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In the past, scholars of academic dependency have tended to focus their discussions on social sciences while treating other fields as separate. They suggest that in order to escape dependency, alternative discourse and autonomy should be developed. In this paper, we examine the Public Health Liberation (PHL) movement in Taiwan and theorize on the marketization and medicalization of the healthcare system since the 1980s as a dependency syndrome. The PHL was initiated by a group of public health scholars—with the second author of this paper being one of its key protagonists—and frontline public health practitioners after the severe acute respiratory syndrome outbreak in 2003. Inspired by the mass mobilization model in public health in Asian and Latin American countries, particularly China, the Philippines, and Nicaragua, PHL trains grassroots public health educators, nurtures critical research, and has built a network of activists for radical public health reform in Taiwan. Based on participatory action research, this paper analyzes the emergence of this influential public health movement and situates it within the global context of neoliberal health reforms. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Studies have shown the abundance of fisheries resources in the waters of the northern part of the Philippines bordering southern Taiwan. However, discrepancies in legal frameworks, enforcement mechanisms, and cultural practices, as well as maritime boundary issues, contribute to complexities in collaboration. This paper thus aims to provide an understanding into the intricacies and challenges faced by both countries in managing their shared fishing resources. By analyzing the relevant international laws and instruments on fisheries cooperation, the paper shows what coastal states and entities fishing in the high seas could do to manage and conserve fishery resources in disputed areas. Existing fisheries agreements in the region such as the Taiwan–Japan Fisheries Cooperation provide a template of the kind of cooperation that can be concluded within the overlapping waters of both nations. Results of the analysis show how important it is for both nations to acknowledge the significance of fisheries cooperation in the overlapping waters. By recognizing the mutual benefits of sustainable resource management through peaceful dialogue, establishing a fisheries cooperation under the legal framework of the WCPFC is the logical solution. The findings contribute to understanding the complexities of cross-border fisheries cooperation and provide valuable insights for policymakers and stakeholders in the region. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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This paper focuses on a migrant worker with schizophrenia including auditory hallucinations and violent behavior. The worker had returned to Taiwan to quarantine and accept medical treatment. The nursing period was from December 16th, 2020 to January 27th, 2021. The author collect data through case history and discussion which was analyzed with five perspectives of psychiatry, and confirmed nursing problems involving a deficiency in self-care, resistance to following instructions, violent behavior, and perceptual alterations. Given the case was in quarantine, and the nature of the disease, an across-team cooperative nursing plan was started. For instance, insure the cleanliness of the body, comply to quarantine measures, build up therapeutic relationship with the case and provide a safe environment to avoid violence, escape, and any problem situations. Additionally, an attempt was made to teach the case to observe mental states to help separate reality and hallucinations to cope with auditory hallucination. Thus, patient education in Filipino was given to increase medicine-taking obedience. Finally, in order to continue the medical treatment after return to Philippines, video calls was made to contact the case's brother in Philippines. [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 article 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.

How is cycling culture defined? Because the word "culture" brings with it deep complexities, there is a need to understand varying contexts in looking for suitable strategies toward the advancement of cycling culture. The stage for cycling culture is the landscape where cycling infrastructure can be properly provided. With development, an influential element would be economic capacity. The paper explores the influence of the economic development divide by comparing cyclist perception between developed and developing countries, namely Taiwan and the Philippines. An online survey between 122 Taiwanese and 111 Filipino cyclists was conducted to find out the landscape needs of people to consider cycling transport based on affordances in the landscape. The variables selected were based on landscape elements for cycling as a commuting activity. The data were processed through factor analysis to reveal latent landscape needs to profile cycling needs. Two factors were identified as 'environmental' and 'civil facilities.' The factor loadings were then compared based on the nationalities which revealed that the bike riding motivation were different with relating to the context of their respective environment and similar with the basic infrastructural demands. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

EU politics have experienced vast changes since 2014 from the rise of anti-globalization populist right parties to Brexit. Similarly, populist and nationalist sentiments also appeared in some Southeast Asian democracies such as Taiwan and the Philippines. Despite their national and regional differences, one common characteristic of these developments was that it was those left-behind and economically disadvantaged voters who delivered such results. Trade protectionism and populist nationalism were their answers to ever-growing economic inequality. The growing economic inequality thus has become a common policy challenge to both European and Asian leadership. While political and business elites appealed to inclusive capitalism to address the economic inequality, no holistic, realistic policy combination was ever proposed. This paper is an attempt to translate inclusive capitalism from aspiration to systematic policy actions by employing an Inclusive Development Index (IDI) to the study of an indicative country—Denmark. It was found that those areas which Denmark has been performing well in were areas surrounding acquired equal opportunities: quality public education, health and active labor market policies for developing personal capability from childhood to adulthood, and uncorrupted public services and business-friendly legal and tax regimes for facilitating market competition from business creation to operation, especially for small businesses. Governance was a key to the functioning of this self-producing policy ecosystem, centrally staged as a big investor and enabler for both labor and capital. The distinctive thinking underpinning policy-making—treating economic policies as social policies and vice versa—reconciled economic growth and distributive justice simultaneously, resulting in inclusive capitalism in day-to-day realities. The Danish formula has shown that it was not capitalism that needed to reform, it was the prevailing liberalist orthodoxy that guided governance that was in desperate need of an overhaul. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The major analytical research question addressed in this paper is: What are Thailand's strengths and weaknesses as an international education hub for students from the Asian region? The key descriptive research question is: What is the nature of the educational experience of Asian students in Thailand? The two major research methodologies of the study are mixed research methods and comparative case studies, with the use of in-depth interviews of influential experts, surveys, and an autoethnography. In terms of major findings, there has been a dramatic growth of Asian students at Thai universities during the past two decades. Thailand's major advantages relate to low costs, location, quality campus facilities, and a welcoming attitude toward outsiders, while major disadvantages are the quality of many of Thailand's international programs often related to low English language capabilities. The paper concludes by presenting a creative new architecture for thinking about Asian study abroad in Thailand.

