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The 2014 national curriculum of Australia is a significant initiative that the Australian government has taken in proposing a curriculum that stresses Australia's engagement with Asia. In practice, this means that Asian cultures, beliefs, environments and the connections between Australia and Asia are embedded in the learning processes of Australian schools. This article provides an analysis of Australia's engagement with Asia, which is a cross-curriculum priority in the Australian curriculum. In particular, using the example of China, the article examines the strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats (SWOT) analysis involved in Australia's engagement with Asia from an educational perspective, especially during the global pandemic with the spread of COVID-19 affecting the world so significantly. The intent of this analysis is to map out the educational factors involved and consider what might happen to Australian students and schools as a result of their engagement with the educational cultures, beliefs and practices of China. This is connected to the two countries' economic engagements and people-to-people ties. By considering some of the current discourses that shape the Australia-China relationships, possibilities are opening up to rethink educational positions.

In 2015, PISA and TIMSS are coming up to us together. In this study, the data from PISA and TIMSS are used to investigate that which one is a better indicator of national science and technology (S&T) competitiveness? Number of S & T journal articles (per million people) is used as a measure to represent the national S&T competitiveness. Average IQ of the population, research and development (R&D) expenditure (% of GDP) and number of R&D researchers and technicians which affect the national competitiveness in S&T were also investigated. The study shows that PISA science scores would more significantly indicate national S&T competitiveness than TIMSS. Moreover, the study also shows a strong link between competence in S&T and IQ, research and development expenditure (% of GDP) or number of research and development researchers and technicians. Some possible micro-foundations of these relationships are discussed, and policy implication is clear.

Four classes of ninth-grade students in an international school in East Asia used a set of web-based technology tools to evaluate two competing webpages about the Taiwan Straits. The findings highlight the ways these students developed disciplinary literacy in social studies by drawing upon cultural resources and contextual knowledge as they responded to and evaluated the claims and evidence within the two texts. Implications of this work point to the potential benefits of educators being more explicit about the relationship between metacognitive reading strategies and the metadiscursive skills that are part of the social studies. A related implication for practice is the need to guide students in discussing, comparing, and contrasting the cultural and contextual knowledge they use to make sense of different texts. (Contains 3 tables.)

The authors explore the interdependent relationships between learning English(es) and learning digital literacies in global contexts, and, collaborating with two women, Lu Liu and Yi-Huey Guo, who have moved and continue to move between the United States and Asia, highlight the crucial role that the practice of guanxi has played in advancing digital literacies. Their collaboration suggests that guanxi is a useful term for describing not only the multifarious constellations of connections and resources that structure the lives of individuals, but also for understanding how these connections are related to the social, cultural, ideological, and economic formations that structure the "information age." (Contains 1 note.)

Hepatic stellate cells (HSCs) are essential drivers of fibrogenesis. Inducing activated-HSC apoptosis is a promising strategy for treating hepatic fibrosis. 18beta-glycyrrhetinic acid (18β-GA) is a natural compound that exists widely in herbal medicines, such as Glycyrrhiza uralensis Fisch, which is used for treating multiple liver diseases, especially in Asia. In the present study, we demonstrated that 18β-GA decreased hepatic fibrosis by inducing the apoptosis in activated HSCs. 18β-GA inhibited the expression of α-smooth muscle actin and collagen type I alpha-1. Using a chemoproteomic approach derived from activity-based protein profiling, together with cellular thermal shift assay and surface plasmon resonance, we found that 18β-GA covalently targeted peroxiredoxin 1 (PRDX1) and peroxiredoxin 2 (PRDX2) proteins via binding to active cysteine residues and thereby inhibited their enzymatic activities. 