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Background: The use of filter paper as a simple, inexpensive tool for storage and transportation of blood, 'Dried Blood Spots' or Guthrie cards, for diagnostic assays is well-established. In contrast, there are a paucity of diagnostic evaluations of dried cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) spots. These have potential applications in low-resource settings, such as Laos, where laboratory facilities for central nervous system (CNS) diagnostics are only available in Vientiane. In Laos, a major cause of CNS infection is Japanese encephalitis virus (JEV). We aimed to develop a dried CSF spot protocol and to evaluate its diagnostic performance using the World Health Organisation recommended anti-JEV IgM antibody capture enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (JEV MAC-ELISA)., Methodology and Principal Findings: Sample volumes, spotting techniques and filter paper type were evaluated using a CSF-substitute of anti-JEV IgM positive serum diluted in Phosphate Buffer Solution (PBS) to end-limits of detection by JEV MAC-ELISA. A conventional protocol, involving eluting one paper punch in 200 μl PBS, did not detect the end-dilution, nor did multiple punches utilising diverse spotting techniques. However, pre-cut filter paper enabled saturation with five times the volume of CSF-substitute, sufficiently improving sensitivity to detect the end-dilution. The diagnostic accuracy of this optimised protocol was compared with routine, neat CSF in a pilot, retrospective study of JEV MAC-ELISA on consecutive CSF samples, collected 2009-15, from three Lao hospitals. In comparison to neat CSF, 132 CSF samples stored as dried CSF spots for one month at 25-30 °C showed 81.6% (65.7-92.3 95%CI) positive agreement, 96.8% (91.0-99.3 95%CI) negative agreement, with a kappa coefficient of 0.81 (0.70-0.92 95%CI)., Conclusions/significance: The novel design of pre-cut filter paper saturated with CSF could provide a useful tool for JEV diagnostics in settings with limited laboratory access. It has the potential to improve national JEV surveillance and inform vaccination policies. The saturation of filter paper has potential use in the wider context of pathogen detection, including dried spots for detecting other analytes in CSF, and other body fluids.

We investigated whether dried cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) conserved on filter paper can be used as a substrate for accurate PCR diagnosis of important causes of bacterial meningitis in the Lao PDR. Using mock CSF, we investigated and optimized filter paper varieties, paper punch sizes, elution volumes and quantities of DNA template to achieve sensitive and reliable detection of bacterial DNA from filter paper specimens. FTA Elute Micro Card™ (Whatman, Maidstone, UK) was the most sensitive, consistent and practical variety of filter paper. Following optimization, the lower limit of detection for Streptococcus pneumoniae from dried mock CSF spots was 14 genomic equivalents (GE)/μL (interquartile range 5.5 GE/μL) or 230 (IQR 65) colony forming units/mL. A prospective clinical evaluation for S. pneumoniae, S. suis and Neisseria meningitidis was performed. Culture and PCR performed on fresh liquid CSF from patients admitted with a clinical diagnosis of meningitis (n = 73) were compared with results derived from dried CSF spots. Four of five fresh PCR-positive CSF samples also tested PCR positive from dried CSF spots, with one patient under the limit of detection. In a retrospective study of S. pneumoniae samples (n = 20), the median (IQR; range) CSF S. pneumoniae bacterial load was 1.1 × 10(4) GE/μL (1.2 × 10(5) ; 1 to 6.1 × 10(6) DNA GE/μL). Utilizing the optimized methodology, we estimate an extrapolated sensitivity of 90%, based on the range of CSF genome counts found in Laos. Dried CSF filter paper spots could potentially help us to better understand the epidemiology of bacterial meningitis in resource-poor settings and guide empirical treatments and vaccination policies., (© 2013 The Authors. Clinical Microbiology and Infection published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd on behalf of the European Society of Clinical Microbiology and Infectious Disease.)

Background: Persistent infection with high-risk (HR) human papillomavirus (HPV) is a well-recognized cause of cervical cancer, but little is known about the situation in Laos. The aims of the study were to determine the prevalence of HR-HPV among Lao women and to evaluate the use of a filter paper card (FTA Elute Micro Card) for collection of cervical cells in the humid tropical climate., Methods: This is a cross-sectional study including 1922 women from 3 provinces in Laos. During a gynecological examination, cervical cells were collected and applied to the FTA card followed by HPV typing using a real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR)-based assay., Results: Overall, 213 of the 1922 women were positive for HR-HPV (11%). The most common type was the group HPV33/52/58 (3%), followed by the single type 16 (2%) and the group 18/45 (1%), respectively. Only 11 cards (0.6%) did not contain a sufficient amount of genomic DNA for polymerase chain reaction-based analysis., Conclusions: The prevalence of HR-HPV infections in Laos is similar to other Asian countries, and 40% of the women with an HR-HPV infection will be target of the present HPV vaccines. The FTA card is suitable for collection of cervical cells for HR-HPV typing in tropical conditions. This information is important for planning and establishing primary and secondary prevention of cervical cancer in Laos.

