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Neisseria gonorrhoeae infections represent an urgent public health threat, compounded by the alarming surge in strains resistant to ceftriaxone, the last line of defense for gonorrhea treatment (1). Before 2015, [...]

This is a welcome message for the Conference Proceedings of the 38th Annual Pacific Rim International Conference on Disability & Diversity 2023 organized by the Center on Disability Studies, College of Education, University of Hawai'i at Mānoa. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The global energy issue is undergoing transformation owing to various factors, such as climate change and geopolitics. In the long term, the primary pathways to achieve sustainable energy development remain the clean energy and global cooperation. As the largest energy consumption centers, the Asia Pacific and North America possess complementary energy profiles and developmental needs for cooperation. This paper analyses various electricity or hydrogen transmission technologies suitable for the Pacific Rim energy system. The liquid hydrogen superconducting energy pipelines possess the potential to fulfill the demands of long-distance and large-scale energy transmission. Building upon this technology, a super energy pipeline project connecting East Asia and North America across 12 time zones was proposed. It is composed of pipelines and relay energy stations, which can realize large-scale storage and transportation of renewable energy as well as the diversified energy supply at terminals. The techno-economic evaluation of the project has been comprehensively conducted, and the investment can be recovered within 10 years. The project is expected to boost the progress of renewable energy, ensure regional energy security and promote the sustainable development of global energy. [Display omitted] • Proposes cross-continental energy transmission scheme for Pacific Rim. • Highlights the potential of liquid hydrogen superconducting energy pipelines. • Identifies the future requirements for the energy storage and transmission. • Presents a review of the existing global energy mix. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Global demand drives the surge of the single-use plastic (SUP) packaging market to unprecedented numbers despite government restraints. Despite environmental concerns and regulations, the SUP packaging market reached $22.59 billion [...]

Objective To quantify the number of avoidable annual deaths and associated economic benefits from meeting the World Health Organization (WHO) air quality guidelines for ambient concentrations for fine particulate matter ([PM.sub.2.5]) for Member States of the WHO Western Pacific Region. Methods Using the AirQ+ software, we performed a quantitative health impact assessment comparing country-level [PM.sub.2.5] concentrations with the 2005 and 2021 air quality guidelines recommended maximum concentrations of 10 and 5 [micro]g/[m.sup.3], respectively. We obtained [PM.sub.2.5] data from the WHO Global Health Observatory (latest available year 2016), and population and mortality estimates from the United Nations World Population Prospects database for the latest 5-year period available (2015-2019), which we averaged to 1- year estimates. A risk estimate for all-cause mortality, based on a meta-analysis, was embedded within AirQ+ software. Our economic assessment used World Bank value of a statistical life adjusted to country-specific gross domestic product (latest available year 2014). Findings Data were complete for 21 of 27 Member States. If these countries achieved the 2021 guidelines for [PM.sub.2.5], an estimated 3.1 million deaths would be avoided annually, which are 0.4 million more deaths avoided than meeting the 2005 guidelines. China would avoid the most deaths per 100 000 population (303 deaths) and Brunei Darussalam the least (5 deaths). The annual economic benefit per capita ranged from 5781 United States dollars (US$) in Singapore to US$ 143 in Solomon Islands. Conclusion Implementing effective measures to reduce [PM.sub.2.5] emissions would save a substantial number of lives and money across the Region. Objectif Determiner le nombre de deces annuels evitables et les avantages economiques associes au respect des lignes directrices de l'Organisation mondiale de la Sante (OMS) relatives a la qualite de l'air, notamment