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Traditionally, research in communication and culture (e.g., "cross-cultural communication," "intercultural communication," "international communication") has examined the notions of individualism (IND) and collectivism (COL) extensively. However, the results of these studies are sometimes inconsistent, as documented in previous meta-analyses. This study posits that the theory-data inconsistency can be attributed to accelerated globalization, particularly, improved economic and political situations within traditionally under-developed or developing Asian nations. To examine this prediction, 99 IND-COL studies published between 1988 and 2023 were compiled that compared the U.S. to Asian countries (N = 87,735, k IND = 131, k COL = 156), and augmented with national-level socio-political indices (i.e., percent of urban population, gross domestic product, democracy) as predictors of the IND-COL effects. Partially consistent with this study's prediction, Asian nations with improved socio-political conditions manifested a decline in collectivism. However, these improvements with time did not predict an increase in individualism. The results are discussed in relation to the theoretical definitions of IND and COL, and the limitations of the traditional approach to understanding cross-cultural differences. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aim: To clarify the status of minimally invasive gynecologic surgery (MIGS) in the Asia/Oceania region. Methods: Survey questionnaires were sent out to the representative of AOFOG countries. They consisted of questions on the general status of MIGS, the clinical indication of MIGS, cost coverage, company support, training and certification for MIGS, patient preference for MIGS and requirements for the AOFOG. Results: Developmental stage of MIGS in this region was roughly divided into three categories: fully developed countries, countries in the developmental stage and countries in the rudimentary stage. Clinical indication of MIGS and training opportunity of young doctors were correlated with the developmental stage. Conclusion: Support by AOFOG should be considered according to the developmental stage of each country. Collecting updated information on MIGS in each member country is important to provide adequate support. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Reciprocal trade agreements (RTAs) have proliferated rapidly in Asia in recent years, an unprecedented phenomenon in a region in which state-led institution-building efforts were largely unsuccessful during the Cold War years. In this article, we investigate the qualitative provisions of RTAs in Asia, focusing on agreements that are professedly geared toward trade liberalization through reciprocal exchanges of trade concessions. We build on the concept of credible commitment--that states "tie their hands" through international agreements and thus signal strong commitment to trade liberalization. We argue that a broad range of agreement provisions will affect an RTA's ability to achieve its primary objective: trade liberalization. We present a coding scheme that measures the strength of a wide variety of provisions in the legal texts of RTAs. Using quantitative analysis, we analyze the impact of various components of Asia's RTAs on participants' trade flows. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Gracilaria vermiculophylla (Ohmi) Papenf., an agar-producing red alga introduced from northeast Asia to Europe and North America, is often highly abundant in invaded areas. To assay its genetic diversity and identify the putative source of invasive populations, we analyzed the mitochondrial cytochrome c oxidase subunit I ( cox1) gene from 312 individuals of G. vermiculophylla collected in 37 native and 32 introduced locations. A total of 19 haplotypes were detected: 17 in northeast Asia and three in Europe and eastern and western North America, with only one shared among all regions. The shared haplotype was present in all introduced populations and in ∼99% of individuals in the introduced areas. This haplotype was also found at three native locations in east Korea, west Japan, and eastern Russia. Both haplotype and nucleotide diversities were extremely low in Europe and North America compared to northeast Asia. Our study indicates that the East Sea/Sea of Japan is a likely donor region of the invasive populations of G. vermiculophylla in the east and west Atlantic and the east Pacific. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Red ginseng has been widely used in health-promoting supplements in Asia and is becoming increasingly popular in Western countries. However, its therapeutic mechanisms against most diseases have not been clearly elucidated. The aim of the present study was to provide the biological mechanisms of red ginseng against various metabolic diseases. We used a systems biological approach to comprehensively identify the component-target and target-pathway networks in order to explore the mechanisms underlying the therapeutic potential of red ginseng against metabolic diseases. Of the 23 components of red ginseng with target, 5 components were linked with 37 target molecules. Systematic analysis of the constructed networks revealed that these 37 targets were mainly involved in 9 signaling pathways relating to immune cell differentiation and vascular health. These results successfully explained the mechanisms underlying the efficiency of red ginseng for metabolic diseases, such as menopausal symptoms in women, blood circulation, diabetes mellitus, and hyperlipidemia. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Non-small lung cancer (NSCLC) is the most common cancer in the world. The epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) gene is mutated in approximately 10% of lung cancer cases in the US and 50% of lung cancer in Asia. The representative target therapeutic agent, erlotinib (EGFR tyrosine kinase inhibitor; EGFR TKI), is effective in inactivating EGFR in lung cancer patients. However, approximately 50–60% of patients are resistant to EGFR TKI. These populations are associated with the EGFR mutation. To overcome resistance to EGFR TKI, we discovered a JAK1 inhibitor, CJ14939. We investigated the efficacy of CJ14939 in human NSCLC cell lines in vitro and in vivo. Our results showed that CJ14939 induced the inhibition of cell growth. Moreover, we demonstrated that combination treatment with erlotinib and CJ14939 induced cell death in vitro and inhibited tumor growth in vivo. In addition, we confirmed the suppression of phosphorylated EGFR, JAK1, and Stat3 expression in erlotinib and CJ14939-treated human NSCLC cell lines. Our results provide evidence that JAK inhibition overcomes resistance to EGFR TKI in human NSCLCs. • We discovered a JAK1 inhibitor, CJ14939. • Our results showed that CJ14939 inhibited cell growth in NSCLC. • Combination treatment with erlotinib and CJ14939 induced inhibited tumor growth. • JAK inhibition overcomes resistance to EGFR TKI in human NSCLCs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To reveal whether an increase of CTX-M-15-producing Klebsiella pneumoniae ST11 isolates is due to clonal dissemination across the countries, plasmids (pHK02-026, pM16-13, pIN03-01, and pTH02-34) were extracted from four K. pneumoniae isolates collected in Hong Kong, Malaysia, Thailand, and Indonesia, respectively. Complete sequencing of bla CTX-M-15 -carrying plasmids was performed. In addition to the four plasmids, a previously sequenced plasmid (pKP12226) of a K. pneumoniae ST11 isolate from Korea was included in the analysis. While pIN03-01 and pTH02-34, which belonged to the incompatibility group IncX3, showed nearly the same structure, the others of IncF1A or IncFII exhibited very different structures. The number and kinds of antibiotic genes found in the plasmids were also different from each other. Cryptic prophage genes were identified in all five bla CTX-M-15 -harboring plasmids from the ST11 isolates; P1-like region in pKP12226, CPZ-55 prophage region in pHK02-026, phage shock operon pspFABCD in pM16-13, and SPBc2 prophage yokD in pIN03-01 and pTH02-34. The plasmids with bla CTX-M-15 in the prevailing K. pneumoniae ST11 isolates in Asian countries might emerge from diverse origins by recombination. The prevalence of CTX-M-15-producing K. pneumoniae ST11 clone in Asian countries is not mainly due to the dissemination of a single strain.