In northern Laos, shortened fallows in the slash-and-burn upland rice system are not sustainable either from a production or economic standpoint. This paper evaluates the potential for using the indigenous fast-growing tree, Broussonetia papyrifera L. Vent. (paper mulberry) as an economic fallow crop. The objectives of this study are to assess the inner bark yield of paper mulberry, and to evaluate rice productivity following paper mulberry cultivation. In addition, allometric models for estimating the inner bark yield of paper mulberry are developed. Inner bark yield of paper mulberry stands ranging in age from 9 to 48 months ranged from 10 to 208 g m−2, and increased with age. The models using diameter at breast height and stem height, or diameter at breast height only as independent variables explained well the variation in inner bark yield. When paper mulberry was completely removed during the rice growing season, rice yields in these areas were similar to those following weedy bush fallow. When paper mulberry was allowed to grow, rice yields were negatively correlated to paper mulberry stem density. When paper mulberry lateral branches were pruned back, rice yields could be maintained if the paper mulberry stem density was <0.22 stems m−2, suggesting that if paper mulberry is managed properly, rice yields can be maintained at current levels. The paper mulberry-upland rice rotation system improves the productivity of a traditional slash-and-burn system through harvesting paper mulberry inner bark; however the long-term sustainability of such a system remains unclear and warrants further investigation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: The JAOC has reached an important milestone. It is now 15 years old! This study aims to provide an understanding of the key achievements of the Journal. Design/methodology/approach: This paper reports the findings of a bibliometric analysis of the Journal. Findings: The Journal has made significant contributions towards understanding the various purposes or roles of accounting and the context within which it operates in diverse societies. Case studies in the Third Sector and in countries that tend to be unrepresented in many other journals, such as Laos and Vietnam, represent some of the critical contributions of papers published in the JAOC. Originality/value: This paper provides a review of the Journal. Key achievements are noted along with trends in the usage of theories and topics. Gaps between the aims of the Journal and what it has achieved are also outlined. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Although participatory supply chain analysis (PSCA) is widely used to trigger action in development aid, there is very little published describing the method, its benefits and limitations. The theoretical background of participatory processes related to supply chain analysis and the related benefits and limitations found while implementing the method in Laos are presented. It is concluded that joint problem-solving in supply chains can be facilitated through PSCA as the method allows participants to evaluate their initial assumptions, investigate institutional barriers, gather new information and realise some of the interdependencies among supply chain participants. On the other hand, the lack of legitimate representatives, the failure to convince important stakeholders to participate, distances between participants, the length and breadth of the supply chain were factors limiting joint action. This method is recommended to study supply chains of niche products and local/regional products locally processed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article discusses whether ethnic minority villages located in northern Laos can continue to rely on non-timber forest products for most of their subsistence and cash economy. The article focuses on the production of paper mulberry to determine if it can be relied on for building sustainable livelihoods in rural areas of this region. Paper mulberry has been an important source for earning cash income and it employs many women. This plant has also been proposed as part of a sustainable agricultural-forestry (agroforestry) system. The article explores the production, processing, and marketing system for the plant and examines how government policies have affected its management.

Background: A maternal mortality ratio is a sensitive indicator when comparing the overall maternal health between countries and its very high figure indicates the failure of maternal healthcare efforts. Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar, and Vietnam-CLMV countries are the low-income countries of the South-East Asia region where their maternal mortality ratios are disproportionately high. This systematic review aimed to summarize all possible factors influencing maternal mortality in CLMV countries. Methods: This systematic review applied "The Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) Checklist (2020)", Three key phrases: "Maternal Mortality and Health Outcome", "Maternal Healthcare Interventions" and "CLMV Countries" were used for the literature search. 75 full-text papers were systematically selected from three databases (PubMed, Google Scholar and Hinari). Two stages of data analysis were descriptive analysis of the general information of the included papers and qualitative analysis of key findings. Results: Poor family income, illiteracy, low education levels, living in poor households, and agricultural and unskilled manual job types of mothers contributed to insufficient antenatal care. Maternal factors like non-marital status and sex-associated work were highly associated with induced abortions while being rural women, ethnic minorities, poor maternal knowledge and attitudes, certain social and cultural beliefs and husbands' influences directly contributed to the limitations of maternal healthcare services. Maternal factors that made more contributions to poor maternal healthcare outcomes included lower quintiles of wealth index, maternal smoking and drinking behaviours, early and elderly age at marriage, over 35 years pregnancies, unfavourable birth history, gender-based violence experiences, multigravida and higher parity. Higher unmet needs and lower demands for maternal healthcare services occurred among women living far from healthcare facilities. Regarding the maternal healthcare workforce, the quality and number of healthcare providers, the development of healthcare infrastructures and human resource management policy appeared to be arguable. Concerning maternal healthcare service use, the provisions of mobile and outreach maternal healthcare services were inconvenient and limited. Conclusion: Low utilization rates were due to several supply-side constraints. The results will advance knowledge about maternal healthcare and mortality and provide a valuable summary to policymakers for developing policies and strategies promoting high-quality maternal healthcare. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Lao People's Democratic Republic (Lao PDR) is located in the Greater Mekong sub-region in East Asia, neighbouring with China, Cambodia, Myanmar, Thailand and Vietnam, with a land area of 236,800 square kilometres, and an average population density of 22 persons per square kilometre. The population of Lao PDR is 5.5 million with 49 ethnic groups. Most of the population is located in rural areas, with a significant number of the neediest villages in remote localities. In the past decade, there have been many positive developments in the rural water supply and sanitation (RWSS) sector. Despite improved coverage in latrine and water supply services, health remains a serious problem. The improved services were often not sustained or poorly maintained, while hygiene received inadequate attention. In Lao PDR, as in many other countries, the provision of a safe and reliable water supply and appropriate sanitation services, based on sustainable approaches, therefore, remains a challenge. This paper will provide an overview of the Lao PDR's RWSS Sector. Special emphasis is placed on actual field level application of informed choices for water supply, sanitation and hygiene awareness.