18β-GA induced the elevation of reactive oxygen species (ROS), resulting in the apoptosis of activated HSCs. PRDX1 knockdown also led to ROS-mediated apoptosis in activated HSCs. Collectively, our findings revealed the target proteins and molecular mechanisms of 18β-GA in ameliorating hepatic fibrosis, highlighting the future development of 18β-GA as a novel therapeutic drug for hepatic fibrosis. [Display omitted] • 18β-GA ameliorates hepatic fibrosis and inhibits ECM deposition. • 18β-GA directly targets PRDX1 and PRDX2 in activated HSCs. • 18β-GA binding to the cysteines of PRDX1 and PRDX2 inhibits their enzyme activities. • 18β-GA induces ROS-mediated activated-HSC apoptosis by targeting PRDX1 and PRDX2. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Viscum coloratum (Kom.) Nakai is a well-known medicinal hemiparasite widely distributed in Asia. The synthesis and accumulation of its metabolites are affected by both environmental factors and the host plants, while the latter of which is usually overlooked. The purpose of this study was to comprehensively evaluate the effects of host and habitat on the metabolites in V. coloratum through multiple chemical and biological approaches. The metabolite profile of V. coloratum harvested from three different host plants in two habitats were determined by multiple chemical methods including high-performance liquid chromatography-ultraviolet (HPLC-UV), gas chromatography-flame ionization detector (GC-FID) and ultra-performance liquid chromatography quadrupole time of flight mass spectrometry (UPLC-QTOF/MS). The differences in antioxidant efficacy of V. coloratum were determined based on multiple in vitro models. The multivariate statistical analysis and data fusion strategy were applied to analyze the differences in metabolite profile and antioxidant activity of V. coloratum. Results indicated that the metabolite profile obtained by various chemical approaches was simultaneously affected by host and environment factors, and the environment plays a key role. Meanwhile, three main differential metabolites between two environment groups were identified. The results of antioxidant assay indicated that the environment has greater effects on the biological activity of V. coloratum than the host. Therefore, we conclude that the integration of various chemical and biological approaches combined with multivariate statistical and data fusion analysis, which can determine the influences of host plant and habitat on the metabolites, is a powerful strategy to control the quality of semi-parasitic herbal medicine. [Display omitted] • The effects of environment and host on the metabolites and antioxidant activity of V. coloratum were investigated • Metabolite of V. coloratum were simultaneously affected by host and environment, and the environment plays a key role. • The identification of three differential metabolites between two origin groups was achieved. • The integration of chemical and biological approaches is a powerful strategy to control the quality of herbal medicine. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The foundation of supply chain and industrial chain development is the coordinated growth of the maritime transport and trade. This study addresses the relationship and cooperation between liner shipping and trade, as well as the evolution and regional distribution of maritime transportation between 2006 and 2021. Liner shipping between the Americas, Asia, and Europe presents a significant hierarchical organizational structure and operating patterns, reflecting its temporal and spatial differences. The study notes that North America, Asia, and Western Europe have always been dominant in liner shipping, and the importance of East Asia has grown. Trade and liner transport activities exhibited a trend towards the east and north during the study period, with a high degree of overlap and convergence. The coupling effect is more noticeable, whereas the two's development is less synchronized. It is interesting to notice that certain nations with modest trade volumes or inadequate liner shipping connectivity have effectively finished the process, while other nations have made great progress in liner shipping and trade but have not achieved coordinated development. This research adds to the body of knowledge regarding the development of marine transportation networks and the interplay between trade and maritime transportation. Also, it demonstrates the disparities in the development of maritime transportation and worldwide trade in terms of both speed and quality. At present, Europe remains dominating even though Asia is becoming the developing hub for liner shipping and trade. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Tick-borne encephalitis virus (TBEV) is an emerging pathogen in Europe and North Asia that causes tick-borne encephalitis (TBE). A simple, rapid method for detecting TBEV RNA is needed to control this disease. A reverse-transcription recombinase-aided amplification (RT-RAA) assay was developed. This assay can be completed in one closed tube at 39 °C within 30 minutes. The sensitivity and specificity of RT-RAA were validated using non-infectious synthetic RNA representing a fragment of the NS5 region of the wild-type (WT) TBEV genome and the Senzhang strain. Additionally, 10 batches of tick samples were used to evaluate the performance of the RT-RAA assay. The analytical limit of detection of the assay was 20 copies per reaction of the TBEV synthetic transcript and 3 plaque-forming units (pfu) per reaction of TBEV titers. With the specific assay, no signal due to other arboviruses was observed. Of the 10 batches of tick samples obtained from the Changbai Mountains of China, three were TBEV-positive, which was consistent with the results of the quantitative real-time PCR assay. A rapid, highly sensitive, specific, and easy-to-use method was developed for the detection of the TBEV Far-Eastern subtype. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Rice consumption is an essential cause of mercury (Hg) exposure for humans in Asia. However, the mechanism of Hg transport and accumulation in rice plants (Oryza sativa L.) remains unclear. Here, rice genotypes with contrasting Hg uptake and translocation abilities, i.e. H655 (high Hg-accumulator) and H767 (low Hg-accumulator), were selected from 261 genotypes. Through comparative physiological and transcriptome analyses, we investigated the processes responsible for the relationship between Hg accumulation, transport and tolerance. The results showed significant stimulation of antioxidative metabolism, particularly glutathione (GSH) accumulation, and up-regulated expression of regulatory genes of glutathione metabolism for H655, but not for H767. In addition, up-regulated expression of GSH S-transferase (GST) and OsPCS1 in H655 that catalyzes the binding of Hg and GSH, enhances the Hg detoxification capacity, while high-level expression of YSL2 in H655 enhances the transport ability for Hg. Conclusively, Hg accumulation in rice is a consequence of enhanced expression of genes related to Hg binding with GSH and Hg transport. With these results, the present study contributes to the selection of rice genotypes with limited Hg accumulation and to the mitigation of Hg migration in food chains thereby enhancing nutritional safety of Hg-polluted rice fields. [Display omitted] • High and low Hg-accumulators (H655 and H767) were screened from 261 rice genotypes. • Antioxidant capacity of H655 in response to Hg stress was stronger than H767. • Glutathione metabolism responded more exclusively to Hg stress in H655. • Transporter contributed to Hg accumulation difference between H655 and H767. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Phthalates are plasticizers in various products and regarded as endocrine disruptors due to their anti-androgen effects. Environmental occurrence and toxicities of parent phthalates have been widely reported, while the current state of knowledge on their metabolites is rarely summarized. Based on the available literature, the present review mainly aims to 1) characterize the potential metabolites of phthalates (mPAEs) using the pharmacokinetics evidences acquired via animal or human models; 2) examine the molecular and cellular mechanism involved in toxicity for mPAEs; 3) investigate the exposure levels of mPAEs in different human specimens (e.g., urine, blood, seminal fluid, breast milk, amniotic fluid and others) across the globe; 4) discuss the models and related parameters for phthalate exposure assessment. We suggest there is subtle difference in toxic mechanisms for mPAEs compared to their parent phthalates due to their alternative chemical structures. Human monitoring studies performed in Asia, America and Europe have provided the population exposure baseline levels for typical phthalates in different regions. Urine is the preferred matrix than other specimens for phthalate exposure study. Among ten urinary mPAEs, the largest proportions of di-(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate (DEHP) metabolites (40%), monoethyl phthalate (mEP) (43%) and DEHP metabolites/mEP (both 29%) were observed in Asia, America and Europe respectively, and mono-5-carboxy-2-ethypentyl phthalate was the most abundant compounds among DEHP metabolites. Daily intakes of phthalates can be accurately calculated via urinary mPAEs if the proper exposure parameters were determined. Further work should focus on combining epidemiological and biological evidences to establish links between phthalates exposure and biological phenotypes. More accurate molar fractions (F UE) of the urinary excreted monoester related to the ingested diesters should be collected in epidemiological or pharmacokinetic studies for different population. [Display omitted] • Metabolites display different toxic mechanism compared to parent phthalates. • Differences exist in distribution of phthalate metabolites in multiple human specimens. • Urinary profiles of phthalates vary markedly for people on different continents. • Reasonable F UE data are suggested for phthalate exposure assessment by human experiments. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