Aim: Plants distributed between southern Taiwan and the north of the Philippines are spread among numerous small islands in an area crossed by the powerful Kuroshio current. Oceanic currents can be effective seed-dispersal agents for coastal plant species. Moreover, the Luzon Strait is an area prone to tropical cyclones. The aim of this study is to look at the dispersal capability of an endangered coastal plant species, the Mearns fig (Ficus pedunculosa var. mearnsii), using both experimental and population genetics methods. Location: Southern Taiwan, the Philippines, and the islands between Luzon and Taiwan Island. Methods: This study combined two types of analysis, i.e., buoyancy experiments on syconia and double digest restriction-associated DNA sequencing (ddRAD), to analyze the population genetics of the Mearns fig. Results: We first discovered that mature Mearns fig syconia could float in seawater. They have a mean float duration of 10 days to a maximum of 21 days. Germination rates varied significantly between Mearns fig seeds that had undergone different durations of flotation treatment. Population genetic analysis shows a high degree of inbreeding among various Mearns fig populations. Moreover, no isolation by distance was found between the populations and individuals. Main conclusions: From our analysis of the genetic structure of the Mearns fig populations, we can clearly highlight the effect of the Kuroshio oceanic current on the seed dispersal of this fig tree. Comprehensive analysis has shown that Mearns fig seeds are still viable before the mature syconium sinks into the seawater, and so they could use the Kuroshio Current to float to the current population locations in Taiwan. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Simple Summary: This comprehensive review explores how Taiwan, Japan, and the Philippines manage the threat of swine transboundary animal diseases (TADs), focusing on foot and mouth disease (FMD), classical swine fever (CSF), and African swine fever (ASF). The challenge at hand is the effective control and prevention of these diseases, crucial for safeguarding the swine industry and food security in Asian islands. This study examines varied government strategies, such as mass vaccination, zoning, and intensive surveillance, employed by these islands. Taiwan successfully eradicated FMD through widespread vaccination, Japan effectively controlled CSF re-emergence in wild boars, and the Philippines utilized a zoning strategy for FMD eradication. Despite these successes, the persistent threat of an ASF pandemic, particularly in the Philippines, underscores the need for tailored and unified approaches in transboundary disease control. The lessons gained from these past experiences contribute to global efforts to manage TADs, emphasizing the importance of multi-sectoral and multi-institutional cooperative strategies for the benefit of society's health and food security. Swine transboundary diseases pose significant challenges in East and Southeast Asia, affecting Taiwan, Japan, and the Philippines. This review delves into strategies employed by these islands over the past two decades to prevent or manage foot and mouth disease (FMD), classical swine fever (CSF), and African swine fever (ASF) in domestic pigs and wild boars. Despite socio-economic differences, these islands share geographical and climatic commonalities, influencing their thriving swine industries. Focusing on FMD eradication, this study unveils Taiwan's success through mass vaccination, Japan's post-eradication surveillance, and the Philippines' zoning strategy. Insights into CSF in Japan emphasize the importance of wild boar control, whereas the ASF section highlights the multifaceted approach implemented through the Philippine National ASF Prevention and Control Program. This review underscores lessons learned from gained experiences, contributing to a comprehensive understanding of swine disease management in the region. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Taiwan-Philippine VOTE (Volcano, Ocean, Typhoon, and Earthquake)- Meteorology project, funded jointly by DOST (Department of Science and Technology) of the Philippines and MOST (Ministry of Science and Technology) of Taiwan, is primarily focused on improving the forecast capability of typhoons in different time scales. It is a bilateral collaboration between Taiwan and the Philippines governments. Data from satellites, coastal weather radars, and numerical forecasting models such as Weather Research and Forecasting Model (WRF) and the Cloud-Resolving Storm Simulator (CReSS) are used to study the typhoon track and intensity and the associated precipitation over Taiwan and the Philippine areas. On the other hand, long-term behavior of typhoons, e.g., the seasonal and intra-seasonal variability of typhoons in the region near Taiwan and the Philippines is also studied. The papers collected in this special issue are mostly based on the research work during this VOTE-Meteorology project, and their major results are summarized in this introduction. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Taiwan and Philippine (TWPH) (117°E-129°E, 5°N-26°N) is a region with most frequent and intense tropical cyclone (TC) influence in the world. This paper documents the climatology and variability of TWPH TC activity with specific attention to the difference in the TCs formed over the western North Pacific (WNP) and over the South China Sea (SCS). The spatial characteristics of TWPH TCs are analyzed based on the accumulated cyclone kinetic energy (ACE) in four sub-areas where distinctly different TC seasonality and variability is found. Different from over the broad Northwest Pacific Basin (0°-60°N, 100°E-180°) where the WNP-born TC frequency dropped sharply in late-1990s and the SCS-born TC frequency slightly increased in mid-1990s, over TWPH three distinct epochs are identified. A weakvariability epoch occurred during 1979-1996, a persistent low-ACE epoch during 1997-2002, and a more variable epoch during 2003-2018. The second epoch is most noteworthy. The unusually weak TC activity during this period in particular over the Philippines was associated with anomalously strong anticyclone over the SCS and the Philippine Sea during the East Asian summer monsoon season. The strong anticyclonic circulation appeared as a descending leg of the enhanced East Asian summer monsoon during summer (July-September). During autumn and early winter (September-December) the Philippine Sea anticyclone was interpreted as the descending Rossby wave response to the suppressed convection over tropical western Pacific. The anomalous anticyclone strengthened the low-level confluent flow and convection over the SCS. The findings are useful to real-time TWPH TC activity monitoring and analysis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In early 2013, the Philippines initiated the compulsory arbitral procedure under Article 287 and Annex VII of the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) against China, with regard to their disputes in the South China Sea. Three years later, the ad hoc Arbitral Tribunal rendered its award that declared China's historic rights claim within the U-shaped line unlawful and that none of the Spratly Islands including Itu Aba (Taiping Island) are 'islands' entitled to an EEZ. Although the ROC/Taiwan was not the Philippines' intended party in the case, it was brought into the proceedings and became a de facto party. This paper will illustrate how Taiwan became relevant to the South China Sea arbitration and analyze possible legal and political implications for Taiwan. It is suggested that the Philippines-initiated arbitration may have more serious political implications for Taiwan's future claim and position in the South China Sea dispute. In particular, Taiwan should carefully manage the One-China/South China Sea/cross-straits policy triangle after the South China Sea arbitration. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Rare diseases, also referred to as orphan diseases, are characterised by their low prevalence with majority of them are chronically debilitating and life threatening. Given the low prevalence and the widely dispersed but very small patient base for each disease, there may often be a disproportion in the availability of treatments and resources to manage patients, spur research and train experts. This is especially true in Southeast Asian countries that are currently in the process of implementing or revising their universal health coverage schemes. This paper aims to examine the status of rare disease management in Southeast Asian countries. It will serve as the basis for a more active discussion on how countries in the region can address an under-recognised rare disease burden and enhance national and regional capacities.Methods: The study consists of literature reviews and key stakeholders interviews in six focus countries, including the Philippines, Singapore, Malaysia, Indonesia, Vietnam, and Thailand and five countries as best practice, comprising of France, Canada, Australia, Taiwan, and South Korea. Rare disease management initiatives across each country were examined based on the World Health Organization's framework for action in strengthening health systems.Results: The results suggest rare disease management remains challenging across Southeast Asia, as many of the focus countries face fundamental issues from basic healthcare systems to funding. Nonetheless, there are substantial improvement opportunities, including leveraging best practices from around the world and organising a multi-stakeholder and regional approach and strategy.Conclusions: Southeast Asian countries have made significant progress in the management of rare disease, but there remain key areas for substantial development opportunities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Physical therapy (PT) is beneficial for critically ill patients, but the extent of its application in the intensive care unit (ICU) differs between countries. Here, we compared the extent of PT intervention in the ICU in Japan, the Philippines, and Taiwan by evaluating the sociodemographic and ICU-related profiles of ICU physical therapists. Materials and methods: In this cross-sectional study, a semistructured nationwide online survey was distributed to ICU physical therapists in the three countries. Results: We analyzed the responses of 164 physical therapists from Japan, Philippines, and Taiwan. Significant differences were observed between the countries in all sociodemographic variables and the following ICU-related profiles of physical therapists: ICU work experience, duration of the ICU posting, number of hours per day spent in the ICU, on-call ICU PT service engagement, source of ICU patient referral, therapist–patient ratio, and ICU-related PT training participation (p < 0.05). Medical, surgical, and neurologic ICUs were the most common ICU workplaces of the ICU physical therapists, but only surgical and neurologic ICUs exhibited significant differences between the countries (p < 0.05). Standard PT techniques in the ICU were passive and active-assisted range of motion, positioning, and breathing exercises but were implemented with significantly different frequencies between the countries (p < 0.05). The most common challenge faced in ICU PT service delivery by respondents from all three countries was lack of training prior to ICU duty, and lack of training was even bigger challenge in Japan than in other two countries after adjustment of age, highest educational attainment, and work experience. Conclusion: The differences in the health-care system between Japan, the Philippines, and Taiwan were related to differences in the compliance with internationally recommended PT practice standards in the ICU, differences in the type of PT intervention prioritized, and the challenges encountered in ICU PT service delivery. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In order to explore the correlation between earthquakes and ionospheric very low-frequency (VLF) electric field disturbances, this article uses VLF data observed by the China Earthquake Electromagnetic Satellite (CSES) to analyze very low-frequency signals before and after earthquakes from January 2019 to March 2023 in terms of the amplitude and signal-to-noise ratio of electric field power spectrum disturbances. Taking 73 earthquakes with a magnitude of 6.0 or higher occurring in the Circum-Pacific seismic belt as an example, comprehensive research on the VLF electric field disturbance phenomenon caused by strong earthquakes is conducted, considering both the earthquake location and source mechanism. The research results indicate the following: (1) there is a strong correlation between earthquakes with a magnitude of 6.0 or above and abnormal disturbances in the VLF electric field, which often occur within 20 days before the earthquake and within 800 km from the epicenter. (2) From the perspective of earthquake-prone areas, the VLF electric field anomalies observed before earthquakes in the Ryukyu Islands of the Taiwan region exhibit small and concentrated field fluctuations, while the Taiwan Philippines region exhibits larger field fluctuations and more dispersed fluctuations. The discovery of this correlation between seismic ionospheric phenomena and seismic activity provides a new and effective approach to earthquake monitoring, which can be used for earthquake prediction, early warning, and disaster prevention and reduction work. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The operations of power systems are becoming increasingly challenging due to the high penetration of renewable power generation, which is uncertain and stochastic. Highly accurate day-ahead renewable power forecasting helps operators in a dispatch center schedule power generations for conventional thermal generators. Efficient day-ahead renewable power forecasting requires information from widely separated locations. This paper proposes a novel day-ahead spatiotemporal wind speed forecasting method based on a convolutional neural network (CNN), which is an image-based deep learning method. This paper exploits a robust design based on Taguchi's orthogonal array to determine the numbers of cascade/parallel layers, convolutions in each layer, kernels and hidden layers, as well as the kernel size, zero-padding and dropout ratio in the proposed CNN to ensure that the proposed CNN is insensitive to the seasonal characteristics of wind speeds while retaining high accuracy. In this paper, the day-ahead forecasting of wind speed at an offshore wind farm (Fuhai) near Taiwan is performed using historical wind speeds at seven sites in Taiwan, China, South Korea and the Philippines. Simulation results reveal that the proposed robust design-based CNN outperforms existing methods. Image 1 • Structure parameters of the CNN are determined by robust design. • Hyperparameters of the CNN are determined by robust design without empirical tests. • Spatiotemporal wind speeds provide the 2D information applied to the CNN. • Other ancillary wind farms are determined by cross-correlation analysis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper analyses the current state of postcolonial and decolonial science teaching, based on a systematic review of the literature, with a special focus on the European context. It shows that currently, a very narrow view on postcolonial science teaching prevails, limiting its scope to former colonies. A total of 227 articles published 2013-2022 were identified using meta-interpretation combined with systematic searches. 43 of these articles were selected for the sample and analysed. Included were only articles reporting on teaching practice in regular science classes in secondary school. The analysis identified as the main theme the question of how to coordinate Indigenous knowledge systems and Western science in the classroom. Further, translanguaging and pedagogy of justice are used as approaches toward decolonising science education. One striking finding in the analysis is the absence of de-/postcolonial approaches from European countries. This indicates that teaching practice in Europe might currently not undergo decolonisation. This contradicts Aimé Césaire's observation that both the colonised "and" the colonisers were decivilised during colonialism and need decolonisation [Césaire, A. (1955). "Discours sur le colonialisme" [Discourse on colonialism] (6th ed.). Présence Africaine]. In this article, the different approaches toward decolonisation and an outline of decolonial science teaching for the European context are presented.

