The demand for lottery expenditure in Taiwan: a quantile regression approach

This paper is a pioneering attempt to apply the quantile regression method (QRM) to the demand for lottery expenditure in order to consider the extreme behavior of lottery expenditure as well as clarify the diverse results obtained from previous studies on lottery expenditure. The results of this study reveal that there exists a complementary correlation both between benevolent donations and lottery expenditure, and between entertainment expenditure and lottery expenditure. By contrast, the results from using OLS reveal that benevolent donations do not have a significant impact on lottery expenditure and that entertainment expenditure does not have a negative impact on lottery expenditure. Besides, expenditure on cigarettes and alcohol is found to have a positive impact on lottery expenditure, which coincides with the results of Balabanis (2002).

Irreversible proliferation of magnetic moments at cleaved surfaces of the topological Kondo insulator SmB6

The compound SmB$_6$ is the best established realization of a topological Kondo insulator, in which a topological insulator state is obtained through Kondo coherence. Recent studies have found evidence that the surface of SmB$_6$ hosts ferromagnetic domains, creating an intrinsic platform for unidirectional ballistic transport at the domain boundaries. Here, surface-sensitive X-ray absorption (XAS) and bulk-sensitive resonant inelastic X-ray scattering (RIXS) spectra are measured at the Sm N$_{4,5}$-edge, and used to evaluate electronic symmetries, excitations and temperature dependence near the surface of cleaved samples. The XAS data show that the density of large-moment atomic multiplet states on a cleaved surface grows irreversibly over time, to a degree that likely exceeds a related change that has recently been observed in the surface 4f orbital occupation

Long-term prognosis for individuals with hypertension undergoing coronary artery calcium scoring

To examine the performance of coronary artery calcification (CAC) for stratifying long-term risk of death in asymptomatic hypertensive patients

Effective gene expression in the rat dorsal root ganglia with a non-viral vector delivered via spinal nerve injection

Delivering gene constructs into the dorsal root ganglia (DRG) is a powerful but challenging therapeutic strategy for sensory disorders affecting the DRG and their peripheral processes. The current delivery methods of direct intra-DRG injection and intrathecal injection have several disadvantages, including potential injury to DRG neurons and low transfection efficiency, respectively. This study aimed to develop a spinal nerve injection strategy to deliver polyethylenimine mixed with plasmid (PEI/DNA polyplexes) containing green fluorescent protein (GFP). Using this spinal nerve injection approach, PEI/DNA polyplexes were delivered to DRG neurons without nerve injury. Within one week of the delivery, GFP expression was detected in 82.8% ± 1.70% of DRG neurons, comparable to the levels obtained by intra-DRG injection (81.3% ± 5.1%, p = 0.82) but much higher than those obtained by intrathecal injection. The degree of GFP expression by neurofilament(+) and peripherin(+) DRG neurons was similar. The safety of this approach was documented by the absence of injury marker expression, including activation transcription factor 3 and ionized calcium binding adaptor molecule 1 for neurons and glia, respectively, as well as the absence of behavioral changes. These results demonstrated the efficacy and safety of delivering PEI/DNA polyplexes to DRG neurons via spinal nerve injection.National Science Council of Taiwan (100-2321-B-002-007)National Science Council of Taiwan (100-2320-B-002-083-MY3)Taiwan. Ministry of Science and Technology (104-2300-B-002-019-MY3)National Taiwan University. College of Medicine (Translational Medicine Project)National Taiwan University Hospital (101C101-201

Comparison of EUS-guided tissue acquisition using two different 19-gauge core biopsy needles: a multicenter, prospective, randomized, and blinded study

BACKGROUND AND STUDY AIMS: The optimal core biopsy needle for endoscopic ultrasound (EUS) is unknown. The principle aim of this study is to compare outcomes of EUS-fine-needle biopsy (EUS-FNB) with a new 19-gauge EUS histology needle (ProCore, Cook Medical Inc., Winston-Salem, North Carolina, United States) to a conventional 19-gauge Tru-Cut biopsy (EUS-TCB) needle (19G, Quick-Core, Cook Medical Inc.). PATIENTS AND METHODS: Patients referred for EUS who require possible histologic biopsy were prospectively randomized to EUS-FNB or EUS-TCB. With the initial needle, ≤ 3 biopsies were obtained until either technical failure or an adequate core was obtained. Patients with suspected inadequate biopsies were crossed over to the other needle and similarly ≤ 3 passes were obtained until adequate cores or technical failure occurred. Technical success, diagnostic histology, accuracy and complication rates were evaluated. RESULTS: Eighty-five patients (mean 58 years; 43 male) were randomized to FNB (n = 44) and TCB (n = 41) with seven patients excluded. Procedure indication, biopsy site, mass size, number of passes, puncture site, overall technical success and adverse events were similar between the two groups. FNB specimens had a higher prevalence of diagnostic histology (85 % vs. 57 %; P = 0.006), accuracy (88 % vs. 62 %; P = 0.02), mean total length (19.4 vs. 4.3 mm; P = 0.001), mean complete portal triads from liver biopsies (10.4 vs. 1.3; P = 0.0004) and required fewer crossover biopsies compared to those of TCB (2 % vs. 65 %; P = 0.0001). Overall technical success and complication rates were comparable. CONCLUSION: EUS-FNB using a 19-gauge FNB needle is superior to 19-gauge EUS-TCB needle

