-19 vaccination in May 2021 in Hong Kong, China (response rate = 56.8%). Results: The prevalence of vaccination resistance was 56.5%. Adjusted for background factors, individualism, PPB, and PSB were significantly associated with vaccination resistance. Path analysis showed that individualism exhibited a direct effect on vaccination resistance and a 3-step indirect effect (individualism → PSB → PPB→ vaccination resistance) that explained 46.8% of the total effect. The two 2-step indirect paths via PPB only and via PSB only were non-significant. Conclusion: High prevalence of vaccination resistance was observed. Individualism increased vaccination resistance via its direct and indirect effects. Health promotion may emphasize collective good to reduce the impact of individualism and promote PPB/PSB, which may reduce vaccination resistance directly and alleviate the impact of individualism on vaccination resistance indirectly.
Dynamic Relationship Between Macroeconomic Variables And

The Oxford Handbook of the Economics of PovertyDynamic Relationships Between Stock Returns and Macroeconomic Variables in South Korea, Taiwan, and JapanMonetary Policy Transmission Under Zero Interest RatesDynamic Macroeconomic Linkages to the Agricultural SectorBusiness, Economics, Financial Sciences, and ManagementRenminbi Exchange Rate ForecastingDevelopment of the Sudanese Construction Industry SCI using Dynamic ModelingMonetary and Fiscal Policies and the Dynamics of the Yield Curve in MoroccoPrimary Commodity Prices and Macroeconomic VariablesA Macroeconomic Approach to the Term PremiumMacroeconomic Forecasting in the Era of Big DataMacroeconomic Variables and Security Prices in India during the Liberalized PeriodDevaluation Crises and the Macroeconomic Consequences of Postponed Adjustment in Developing CountriesNew Challenges for Future Sustainability and WellbeingModelling Dynamic Relationships of Some Macroeconomic VariablesGhanaHandbook of Research on Global Enterprise Operations and OpportunitiesInnovative Mobile and Internet Services in Ubiquitous ComputingNew Horizons in Management, Leadership and SustainabilityAdvances in Electronic Commerce, Web Application and CommunicationPakistan Journal of Applied EconomicsEssays on the Determinants of Income and Wealth Inequality in the United StatesBeyond Traditional Probabilistic Methods in EconomicsThe Dynamic Relationships of Macroeconomic Variables and Stock IndexNon-Linear Modeling of the Impact of the Crisis on the Interactions Among Financial Markets and Macroeconomic Variables in Cee CountriesPerspectives, Trends, and Applications in
The Changing Landscape of International Financial Centers in the Twenty-First Century: Cross-border Mergers and Acquisitions in the Global Financial Network

abstract We conduct an analysis of cross-border financial sector mergers and acquisitions (M&As) between 2000 and 2017 to explore the changing landscape of international financial centers (IFCs) and the spatial concentration of decision-making power in the Global Financial Network (GFN). Our analysis starts with time zones, showing a slow rise of IFCs in the Asia-Pacific, decline in Europe, the Middle East, and Africa, and resilience in the Americas. We then identify which IFCs are net targets and net acquirers in M&As before and after the global financial crisis as well as which IFCs switch position between net target and net acquirer. Homing in on key groups of IFCs in the GFN, we show the persistent high profile of the New York and London axis of global finance, the important roles of Singapore and Hong Kong as mid-shore IFCs in Asia, and the continued significance of Gulf and offshore IFCs. These findings not only showcase M&A data as valuable analytical tools in exploring the geographies of finance but address a persistent theoretical gap concerning how power moves, concentrates, and is exercised as part of the GFN.
The Role of Anti-TNFα Therapy in the Amelioration of Disease Burden in Patients with Refractory Rheumatoid Arthritis