With the development of economic globalization and industrial modernization, the problems of environmental pollution and transboundary pollutants have become diverse and serious. Given the lack of supernational organizations, cooperation is considered an effective way to solve the global environmental predicament. Based on the game theory, an analysis framework relevant to regional trade and environment is established. It is proven that the mechanism could not only ensure international trade profits but also effectively tackle the "hitchhike" behaviors in the process of regional environmental cooperation. Furthermore, it could effectively encourage the regional environmental governance, thus promoting the regional environmental cooperation. The empirical research on Northeast Asia shows that the efforts to increase the proportion of intra-regional trade might he an effective means to promote the regional environmental cooperation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Soil acidification has been expanding in many areas of Asia due to increasing reactive nitrogen (N) inputs and industrial activities. While the detrimental effects of acidification on forests have been extensively studied, less attention has been paid to grasslands, particularly alpine grasslands. In a soil pH manipulation experiment in the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau, we examined the effects of soil acidification on plant roots, which account for the major part of alpine plants. After three years of manipulation, soil pH decreased from 6.0 to 4.7 with the acid-addition gradient, accompanied by significant changes in the availability of soil nitrogen, phosphorus and cations. Plant composition shifted with the soil acidity, with graminoids replacing forbs. Differing from findings in forests, soil acidification in the alpine grassland increased root biomass by increasing the fraction of coarse roots and the production of fine roots, corresponding to enhanced sedge and grass biomass, respectively. In addition, litter decomposability decreased with altered root morphological and chemical traits, and soil acidification slowed root decomposition by reducing soil microbial activity and litter quality. Our results showed that acidification effect on root dynamics in our alpine grassland was significantly different from that in forests, and supported similar results obtained in limited studies in other grassland ecosystems. These results suggest an important role of root morphology in mediating root dynamics, and imply that soil acidification may lead to transient increase in soil carbon stock as root standing biomass and undecomposed root litter. These changes may reduce nutrient cycling and further constrain ecosystem productivity in nutrient-limiting alpine systems. Image 1 • Acidification effect on root dynamics in grasslands can differ from that in forests. • Soil acidification increased root biomass while reduced root decomposition. • Root morphological traits play important roles in root dynamics and decomposition. • Acidification may increase soil carbon stock while reduce nutrient cycling. • More attention on acidification consequences in grassland ecosystems is needed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: The India–Asia collision resulted in the construction of the vast Himalayan orogen. The northern Himalayan domain began to experience extensional tectonics since Eocene–Oligocene transition (EOT) when the Himalayan orogeny was still in progress. Major structures generated by the extension in the northern Himalaya include the south Tibet detachment system (STDS), the north Himalayan gneiss domes (NHGD), and the north–south trending rifts (NSTR). The earliest emplacement of syn-deformational leucogranite at ~36–32Ma along the STDS marks the initial transformation from thickening to thinning in the northern Himalayan domain at EOT. The thickening before EOT caused crustal partial melting, which formed the weak root of the thickened orogen or the so-called “channel flow”. This “channel flow” triggered the collapse of the orogen, extrusion of the greater Himalayan crystalline complex (GHC), and the onset of extensional tectonics of the STDS. The similarities in tectono-thermal history and geochemistry of rocks between the STDS and NHGD suggest that the formation of the NHGD has a direct relationship to the activity of the STDS. The extension of STDS and the resultant thinning caused further partial melting of the crust, leading to the larger-scale emplacement of leucogranite during Miocene (27–13Ma). Diapirism of these plutons shaped the domes in NHGD, exposing the GHC and the shear zones of the STDS in the northern Himalaya. In Gyirong, another tectonic transform from extension to shortening occurred after ~18.7Ma. In Dinggye region, the STDS was offset by the NSTR, culminating the deformation at ~13Ma when the NSTR began to be active. This indicates another tectonic transform in the northern Himalaya at ~13Ma, when the N–S extension of the STDS ceased and gave way to E–W extension of the NSTR, marking the end of the peak granitic magmatism in northern Himalaya. Multiple episodes of deformation in the major structures, such as the STDS, MCT and NSTR, and superposition of different structures indicate a multiphase orogenic process in the Himalayas, in which mountain building and collapse occurred alternately, with the formation of NSTR and conjugate shear zones in Tibet. This tectonic scenario was possibly controlled by the India–Asia convergent rate. We propose that the extension was an integral part of the orogenic process rather than a simple marker of the culmination of the orogeny. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: Energy security is a vital issue to many countries. And cooperation is a good choice. According to the complex system theory, the international energy cooperation risk can be divided into risk inside the system such as main body ability structure of the risk and main body decision-making risk, and the risk outside the system such as external environment factors and cooperation pattern factors. Then analysis the subjective ability structure risk, trust risk, subject speculative risk, police risk and economic risk of Northeast Asia regional energy security cooperation. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

"Identity" has become a magic word in the disciplines of social sciences and humanities, in which, due to the impact of globalization, scholars examine the concept from different perspectives, including personal, intergroup, cultural, critical, and postcolonial approaches. Unfortunately, the plethora of research seems to further obscure and enigmatize the meaning and nature of identity, and worse, advocates of the importance of establishing, authenticating, or negotiating one's own identity seems to encourage people to tightly hold their own identity. Like a cocoon, this can weave a stronghold, preventing a person from penetrating into the identity of others. Facing this dilemma on the research of identity, this paper offers a critical overview of this line of study and proposes a different view on the nature of the self and identity from the Asian cultural perspective, specifically from the Taoist view. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Arsenic (As) pollution remains a major threat to the quality of global soils and drinking water. The health effects of As pollution are often severe and have been largely reported across Asia and South America. This study investigated the possibility of using unmodified biochar derived from rice husk (RB) and aspen wood (WB) at 400 °C and 700 °C to enhance the precipitation of calcium/arsenic compounds for the removal of As(III) from solution. The approach was based on utilizing calcium to precipitate arsenic in solution and adding unmodified biochar to enhance the process. Using this approach, As(III) concentration in aqueous solution decreased by 58.1% when biochar was added, compared to 25.4% in the absence of biochar. Varying the pH from acidic to alkaline enabled an investigation into the pH dependent dynamics of the approach. Results indicated that significant precipitation was only possible at near neutral pH (i.e. pH = 6.5) where calcium arsenites (i.e. Ca(AsO 2) 2 , and CaAsO 2 OH•½H 2 O) and arsenates (i.e. Ca 5 (AsO 4) 3 OH) were precipitated and deposited as aggregates in the pores of biochars. Arsenite was only slightly precipitated under acidic conditions (pH = 4.5) while no arsenite was precipitated under alkaline conditions (pH = 9.5). Arsenite desorption from wood biochar was lowest at pH 6.5 indicating that wood biochar was able to retain a large quantity of the precipitates formed at pH 6.5 compared to pH 4.5 and pH 9.5. Given that the removal of As(III) from solution is often challenging and that biochar modification invites additional cost, the study demonstrated that low cost unmodified biochar can be effective in enhancing the removal of As(III) from the environment through Ca–As precipitation. [Display omitted] • Biochar was used to improve the precipitation of arsenic with calcium compounds. • Added biochar doubled the removal of arsenic by 58.1% compared to 25.4% without biochar. • Precipitates formed included Ca(AsO 2) 2 , CaAsO 2 OH.•½H 2 O, Ca 5 (AsO 4) 3 OH, deposited in biochar pores. • The pH of solution and biochar type significantly affected the precipitation process. • Arsenic desorption was lowest on wood biochar (<0.3%) compared to rice husk biochar (3.2%). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Achillea millefolium agg. is an ecologically most diverse N Hemisphere polyploid complex. Because of ubiqui- tous hybridization and polyploidization, the aggregate is extremely polymorphic and notorious for its difficult taxonomy. AFLP analyses were applied to 61 populations representing most of the known taxa ofA. millefolium agg. Genetic distance methods ofpopulation pairwise FST and Neighbour Joining for tree constructions and the 2D^Euklid algorithm for scatter plots were used to evaluate the AFLP-matrix with 459, mostly polymorphic bands. The aggregate is monophyletic and sister to the subalpine relic A. latiloba-2x from NE Turkish and adjacent Georgian mountains. The seven 2x-species of A. millefolium agg. have differentiated vicariously in Europe/SW Asia and expanded into C and E Asia. Both, the NJ trees and the 2D^Euklid scatterplots demon- strate these 2x as genetically monophyletic and distinct; only A. roseoalba-2x, close to A. asplen~folia-2x, may be the product of hybrid introgression. The polyploids of the aggregate (about 20 taxa and cytotypes) exhibit various combinations of 2x AFLP bands, but in addition also 16.9% of exclusive bands, documenting new genetic variation. Whereas the ALFP trees suggest most of these polyploid taxa to be polyphyletic, the AFLP 2DEuklid scatterplots demonstrate their phyletic coherence. This conflicting evidence apparently is due to wide-spread secondary hybrid merging between sympatric populations ofdifferent polyploid taxa, resulting in geographic instead of phyletic clustering of their populations in the AFLP trees. Available data suggest several parallel reticulating and ascending polyploid lines and their eco-geographical radiations. This has resulted in the origin of eight taxa of 4x, four or five of 6x and three of 8x in Europe and the Caucasus. One of them, A. millefolium subsp. millefolium-6x, also occurs throughout Asia, where two more 4x taxa, one additional 6x and one 8x can be recognized. Finally, from ancestors close to A. asialica s.str.-4x, the A. borealis s.l. dade has originated in N America, where it has radiated with numerous 4x- and 6x-ecotypes into most diverse habitats. Thus, the polyploid complex A. millefolium agg., shaped by successive cycles of differentiation and hybridiza- tion + polyplodization, has expanded stepwise from Europe and SW Asia to E Asia, then to N America and finally world-wide with A. millefolium-6x as a weed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Asian countries are experiencing a rapid rise in their aging populations. Cognitive and physical decline associated with aging can limit social interaction. This particularly impacts on those residing in long-term care facilities and engagement with children and young people. Intergenerational engagement has known benefits on the health and wellbeing of older people, it is unclear what the impact of intergeneration engagement interventions might have on older people in Asian long-term care settings. This review aims to evaluate the effectiveness and experiences of intergenerational engagement with older people in long-term care facilities in Asia., Methods: Ten databases were searched to locate empirical studies of any design published in English or Chinese from January 2000 to June 2023. The search was limited to papers reporting effectiveness and/or experiences of intergenerational engagement on older people residing in Asian long-term care settings. The protocol was registered with PROSPERO (CRD42023413935) and followed PRISMA guidelines for reporting. A convergent design employing narrative synthesis was used to synthesize and integrate findings., Results: From initial searches, 1,092 records were identified, of which 13 studies were retained for the review: 7 quantitative (including 1 randomized controlled trial, 1 cross-sectional observational design, and 5 quasi-experimental designs), 3 qualitative, and 3 mixed methods. Included studies were of variable quality. Quantitative evidence revealed that intergenerational engagement reduced depression (4.47 vs. 8.67, p  = 0.005), negative emotions (14.11 vs. 16.56, p  = 0.030), and feelings of loneliness ( p  < 0.01) among older people; and increased quality of life (mean change = -1.91; 95% CI = -3.18, -0.64) and strengthens interpersonal interactions ( p  = 0.025). Qualitative insights suggested that intergenerational engagement could foster emotional bonds, enhance intergenerational relationships, promote lifelong learning, satisfy social needs and improve older peoples' overall quality of life. However, some challenges such as language differences and noise levels can hinder successful implementation of intergenerational engagement., Conclusion: This review indicates that intergenerational engagement can reduce depression and loneliness, improve quality of life, and strengthen social bonds for older individuals in Asian long-term care facilities. Despite some challenges, the evidence underlines its potential to meet the emotional and social needs of older people. Recognizing and addressing delivery challenges is essential for effective implementation., Systematic Review Registration: https://www.crd.york.ac.uk/prospero/display&#95;record.php?ID=CRD42023413935, identifier: CRD42023413935., Competing Interests: The authors declare that the research was conducted in the absence of any commercial or financial relationships that could be construed as a potential conflict of interest. The author(s) declared that they were an editorial board member of Frontiers, at the time of submission. This had no impact on the peer review process and the final decision., (Copyright © 2024 Liu, Topping and Guo.)

