Search

An introduction is presented for the issue, which is in honour of Professor Ian Brown, on the theme of South Asia's colonial history.

The purpose of this paper is to explore the impact of the first wave of COVID-19 lockdowns on retail stock trading patterns, at a transnational level. Cross-sectional empirical research was utilized with five samples of public companies from the US, Europe, Asia, and blended equity capital markets globally. The impact of the first wave of COVID-19 lockdowns on stock trading patterns was investigated using median tests and the factors that influence retail stock trading were explored with regression analyses. Contrary to the conventional proposition that stock trading activity is reduced during times of crisis, the results of this study indicate that retail stock trading increased during the first wave of COVID-19 lockdowns. In addition, the findings raise awareness of the risks to novice retail investors associated with the increased stock trading due to herd behavior. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Recent studies regarding the impacts of technology spillover and international trade have gained momentum in the emerging economies. Empirical evidences show that some countries gain and other loss to grasp the opportunities of international trade and technological innovation to compete in the global market. This paper examines the effect of export and technology on the economic performance of emerging Asian countries, using the Generalized Method of Moments (GMM) model between the periods 2000–2016. Following the Solow economic growth model, the result identifies a positive and significant effect of export and technology on the economic growth of the emerging Asian economies. Similarly, the long-run estimation ascertains the significant and positive impacts of trade and technology on the economic growth of the countries. The results are robust using alternative dynamic panel models, representing the pivotal role of export and technology to the economic growth of the countries. Thus, we recommend policymakers to device attractive policies that can enhance the advancement of technology and trade to maintain sustained economic growth. This would also fasten the internationalisation process and enable to compete efficiently in the global markets in terms of quality of exports and standardisation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Accurate predictions of water surface elevation (WSE) in rivers at high spatial and temporal resolution are important for flood/drought risk assessment and flood/drought forecasting and management. WSE in a river is controlled by three main factors: discharge, riverbed geometry, and hydraulic roughness. In remote and poorly instrumented rivers, discharge and riverbed geometry are highly uncertain and WSE is therefore hard to predict. ICESat-2 laser altimetry provides accurate elevation transects across the river at very high spatial resolution (70 cm along track). This paper demonstrates how ICESat-2 elevation transects can be used to parameterize a basin-scale hydraulic model of a continental-scale river. The workflow is demonstrated for the transboundary Amur River in North-East Asia. Simulated WSE is subsequently validated against a large dataset of in situ and satellite altimetry observations, and we demonstrate that the model can reproduce available WSE observations throughout the basin with an accuracy of 1–2 m. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Capacitive devices are used for hyperthermia delivery, initially mainly in Asia, but nowadays also increasingly in Europe. Treatment planning can be very useful to determine the most effective patient-specific treatment set-up. This paper provides a validation of GPU-based simulations using Plan2Heat for capacitive hyperthermia devices. Methods: Validation was first performed by comparing simulations with an analytical solution for a spherical object placed inside a uniform electric field. Resolution was 5, 2.5 or 1 mm. Next, simulations for homogeneous and inhomogeneous phantom setups were performed for Thermotron RF8 and Celsius TCS capacitive heating devices at 2.5 mm resolution. Also different combinations of electrode sizes were evaluated. Normalized SAR profiles were compared to phantom measurements from the literature. Possible clinical use of treatment planning was demonstrated for an anal cancer patient, evaluating different treatment set-ups in prone and supine position. Results: Numerical and analytical solutions showed excellent agreement. At the center of the sphere, the error was 5.1%, 2.9% and 0.2% for a resolution of 5, 2.5 and 1 mm, respectively. Comparison of measurements and simulations for both Thermotron RF8 and Celsius TCS showed very good agreement within 5% for all phantom set-ups. Simulations were capable of accurately predicting the penetration depth; a very relevant parameter for clinical application. The patient case illustrated that planning can provide insight by comparing effectiveness of different treatment strategies. Conclusion: Plan2Heat can rapidly and accurately predict heating patterns generated by capacitive devices. Thus, Plan2Heat is suitable for patient-specific treatment planning for capacitive hyperthermia. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Longhorn beetles (Coleoptera: Cerambycidae) is one of the largest, most diverse, ecologically and economically important groups of beetles in the world. In the following paper, through a comprehensive synthesis and review of various sources of data, we have described the general patterns of the distribution of longhorn beetles on the global scale. We found that the vast majority of Cerambycidae diversity is concentrated in two hyper–diverse subfamilies: Lamiinae and Cerambycinae, which together cover 90.5% of all longhorn beetles. Nearly 60% of the global fauna of Cerambycidae is distributed within the Oriental or Neotropical realms. Although the monospecific genera are predominated, most of the taxonomic diversity of longhorn beetles is concentrated on the limited number of large, multi–species genera; only the first 829 richest genera encompass three quarters of the total number of Cerambycidae species. Although the estimated number of described longhorn beetle species (34,490) showed a good agreement with other studies, that figure seems to be far from the actual number, since more than 200 new species are described every year in the recent decade. Most newly–described species originate from Asia and Southern America. The vast majority (88.1%) of the Cerambycidae species were found to be restricted to only one biogeographic realm. The highest number of endemic species can be found in cerambycid fauna of the Australasian, Ethiopian, Madagascan and Neotropical realms. Moreover, our findings highlight the phylogenetic distinctness of the Madagascan fauna of Cerambycidae. More research involving a comprehensive multigene approach is needed to resolve urgent issues regarding both the higher and lower level taxonomy of Cerambycidae and to better understand the factors influencing the distribution and diversification of cerambycids. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper investigates the determinants of external debt in 32 Asian developing and transitioning economies for the period 1995–2019. Estimation is carried out using the generalized method of moments (GMM), which is capable of dealing with potential endogeneity problems. The results show that in both the short- and long-run, economic growth and investment reduce external debt, whereas exchange rate, trade, and government expenditure increase external debt. Diagnostic tests confirm the reliability and consistency of our findings, which should be taken into account by policymakers for policy formulation and implementation. Based on our empirical findings, relevant policy implications, aimed at reducing external debt in the selected Asian developing and transitioning economies, are provided for policy consideration. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Because most deaths in Africa and Asia are not well documented, estimates of mortality are often made using scanty data. The INDEPTH Network works to alleviate this problem by collating detailed individual data from defined Health and Demographic Surveillance sites. By registering all deaths over time and carrying out verbal autopsies to determine cause of death across many such sites, using standardised methods, the Network seeks to generate population-based mortality statistics that are not otherwise available. Objective: To build a large standardised mortality database from African and Asian sites, detailing the relevant methods, and use it to describe cause-specific mortality patterns. Design: Individual demographic and verbal autopsy (VA) data from 22 INDEPTH sites were collated into a standardised database. The INDEPTH 2013 population was used for standardisation. The WHO 2012 VA standard and the InterVA-4 model were used for assigning cause of death. Results: A total of 111,910 deaths occurring over 12,204,043 person-years (accumulated between 1992 and 2012) were registered across the 22 sites, and for 98,429 of these deaths (88.0%) verbal autopsies were successfully completed. There was considerable variation in all-cause mortality between sites, with most of the differences being accounted for by variations in infectious causes as a proportion of all deaths. Conclusions: This dataset documents individual deaths across Africa and Asia in a standardised way, and on an unprecedented scale. While INDEPTH sites are not constructed to constitute a representative sample, and VA may not be the ideal method of determining cause of death, nevertheless these findings represent detailed mortality patterns for parts of the world that are severely under-served in terms of measuring mortality. Further papers explore details of mortality patterns among children and specifically for NCDs, external causes, pregnancy-related mortality, malaria, and HIV/AIDS. Comparisons will also be made where possible with other findings on mortality in the same regions. Findings presented here and in accompanying papers support the need for continued work towards much wider implementation of universal civil registration of deaths by cause on a worldwide basis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Agricultural biotechnology is enhancing agricultural productivity, food security, and livelihoods globally. Some developing countries have established functional biosafety regulatory systems and have commercialized genetically modified (GM) crops. Release of GM crops requires enhanced capacity for regulatory compliance and product stewardship to help ensure sustainable use of biotechnology products. We conducted a survey of 66 stakeholders, mostly from Africa and Asia, in two-week international agricultural biotechnology short courses. Respondents showed knowledge of biotechnology benefits and expressed potential barriers to commercialization. They identified 16 crops in the "pipeline for commercialization." Stakeholders also shared ideas about how to build capacity for product stewardship. Product stewardship is a concept which requires each person in the product life cycle – innovators, scientists, and technology users, to share responsibility. This paper focuses on adoption of product stewardship for post-release management of GM crops which encompasses trait performance, resistance management, integrated pest management (IPM), good agricultural practices, high-quality seeds and planting material, intellectual property management, labeling, identity preservation, consumer acceptance, and effective marketing. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Dudusa sphingiformis is an important lepidopteran pest widely distributed in tropical and subtropical zones of Asia. In this paper, the complete mitochondrial genome (mitogenome) of D. sphingiformis was determined by next-generation sequencing. The mitogenome was 15,806 bp in length, comprising 13 protein-coding genes (PCGs), 22 tRNA genes, two rRNA genes, and an AT-rich control region (D-loop). The gene arrangement of this mitogenome was identical to that of the previous studies of Notodontidae moths. Almost all the PCGs initiated with typical ATN codons, except for cox1 with CGA. Among them, nine PCGs terminated with TAA or TAG, while other four PCGs (cox1, cox2, nad5, and nad4) with incomplete stop codon T. All the 22 tRNAs had the typical cloverleaf structure, except for trnS1, whose dihydrouridine (DHU) arm forms a simple loop. Phylogenetic analysis based on the concatenated nucleotide sequences of 13 PCGs indicated that D. sphingiformis was more closely related to other species of family Notodontidae, forming a monophyletic group, with well-resolved relationships among five family of Noctuoidea. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cardamine fallax (O. E. Schulz) Nakai. is a perennial plant distributed in Eastern Asia. However, no extensive genomic studies are available on C. fallax. In this paper, the authors describe the complete chloroplast (cp) genome of C. fallax and its phylogenetic analysis. The cp genome is 154,797 bp in length with 36.3% GC content and consists of a pair of inverted repeats (IRs) of 26,521 bp that separated a large single-copy (LSC) region of 83,817 bp and a small single-copy (SSC) region of 17,938 bp. It was found to contain 113 unique genes, of which 80 were protein-coding genes, 29 were transfer RNAs, and four were ribosomal RNAs. Also, six PCGs, eight tRNA and four rRNA genes were duplicated in the IR region and one gene as a pseudogene. Phylogenetic analysis showed that all Cardamine species are highly conserved, and C. fallax was associated with the sister clade C. amaraeformis and C. parviflora. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Most economists examining the question of 'pollution havens' have concluded that the level of environmental regulation and activism in different states is not generally a significant determinant of international patterns of trade and foreign direct investment. This paper argues on the basis of extensive primary research that with respect to Japan's foreign direct investment during the 1970s, at any rate, this conclusion needs to be rethought. In the early 1970s, Japanese actors were remarkably forthright in ascribing their investment decisions to a desire to move polluting industry overseas. These statements allow us to examine 'pollution export' as a state strategy, a project advocated by industry organizations, and a response of individual firms to high levels of protest and regulation. The paper also traces the development of the Japanese debate over pollution export through the 1970s. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Gastric cancer (GC) is the second most prevalent carcinoma resulting in cancer-related deaths in the world, with differences among geographic areas. Although the incidence and mortality rates of GC in Asia are decreasing, the search for diverse and effective therapies of GC is still needed to be fully inquired. The present research explored the expression pattern, functional role and underlying mechanism of DLX6-AS1 in GC. Firstly, we measured DLX6-AS1 expression in GC and then found the elevated level of DLX6-AS1. To further inspect the function role of DLX6-AS1 involved in GC, we performed lost-of-function assays. The silencing of DLX6-AS1 suppressed cell proliferation, migration and EMT process of GC cells. Subsequently, we uncovered that MAP4K1 was also up-regulated in GC and could be positively regulated by DLX6-AS1. Moreover, MAP4K1 down-regulation similarly inhibited GC progression. In addition, DLX6-AS1 stabilized MAP4K1 via modulating FUS. In summary, DLX6-AS1 modulated GC progression through FUS-regulated MAP4K1. Our paper exposed the role and regulatory mechanism of DLX6-AS1 in GC, which suggested a novel and valid therapy for GC patients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper investigates the impact