'Breadfruit' is a common tree species in Taiwan. In the indigenous Austronesian Amis culture of eastern Taiwan, 'breadfruit' is known as Pacilo, and its fruits are consumed as food. On Lanyu (Botel Tobago) where the indigenous Yami people live, 'breadfruit' is called Cipoho and used for constructing houses and plank-boats. Elsewhere in Taiwan, 'breadfruit' is also a common ornamental tree. As an essential component of traditional Yami culture, Cipoho has long been assumed to have been transported from the Batanes Island of the Philippines to Lanyu. As such, it represents a commensal species that potentially can be used to test the hypothesis of the northward Austronesian migration 'into' Taiwan. However, recent phylogenomic studies using target enrichment show that Taiwanese 'breadfruit' might not be the same as the Pacific breadfruit (Artocarpus altilis), which was domesticated in Oceania and widely cultivated throughout the tropics. To resolve persistent misidentification of this culturally and economically important tree species of Taiwan, we sampled 36 trees of Taiwanese Artocarpus and used the Moraceae probe set to enrich 529 nuclear genes. Along with 28 archived Artocarpus sequence datasets (representing a dozen taxa from all subgenera), phylogenomic analyses showed that all Taiwanese 'breadfruit' samples, together with a cultivated ornamental tree from Hawaii, form a fully supported clade within the A. treculianus complex, which is composed only of endemic Philippine species. Morphologically, the Taiwanese 'breadfruit' matches the characters of A. treculianus. Within the Taiwanese samples of A. treculianus, Amis samples form a fully supported clade derived from within the paraphyletic grade composed of Yami samples, suggesting a Lanyu origin. Results of our target enrichment phylogenomics are consistent with the scenario that Cipoho was transported northward from the Philippines to Lanyu by Yami ancestors, though the possibility that A. treculianus is native to Lanyu cannot be ruled out completely. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background and purpose: Social engagement is an important active aging strategy to promote older adults' mental health. The purposes of this study were to compare social engagement in older populations around the world and explore associations with mental health outcomes. Materials and methods: An international cross‐sectional survey was conducted from 2017 to 2019. Data were retrieved from The International Social Survey Programme for a secondary data analysis across 30 countries. This study applied the Taxonomy of Social Activities and its six levels as operational definitions for a consistent concept of social engagement for international comparisons. Results: In total, 9403 older adults with a mean age of 72.85 ± 6.40 years responded. The highest levels of older adults' social engagement were found in Switzerland, Thailand, and New Zealand. Older adults of a higher age, with a lower educational level, who were permanently sick or disabled, who had no partner, who were widowed or whose civil partner had died, who lived alone, and who had lower self‐placement in society had significantly lower social engagement than did their counterparts. In the regression model, older adults' social engagement positively predicted general health, self‐accomplishment, and life satisfaction, but negatively predicted loneliness and depression. Conclusions: In aging societies worldwide, encouraging older adults' social engagement would be beneficial to promote mental health. Implications for nursing practice and health policies: Community professional nurses can develop strategies of social engagement based on the needs and sociodemographic factors of older adults to improve their mental health. Developing efficient strategies and local policies by learning from successful experiences in other countries is important to promote social engagement in aging societies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this study, the 2.5 km Cloud-Resolving Storm Simulator was applied to forecast the rainfall by three landfalling typhoons in the Philippines at high resolution: Mangkhut (2018), Koppu (2015), and Melor (2015), using a time-lagged strategy for ensemble. The three typhoons penetrated northern Luzon, central Luzon, and the middle of the Philippine Archipelago, respectively, and the present study verified the track and quantitative precipitation forecasts (QPFs) using categorical statistics against observations at 56 rain-gauge sites at seven thresholds up to 500 mm. The predictability of rainfall is the highest for Koppu, followed by Melor, and the lowest for Mangkhut, which had the highest peak rainfall amount. Targeted at the most-rainy 24 h of each case, the threat score (TS) within the short range (≤72 h) could reach 1.0 for Koppu at 350 mm in many runs (peak observation = 502 mm), and 1.0 for Mangkhut and 0.25 for Melor (peak observation = 407 mm) both at 200 mm in the best member, when the track errors were small enough. For rainfall from entire events (48 or 72 h), TS hitting 1.0 could also be achieved regularly at 500 mm for Koppu (peak observation = 695 mm), and 0.33 at 350 mm for Melor (407 mm) and 0.46 at 200 mm for Mangkhut (786 mm) in the best case. At lead times beyond the short range, one third of these earlier runs also produced good QPFs for both Koppu and Melor, but such runs were fewer for Mangkhut and the quality of QPFs was also not as high due to larger northward track biases. Overall, the QPF results are very encouraging, and comparable to the skill level for typhoon rainfall in Taiwan (with similar peak rainfall amounts). Thus, at high resolution, there is a fair chance to make decent QPFs even at lead times of 3–7 days before typhoon landfall in the Philippines, with useful information on rainfall scenarios for early preparation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: This paper aims to explore the holistic picture of sustainability curricula in Asian higher education. Design/methodology/approach: Content analysis was conducted based on Asian management education for sustainability in higher education. Online courses arrangement, teaching methods, instructors' educational background and cross-referencing data between triple bottom line and sustainability courses have been investigated. Findings: The paper provides empirical insights about the current state of sustainability education in Asia. The results show that there is an opportunity for interdisciplinary integration, as there are imbalanced sustainability courses offered by business, science and engineering schools. It also suggests that Asian universities should add an international connection and active promotion of sustainability education on their Web sites. Research limitations/implications: Findings are based on web-based sustainability-related courses. Future research could apply method of case study to do a deeper study. Practical implications: The paper provides an overview of Asian management education for sustainability and curricula analysis through our research, and that this will further assist in the development of interdisciplinary integration in Asian management education for sustainability. Originality/value: This paper is the first attempt to gain better understanding of sustainability-related courses offered in leading business/management colleges in Asia.

