Search

Background: This systematic review and meta-analysis aim to synthesize the extant literature reporting the effects of COVID-19 pandemic based on the pooled prevalence of depression among affected populations in Asia Pacific, as well as its risk factors.Method: A systematic review and meta-analysis approach was adopted as per the PRISMA guidelines, targeting articles published in PubMed, Google Scholar and Scopus from January 2021 to March 30, 2021. The screening resulted in 82 papers.Results: The overall pooled depression prevalence among 201,953 respondents was 34% (95%CI, 29-38, 99.7%), with no significant differences observed between the cohorts, timelines, and regions (p > 0.05). Dominant risk factors found were fear of COVID-19 infection (13%), gender (i.e., females; 12%) and deterioration of underlying medical conditions (8.3%), regardless of the sub-groups. Specifically, fear of COVID-19 infection was the most reported risk factor among general population (k = 14) and healthcare workers (k = 8). Gender (k = 7) and increased workload (k = 7) were reported among healthcare workers whereas education disruption among students (k = 7).Limitation: The review is limited to articles published in three electronic databases. Conclusion The pandemic has caused depression among the populations across Asia Pacific, specifically among the general population, healthcare workers and students. Immediate attention and interventions from the concerned authorities are needed in addressing this issue. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper attempts to inform policy makers and legislators on how to set energy efficiency standards and labelling (S&L) regulations. It draws lessons from the literature on S&L regulations in the Asia–Pacific region and from practical experience in drafting the S&L regulations for Brunei Darussalam. The paper proposes necessary components for effective S&L regulations, as follows: clear liabilities, authoritative administration, open principles for technical systems, and enforceable mechanisms. It also recommends some key issues in good practice toward effective S&L regulations, such as policy making in advance, customised legislation, inclusive and transparent legislative procedure, and flexibility in the legislation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

On 1–2 November 2021, the National Taiwan Ocean University's Center of Excellence for the Oceans hosted the Fourth Asia-Pacific Regional Conference on Underwater Cultural Heritage (APConf). Approximately 300 archaeologists, academics, heritage managers, marine scientists, consultants, practitioners, policymakers and students from 33 jurisdictions gathered online and in-person to showcase results of the latest underwater cultural heritage field investigation, protection and management research, together with new trends and techniques, conservation and restoration practices from around the region. There were five opening addresses, two keynote speeches, two short promotional videos, and 63 papers, yet the conference closed with no tangible marine policy outcomes. In response, Dalian Maritime University launched a new Asian Regional Underwater Cultural Heritage Project to address the policy gaps. • Fourth Asian Pacific Regional Conference on Underwater Cultural Heritage. • Approximately 300 people from 33 jurisdictions gathered to showcase the latest UCH research and management developments. • The UCH field must still build capacity, improve practice, generate new ocean governance, and evolve marine policy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: This paper examines the relationship between beta risk and realized stock index return in the presence of oil and exchange rate sensitivities for 15 countries in the Asia-Pacific region using the international factor model. Thirteen of the 15 countries have the expected beta signs and show significant sensitivity to domestic risk when the world stock market is in both up and down modes. In terms of oil sensitivity, only the Philippines and South Korea are oil-sensitive to changes in the oil price in the short run, when the price is expressed in local currency only. Basically no country shows sensitivity to oil price measured in US dollar regardless whether the oil market is up or down. Nine countries are affected by changes in the exchange rate. In terms of relative factor sensitivity distribution, one is willing to conclude that these stock markets are more conditionally sensitive to local currency oil price changes than to beta risk wherever the relationships are significant. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: Despite the emergence of a regional economic space, political integration in the form of institutional building has yet to take shape in the Asia Pacific. On the one hand, the area is constructed as part of a localized space articulated in terms of relatively self-contained regional economic networks. On the other hand, Asia Pacific remains fractured in geopolitical structures, relying heavily on the US to organize the region, particularly in the post-war period. This paper focuses on the nature of lagging regional political integration and examines the role that US defense trade (1989–2004), and to a lesser extent military presence, plays in this. Specifically, it shows that US geopolitical strategy, influenced heavily by a realist framework, displays a pattern of bilateral courtship where its defense trade is positively related to allies in Asia. This relationship results in stronger trans-Pacific than regional linkages, inserting an otherwise localized Asian economic space into the more diffused global US-centered geopolitical space. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Irradiation treatment of food is becoming an increasingly accepted processing option for countries in the Asia Pacific region wishing to meet growing sanitary and phytosanitary requirements in international trade. There remain however, large differences between the regulatory requirements in the countries in this region.This paper gives an outline on existing food irradiation regulations in the separate countries of the Asia Pacific region. New developments such as the recent decision by the Australia New Zealand Food Authority to start assessing applications for food irradiation treatment are discussed. Australia''s intention to regulate the export of food treated by irradiation will also be outlined.Details of the decision to harmonise food irradiation regulations by 13 countries in the Asia Pacific region based on conformance with Codex requirements is outlined. The likelihood of other Asia Pacific countries enacting similar harmonisation of their regulations will be examined. Future development such as certification of irradiation as a sanitary treatment for food are discussed. The expected result of these initiatives is a likely increase in irradiated foods traded within the Asia Pacific region. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

For decades, climate change —perhaps the world's most controversial issue continues to wreak havoc in almost all countries. This is witnessed in the increasing number of natural disasters and most notably in Asia and the Pacific (APAC), the region reported to be more afflicted than any other part of the world. Based on a multisource global data, we analyzed the trends, nature, and impacts of floods in the five sub-regions of APAC, including East and North-East Asia (ENEA), North and Central Asia (NCA), Southeast Asia (SEA), South and South-West Asia (SSWA), and the Pacific and Oceania (Pacific) between 1990 and 2018. The paper also described their implications on the Sustainable Development Goal 13 (SDG13) —which calls on governments to take urgent action to combat climate change and its impacts. Analysis revealed upward trends of flood occurrences and impacts across the sub-regions of APAC. This not only poses a threat of undermining the economic growth and development attained over years as well as poverty eradication in APAC, especially in regions of ENEA, SEA and SSWA but also in curtailing the progress of achieving sustainable development by 2030. Fortunately, this study the first of its kind to explore the linkage between floods and SDGs strived to explain in particular, how SDG13 offers some of the salient mechanisms under its 5 targets to be leveraged in addressing and minimizing floods and their impacts in APAC. In turn, this contributes to the scientific knowledge for informing flood risk management in APAC and elsewhere. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]