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The main motivation behind this study is the importance of tourism and ICT industry in the economic development of a country and their potential effects on the country's environmental quality in the digital era. For empirical analysis, the study applies FMOLS, DOLS, and quantile regression techniques for Asian economies. The findings of the study confirmed that tourism and digitalization improve environmental quality in FMOLS and DOLS models. In the basic quantile regression model, the estimates attached to tourism arrival are positive 5th quantile to 40th quantile and then turn negative from 60th quantile and onwards. Likewise, the estimates attached to tourism receipts in the robust quantile regression model are positive from quantile 5th to quantile 20th and negative and increasing from quantile 30th and onwards. Conversely, the estimates of digital infrastructure are insignificant in the basic quantile model at all quantiles except the 95th. However, the estimated coefficients of digital infrastructure in the robust model are negative and rising from 40th quantile to 70th quantile and negative and declining from 80th quantile to 95th quantile. In general, we can say that as the tourism and digital sectors grow, the CO2 emissions decline. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS), a recent epidemic human disease, is caused by a novel coronavirus (SARS-CoV). First reported in Asia, SARS quickly spread worldwide through international travelling. As of July 2003, the World Health Organization reported a total of 8,437 people afflicted with SARS with a 9.6% mortality rate. Although immunopathological damages may account for the severity of respiratory distress, little is known about how the genome-wide gene expression of the host changes under the attack of SARS-CoV. Results: Based on changes in gene expression of peripheral blood, we identified 52 signature genes that accurately discriminated acute SARS patients from non-SARS controls. While a general suppression of gene expression predominated in SARS-infected blood, several genes including those involved in innate immunity, such as defensins and eosinophil-derived neurotoxin, were upregulated. Instead of employing clustering methods, we ranked the severity of recovering SARS patients by generalized associate plots (GAP) according to the expression profiles of 52 signature genes. Through this method, we discovered a smooth transition pattern of severity from normal controls to acute SARS patients. The rank of SARS severity was significantly correlated with the recovery period (in days) and with the clinical pulmonary infection score. Conclusion: The use of the GAP approach has proved useful in analyzing the complexity and continuity of biological systems. The severity rank derived from the global expression profile of significantly regulated genes in patients may be useful for further elucidating the pathophysiology of their disease. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Stable isotope and multi-element analysis is explored for rice traceability in Asia. • A multi-year investigation during 2017–2020 was conducted in seven countries. • Various multivariate modeling methods were applied for origin traceability purpose. • Discriminant accuracies are up to 100% for most of rice origins using LDA modeling. • This strategy is an efficient method for combating origin mislabeling in rice trade. Stable isotope and multi-element analytical techniques with chemometrics were developed to trace the origin authenticity of rice in China market. In the long-term study from 2017 to 2020, a total of 115 batches of rice samples from 8 main producing areas of 7 Asian countries were determined 5 stable isotope ratios and 18 elemental contents. One-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) and various multivariate modeling methods were performed for the origin discrimination. Supervised multivariate modeling including partial least squares discriminant analysis (PLS-DA) and linear discriminant analysis (LDA) can realize more satisfactory identification of 8 rice origins than ANOVA comparison and unsupervised methods, their leave-one-out cross-validation accuracies approach 85.0 % and 90.9 %, respectively. δ2H, δ13C, Ba, Al, Mg, δ34S, Pb and δ18O were screened as the most important variables for rice origin traceability (VIP > 1 or AUC > 0.5). This analytical strategy combining maybe promising to ensure the origin authenticity and combat illegal mislabeling in rice trade. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: In this article, we review and discuss the photoprotection behavior of Asians based on the literature, along with a subanalysis of an original online survey, and make recommendations to optimize photoprotection for Asian populations to prevent photoaging and pigmentary disorders., Methods: An international panel of eight dermatologists from Asia (China, Korea, Japan, Singapore, Indonesia, and Vietnam) met to discuss sunscreen photoprotection for Asian patients. Additionally, a subanalysis of an online survey by 3000 respondents from three Asian countries (China, Indonesia, and Japan) investigated general public awareness and attitudes to sun exposure., Results: A pre-meeting survey of the eight experts from Asia showed key concerns of Asian patients consulting dermatologists are pigmentary disorders, especially actinic/senile lentigo, post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation, melasma, vitiligo, and Hori's nevus. The survey subanalysis of participants from China, Indonesia, and Japan with predominantly Fitzpatrick skin types (FST) II to IV revealed that they are particularly concerned about sun exposure causing photoaging and pigmentary disorders. Most of the respondents indicated they have limited knowledge on sunlight radiation and appropriate sunscreen protection factors. Only 22%, 13%, and 3% for China, Indonesia, and Japan, respectively, systematically use multiple protective measures (using sunscreen, avoiding midday sun, staying in the shade, wearing a hat, protective clothing, and sunglasses) when exposed to the sun., Conclusions: Further education is needed for Asian populations on the importance of comprehensive daily photoprotection, including broad-spectrum sunscreen, with high UVA and visible light protection, to reduce and prevent photoaging and pigmentary disorders., (© 2023 John Wiley & Sons A/S. Published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd.)