In this study, a multi-station and multi-instrument system, organized and proposed for ionospheric scintillation and equatorial spread-F (ESF) specification and their associated motions in the Taiwan–Philippines sector, is outlined. The issues related to the scintillation and ESF event observed on 26 October 2021, at magnetic quiet conditions are presented and discussed. We first indicate the existence of a plasma bubble in the Taiwan–Philippines sector by using the FormoSat-7/Constellation Observing System for Meteorology, Ionosphere, and Climate-2 (FS7/COSMIC2) GPS/GLONASS radio occultation observations. We verify the latitudinal extent of the tracked plasma bubble using the recorded ionograms from the Vertical Incidence Pulsed Ionospheric Radar located at Hualien, Taiwan. We further discuss the spatial and temporal variabilities of two-dimensional vertical scintillation index VS4 maps based on the simultaneous GPS L1-band signal measurements from 133 ground-based receivers located in Taiwan and the surrounding islands. We also operate two high-sampling, software-defined GPS receivers and characterize the targeted plasma irregularities by carrying out spectrum analyses of the received signal. As a result, the derived plasma irregularities moved eastward and northward. Furthermore, the smaller the irregularity scale, the higher the spectral index and the stronger the scintillation intensity were at lower latitudes on the aimed irregularity feature. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study was an examination into the relationships among cultural intelligence (CQ), cross-cultural adjustment, perceived effectiveness of intercultural training, and job involvement. The data were obtained from foreign laborers from the Philippine Islands who were working in Taiwan. Paper-based questionnaires ( n = 600) were distributed with 393 valid returns in two months for a return rate of 65.5%. The results of hierarchical regression analyses indicated that CQ is a significant predictor for job involvement. For the mediation effect, one dimension of the cross-cultural adjustment-work adjustment mediated the CQ-job involvement relationship. Furthermore, intercultural training enhanced the positive relationship of CQ and work adjustment. The present study demonstrated that CQ is critical for the success of intercultural effectiveness during an international assignment. Moreover, it is essential to provide continuing cross-cultural training in order to assist foreign laborers in adjusting to the local culture and thus becoming more highly involved in their work. Herein, the implications, limitations, and recommendations are discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Large nonlinear internal solitary waves (NLIWs) are known to transit west northwest across the northeastern South China Sea from generation sites around the two‐ridge system in the Luzon Strait. The waves are important because their energy flux and dissipation are several orders of magnitude larger than the surrounding ocean. The wave transit has been well studied up to about the 100 m isobath but observations in shallower water have been scarce. Using oceanographic moorings and an innovative distributed temperature sensing optical cable, the NLIW transformations were observed from 2000 to 2 m on the flanks of Dongsha Atoll (Pratas Reef). Possible outcomes included reflection, refraction around the island, wave breaking, and penetration into shallow water. Upslope penetration depended on incident wave amplitude and direction as well as the local stratification. Plain Language Summary: Because the ocean is stratified, it supports a wide range of internal waves in addition to the surface waves we observe all the time. Some of the largest such waves in the world, taller than the Washington Monument, are generated between Taiwan and the Philippines when the tide crashes into the underwater ridge system in the Luzon Strait. These "internal tides" continue to grow and steepen as they propagate west northwest across the South China Sea and eventually break forming the high frequency waves reported here. The waves are transformed as they enter shallower water surrounding a tropical reef, often splitting to form packets and ultimately breaking on the bottom much like surface waves do. Vertical currents surrounding the waves pump nutrients from the depths to the surface, nourishing the reef. The fate of the wave energy is complex and may be reflected, refracted, or dissipated on the reef. Key Points: Shoaling nonlinear internal solitary waves were observed over three fortnights using moorings and an optical cable from 2000 m depth to the top of Dongsha Reef in the South China SeaPacket formation was common from the 500 to 300 m isobaths but almost all waves broke by the time they reached 100 m depth and subsequently presented a turbulent, transformed wave runup environmentPossible outcomes are classified according to the wave type, incident wave amplitude, propagation direction, and ambient stratification [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Rhinoceroses are among the most endangered mammalian species today. Their past diversity is well documented from the Eocene onward, although their evolutionary history is far from being fully understood. Here, we elucidate the systematic affinities of a Pleistocene rhinoceros species represented by a partial skeleton from 709 ± 68 kya archaeological deposits in Luzon Island, Philippines. We perform a comprehensive phylogenetic analysis, including all living species and a wide array of extinct rhinocerotid species. We confirm the early split between Elasmotheriinae and Rhinocerotinae at c. 35.5 Mya and constrain the divergence between recent Asian and African rhinoceroses at c. 24 Mya, with contrasting phenotypic evolutionary rates in Diceroti and Rhinoceroti. Dental features reveal the existence of an unsuspected Asian Pleistocene clade, referred to as Nesorhinus gen. nov.. It includes the rhinoceros from the Philippines and another extinct species from Taiwan, N. hayasakai. Nesorhinus is the sister-group to a cluster comprising Dicerorhinus and Rhinoceros. Our phylogenetic results strongly suggest an island-hopping dispersal for Nesorhinus , from the Asian mainland towards Luzon via Taiwan by the Late Miocene or later, and Pleistocene dispersals for representatives of Rhinoceros. Nesorhinus philippinensis would be the first perissodactyl species supporting the island-rule hypothesis, with decreased body weight and limb-bone robustness. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Artocarpus altilis (Parkinson ex F.A. Zorn) Fosberg is native to the Pacific Islands, India, and the Philippines. It is also cultivated in Taiwan and Hainan. The complete plastome of the species was assembled and annotated in this study. The circular genome was 160,184 bp in size, presenting a typical quadripartite structure including two inverted repeats (IRs) of 25,734 bp, a large single-copy (LSC) of 88,791 bp, and a small single-copy (SSC) of 19,925 bp. The genome contained 132 genes, including 87 protein-coding genes, 37 tRNA genes, and eight rRNA genes. The total G/C content of complete plastome was 36.0%, with the corresponding values of the LSC, SSC, and IR being 33.7%, 28.8%, and 42.7%, respectively. The complete plastome sequence of A. altilis (Parkinson ex F.A. Zorn) Fosberg will make contributions to the conservation genetics of this species as well as to phylogenetic studies of Moraceae. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A new species of sawtail catshark, Galeus friedrichi n. sp., is described from the Philippines. The new species is separable from other western Pacific Galeus species by the absence of saddle or blotch markings, a large size >50 cm TL, 40 monospondylous vertebrae, and 83 precaudal vertebrae. All regional Galeus, other than Galeus sauteri, can be distinguished by having a marking pattern made up of a series of dark to light saddle or blotch patterns beneath the dorsal fins and on the caudal fin. Galeus sauteri can be separated from G. friedrichi n. sp. by its relatively small adult size, <50 cm TL, and fewer precaudal vertebrae (73-76 vs. 83). The two other large regional species, G. longirostris and G. nipponensis are presently known only from Japan and Taiwan. The new species is the third Galeus species, after G. sauteri and G. schultzi, documented from the Philippines. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The following lines are inspired by John Kupchik's seminal article 'Austronesian Lights the Way' that appears in this volume of JEAL. It demonstrated beyond any reasonable doubt for the first time that there are reliable Austronesian loanwords in Japonic that reveal quite ancient and profound contacts, because without these profound contacts the borrowing of the names of the most basic celestial bodies, such as the sun and the moon, would not be possible. In my opinion, his article opened a new and an exciting direction in the Japonic historical linguistics. There are, however, two important differences between Kupchik's article and the present one. First, while Kupchik mostly concentrated on the Amis language from Taiwan, and to a less extent on the languages of Philippines and other Western Malayo- Polynesian, my major focus is on the Philippines languages as potential donors, and much less on other Austronesian languages of the region. Second, while Kupchik looked mostly on mysterious words in the Omoro Sōshi , a collection of Old Okinawan and Amami sacred and folk poems (1531–1623 AD), this article focuses more on Old Japanese in particular and Japonic in general. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Maritime and territorial disputes have created tension among States bordering the South China Sea for decades. Such problems are exacerbated for Taiwan because of its special political status. Further, because it is not a party to the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS), Taiwan cannot refer to that treaty to resolve disputes. A tense and tragic incident that illustrates the challenge for resolving maritime disputes that involve Taiwan is the 2013 Guang Da Xsing No. 28 conflict in which a Taiwanese fisherman was killed by shots fired from a Philippine maritime enforcement vessel. Taiwan demanded that the Philippines officially apologize, take appropriate compensatory and punitive actions, and negotiate to prevent future incidents. However, little information has been made public about what was achieved. Taiwan subsequently invoked a series of sanctions against the Philippines. This created the opportunity for both sides to negotiate and establish a liaison officer mechanism to facilitate early resolution of future incidents. After several rounds of negotiations over the past few years, Taiwan and the Philippines concluded the Agreement Concerning the Facilitation of Cooperation on Law Enforcement in Fisheries. The intention of this Agreement is to achieve safety and mutual benefits and to avoid damage to the bilateral relationship between the parties. This is a pragmatic and diplomatic approach to resolve disputes outside of, but in the spirit of, UNCLOS. This paper examines the incident in question, and the subsequent Taiwan-Philippines agreement on cooperation in fisheries law enforcement in disputed waters. • Maritime territory disputes need negotiations to solve. • Establish the notification and negotiation mechanisms. • Maritime territorial disputes in Asia region, fisheries issues play a significant role. • The best choice for dispute resolution is to defer the disputes and explore mutual benefits together. • The government of Taiwan actively seeks temporary arrangements with neighboring countries that explore the feasibility of engaging in resource sharing through the East Sea Peace Initiative and South China Sea Peace Initiative. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Tatun Volcanic Group (TVG) in northern Taiwan is the sole volcanic region on the island, with its last eruptive episode around 5,500 years ago. It has been suggested that the TVG retains the capacity for volcanic explosivity which has the potential to devastate the nearby Taipei metropolitan area of 7 million inhabitants. Though the probability of future eruption is low by probabilistic estimation, the vulnerability to volcanic hazards is high for Taipei given that it is the centre of population, industry, and government for the island. An assessment of any activity precursors is thus vital but also particularly challenging. Here, we perform an eruption-potential assessment based on the analysis of a sixteen-year Land Surface Temperature (LST) time series of data derived from satellite-retrieved thermal imagery. A Hilbert-Huang Transform (HHT) is applied to decompose oscillatory components of various timescales within the LST time series. The annual-period components are compared with those from two active volcanoes in the Philippines to assess the potential of eruption cycles in the TVG. Results from the Philippine volcanoes show that annual-period components of LST tend to lose their regularity following an eruption. By contrast, the regular annual period component of LST of the TVG Taiwan suggests a quiet and resting status with no sign of an imminent eruption. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We compiled historical reports of megamouth sharks Megachasma pelagios (mostly fishery by‐catch and strandings) from 1976 to 2018 (n = 117) and found that they are distributed globally (highest latitude, 36°) with three hotspots: Japan, Taiwan and the Philippines. Despite possible biases due to variability in fishing effort, more individuals were reported at higher latitudes in the summer, suggesting seasonal, latitudinal migrations. Sex ratios were female‐biased in Japan, but more even in Taiwan and the Philippines, suggesting some sexual segregation. Females (total length, LT = 3.41–7.10 m) were larger than males (LT = 1.77–5.39 m) and matured at a larger LT (5.17 m) than males (4.26 m). Also, we reviewed the systematics, feeding ecology and swimming behaviour of Megachasma pelagios based on the literature. Our review shows that, compared with their morphology, anatomy and genetics, behavioural ecology of this species remains largely unknown and electronic tagging studies are warranted. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Automatic weather station (AWS) observations are used to select tropical cyclones (TCs) affecting the Taiwan Strait during 2007–2016. Applying these data, the influence of TCs on the Taiwan Strait is measured and TCs with weak or no impact are removed. Objective statistical properties of the remaining TCs are analysed by clustering them into three groups using the fuzzy C‐means method. Clusters are differentiated as (a) TCs affecting the Taiwan Strait but recurving at the edge of the TC alert area, (b) TCs moving straight across The Philippines and the South China Sea, and (c) TCs striking Taiwan and eastern China and recurving after landfall. Differences among the clusters include in the spatial range and duration of gales monitored by AWS, and the track, intensity, and genesis location of TCs. Also analysed are the influence of large‐scale atmospheric environments on TC motion, sea‐surface temperature responses to TCs, and the influence of El Niño‐Southern Oscillation on TC classifications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The genus Vanoverberghia currently includes three species namely V. sepulchrei and V. rubrobracteata from the Philippines and V. sasakiana from Taiwan. New material targeting the Alpinia eubractea clade of the tribe Alpinieae was used to test the monophyly of Vanoverberghia. A combined analysis of the ITS and trnK/matK regions reveals that these three species form a strongly supported monophyletic clade with Alpinia diversifolia and Alpinia vanoverberghii. The morphological descriptions of all species were updated after examining recent collections and comparing with types and protologues. The original description of A. diversifolia did not include information on the flowers which are described