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Artificial intelligence (AI) is increasingly embedded into service firms' operations. However, production systems and operations management scholars have not yet examined if AI-empowered service operations are positively judged by service customers. To bridge this gap, this study draws on the three-factor theory of customer satisfaction applied to online review data, to capture the effect of AI-empowered service operations on overall customer satisfaction, operationalised by means of online review ratings. Based on text analytics techniques applied to a sample of more than 50,000 TripAdvisor ORs covering 35 international hotels in Asia and America, we develop a penalty–reward contrast analysis. The findings reveal that the effects of customer interaction with mechanical AI on customer satisfaction with service operations are asymmetric: positive customer interaction with mechanical AI positively and significantly influences overall customer satisfaction with AI-empowered service operations, whereas negative customer interaction with mechanical AI does not significantly alter customer satisfaction. Taken together, these findings suggest that mechanical AI constitutes a key element of resilient AI-empowered service operations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: Previous surveys have reported that children with vitamin D deficiency were likely to suffer from early childhood caries (ECC). The aim of this systematic review and meta-analysis was to determine 1. whether the status of vitamin D is intrinsically related to the occurrence of ECC and 2. the optimal level of vitamin D for the prevention of ECC. Materials and Methods: The database of PubMed, Web of Science, Cochrane, Embase and Google scholar were searched for targeted literature. The eligibility criteria were observational studies in which children with ECC were compared to children without ECC in terms of their vitamin D status. Applying the Newcastle-Ottawa tool, study selection, data extraction, and risk of bias assessment were performed by 2 reviewers independently. Meta-analysis was performed using the Cochrane Collaboration’s Review Manager 5.4 software. Results: 501 articles were retrieved from the electronic databases; 11 studies were finally included in systematic review, 10 studies of which were submitted to meta-analysis. The 25(OH)D levels in the ECC group were statistically significantly lower compared with that in the caries-free group (WMD = -13.96, 95% CI: [-19.88,-8.03], p < 0.001), especially in regard to the association between S-ECC and vitamin D (WMD = -18.64, 95% CI: [-20.06,-17.22], p < 0.001). The subgroup analyses in terms of geographical region demonstrated that children with a level of 25(OH)D of 50–75 nmol/l were more likely to have ECC than those with over 75 nmol/l (OR = 1.42, 95% CI: [1.26,1.60], p < 0.001), with data from Asia and Europe combined for analysis Conclusions: The level of vitamin D was lower in children with ECC than in caries-free children, and the correlation between S-ECC and vitamin D was even stronger. The optimal 25(OH)D level for preventing occurrence and development of ECC ≥ 75 nmol/l. Thus, clinicians should view the development of early caries also from a systemic perspective. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The history of Panthera throughout Asia is dependent on a very scant fossil record. Dominating Asia in the Holocene, Pleistocene Panthera fossils have often been attributed to Panthera tigris. However, newer finds suggest that there was more than just P. tigris in Pleistocene Asia. Rather, species previously thought to be only from western Eurasia have been uncovered in South and East Asia, including Panthera spelaea and Panthera gombaszogensis. Therefore, re-evaluation of the fossil Panthera from Pleistocene Sunda is indicated. A partial mandible from Kedung Brubus (MIS 20–15) shows characteristics distinct from both contemporary Pleistocene P. tigris and Holocene Sunda populations. Rather, this specimen shows strong affinities with the Eurasian P. gombaszogensis. The Kedung Brubus mandible therefore provides the first evidence for the presence of P. gombaszogensis in Middle Pleistocene Sunda, becoming extinct some time after the arrival of P. tigris. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

New post-cranial remains from the early Late Miocene have been discovered in the lowermost part of the Irrawaddy Formation, Tebingan area, central Myanmar. Three genera and one indeterminate taxon were identified: Rhinoceros sp. Rhinoceros cf. R. sondaicus, Dicerorhinus sp., Brachypotherium perimense, and Rhinocerotidae indet. The evolutionary history of the Rhinocerotidae is still poorly known in Southeast Asia. Few Rhinoceros species, Rhinoceros sp. ‘B’. fatehjangense, and B. perimense, has already been identified in the Tebingan area by dental remains. The present discovery of the post-cranial remains of Rhinoceros cf. R. sondaicus and Dicerorhinus sp. that complements previous studies based on dental remains. The early Late Miocene Tebingan record is the oldest fossil record of Dicerorhinus in Southeast Asia, indicating a continental origin of the genus. Furthermore, the possible presence of R. sondaicus in the Tebingan area suggests that it may have appeared in Southeast Asia as early as the early Late Miocene. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) poses substantial health risks to both mothers and infants. Malaysia exhibits a heightened prevalence of GDM. Objective: This study aims to examine the changes in the prevalence of GDM between 2016 and 2022 and its determining factors. Methods: The data analysed in this study were derived from the National Health and Morbidity Survey (NHMS) 2016 and 2022, a nationwide study employing a two-stage stratified random sampling design in Malaysia. Changes in the prevalence were compared between data from NHMS 2016 and 2022, while factors were evaluated based on data from NHMS 2022. Descriptive statistics and multiple logistic regression analyses were performed using IBM SPSS version 27. Results: The prevalence of GDM increased from 12.5% in 2016 to 27.1% in 2022. In both years, the prevalence was highest among those aged 44–49 years, those of Indian ethnicity, those in higher income groups and those with higher education levels. Advanced maternal age, high body mass index (BMI) and hypertension were associated with a greater risk of GDM. Conclusion: The prevalence of GDM among the Malaysian population doubled from 2016 to 2022. The findings underscore the importance of implementing targeted programs for expectant mothers in high-risk groups to mitigate the incidence of GDM and its associated morbidities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Influenza is the most common vaccine-preventable infection among travelers, affecting approximately one percent of those travelling to subtropical and tropical destinations. Methods: We analysed demographic, travel-related and clinical information from travelers diagnosed with influenza at our travel clinic between January 2015 and March 2020 and influenza-negative controls. Results: We included 68 travelers diagnosed with influenza and 207 controls. In total, 22.1% of influenza patients (n = 15) were older than 60 years and/or had comorbidities for which annual influenza vaccination is recommended, but only one had received an influenza vaccine. Patients with respiratory and musculoskeletal symptoms who presented during the German influenza season had the highest risk proportion of positive tests (54%, n = 25/46). Overall, three (4.4%) influenza patients were hospitalised, two (2.9%) received antiviral treatment, and eight (11.8%) received antibiotic therapy. Conclusions: Influenza occurs throughout the year in international travelers and can cause significant morbidity. Travelers with febrile illness should be tested for influenza, especially if they have respiratory or musculoskeletal symptoms, present during the local influenza season, or have travelled to South-East Asia. Influenza vaccination coverage among international travelers needs to be improved among high-risk individuals. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Rapid progress made in the management of atopic dermatitis (AD) in recent years and the differences in patient journey between Asian and non-Asian populations call for a review of current atopic dermatitis landscape in Asia. Methods: A roundtable meeting with nine regional dermatological experts was held in June 2023 to discuss the optimal management approaches for moderate-to-severe AD, focusing on the use of advanced therapies. Results: Disease burden on patients' quality of life, treatment adherence, and financial constraints were identified as major concerns when managing patients with moderate-to-severe AD in parts of Asia. It was agreed that the Hanifin and Rajka's criteria or the UK Working Party's Diagnostic Criteria for Atopic Dermatitis can be used to guide the clinical diagnosis of AD. Meanwhile, patient-reported outcome scales including the Dermatology Life Quality Index and Atopic Dermatitis Control Tool can be used alongside depression monitoring scales to monitor treatment outcomes in patients with AD, allowing a better understanding for individualized treatment. When managing moderate-to-severe AD, phototherapy should be attempted after failure with topical treatments, followed by conventional disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs and, subsequently, biologics or Janus kinase inhibitors. Systemic corticosteroids can be used as short-term therapy for acute flares. Although these advanced treatments are known to be effective, physicians have to take into consideration safety concerns and limitations when prescribing these treatments. Conclusions: Treatments in AD have evolved and its management varies country by country. Unique challenges across Asian countries necessitate a different management approach in Asian patients with AD. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Although nonsuicidal self-injury (NSSI) is prevalent among adolescents and is associated with an increased risk of adverse outcomes, many adolescents with NSSI do not seek help. However, there is a lack of research on the factors that may increase the likelihood of help-seeking, especially within Asia. To address this gap, the present study examined whether certain factors were associated with informal and formal help-seeking – specifically gender, severity of NSSI, functions of NSSI and authoritative parenting. 