urbanization, industrialization, corruption, human development, energy consumption, and foreign direct investment (FDI) on carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions of 61 developing economies of the global south region of Asia, Africa, and Latin America during the period 1990–2015. The empirical results show that the effect of corruption on CO2 emissions is indeed heterogeneous and contradictory. Specifically, results exhibit that due to immature economic system, and policy paralysis, corruption penetrates the developing economies, and eventually cause carbon emission and pollution. Furthermore, results reveal that FDI guided by clean development mechanism and involved in emission reduction projects in the developing economies play a predominant role to curb the CO2 emission, pollution, and environmental degradation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper discusses and examines the development of an Asian bond market, which serves as a bridge to establish financial cooperation in the region. The issues of currency denomination are discussed. In addition, the role that China may play in the establishment of the bond market is presented and analyzed. It is argued that cooperation between China and Hong Kong is desirable to further enhance the development of the market. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper argues the case for critical regional enquiries in East and South East Asia into the study of gender and sexual diversity. The concept of 'regions' is here seen as a partial and provisional way of describing both the various ways in which an area of the world is imagined as being separate and distinct, and of describing the flows of people, goods and ideas through which a particular region or world area is made. Further, it is suggested that the idea of regions is a theoretically and politically necessary fiction. On the one hand, a critical regional perspective provides a vantage point from which to problematize naive and uncritical writing on globalization, including the 'globalization' of gender and sexual identities. On the other hand, it enables us to think about the wider networks of material and symbolic relations within, and through which, gender and sexuality are made and experienced in particular locales. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Research capacity enhancement is needed in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) for improved health, wellbeing, and health systems' development. In this article, we discuss two capacity-building projects, the African/Asian Regional Capacity Development (ARCADE) in Health Systems and Services Research (HSSR) and Research on Social Determinants of Health (RSDH), implemented from 2011 to 2015. The two projects focussed on providing courses in HSSR and social determinants of health research, and on developing collaborations between universities, along with capacity in LMIC universities to manage research grant submissions, financing, and reporting. Both face-to-face and sustainable online teaching and learning resources were used in training at higher postgraduate levels (Masters and Doctoral level). Design: We collated project meeting and discussion minutes along with project periodic reports and deliverables. We extracted key outcomes from these, reflected on these in discussions, and summarised them for this paper. Results: Nearly 55 courses and modules were developed that were delivered to over 920 postgraduate students in Africa, Asia, and Europe. Junior researchers were mentored in presenting, developing, and delivering courses, and in preparing research proposals. In total, 60 collaborative funding proposals were prepared. The consortia also developed institutional capacity in research dissemination and grants management through webinars and workshops. Discussion: ARCADE HSSR and ARCADE RSDH were comprehensive programmes, focussing on developing the research skills, knowledge, and capabilities of junior researchers. One of the main strengths of these programmes was the focus on network building amongst the partner institutions, where each partner brought skills, expertise, and diverse work cultures into the consortium. Through these efforts, the projects improved both the capacity of junior researchers and the research environment in Africa, Asia, and Europe. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The purpose of this study is to explore the influence of bank capital, bank liquidity level and credit risk on the profitability of commercial banks in the postcrisis period between 2011 and 2017 in Asian developed economies in comparison with the USA banking industry. The findings show that bank capital and credit risk influence profitability in Asian developed economies similar to in the USA commercial banks, whereas the impact of liquidity on the profitability of the USA large commercial banks is negative and positive on Asian developed economies commercial banks in the postcrisis era. The findings indicate that a 6% increase in capital leads to a 1% increase in profit, a 3.5% increase in liquidity leads to a 1% increase in profit. Specifically, larger banks generate 1% profit against a 1% increase in liquid assets. Medium size banks make 1% profit against a 3% increase in liquid assets, and small size banks produce 1% profit against a 7% increase in liquid assets. The findings show that liquidity influences profitability more intensively than capital, whereas the sign of coefficients is similar for large, small and medium-size banks. The results of this paper indicate that liquidity and bank capital have a positive impact on profitability, while credit risk has a negative influence on the profitability of banks. The findings of the simultaneous equations model indicate that bank capital has a positive impact on profitability in large and medium banks, whereas the profitability of banks influences the bank capital positively in case of large banks and negatively in case of medium banks. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) is characterized by much diversity in terms of geography, society, economic development, and health outcomes. The health systems as well as healthcare structure and provisions vary considerably. Consequently, the progress toward Universal Health Coverage (UHC) in these countries also varies. This paper aims to describe the progress toward UHC in the ASEAN countries and discuss how regional integration could influence UHC. Design: Data reported in this paper were obtained from published literature, reports, and gray literature available in the ASEAN countries. We used both online and manual search methods to gather the information and 'snowball' further data. Results: We found that, in general, ASEAN countries have made good progress toward UHC, partly due to relatively sustained political commitments to endorse UHC in these countries. However, all the countries in ASEAN are facing several common barriers to achieving UHC, namely 1) financial constraints, including low levels of overall and government spending on health; 2) supply side constraints, including inadequate numbers and densities of health workers; and 3) the ongoing epidemiological transition at different stages characterized by increasing burdens of non-communicable diseases, persisting infectious diseases, and reemergence of potentially pandemic infectious diseases. The ASEAN Economic Community's (AEC) goal of regional economic integration and a single market by 2015 presents both opportunities and challenges for UHC. Healthcare services have become more available but health and healthcare inequities will likely worsen as better-off citizens of member states might receive more benefits from the liberalization of trade policy in health, either via regional outmigration of health workers or intra-country health worker movement toward private hospitals, which tend to be located in urban areas. For ASEAN countries, UHC should be explicitly considered to mitigate deleterious effects of economic integration. Political commitments