here. The morphology of A. diversifolia and A. vanoverberghii is for most parts in accordance with the previous perception of the genus but a few characters are added and a recircumscription of Vanoverberghia is subsequently provided here. Vanoverberghia diversifolia is reinstated and A. vanoverberghii is combined in Vanoverberghia. Furthermore, collections from northern Luzon documents the presence of V. sasakiana and all species of Vanoverberghia thus occur in the Philippines. A key to the five species is provided including a comprehensive taxonomic revision and designation of three lectotypes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The relationships between pelagic larval duration (PLD) and geographic distribution patterns or population genetic structures of fishes remain obscure and highly variable among species. To further understand the early life history of the tidepool snake moray Uropterygius micropterus and the potential relationship between PLD and population genetic structure of this species, otolith microstructure and population genetics based on concatenated mtDNA sequence (cytochrome b and cytochrome oxidase subunit I, 1,336 bp) were analyzed for 195 specimens collected from eight locations around the southern Ryukyu Islands, Taiwan, and the central Philippines. Eels with longer PLD and lower otolith growth rates were observed at relatively higher latitudes with lower water temperatures (54.6 ± 7.7 days and 1.28 ± 0.16 µm day−1 on Ishigaki Island, Japan, vs. 43.9 ± 4.9 days and 1.60 ± 0.19 µm day−1 on Badian, the Philippines), suggesting that leptocephali grew faster and had shortened pelagic periods in warmer waters. Meanwhile, the eels along the southwest coast of Taiwan had relatively longer PLD (57.9 ± 10.5 days), which might be associated with the more complex ocean current systems compared to their counterparts collected along the east coast of Taiwan (52.6 ± 8.0 days). However, the southwestern and eastern Taiwan groups had similar otolith growth rates (1.33 ± 0.19 µm day−1 vs. 1.36 ± 0.16 µm day−1). Despite the intergroup variation in PLD, genetic analysis revealed fluent gene flow among the tidepool snake morays in the study regions, implying that intraspecies PLD variation had a weak effect on genetic structure. The leptocephalus stage might have ensured the widespread gene flow among the study areas and leptocephalus growth was likely influenced by regional water temperature. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The relationships between pelagic larval duration (PLD) and geographic distribution patterns or population genetic structures of fishes remain obscure and highly variable among species. To further understand the early life history of the tidepool snake moray Uropterygius micropterus and the potential relationship between PLD and population genetic structure of this species, otolith microstructure and population genetics based on concatenated mtDNA sequence (cytochrome b and cytochrome oxidase subunit I, 1,336 bp) were analyzed for 195 specimens collected from eight locations around the southern Ryukyu Islands, Taiwan, and the central Philippines. Eels with longer PLD and lower otolith growth rates were observed at relatively higher latitudes with lower water temperatures (54.6 ± 7.7 days and 1.28 ± 0.16 µm day−1 on Ishigaki Island, Japan, vs. 43.9 ± 4.9 days and 1.60 ± 0.19 µm day−1 on Badian, the Philippines), suggesting that leptocephali grew faster and had shortened pelagic periods in warmer waters. Meanwhile, the eels along the southwest coast of Taiwan had relatively longer PLD (57.9 ± 10.5 days), which might be associated with the more complex ocean current systems compared to their counterparts collected along the east coast of Taiwan (52.6 ± 8.0 days). However, the southwestern and eastern Taiwan groups had similar otolith growth rates (1.33 ± 0.19 µm day−1 vs. 1.36 ± 0.16 µm day−1 ). Despite the intergroup variation in PLD, genetic analysis revealed fluent gene flow among the tidepool snake morays in the study regions, implying that intraspecies PLD variation had a weak effect on genetic structure. The leptocephalus stage might have ensured the widespread gene flow among the study areas and leptocephalus growth was likely influenced by regional water temperature. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The Asia-Pacific region is home to nearly half of the world's population. The region has seen a recent rapid increase in the prevalence of obesity, type-2 diabetes and cardiovascular disease. The present systematic review summarizes the recent prevalence and trends of Metabolic Syndrome (MetS) among adults in countries of the Asia-Pacific Region.Methods: Data on MetS in Asia-Pacific countries were obtained using a stepwise process by searching the online Medline database using MeSH terms 'Metabolic Syndrome X' and 'Epidemiology/EP'. For the purpose of describing prevalence data for the individual countries, studies that were most recent, nationally representative or with the largest sample size were included. When evaluating secular trends in prevalence in a country we only considered studies that evaluated the temporal change in prevalence between similar populations, prospective studies based on the same population or National surveys conducted during different time periods.Results: This literature search yielded a total of 757 articles, and five additional article were identified by screening of reference lists. From this total, 18 studies were eligible to be included in the final analysis. Of the 51 Asia-Pacific countries (WHO) we only located data for 15. There was wide between country variation in prevalence of MetS. A national survey from Philippines conducted in 2003 revealed the lowest reported prevalence of 11.9% according to NCEP ATP III criteria. In contrast, the highest recorded prevalence in the region (49.0%) came from a study conducted in urban Pakistan (Karachchi, 2004). Most studies reported a higher prevalence of MetS in females and urban residents. Data on secular trends were available for China, South Korea and Taiwan. An increase in the prevalence of MetS was observed in all three countries.Conclusion: Despite differences in methodology, diagnostic criteria and age of subjects studied, the Asia-Pacific region is facing a significant epidemic of MetS. In most countries nearly 1/5th of the adult population or more were affected by MetS with a secular increase in prevalence. Strategies aimed at primary prevention are required to ameliorate a further increase in the epidemic and for the reduction of the morbidity and mortality associated with MetS. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Numerous studies have been published heralding the benefits of physical education in school education. Sport and physical activities form the major content in learning and the arrangement serves as the major source of development in students. This paper identifies "quality" as an internationally concerned issue and within the concept, the perceptual framework in learning is then placed with focus. To conduct this study, a sample of N = 799 ("11 Asian cities") physical education professionals working in different levels were invited to participate in a questionnaire survey with 37 items designed to forge the conceptualization of quality learning in physical education. Results from statistical analysis showed 24 items grouped in 3 subfactors being retained after EFA, of 37 items that were framed through content analysis to assess the quality physical education learning among the PE professionals. The retained three factors from the EFA were further assessed with robust confirmatory factor analysis (CFA). The 3-factor model demonstrated a good fit with the data (CMIN/DF = 7.367, NFI = 0.888, CFI = 0.901, PCFI = 0.748, RMSEA = 0.089). In this sample, the QPEL demonstrated an acceptable three-factor structure, internal consistency and inter-factor correlation. These items were appropriate to provide the necessary understanding of the diversified practice in the learning of quality physical education.

