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Aim: To explore the health beliefs of clinical and academic nurses from Japan, Australia and China regarding wearing paper masks to protect themselves and others, and to identify differences in participants' health beliefs regarding masks. Background: The correct use of face masks and consensus among health professionals across the globe is essential for containing pandemics, and nurses need to act according to policy to protect themselves, educate the public and preserve resources for frontline health workers. Paper masks are worn by health professionals and the general public to avoid the transmission of respiratory infections, such as COVID‐19, but there appear to be differences in health beliefs of nurses within and between countries regarding these. Methods: This qualitative descriptive study used content analysis with a framework approach. Findings: There were major differences in nurse participants' beliefs between and within countries, including how nurses use paper masks and their understanding of their efficacy. In addition, there were cultural differences in the way that nurses use masks in their daily lives and nursing practice contexts. Conclusion: Nurses from different working environments, countries and areas of practice hold a variety of health beliefs about mask wearing at the personal and professional level. Implications for nursing policy and health policy: The COVID‐19 pandemic has sparked much discussion about the critical importance of masks for the safety of health professionals, and there has been considerable discussion and disagreement about health policies regarding mask use by the general public. Improper use of masks may have a role in creating mask shortages or transmitting infections. An evidence‐based global policy on mask use for respiratory illnesses for health professionals, including nurses, and the general public needs to be adopted and supported by a wide‐reaching education campaign. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

China has become a recent rising power in global development cooperation in the past few years. This paper examines how the Global North, as represented by Japan, responds to the rising of the Global South, as represented by China, in infrastructure support. This paper positions itself in the context of Global‐North/South and triangular cooperation to compare Japan's Partnership for Quality Infrastructure with China's Belt and Road Initiative from the dimensions of policy rhetoric, finance mechanism, environmental sustainability and rule of law. This paper draws the conclusion on whether the North–South competition enhances the quality and sustainability of those initiatives. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper analyses the intraseasonal evolution of the winter haze pollution over the Beijing‐Tianjin‐Hebei (BTH) region in China between 1979 and 2013, and the influences of the atmospheric intraseasonal oscillations (ISOs) in mid–high latitudes. Two significant ISO signals of 10–20‐day and 20–40‐day are identified from the winter haze pollution over the BTH region, and their superposition notably contributes to the occurrence of haze pollution. On the 10–20‐day timescale, the haze pollution is intimately associated with a mid–high‐level southeastward propagating wave train that originates from the North Atlantic. With the wave evolution, an anomalous anticyclone reaches the Korean Peninsula–Japan, leading to strong descents and anomalous southerly winds over the BTH region, favourable for haze pollution. On the 20–40‐day timescale, the atmospheric wave train originates from the eastern North America, propagates eastward to the northwestern Lake Baikal, and then turns southward to the northeastern China–Japan. The peak stage of the haze pollution is related to the resultant zonal dipole, with the anomalous cyclone over the northwestern Lake Baikal and the anomalous anticyclone over the northeastern China–Japan. The dominance of the mid–upper tropospheric anticyclone over the BTH region suppresses the development of convection, thus hindering the vertical diffusion and wet deposition of pollutants. Moreover, the anomalous westerly winds between the dipole weaken the incursion of cold mass from higher latitudes, thus further contributing to the peak of haze pollution. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Train communication network (TCN) is an important guarantee for the reliable and safe operation of high‐speed rail train. The higher reliability of the TCN is, the safer operation of high‐speed rail train will be, and the cost of overhaul and maintenance will be greatly reduced. The 250 km/h high‐speed rail TCN being developed in China is the first time that the train communication Ethernet (TCE) is used as train control network. Therefore, it is of great practical significance to analyze the reliability of TCE and improve the reliability of TCN design and vehicle design. Dynamic fault tree (DFT) and fault Petri nets (FPN) are both important methods for system reliability analysis. Among them, DFT is most widely used in the field of engineering analysis. The FPN method also has its unique characteristics and advantages, which can describe fault propagation analysis and dynamic transition process in practical application. In this paper, TCE's structure, working principle, and fault mode are analyzed to sort out the relationship between complex fault events and establish a DFT with TCE failure as the top event. DFT and FPN methods were combined to better express the dynamic propagation of TCE fault and carry out the fault probability evaluation and system reliability based on the known prior failure rate. The analysis results show that improving the reliability of specified network segments of TCE is of great help to improve the reliability of the high‐speed rail train. © 2022 Institute of Electrical Engineers of Japan. Published by Wiley Periodicals LLC. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Over the years, several studies have assessed whether foreign aid plays an active role in promoting economic growth of the recipient country, but to date, it is still an unresolved question. Based on the case of Japan's aid to China, this paper uses the geographically and temporally weighted regression (GTWR) model to evaluate the economic effect of aid, compared with the ordinary least squares (OLS) and geographically weighted regression (GWR) models. The results reveal the following: (1) In the OLS model, Japanese aid to China surprisingly hampered China's economic growth. (2) In the GWR model, the Japanese aid's effectiveness appears a noticeable regional differentiation in line with both the orientation and extent of aid. (3) In the GTWR model, however, the economic effectiveness of aid changes both over time and in space. The spatiotemporal heterogeneous relationship between foreign aid and economic growth in a recipient country challenges the traditional belief that aid either can or cannot promote the recipient country's economic growth. This finding provides a new perception of the economic effectiveness of aid. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

While the spatial distribution of foreign aid has aroused a widespread academic interest, the existing research is limited mainly to the transnational level and lacks an analysis of aid allocation within a single recipient country. Moreover, more attention is paid to the factors influencing the aid allocation than to the interactions among different aid allocation stakeholders. To fill the research blank, this paper proposes a "three‐party relationship model" to analyze the spatial allocation of aid within a recipient county, and uses the case of Japan's aid to China to validate the model. We find most of the aid has been allocated to the economic infrastructure, over time, and the key aid sector has shifted from economic infrastructure to social infrastructure and general environmental protection; The allocation characteristics of total aid and key aid sectors are various; The spatial allocation pattern of aid reflects an interaction between the donor (Japan) and the recipient country (China). The degree of importance of each aid allocation stakeholder is different at different stages of the total life cycle of aid, and the aid allocation stakeholder relationship in the three‐party relationship model may be constantly reshaped during the allocation processes of aid in space. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Accurately predicting wind power is premise for the large‐scale integration of wind energy into the power grid and realizing reliable power grid scheduling and efficient wind farm operation. The spatial–temporal differences between the acquisition points of numerical weather prediction and wind farm sites should be considered because they significantly affect the accuracy of wind power output. Meanwhile, since there are different actual constraints on wind farm electrical networks and units, and the weather conditions may vary, there are no universal methods for identifying and correcting wind power output. To this end, this paper proposes a wind speed calibration model based on an Attention‐Bi‐LSTM network and a self‐adaptive recognition‐correction model based on SHAP‐CART classification for wind power output prediction. First, a spatial–temporal dataset is established by using real weather data from wind farm sites and data from the surrounding NWP points. Then, wind speed is accurately calibrated using the Attention‐Bi‐LSTM model. Next, considering the practical constraints on wind farm electrical networks and units, the self‐adaptive recognition‐correction model based on SHAP‐CART classification is employed to effectively recognize and predict the operating states and power output of the units, thus improving the accuracy and stability of wind power output prediction. Finally, the effectiveness and superiority of the proposed method is verified by using a wind farm in Eastern China as an example and analyzing the prediction results in various approaches. © 2023 Institute of Electrical Engineer of Japan and Wiley Periodicals LLC. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aim of this article is to analyse the impact of climate change on bilateral trade flows. To this end, we estimate a theory‐grounded gravity model using bilateral trade flows on a sample of 67 countries over the period from 1986 to 2016. We use temperatures and extreme weather events (and their consequences) as indicators of climate change. In general, we find that international trade flows are less affected by the evolution of temperatures than domestic ones, while the opposite occurs with extreme weather events. However, there is a clear heterogeneity across countries and types of events. In particular, the results suggest that biological events, such as (epidemics and insect infestation), extreme temperatures, storms and landslides have a negative impact on international flows relative to internal ones. Interestingly, the influence of China and Japan on the global result is decisive, especially for storms in the first case and extreme temperatures in the second. Finally, our General Equilibrium estimations suggest a more detrimental impact of insect infestation and extreme temperatures on welfare than the rest of events. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Many studies have investigated the impact of imports, especially those from China, on the domestic labor market. In this paper, we empirically examine the effects of not only imports from China but also those from regional trade agreement (RTA) partners on employment in Japan. To this end, we decomposed the total import penetration into the import penetration under the most favored nation (MFN) and RTA regimes. To address the endogeneity concern on our import penetration variables, we estimated our models by the instrumental variable method. As in previous studies in the literature, we found that the rise in import penetration from China significantly decreases employment in Japan. In contrast, import penetration under the RTA regime is found to have significantly positive effects on employment. The increase in imports under RTA regimes is not harmful to the domestic labor market. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper uses fractional integration techniques to explore the stochastic properties of the Financial Stress Indices (FSIs) of 10 Asian countries, further investigating the bilateral linkages between them to ascertain how financial stress spreads among countries in the region. For the FSIs of each country, the results show that all the estimated orders of integration are in the interval (0, 1) implying fractional integration and a long memory pattern. Thus, shocks will have transitory though long‐lasting effects. For the cross‐country spillovers of the FSIs, we find that convergence is satisfied in all cases with values of the differencing parameter around 0 and thus showing short memory behavior. It is worth noting that for the larger economies in the region, Japan and China, financial stress transmission between Japan and the smaller economies was faster than with respect to China. Overall, the results provide valuable information on the financial market activity of the countries in the region. To check for the robustness of the baseline results we also use systemic risk measures for these countries, CoVaR with the results showing evidence of fractional integration for the individual series, with all values of the differencing parameter in the range (0, 1). For convergence, there is a substantial reduction in the degree of integration, though the results are not as clear as with the FSIs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article presents the author's comments as an anthropologist of tourism based in Japan on three papers addressing the anthropologies of tourism including a paper on the possibility of Ibero-American anthropologies of tourism, the Mexican way of studying tourism, and a paper on the anthropology of tourism in China.

This paper analyses the different relationships between the two types of South Asian highs (SAH)—the southern mode of the SAH (SSAH) and the traditional SAH in its entirety (ESAH)—with respect to the variations in summer rainfall over East Asia. The ESAH is closely related to summer rainfall over northeastern China, whereas the SSAH is closely linked to summer rainfall over the Yangtze River valley, northern China, and Japan. Above‐normal rainfall tends to occur over northeastern China in strong ESAH years, whereas strong SSAH years tend to yield above‐normal rainfall over the Yangtze River valley and Japan together with below‐normal rainfall over northern China. The westerly jet and the western Pacific subtropical high (WPSH) shifts northward associated with a strengthened ESAH. The related anomalous southwesterly winds to the northwestern side of the WPSH transports abundant water vapour to northeastern China and leads to above‐normal rainfall there. In contrast, the westerly jet shifts southward and WPSH shifts southwestward to the South China Sea associated with a strengthened and southeastward‐shifted SSAH. Accordingly, a cyclonic anomaly appears over Northeast Asia and mid‐latitude western northern Pacific and an anticyclonic anomaly occurs over subtropical western North Pacific. The associated southwesterly wind anomalies over the Yangtze River valley and Japan contributes to above‐normal rainfall over these regions via transporting sufficient amount of water vapour. In addition, the anomalous northerly winds to the western flank of the cyclonic anomaly results in below‐normal rainfall over northern China via carrying drier air southward. Furthermore, the preceding winter ENSO events may play a more important role in the SSAH variation via modulating India Ocean SST. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Journal of Family Therapy is the property of Wiley-Blackwell and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

For a better understanding of the ongoing debates on the RMB, this paper investigates the effects of exchange rate shocks on output and the current account for China and Japan. We use structural vector auto-regression models and find that yen appreciation reduces current account surpluses while having no strong effect on output in Japan. RMB appreciation, on the other hand, has an insignificant effect on the current account, although it tends to reduce output in China. For China, dollar pricing with vertical trade integration seems responsible for the insignificant effect on the current account. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Asian Politics & Policy is the property of Wiley-Blackwell and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