to safeguard health budgets and increase health spending will be necessary given liberalization's risks to health equity as well as migration and population aging which will increase demand on health systems. There is potential to organize select health services regionally to improve further efficiency. Conclusions: We believe that ASEAN has significant potential to become a force for better health in the region. We hope that all ASEAN citizens can enjoy higher health and safety standards, comprehensive social protection, and improved health status. We believe economic and other integration efforts can further these aspirations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The pond wolf spider Pardosa pseudoannulata Bösenberg & Strand, 1906 (Araneae: Lycosidae) is an important predator of agricultural pests in southern, eastern and southeastern Asia. Here, we report the complete mitogenome of this spider reconstructed from Illumina sequencing data. The circular mitogenome length is 14,533 bp with the nucleotide composition A (33.3%), C (8.2%), G (15.2%), and T (43.3%). The P. pseudoannulata mitogenome comprises 13 protein-coding genes, 22 transfer RNA genes, two ribosomal RNA genes, and a control region. Phylogenetic analyses of Lycosidae mitogenomes supported the monophyly of the subfamily Pardosinae and the two genera Pardosa and Alopecosa, and indicated the polyphyly of the subfamily Lycosinae and the paraphyly of its type genus Lycosa. In this study, P. pseudoannulata is the closest relative to P. pusiola. These results provide useful genetic information for future studies on the diversity, phylogeny, and evolution for wolf spiders. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper offers a first attempt at discussing the linkages between migration and development in reference to the feminisation of intra-regional migratory flows in Asia. It begins with a summary of the current debate on the 'migration and development nexus' with two objectives in mind: 1) to assess this debate's relevance to intra-regional migration in Asia; and 2) to redirect attention to the social dimension of feminised migrations and its relationship to development. In doing so, the focus is on the individual and family level to discuss the impact of migration on personal development as well as on interpersonal relations. What follows thereafter is a brief summary of the character and context of feminised migration in Asia, by approaching this issue from an intra-regional (that is migratory moves of Asians within Asia) perspective. The final section links the previous discussion to the issue of rights. The article concludes that the conceptual and normative linkages between women's social and economic rights as they relate to migration need further exploration, eg by way of specific case studies or ethnographic research. This is needed for relevant policy reform and implementation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper examines if the Indian stock market moves with other markets in Asia and the United States in an era of capital market reforms and the sustained interest of foreign investors in that market. By using techniques of cointegration, vector autoregression, vector error-correction models, and Granger causality, we find that, though there is definite information leadership from the U.S. market to all Asian markets, the U.S. indexes do not uniquely influence the integration of Asian markets, while Japan is found to play a unique role in the integration of Asian markets. The U.S. market is seen not only to influence, but also to be influenced by information from most of the major Asian markets. The Indian stock return in recent times is definitely led by major stock index returns in the United States, Japan, as well as other Asian markets, such as Hong Kong, South Korea, and Singapore. More important, returns on the Indian market are also seen to exert considerable influence on stock returns in major Asian markets. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Medical tourism is a relatively recent global economic and political phenomenon which has assumed increasing importance for developing countries, particularly in Asia. It has been slower to develop within the context of the tourism industry in English-speaking Caribbean countries but there is evidence that the tourism policy makers in the region perceive medical tourism as a potentially lucrative niche market. However, while the potential of medical tourism has seemingly been embraced by the region's political directorate, there has been limited discussion of the extent to which this market niche can realistically provide competitive advantage for the region. The argument of this conceptual paper is that the English-speaking Caribbean cannot hope to compete successfully in the global medical tourism market with many developing world destinations in Asia, or even with other Caribbean countries such as Cuba, on factors such as low cost, staff expertise, medical technological capability, investment in healthcare facilities or even in terms of the natural resources of sun, sea and sand. Rather, in order to achieve competitive advantage the countries of the region should, on the one hand, identify and develop their unique resources and competences as they relate to medical tourism, while, on the other hand, they should exploit the demand of the postmodern tourist for authentic experiences. Both these supply and demand side issues, it is argued, can be addressed through the development of a medical tourism product that utilises the region's indigenous herbal remedies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Asia's unprecedented economic growth and reduction in the number of poor people is fuelled mainly by industrial expansion. This growth is unsustainable unless the associated environmental impacts are significantly reduced. Resource and energy efficiency is a practical way for industry to achieve this. However, current efforts are not sufficient to capitalise on the huge energy efficiency potential, as barriers exist including low company management awareness, limited knowledge and information, lack of financing, and conflicting policies combined with weak enforcement. This paper discusses and illustrates these barriers with real-life examples from Asian companies, including China. To ensure continued energy efficiency in Asian industry it is recommended to increase management awareness, establish an organisational infrastructure for energy efficiency cooperation, invest in financial mechanisms to fund energy efficiency projects, and expand and amend policies. It is also essential to improve efficiency of other resources, especially water. As a first step, an efficiency guide was produced as part of the Greenhouse Gas Emission Reduction from Industry in Asia (GERIAP) project. Without these efforts, poverty in Asia in the long term is likely to increase rather than decrease. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper provides a broad introduction to the special issue and examines the main contours of regional governance in the Asia Pacific. It suggests that prevailing theories of regional co-operation in the Asia Pacific fail to pay due heed to the manner in which regional integration is rooted in domestic coalitions, economic strategies, and state forms that prevailed in the boom years of the 'Asian Miracle'. The paper then goes on to argue that the collapse of the developmentalist project has given way to the new regulatory state, which in turn spawns new forms of regulatory regionalism that place a heavy accent on policy co-ordination and harmonisation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper argues that the relationship between homophobia and HIV/AIDS is not as direct as is often assumed. This argument is pursued through an examination of the situation of gay men in Australia, a country where the HIV epidemic is largely confined to gay men, and Bangladesh, a country and culture where sex between men does not conform to categories of human sexuality privileged in Western theory. Both of these countries reveal something different about cultures of sex between men, which provides a counterpoint to the often compelling and usually pervasive accounts of HIV-related discrimination that are derived particularly from North America. The paper concludes with a plea that as efforts are geared up to fight the HIV pandemic in Asia and the Pacific, researchers, planners and practitioners become more critical of the conceptual tools they rely on in thinking about HIV/AIDS and human sexual activity, so that it is possible to mobilize (and do less damage to) local cultures of sexuality. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The New Economy poses significant challenges and opportunities for Asia's model of state-guided development. After decades of prolific advance in economic growth and social welfare, the Asian financial crisis instigated the transformation of existing industries and the rise of new ones, especially in information and communications sectors. At the same time, environmental sustainability, traditionally considered a luxury unaffordable for the quick developers of Asia, is becoming an imperative with policy-makers and businesspeople, as public health in Asian megacities continues to deteriorate. This paper considers the complex processes of business and market transformation introduced by the New Economy, and the ensuing implications for economic, social and environmental sustainability in Asia. In particular, this paper considers the sustainability implications of transformation in business processes brought about through the business applications of new information and communications technologies (ICTs); expansion of new online markets for goods and services, especially those that may exist exclusively through ICTs; and changes in secondary and related industries, such as hardware, software and infrastructure sectors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The spectacular economic success of the Newly Industrialising Countries (NICS) of Asia since the 1960s, has led to the quest to identify other less developed countries which may be just about to become the next NICS of Asia. This paper examines the arguments for and against the view that there is a "second tier" of less developed countries which are about to join the ranks of the Asian NICS. While Malaysia and Thailand are generally thought to be the most likely candidates, this paper argues that one hitherto unrecognised contender. China, is likely to join these countries in achieving NIC status. This paper examines the question of whether there are likely to be more Newly Industrializing Countries (NICS) emerging over time, following in the footsteps of the original four in Asia (Hong Kong, Singapore, South Korea and Taiwan). While some writers suggest that several developing countries are about to achieve NIC status in the near future, others argue that world trading conditions have deteriorated to such an extent as to make this very unlikely. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Our profession has regretfully overlooked the rhetoric of Asia. The growing importance of the Pacific region as well as the intrinsic worth of such a study should persuade us to free ourselves from such ethnocentric myopia. While a few courses and some convention papers and journal articles are beginning to appear, there needs to he many more. While some recent empirical studies in cross cultural communication have discussed Asian contexts, there have been very few humanistic studies of Asian rhetoric. A suggested course is here outlined, with recommended readings and projects, and suggested sources for Asian speeches in English. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The changing relationship between infant, early childhood and adult mortality under conditions where life expectancy at birth is very low is considered in this paper. The feasibility of predicting life expectancy at birth from the infant mortality rate, and conversely, is discussed by considering the circumstances under which infant, early childhood, and adult mortality may vary independently of one another. The implications of using the Princeton regional model life tables in circumstances where adult mortality must be used to estimate infant mortality (East Asia) and infant mortality to judge adult mortality (European populations) are discussed. Attention is also given to the nature of distinctive cause-specific age-at-death patterns, and the effects they may have on the balance between infant and early childhood mortality during the historical epidemiological transition. The paper concludes by outlining some of the implications for research on mortality levels in contemporary Third-World populations, especially the debate over the relative influence of medical intervention and socio-economic development. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The interconnection between travel and leisure industry and precious metals markets has attracted a lot of interest among investors, policy makers, practitioners and market participants. We investigate the role of infectious diseases-based uncertainty on the dynamic connectedness between Southeast Asia travel and tourism stocks indices and four major precious metals namely; gold, silver, palladium, and platinum over the period 31 March 2015 to 5 February 2021. We adopt the time-varying parameter vector autoregressions (TVP-VAR) and the nonparametric causality-in-quantiles approach for its methodological superiority over linear approaches in capturing the presence of causality at different quantiles of the commodity distribution. The following is discernible from our analyses. First, we find strong spillovers between the two markets, implying there are diversification options. Second, silver and platinum are best effective portfolio diversification tools among precious metals. Third, strong evidence of nonlinearity makes it crucial for consideration when examining the role of diseases-based uncertainty in affecting the interactions between travel and tourism stocks and metals markets. Lastly, connectedness between uncertainty due to infectious diseases and the markets is stronger mostly around the lower and normal quantiles. These results have important policy implications for policymakers and market participants. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The well-functioning domestic institutions are very important for the global value chains to have its positive impact on environment. This article provides an empirical assessment of the impact of domestic institutional arrangements along the way to participate in global value chains on environmental performance index for sustainability goals for 41 Asian countries over 2001–2018 period. Most recent empirical studies assumes that causality runs to environmental measures through trade and governance but inverse relationship is also feasible and none of the previous studies have discussed about it. Using instrumental variable strategy to closing these gaps, we analyse the mechanism of direct and indirect impact of participation in global value chains on environmental performance index. Our results show that environmental performance index is negatively affected by participation in global value chains and this relationship overturns when participation in global value chains is accompanied by governance facilitation. Further, the findings suggest that governance-augmented participation in global value chains is a tool of environmental sustainability. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: Those travelling overseas for work or leisure including male expatriates, longer-term and frequent travellers (ELoFTs) may be at heightened risk for a range of health and wellbeing issues. Social support may mediate this risk. However, from a public health perspective, little is written about how ELoFTs access health information and support and the role of their social networks in facilitating health and wellbeing outcomes. This research was part of a study examining social network processes of Australian male ELoFTs travelling, living, or working in Southeast Asia (SEA). Methods: Symbolic Interactionism and Grounded Theory were the conceptual framework and methodology supporting semi-structured, in-depth interviews (n = 25) conducted in Australia and Thailand with Australian male ELoFTs to SEA, aged 18 years or older. Results: Findings highlight supports that assist ELoFT transition and adjustment to country of destination or manage their transnational experience. Influential places, people, and points in the migration journey mediated engagement with social support. Conclusions: ELoFT social networks and the support provided within them may provide a mechanism for intervention across a range of public health issues. Findings may support the development of policy and practice across industries charged with supporting successful ELoFT adjustment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Growing demand for Global Health (GH) training and the internationalisation of education requires innovative approaches to training. Blended learning (BL, a form of e-learning combining face-to-face or real-time interaction with computer-assisted learning) is a promising approach for increasing GH research capacity in low- to middle-income countries. Implementing BL, however, requires additional skills and efforts from lecturers. This paper explores lecturers' views and experiences of delivering BL courses within the context of two north-south collaborative research capacity building projects, ARCADE HSSR and ARCADE RSDH. Design: We used a qualitative approach to explore the experiences and perceptions of 11 lecturers involved in designing and delivering BL courses collaboratively across university campuses in four countries (South Africa, Uganda, India and Sweden). Data were collected using interviews in person or via Skype. Inductive qualitative content analysis was used. Results: Participants reported that they felt BL increased access to learning opportunities and made training more flexible and convenient for adult learners, which were major motivations to engage in BL. However, despite eagerness to implement and experiment with BL courses, they lacked capacity and support, and found the task time consuming. They needed to make compromises between course objectives and available technological tools, in the context of poor Internet infrastructure. Conclusions: BL courses have the potential to build bridges between low- and middle-income contexts and between lecturers and students to meet the demand for GH training. Lecturers were very motivated to try these approaches but encountered obstacles in implementing BL courses. Considerable investments are needed to implement BL and support lecturers in delivering courses. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: As the Association of South East Asian Nations (ASEAN) gears toward full regional integration by 2015, the cross-border mobility of workers and citizens at large is expected to further intensify in the coming years. While ASEAN member countries have already signed the Declaration on the Protection and Promotion of the Rights of Migrant Workers, the health rights of migrants still need to be addressed, especially with ongoing universal health coverage (UHC) reforms in most ASEAN countries. This paper seeks to examine the inclusion of migrants in the UHC systems of five ASEAN countries which exhibit diverse migration profiles and are currently undergoing varying stages of UHC development. Design: A scoping review of current migration trends and policies as well as ongoing UHC developments and migrant inclusion in UHC in Indonesia, Malaysia, Philippines, Singapore, and Thailand was conducted. Results: In general, all five countries, whether receiving or sending, have schemes that cover migrants to varying extents. Thailand even allows undocumented migrants to opt into its Compulsory Migrant Health Insurance scheme, while Malaysia and Singapore are still yet to consider including migrants in their government-run UHC systems. In terms of predominantly sending countries, the Philippines's social health insurance provides outbound migrants with portable insurance yet with limited benefits, while Indonesia still needs to strengthen the implementation of its compulsory migrant insurance which has a health insurance component. Overall, the five ASEAN countries continue to face implementation challenges, and will need to improve on their UHC design in order to ensure genuine inclusion of migrants, including undocumented migrants. However, such reforms will require strong political decisions from agencies outside the health sector that govern migration and labor policies. Furthermore, countries must engage in multilateral and bilateral dialogue as they redefine UHC beyond the basis of citizenship and reimagine UHC systems that transcend national borders. Conclusions: By enhancing migrant coverage, ASEAN countries can make UHC systems truly 'universal'. Migrant inclusion in UHC is a human rights imperative, and it is in ASEAN's best interest to protect the health of migrants as it pursues the path toward collective social progress and regional economic prosperity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Based on culture identity theory and schema theory, we investigate how model ethnicity influences the perception and effectiveness of potentially offensive nudity advertising in Asia and Western Europe. Study 1 with 5,193 ad evaluations by 1,731 subjects from two countries shows that the overall perceived offensiveness in nudity advertising was higher in Asia (China) than in Western Europe (Austria). While previous research indicates that same-ethnicity endorsers are typically favorable for advertising outcomes, our study demonstrates that same-ethnicity endorsers in nudity advertising led to a higher perceived offensiveness and more negative advertising outcomes in Asia, as compared to endorsers of other ethnicities. In Western Europe, in contrast, same-ethnicity endorsers led to a lower perceived offensiveness and more positive advertising outcomes. A follow-up experiment with 373 subjects validated the results. We suggest a model of multi-ethnic offensive nudity advertising effects that is tested with structural equation modeling. Our findings have implications for international advertising theory and international advertising practice. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives: Our paper reviews current teaching practices used to support students with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) in the South Asian region, and to what extent these teaching practices reflect key research based effective practices. We have focused our attention on teaching practices at a time when we are witnessing a greater thrust towards achieving inclusive education at both, regional and global levels. Methods: We have used an eclectic approach for the study by employing a scoping review methodology to identify peer reviewed journal articles from South Asian countries. Having identified 10 articles and three dissertations in total from India, Pakistan, and Sri Lanka, we have used a matrix method to present our data against nine best teaching practices for students with ASD. Results: Results from the review indicate three practices (of the nine best teaching practices) were most frequently used. These are assessments, alternative, and augmentative communication systems, and parent-implemented instruction/program. The other six teaching practices were not widely reported. Conclusions: We identify significant implications for practitioners, educators, and teacher education programs within the Asian region and beyond. The use of an eclectic approach in making choices regarding teaching strategies, incorporating varied research based effective teaching practices, and following a systematic and informed approach of assessments – teaching interventions – ongoing evaluation are key to supporting students with ASD. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Tricholoma matsutake has been the most valuable ectomycorrhizal fungi in Asia because of its unique flavor and taste. However, due to the difficulty of artificial cultivation, the cultivation of T. matsutake has relied on natural growth in forests. To cultivate the T. matsutake artificially, microorganisms in fairy rings were introduced. In this study, we isolated 30 fungal species of microfungi from the soil of fairy rings. Among them, one single fungal strain showed a promoting effect on the growth of T. matsutake. The growth effect was confirmed by measuring the growth area of T. matsutake and enzyme activities including a-amylase, cellulase, and b-glucosidase. In comparison with control, microfungal metabolite increased the growth area of T. matsutake by 213% and the enzyme activity of T. matsutake by 110-200%. The isolated fungal strain was identified as Penicillium citreonigrum by BLAST on the NCBI database. The Discovery of this microfungal strain is expected to contribute to artificial cultivation of T. matsutake. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Burma's first well known welfare plan was entitled Pyidawtha or Happy Land, and it was launched in 1952. In vernacular terms, the literal meaning of Pyidawtha is 'Prosperous Royal Country'. The government's attempt to sustain tradition and culture and to instil modern aspirations in its citizens was reflected in its choice of the word Pyidawtha. The Plan failed and its implications still overshadow the development framework of Burma. This paper discusses how the country's major decisions, including whether or not to join the Commonwealth, have been influenced by language; how the term and concept of 'development' were conceived; how the Burmese translation was coined to attract public support; and how the detailed planning was presented to the masses by the government. The paper also discusses the concerns and anxieties of the democratic government led by U Nu in introducing Burma's first major development plan to a war-torn and bitterly divided country, and why it eventually failed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper explores sexual and reproductive health and rights (SRHR) among young people, identifying intersecting factors that create inequities in access to services, health-seeking behaviour, and ultimately health outcomes. Based on qualitative interviews with young people in the Maldives, it demonstrates how these intersectional experiences are contrary to what is often assumed in official data, policies, and services. Three factors were found to shape young people's experiences: marital status, gender, and urban/rural differences. Non-marital sexual activity is illegal in the Maldives, but it is somewhat expected of unmarried men, while unmarried women are stigmatised for being sexually active. Although access to SRH services is restricted for all unmarried people, young women face additional difficulties, as the risk of being exposed is much greater in small island communities. Maldivian island communities are extremely small and characterised by an inward-looking culture that exerts considerable social pressure, particularly on unmarried women. For an unmarried woman, being known to be sexually active, or worse, pregnant outside of marriage, has severe social consequences including stigma and isolation from the community, and their own family. This concern is more prevalent among rural young women, as they live in smaller communities where stigma is inescapable. The need to avoid public scrutiny and humiliation contributes to making unsafe abortion a common solution for many unintended pregnancies. Failure to acknowledge these intersecting factors in SRHR experience and access has led to inequities among an already overlooked population, shaping their experiences, knowledge, health-seeking behaviour, and health outcomes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Since the 1970s, Filipino cinema has presented internationally distinguished narratives on same-sex sexuality. Contemporary films from the Philippines dealing with issues of sexuality demonstrate an increasing interest in Filipino men who identify themselves as gay. Looking closely at two such films, Ang Lalake sa Parola (Man in the Lighthouse, dir Joselito Altarejo, 2007) and Bathhouse (dir Crisaldo Pablo, 2005), this paper examines how Filipino men engage with (or disengage from) the global gay construct. Drawing on ethnographic research, queer theory and post-colonial discourse, this article analyses how these filmic texts reflect the changing diversities of incumbent homosexual and global gay subjectivities. Using notions of cultural imperialism and protest as a conceptual backdrop, the paper considers the relevance of dichotomies - global/local or metropolitan/rural - in understanding appropriations of the gay identity by characters tied to globalized spaces. Its contention is that these texts illustrate how same-sex screen identities are recontextualized, visually and digitically, through self-peripheralization of the body and of the self. The author argues that the reshaping and redistribution of homosexual identities is synonymous with a reconstituted (national) resistance to non-Filipino global gay identities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

OVERVIEW: In today's competitive environment, the ability of an organization to innovate is paramount. While most organizations have flashes or spurts of innovation, only a handful have been able to innovate on a continuous and sustained basis. This paper surveys the challenges faced by firms when trying to build sustainable innovation programs. These findings have been derived from an examination of innovation programs in over 30 organizations in North America, Europe and Asia. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper analyzes the relationship between the Indian state and society for promoting economic growth and development in India. It argues that the shift to private sector and trade promotion, which was essential for growth, required technocratic conviction and economic crises, for accelerating the pace of change. While growth has resulted in social development, serious challenges to growth and human development remain. Poor physical and human infrastructure in many areas, and the politics of subsidies for the well-to-do at the cost of more inclusive public investment, pose major challenges for making the growth story a more inclusive one. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Low fruit and vegetable consumption is among the top 10 risk factors contributing to mortality worldwide. WHO/FAO recommends intake of a minimum of 400 grams (or five servings) of fruits and vegetables per day for the prevention of chronic diseases such as heart diseases, cancer, diabetes, and obesity. Objective: This paper examines the fruit and vegetable consumption patterns and the prevalence of inadequate fruit and vegetable consumption (less than five servings a day) among the adult population in rural surveillance sites in five Asian countries. Data and methods: The analysis is based on data from a 2005 cross-site study on non-communicable disease risk factors which was conducted in nine Asian INDEPTH Health and Demographic Surveillance System (HDSS) sites. Standardised protocols and methods following the WHO STEPwise approach to risk factor surveillance were used. The total sample was 18,429 adults aged 25-64 years. Multivariate logistic regression analysis was performed to assess the association between socio-demographic factors and inadequate fruit and vegetable consumption. Results: Inadequate fruit and vegetable consumption was common in all study sites. The proportions of inadequate fruit and vegetable consumption ranged from 63.5% in men and 57.5% in women in Chililab HDSS in Vietnam to the whole population in Vadu HDSS in India, and WATCH HDSS in Bangladesh. Multivariate logistic regression analysis in six sites, excludingWATCH and Vadu HDSS, showed that being in oldest age group and having low education were significantly related to inadequate fruit and vegetable consumption, although the pattern was not consistent through all six HDSS. Conclusions: Since such a large proportion of adults in Asia consume an inadequate amount of fruits and vegetables, despite of the abundant availability, education and behaviour change programmes are needed to promote fruit and vegetable consumption. Accurate and useful information about the health benefits of abundant fruit and vegetable consumption should be widely disseminated. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Chronic non-communicable diseases (NCDs) are the leading cause of morbidity, mortality, and disability worldwide. More than 80% of chronic disease deaths occur in low-income and middle-income countries. Epidemiological data on the burden of chronic NCD and the risk factors which predict them are lacking in most low-income countries. The INDEPTH Network (http://www.indepth-network.org) which includes the Health and Demographic Surveillance System (HDSS) with many surveillance sites in lowmiddle income countries provided an opportunity to establish surveillance of the major chronic NCD risk factors in 2005 using a standardised approach. Objective: This paper presents the conceptual framework and research design of the chronic NCD risk factor surveillance within nine rural INDEPTH HDSS settings in Asia. Methods: This multi-site study was designed as a baseline cross-sectional survey with sufficient sample size to measure trends over time. In each of nine HDSS sites in five Asian countries, a sample of 2,000 men and women aged 25-64 years, using the WHO STEPwise approach to Surveillance (http://who.int/chp/steps), was selected using stratified random sampling (in each 10-year interval) from the HDSS sampling frame. Results: A total of 18,494 men and women from the nine sites were interviewed with an overall response rate of 98%. The major NCDs risk factors included self-reported information on tobacco and alcohol consumption, fruit and vegetable intake, physical activity patterns, and measured body weight, height, waist circumference, and blood pressure. A series of training sessions were conducted for research scientists, supervisors, and surveyors in each site. Data quality was ensured through spot check, re-check, and data validation procedures, including accuracy and completeness of data obtained. Standardised data entry programme, created using the EPIDATA software, was used to ensure uniform database structure across sites. The data merging and analysis were done using STATAVersion 10. Conclusion: This multi-site study confirmed the feasibility of conducting chronic NCD risk factor surveillance in the low and middle-income settings by integrating the chronic NCDs risk factor surveillance into an existing HDSS data collection and management setting. This collaborative work has provided reliable epidemiological data as a basis for developing chronic NCD prevention and control activities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Over the next several decades, oil and gas production in Canada is expected to increase to meet growing demand in the United States and the Asia Pacific Region. Currently, eight major pipeline projects are being proposed in Canada to transport increased oil and gas production to market. This paper reviews potential impacts of the pipeline projects and develops a methodology for evaluating the current regime for assessing and managing project impacts based on best practices criteria. The results of the evaluation show that only three of 14 best practices criteria are met. The most significant deficiencies are: lack of clear decision-making criteria and methods; absence of decision-making processes that contain a legal obligation to provide compensation to those negatively affected by a project and ensure project benefits are equitably distributed; and no provision for comparative evaluation of competing projects. This paper identifies improvements required in environmental assessment and planning processes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article examines the educational policy responses by five western countries/regions to the ‘Asian economic miracle’ in the 1990s. It begins by stating that the idea of the global economic context has assumed considerable importance in the current educational thinking and debates. It then shows that Asia has been thematized in the west as a challenge that must be accommodated as a matter of significant economic interests. The country/region specific analyses, in the aggregate, demonstrate that ‘educating for location’ has been the driving force behind the policy to become Asia-literate. This instrumental approach is suggested as having a limiting influence on the sustainability of the policy initiatives. This paper underlies the need for a greater effort to make the proposed literacy reform educationally relevant and valid. Additionally, the recent events of 9/11 and the Bali bombings may have the effect of exacerbating the process. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Testing purchasing power parity (PPP) in the black market has increased in recent years due to the apparent puzzle in the literature by which PPP is largely rejected in flexible exchange rate regimes. Many studies of PPP suffer from the problem of imposing symmetry and proportionality restriction and fail to address the issues of stationarity and exogeneity. We address these issues in this paper by using monthly data from eight developing Asian countries over a thirty-one-year period. Even though the variables are cointegrated in a Johansen-Juselius framework, it is found that the domestic price and the foreign price are not weakly exogenous in many countries, and a direct test provides the rejection of the PPP hypothesis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Rather than seeing the spectacular collapse of stock and currency markets in East and Southeast Asia in 1997-98 as a financial crisis caused by imprudent banking practices and 'crony capitalism,' this article argues that the economic meltdown was a symptom of the collapse of the social coalitions underpinning the developmental states. The first section charts the contours of these social alliances between the late 1940s and the mid 1980s. The second section demonstrates that though the creation of a regional division of labor had enabled these economies to withstand the debt crisis, the progressive trans-border expansion of corporate production and procurement networks rendered national industrial policies increasingly incoherent. It charts how governments were able to paper over cracks in their domestic social alliances through debt-financed industrial expansion till the mid-1990s. Finally, the last section highlights emerging tensions in the different national constellations of power and privilege. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper presents findings from qualitative research carried out by the CARAM Southeast Asia Research Network in the period 1997–1999. In several countries in Asia, interviews and focus group discussions were held with migrant workers about their working conditions, access to health care, and factors affecting vulnerability to HIV/AIDS. Factors that have an impact on migrants' sexual behaviour include the country of destination and the availability of a commercial sex sector. Cultural differences with respect to sexual behaviour are also important. As social control in migrant communities is often limited, sexual relationships that are prohibited at home are often possible abroad. Besides continuing to belong to their home communities, migrants gradually adapt to their new communities abroad. In so doing, they adopt a so-called 'migrant identity' which can lead to a denial of certain (sexual) behaviours. This can make them difficult to reach by means of conventional HIV/AIDS prevention approaches. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]