Patients with hematologic malignancies often experience fatigue, lack of vitality, and energy, and high psychological distress. High levels of unmet care needs of patients with hematologic malignancies in Asia were identified. This review provides an overview of current evidence on the experiences and palliative care needs of patients with hematologic malignancies and their families and the barriers and challenges of integrating palliative care into hematology care in Asia. Patients with hematologic malignancies who received palliative care could benefit from less aggressive end-of-life treatments. However, the uncertain and variable nature of the prognosis and illness trajectories of hematologic malignancies increase the difficulties of integrating palliative care into hematologic care. Patients and their families are often referred to palliative care services late, which leaves a short window for palliative care teams to provide holistic needs assessment and person-centered care for those who need it. In addition, cultural differences in medical decision-making patterns and complex social norms and interactions among patients, families, and healthcare staff make it even more challenging to initiate palliative care conversations in Asia. Future research should focus on the development and evaluation of culturally appropriate palliative care for patients with hematologic malignancies and their family caregivers in Asia, given that the low rate of service intake and poor public awareness of the important role of palliative care in disease trajectories were reported. The socio-cultural context surrounding individuals should be taken into consideration to ensure the provision of person-centered care for this group of patients. Digital health could be one of the possible solutions forward to address local needs and challenges., 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 © 2023 The Author(s). Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Introduction: Morbid obesity (body mass index > 40 kg/m2) is a risk factor for the development of left ventricular systolic dysfunction (LVSD) and can complicate the management of LVSD. Bariatric surgery is increasingly recognized as a safe and effective way to achieve marked weight loss, but studies on improving LVSD populations are limited. We retrospectively analyzed the first case of the Asia-Pacific region with morbid obesity and left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) < 50% who underwent bariatric surgery at our medical center., Patient Concerns: The patient was admitted to the hospital due to progressive weight gain for more than 10 years. The patient used to be in good health. One year before admission, the patient was hospitalized in another hospital due to shortness of breath. After the relevant examination, the patient was diagnosed with dilated cardiomyopathy., Diagnosis: The body mass index of the patient was 45.9 kg/m2, and the patient was diagnosed with morbid obesity. He was diagnosed with dilated cardiomyopathy and cardiac function class IV in another hospital. After completing a preoperative examination, the patient was diagnosed with hyperuricemia, hyperlipidemia, fatty liver disease and severe sleep apnea., Interventions: The patient successfully underwent laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy plus jejunal bypass., Outcomes: Six months after the surgery, patient weight lost was 33.6 kg, and the LVEF increased from 31% to 55%. The cardiac function of the patient recovered from class IV to class I, and the patient's hyperuricemia, hyperlipidemia and sleep apnea were significantly improved., Conclusion: Bariatric surgery may be a safe and effective intervention for morbidly obese patients with LVSD. Bariatric surgery was associated with an improvement in LVEF. However, the specific mechanism still needs further study., Competing Interests: The authors have no conflicts of interest to disclose., (Copyright © 2021 the Author(s). Published by Wolters Kluwer Health, Inc.)