This paper takes a preliminary look at a commoditised form of caregiving that emerged in the first decade of the new millennium in the USA, China and Japan: adult male breastfeeding (AMBF). I argue that AMBF is emblematic of both the changing geography of industrial production since the 1973 oil crisis and how consumption has since come to be the most important economic task of those within privileged nations and enclaves. AMBF emphasises how marketing forces today have deployed what are increasingly maternalistic imaginaries to emphasise the degree to which a product or service dyadically recognises, affirms and cares for its consuming subjects. The marketised maternal is rooted in the racialised reproductive savings of those long given privileged access to the superior productivity of the Machine, which compelled smaller family size. It is these savings that have allowed for new dyadic intimacies to be fashioned between the maternalised "market‐and‐me." The flipside of this is that privileged consumers are increasingly infantilised, even as its dependencies are supported by a workforce largely procreated by racially diminished other‐mothers (ROMs). Infantilism, in turn, psychically shields consumers from the planetary devastations that have made privileged consumption possible. AMBF holds theoretical promise by making the unconscious nature of desire‐for the maternal (as a dyadic site of caregiving) explicit along with the latter's revolutionary potential. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper examines innovation responses of a panel of Japanese firms to the intensified import competition from China in the period 1995–2005. We build a comprehensive firm‐level dataset linking patents and R&D merged to cross‐industry measures of Chinese import competition. Accounting for a simultaneity bias between innovation and importing and the possible heterogeneous effects across firms, we found that patenting has increased in response to an influx of Chinese imports, but it has adversely affected the quality of innovation, measured by forward citations received. These effects are only observed for globally engaged firms, not for firms focusing on the domestic market. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper looks at the role of textile exports in Japan and China's economic development in the period of 1868-1930 as a major explanation for the ' Little Divergence' between the two countries in the context of the ' Great Divergence' between Europe and Asia. Because of textiles' large weighting in proto-industrialization gross domestic product ( GDP), we postulate that China's initial 20-year lag in textiles vis-à-vis Japan turns out to be fatal for its industry and that it eventually ordains totally different development patterns for the textile industry in the two countries, which ultimately led to different growth patterns for the overall economy. Although both countries saw rapid growth of textile exports, the nature of those exports and the entailed position of each country in the industry value chain of trade were quite different. We then use Granger causality tests to show that in one case ( Japan) it is in support of the export-led-growth hypothesis ( ELG) while in another ( China) it is not. Our study then also explains why Japan's industrial revolution took place much earlier than China's. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper addresses the issue of power system transient stability assessment and control (TSA&C) based on phase plane representation of the power angle and rotor speed. First, the relationship between transient stability–instability and concavity–convexity of the phase‐plane trajectory is found and proved based on the single machine infinite bus (SMIB) system, and a transient instability criterion is derived for real‐time instability detection. Second, with the aim that the phase‐plane trajectory swings back before the unstable equilibrium point (UEP) once instability is detected, near‐optimal control size of generator tripping to stabilize the system is determined based on the relationship between unbalanced power and the slope of the phase‐plane trajectory. Finally, the instability detection and control technique is extended to a multimachine power system based on SMIB equivalent transform. The proposed method is independent of the network structure and operation mode, which can be applied for real‐time emergency control based on wide area measurement system (WAMS). The simulations in the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE) 39‐bus system and the Sanhua Power Grid (in China) validate the accuracy and efficiency of the proposed method. © 2019 Institute of Electrical Engineers of Japan. Published by John Wiley & Sons, Inc. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study presents some of the current methodological issues regarding the analysis and comprehension of educational policy transfer, with particular emphasis on the issue of structure and agency. It suggests some shortcomings of current educational policy transfer research in dealing with the complex interaction between structure and agency. To fill those voids, drawing from Archer's morphogenetic approach in educational policy transfer, an alternative framework of educational policy transfer is presented. A case from the author's current research on China's interest in Japanese vocational education during the late Qing Dynasty is given to explain the usage of this new interpretive framework. It is hoped that this new conceptual framework will aid in analysing educational policy transfer and open up a new methodological and theoretical space for future educational policy transfer research. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: This meta‐analysis aimed to determine the effect of mindfulness interventions on nurses' levels of depression and anxiety. Design: Meta‐analysis of randomised controlled trials. Methods: The following Chinese and English databases were searched: PubMed, Embase, Cochrane Library, Web of Science, and China National Knowledge Internet (CNKI). The retrieval period was from database construction to 30 March 2022. Two researchers screened the relevant literature and extracted the data. After a cross‐check, data were input into Stata version 16.0 for meta‐analysis. Results: Twelve randomised controlled trials from 2017 to 2021 were included, which involved 807 subjects (405 and 402 in the intervention and control groups, respectively). Meta‐analysis results showed that nurses' anxiety reduced by mindfulness‐based interventions was significantly higher compared to that of the control group (SMD = 0.91, 95% CI: 0.27–1.55, p < 0.05). Furthermore, an 8‐week mindfulness‐based intervention (SMD = 1.43, 95% CI: 0.61–2.24) reduced the level of anxiety significantly more compared to a 4‐week intervention (SMD = 1.03, 95% CI: 0.36–1.71). Mindfulness‐based interventions were better compared to conventional intervention to reduce the level of depression (SMD = 1.02, 95% CI: 0.42–1.61, p < 0.05), and an 8‐week mindfulness intervention (SMD = 1.81, 95% CI: 0.78–2.84) reduced the level of depression significantly more compared to a 4‐week intervention (SMD = 0.82, 95% CI: 0.29–1.35). Since limited studies had interventions longer than 8 weeks, results on longer mindfulness interventions in reducing nurses' anxiety and depression are inconclusive. In conclusion, mindfulness intervention for 8 weeks or less can significantly reduce nurses' anxiety and depression levels. Patient or Public Contribution: None. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study evaluates optimal carbon‐neutral power supply strategy in China up to 2060 with a multi‐region high spatial and temporal dynamic optimal power expansion planning model. Furthermore, this study explores installable potential of hydrogen and fuel cell system and analyzes the influences of its capital cost reduction at different levels. The results show that the national installed capacity would rise to be over 9000 GW in 2060, in which wind and solar PV will take up around 61%; the intermittency of renewable power generation is mainly managed with hydrogen production, power output curtailment and charge and discharge of energy storage; hydrogen and fuel cell system would improve the capacity factor and reduce the curtailment rate of renewable power generation. © 2023 The Authors. IEEJ Transactions on Electrical and Electronic Engineering published by Institute of Electrical Engineer of Japan and Wiley Periodicals LLC. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Recent reports show air pollutant magnetite nanoparticles (MNPs) in the brains of people with Alzheimer's disease (AD). Considering various field applications of MNPs because of developments in nanotechnology, the aim of this study is to identify major trends and data gaps in research on magnetite to allow for relevant environmental and health risk assessment. Herein, a bibliometric and systematic analysis of the published magnetite literature (n = 31 567) between 1990 to 2020 is completed. Following appraisal, publications (n = 244) are grouped into four time periods with the main research theme identified for each as 1990–1997 "oxides," 1998–2005 "ferric oxide," 2006–2013 "pathology," and 2014–2020 "animal model." Magnetite formation and catalytic activity dominate the first two time periods, with the last two focusing on the exploitation of nanoparticle engineering. Japan and China have the highest number of citations for articles published. Longitudinal analysis indicates that magnetite research for the past 30 years shifted from environmental and industrial applications, to biomedical and its potential toxic effects. Therefore, whilst this study presents the research profile of different countries, the development in research on MNPs, it also reveals that further studies on the effects of MNPs on human health is much needed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The negotiation process of the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) has been challenging for its participating countries, who have sought to find a balanced compromise and consensus in spite of their many different interests. While some scholars have studied the RCEP negotiation, there has been no detailed study exploring how domestic interests influence leaders' positions on the RCEP deal. The objective of this study is to explore the interests of major countries – China, India, and Japan – in the negotiation of the RCEP. China and Japan decided to stay within the RCEP formation, while India opted to stay out of the RCEP formation. This study argues that domestic interests have influenced leaders' decisions in the RCEP negotiations. The existence of major countries shows hegemonic rivalry/game in the development of the RCEP. The neoliberal institutionalism theory has emphasised the importance of common interests for international cooperation. The existence of common interests has become a fundamental element for the conclusion of the RCEP to achieve its objective, namely economic integration, economic development, and strengthening economic cooperation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study estimates long‐term PM2.5 exchange flux between the atmospheric boundary layer (ABL) and free troposphere (FT) in the North China Plain. The effect of PM2.5 long‐range transport (LRT) on air quality in downwind regions is also assessed. The PM2.5 exchange fluxes are calculated based on a mass budget method with data from WRF‐Chem simulations, during wintertime months (November, December, and January) in 2014, 2016, and 2017 (represent moderate, heavier, and less polluted years). The overall PM2.5 exchange exhibits clear topographical correlation and diurnal variation. The plain area is characterized by a considerable upward flux of −0.13 μg m−2 s−1 (in a 3‐year average), acting as an effective source for LRT. ABL height variation contributes significantly to the diurnal cycle of PM2.5 vertical exchange. Over the mountainside and ridge areas, the PM2.5 exchange flux is downward and its diurnal variation is weak, due to the dominant cross‐mountain descent flows. Four LRT patterns in the FT are identified, that is, eastward, southward, recirculation, and local stagnation. They can affect air quality in Northeast China, Yangtze River Delta, South Korea, and Japan. Indicating with averages and standard deviations, the PM2.5 concentration increases (relative contribution) for these four target regions over the 3‐year winter period are respectively 5.5 ± 4.8 μg m−3 (12.6 ± 10.9%), 4.6 ± 4.5 μg m−3 (8.4 ± 6.4%), 4.4 ± 3.9 μg m−3 (5.2 ± 4.4%), and 1.6 ± 0.9 μg m−3 (2.6 ± 1.6%). While the maximum impacts can be 36.7 μg m−3 (59%), 31.1 μg m−3 (41%), 25.7 μg m−3 (30%), and 7.2 μg m−3 (13%), respectively. Plain Language Summary: The PM2.5 exchange between the boundary layer and the free troposphere is a key process directly affecting air pollution transport and influence scale. This study estimates the PM2.5 vertical exchange flux over the North China Plain (NCP) during wintertime in 2014, 2016, and 2017, and quantifies the impact of the subsequent long‐range transport on air quality in downstream areas. The long‐term average PM2.5 exchange flux is closely related to the topographic distribution and has diurnal variation characteristics. The plain area is characterized by considerable PM2.5 vertical outflow, allowing the pollutants to be transported long distances in the free troposphere. There are four transport patterns with the main affected areas being the Yangtze River Delta, Northeast China, South Korea, and Japan, as well as the NCP itself. PM2.5 concentration increases due to the long‐range transport for these areas are quantified. These results provide a more solid understanding of atmospheric transport and large‐scale air pollution. Key Points: PM2.5 vertical exchange flux over the North China Plain is characterized by topographical distribution and diurnal variationThe plain area provides an effective PM2.5 source for long‐range transport in the free troposphere with a seasonal average upward flux of −0.13 μg m−2 s−1Four long‐range transport patterns are identified and PM2.5 concentration contributions to downstream regions are quantified [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Periods of dimming and brightening have been recorded in observational datasets of surface solar radiation (SSR) between the mid‐20th century and present day. Atmospheric components affect SSR, including aerosols and clouds, though studies disagree somewhat about the relative effect of each component in different regions. Current Earth system models (ESMs) are unable to simulate observed trends in SSR. This study includes an investigation into observed SSR variations between 1961 and 2014 and an evaluation of the effects of cloud cover variations and impacts of aerosol extinction, using timeseries of SSR and cloud cover from in‐situ measurements. Historical simulations by 42 ESMs participating in the Coupled Model Intercomparison Project phase 6 (CMIP6) have also been studied and compared to observations. The observational study indicates that cloud cover has had a dampening effect on the variations of SSR and that emissions of aerosol and aerosol precursors are the main cause of the general trends in observed SSR in four regions—China, Japan, Europe, and the United States—during 1961–2014. The study of simulated SSR in CMIP6 yields the conclusion that current ESMs remain unable to simulate the magnitude of observed dimming and brightening in China, Japan, and the United States, but that the European SSR trends between 1961 and 2014 are fairly well reproduced in the ESMs. A rough quantification of the regional surface radiation extinction efficiency of aerosol and precursor emissions in the simulations is found to agree with observed values in Europe, but not in the other three regions. Plain Language Summary: Measurements of incoming sunlight at the Earth's surface between the 1960s and the 1980s show a substantial downward trend globally, and between the 1980s and the 2000s an upward trend has followed, albeit weaker. These two trends are often called dimming and brightening, respectively. The reasons for dimming and brightening are not clear, although evidence supports the role of atmospheric components, prominently aerosol emissions and clouds; changes in aerosol emissions and clouds can cause changes in incoming sunlight at the surface because of their ability to absorb or reflect sunlight on its way through the atmosphere. In this study, measurements of incoming sunlight at the surface are investigated and compared with simulations from state‐of‐the‐art Earth system models (ESMs). The study reinforce evidence that aerosol emission changes have been causal to observed regional dimming and brightening, and suggests that cloud cover changes have not caused the trends. The study also finds that ESMs are unable to compute dimming and brightening trends in several regions, which may suggest that the models are not accurately reproducing the atmospheric processes that cause the trends. Key Points: This study supports evidence that dimming and brightening trends between 1961 and 2014 in China, Japan, Europe and the United States were caused by variations in aerosol‐ and aerosol precursor emissions, and not by cloud cover changesResults confirm and reinforce previous indications that Coupled Model Intercomparison Project phase 6 simulations are able to reproduce surface solar radiation trends observed in Europe, but not in China, Japan, and the United States [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