To quantify the effect of weeds on the nitrogen (N) use, growth and yield of wet season paddy rice in the central and northern regions of Laos, we surveyed the paddy fields in these regions in October 1999 and November 2000. We found 13 weed species in total, but there were few major weeds abundant at the survey sites. In the infertile soils under rainfed conditions, weed growth was poor. Rough rice yield, the number of panicles, the number of seeds per square meter, the above-ground biomass of paddy rice and the amount of N accumulated in the above-ground biomass of paddy rice (amount of N in rice) were suppressed by competition with weeds. However, harvest index (HI) and nitrogen use efficiency (NUE) of paddy rice were not suppressed by competition with weeds. The amount of N in rice was suppressed by competition with weeds, the number of panicles decreased as the amount of N in rice decreased, and the number of seeds per square meter decreased as the number of panicles decreased. As a result, rough rice yield was suppressed by competition with weeds. The weeds competed with paddy rice for N uptake during the productive tillering stage. However, the ability of paddy rice to compete for N uptake with weeds was not reduced under rainfed lowland conditions. When the weeds were completely removed, the amount of N in rice increased. Rough rice yield may be increased by 10% under rainfed lowland conditions and by 17–19% under irrigated conditions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Municipal solid waste management in developing countries faces limitations, especially concerning technologies for treatment and disposal, which is crucial for achieving environmental and economic sustainability goals. This paper investigates municipal solid waste management in Laos, compared with the ASEAN-Japan regions, focusing on background information, waste characteristics, environmental impact, and treatment technologies for resource utilization. The findings indicate a continuous rise in municipal waste generation in Laos, particularly in the capital Vientiane, from 0.21 million tons in 2012 to 0.37 million tons in 2021. Treatment methods include unsanitary landfilling, basic recycling, and open dumping, as well as burning or discharge into rivers, posing potential risks to the environment and human health. Japan and Singapore have shown decreasing trends, with Japan reducing from 45.23 million tons in 2012 to 40.95 million tons in 2021 and Singapore from 7.27 million tons in 2021 to 6.94 million tons in 2021. Laos encounters challenges in managing municipal waste, especially in waste recovery and waste-to-energy practices, crucial elements of integrated solid waste management aimed at promoting environmental and economic sustainability. Enhancing waste management in Laos involves developing a waste management act with segregation, recycling, and extended producer responsibility policies. Implementing mechanical biological treatment facilities, waste-to-energy plants, and upgraded landfills is crucial. Capacity building and public awareness campaigns on waste management will improve sustainability, reduce environmental impacts, and advance sustainable development goals for sustainable cities and communities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Multinational agricultural research teams operating in low-income countries must overcome communication challenges to address agricultural problems and rural poverty. Collaborations between dispersed team members rely on information and computer technologies (ICTs) to facilitate communication and share knowledge and expertise. These collaborations can compound dependencies of low-income countries on high-income countries through power imbalances and ICTs used. This paper explores impacts of these externalities on ICT communication between Lao and Australian researchers operating in Lao People's Democratic Republic (PDR) through the theoretical lens of intercultural rhetorical theory. The study used constructivist grounded theory methodology with 30 interviewees collaborating in research projects in Lao PDR. The results identified external constraints on team communication, such as: limited ICT infrastructure and user education; economic, funding, and political pressures; variable coordination between national and international organisations. Researchers can apply these findings to project planning and implementation to improve communication between team members and enhance international collaboration. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective - This paper aims to analyse the impact of the China-Laos railway on export trade from China to Thailand. The paper analyses the advantages and disadvantages of the new route and other routes base on driven factors, identifies what trade industry is suitable for this new route and provides some reference for Thai trade exporters. This will enable Thai export traders to understand the new transportation route formed by the railway and improve the trade volume and competitiveness of Thai products through this route. Methodology/Technique - Literature review method, secondary data method, in-depth interview method. Findings - It is found that the new route formed after the completion of the China-Laos railway has many advantages base on driven factors and many industries are suitable for the use of this new route. Novelty - Few people know much about the China-Laos railway, and even less about the analysis of its impact on Thailand's trade. The author's in-depth interview method allows him to get in touch with experts who are very relevant to the China-Laos railway, providing valuable insights. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the dark of a July night in 2018, a 5-billion-cubic-metre torrent of muddy water crashed through rooftops and ripped through the downstream villages of southeast Lao People's Democratic Republic (Lao PDR). An auxiliary "saddle" dam had collapsed in the US$1.02 billion Xe Pian-Xe Namnoy (XPXN) Hydropower Project that was still under construction and had just reached financial contractual close five years prior, in 2013. In the aftermath of the collapse, official state narratives pointed to extreme weather conditions and "unforeseen" construction and engineering miscalculations, viewing soil conditions as the primary culprit. This paper examines the financial dimensions of dam failure and introduces the term "fast finance": financier-driven timelines that have drastically expedited and shortened the legal, social, and pre-construction processes involved in hydropower dam projects to the detriment of dam safety, due diligence, and local participatory input. Extreme weather and anthropogenic climate change are not sole explanatory factors in the XPXN dam disaster. This paper highlights the also significant role of financial and political interests as contributing factors in dam safety and failure alongside extreme weather. The paper challenges conventional "natural disaster" framing of dam collapse by bringing into focus ex-ante political decision-making, financial engineering, and construction planning prior to dam construction to highlight the ways in which the XPXN catastrophe also had anthropogenic and "unnatural" contributing factors. Fast finance encompasses the role of temporality and the responsibility of state-business actors in ex-ante financial and infrastructure decisions that conclude with catastrophic outcomes. The article examines the re-engineering of contemporary dam finance through a case study of Lao PDR and argues that issues of financial engineering should be examined alongside other forms of civil, mechanical, structural, and hydrological engineering in the analysis of dam disasters. The temporal logics of financial actors-particularly the financialized logic of fast finance-has displaced the public-good-producing logic of patient capital. Financial logics shape and condition other forms of engineering and construction and are central to considerations of dam safety and accountability. Naturalizing discourses around extreme weather and aging dams deflect from the financial decisions and policy action, or inaction, of state-business actors to prevent dam collapse. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Hydropower plants (HPPs) create barriers across rivers and fragment aquatic ecosystems, river reaches and habitats. The reservoirs they create slow the flowing water and convert the riverine into lacustrine ecosystems. The barriers created by HPPs interrupt the seasonal migrations of many fish species, while the reservoirs drive away fish species that are dependent on flowing water habitats. This paper assesses the distribution of fish species in the 3S rivers—Sekong, Sesan and Sre Pok, in Cambodia, Laos and Viet Nam—using IUCN Red List-assessed species distribution by HydroBasin Level 8 from the freshwater reports of the Integrated Biodiversity Assessment Tool (IBAT) and their connectivity with the Mekong. There are currently 61 commissioned dams in the 3S basins and a further 2 under construction, 23 of which are larger than the 30 MW installed capacity. A further 24 HPPs are proposed or planned in these basins. The changes in connectivity caused by the dams are measured by adapting the River Class Connectivity Index (RCICLASS); the original connectivity of the 3S basin taking into account the two major waterfalls in the Sesan and Sre Pok rivers was estimated at 80.9%. With existing dams, the connectivity has been reduced to 23.5%, and with all planned dams, it is reduced further to 10.9%. The resulting re-distribution of fish species occurring throughout the 3S basins is explored, by focusing on migratory guilds and threatened and endemic fish species. With all dams built, it is predicted that the total numbers of species in HydroBasins above the dams will be reduced by 40–50%. The Threatened Species Index is estimated to fall from over 30 near the confluence of the three rivers to less than 10 above the lowest dams on the 3S rivers. The analysis demonstrates how widely available global and regional datasets can be used to assess the impacts of dams on fish biodiversity in this region. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper assesses whether industrial growth in Cambodia, Laos and Vietnam has been inclusive. While inclusiveness of growth is both a highly debated topic in the development discourse and an official government ambition in all three countries, it has not been assessed systematically in this context. In this paper, we focus specifically on one aspect of inclusiveness by examining the wage inequality between five occupational levels in the manufacturing sector. Based on survey data of companies operating in the electronics, food and beverage, and garment sectors, we show that average wage levels have increased for all occupational levels (although at different rates). We observe a U-shaped wage growth distribution, and argue that this could be a result of automation, dependency on foreign buyers, or an oversupply of pre-employment training programs at the technician level. We further observe particularly high wage growth for lower occupational levels in Cambodia and Laos – indicating relatively inclusive wage growth. In Vietnam, however, there is a development towards more wage inequality. Lastly, our study finds a clear convergence effect in the manufacturing sector; here, improved market information or increased labor mobility and reallocation of (training) resources could be contributing factors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This research paper aims to explore the factors contributing to infant mortality rates (IMR) and the associated health-seeking behaviors, practices, and policy reforms in Laos and Pakistan. It highlights commonalities observed in both countries, such as a reliance on traditional health practices, limited awareness of modern healthcare systems, and a lack of health education. In an effort to combat IMR, the governments of Laos and Pakistan have launched various initiatives, including the Skilled Birth Attendance (SBA) development plan and primary healthcare programs, often in collaboration with international development partners. These initiatives have been designed with the overarching goal of achieving Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) and reducing IMR within their respective nations. Additionally, both governments have partnered with international organizations to implement healthcare programs, with a particular emphasis on maternal and child healthcare (MCHC) as a strategy to reduce infant mortality rates. Moreover, this paper investigates the influence of social and cultural beliefs on infant health, providing valuable insights for healthcare practitioners. By examining the cultural factors that affect child health-seeking behavior in Laos and Pakistan, it seeks to offer a comprehensive understanding of the complex interplay between culture and healthcare in these two nations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Since 2006, the government of Laos has pursued a policy of "Turning Land into Capital", which broadly refers to the generation of economic value from the marketization of land, producing not only profit but also government revenue and economic development. The policy's ambiguity raises questions regarding the precise political-economic processes at work and what exactly the transformation of land into capital might mean. Building on Marxist theorizations of land, value, capital, and rent, this paper argues that land under capitalism does not only operate as a rent-bearing asset, in which value is extracted from elsewhere. Land can also be treated as a real form of capital, or capitalized, when its social relations are transformed to facilitate value expansion and act as a store of value mobilized for further investment. It is imperative to investigate how land is used to expand value as capital, extract value as rent, or do both. This paper examines four manifestations of the Turning Land into Capital policy to outline the contours of struggles and contestations over the production and distribution of value in the Lao political economy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The ecological compensation standard in transboundary river basins should be determined by the basin countries through negotiation on the basis of the base value of the ecological compensation standard. This paper calculated the base value range of the ecological compensation standard, determining the upper limit based on the spillover value of ecosystem services for the ecosystem-service-consuming country and the lower limit according to the cost of ecological protection for the ecosystem-service-supplying country. The final range was determined by integrating this with the willingness to pay and the actual effort in each basin country. Taking, for example, the Lancang–Mekong River basin, the results indicate that the spillover value of ecosystem services in Laos, China and Myanmar was positive and these three countries were ecosystem-service-supplying countries, while in Cambodia, Vietnam and Thailand it was negative and these three countries were ecosystem-service-consuming countries. Among the ecosystem-service-supplying countries, the cost of ecological protection of them was in descending order of Laos, China and Myanmar, which was related to their own level of economic development. Considering the adjustment coefficient for the payment of ecosystem service value and the cost-sharing coefficient of each basin country, the feasible range for the base value of the ecological compensation standard was determined to be [2.47, 229.67] × 108 $, which provided the basis for the negotiation on the determination of the ECS. In addition, implementation suggestions were proposed from three aspects: establishing a basin-information-sharing mechanism and platform, establishing an integrated management organization for transboundary river basins, and strengthening and improving the coordination and supervision model of ecological compensation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

With the increasing import volume of China's oil and natural gas, the structure of China's energy supply chain (ESC) has become more and more complex. How to use the "Belt and Road" (OBOR) layout to promote China's regional energy cooperation and ensure China's energy security has become an important international issue facing China. This paper constructs an ESC network model in the context of the OBOR, and finds out the position of China in this network model. This paper also finds out the role law of each risk influencing factor, analyzes the degree of its influence, and puts forward some suggestions on the risk management of ESC according to the analysis results. This paper proposes to use decision tree algorithm to guide the development and construction of Sino-Lao economic and trade cooperation, which will help analyze and help the construction and research of Sino-Lao economic and trade cooperation and sustainable energy freight corridor. Based on the energy cooperation between China and the countries along the "Belt and Road," this paper analyzes the network structure of energy cooperation under the "Belt and Road" background based on the small-world network theory. This paper analyzes the important role of core countries in the ESC through the analysis of the basic parameters of the small-world network, the efficiency of energy cooperation, and the stability of energy cooperation. According to the value of each vertex degree obtained by the calculation formula of entropy value, the entropy value of the ESC network structure under the background of OBOR can be obtained as 2.408. It calculates that the maximum and minimum entropy of the ESC network structure at this time are 3.09 and 2.21 respectively. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Hydropower development in the lower Mekong Basin is being rapidly developed. Taking the Pak Beng hydropower project in Laos as a case study, this paper looks at participation and politics in transboundary hydropower development, how the latter is revealed by multiple, parallel institutional architectures in hydropower decision‐making across scales, and its implications for transboundary environmental governance. We look at the institutional disjuncture in hydropower decision‐making, how it is (re)produced by powerful, albeit conflicting narratives at respectively national and transboundary levels, power relations shaping these narratives, and how these translate into local community's limited ability to convey their voices and represent their development needs. Conceptually, the paper sheds light on the underlying politics in transboundary environmental governance by bringing to light the structural factors that prevent participation, including how these factors are justified, sustained and to a certain extent reproduced as an integral part of legal, policy, and institutional landscapes that govern hydropower decision‐making across scales (e.g., local to transboundary). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study examines sustainable development cooperation and the effectiveness of sustainable development partnerships in supporting national development in meeting Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). This study focuses on SDG 17, "Building Partnerships for Sustainable Development" and takes the Lao Democratic People's Republic (Laos) as its case study. The study assesses Laos's socio-economic condition, development trajectory and SDGs. It evaluates Laos's development partnerships with China and the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) and wider development diplomacy. The study adopts a political economy perspective, drawing in global major power competition. The paper argues that development partnerships are pivotal to success in achieving national and global development goals. Laos holds the ASEAN Chair through 2024, whilst experiencing severe economic challenges domestically. Moving between these two domains, Laos will seek to achieve balance and even-handedness between regional and global interests. Laos's long-standing development partnership with China and the BRI brings tangible results. However, the study concludes that greater diversification in building partnerships for development will provide additional support to Laos's development strategy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Simple Summary: In response to the quantitative demand for the practical deployment of applications and the need to enhance the detection accuracy of wildlife in complex field environments in southwest China and neighboring regions, we have refined the wildlife detection algorithm based on re-parameterized convolution. This refinement is specifically targeted at addressing the challenges posed by the low quality of wildlife images captured by camera traps and the limitations of traditional object detection algorithms in feature extraction capability. To address these issues, we have introduced a series of improvement schemes. As a result of these enhancements, there has been a noteworthy improvement in both the accuracy of wildlife detection and the speed of model inference. This advancement offers a convenient and efficient method for the preliminary detection in the context of automated wildlife monitoring. To autonomously detect wildlife images captured by camera traps on a platform with limited resources and address challenges such as filtering out photos without optimal objects, as well as classifying and localizing species in photos with objects, we introduce a specialized wildlife object detector tailored for camera traps. This detector is developed using a dataset acquired by the Saola Working Group (SWG) through camera traps deployed in Vietnam and Laos. Utilizing the YOLOv6-N object detection algorithm as its foundation, the detector is enhanced by a tailored optimizer for improved model performance. We deliberately introduce asymmetric convolutional branches to enhance the feature characterization capability of the Backbone network. Additionally, we streamline the Neck and use CIoU loss to improve detection performance. For quantitative deployment, we refine the RepOptimizer to train a pure VGG-style network. Experimental results demonstrate that our proposed method empowers the model to achieve an 88.3% detection accuracy on the wildlife dataset in this paper. This accuracy is 3.1% higher than YOLOv6-N, and surpasses YOLOv7-T and YOLOv8-N by 5.5% and 2.8%, respectively. The model consistently maintains its detection performance even after quantization to the INT8 precision, achieving an inference speed of only 6.15 ms for a single image on the NVIDIA Jetson Xavier NX device. The improvements we introduce excel in tasks related to wildlife image recognition and object localization captured by camera traps, providing practical solutions to enhance wildlife monitoring and facilitate efficient data acquisition. Our current work represents a significant stride toward a fully automated animal observation system in real-time in-field applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

With 252 species, Pseudopoda Jäger, 2000, is the largest genus in the family Sparassidae and is widely distributed in South (49 species in Bhutan, India, Nepal and Pakistan), East (158 species in China and Japan) and Southeast Asia (51 species in Indonesia, Laos, Myanmar, Thailand and Vietnam). Few species have been found in more than one region. In this paper, three new species of Pseudopoda are described from East and Southeast Asia. Among them, one from China: P. fengtongzhaiensis Jäger & Liu, sp. nov. (♀); one from Laos: P. baimai Jäger & Liu, sp. nov. (♀); and one from Thailand: P. inthanonensis Jäger & Liu, sp. nov. (♀). Additionally, the female of P. kavanaughi Zhang, Jäger & Liu, 2023 is described for the first time. Photos of the habitus and genitalia, as well as a distribution map of all four species, are provided. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Bitumen is a temperature-susceptible material. The performance of the bitumen largely depends on the sensitivity of its characteristic properties to the variation in temperature. This paper uses the Arrhenius equation to predict the temperature-sensitive properties of various bitumens. Three modified and unmodified binders of various grades were tested under study shear, frequency mode (oscillatory shearing), and time mode (multiple stress creep and recovery) at different temperatures from 10 to 70°C. This paper focuses on the activation energy to understand the temperaturesusceptible behavior of the bitumen and the influence of aging on the bitumen. To analyze the temperature susceptibility of the bitumen, Steady shear, MSCR, and LAOS tests were performed. From these tests, parameters such as viscosity, dynamic modulus, energy dissipation, and creep compliance at different temperatures were observed to follow the Arrhenius equation. The activation energy constant of the Arrhenius equation is found to vary with the characteristic function used. It is also statistically proven that the activation energy depends on the shear rate or shear stress, indicating that the temperature-susceptible properties of the bitumen are shear rate-dependent. Also, as the bitumen ages, its temperature-susceptible properties improve. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The enhancement of horizontal boundaries of potential field sources is of great significance for the study of geological structures. Most of the existing filters for horizontal edges enhancement are presented based on the derivatives of potential field data, but these filters often show some shortcomings, for example, the output edges are divergent, strong and weak anomalies cannot be balanced, or some extra false edges appear in the results. In this paper, the edges enhancement filter MMA based on mathematical morphology is first defined by the combination of the basic operators of mathematical morphology. In order to make the filter have the ability to balance different amplitude anomalies, MMAZ and MMAT are proposed, and both of them can be used to delineate the horizontal edges of the field sources by their maxima. The experimental results of synthetic data show that MMAZ and MMAT have good equalization and anti-noise performances. Compared with several traditional filters, the horizontal edges of geological bodies obtained by these two filters are clearer and more convergent, and there are no extra edges in the output results for the complex situations that positive and negative anomalies exist simultaneously. Finally, the two new equalization filters are applied to gravity anomaly data in a potash mine area in Vientiane basin of Laos and the aeromagnetic anomaly of a metal mine in northwest China, the obtained positions of the structures are more accurate and clearer, which further illustrates the effectiveness of the two filtering techniques. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This research used to action research that result from the implementation of a training course to promote the lesson study process for lecturers at the higher education in the Lao PDR. This study aimed to evaluate cognitive effectiveness, ability in lesson plan design, and skills in lesson study in lecturers’ professional development at Souphanouvong University, Lao PDR. This paper focuses on the relevancy assessment, implementation, and evaluation of the lesson study skills in lecturers’ professional development as the subsequent study. The researchers employed action research, a three-step process adopted for lesson study, encompassing planning, four days of training, implementing teaching and observation in the classroom, and finally evaluating its effectiveness as a reflection of lesson study skills, which was a portion of lecturers' professional development. 56 lecturers from six faculties were used as a sample for training, and 10 lecturers who voluntarily participated were used in the application. Testing, an assessment form for the ability to design lesson plans, a lesson study skills assessment form, and the teaching record book were research tools. The mean, standard deviation, and t-test were applied to statistical analysis. The findings were: 1) the cognitive effectiveness of the lesson study process was significantly improved over criteria on a double percentage at a level of .05; 2) the design ability of the lesson plan was at a high level; and 3) the lesson study skills for the lecturers’ professional development results were at good levels. This is the first application of the lesson study process in the context of higher education in Laos. Lesson study was an approach that assisted lecturers to increase professional competency to be true "teacher professionals" in the future. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Dams have proliferated along the Mekong, spurred by energy demands from economic development and capital from private companies. Swift dam evolution has rendered many databases outdated, in which mismatches arise from differing compilation methods. Without a comprehensive database, up-to-date spatial assessment of dam growth is unavailable. Looking at future development, hydropower potential specifically within the Mekong remains to be systematically evaluated. In this paper, we offer (1) an open-access and unified database of 1055 dams, (2) a spatiotemporal analysis of dams on a sub-basin and country level from the 1980s to the post-2020s, and (3) a grid-based assessment of the theoretical basin-wide hydropower potential using present-day discharge from the CaMa-Flood model (2011–2015, 0.05°) and future discharge from the WaterGAP2 model used for ISIMIP2b (2021–2040, 0.5°). The dam count of 1055 is more than twice the largest existing database, with 608 hydropower dams generating a boom in hydropower capacity from 1242 MW in the 1980s to 69 199 MW post-2020s. While China had the largest capacity increase from the 2000s to the 2010s (+ 16 854 MW), Laos has the most planned dams and the highest projected growth post-2020s (+ 18 223 MW). Based on present-day discharge, we estimate a basin-wide hydropower potential of 1 334 683 MW , where Laos is the highest at 514 887 MW. Based on future discharge modeled with climate change, hydropower potential could grow to over 2 000 000 MW. Laos and China are the highest at around 900 000 MW each, together forming over 80 % of the total potential. Our database facilitates research on dam-induced hydrological and ecological alterations, while spatiotemporal analysis of hydropower capacity could illuminate the complex transboundary electricity trade. Through both spatiotemporal and hydropower potential evaluation, we address the current and future vulnerability of countries to dam construction, highlighting the need for better planning and management in the future hydropower hotspot Laos. The Mekong dam database is publicly available at 10.21979/N9/ACZIJN (Ang et al., 2023). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper reassesses the taxonomy and systematics of 11 arboreal snail species in the genus Amphidromus from Vietnam, Cambodia, Indonesia and Laos (A. bozhii Wang, 2019, A. buelowi Fruhstorfer, 1905, A. costifer Smith, 1893, A. haematostoma Möllendorff, 1898, A. ingens Möllendorff, 1900, A. madelineae Thach, 2020, A. metabletus Möllendorff, 1900, A. pankowskianus Thach, 2020, A. placostylus Möllendorff, 1900, A. roseolabiatus Fulton, 1896, and A. thachi Huber, 2015). The taxonomic validity of each species is supported by a phylogenetic analysis of mitochondrial COI and 16S rRNA gene fragments from 17 ingroup taxa. Amphidromus buelowi was found to comprise two populations from two distant localities, one from Mount Singgalang, West Sumatra, Indonesia and the other from southern Vietnam. The samples from southern Vietnam were previously described as A. asper Haas, 1934 and A. franzhuberi Thach, 2016, but they are now treated as junior synonyms of A. buelowi in this study. In addition, two species from Vietnam are described as new to science, viz. A. asperoides Jirapatrasilp & Lee, sp. nov. and A. ingensoides Jirapatrasilp & Lee, sp. nov., each of which is conchologically comparable to A. buelowi and A. ingens, respectively. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper employs an input-output modelling approach to quantify the impact of decreases in coffee exports between 2019 and 2020 resulting from the implementation of various COVID-19 policies in Lao PDR. The analysis was undertaken at two levels in investigating the effects of these policies on (1) the regional economy in the main coffee producing region of Champasak Province in Southern Laos, and (2) the national economy of Lao PDR. Results were rather mixed at both the regional and national levels, for four reasons: (1) reduced production in other countries increased demand for green bean exports, resulting in a 1.8% (US$12 million) increase in the total value of gross outputs of the provincial economy; (2) reduced local demand and declines in processed coffee consumption and export in the food industry sector, resulted in a 1.5% decrease (US$10 million) in gross provincial production; (3) at the national level, more green bean exports increased the gross production output of the economy by 0.2% (US$24 million) while reduced processed coffee in food industry exports led to a reduction in gross production of 0.13% (US$19.6 million); and (4) the overall effects of COVID-19 restrictions are potentially positive for the coffee sector in Lao PDR in the short term but may have longer-term implications for the coffee sector due to shift away from processed coffee exports to green beans. Future policies to mitigate the impact of COVID-19 will be instrumental in stimulating investment and enhancing the benefits for the coffee sector in Laos. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Tea farming communities in Laos are faced with COVID-19 impacts, while simultaneously having difficulties in access to Fairtrade. This paper examines community issues on how tea farmers perceived Fairtrade as an economic recovery from COVID-19. Taking a case study from five tea farming communities in the Phongsali district of Laos, this paper reveals pivotal role Fairtrade plays in supporting tea farmers' community development to enhance their income and livelihoods. It suggests communities' mixed perceptions of Fairtrade in contributing to economic recovery under the COVID-19 impacts over the long term. We argue that Fairtrade can be deployed as an ad-hoc economic recovery measure in the face of the COVID-19 impacts to sustain tea farmers' trading, income, food security, and community development in Phongsali. This paper suggests how Fairtrade would serve as a safety net for enhancing local community development while the COVID-19 pandemic remains a huge challenge to local economic development. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The system to collect information on mortality statistics in Lao PDR is not well established, accurate and timely death information is therefore not available. This article reports the system and process to make the mortality statistical data of Lao PDR. The country has a paper-based resident registration system, using a death notification document, a death certificate, and a family census book. The death notification document is important as it provides the cause of death, which is issued from a health facility and the village office. In the event of a death occurring at home, the family representative needs to report to the village office verbally to obtain a death notification document. On the other hand, if the death occurred in a medical facility, a death notification document from a health facility is provided. The family representative should bring the death notification document to the district Home Affairs office to register the death and obtain a death certificate. After that, the family representative needs to bring the death certificate to the district Public Security office for an amendment in the family census book. ICD-10 is under development regarding death notification from health facilities under the Ministry of Health. However, it is unclear how death notification from village offices can adopt ICD-10 as the majority of deaths occur outside health facilities. A comprehensive and integrated mortality reporting system is necessary in order to create a holistic health policy and welfare for the country. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper looks at how local livelihoods and to a certain extent their transitions are embedded in, and in thrall to, power relations at higher levels. Placing the (re)shaping of livelihood pathways within the context of top-down hydropower planning, it shows how the latter predetermines farm households' current farming strategies and future livelihood pathways. Taking two villages along the Mekong River, both of which are to be impacted by the planned Pak Beng hydropower dam in Pak Beng district, Oudomxay province, the paper illustrates how the pathways that rural livelihoods are taking in northern Laos are being shaped by decisions and processes embedded in national and regional exigencies. We argue that top-down approaches in hydropower planning, as manifested in the current institutional vacuum to formally deal with resettlement and compensation issues at the village level result in village authorities' and potentially affected villagers' inability to strategically convey and negotiate their views and concerns. Moreover, we reveal how it is the specter of change which drives livelihood adaptation, not change itself, thus illustrating how the defined compensation rules and procedures (re)shape farm households' farming strategies and future livelihood pathways even prior to the construction of the hydropower dam. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This research project explored the factors affecting the adoption of an innovative and active English language teaching (ELT) strategy by Lao teachers. It also investigated why many teachers found it difficult to adopt the strategy and how an understanding of this difficulty resulted in the creation of an in-service teacher training program. Qualitative data were collected in two time ranges, the first in 2009-2013 obtained from 84 Lao English language teachers, and the second in Summer 2023 consisting of an audio interview with the first author which was an update on what had occurred 10 years after the original data collection. Findings from the first dataset indicated that teachers' internal realities, specifically socio-economic standing, locus of control, self-efficacy, and problem-solving bent, mediated their responses to external realities, namely poverty and limitations in teacher training, student attainment, testing and resources, and the culture-infused school code. These internal and external realities functioned as barriers to the adoption of innovative ELT strategies. Applications of these findings resulted in the creation of a culturally relevant in-service teacher training program, one that incorporated an awareness of these internal and external realities. which then enabled Lao teachers to implement innovative ELT strategies. This paper aims to demon1strate what successful culturally relevant in-service teacher training looks like in rural Laos. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Goat raising has increased in Lao People's Democratic Republic due to meat demand from Vietnam. Goat production is low input using free grazing and minimal husbandry. Technical constraints are well known but socio-cultural contexts are poorly understood. This paper describes qualitative research on farmer's motivations, experiences and learning pathways, to improve goat husbandry. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with 30 smallholder goat farmers in Lao's South-Central province of Savannakhet. The interviews revealed that farmers relied on their experiences and observations of goat raising in their communities to make their management decisions. Trial and error was a valued learning strategy. Farmers took guidance from the exchange of goat raising experiences with other goat farmers and preferred participatory learning that fostered discussion in familiar village settings. Lao smallholder goat farming systems are a product of compromise across a number of resources. Project interventions that required low investments of labour, land or capital were most readily implemented and adapted by farmers. This study questions the assumption that project interventions are inherently optimal and beneficial for smallholder farming systems. Recommendations propose how farmer's experiences, constraints and preferences can be incorporated into development approaches to ensure management system changes reflect the desires of smallholder farmers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper, we investigated the nonlinear rheological behavior of two types of modified asphalt binders, namely reactive elastomeric terpolymer-modified asphalt binder (REA) and styrene-butadiene-styrene–modified asphalt binder (SBA), under large strains using large-amplitude oscillatory shear (LAOS) testing. To determine the test strain levels, we conducted strain sweeps at different temperatures and shear frequencies before subjecting the asphalt binders to the LAOS test. Our findings show that the nonlinear critical strain of asphalt binders has a temperature and frequency dependence, with smaller values at lower temperatures and higher frequencies, indicating stronger nonlinear rheological properties. We used Fourier-transform rheology to analyze the relative intensity of higher harmonics of asphalt binders (In/I1 , 3≤n≤9) and found that the nonlinear parameter I3/I1 increased with shear frequency and strain amplitude, and that the In/I1 of REA was much larger than that of SBA. To evaluate the performance of the modified asphalt binders, we used the zero-strain nonlinear parameter Q0 and found that REA had a higher Q0 value than SBA at the same frequency. Furthermore, based on the Lissajous curves at 25°C and 10 rad/s , we observed that the aberration degree of the curves increased with increasing strain amplitude. The Lissajous curves of both base asphalt binder (BA) and SBA failed to form a closed ellipse due to sample damage at larger strain levels, which means that BA and SBA are less resistant to large deformations, whereas REA maintained a higher load-bearing capacity. We also observed that both modified asphalt binders exhibited continuous shear-thinning properties. At higher strains, the intermolecular forces in SBA were overcome by shear deformation, whereas the chemical bonds formed between oxygen-containing functional groups and carboxylic acid groups in REA were gradually broken by stretching. LAOS test results demonstrated that REA exhibited higher deformation resistance potential at large strain levels compared with SBA. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The quest for the parent impact structure for Australasian tektites (AAT) has remained without solution for almost a century. The present paper doubts the plausibility of the recently proposed location of the impact site at the Bolaven volcanic field in Southern Laos by showing problems with most of the presented lines of evidence. The geochemical incompatibility of the AAT composition with a mixture of weathered basalts and Mesozoic sandstones that were proposed as source materials of AAT is demonstrated by a two‐component mixing calculation for major element oxides and the Nd‐Sr isotopic system. Deficiency of the basaltic component as a source of Ni, Co, Cr, and 10Be in AAT and inconsistency with trends observed for O and Pb isotopes are shown. The size of the putative crater, conclusiveness of a gravity anomaly identification, signs of complete crater burial by postimpact lava flows, and identification of proximal ejecta blanket are doubted. Remarks on the shortcomings of the current consensus location of an impact site for AAT in Indochina are presented. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper examine the causality among the dollarisation, the interest rate differential, and the exchange rate risk in Laos. It is mentioned that Autoregressive Distributed-lagged model (ARDL) approach to cointegration and a Granger causality test in a Vector Error Correction Model (VECM) for this purpose. The article find that no long-Term causality exists from the interest rate differential and the exchange rate risk to the dollarisation.