121 adolescents (M age = 16.2 years, 71.1% female) were recruited from specialist outpatient clinics and inpatient psychiatric wards from a public hospital in Singapore. One caregiver per adolescent was also recruited. Data from self-report questionnaires were analysed using logistics regression analyses. The results suggest that the severity of NSSI increases the likelihood of informal help-seeking, while adolescents who have parents with more authoritative parenting style are less likely to seek informal help. Gender and functions of NSSI were not found to be associated with help-seeking. The findings from this study can guide professionals in their efforts to encourage help-seeking within Asian populations, as well as inform prevention and treatment programs for Asian adolescents with NSSI. Plain language summary: Factors that encourage Asian youths who self-harm to get help from non-professionals and professionals: There are many youths who engage in self-harm for reasons other than suicide. Although self-harm could lead to various negative outcomes, many youths do not seek help. However, not much is known about what encourages these youths to seek help from non-professionals (e.g., family, friends) and professionals (e.g., psychologists), especially within Asia. This paper looked at certain factors that may be linked to whether youths seek help – including gender, severity of self-harm, reasons for self-harm, and parenting style. Youths and caregivers were recruited from a public hospital in Singapore. The study found that youths with more severe self-harm are more likely to seek help from non-professionals, whereas youths with parents who are highly responsive and provide consistent discipline are less likely to seek help from non-professionals. None of the factors studied were relevant in whether youths sought help from professionals. The findings from this study can guide professionals to prevent and treat self-harm in Asia, as well as improve efforts to encourage Asian youths to seek help. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background Objectives Methods Results Discussion Conclusion During the coronavirus pandemic, misinformation was circulated through technology and social media on a large scale. Since people rely on media to keep connected and informed, misinformation can prevent them from staying safe.To examine the quality of information reaching Pakistanis, the effect of information/misinformation on people's perception, and its relationship with risky health behaviours in different demographical groups.A community sample of N= 103 Pakistanis was assessed using a mixed‐method cross‐sectional survey research design to investigate their sources of knowledge/information, perceptions of coronavirus‐related facts, and risky health behaviours.Content analysis of the material that participants read/watched indicated the possible effect of media on people's perception of COVID‐19. Specific demography (e.g., increasing age) and people's tendency to believe misinformation/information may indicate risky health behaviours pertaining to coronavirus infection.Findings showed how the models considered (social cognitive theory, biological warfare conspiracy theory, theory of planned behaviour, protection motivation theory, the health belief model, and biopsychosocial model) may be relevant to examination of the effects of misinformation on different demographic groups.The findings and models need to be verified on larger, more representative samples of Pakistanis using a large‐scale survey based on the insights obtained from this pilot study. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR) approved by the United Nations (UN) in 1948 includes the most widely accepted list of individual rights all over the world. Although it has been a catalyst in the pursuit of a universal ethic for human rights, it has not been updated for over 75 years during which significant progress has been made in the recognition of more human rights. It is time to examine whether the current global society aspires for more/other human rights that are not reflected in previous declarations. We offer a review of literature on the potential areas that human rights may be extended to in the current sociocultural atmosphere and share the results of a survey at an international university in Japan which examines the views of 232 young Asian students from Japan, Korea, Vietnam, Thailand, China, Indonesia, etc. regarding the human rights declaration items and their implications, as well as new hypothetical items that they would like to see recognized as human rights. The results demonstrate stronger support for 15 out of the 21 surveyed items by all respondents, as well as stronger support for 10 out of the 21 items by female respondents. These results suggest a variable expansion in the breadth of the human rights concept which is worthy of further research. Also, gender inequality may be the basis for the stronger support of certain human rights by female respondents. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Surgical care significantly contributes to healthcare-associated greenhouse gas emissions (GHG). Surgeon attitudes about mitigation of the impact of surgical practice on environmental sustainability remains poorly understood. To better understand surgeon perspectives globally, the Society of American Gastrointestinal and Endoscopic Surgeons and the European Association for Endoscopic Surgery established a joint Sustainability in Surgical Practice (SSP) Task Force and distributed a survey on sustainability. Methods: Our survey asked about (1) surgeon attitudes toward sustainability, (2) ability to estimate the carbon footprint of surgical procedures and supplies, (3) concerns about the negative impacts of sustainable interventions, (4) willingness to change specific practices, and (5) preferred educational topics and modalities. Questions were primarily written in Likert-scale format. A clustering analysis was performed to determine whether survey respondents could be grouped into distinct subsets to inform future outreach and education efforts. Results: We received 1024 responses, predominantly from North America and Europe. The study revealed that while 63% of respondents were motivated to enhance the sustainability of their practice, less than 10% could accurately estimate the carbon footprint of surgical activities. Most were not concerned that sustainability efforts would negatively impact their practice and showed readiness to adopt proposed sustainable practices. Online webinars and modules were the preferred educational methods. A clustering analysis identified a group particularly concerned yet willing to adopt sustainable changes. Conclusion: Surgeons believe that operating room waste is a critical issue and are willing to change practice to improve it. However, there exists a gap in understanding the environmental impact of surgical procedures and supplies, and a sizable minority have some degree of concern about potential adverse consequences of implementing sustainable policies. This study uniquely provides an international, multidisciplinary snapshot of surgeons' attitudes, knowledge, concerns, willingness, and preferred educational modalities related to mitigating the environmental impact of surgical practice. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Globally, there is now a growing evidence for a low velocity layer in the deeper parts of the upper mantle, above the 410 km discontinuity (hereafter called LVL-410). The origin of this layer is primarily attributed to interaction of slabs or plumes with a hydrous mantle transition zone (MTZ) that results in dehydration melting induced by water transport upward out of the MTZ. However, the ubiquitous nature of this layer and its causative remain contentious. In this study, we use high quality receiver functions (RFs) sampling diverse tectonic units of the Indian subcontinent to identify Ps conversions from the LVL-410. Bootstrap and differential slowness stacking of RFs migrated to depth using a 3-D velocity model reveal unequivocal presence of a deep low velocity layer at depths varying from 290 to 400 km. This layer appears more pervasive and deeper beneath the Himalaya, where detached subducted slabs in the MTZ have been previously reported. Interestingly, the layer is shallower in plume affected regions like the Deccan Volcanic Province and Southern Granulite Terrane. Even though a common explanation does not appear currently feasible, our observations reaffirm deep low velocity layers in the bottom part of the upper mantle and add to the list of regions that show strong presence of such layers above the 410 km discontinuity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Utilizing over 31   000 Lg waveforms from 136 crustal earthquakes recorded at 346 regional stations, we conduct detailed tomographic mappings of the Lg Q structure across Eastern Asia in a frequency range from 0.5 to 4.0 Hz. By improving the standard two-station (TS) method, we effectively correct non-unity site response ratios using site responses estimated at individual stations. This innovative approach combines the flexible recording geometry of the TS method with the precision of reversed two-station (RTS) and reversed two-event (RTE) methods, producing a comprehensive data set devoid of source and site effects for Q tomography. To address unsolvable 3-D structural effects in the Lg spectral amplitude modelling, we justify these as modelling errors with a Gaussian distribution. This approach supports our SVD-based tomographic method, allowing for effective inversion of attenuation parameters and quantitative assessment of model resolution and errors. Our results reveal a complex relationship between Lg Q and the tectonic characteristics of Eastern Asia. In well-resolved regions, low Q o (1-Hz Q) values correspond to areas with high heat flow, partial melt, thick sediment and recent tectonic-thermal activities, in contrast to high Q o values in stable, ancient crusts lacking recent tectonic activity. Rift basins are characterized by low Lg Q o, whereas flexural basins generally have high Q o basements. We also note that post-formation factors, such as sedimentation and crustal flow intrusion, significantly impact Q o values. Furthermore, Lg Q shows a complex frequency relationship, though the power-law approximation with positive power η remains useful. The frequency dependence power η is inversely related to Q o: the regions with low Q o typically have high η and vice versa. This study provides reliable attenuation tomographic and relative site response models for Lg waves in Eastern Asia, pertinent for relative geophysical studies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