To evaluate the changes in anti cyclic citrullinated peptide (Anti-CCP) antibodies,rheumatoid factor (RF), interleukins 17 and 10 (IL-17 and IL-10), high sensitivity C- reactiveprotein (hs CRP) and T regulatory cells (Treg) count following an anti TNF-α biological agent(etanercept) therapy in patients with rheumatoid arthritis.Refractory rheumatoid arthritis patients who failed treatment with DMARDs (diseasemodifying anti rheumatic drugs) were treated with etanercept for three months. Serum and bloodsamples were tested before and after therapy for six markers including ACCP, RF, IL- 10, IL 17,hs CRP, and Treg cell. A significant dropping down in the serum level of ACCP, RF and hs CRPwas documented 3 months after etanercept therapy. On the other hand a non- significant elevationin IL-10 serum level and peripheral blood Treg cell count, as well as a non significant droppingdown in the serum level of IL-17 were also reported. Etanercept is a successful anti-TNF-αtherapy in refractory RA patients for the first three months of the course therapy as indicated byclinical improvement and amelioration in 6 disease activity markers.
Impact of the COVID-19 pandemic and the Russia-Ukraine war on stress and anxiety in students: A systematic review

Background The outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic at the end of 2019 and the Russian-Ukrainian war in February 2022 created restrictions and uncertainties that affected the general population’s mental health. One of the affected groups was students. This systematic review summarizes the current literature on the prevalence, outcomes, and interventions for stress and anxiety among university, college, graduate, or postsecondary populations. Methods A systematic literature search was performed on PubMed, Web of Science, Scopus, Embase, Cochrane Library, CINAHL, PsychInfo, and ProQuest, following PRISMA guidelines. Specific inclusion and exclusion criteria were applied, and screening was performed to identify the definitive studies. Results The prevalence of anxiety was relatively high, ranging from 88.9 to 13.63%, and the prevalence of stress ranged from 56 to 28.14%. The predictors of stress and anxiety included young age, gender being female, STEM course, loneliness, low academic level in school, urban lockdown, confinement, having a preexisting disease, having relatives or friends infected with COVID-19, and proximity to a COVID-19 zone. The predictors of stress included gender being female, living with family, living in a household with many people, being confined rather than having the freedom to relocate, proximity to confirmed cases of COVID-19, lack of access to materials on COVID-19, preexisting mental disorders, and lack of knowledge on the preventable nature of COVID-19. The sources of anxiety among the university students identified in the study included academics, postponement of graduation, cancelation or disruption of planned events, inability to achieve goals, and finances. In addition, the students used trauma-focused, forward-focused, task-oriented, emotion-oriented, and avoidance-oriented coping strategies. Conclusion The included studies showed that stress and anxiety increased during the pandemic and the war, with gender and uncertainty playing a critical role. The studies provide insights into the widespread use of problem-focused and task-focused coping strategies despite their impact on increasing stress and anxiety.
Do Different Approaches to Measurement of Risk Behaviour Yield Different Results

Risk and uncertainty play an important role in the adoption of new technology, new crop, and new management practices. However, direct information about attitudes towards risk is seldom available; hence has remained one of the unexplored aspects of technology adoption behaviour. Also, because of differences in measurement methods often there are conflicting views on the issues related to risk preferences. This paper has investigated the inconsistency in measurement of risk preference through subjective question and through risk game with real incentives using responses of 426 jatropha-growing farmers in the states of Assam and Arunachal Pradesh. These approaches to measurement of risk preferences have yielded different results in terms of magnitude, direction, and significance.
The diagnostic and prognostic value of IgG and IgA anti-citrullinated protein antibodies in patients with early rheumatoid arthritis

Objectives Anti-citrullinated peptide antibodies (ACPA) are specific markers for rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and typically measured by assays employing a cyclic citrullinated peptide (CCP) as antigen. This study was aimed at investigating the diagnostic performance of anti-CCP2 and anti-CCP3 IgG and IgA assays in patients with early RA with a particular focus on the potential prognostic value of IgA ACPA. Methods The anti-CCP3.1 assay (Inova Diagnostics) measuring IgG and IgA antibodies simultaneously was compared to anti-CCP2 IgG and IgA assays (Thermo Fisher Scientific) employing sera of 184 early RA patients, 360 disease controls and 98 healthy subjects. Results Anti-CCP2 IgG and IgA assays showed high specificity versus disease controls (98.9%; 99.4%). Sensitivity was 52.2% (IgG) and 28.8% (IgA), resulting in positive likelihood ratios (LR+) of 47.5 (IgG) and 48.0 (IgA). The anti-CCP3.1 assay proved slightly more sensitive than the anti-CCP2 IgG assay (56%) but specificity was markedly lower (90.8% versus disease controls). However, when using a threefold higher cut-off specificity of the anti-CCP3.1 assay increased (97.5%) while sensitivity (52.7%) became comparable to the anti-CCP2 IgG assay resulting in a LR+ of 21.5. Anti-CCP2 IgA antibodies did not increase the diagnostic sensitivity of ACPA testing, but IgA positive patients showed diminished responses to treatment with anti-TNF biologicals compared to patients who had only IgG antibodies. Conclusion Specificity of ACPA assays should be adjusted to reduce the risk of misclassification and a false positive diagnosis. Determination of ACPA IgA might provide important prognostic information concerning therapeutic responses.
Correlation between 14-3-3 η protein and Muskelosketal Correlation between 14-3-3 protein and Muskelosketal ultrasound in early rheumatoid arthritis patients. ultrasound in early rheumatoid arthritis patients.