Climate change is a severe threat to humankind. To keep global warming limited to 1.5C, it must reach net-zero emission by 2050. It is ambitious and challenging for Laos to achieve the target. The main objective of this paper is to identify the challenges and solutions to the decarbonization pathway in Laos. The net-zero emission by 2025 goal is too ambitious for Laos and the LDC countries, and there are several challenges, including human resources, funding, and technologies. Achieving the target requires extensive funding, human resources, and technologies. Therefore, the roles of developed countries and international donors are crucial. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper presents the assessment of the distribution and characteristics of 137Cs activity in surface soil in the middle of Laos. Measurement has been conducted for 212 soil samples distributed evenly in the middle of Laos using low background gamma spectrometers. It is found that the activity concentrations of 137Cs vary in the range of 0.50–7.97 Bq kg−1 with the average value of 1.46 ± 0.21 Bq kg−1. The values agree well with those reported for neighboring regions and are significantly lower than the world average value. Higher activity concentrations of 137Cs were observed in geological formations with claystone, siltstone, and mud. Foothills were found with higher concentrations of 137Cs, while lower 137Cs concentrations were observed in low-altitude plains. No significant variation of the 137Cs activity concentration with terrain elevation was found. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Since the 1990s, the Chinese government has intensified efforts to control the political life of the diaspora by recruiting proxies, or qiaoling 侨领, from the extraterritorial population for community-based governance. This paper examines the efficacy of this co-optive strategy by investigating its ramifications in Lao Chinese business communities. Following a group of qiaoling in Vientiane through qualitative fieldwork, I reveal how these individuals are self-motivated to perform patriotism by the desire to earn symbolic recognition. Their fame and prestige as qiaoling are critical for their material accumulation in the often-fraudulent business of intermediation for Chinese bureaucrats and investors. As such, while contributing to realigning the political allegiance of the diaspora, qiaoling simultaneously reshape the ongoing expansion of Chinese capitalism in ways that diverge from Beijing's developmental agenda. This finding complicates the long-held imaginary of an autonomous state–diaspora synergy in post-socialist China. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Increasing demands for energy to boost the Mekong economies have attracted the keen interest of riparian countries for hydropower development. This is evidenced by extensive investment in hydropower projects across the region over the last few decades. Drawing on interviews with key stakeholders, including officials from Ministry of Energy and Mines, Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment, Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry, private sector actors, civil society organisations and academics, as well as secondary data from public and policy resources, this paper aims to examine how the government of Laos' (GoL) decisions in hydropower development are influenced by regional energy dynamics, and how these shape the country's future energy development. The paper argues that the GoL's decisions on hydropower development are highly dilemmatic, given the current limited institutional capacity in hydropower governance and the accelerating evolution of alternative energy in neighbouring countries. While uncertainty in power markets is recognised, this places greater pressure on new hydropower projects as to how much power could be sufficiently produced and exported. The paper calls for GoL's policy considerations on the development and planning of alternative energy to secure the sustainable and equitable use of water resources as stipulated in the 1995 Mekong Agreement. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Large‐scale plantation land concessions are causing an array of serious social and environmental impacts in Southeast Asia as well as in other parts of the world. This paper, however, is focused on the many challenges and limitations that plantation developers face in southern Laos and northeastern Cambodia. These include price and market constraints, activism linked to villagers and others actors, management and financial difficulties, environmental and technical limitations, and limited government support. Investor responses to these challenges and limitations have varied. Some investors still hope that their plantations will succeed, while others have variously attempted to cut their losses and withdraw from failing investments. In particular, this paper considers how problems associated with plantation development often emerge due to fluctuating crop prices as well as poor planning that partially stems from investors adopting a "resource frontier" mindset. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper is an initiative to analysis archaeological pottery by petrographic method and a comparative study of Asian potteries on the view of technological aspect. Research Method includes sample collection by field survey and laboratory analysis which was based on 'polished thin-section' method invented in the late 60s in Japan. Basic samples were collected from Bangladesh, Japan and Laos. Technological analysis reveals that, uniform fine- clay - made slip was applied on the both surface of Northern Black Polished Ware. A very thin top layer was also identified by the present research which shows organic characteristics. On the other hand, slip was not found from the pottery samples of Japan and Laos. Research found the prehistoric pottery of Japan was fired at pit-firing method and pottery was achieved the blackish surface due to carbon-impregnation. Many East and Southeast Asian archaeological wares were decorated with lacquer that was not used as a coating technique in ancient Bangladeshi pottery. This paper presents some very clear microscopy image which is reliable for future research in this field and presents a detailed description of the thin-section method which could be a pioneer method for future analysis in archaeological ceramics of Bangladesh. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]