vis-a-vis des concentrations de particules fines ([PM.sub.2.5]) dans l'air ambiant, au sein des Etats Membres de la Region du Pacifique occidental de l'OMS. Methodes A l'aide du logiciel AirQ+, nous avons procede a une evaluation quantitative de l'impact sur la sante en comparant les concentrations de particules [PM.sub.2.5] a l'echelle nationale avec les lignes directrices de 2005 et 2021 relatives a la qualite de l'air, qui preconisent des concentrations de 10 et 5 [micro]g/[m.sup.3] respectivement. Nous nous sommes procure des donnees sur les particules [PM.sub.2.5] aupres de l'Observatoire mondial de la sante de l'OMS (la version disponible la plus recente datant de 2016). Les estimations concernant la population et la mortalite proviennent quant a elles de la base de donnees des Nations Unies, Perspectives de la population mondiale, pour la derniere periode de cinq ans disponible (2015-2019), que nous avons ensuite divisee en moyennes annuelles. Le logiciel AirQ+ comprenait une estimation des risques pour la mortalite toutes causes confondues, fondee sur une meta-analyse. Enfin, notre evaluation economique reposait sur les valeurs de la vie statistique de la Banque mondiale, ajustees en fonction du produit interieur brut de chaque pays (2014 etant l'annee disponible la plus recente). Resultats Les donnees se sont revelees completes pour 21 des 27 Etats Membres. Si ces pays appliquaient les lignes directrices de 2021 pour les particules [PM.sub.2.5], pres de 3,1 millions de deces pourraient etre evites chaque annee, selon nos estimations. Ce qui represente 0,4 million de deces evitables supplementaires par rapport aux chiffres escomptes pour les lignes directrices de 2005. C'est la Chine qui pourrait ainsi eviter le plus de deces par 100 000 habitants (303 morts), tandis que le Brunei Darussalam en eviterait le moins (5 morts). Lavantage economique annuel par habitant etait compris entre 5781 dollars americains (USD) a Singapour et 143 USD dans les Iles Salomon. Conclusion Deployer des mesures efficaces visant a reduire les emissions de particules [PM.sub.2.5] permettrait de sauver un nombre considerable de vies et de realiser des economies dans la Region. Objetivo Cuantificar el numero de muertes anuales evitables y los beneficios economicos asociados al cumplimiento de las directrices sobre la calidad del aire de la Organizacion Mundial de la Salud (OMS) relativas a las concentraciones ambientales de particulas finas ([PM.sub.2.5]) para los Estados Miembros de la Region del Pacifico Occidental. Metodos Utilizando el software AirQ+, se realizo una evaluacion cuantitativa del impacto en la salud comparando las concentraciones de [PM.sub.2.5] a nivel de pais con las concentraciones maximas recomendadas por las directrices sobre la calidad del aire de 2005 y 2021 de 10 y 5 [micro]g/[m.sup.3], respectivamente. Se obtuvieron datos de [PM.sub.2.5] del Observatorio Mundial de la Salud de la OMS (ultimo ano disponible 2016), y estimaciones de poblacion y mortalidad de la base de datos World Population Prospects de las Naciones Unidas para el ultimo periodo de 5 anos disponible (2015-2019), que se promediaron a estimaciones de 1 ano. El software AirQ+ incorporo una estimacion del riesgo de mortalidad por todas las causas a partir de un metanalisis. En la evaluacion economica, se utilizaron los valores estadisticos de vida del Banco Mundial ajustados al producto interior bruto especifico de cada pais (ultimo ano disponible: 2014). Resultados Los datos estaban completos para 21 de los 27 Estados Miembros. Si estos paises cumplieran las directrices de 2021 para las [PM.sub.2.5], se evitarian unos 3,1 millones de muertes al ano, lo que supone 0,4 millones de muertes mas que si se cumplieran las directrices de 2005. China seria el pais que evitaria mas muertes por cada 100 000 habitantes (303 muertes) y Brunei Darussalam el que menos (5 muertes). El beneficio economico anual per capita oscilaria entre los 5781 dolares estadounidenses (US$) de Singapur y los US$ 143 de las Islas Salomon. Conclusion La adopcion de medidas eficaces para reducir las emisiones de [PM.sub.2.5] salvaria un numero significativo de vidas y ahorraria dinero en toda la Region., Introduction Air pollution is a major determinant of health and causes annually an estimated 6.7 million premature deaths worldwide. Only high blood pressure, tobacco use and dietary risks surpass air [...]