Background: Despite recent advances in treatment, Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) remains a significant cause of morbidity and premature mortality. 14-3-3η protein was found at higher levels of serum and synovial fluid of patients with arthritis. Aim of work: to assess serum levels of 14-3-3η protein in early rheumatoid arthritis and correlate it with the disease activity and ultrasound findings. Patient and Methods: Thirty naïve patients with early RA were subjected for thorough clinical examination, labratory investigations including 14-3-3η protein and musculoskeletal Ultrasonography of both hands. 20 healthy persons matched for age and sex were selected as the control group. Results: Their mean age was 38.2 ± 10.11years, with mean disease activity (4.4 ± 0.74). Mean ESR, CRP and anti-CCP was (40.0 ± 17.75), (18.6 ± 11.78) and (73.5 ± 81.86) respectively. Serum 14-3-3η protein level for patients was (344.8 ± 121.9) ng\ml while for the control group it was (38.4 ± 15.) ng\ml with a significant statistical difference between both groups (p < 0.05). Serum 14-3-3η protein showed significant positive correlation with RF and Anti-CCP (r = 0.36 and 0.52 respectively) while no significant correlation was found with ESR, CRP, or DA28, (r = 0.04, 0.08 and 0.02 respectively). Also, we didn’t find a significant correlation between serum 14-3-3η protein and musculoskeletal ultrasound parameters. Conclusion: The Serum level of 14-3-3η protein may not be associated with structural damage in RA while it may be positively correlated to RF and Anti-CCP in early rheumatoid arthritis.
Convergence in election campaigns

The domination of mass media is exemplified by candidates’ camps attempting to gain media exposure as a top priority of their campaign strategies; however, the popularity of social media has gradually changed this trend. This article used the 2012 Taiwan presidential election to examine the relationship between social media and mass media. By interviewing campaign staffers, journalists, and scholars, this article developed the concept of the candidate’s frame to distinguish from the media frame and employed frame contest to view the interplay. The findings demonstrate that candidates attempted to view their Facebook pages as the headwaters of mass media and intermediation can be broadened under this situation.
Analysis of the Influence of Quantile Regression Model on Mainland Tourists' Service Satisfaction Performance

It is estimated that mainland Chinese tourists travelling to Taiwan can bring annual revenues of 400 billion NTD to the Taiwan economy. Thus, how the Taiwanese Government formulates relevant measures to satisfy both sides is the focus of most concern. Taiwan must improve the facilities and service quality of its tourism industry so as to attract more mainland tourists. This paper conducted a questionnaire survey of mainland tourists and used grey relational analysis in grey mathematics to analyze the satisfaction performance of all satisfaction question items. The first eight satisfaction items were used as independent variables, and the overall satisfaction performance was used as a dependent variable for quantile regression model analysis to discuss the relationship between the dependent variable under different quantiles and independent variables. Finally, this study further discussed the predictive accuracy of the least mean regression model and each quantile regression model, as a reference for research personnel. The analysis results showed that other variables could also affect the overall satisfaction performance of mainland tourists, in addition to occupation and age. The overall predictive accuracy of quantile regression model Q0.25 was higher than that of the other three models.
Intervention, sterilization, and monetary control in Korea and Taiwan