How do imports from China affect local labour markets in Japan? We examine this question using commuting zones as regional units and analysing shock propagation through supply chains and co‐location patterns. Applying the method proposed by Autor et al. (American Economic Review, 103, 2121, 2013) and Acemoglu, Autor et al. (Journal of Labor Economics, 34, S141, 2016), we examine the impact of import shocks on regional manufacturing employment using input–output tables which allows us to investigate the propagation of shocks to both upstream and downstream industries and to relate the regional impact to industry co‐location patterns. We find that the negative direct effect on local employment is underestimated in previous studies that do not consider the regional propagation of the shock through supply chains, especially the positive shock to downstream industries. Downstream industries in Japan, for example, significantly benefit from imports from China as they lower input prices and increase employment. In contrast to downstream industries, we find no significant impact on upstream industries. Our results imply that the direct negative effect on local labour markets is somewhat mitigated by effects on downstream industries within the same region. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background and purpose: Social engagement is an important active aging strategy to promote older adults' mental health. The purposes of this study were to compare social engagement in older populations around the world and explore associations with mental health outcomes. Materials and methods: An international cross‐sectional survey was conducted from 2017 to 2019. Data were retrieved from The International Social Survey Programme for a secondary data analysis across 30 countries. This study applied the Taxonomy of Social Activities and its six levels as operational definitions for a consistent concept of social engagement for international comparisons. Results: In total, 9403 older adults with a mean age of 72.85 ± 6.40 years responded. The highest levels of older adults' social engagement were found in Switzerland, Thailand, and New Zealand. Older adults of a higher age, with a lower educational level, who were permanently sick or disabled, who had no partner, who were widowed or whose civil partner had died, who lived alone, and who had lower self‐placement in society had significantly lower social engagement than did their counterparts. In the regression model, older adults' social engagement positively predicted general health, self‐accomplishment, and life satisfaction, but negatively predicted loneliness and depression. Conclusions: In aging societies worldwide, encouraging older adults' social engagement would be beneficial to promote mental health. Implications for nursing practice and health policies: Community professional nurses can develop strategies of social engagement based on the needs and sociodemographic factors of older adults to improve their mental health. Developing efficient strategies and local policies by learning from successful experiences in other countries is important to promote social engagement in aging societies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Political relations between countries can potentially affect and be affected by bilateral visitor flows. Applying various modified Granger causality tests, this article uses Japan and China as a case study of the possible bi‐directional linkages between tourism demand and political relations. Findings suggest that country relations do influence visitor flows, but not vice versa. The influence is statistically strong regarding visitor flows from China to Japan, but is weak and insignificant in the opposite direction, although this relationship appears to be time‐varying and strengthening recently. This article concludes with a discussion of policy implications and some suggestions for further research. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The concept of hair transparency has been claimed widely in the Japan (and now it is spreading to Asian) hair color market. Despite the general use of this concept, to date, there is no clear and objective description to accurately explain what it is. In this work, we have decoded and gave clarity to the concept of hair transparency via a technical model (validated for both Japan and China markets) composed of measurable parameters of hair property using a single device. Methodology and Results: A comprehensive study composed of various tests was used, starting with a qualitative identification of key parameters via in‐depth workshop discussions with over 40 Japanese stylists and a panel of 12 consumers. These identified parameters (luminosity, color visibility, and Shine) were then translated into technically measurable parameters of the hair fiber (Diffused light intensity, ratio of RGB channel intensities of Diffused light, and luster) via a single instrument—Hair SAMBA (a dual‐polarized imaging system). Afterward, 10 carefully selected anchor shades were used as visual stimuli in an online pairwise comparison (PC) study with 100 Japanese stylists to generate quantitative transparency perception data of the swatches. Technical parameters of these swatches were measured by SAMBA and consolidated with the PC output, for the creation and validation of the mathematical model. After, with another PC study (N = 100) in China, with seven shades from Japan study and 6 additional Chinese market shades, the applicability of the model in China market was validated. Conclusion: We have clarified and quantified the concept of hair transparency through a consumer centric approach and with objective data. Our findings will enable the development of optimum transparent shades which better suits consumer needs. Lastly, we would like to highlight the beauty of digitalization in the study: The digital evaluation pathways chosen allowed us to collect quantitative consumer data from two countries for the creation of a robust model under the impact of COVID‐19 and would definitely be the way to go for our future consumer evaluation studies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Oceanic absorption of heat generated by greenhouse gas emissions has resulted in warming of the dark ocean (>200 m) that contains a large refractory DOM (RDOM) pool. However, changes in microbially mediated production and degradation dynamics for RDOM components in response to warming of dark marginal basins remain unclear. Herein, we integrated data from the dark South China, Mediterranean and Japan Seas (temperature range: 0.09–15.1°C) to demonstrate that in situ production efficiency of two ubiquitous humic‐like fluorophores increased at higher dark ocean temperature, whereas chromophores at a wavelength of 325 nm (aCDOM(325)) changed from production to degradation at higher temperature. Increased oxygen consumption and a reduction of labile substrates in future warmer dark ocean environments may initiate the final degradation of some semi‐refractory components, thereby increasing the recalcitrance of RDOM, but decreasing the DOM inventory in dark basins and creating a positive feedback to rising atmospheric CO2. Plain Language Summary: Marine refractory dissolved organic matter (RDOM) in the dark ocean is primarily formed during heterotrophic degradation of labile organic matter, which has a pronounced sensitivity to temperature variation. Since the 1960s, the global dark ocean has exhibited an accelerated warming with a discernable temperature increase. Thus, determining the importance of temperature on microbial regulation of the oceanic RDOM pool is of great significance. This study utilized the ocean interior of the marginal South China, Mediterranean and Japan Seas as natural basin‐scale enclosed incubators along with optical DOM characterization methods to reveal a production‐degradation reaction series for RDOM components. A decrease in the DOM inventory by enhanced microbial mineralization (producing CO2) in a warmer dark ocean may create a positive feedback in response to global climate change. Key Points: Faster turnover for optical components of dissolved organic matter (DOM) was observed in dark marginal basins than in the open oceanIn situ production efficiency of two ubiquitous humic‐like fluorophores increased at higher dark ocean temperaturesAn increase of DOM recalcitrance and decrease of the bulk dissolved organic carbon pool may occur due to a future warming of dark basins [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Far‐travelled ash layers from explosive volcanic eruptions can provide invaluable marker horizons for dating and correlating regional to global sedimentary archives. Here, we present a new cryptotephra associated with the ~5.9 cal ka bp Towada‐Chuseri eruption (To‐Cu) in a peat sediment record from northeast China. This tephra exhibits a rhyolitic glass composition that can be distinguished from other widespread tephra layers around the region of Japan and northeast China. Our findings extend the known range of this ash significantly, making it now traceable about 1200 km from its source, Towada volcano, Japan. Notably, this tephra provides an important isochron for synchronising palaeoenvironmental studies during the mid‐Holocene period from the western Pacific, central Japan, Japan Sea and northeast China. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