Background: Psychotria cephalophora Merr. (Rubiaceae), a shrub in oceanic islands of Taiwan and the Philippines, appears to be distylous, but distyly is usually rare on oceanic islands. To elucidate the functional breeding system of P. cephalophora can improve our understanding of plant reproductive ecology on oceanic islands. Results: Field investigations on Lanyu (Orchid Island) off the coast of southeastern Taiwan revealed the flowers to be distylous with short (S)- and long (L)-styled morphs, with only one morph per individual. Laboratory observations revealed that both morphs had stainable pollen grains and indicated dimorphism in stigmatic papillae and pollen size. In hand pollination experiments, the pollen tubes reached the base of the style in intermorph crossing, whereas they rarely penetrated stylar tissue in intramorph crossing and selfing. Open pollinated S- and L-styled flowers produced fruit. Conclusions: The results indicate that the breeding system of P. cephalophora is morphologically and functionally distylous. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Examination of the development of cold season heavy rainfall/flood (HRF) events around the South China Sea (SCS) from their parent cold surge vortices (CSVs) shows three new development processes. First, the formation mechanism of the parent CSV of an HRF event [CSV(HRF)] has a preference as to geographic location, flow type of the cold surge inside the SCS, and time of day. The surface trough east of the Philippines, Taiwan, and southern Japan island chain in late fall and the near-equator trough across Borneo in winter facilitate the CSV(HRF) formation in two regions-the vicinity of the Philippines and Borneo. The formation of the Philippine (Borneo) CSV(HRF) occurs at 0600 UTC (0000 UTC) with involvement from the Philippine Sea (PHS)-type (SCS type) of cold surge flow. Second, the flow type of the cold surge determines the CSV(HRF) propagation across the South China Sea. The PHS-type (SCS type) facilitates (hinders) the CSV(HRF) westward propagation. This occurs because the easterly (northerly) flow is greater than (less than) the northerly (easterly) flow at the maximum isotach location of the cold surge flow associated with CSV(HRF) and is centered east of the demarcation line for propagation. This flow-type contrast is substantiated by the vorticity budget analysis for CSV(HRF). The positive 925-hPa vorticity tendency is located west of (coincident with) the 925-hPa vorticity center for the PHS-type (SCS type) of cold surge. Third, the CSV(HRF) development into a HRF event is achieved through multiple interactions of former vortices with sequential cold surges across the South China Sea. The first two CSV(HRF) development processes are reported herein; the last process is presented in Part II. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The paper presents the challenges of cross-country and cross-cultural research on the motivation to become a mathematics teacher based on data from the "Teacher Education and Development Study in Mathematics" ("TEDS-M"). Referring to studies from cross-cultural psychology, measurement invariance (MI) of constructs representing different motivations to become a teacher was examined in confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) across the countries that participated in TEDS-M. The data supported metric invariance which means that comparing relationships between motivation and other constructs across countries is permitted, with the exception of extrinsic motivation in Taiwan. Scalar invariance was not supported by the data across countries but across cultures: Scale means can be compared between Germany, Switzerland and (with regard to intrinsic motivation) Norway and Poland as well as between Singapore and Taiwan (with regard to the intrinsic motivation) and Malaysia, Philippines and Thailand (again regarding intrinsic motivation).

Emerging pollutants are hazardous to the ecological environment and human health, and these issues have attracted increasing attention from scholars. In the current study, the Taiwan Strait is long and narrow, highly influenced by terrestrial domains, and frequently disturbed by human activities. Conversely, the Luzon Strait is an open sea far from the shore, and the impact of human activities on it is minimal. The description of antibiotics in two different types of seas revealed that contaminants were most commonly detected in both straits. In particular, the coasts of the Minjiang River, Jinjiang River, and Jiulong River were found to be pollution hotspots in the Taiwan Strait. The calculation of risk quotients revealed that antibiotics were more sensitive to algae. Furthermore, estimation of the risk quotients of the mixtures found that antibiotics in the environment do not pose a high risk to aquatic organisms at different trophic levels., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2024 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

This study inter-compared the concentration and chemical characteristics of PM 2.5 at two harbors in East Asia, and identified the potential sources of PM 2.5 and their contribution. Two sites located at the Kaohsiung (Taiwan) and Manila (the Philippines) Harbors were selected for simultaneous sampling of PM 2.5 in four seasons. The sampling of 24-h PM 2.5 was conducted for continuous seven days in each season. Water-soluble ions, metallic elements, carbonaceous content, anhydrosugars, and organic acids in PM 2.5 were analyzed to characterize their chemical fingerprints. Receptor modeling and trajectory simulation were further applied to resolve the source apportionment of PM 2.5 . The results indicated that the Kaohsiung Harbor was highly influenced by long-range transport (LRT) of polluted air masses from Northeast Asia, while the Manila Harbor was mainly influenced by local emissions. Secondary inorganic aerosols were the most abundant ions in PM 2.5 . Crustal elements dominated the metallic content of PM 2.5 , but trace elements were mainly originated from anthropogenic sources. Higher concentrations of organic carbon (OC) than elemental carbon (EC) was found in PM 2.5 , with secondary OC (SOC) dominant to the former. Levoglucosan in PM 2.5 at the Manila Harbor were superior to those at the Kaohsiung Harbor due to biomass burning surrounding the Manila Harbor. Additionally, high mass ratios of malonic and succinic acids (M/S) in PM 2.5 indicated the formation of SOAs. Overall, the ambient air quality of Manila Harbor was more polluted than Kaohsiung Harbor. The Kaohsiung Harbor was more severely affected by LRT of polluted air masses from Northeast Asia, while those toward the Manila Harbor came from the oceans. The major sources resolved by CMB and PMF models at the Kaohsiung Harbor were secondary aerosols, ironworks, incinerators, oceanic spray, and ship emissions, while those at the Manila Harbor were secondary aerosols, soil dust, biomass burning, ship emissions, and oceanic spray., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2021. Published by Elsevier B.V.)

Although Taiwan is a small island, it occupies a strategic biogeographic position between the faunal regions of Japan to the north and the Philippines to the south. As a result, it has an interesting mixture of northern and southern species. In this paper, we report new records of two species of congrid eel, one known previously from Japan and China, and the other known only from the Philippines. The first species, Promyllantor nezumi Asano, 1958, was described by Asano (1958) and reassigned to a newly established genus Acromycter  by Smith Kanazawa (1977). Zhang (1989) reported the species from east of Hainan Island, China. The second species, Gnathophis asanoi Karmovskaya, 2004, was described from the Philippines based on two types. Ho et al. (2015) reported one specimen collected from Taiwan but provided one additional specimen was collected more recently.