This paper uses a four-variable vector autoregression model to explore how monetary authorities responded to shocks in Korea and Taiwan over the period 1981.1-1994.12. The analysis reveals that sterilization is an important element of the response to shocks to foreign assets in both economies. In particular, monetary authorities do not appear to be prepared to accept fluctuations in the exchange rate and the money supply that may result from changes in foreign assets, but more readily accept fluctuations in these variables that result from domestic credit shocks. There are also differences in the responses of Korea and Taiwan that suggest that the former may be more insulated from external shocks.
Life Cycle of the Centrally Planned Economy: Why Soviet Growth Rates Peaked in the 1950s

The highest rates of growth of labor productivity in the Soviet Union were observed not in the 1930s (3% annually), but in the 1950s (6%). The TFP growth rates by decades increased from 0.6% annually in the 1930s to 2.8% in the 1950s and then fell monotonously becoming negative in the 1980s. The decade of 1950s was thus the “golden period” of Soviet economic growth. The patterns of Soviet growth of the 1950s in terms of growth accounting were very similar to the Japanese growth of the 1950s-70s and to Korean and Taiwanese growth in the 1960-80s – fast increases in labor productivity counterweighted the decline in capital productivity, so that the TFP increased markedly. However, high Soviet economic growth lasted only for a decade, whereas in East Asia it continued for three to four decades, propelling Japan, South Korea and Taiwan into the ranks of developed countries. This paper offers an explanation for the inverted U-shaped trajectory of labor productivity and TFP in centrally planned economies (CPEs). It is argued that CPEs under-invested into the replacement of the retiring elements of the fixed capital stock and over-invested into the expansion of production capacities. The task of renovating physical capital contradicted the short-run goal of fulfilling plan targets, and therefore Soviet planners preferred to invest in new capacities instead of upgrading the old ones. Hence, after the massive investment of the 1930s in the USSR, the highest productivity was achieved after the period equal to the average service life of fixed capital stock (about 20 years) – before there emerged a need for the massive investment into replacing retirement. Afterwards, the capital stock started to age rapidly reducing sharply capital productivity and lowering labor productivity and TFP growth rates.
The Core‐Peripheral Structure of International Knowledge Flows: Evidence from Patent Citation Data

The importance of knowledge diffusion and external knowledge is generally acknowledged for their vital role to innovation. The purpose of this study is to investigate the international knowledge diffusion structure and its evolution using patent citation networks for three periods. The analyses are carried out from overall, active cluster as well as individual connection perspectives with the help of measures from social network analysis. Results show an obvious core‐peripheral structure of international knowledge diffusion. Most of the flows happen within core group. Knowledge flows between core and peripheral numbers also widely exist but not strong, while the flows among peripheral numbers are both sparse and weak. Significant improvements widely exist among Asian countries and regions according to their knowledge absorption and influence capacities, and Chinese Taiwan and South Korea are the most outstanding new stars among them with worthwhile experiences for other catch‐ups. It also suggests that BRICS and South–South knowledge linkages play an increased role in developing and emerging economy innovation systems as they gain momentum.
National Health Insurance program and life satisfaction of the elderly

Objectives: To ensure people's fundamental right to adequate medical care, universal health insurance is given a high priority in contemporary public policy. This article investigates the effects of the introduction of Taiwan's National Health Insurance (NHI) on life satisfaction within the elderly segment of the population. Methods: A longitudinal data set including 610 males and 430 females aged 65 or above was constructed from the Survey of Health and Living Status of the Elderly in Taiwan. A difference-in-differences-in-differences model was employed and estimated by the random-effect regression method. Results: The effects of NHI on life satisfaction are different by gender. Compared to the change in life satisfaction between the previously uninsured and insured elderly men, the introduction of NHI had a larger effect of 4.330 points on reducing the disparity in life satisfaction between previously uninsured and insured elderly women. Education, living arrangements, lifestyle, social activities, geographic location, and urbanization level are also important determinants for life satisfaction among the elderly. Conclusions: Although NHI is designed to ensure equality for accessing health care, the implementation of NHI has also improved the subjective well-being of the elderly, with a larger improvement for the elderly women. The post-NHI disparity reductions in life satisfaction between the previously uninsured and insured are significantly greater among elderly women. Our analysis of Taiwan's experience should provide a valuable lesson to countries that are in the initial stages of proposing a universal health insurance program.