SUMMARY We conducted a morphological observation and molecular phylogenetic analyses on bladed Bangiales collected from natural populations on Shikinejima Island and Hachijojima Island of the Izu Islands, southern central Japan. The morphological features of the gametophytic blades such as the blade shape, blade margin and reproductive cell divisions were extremely similar to those parameters of Neoporphyra haitanensis, a species cultivated in southern China, and Neoporphyra dentata. However, the blades collected from the two islands were thicker than the blades of N. dentata; this feature was the same as that of N. haitanensis. The chloroplast RUBISCO spacer sequences of present samples were identical to the sequences of N. haitanensis from China. Moreover, phylogenetic positions of three conchocelis strains isolated from the blades on the two islands were examined based on concatenated sequences of the chloroplast rbcL gene and nuclear 18S rRNA. The results showed that the strains were resolved in a clade including N. haitanensis; however, the strains were separated from N. haitanensis in China. Therefore, the bladed Bangiales from the two islands were identified as N. haitanensis. The present study is the first record of N. haitanensis in natural populations in Japan. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Motivation: Advanced industrial economies that used to advocate and implement charitable foreign assistance have started to (re)adopt mercantilist development finance by using official development finance credits to support private firms. This seems to be in response to the mercantilist practice of emerging Southern development partners. Purpose: This article compares mercantilist practice by Northern and Southern development partners by examining how and why the public financial agencies of China and Japan offer state‐backed credits to businesses in different ways. Approach and methods: The practices of China's two national policy banks—China Development Bank (CDB) and Export‐Import Bank of China (Chexim), were compared to those of Japan's two public financial agencies—Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) and Japan Bank for International Cooperation (JBIC). Quantitative data was obtained from published primary sources, including official histories, annual reports and financial statements of the agencies as well as public financial almanacs and policy documents. In the absence of official data, open‐source secondary data collected by research institutes and agencies was used. Between 2016 and 2019, the author conducted 59 interviews in China and 15 in Japan with officials of the financial agencies, their clients, other stakeholders and researchers. Findings: Chinese firms rely largely on public financial agencies to win international contracts. Japanese firms borrow from public financial agencies primarily for overseas investment projects, which may also attract private finance. Policy implications: China's rise has triggered Japan as well as other older industrial economies to respond by (re)adopting mercantilist development finance policies to encourage commercial investors to engage in development co‐operation. However, the looser relations between state and firms in older industrial economies such as Japan makes it harder to encourage private firms to follow state strategies and invest in underdeveloped regions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aim: The outer color of the Chinese herbal medicine Oren (Coptis Rhizome) in the market has lately been darker than usual. A survey in China revealed that the preparation process was performed in conditions of excessive heat, and as a result there was concern about both the medicine's ingredients, as well as properties such as color and taste. Therefore, in the current study, we examined the influence of excess heat during processing on the ingredients and properties of Coptis Rhizome. Methods: We obtained six samples of heat‐processed chopped Oren pieces from a market in Japan, sorted the pieces into three groups according to the color, and measured the alkaloid content in each color group. In addition, the effect of heating on the alkaloid content was examined by directly heating Oren. Results: In each sample, 7–31% of the Oren pieces had a black tone, and their coptisine chloride content was as low as 37–91% compared with normal‐tone pieces. As a result of heat‐processing crude Oren at 160°C for 150 min in a constant‐temperature oven, the coptisine chloride content decreased to 25.6%. Furthermore, the coptisine chloride content decreased to about 70% when heating heat‐processed Oren for 3 min with an open flame, and the color changed to a dark brown. Conclusion: Our results suggest that black‐colored chopped Oren pieces in the market are produced by excessive heating, which affects the quality of the medicine and its alkaloid content. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article examines the connectedness and information spillover in the Electricity‐Crypto Network (ECN) system. The Bitcoin and Ethereum markets are studied due to the level of electricity demand for active trading and mining in the three leading crypto mining economies (United States, China, and Japan). Among other findings, the leading net transmitter of information is the return of the Bitcoin market while the demand for electricity in the U.S. and Japan are the leading net information receivers in the ECN system. In a nutshell, the return and trading volumes of the cryptocurrency markets are net information transmitters while the markets' volatility and the demand for electricity in the U.S., China, and Japan are net information receivers in the system. As a policy relevance, given the favourable developments in these crypto markets, greener sources of electrical energy are expedient to mitigate emissions while mining these coins. This will reduce the impact of human activities on the climate. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

During June–July 2020, the record‐breaking flooding in the recent four decades struck the plum rain belt over China, Japan, and Korea. Concurrent with this persistent heavy rainfall, pronounced Indian Ocean basin warming (IOBW) was observed, following the previous El Niño event in the transition to La Niña‐like mean state this summer. This tropical Indo‐Pacific large‐scale thermal condition provided favorable conditions for rainfall surpluses over the plum rain belt via the western North Pacific anticyclone. Superimposed on the tropical Indo‐Pacific large‐scale thermal condition, an extraordinary long‐lasting and quasistationary Madden‐Julian Oscillation (MJO) active phase persisted in the Indian Ocean throughout June–July 2020, lasting for 59 days. The MJO‐associated teleconnection was mainly responsible for the extreme rainfall over the plum rain belt, which was facilitated by the conducive large‐scale Indo‐Pacific oceanic‐atmospheric condition. Plain Language Summary: The East Asian rainy season (commonly called the plum rain, also known as Meiyu in China, Baiu in Japan, and Jangma in Korea), is caused by rainfall along a persistent stationary front. The plum rain season usually starts in June and persists into the middle of July. During June–July 2020, the region of the plum rain belt over China, Japan, and Korea, was ravaged by the strongest flooding in decades with catastrophic losses. The physical mechanisms driving this extreme flooding remains unclear. Concurrent with this persistent rainfall surpluses, the Indo‐Pacific oceans featured a developing La Niña‐like state in the eastern tropical Pacific and pronounced sea surface temperature warming in the Indian Ocean basin. Although these Indo‐Pacific thermal conditions can provide a favorable large‐scale background for the rainfall surpluses over East Asia, they cannot explain the extreme rainfall amount over the plum rain belt during 2020. We show that an exceptionally long‐lasting and quasistationary Madden‐Julian Oscillation activity over the Indian Ocean was the key reason for this extreme event. Key Points: The rainfall amount over the East Asian plum‐rain belt during summer 2020 was the largest in the recent four decadesThe intense flooding coincided with an exceptionally persistent Madden‐Julian Oscillation (MJO) active phase in the Indian Ocean throughout June and JulyThis extraordinary MJO activity was facilitated by the conducive pantropic background oceanic‐atmospheric conditions [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Sasa is a taxonomically problematic genus of bamboos mainly distributed in Japan and China. Recent phylogenetic analyses demonstrated that Sasa is polyphyletic, with Chinese species of Sasa being distantly related to species from Japan. Based on newly collected flowering materials from China, it was found that the Chinese species hitherto placed in Sasa subg. Sasa have racemose synflorescences, 2–3 florets per spikelet with a rudimentary terminal floret, and 3 stamens and 2 stigmas per floret. This distinguishes them from the type of Sasa and other species of that genus, which have paniculate synflorescences, 4–10 florets per spikelet, and 6 stamens and 3 stigmas per floret. Together with several differences in vegetative characters between these two groups, this morphological distinction warrants recognition of a new genus for the Chinese species hitherto placed in Sasa subg. Sasa. The results of our molecular phylogenetic analyses also strongly support the monophyly of the Chinese representatives of Sasa subg. Sasa. The new genus Sinosasa is described to accommodate the Chinese species, including three previously recognized species and four new species. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In early summer 2020, the Meiyu‐Baiu rainfall was markedly enhanced, triggering devastating floods in Japan and central China. We examined the underlying processes using a climate model and analysis. The enhanced Meiyu‐Baiu rainfall was reasonably predicted by the climate model initialized at the end of April. The sensitivity experiment indicated that Indian Ocean (IO) warming enhanced the Meiyu‐Baiu rainfall. Moreover, we found that the warm IO condition can be traced back to the super Indian Ocean Dipole (IOD) in 2019. The IO warmth was influenced by successive processes: record strong downwelling Rossby waves excited by the IOD and tripole sea surface temperature anomalies in the tropical IO‐western Pacific, their arrival to the southwestern IO in spring, and associated modulation of monsoon flow. The results suggest that the seasonal predictability of the Meiyu‐Baiu rainfall in 2020 originated from the super IOD. Plain Language Summary: In early summer 2020, Japan and central China suffered from serious floods due to torrential rainfall associated with the intensified Meiyu‐Baiu front, which extends from central China to southern Japan. The results of climate model simulations indicated that a warm condition of the Indian Ocean (IO) was an underlying condition for the enhanced rainfall. We found that the warm IO condition can be traced back to the strong Indian Ocean Dipole (IOD) episode in 2019, which featured a pair of colder‐than‐normal and warmer‐than‐normal ocean temperatures west of the Sumatra coast and in the western IO, respectively. This IOD contributed to the IO warming in the following seasons through oceanic dynamics and monsoon modulation. Key Points: The markedly enhanced rainfall in the Meiyu‐Baiu frontal zone in early summer 2020 was associated with the warm IO conditionThe warm IO condition can be traced back to the super IOD event in 2019Ocean dynamics and associated modulation of monsoon flow in the IO sector facilitated IO warming [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Heavy‐duty vehicles have the advantages of heavy load, long transportation distance and so on, and ride comfort is an important feature of heavy‐duty vehicles. Flexibility of the heavy‐duty vehicle body is an essential factor in ride comfort, and a three‐axle heavy‐duty vehicle is the main commercial vehicle in China. To comprehensively analyze flexibility of vehicle body, elastic natural characteristics of free‐free beam with equal cross sections are derived, and vibration energy of rigid–elastic synthesis of the beam is obtained. Because the vehicle body is regarded as a free‐free beam with equal cross section, a 10 degree‐of‐freedom rigid elastic synthesis mechanics model of the three‐axle heavy‐duty vehicle is established, and a mathematics model of this heavy‐duty vehicle is derived based on the model energy. The frequency domain analysis method for the rigid–elastic synthesis model of a three‐axle heavy‐duty vehicle is determined by Fourier transform. The formulas of vibration response for the three‐axle heavy‐duty vehicle are derived, and the calculation method for statistical properties of vibration response is given. In order to analyze the effect of body flexibility on ride comfort, the ride comfort of a three‐axle heavy‐duty vehicle is simulated according to both the rigid–elastic synthesis model and the rigid model of three‐axle heavy‐duty vehicle, and the simulation results are compared on a B‐grade road with a common speed of 70 km/h. The results show that rigid–elastic synthesis of the vehicle body has a greater effect on vertical accelerations of the vehicle body and a lesser effect on human vertical acceleration, working places of suspensions and relative dynamic loads of wheels under regular analysis. © 2020 Institute of Electrical Engineers of Japan. Published by Wiley Periodicals LLC. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Research collaboration is promoted by governments and research funders, but if the relative prevalence and merits of collaboration vary internationally then different national and disciplinary strategies may be needed to promote it. This study compares the team size and field normalized citation impact of research across all 27 Scopus broad fields in the 10 countries with the most journal articles indexed in Scopus 2008–2012. The results show that team size varies substantially by discipline and country, with Japan (4.2) having two‐thirds more authors per article than the United Kingdom (2.5). Solo authorship is rare in China (4%) but common in the United Kingdom (27%). While increasing team size associates with higher citation impact in almost all countries and fields, this association is much weaker in China than elsewhere. There are also field differences in the association between citation impact and collaboration. For example, larger team sizes in the Business, Management & Accounting category do not seem to associate with greater research impact, and for China and India, solo authorship associates with higher citation impact in this field. Overall, there are substantial international and field differences in the extent to which researchers collaborate and the extent to which collaboration associates with higher citation impact. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The purpose of this review is to present an overview of the patent landscape for catalysts used in hydrogenation reactions. Based on patent data extracted from PatBase®, we use predefined patent classifications as well as a keyword‐based search for our analyses. The results indicate that the number of patent families that protect heterogeneous catalysts grows twice as fast as that for their homogeneous counterparts. Furthermore, the data show a shift towards abundant and non‐toxic elements in heterogeneous catalysis, while the noble metals continue to dominate the patent landscape of homogeneous catalysis. A subsequent geographical analysis reveals that the high growth rates in heterogeneous catalysis, especially for nickel and iron, are driven by China. Conversely, patenting activities with regard to homogeneous catalysts mainly take place in the USA, the EU, and Japan. The subsequent keyword‐based search illustrates the continuous industrial relevance of enantioselective hydrogenation and transfer hydrogenation, as well as the rapidly increasing body of patents in hydrodeoxygenation. Setting these finding into context, we present and apply two concepts that are commonly used in patent analyses, namely the technology life cycle and the S‐curve. We conclude that hydrogenation catalysis has not reached its peak economic relevance yet and will continue to spark valuable patents and innovations in the future. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Yellow mosaic disease, caused by wheat yellow mosaic virus (WYMV), is one of the most serious diseases of winter wheat in Japan and China. A single major QTL for WYMV resistance in the Japanese wheat variety 'Yumechikara', designated Q.Ymym, has been mapped on a 43.6 cM linkage block between the two markers Xcfd233 and Xgwm349 on chromosome 2D. We were able to obtain two recombinants within the block, which facilitated reducing the size of the linkage block. The pseudomolecule sequence of 'Chinese Spring' (CS) indicated that the original Q.Ymym region of 43.6 cM corresponded to 68.5 Mb and the narrowed Q.Ymym region represents a size of 27.3 Mb. The sequence features of the Q.Ymym region were unique in comparison with CS sequences, which may have led to the low recombination rate within the block. The Q.Ymym haplotype block was detected in other WYMV‐resistant varieties but not in the susceptible varieties used in this study. The unique sequence structure of the Q.Ymym region allowed the development of co‐dominant markers for use in marker‐assisted selection. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aim of this article is to analyze the influence of Prime Minister Abe Shinzō's nationalist stance on Japan's policy towards China from a neoclassical realist perspective. It is argued that the extent to which Abe's ideological leaning exerted impact on foreign policy making depended on external stimuli, as well as Abe's domestic political interests. Prime Minister Abe generally perceived China as a threat to Japan, and remained assertive towards it, but he also pragmatically displayed flexibility in such areas as history issues, security policy, and territorial dispute. This article analyzes these complex developments in light of the changes in international environment and domestic politics, examining three periods: Abe's first administration (2006–2007); the escalation of diplomatic disputes with China (2012–2014); and gradual rapprochement with China (since 2014). It is concluded that the nationalist beliefs of decision makers affect foreign policy to the greatest extent whenever they are in line with other kinds of variables, such as external pressures and domestic interests. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Quantitative evaluation of earthquake‐induced permeability changes is important for understanding key geological processes, such as advective transport of heat and solute and the generation of elevated fluid pressure. Many studies have independently documented permeability changes in either an aquifer or an aquitard, but the effects of an earthquake on both the aquifer and aquitard of the same aquifer system are still poorly understood. In this study, we use the well water‐level response to earth tides and atmospheric pressure to study the changes in hydraulic properties in an aquifer and an overlying confining layer in Beijing, China, following the 11 March 2011 Tohoku earthquake in Japan. Our results show that both the tidal response amplitude and the phase shift increased and that the phase shift changed from negative to positive after the earthquake. We identified increased permeability in both the aquifer and aquitard by the barometric response function method. The horizontal transmissivity of the aquifer increased by a factor of 6, and the vertical diffusivity of the aquitard doubled. Key Points: Water‐level response to earth tides and atmospheric pressure is used to study earthquake‐induced changes in hydraulic propertiesTidal response and barometric pressure response methods both show permeability changes in the aquifer and aquitardThe transmissivity of the aquifer increased by a factor of 6, and the vertical diffusivity of the aquitard doubled after the earthquake [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Auto‐transformer (AT) power traction networks with a parallel connection are the unique mode on high‐speed electric railways in China. The up line and down line of power traction networks are connected at substation (SS), AT post (ATP) and sectioning post (SP) through busbars, circuit breakers and disconnectors. Currently, when a fault occurs on power traction networks, the feeder line protection devices at the up line and down line in SS trip simultaneously. After that, the nonfault line and instantaneous fault line recover by means of autoreclosing. This tripping mode enlarges the power supply‐interrupted region. Based on the analysis of circuit networks of power traction networks on high‐speed electric railways, the interrelations of currents in SS and ATP and in SS and SP are derived. When a fault occurs on one side of the power traction networks, the feeder currents in ATP and SP flow from the nonfault side to the fault side. The relation between feeder currents in SS and ATP and between feeder currents in SS and SP reflect this characteristic. A criterion for discriminating the fault side and selective‐tripping scheme of breakers is proposed based on the correlation analysis of feeder current fault components in multisite. The simulation results show that this scheme can discriminate fault side and make a selective trip rapidly and correctly. © 2019 Institute of Electrical Engineers of Japan. Published by John Wiley & Sons, Inc. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: The aim of this study was to compare the prevalence of behavioural and psychological symptoms of dementia (BPSD) in cognitively impaired elderly residents of long‐term care facilities in East Asia and to explore the factors associated with these patterns. Methods: This was a cross‐sectional survey of BPSD in cognitively impaired elderly residents of long‐term care facilities in Japan, South Korea, China, Taiwan, and Thailand. The Mini‐Mental State Examination, Clinical Dementia Rating (CDR), and Neuropsychiatric Inventory, Nursing Home version (NPI‐NH), were used to assess cognitive status, dementia severity, and BPSD, respectively. NPI‐NH subscale severity scores were multiplied by frequency scores to obtain the subscale scores and aggregated into two groups based on score (clinically insignificant = 1– 3; clinically significant ≥4). Results: Data from 662 people were analyzed. Median age, median Mini‐Mental State Examination scores, and median CDR scores differed significantly among the seven study sites. The prevalence of BPSD varied from 64% in Taiwan to 100% in dementia care units in Japan, and the median total NPI‐NH scores ranged from 2 in Taiwan to 14 in dementia care units in Japan. After stratification of the sample by dementia severity and clinical significance of NPI‐NH scores, differences in the prevalence of clinically significant BPSD were mostly observed among facilities dedicated to dementia patients in the CDR 1 group. In the CDR 3 group, the prevalence of some clinically significant BPSD, such as apathy, was high even among study sites with low median total NPI‐NH scores. Conclusions: Our findings may suggest referral and selection biases in the study sites. Future prospective studies are needed to address the impact of environmental and care factors on the occurrence of BPSD in Asian countries. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The author comments on an article published within the issue about the status of infrastructure investments by comparing its transport infrastructure with Japan's. He claims that the annual growth rate of China's high-speed rail network is 70% versus three percent of Japan. But China failed to connect cities to high-speed rail rather than focusing solely on the speed of the train. He mentions why he thinks road congestion is higher in Beijing than in Tokyo even if the latter has more cars.

Abstract: Foreign growth can induce changes in production structures across domestic regions through international trade. With a two‐country model with the explicit incorporation of two regions in the home country, we show that effects of foreign growth on exports and production to be possibly asymmetric among home regions. This foreign‐growth effect is especially prominent in Asia with China emerging as the largest trading country. We empirically test our theoretical hypothesis with the data set of Japanese regions. We find evidence that the growth of Asian countries leads to a change in the regional structure of exports and production in Japan. With respect to an adjacent Asian country, the growth of a foreign country exerts opposite effects on production among Japanese regions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Leading manufacturers in developed countries generally have high environmental awareness and implement proactive environmental management practices such as green supply chain management (GSCM). However, it is uncertain if smaller manufacturers in developed countries are more proactive than all manufacturers in developing countries. To understand this situation, we carried out surveys among small and medium-sized Japanese manufacturers, leading Chinese manufacturers and traditional Chinese manufacturers. Statistical results show that leading Chinese manufacturers have the highest awareness of both domestic and international environmental regulations/policies, and implement all GSCM practices at the highest level. Leading Chinese manufacturers and Japanese manufacturers are aware of international environmental regulations/policies, but such awareness only motivates them to implement eco-design practices. Traditional Chinese manufacturers have limited awareness of international environmental regulations/policies, but such awareness brings all types of GSCM practice. Such results can be helpful for different manufacturers in both developed and developing countries to develop suitable environmental strategies. Copyright © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd and ERP Environment [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]