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There is a rapid transformation afoot in the rice value chain in Asia. The upstream is changing quickly-farmers are undertaking capital-led intensification and participating in burgeoning markets for land rental, fertilizer and pesticides, irrigation water, and seed, and shifting from subsistence to small commercialized farms; in some areas landholdings are concentrating. Midstream, in wholesale and milling, there is a quiet revolution underway, with thousands of entrepreneurs investing in equipment, increasing scale, diversifying into higher quality, and the segments are undergoing consolidation and vertical coordination and integration. Mills, especially in China, are packaging and branding, and building agent networks in wholesale markets, and large mills are building direct relationships with supermarkets. The downstream retail segment is undergoing a 'supermarket revolution,' again with the lead in change in China. In most cases the government is not playing a direct role in the market, but enabling this transformation through infrastructural investment. The transformation appears to be improving food security for cities by reducing margins, offering lower consumer rice prices, and increasing quality and diversity of rice. This paper discusses findings derived from unique stacked surveys of all value chain segments in seven zones, more and less developed, around Bangladesh, China, India, and Vietnam. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This review documents the remarkable progress systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) has made in the past 40 years especially in Asia. It provides a kaleidoscope in terms of prevalence, ethnic and regional variations, disease manifestation, treatment strategies, and outcome. From a seminal paper on the use of intravenous cyclophosphamide in 1964 from Singapore to the use of mycophenolate mofetil in 2000 from Hong Kong and Guangzhou, the prognosis of lupus has changed dramatically in the last few decades. With more targeted therapies and better translational research, this progress is set to continue in the coming years. From an acute fulminating illness, lupus has now evolved to one with a chronic, relapsing course. The main causes of morbidity and mortality are now either treatment-related or patient-related rather than the disease itself. The present time is one of unprecedented growth of new therapeutic approaches and reevaluation of past treatment modalities. With improving socioeconomic conditions in the region, we anticipate further rapid progress in disease outcome. Although living with the wolf is still an ordeal for our patients, optimism has now replaced nihilism in the lupus world. There is light at the end of the tunnel. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Azole-resistant strains of Aspergillus have been reported from European and Asian countries at varying frequencies. Based on the limited rates of isolation of Aspergillus from clinical samples in routine practice and the limited number of the screening studies carried out so far, the true prevalence of triazole resistance and the rate of multiazole-resistant strains remain partly unknown. Also, available data are mostly for A. fumigatus (complex), thus the situation for non- fumigatus Aspergilli is less clear. In general, exposure of Aspergillus to antifungal agents via medical or environmental (agricultural) use of these compounds appears to have the possible major impact on acquisition of triazole resistance. Azole resistance in Aspergillus remains to be further elucidated by continued surveillance studies. Based on the possible association with agricultural azole use, environmental sampling appears significant as well. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Asia's role in global climate change has evolved significantly from the time when the Kyoto Protocol was being negotiated. Emissions of carbon dioxide, the principal greenhouse gas, from energy use in Asian countries now exceed those from the European Union or North America. Three of the top five emitters—China, India, and Japan, are Asian countries. Any meaningful global effort to address global climate change requires the active cooperation of these and other large Asian countries, if it is to succeed. Issues of equity between countries, within countries, and between generations, need to be tackled. Some quantitative current and historic data to illustrate the difficulties involved are provided, and one approach to making progress is suggested. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Agricultural development lies at the heart of poverty reduction and increased food security of most developing nations. Sub-Saharan Africa (hereafter referred to as Africa) is, however, the only region in the world where per capita agricultural productivity has remained stagnant over the past 40 years. In Asia and Latin America, the use of tailored techniques and technologies has transformed agricultural practice and its productivity, leading to what has been called the “green revolution.” The dissemination of uniquely African green revolution technologies has not occurred on the continent. This chapter will argue that the same results in increased productivity and food security can be achieved in Africa if the appropriate investments are made in key interventions: soil fertility improvement, improved seeds, water management, market access, extension services, access to credit, and improvements in weather forecasting. Where these have happened, even partially, the outcome has been remarkable. However, bringing them to scale in ways that sustainably increase agricultural productivity and alleviate poverty requires increased investments and innovative institutional arrangements. Fortunately, several research and development projects on the continent, including the Millennium Villages Project, are providing valuable insights. Finally, this chapter outlines the key remaining challenges. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The thalassemias occur at some of their highest frequencies in the developing countries, particularly those of Asia. In many countries, facilities for the control of these conditions are extremely limited. Although a great deal can be done to help the situation by developing further North-South and South-South partnerships for disseminating better practice, the major problem for the future lies in the unwillingness of governments and international health agencies to accept that the thalassemias present a health burden comparable to that of other major diseases in the developing countries. However, preliminary analyses suggest that, at least in the case of Asia, this is not true. Further work of this nature, together with more detailed frequency and economic data, are required to provide solid evidence for the health burden posed by thalassemia in the developing world. Unless this is done, the large populations of patients with thalassemia in these countries will continue to be neglected. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]