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Introduction: Home-based maternal records were first designed for better monitoring during pregnancy, delivery, and the postpartum period. There are various studies that reported on the benefits of paper handheld record for mothers in across regions. However, majority of the studies on paper handheld record or home-based record were mainly addressing the benefit and very scare on the challenges faced by the users. This study aims to evaluate the benefits and challenges of the maternal paper handheld to users particularly to mothers and healthcare providers in Southeast Asia (SEA) region. Methods: Articles were searched from Scopus, Web of Science, and PubMed using relevant keywords based on the review topic. Based on PRISMA guidelines, the search results were then screened based on inclusion criteria: published between 2012 and 2021in English language, available in full text, open access, and conducted in Southeast Asia. Six articles were included in the final analysis, which were also appraised for their quality. Results: There are six articles included in this review. Majority of the studies highlighted the benefits of paper handheld records to mothers. Upon further analysis, there are three major themes emerged from the outcome namely mother's knowledge, maternal health service utilization and breastfeeding practice. Only one study reported on the challenges faced by mothers and care provider while utilising the paper handheld record. Conclusions: The paper handheld maternal record implementation in SEA exhibited great positive impact to the mothers in terms of knowledge, maternal health service utilization and breastfeeding practice. Nonetheless, it is quite difficult to find studies that addressed the challenges faced by the users in SEA region. It would be best to understand the challenges faced regionally or even locally to make improvement of the maternal health service as it needs to be comprehensive and suited with the local context. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Since its establishment in 2000, the South East Asia Association for Institution Research (SEAAIR) has organized the SEAAIR Annual Conference in different countries in South East Asia (SEA), including the extension of SEA, which was China (2002), Taiwan (2019) and Korea (2022). Each year, the Conference focuses on different themes based on the country's institutional research and current educational and socio-economic development. The paper reviews the development of SEAAIR conference themes and subthemes to reveal the relatedness of the theme based on the country's contemporary educational or socio-economic development. The analysis of the paper submission based on the country for 2001 – 2021 is presented to provide an analysis of the trend and active participation level of the countries at the SEAAIR Annual Conference. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Presents an overview of the environmental and political setting of the South-East Asian pulp and paper industry. Industrial ecology; Use of non-woods; Phoenix Pulp and Paper Co. of Thailand; PT Kertas Leces of Indonesia; Wood-based pulp production.

Hunger and malnutrition in all forms continues to rise in Africa and Asia. Urban and rural communities' diets in Southeast Asia (SEA) are increasingly unhealthy, with consumption influenced by affordability and convenience. The cost of a healthy diet is a major barrier to accessing healthy foods in SEA. Wet markets are key places in food environments where people buy and sell a variety of foods. They are especially important for food and nutrition insecure communities. This mini narrative review explores the role that wet markets, in SEA food environments, play in providing local communities with access to healthy foods. Fourteen peer-review papers, published in English between 2017 and 2022, were identified during screening and analysed according to six food environment domains. Findings highlight that convenient access to wet markets facilitates access to fruits and vegetables in peri urban and urban areas. Fresh foods, most notably fruits, were viewed as being more expensive than processed foods which in turn influenced purchasing behavior. Divergent findings were presented in the identified papers regarding affordability of food in wet markets. Concerns about food quality and the use of chemicals and pesticides were raised. This review was constrained by several factors including the lack of consistent and meaningful definitions and typologies of the varied forms of wet markets. Looking ahead, better defined interpretations of wet markets can enhance the development and refinement of appropriate policies and actions and comparison of wet markets, in respect of access to diverse, healthy foods, vendor practices and consumer food choices. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The main objective of research is to ascertain the existing situation of STEAM education research over three decades based on the Scopus database. The entire documents are 256 findings globally data shorted by year, region, and highest cited to 100 documents. The analysis technique used VOSViewer, Microsoft Excel and word cloud generator. The result of document type articel is ranks first in Global and conference paper rank first in South East Asia. The sources that have published the top cited papers are "Journal of Small Business Management" in global and the "Education Sciences" in South East Asia. Meanwhile, the author with the most citations is Jeon M from the U.S.A. Specifically, the country with the most publications is US with 31 articles and 2553 citations. Whereas the majority of Southeast Asian countries have 9 articles and 10 citations. Supported the visualization analysis, VOSViewer's global region is divided into 4 clusters and 62 keywords to assist with the visualization analysis. A pair of clusters containing 14 keywords each for the South Asia region. The terms program, project, environment, model, and implication are frequently used in STEAM throughout the world. The keyword STEAM education appears in analyses conducted in South-East Asia. The outcome of this research can serve as a resource for scholars interested in STEAM and education. Further research into STEAM education trends can be conducted by focusing on a single region or on more specific issues. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper complements the limited scholarly interest in the case of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN)’s consistent practice of word–deed gaps, or “hypocrisy” according to some scholars, by employing the insights of organisational sociology. Specifically, it introduces a claim that the gap between ASEAN’s words and deeds can be understood as an organisational response to its material and political vulnerability in relation to its major external stakeholders, aiming to ensure its survival and adaptability. Accommodating multiple, or sometimes even conflicting, demands from various external actors, ASEAN may be able to secure its material and diplomatic engagement in developmental and political regionalism within Southeast Asia. However, ASEAN also wants to protect its local identity and practices; or it may want to avoid forced internal reforms at an undesirable scale and pace. In this context, organised hypocrisy would likely become a vital consideration for the complex institution. For ASEAN, this paper notes, these word–deed gaps reflect the way it wants to manage conflicting external demands as an international social agency. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Since 1990, global forest area has been reducing; tropical forests have suffered from different anthropogenic and natural factors that account for forest loss. Tropical deforestation is the second driver of anthropogenic emissions; increasing demand and investments in tropical forests drive these emissions. These forests attract significant foreign direct investments, but the effects of these investments on carbon emissions from land use, land-use change, and forestry are not well enshrined in the literature for the countries under study. This paper seeks to analyse the impact of foreign direct investments on carbon emissions from land use, land-use change, and forestry amongst 30 tropical forest countries from 1996 to 2019. The sampled countries were disaggregated by tropical blocs: Amazon, Congo basin, Australasia, and Southeast Asia, and by income levels; low-income, lower-middle, upper-middle, and high-income. The findings reveal a U-shape structure of the impact of FDI on carbon emissions from LULUCF within Congo basin and Amazon countries; at higher levels of FDI, emissions from LULUCF will increase while Australasia and Southeast Asian countries show an inverted U-shape impact, thus at higher levels of FDI, there will be a negative and significant impact on carbon emissions from LULUCF. The income levels reveal an inverted U-shape for low-income and high-income countries and a U-shape for upper-middle-income countries; the impact for lower-middle-income countries is not significant. Overall, for the whole sample, the impact depicts a U-shape. This paper proposes high-level development of environmental conditions for FDI for different sectors that align with country and regional green growth plans. Enhancing national and regional governance systems to enforce decisions and fight corruption effectively can significantly promote green FDI for green growth. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Al-Jami'ah: Journal of Islamic Studies is the property of UIN Sunan Kalijaga, Al-Jami'ah Research Centre and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Hemoglobin (Hb) disorders are among the most common monogenic diseases affecting nearly 7% of the world population. Among various Hb disorders, approximately 1.5% of the world population carries β-thalassemia (β-Thal), affecting 40,000 newborns every year. Early screening and a timely diagnosis are essential for β-thalassemia patients for the prevention and management of later clinical complications. However, in Africa, Southern Europe, the Middle East, and Southeast Asia, where β-thalassemia is most prevalent, the diagnosis and screening for β-thalassemia are still challenging due to the cost and logistical burden of laboratory diagnostic tests. Here, we present Gazelle, which is a paper-based microchip electrophoresis platform that enables the first point-of-care diagnostic test for β-thalassemia. We evaluated the accuracy of Gazelle for the β-Thal screening across 372 subjects in the age range of 4–63 years at Apple Diagnostics lab in Mumbai, India. Additionally, 30 blood samples were prepared to mimic β-Thal intermediate and β-Thal major samples. Gazelle-detected levels of Hb A, Hb F, and Hb A2 demonstrated high levels of correlation with the results reported through laboratory gold standard high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC), yielding a Pearson correlation coefficient = 0.99. This ability to obtain rapid and accurate results suggests that Gazelle may be suitable for the large-scale screening and diagnosis of β-Thal. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Throughout South-East Asia, droughts associated with ENSO (El Niño Southern Oscillation) events have resulted in large-scale fires affecting millions of hectares of rain forest. However, the long-term impacts of these fires on the rain forest faunas are only poorly understood. Our aim was to study the recovery of rain forest butterfly assemblages following the 1997–98 ENSO event, which resulted in the largest-scale fires in the recorded history of the region. A 420-km2 area in the Balikpapan-Samarinda region of East Kalimantan, Indonesian Borneo. Four landscapes were assessed after the 1997–98 ENSO event, including one landscape that was assessed prior to the event. Comparisons of species richness, species composition and guild abundance were made among landscapes and years. The relative importance of environment, geographical distance between sampling sites, and time between sampling years was quantified during the succession phase using a variance partitioning technique. The fires dramatically altered the butterfly community and resulted in a major decline in observed species richness within the landscape surveyed prior to the ENSO event. Following fires in 1998, butterfly assemblages in all landscapes were dominated by large-winged generalist species. During 1999 and 2000, assemblages became increasingly dominated by smaller specialist species. Species endemic to Borneo that were present before fires were absent in 2000, despite intensive sampling over enhanced spatial and environmental scales. Community similarity was significantly dependent upon local environmental variables, geographical distance between sampling sites, and time between sampling years. Together, these explained over 52% of the observed variation in samples. The importance of geographical distance between sampling sites indicates that recovery was dependent upon colonization from proximate habitats. Despite an apparent trend of return to pre-ENSO community structure, low species richness throughout the survey area indicates that full recovery had not taken place by 2000. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article investigates the contribution of Islamic banks to enhancing access to financial services by looking at their unique method of offering Shariacompliant goods and services. Islamic banking principles, the study claims, encourage profit-and-loss sharing and forbid riba (interest), which increases access to financial services, particularly for devout Muslims. In particular, this paper looks at how Islamic banks affect financial inclusion in Southeast Asia, the Middle East, and North Africa. This is accomplished by assessing academic literature, industry reports, and statistical data. It looks at potential substitutes, including mobile banking and microfinance, to reach those who need access to traditional banking services and delves into the difficulties Islamic banks have, such as a lack of knowledge about money and location. Data indicate that Islamic banks support economic development and stability by establishing trust via Sharia governance structures. In its last part, the report offers some suggestions on how governments may utilize Islamic banking to increase public access to financial services and promote social change. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Economic & Regional Studies/Studia Ekonomiczne i Regionalne is the property of Sciendo and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Public parks are vital for community well-being, yet often fail to cater to the needs of people with disabilities, restricting their safe and independent use. This paper details a pragmatic study aimed at crafting the design for an inclusive park on the outskirts of Bangkok, addressing these limitations. Through a comprehensive mixed-methods approach—encompassing literature reviews, semi-structured interviews, and surveys with stakeholders, including individuals with disabilities—this research gathered diverse perspectives on inclusive design. Participants underscored the importance of social and recreational activities in universally accessible spaces, providing valuable spatial insights. This research aims to employ pragmatic research methods to develop the design of an inclusive park for people with disabilities at the Thammasat University Rangsit Campus Water Sport Center. This study seeks to integrate the perspectives and needs of people with disabilities into the park design, ensuring that the space is accessible and meets a wide range of needs. The research aims to bridge socio-environmental considerations with practical design applications, creating a model that can serve as a template for similar developments in other urban settings. This study's findings informed the creation of a design that harmoniously integrates green spaces with the specific requirements of disabled users, promoting inclusivity and accessibility within the fast-growing urban areas of Southeast Asia. This research not only offers a template for addressing the gaps in public space provision for people with disabilities but also illustrates how designers can interpret and meet socio-environmental and health-related needs through inclusive planning. It extends the discussion on overcoming WHO-identified inequalities in urban settings and lays the groundwork for interdisciplinary studies aimed at enriching the fabric of urban life through research processes and scientific inquiry. This paper asserts the pivotal role of inclusive design in enhancing urban livability, advocating for a design methodology that responds to the nuanced demands of inclusivity, thereby contributing to the broader discourse on equality, accessibility, and the right to the city for people with disabilities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper describes the growth of local-currency bond markets in Emerging Asia and the institutional and policy challenges facing the region's economies for their further development. It presents an empirical analysis of the relationship between local-currency government bond (LCGB) market development and the components of financial development, using panel data for selected Emerging Asian economies. The analysis seeks to identify the key determinants for the development of LCGB markets. The results show that the depth of and access to both financial markets and financial institutions have a significantly positive impact on LCGB market development. Critical factors associated with local-currency bond market depth include macroeconomic variables, the exchange-rate regime, capital account openness and creditor rights. Based on these results, the paper offers policy directions for fostering the development of local-currency bond markets in the region. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Food is one of the basic necessities for human life. Nutritious food is essential for human health and helps oneself live up to our best potential as productive members of society. In spite of this, 3 billion people are estimated to have limited access to nutrient-rich food, and there are 768 million undernourished people in the globe today. There are still concerns with food systems and food security, despite the fast economic transformation of low-and middle-income nations in Maritime Southeast Asia and Oceania over the past 10 years. These issues include dwindling agricultural land, deforestation, ineffective food supply networks, environmental degradation, changing and unhealthy diets, non-communicable diseases, disappearing cultural legacy, and ineffective policies. These problems are exacerbated by climate change, natural hazards, and pandemic shocks. This review explores the perspectives of food systems that relates to all the elements and activities in transforming agri-food industry. In this paper, we discuss the challenges and solutions to transforming food systems in this region to achieve a sustainable and healthy diet for all, with the perspective of bringing the region closer toward the UN sustainable development goals. This paper is an outcome of the deliberations that took place during the Food Security in Small Islands and Developing States workshop in 2020. It also includes insights from subsequent expert group sessions that focused on the following topics: Agriculture and Food Systems; Nutrition, Health, and Culture; Innovations and Digitalization in Food Systems; as well as Policies Coordination and Future Shocks. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Simple Summary: Biliary tract malignancies, including cholangiocarcinoma (CCA) and gallbladder neoplasms, present intricate challenges in diagnosis and treatment. This comprehensive overview highlights the diversity of CCA subtypes, their genetic underpinnings, and the pivotal role of etiological factors. Despite diagnostic complexities, advancements in genomic sequencing reveal promising therapeutic targets, such as FGFR2 alterations and IDH1 mutations. Dr. James Cleary's insights underscore the potential of these targets in reshaping the treatment landscape. This paper provides insights into the conventional understanding of biliary tract malignancies and emphasizes the critical need for ongoing research to optimize outcomes in this challenging cancer subtype. By elucidating diverse FGFR2 alterations and the potential of IDH1 inhibition, the aim is to pave the way for targeted therapeutic interventions. As we delve deeper into understanding the intricate complexities of biliary tract malignancies, this research seeks to drive precision medicine forward, offering hope for improved treatment strategies and outcomes in the face of this formidable cancer. This paper provides insights into the conventional understanding of biliary tract malignancies, with a specific focus on cholangiocarcinoma (CCA). We then delve into the groundbreaking ideas presented by Dr. James Cleary. CCA, originating from biliary tree cells, manifests diverse subtypes contingent upon anatomical localization and differentiation status. These variants exhibit discrete genetic aberrations, yielding disparate clinical phenotypes and therapeutic modalities. Intrahepatic, perihilar, and distal CCAs intricately involve distinct segments of the biliary tree, further categorized as well-differentiated, moderately differentiated, or poorly differentiated adenocarcinomas based on their histological differentiation. Understanding the etiological factors contributing to CCA development assumes paramount importance. Stratifying these factors into two groups, those unrelated to fluke infestations (e.g., viral hepatitis and fatty liver conditions) and those associated with fluke infestations (e.g., chronic liver inflammation), facilitates predictive modeling. The epidemiology of CCA exhibits global variability, with Southeast Asia notably displaying higher incidences attributed primarily to liver fluke infestations. Jaundice resulting from bile duct obstruction constitutes a prevalent clinical manifestation of CCA, alongside symptoms like malaise, weight loss, and abdominal pain. Diagnostic challenges arise due to the symptomatic overlap with other biliary disorders. Employing comprehensive liver function tests and imaging modalities such as computed tomography assumes a pivotal role in ensuring accurate diagnosis and staging. However, the definitive confirmation of CCA necessitates a biopsy. Treatment modalities, predominantly encompassing surgical resection and radiation therapy, hold curative potential, although a considerable subset of patients is deemed unresectable upon exploration. Challenges intensify, particularly in cases classified as cancer of unknown origin, underscoring the imperative for early intervention. Advancements in genomic sequencing have revolutionized precision medicine in CCA. Distinct genomic markers, including fibroblast growth factor receptor 2 (FGFR2) alterations and isocitrate dehydrogenase 1 (IDH1) mutations, have emerged as promising therapeutic targets. FGFR2 alterations, encompassing mutations and rearrangements, play pivotal roles in oncogenesis, with FGFR inhibitors demonstrating promise despite identified resistance mechanisms. Similarly, IDH1 inhibitors face challenges with resistance, despite encouraging early clinical trial results, prompting exploration of novel irreversible inhibitors. Dr. James Cleary's illuminating discourse underscores the significance of diverse FGFR2 alterations and the potential of IDH1 inhibition in reshaping the treatment landscape for CCA. These findings unveil critical avenues for targeted therapeutic interventions, emphasizing the critical need for ongoing research to optimize outcomes in this challenging cancer subtype, incorporating innovative insights from Dr. Cleary. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Dragon fruit is one of the most popular fruits in China and Southeast Asia. It, however, is mainly picked manually, imposing high labor intensity on farmers. The hard branches and complex postures of dragon fruit make it difficult to achieve automated picking. For picking dragon fruits with diverse postures, this paper proposes a new dragon fruit detection method, not only to identify and locate the dragon fruit, but also to detect the endpoints that are at the head and root of the dragon fruit, which can provide more visual information for the dragon fruit picking robot. First, YOLOv7 is used to locate and classify the dragon fruit. Then, we propose a PSP-Ellipse method to further detect the endpoints of the dragon fruit, including dragon fruit segmentation via PSPNet, endpoints positioning via an ellipse fitting algorithm and endpoints classification via ResNet. To test the proposed method, some experiments are conducted. In dragon fruit detection, the precision, recall and average precision of YOLOv7 are 0.844, 0.924 and 0.932, respectively. YOLOv7 also performs better compared with some other models. In dragon fruit segmentation, the segmentation performance of PSPNet on dragon fruit is better than some other commonly used semantic segmentation models, with the segmentation precision, recall and mean intersection over union being 0.959, 0.943 and 0.906, respectively. In endpoints detection, the distance error and angle error of endpoints positioning based on ellipse fitting are 39.8 pixels and 4.3°, and the classification accuracy of endpoints based on ResNet is 0.92. The proposed PSP-Ellipse method makes a great improvement compared with two kinds of keypoint regression method based on ResNet and UNet. Orchard picking experiments verified that the method proposed in this paper is effective. The detection method proposed in this paper not only promotes the progress of the automatic picking of dragon fruit, but it also provides a reference for other fruit detection. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Web-based surveys (WBS) are increasingly applied in epidemiological studies as an appealing alternative to traditional survey methods. Rapid data collection, reduced expenditure and ease of access to large populations are some of the clear advantages of online surveys. However, WBS are still subject to limitations in terms of sample size, response rate and other additional biases compared to traditional survey methods. In the present study, we seek to validate data on food allergy (FA) in two independent sample populations collected from a WBS, and compare it to a paper-based survey (PBS). Methods: Data collected from two survey modes were compared by hypothesis testing for independent sample population. The WBS included 1185 respondents, while the PBS included 9039 respondents. Results: Overall, the data from the WBS were comparable to the PBS conducted over the same period of time in Vietnamese adults. There were no effects of different survey modes on the lifetime prevalence of doctor-diagnosed FA (5.7%; P = 0.7795, β = 0.05) and IgE-mediated FA (5.8%; P = 0.9590, β = 0.05). Both surveys showed the dominance of seafood allergy in this population (up to 2.6%), followed by beef allergy. Close correlation was seen in the patterns of FAs and different clinical symptoms. The contribution of family history of allergic diseases and place of residence to FA were confirmed in both surveys. Conclusions: The consistency of the WBS results with the PBS indicates a promising application of online surveys as an economic and validated model for future epidemiological studies, specifically in developing countries. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The seagrass ecosystems found in the marine and coastal areas, with substantial economic and ecological services and span all over the globe excluding the Antarctic region. The Coral Triangle and Southeast Asia are recognized as a worldwide hotspot of seagrass species and habitats, encompassing 10-21 species of seagrass in every nation, although the study, understanding, and quantity of publications on seagrass ecosystems are rather limited in the region, including Malaysia. Malaysia contains 18 seagrass species from three families, which occupy 16.8 km² of coastal area, where the study and discovery of seagrass species and meadows began in 1904 with the report of Beccari. All of the published papers reviewed reported on Malaysian seagrassrelated research, which was divided into nine topic groups: biology and distribution, carbon sequestration, fauna, remote sensing, impact and pollution genetic study, restoration, microbiological investigation, and others. The extensive study of the seagrass ecosystem began in 1993, and we have identified 183 published papers from Scopus, 141 publications from Web of Science, and 42 from Google Scholar. However, the average trend of the number of publications from 1993 to 1999 was 0.71 ± 0.36, while from 2000 to 2022 was 7.70 ± 1.16 followed by the average trend of the yearly number of publications was 6.78 ± 1.08. The highest number of publications was found on faunal categories (43.17%), followed by biology and distribution (21.85%). The number of articles that were published on Malaysian seagrass meadows each year has been discovered to be rising, which indicates that the trends in seagrass study and publishing were progressively garnering the attention of researchers, academics, and the government. However, to better understand the sustainable ecology and ecosystem services provided by seagrass habitats, an emphasis on certain research niches, such as the genetic study of flora and fauna in seagrass meadows, microbial ecology, and restoration as well as conservation of seagrass species might be helpful. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Coastal peatlands in Southeast Asia release large amounts of organic carbon to rivers, which transport it further to the adjacent estuaries. However, little is known about the fate of this terrestrial material in the coastal ocean. Although Southeast Asia is, by area, considered a hotspot of estuarine CO2 emissions, studies in this region are very scarce. We measured dissolved and particulate organic carbon, carbon dioxide (CO2) partial pressure and carbon monoxide (CO) concentrations in two tropical estuaries in Sarawak, Malaysia, whose coastal area is covered by peatlands. We surveyed the estuaries of the rivers Lupar and Saribas during the wet and dry season, respectively. The spatial distribution and the carbon-to-nitrogen ratios of dissolved organic matter (DOM) suggest that peat-draining rivers convey terrestrial organic carbon to the estuaries. We found evidence that a large fraction of this carbon is respired. The median pCO2 in the estuaries ranged between 618 and 5064 μatm with little seasonal variation. CO2 fluxes were determined with a floating chamber and estimated to amount to 14-272molm-2 yr-1, which is high compared to other studies from tropical and subtropical sites. In contrast, CO concentrations and fluxes were relatively moderate (0.3- 1.4 nmol L-1 and 0.8-1.9 mmolm-2 yr-1) if compared to published data for oceanic or upwelling systems. We attributed this to the large amounts of suspended matter (4- 5004mgL-1), limiting the light penetration depth. However, the diurnal variation of CO suggests that it is photochemically produced, implying that photodegradation might play a role for the removal of DOM from the estuary as well. We concluded that unlike smaller peat-draining tributaries, which tend to transport most carbon downstream, estuaries in this region function as an effcient filter for organic carbon and release large amounts of CO2 to the atmosphere. The Lupar and Saribas mid-estuaries re25 lease 0.4±0.2 TgCyr-1, which corresponds to approximately 80% of the emissions from the aquatic systems in these two catchments. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Urban industrialization has caused a ubiquity of microplastics in the environment. A large percentage of plastic waste originated from Southeast Asian countries. Microplastics arising from the primary sources of personal care items and industrial uses and the fragmentation of larger plastics have recently garnered attention due to their ubiquity. Due to the rising level of plastic waste in the environment, the bioaccumulation and biomagnification of plastics threaten aquatic and human life. Wastewater treatment plant (WWTP) effluents are one of the major sources of these plastic fragments. WWTPs in Southeast Asia contribute largely to microplastic pollution in the marine environment, and thus, further technological improvements are required to ensure the complete and efficient removal of microplastics. Coagulation is a significant process in removing microplastics, and natural coagulants are far superior to their chemical equivalents due to their non-toxicity and cost-effectiveness. A focused literature search was conducted on journal repository platforms, mainly ScienceDirect and Elsevier, and on scientific databases such as Google Scholar using the keywords Wastewater Treatment Plant, Coagulation, Microplastics, Marine Environment and Southeast Asia. The contents and results of numerous papers and research articles were reviewed, and the relevant papers were selected. The relevant findings and research data are summarized in this paper. The paper reviews (1) natural coagulants for microplastic removal and their effectiveness in removing microplastics and (2) the potential use of natural coagulants in Southeast Asian wastewater treatment plants as the abundance of natural materials readily available in the region makes it a feasible option for microplastic removal. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper introduces a special issue that examines civil society and democratic decline in Southeast Asia. Using the Philippines, Indonesia, Thailand, Myanmar, Malaysia, and Cambodia as case studies, the articles in the special issue examine often divergent reactions in civil society to increasing authoritarian pressures, diminishing political space, and increased repression. The paper at hand reviews the literature on concepts at the core of this inquiry, including civil society, backsliding, and diagonal accountability, and summarises the main findings of the special issue for Southeast Asia specifically and more broadly. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The literature on the gender gap in political science and international relations (IR) has increased significantly in the last couple of decades. However, little is known about how male and female scholars are publishing their works in non-Western-based IR journals. Our study aims to unpack this by examining publications and authorship patterns in IR journals published in Indonesia. The case study represents a non-English speaking country with pivotal roles in international politics and geopolitical aspects, particularly in the Indo-Pacific. Indonesia is the world's fourth most populous nation and the third largest democracy, located between the Indian Ocean and the China Sea. The country is critical to regional stability and progress in Southeast Asia. Indonesia also has over seventy IR departments in various universities nationwide, and one professional association that aims to support teaching and research on IR. We asked whether men always outnumber women in terms of publishing academic papers. What is the pattern of topics published? And are there any shared interests between the two sexes? Using bibliographic data from seven IR journals published in Indonesia between 2000 and 2019 (N = 783), this paper highlights some key similarities with previous studies in Western societies. The findings suggest women produce fewer articles than men, and 'gender homophily' among men limits women's leadership in scholarly publication. Yet, men and women shared equal interest in topics such as 'security', 'military', and 'governance', indicating that gendered preferences may not always be the best evidence to suggest that IR is a masculine discipline. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A simultaneous analysis of 13 years of remotely sensed data of land cover, fires, precipitation, and aerosols from the MODIS, TRMM, and MISR satellites and the AERONET network over Southeast Asia is performed, leading to a set of robust relationships be- tween land-use change and fire being found on inter-annual and intra-annual scales over Southeast Asia, reflecting the heavy amounts of anthropogenic influence over land use change and fires in this region of the world. First, we find that fires occur annually, but with a considerable amount of variance in their onset, duration, and intensity from year to year, and from two separate regions within Southeast Asia from each other. This variability is already partially understood from previous works, including the impacts of both inter-annually and intra-annually occurring influences such as the Monsoon and El-Nino events, but yet there are other as of yet unknown influences that also are found to strongly influence the results. Second, we show that a simple regression-model of the land-cover, fire, and precipitation data can be used to recreate a robust representation of the timing and magnitude of measured AOD from multiple measurements sources of this region using either 8-day (better for onset and duration) or monthly based (better for magnitude) measurements, but not daily measurements. We find that the reconstructed AOD matches the timing and intensity from AERONET measurements to within 70 to 90% and the timing and intensity of MISR measurements from to within 50 to 95%. This is a unique finding in this part of the world, since could-covered regions are large, yet the robustness of the model is still capable of holding over many of these regions, where otherwise no fires are observed and hence no emissions source contribution to AOD would otherwise be thought to occur. Third, we determine that while Southeast Asia is a source region of such intense smoke emissions, that it is also impacted by transport of smoke from other regions as well. There are regions in northern Southeast Asia which have two annual AOD peaks, one during the local fire season, and the second smaller peak corresponding to a combination of some local smoke sources as well as transport of aerosols from fires in southern Southeast Asia, and possibly even from anthropogenic sources in South Asia. Conversely, we show that southern Southeast Asia is affected exclusively by its own local fire sources during its own local fire season. Overall, this study highlights the importance of taking into account a simultaneous use of land-use, fire, and precipitation for understanding the impacts of fires on the atmospheric loading and distribution of aerosols in Southeast Asia over both space and time. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Ticks, as critical vectors of a variety of pathogens, pose a significant public health challenge globally. In Southeast Asia (SEA), ticks are responsible for transmitting a diverse array of pathogens affecting humans and animals. The geographical and ecological diversity of SEA provides a unique environment that supports a wide range of tick species, which complicates the management and study of tick-borne diseases (TBDs). Methodology/principal findings: This article synthesizes findings from the first international symposium on ticks and TBDs in Southeast Asia, held in Phnom Penh on June 22 and 23, 2023. It highlights regional efforts to understand tick ecology and pathogen transmission. This paper proposes to present a summary of the various presentations given during the symposium following 3 main parts. The first one is devoted to the state of knowledge regarding ticks and TBDs in SEA countries, with presentations from 6 different countries, namely Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Thailand, and Vietnam. The second part focuses on the development of new research approaches on tick-borne pathogens (TBPs) and TBDs. The last part is a summary of the round table discussion held on the final day, with the aim of defining the most important challenges and recommendations for researches on TBP and TBD in the SEA region. Conclusions/Significance: Key topics discussed include advancements in diagnostic tools, such as MALDI-TOF MS and proteomics, and the development of sustainable strategies for tick management and disease prevention. The symposium facilitated the exchange of knowledge and collaborative networks among experts from various disciplines, promoting a unified approach to tackling TBDs in the region. The symposium underscored the need for enhanced surveillance, diagnostics, and inter-regional cooperation to manage the threat of TBDs effectively. Recommendations include the establishment of a regional database for tick identification and the expansion of vector competence studies. These initiatives are crucial for developing targeted interventions and understanding the broader implications of climate change and urbanization on the prevalence of TBDs. Author summary: Ticks are arthropods that can transmit pathogens affecting both animals and people. In Southeast Asia, the diversity of tick species and the tick-borne pathogens is particularly high due to the region's varied climates and ecosystems. Our research, discussed during an international symposium, focuses on understanding these ticks and finding better ways to detect and manage the associated diseases. This symposium highlighted knowledge on ticks and tick-borne pathogens in the different countries, new technologies such as perspectives in research. This work is important because it helps in developing strategies to prevent these diseases, which is crucial for the health of people and animals in Southeast Asia and beyond. This work not only advances scientific knowledge but also supports efforts to improve public health in response to the challenges posed by environmental changes, such as climate and land-use changes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The intensive utilization of tropical inland water bodies for multiple and sometimes competing activities underlines the necessity for their integrated and holistic co-management. This paper presents our synthesis on lake and reservoir fisheries in South and Southeast Asia as social–ecological systems, based on a synopsis of our research findings from a previous EU-funded research programme in Sri Lanka, Thailand and the Philippines (FISHSTRAT project). The paper attempts to merge our results with recent developments in research, policy and practice. We explore the effects of the main external and internal control mechanisms of the trophic state and pinpoint to the high production potential of traditionally unexploited small indigenous fish species. The limitations of conventional centralized management systems highlight the importance of introducing transdisciplinary approaches which integrate limnology, fish ecology and fisheries with the interests of other resource using stakeholders and decision makers in order to develop locally appropriate co-management strategies for sustainable aquatic resource use. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Although kratom use has been part of life for centuries in Southeast Asia, the availability and use of kratom in the United States (US) increased substantially since the early 2000s when there was little information on kratom pharmacology, use patterns, and effects, all critical to guiding regulation and policy. Here we provide a synthesis of research with several hundred English-language papers published in the past 5 years drawing from basic research, epidemiological and surveillance data, and recent clinical research. This review of available literature aims to provide an integrated update regarding our current understanding of kratom's benefits, risks, pharmacology, and epidemiology, which may inform United States-based kratom regulation. Recent surveillance indicates there are likely several million past-year kratom consumers, though estimates vary widely. Even without precise prevalence data, kratom use is no longer a niche, with millions of United States adults using it for myriad reasons. Despite its botanical origins in the coffee tree family and its polypharmacy, kratom is popularly characterized as an opioid with presumed opioid-system-based risks for addiction or overdose. Neuropharmacology, toxicology, and epidemiology studies show that kratom is more accurately characterized as a substance with diverse and complex pharmacology. Taken together the work reviewed here provides a foundation for future scientific studies, as well as a guide for ongoing efforts to regulate kratom. This work also informs much-needed federal oversight, including by the United States Food and Drug Administration. We conclude with recommendations for kratom regulation and research priorities needed to address current policy and knowledge gaps around this increasingly used botanical product. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The coordinated development of agriculture and tourism is very important. On the basis of the index system of the predecessors, the development effect index after the integration of the subsystems is added, so as to construct the evaluation index system of the integrated development of agriculture and tourism in Inner Mongolia. The entropy weight method is used to set the weight value for each index, and the panel data from 2001 to 2019 collected from the Inner Mongolia Statistical Yearbook and the China Yearbook are analyzed with the coupled coordination degree model. The research results show that the development of agriculture and tourism in Inner Mongolia has been highly coupled since 2004; it has been reluctantly coordinated from 2007 until 2019 to achieve high-quality coordination; from 2001 to 2011, the development of tourism lagged behind the development of agriculture, while after 2012, the development of agriculture has been lagging behind the tourism industry. Wang (Asia Pac J Tour Res 24(6):550–562, 2019), Li and Du (Sustainability 13(10), 2021) had got similar conclusions. The article puts forward suggestions from two aspects. On the one hand, using the tourism as the trigger for the development of agriculture tourism by developing more agricultural-related tourism products so as to fully tap the tourism attributes of agriculture. The marketing of tourism products should be consciously inclined to agriculture; on the other hand, the promoting the development of tourism can be realized by adopting modern agriculture, which includes cultivating new types of large agricultural households, supporting the development of large and medium-sized farms, promoting the development of green agriculture and industrialized and three-dimensional agriculture. The modern agriculture can be deeply integrated with the tourism industry, thereby promoting the development of tourism. The research results and suggestions put forward in this paper have certain reference significance for the coordinated development of agriculture and tourism in Inner Mongolia and Southeast Asia. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Amid a war in Southeast Asia, fomenting campus radicalism, and a looming energy crisis, a number of physicists shifted from the big science endeavors of post-war physics toward a new and little science of energy efficiency. These moves were actively supported by the American Physical Society, which took various ongoing crises as an opportunity to create employment opportunities and harness enthusiasm for more socially engaged physics. The Society's 1974 Summer School on efficient energy use was illustrative. Participants came from universities, national laboratories, industry organizations, and utility companies. Together, they estimated efficiency savings believed achievable at certain points in the US energy system. The summer school attendees argued energy efficiency should be redefined according to the second law of thermodynamics rather than the first. This approach allowed energy-using appliances to be reconceived of as sources of energy supply as well as demand. Rigorous estimates of potential savings were made. However, to the ire of more radical physicists, the school placed the onus to conserve on the consumer, ignored industrial energy use, and had avoided drastic measures. In revisiting these events, their lead-up and afterlife, this paper historicizes a now-central tenet of energy policy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: To improve port productivity, safety, and sustainability, the use of information and communication technology is being promoted as a smart port. The utilization of a terminal operation system (TOS) is important for advanced port operations, and it is necessary to organize the issues and characteristics of the TOS. Methods: The characteristics of TOSs introduced in Japan and those widely introduced in Europe and Southeast Asia will be investigated and discussed according to the port management system in Japan. Results: Japanese TOSs are characterized by a lack of automated functions, such as ship loading plans, and by the fact that they are designed to allow the crane driver to select the order of operations, which may be attributed to a system wherein stakeholders are segmented and on-site decisions are emphasized. The promotion of smart ports in Japanese-style ports requires a system for information linkage between stakeholders. Conclusions: TOS capabilities for smart ports should be implemented according to the characteristics of port management in each region, and the studies conducted in this paper are useful in examining port system implementation strategies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The burden of hepatitis E in Southeast Asia is substantial, influenced by its distinct socio-economic and environmental factors, as well as variations in healthcare systems. The aim of this study was to assess the pooled seroprevalence of hepatitis E across countries within the Southeast Asian region by the UN division. The study analyzed 66 papers across PubMed, Web of Science, and Scopus databases, encompassing data from of 44,850 individuals focusing on anti-HEV seroprevalence. The investigation spanned nine countries, excluding Brunei and East Timor due to lack of data. The pooled prevalence of anti-HEV IgG was determined to be 21.03%, with the highest prevalence observed in Myanmar (33.46%) and the lowest in Malaysia (5.93%). IgM prevalence was highest in Indonesia (12.43%) and lowest in Malaysia (0.91%). The study stratified populations into high-risk (farm workers, chronic patients) and low-risk groups (general population, blood donors, pregnant women, hospital patients). It revealed a higher IgG—28.9%, IgM—4.42% prevalence in the former group, while the latter group exhibited figures of 17.86% and 3.15%, respectively, indicating occupational and health-related vulnerabilities to HEV. A temporal analysis (1987–2023), indicated an upward trend in both IgG and IgM prevalence, suggesting an escalating HEV burden. These findings contribute to a better understanding of HEV seroprevalence in Southeast Asia, shedding light on important public health implications and suggesting directions for further research and intervention strategies. Key points Research Question Investigate the seroprevalence of hepatitis E virus (HEV) in Southeast Asian countries focusing on different patterns, timelines, and population cohorts. Findings Sporadic Transmission of IgG and IgM Prevalence: • Pooled anti-HEV IgG prevalence: 21.03% • Pooled anti-HEV IgM prevalence: 3.49% Seroprevalence among specific groups: High-risk group (farm workers and chronic patients): • anti-HEV IgG: 28.9% • anti-HEV IgM: 4.42% Low-risk group (general population, blood donors, pregnant women, hospital patients): • anti-HEV IgG: 17.86% • anti-HEV IgM: 3.15% Temporal Seroprevalence of HEV: Anti-HEV IgG prevalence increased over decades (1987–1999; 2000–2010; 2011–2023): 12.47%, 18.43%, 29.17% as an anti-HEV IgM prevalence: 1.92%, 2.44%, 5.27% Importance Provides a comprehensive overview of HEV seroprevalence in Southeast Asia. Highlights variation in seroprevalence among different population groups. Reveals increasing trend in HEV seroprevalence over the years. Distinguishes between sporadic and epidemic cases for a better understanding of transmission dynamics. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Tropical peatlands are crucial ecosystems, storing vast carbon reserves and supporting rich biodiversity. Despite covering a small land area, they play significant roles in global carbon cycling and climate regulation. However, these ecosystems face escalating threats from human activities, including agricultural expansion and peatland drainage. This paper provides a concise overview of tropical peatlands, focusing on their distribution, characteristics, and ecological importance in Southeast Asia, Africa, and South America. It highlights the diverse vegetation communities and notable animal species found in peat swamp forests, underscoring their conservation value. Peatland degradation leads to increased greenhouse gas emissions, land subsidence, and loss of traditional livelihoods for local communities. Addressing these challenges requires integrated approaches, including conservation efforts to protect and restore intact peat swamp forests, sustainable land-use practices, and policy interventions to regulate land management. Research collaboration between scientists, policymakers, and local communities is essential for developing evidence-based conservation strategies. By prioritizing the preservation of tropical peatlands, we can mitigate climate change impacts, conserve biodiversity, and safeguard the well-being of local communities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Vietnam, a country in Southeast Asia, is anticipated to experience an increase in energy consumption due to the growth of its manufacturing and industrial sectors, which aims to establish Vietnam as the world's new production hub. Fossil fuels, which are ecologically unfriendly and quickly running out, are now Vietnam's primary energy source. Due to the detrimental effects of fossil fuels on the environment, we can apply strategic decision-making in the industrial sector to choose the best alternative for a renewable energy resource (RER). RERs such as solar energy, wind energy, solid waste energy, biomass energy, geothermal energy, biofuel energy, and hydropower energy are important for generating energy and will be crucial for the survival of humanity, the planet, and other living things in the future. The actions of RER-based industrial development must be encouraged since they will make a significant contribution to overcome environmental impact limitations. The 2-tuple linguistic q -rung orthopair fuzzy set (2TL q -ROFS) is a novel development in fuzzy set theory that presents a decision-making method for selecting the most appropriate alternative. In this paper, we develop a family of the 2TL q -ROF Maclaurin symmetric mean aggregation operators such as the 2TL q -ROF Maclaurin symmetric mean (2TL q -ROFMSM) operator, the 2TL q -ROF dual Maclaurin symmetric mean (2TL q -ROFDMSM) operator and its weighted forms. We also look into a few of the proposed operators' properties and special cases. Then based on 2TL q -ROFS, a new Decision Making Trial and Evaluation Laboratory (DEMATEL) model is constructed, which can use the decision makers' preferences to get the optimum objective weights for attributes. Next, we extend the Technique for Order of Preference by Similarity to Ideal Solution (TOPSIS) method to 2TL q -ROF version which not only covers the uncertainty of human cognition but also gives decision makers a larger space to represent their decisions. Utilizing this model the best RER for Vietnam is selected. The outcomes of the hybrid 2TL q -ROF-DEMATEL-TOPSIS method reveal that among the energy resources, hydropower energy ranked highest, followed by biofuel energy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Food system resilience to climate change is uniquely imperative for bringing Sustainable Development Goals within reach and leaving no one behind. Food systems in East and Southeast Asia are interacting with planetary boundaries and are adversely affected by extreme weather-related events. A practical question for East and Southeast Asian stakeholders is how to foster climateresilient food systems in the face of lingering food system vulnerabilities and policy gaps. This paper reviews food system vulnerabilities and policy responses to climate change. In the policy-based review, this paper compares the economy-wide and agriculture-specific targets of low-carbon development across East and Southeast Asia. With China and member states of the Association of Southeast Asia Nations as case studies, multilevel policies in building and financing climate-resilient food systems are further synthesized. The findings confirm significant differences in agriculture-specific emission goals and public financing supports across East and Southeast Asian nations. With an objective to break practical barriers and finance climate-resilient food systems for the future, this paper recommends defining agriculture-specific greenhouse gas emission goals, reorienting the public finance scheme and enhancing mechanisms for the synergy of public and private resources. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Singapore Stone, discovered in 1819, was blown up in 1843 and remains an enigma today. Several studies have suggested the script to be Kawi, a Brahmic script used between the 8th and 16th centuries in Java and other parts of Southeast Asia. The language remains unknown but is thought to be Old Javanese, Sanskrit, or Tamil. There is great historical value in finding out what the script says, and it is the aim of this project to offer deeper insight into this undeciphered inscription. In this paper, an in-depth comparison of the Singapore Stone with the Calcutta Stone (1041 CE), a prominent example of a Later Kawi inscription, is performed. Brief comparisons of the Singapore Stone with other inscriptions are also conducted. Numerous characters on the Singapore Stone are matched to those on the Calcutta Stone. However, the Singapore Stone appears to have a much lower frequency of diacritics and clusters. Such a phenomenon is anomalous and could have hindered decryption efforts thus far. Nonetheless, an identification and comparison of such character signs are attempted. Overall, the two inscriptions are shown to share many stylistic similarities, suggesting that the Singapore Stone could be dated to the Later Kawi period. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A dramatic increase in the number of outbreaks of dengue has recently been reported, and climate change is likely to extend the geographical spread of the disease. In this context, this paper shows how a neural network approach can incorporate dengue and COVID-19 data as well as external factors (such as social behaviour or climate variables), to develop predictive models that could improve our knowledge and provide useful tools for health policy makers. Through the use of neural networks with different social and natural parameters, in this paper we define a Correlation Model through which we show that the number of cases of COVID-19 and dengue have very similar trends. We then illustrate the relevance of our model by extending it to a Long short-term memory model (LSTM) that incorporates both diseases, and using this to estimate dengue infections via COVID-19 data in countries that lack sufficient dengue data. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Survey data that categorizes gender identity in binary terms and conflates sex and gender limits knowledge around the experience of gender minority populations, whose gender identity or expression does not align with the sex they were assigned at birth. In this review, we outline the existing survey research on the experience of a gender minority demographic for whom there is particularly limited data: adolescents and youth in low and middle-income countries (LMICs). Methods: This paper is a scoping review of peer-reviewed articles, published in English, that use survey data to examine the experience of gender minority adolescents and youth in LMICs. We conducted a search on two major databases using key terms related to gender identity, adolescence and youth, and country and region. This search yielded 385 articles. Following a team-conducted review, we retained 33 articles for the final analysis. Results: Our review shows that surveys with adolescents and youth in LMICs are increasingly including questions and taking sampling approaches that allow gender minority populations to be visible in survey data. Surveys that do so are largely focused in upper middle-income countries (n = 24), rather than lower middle-income or low-income countries, with South East Asia a notable sub-region of focus (n = 15). Sexual health, mental health, and violence are key topics of interest. Most of the surveys rely on some form of network-driven sampling focused on sexual and/or gender minorities (n = 22). The studies vary in how they ask about gender identity, both in terms of question formulation and the answer categories that are offered, as well as the extent to which they describe the questions in the article text. Conclusions: This review reveals a growing body of work that provides important insights into the experiences of gender minority adolescents and youth in LMICs. More studies could integrate these approaches, but it must be done in a way that is thoughtful about cultural and political context. Given the relatively nascent nature of such research, we encourage scholars to continue providing details on methodology, including around participant recruitment and the development of gender identity questions. This information would be valuable for researchers seeking to better include gender minorities and their experiences in survey research, but who might be daunted methodologically. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper reviews biotic and abiotic factors that influence the life cycle of fireflies. This review paper has screened and chosen articles by using Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) from two databases: Semantic Scholar (n = 1080) and Google Scholar (n = 2280). From this review, generally, abiotic factors, i.e., water level in soil, air temperature, air humidity, rainy season, altitude, water salinity (NaCl), wind direction, wind speed, dissolved oxygen (DO), biochemical oxygen demand (BOD), chemical oxygen demand (COD), ammonia nitrogen (NH3-N) and maximum air pollution index (API) were most likely influenced the population abundance and distribution of the fireflies in Southeast Asia. Biotic factors include the presence of Cyclotropis carinata snails, vegetation health, tree suitability (leaf size, density, arrangement of leaves, tree location), insecticides (Saponins) in some vegetation species, plant structural architecture, and food (nectar and sap) were the most likely to influence the presence of fireflies species even though synchronous firefly of Southeast Asia were found in other vegetation species, Sonneratia caseolaris (Berembang) still the most preferred display tree. From this review, we also found that Malaysia has the highest reported findings on firefly studies in this region. To conclude, numerous abiotic and biotic elements should be researched further to determine their relationship to firefly populations and other vertebrate - invertebrates in their natural environment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background The South-East Asia (SEA) region bears a significant proportion of the world's communicable disease burden. The onset of the COVID-19 pandemic has further affected the situation. A well-established laboratory-based surveillance (LBS) can reduce the burden of infectious diseases. In light of this, the review collated the existing literature on LBS system in the region and the modifications adopted by the surveillance systems during the pandemic. Methodology We followed the guidelines for scoping review as prescribed by Arskey and O'Malley. We comprehensively searched three databases (PubMed, Scopus and CINAHL) and supplemented it with grey literature search. The screening of the articles was conducted at the title and abstract followed by full-text screening. This was followed by data extraction using a pre-tested data extraction tool by two independent reviewers. The results were presented narratively. Results Including 75 relevant articles and documents, we compiled a list of surveillance systems. A shift from paper to dual (paper and electronic) modalities was identified across the countries. This largely low- and middle-income countries (LMIC) area face challenges in reporting, resources, and collaboration-related issues. While some countries have well-established National Reference Laboratories; others have more private than public-owned laboratories. Given the COVID-19 pandemic, modifications to the existing laboratory capacities to enable real-time surveillance was identified. Laboratory capacity complemented with genomic surveillance can indubitably aid in disease detection and control. Limitations due to inaccessible government portals, and language barriers are acknowledged. This review identified a comprehensive list of surveillance systems in the region, challenges faced in using these surveillance systems and inform the decision makers about the benefits of integrating fragmented surveillance systems. Conclusion Regionally and nationally integrated genomic and laboratory surveillance systems justify capital investments, as their payoffs rationalise such costs owing to economies of scale over time. Further, as data flows are harmonized and standardized, algorithm- and computing-based pattern recognition methods allow for targeted and accurate disease prediction when integrated with, potentially, climate and weather systems data. Trained human resources are a sine qua non to optimize such investments, but in the medium to long run, such investments will buttress initiatives in other arenas at the regional level. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Secondary cities are home to most of the world's urban populations vulnerable to climate change, yet researchers and policymakers have devoted less attention to them than large and megacities. To help address this gap, this paper explores the relationship between incomplete decentralized governance, climate change, and urban resilience. It does through the case studies of secondary cities of Cambodia, Myanmar, Thailand, and Vietnam. Secondary cities are of importance because they are the fastest growing cities in the Global South but also because they have weaker capacity to address climate risks. Through these case studies, the paper draws comparisons between the different cases to look at the linkages between decentralization and urban resilience in secondary cities. Overall, it argues that climate governance, due to the retention of power and resources by central bureaucrats along with fragmented governance structures, and misaligned incentive structures which prioritize economic growth over climate protection have undermined resilience building and contributed to the uneven distribution of climate risks in these cities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Psychological distress (including depression and anxiety) is common in the first years of cancer diagnosis but can differ by country and region. The aim of the present paper was to review the prevalence of psychological distress among cancer patients in the Southeast Asia (SEA) region. A systematic literature search was carried out using several databases (i.e., PubMed, PsychARTICLES, Embase, CINAHI, Web of Sciences, Plus, Scopus, and AHMED). Papers originally published in English language were taken into consideration if they (i) were published from 2010 to 2021 and (ii) reported the prevalence of psychological distress among patients with different types of cancer. A total of 23 studies met the inclusion criteria. The most frequently employed psychometric instrument for anxiety and depression screening was the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS). The prevalence of anxiety (ranging from 7% to 88%) was wider than that of depression (ranging from 3% to 65.5%) among patients with different types of cancer and living in various countries in the SEA region. The overall prevalence rate of psychological distress among cancer patients from the SEA region was not fundamentally very different from that of general populations. These findings provide useful information for health professionals and cancer patients to understand the negative role of psychological distress in quality of life and health. The research findings demonstrate the importance of counselling for psychological distress among cancer patients as means of effectively resolving their psychological problems and ultimately improving the quality of oncology medical care. Clinical recommendations for cancer management should incorporate the early identification of (and therapy for) psychological distress, as well as their monitoring during treatment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Agricultural products are essential for human survival, and strengthening agricultural trade cooperation between China and countries along the "Belt and Road" (B&R) can promote food security, but there are few studies on bilateral trade fluctuation factors in the literature. This paper uses the modified multi-country multi-product CMS (constant market share) model and the two-country multi-product CMS model to decompose the fluctuation of agricultural trade between China and B&R countries by stage, region, and agricultural product type. The results show that in recent years, in the fluctuation of China's exports to B&R countries, in overall agricultural products, the demand effect plays a major hindering role, accounting for −9.2%; in the region, Southeast Asia has the largest share of trade, which is mainly pulled by the joint demand effect, structural effect and competitiveness effect; in specific agricultural products, animal, fruit and vegetable, and food processing products are mainly pulled by competitiveness. In the fluctuation of B&R countries' export to China, in overall agricultural products, the demand effect pulls the largest share, accounting for 72.55%; in the region, Southeast Asia is mainly driven by the joint pull of demand effect, structural effect. and competitiveness effect; in specific agricultural products, animal, fruit and vegetable, and food processing products are mainly driven by the pull of demand effect. The findings of this paper can provide a basis for making decisions on food security cooperation between China and B&R countries. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

STEM education, which stands for science, technology, engineering, and mathematics, is an important educational model in primary and secondary schools, including elementary schools. STEM education is being emphasized in many countries around the world. In Southeast Asia, the current state of STEM education is quite diverse and there is a discrepancy between countries. This study focuses on analyzing quantitative scientific indicators based on 490 publications on STEM education in elementary schools from 2000 to December 2022 in the Scopus database. The data is analyzed by bibliometrics software Biblioshiny and VOSviewer on the collaboration network between scientists in the field of STEM education in elementary schools, countries with the most publications, emerging keywords and related keywords, as well as research trends on STEM education in elementary schools for Southeast Asian countries. The results of the study show that publications on STEM education in elementary schools in Southeast Asian countries started to be studied from 2008 and have been increasing rapidly; scientific papers published in some high-impact factor journals; the countries with the most publications are not necessarily Southeast Asian countries, mainly in the Americas, Europe, Asia, with Indonesia being the only Southeast Asian country in the top-5 countries with the most publications on this research trend. Based on the analysis, the article proposes some directions for STEM education research in elementary schools in Southeast Asian countries to achieve high effectiveness in training at elementary schools. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper contributes to the understanding of the recent urban development of Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam. Previous studies have aimed at quantifying the city's spatial growth yet have disregarded its inherent morphological and socio-economic heterogeneity. To overcome this knowledge gap, we employ an urban structure type approach for the spatially explicit quantification of urbanisation patterns for the period 2010–⁠2020, categorising 77,000 blocks across the entire administrative area of 2095 km2. The approach allows us to understand the basic underlying processes of urbanisation, both quantitatively and qualitatively, and the main growth corridors along the rural–urban gradient. By contextualizing and combining our findings within current literature and official planning reports, we discern between traditional urban growth and the contemporary new town development patterns, highlighting their driving forces and policy implications. Incremental plot-by-plot development along the northwest development corridor is observed as the principal mode of urban development, whilst bypass urbanisation is seen along both the eastern and southern development corridors. Our block-based results highlight the city's key growth challenges and provide insights on a scale that is meaningful for official spatial and infrastructure planning, and periodic analysis and monitoring. As far as the authors are aware, this is the first time that an urban structure type approach was applied to understand the rapid urban growth dynamics of an emerging megacity in Southeast Asia. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper examines hybrid threats to maritime transportation systems and their governance responses; focusing on the congested Straits of Malacca and Singapore (SOMS) as an illustrative case study. The methodology combines secondary sources with primary data from 42 expert interviews, a 28 respondent survey, and two maritime security roundtables. Key findings were that ships' critical systems are increasingly interconnected, yet aging IT infrastructure and minimal cybersecurity awareness among crews heighten risks. Meanwhile, regional terrorist groups have previously targeted shipping and shown considerable skill in exploiting online tools, aligning with broader calls for jihadist violence. Furthermore, opportunistic piracy persists in the SOMS with the potential to disrupt shipping. Experts confirmed that maritime cybersecurity lags behind other critical infrastructure sectors and needs updated governance. Initial International Maritime Organization (IMO) guidelines lack specificity but revisions and updated IMO guidance are in process, while Port state implementation of maritime cybersecurity standards varies. Crucially, information sharing remains inadequate, even as recorded attacks increase. Findings underscore that although major hybrid incidents have not occurred, simulations and threat actors' capabilities demonstrate potential for catastrophic collisions or cascading disruption in congested waterways. Mitigating factors like redundancy and crew training are deficient currently. Some alignment between SOMS states on maritime security cooperation exists, but not on cyber threats specifically. Key recommendations include an anonymous cyber attack reporting system, reinforced training and shipboard systems, and consolidated regional frameworks. Until these priorities are addressed, the analysis concludes that hybrid vulnerabilities in this vital global chokepoint remain a serious concern. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Three-dimensional hydrodynamic modeling for small, stratified tropical lakes in the Philippines and in Southeast Asia in general is not deeply explored. This study pioneers investigating the hydrodynamics of a small crater lake in the Philippines with a focus on temperature simulation using a Fantom Refined 3D model that has been tested mostly for temperate and sub-tropical lakes. The lake's monthly temperature during the dry season served as a reference for the model's initial condition and validation. For the simulation to proceed, input data such as weather, inflow, and bathymetry were prepared. In the absence of hourly meteorological data from local weather stations, this paper adopted the satellite weather data from Solcast. Simple correlation analysis of daily weather data between local stations and Solcast showed valid and acceptable results. Inflow values were estimated using the rational method while the stream temperature was estimated from a regression equation using air temperatures as input. The validated satellite-derived data and runoff model can therefore be employed for 3D modeling. The simulations resulted in extremely higher temperatures compared with those observed when using previous default model settings. Direct modifications were then applied to weather parameters, compromising their integrity but resulting in reasonable profiles. By adding scaling factors to heat flux equations and multiplying their components by 0.75 (shortwave), 1.35 (longwave), 0.935 (air temperature), and 0.80 (wind), better results were achieved. This study identifies several challenges in performing 3D hydrodynamic modeling, such as paucity in input hydro-meteorologic and limnologic data and the need for heat flux model improvement. Overall, this study was successful in employing 3D hydrodynamic modeling in a tropical lake, which can pave directions and serve as an excellent reference for future modeling in the same region. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Tropical peatlands from Southeast Asia are undergoing extensive drainage, deforestation and degradation for agriculture and human settlement purposes. This is resulting in biomass loss and subsidence of peat from its oxidation. Molecular profiling approaches were used to understand the relative influences of different land-use patterns, hydrological and physiochemical parameters on the state of degraded tropical peatlands. As microbial communities play a critical role in biogeochemical cascades in the functioning of peatlands, we used microbial and metabolic profiles as surrogates of community structure and functions, respectively. Profiles were generated from 230 bacterial 16S rDNA fragments and 145 metabolic markers of 46 samples from ten sites, including those from above and below water table in a contiguous area of 48 km² covering five land-use types. These were degraded forest, degraded land, oil palm plantation, mixed crop plantation and settlements. Bacterial profiles were most influenced by variations in water table and land-use patterns, followed by age of drainage and peat thickness in that order. Bacterial profiling revealed differences in sites, based on the duration and frequency of water table fluctuations and on oxygen availability. Bacterial and metabolic profiles of degraded forest and mixed crop plantations were most diverse compared to other land-use types. Metabolic profiling, being closely associated with biogeochemical functions could distinguish communities not only based on land-use types but also their geographic locations, thus providing a finer resolution than bacterial profiles. Agricultural inputs, such as nitrates were highly associated with bacterial community structure of oil palm plantations, whereas phosphates and dissolved organic carbon influenced those from mixed crop plantations and settlements. Our results provide a basis for adopting molecular marker-based approaches to classify peatlands and determine relative importance of factors that influence peat functioning. Our findings will be useful in peatland management by providing a basis to focus early efforts on hydrological interventions and improving sustainability of oil palm plantations by adopting mixed cropping practices to increase microbial diversity in the long term. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: Transport and logistics companies (TLCs) are vital to the world's economies but they account for one-third of the world's CO2 emissions which damage the environment, economy and society. For managers and policymakers to help improve the environmental performance of TLCs, using dynamic capability (DC) theory as the lens, a theoretical model was developed to show how environmental performance affects the TLCs' support requirements and economic and social outcomes. This paper aims to discuss the aforementioned theoretical model. Design/methodology/approach: All registered TLCs operating in the Philippines were sent an invitation and survey questionnaire, and 218 responded with complete and useable answers. From the collected data, exploratory factor analysis (EFA) and confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) served to evaluate the study's scale and model accuracies. Comprehensive CFA marker technique helped detect and correct for common method bias (CMB). Covariance-based structural equation modeling using AMOS 26 was implemented to test the model and hypotheses. Findings: Using data from 218 participating TLCs operating in the Philippines, this study found that good environmental performance advances TLCs' economic and social performances, as well as their support infrastructure requirements. However, further financial support assistance from the government and non-government development organizations that can help save the environment are not required by eco performing firms. Research limitations/implications: This research has provided some theoretical contributions to the knowledge on the greening TLCs. It uses the DC theory as the lens to understand how environmental performance relates to economic and social performance of TLCs and how it affects their demand for eco-enabling mechanisms and support infrastructure if they are to remain competitive, socially responsible and eco-friendly. By providing an epistemology on environmental performance and how it affects the support requirements, and economic and social outcomes of TLCs, it offers the literature and industry a tool/framework to better understand the dynamics of eco-performing TLCs operating in a developing country. Practical implications: The results of this study, together with the extant operations management principles, can be used by TLC managers, policymakers and other stakeholders in crafting strategies, mechanisms and support systems that can help TLCs maintain sustainability for future generations. Social implications: The environmentally sound practices of TLCs such as waste and emission reductions improve the health and welfare of people in and around where they operate. Health is wealth for the populace because healthy people are more productive, have more time and energy to work and are less likely to pay hefty medical expenses. Hence, realization of environmental performance by TLCs does not only do justice to the environment but also the quality of life of people. Originality/value: Research on the sustainability of TLCs in developing countries especially in Southeast Asia is sparse. The literature has shown how various support systems affect the "greening" of firms, but what is not yet explored, is understanding how environmental performance affects the support requirements of TLCs so that their eco-endeavors are sustained and meaningful. As well, knowledge on how the environmental performance of TLCs affects their economic and social outcomes are under-investigated. This paper aims to fill these gaps in research by examining the sustainability of TLCs operating in the Philippines. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]