Understanding the influence of geographical events and climate changes on genetic diversity is essential in explaining current patterns of genetic structure and geographic distribution of organisms. We inferred phylogenetic relationships, investigated historical demography, explored the evolutionary history, and clarified intraspecific taxonomy of Protobothrops mucrosquamatus, which is one of the commonest and most wide-ranging Asian pitvipers. A total of 184 samples from 54 localities were sequenced and analyzed for two mitochondrial gene fragments and two nuclear genes. Phylogenetic reconstruction based on mtDNA sequences revealed the existence of a minimum of five geographically structured and well-supported lineages within P. mucrosquamatus. Based on the mtDNA gene tree, and the geographic relationship between populations allied by matrilineal lineages, a complex longitudinal and latitudinal diversification pattern was uncovered in P. mucrosquamatus. The estimated date of the origin of the species (about 5.3 Ma) and divergence of the intraspecific lineages match the rapid uplifting of Qinghai-Xizang Plateau, and is also consistent with those of some other co-distributed Asian pitvipers. Formation of the two island lineages (Taiwan and Hainan) was generally congruent with the first isolation of the islands, but the two lineages showed different relationships with the continental Asian populations in comparison with some other pitvipers. Population historical demographic analyses, based on three methods, showed that all lineages have experienced slight population expansion in and around the Dali Glacial. Tests of intraspecific taxonomy indicated that no cryptic taxon is present within this widely distributed snake., (Copyright © 2018 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

The cases of stomach cancer (SC) incidence are increasing per year and the SC burden has remained very high in some countries. We aimed to evaluate the global geographical variation in SC incidence and temporal trends from 1978 to 2007, with an emphasis on the effect of birth cohort. Joinpoint regression and age-period-cohort model were applied. From 2003 to 2007, male rate were 1.5- to 3-fold higher than female in all countries. Rates were highest in Eastern Asian and South American countries. Except for Uganda, all countries showed favorable trends. Pronounced cohort-specific increases in risk for recent birth cohorts were seen in Brazil, Colombia, Iceland, New Zealand, Norway, Uganda and US white people for males and in Australia, Brazil, Colombia, Costa Rica, Czech Republic, Ecuador, Iceland, India, Malta, New Zealand, Norway, Switzerland, United Kingdom, Uganda, US black and white people for females. The cohort-specific ratio for male significantly decreased in Japan, Malta and Spain for cohorts born since 1950 and in Austria, China, Croatia, Ecuador, Russia, Switzerland and Thailand for cohorts born since 1960 and for female in Japan for cohorts born since 1950 and in Canada, China, Croatia, Latvia, Russia and Thailand for cohorts born since 1960. Disparities in incidence and carcinogenic risk persist worldwide. The favorable trends may be due to changes in environmental exposure and lifestyle, including decreased Helicobacter pylori prevalence, increased intake of fresh fruits and vegetables, the availability of refrigeration and decreased intake of salted and preserved food and smoking prevalence., (© 2017 UICC.)

Based on a combination of six mitochondrial gene fragments (12S RNA, cyt b, ND1, ND2, ND4 and CO1) and one nuclear gene (c-mos) from 22 genera we infer phylogenetic relationships among natricine snakes and examine the date and area of origin of these snakes. Our phylogenetic results indicate: (1) the subfamily Natricinae is strongly supported as monophyletic including a majority of extant genera, and a poorly known and previously unassigned species Trachischium monticola, (2) two main clades are inferred within Natricinae, one containing solely taxa from the Old World (OW) and the other comprising taxa from a monophyletic New World (NW) group with a small number of OW relatives. Within the first clade, the genera Xenochrophis and Amphiesma are apparently not monophyletic. Divergence dating and ancestral area estimation indicate that the natricines originated in tropical Asia during the later Eocene or the Oligocene. We recover two major dispersals events out of Asia, the first to Africa in the Oligocene (28 Ma) and the second to the Western Palearctic and the New World at 27 Ma. This date is consistent with the dispersal of numerous other OW groups into the NW., (Copyright © 2012 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

We investigated phylogenetic structure and morphological variation in Asian mountain pitvipers of the genus Ovophis (comprising 3-4 species some of which are considered polytypic) by sequencing four mitochondrial markers (cytochrome b, NADH dehydrogenase subunit 4, 12S and 16S rRNA) from 72 specimens, and analysed them in a Bayesian framework together with another 26 sequences from closely related genera. We reconstructed the region of origin and direction of dispersal of the major clades, and of Ovophis as a whole, using likelihood framework analysis. We also defined morphogroups from 280 specimens from across the range of Ovophis to allow the geographic extent of the major clades to be determined, as well as to allow inclusion of specimens lacking sequence data. Phylogenetic analyses confirmed the monophyly of Ovophis as currently defined, and revealed that it contains two major lineages, eastern (mainly Chinese) and western, with both occurring in southwestern China, central and northern Viet Nam. The most likely origin of the genus, and of individual lineages, coincides with the northeastern boundary of the Indomalayan hotspot. Major diversification in this species group likely corresponded to major climatic changes arising from the uplift of the Tibetan Plateau in the early to mid Miocene. With reference to the defined morphogroups, we suggest that at least five species are present and provide appropriate names. With a few exceptions, the newly defined species boundaries do not correspond to the existing taxonomy., (Copyright © 2011 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)