Economic determinants of comovement across international stock markets: the example of Taiwan and its key trading partners

[[abstract]]This study uses the multinomial logit model in which comovements are categorized into three outcomes, namely (i) negative comovements, (ii) positive comovements and (iii) no comovements, with the purpose of the empirical analysis being to investigate the economic determinants that affect the comovement relationships in the stock markets for Taiwan and four major trading partners (Mainland China, United States, Japan and Hong Kong) using daily data covering the period from 1994 to 2004. The period under study is further divided into three sub-periods, i.e. the period before the Asian financial crisis, that during the Asian financial crisis and that after the Asian financial crisis, in order to determine whether the factors influencing the comovements in the stock market returns of Taiwan and its trading partners actually change over time. In addition, this study differs from earlier studies that only emphasized the analysis of statistical significance in that it attaches importanace to analysing both the statistical and economic significance of the factors affecting comovements. The empirical results indicate that, regardless of whether it is the period during or after the financial crisis that is being considered, the volatility of stock market returns and the rate of change in the exchange rate are both important factors that affect comovement. In addition, interest rate differentials play an increasingly important role in the period after the financial crisis

Ultrafast neuronal imaging of dopamine dynamics with designed genetically encoded sensors

Neuromodulatory systems exert profound influences on brain function. Understanding how these systems modify the operating mode of target circuits requires measuring spatiotemporally precise neuromodulator release. We developed dLight1, an intensity-based genetically encoded dopamine indicator, to enable optical recording of dopamine dynamics with high spatiotemporal resolution in behaving mice. We demonstrated the utility of dLight1 by imaging dopamine dynamics simultaneously with pharmacological manipulation, electrophysiological or optogenetic stimulation, and calcium imaging of local neuronal activity. dLight1 enabled chronic tracking of learning-induced changes in millisecond dopamine transients in striatum. Further, we used dLight1 to image spatially distinct, functionally heterogeneous dopamine transients relevant to learning and motor control in cortex. We also validated our sensor design platform for developing norepinephrine, serotonin, melatonin, and opioid neuropeptide indicators

Divided Countries, Divided Mind 1: Psycho-Social Issues in Adaptation Problems of North Korean Defectors

A review of studies on the adaptation problems of North Korean defectors in South Korean society and studies of people's adaptation to political and cultural changes in other countries suggests that similar adaptation problems may occur in the process of and after unification. Defectors have various adaptation problems and some of them have psychiatric disorders such as depression and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). The reasons for this were revealed to be the difference in the culture and personality between South and North Korea, which have developed for the last 60 years without any communication with each other, in spite of their common racial and cultural heritage. Economic factors including the lack of skills and knowledge for working at industrialized and competitive society like South Korean society, also aggravate the severity of such adaptation problems. Research on defectors' adaptation problems and on the differences in the culture and mentality between North and South Korea can provide useful information on what kinds of problems may arise during the process of and after unification and what should be done to achieve mutual adaptation and harmonious and peaceful unification

The Influences of Ownership Structure: evidence from China

[[abstract]]This paper examines that the impact of firm-specific characteristic on firm capital structure in Chinese-listed companies and attempts to solve a few puzzles existing in previous related studies. The key factors include state ownership, institutional ownership, and the risk of default. From the analyses of all samples, our results confirm that the expected default risk is important in explaining debt decision, but the influence of ownership structure is not significant. However, after separating high- and low-level from the firm leverage we find that the ownerships of state and institutions have a positive effect on corporate leverage in high-leveraged companies but not in low-leveraged firms. In addition, the positive impacts of external governance commonly occur in large firms. The observed findings provide some important implications for the role of external governance in Chinese-listed companies.[[notice]]補正完畢[[journaltype]]國外[[booktype]]紙本[[countrycodes]]US