BACKGROUND: Compared to workers of larger companies it is less clear what health promoting interventions might be beneficial for employees of small businesses and self-employed individuals. OBJECTIVE: Our aim was to critically appraise trials investigating health promotion programs among small business workers and self-employed individuals, by means of a systematic review. METHODS: We conducted a search of primary studies using MEDLINE, Web of Science, LIVIVO and the Cochrane library. Our assessment followed the recommendations of the Cochrane Handbook for Systematic Reviews of Interventions and PRISMA. RESULTS: We identified six trials including 5,854 participants from Asia, North America and Australia. Most were of moderate methodological quality, only one was of low quality. Some of the supervised psycho-educational lifestyle programs focusing on individual behavior changes showed benefits in terms of stress reduction and increased physical activity levels among small enterprise employees. CONCLUSIONS: There is a huge knowledge gap on evidence-based health promotion interventions for self-employed and for small business workers, especially in Europe. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Transforming the World 2030 agenda stresses the interconnectedness and indivisibility of sustainable development goals. This presents a major challenge for authoritarian states, specifically in implementing SDG16: promoting peaceful and inclusive societies, providing justice for all, and building effective and inclusive institutions. Existing research points to good governance as a sine qua non for implementing SDGs. Using Central Asia as a case study, we investigate the link between good governance and the implementation of SDGs in authoritarian states. We find variable but overall weak performance on governance indicators across Central Asia. If SDGs are indivisible, then autocracies are destined to fail the global sustainable development agenda because SDG16 challenges the type of regime in place. This is not to deny the SDG commitments made and some progress that has been achieved in these autocracies but rather to highlight that weak governance in autocratic states and those characteristics which define them are major impediments to long‐term sustainable development. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Giant trees are pivotal in forest ecosystems, yet our current understanding of their significance is constrained primarily by the limited knowledge of their precise locations and structural characteristics. Amidst escalating human‐induced disturbances globally, there is an urgent need to devise a practical approach to discover and measure giant trees accurately and efficiently.Here, we propose a novel light detection and ranging (lidar)‐based framework designed for the discovery and measurement of giant trees. Our framework integrates cutting‐edge lidar platforms, including spaceborne, Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV), and backpack lidar, to create an end‐to‐end workflow. The algorithm involved in the proposed framework was compiled into a code package and made available as open source.The method successfully identified the tallest trees in China, including the tallest tree in Asia, a Cupressus austrotibetica with a height of 102.3 m, discovered in Yarlung Zangbo Grand Canyon in May 2023. This finding has not only established a new record but also demonstrated the efficacy of our proposed framework. Utilising lidar data, we performed meticulous measurements at both individual and stand levels, revealing the unique characteristics of this giant tree.The new framework for the discovery and measurement of giant trees, encompassing detailed procedures and codes, is expected to facilitate the discovery and measurement of giant trees with high efficiency, thus fostering advancements in giant tree ecology. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Positive psychology offers a scientific window onto understanding and enhancing the welfare and growth of university communities, and as well as improving academic performance. This holistic approach is on the rise, yet most research is conducted in Western countries. This situation prevails despite the fact that two-thirds of the world's population live in Asia. This review collated and synthesised published work on applications of positive psychology in higher education conducted in Asia, to describe the current status, explore conceptual perspectives and identify knowledge gaps. A total of 147 articles (157 experimental studies), published since 2000, were included. These were descriptive explorations (12.1%), quantifying associations between positive psychology constructs (62.4%), interventions (19.7%), and psychometric evaluations (5.7%). Key topics were academic leadership, organisational commitment, student engagement and foreign language learning. The thematic framework centered on 'Optimal Functioning', with 'Personal Resources One Can Draw On' and 'How One Interacts With The World' as direct influencing factors, and 'Environment' as an indirect factor. Across the Asian region, positive psychology's major contribution is to identify what types of personal resources are associated with optimal functioning in higher education, but there is little high-quality evidence for intervention benefits, nor a deep understanding of how those resources can be effectively deployed to achieve well-being. As part of the third-wave positive psychology movement, scholars in Asia can play a greater leading role in re-evaluating traditional Western concepts to account for the socio-cultural context in which students and staff are embedded. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article analyzes structural changes of regional production network (RPN) for the electronics industry across 20 Northeast Asia regions for the period 2005–2015. We develop an extended Structural Decomposition Analysis approach which decomposes changes in Vertical Specialization (VS) share into seven components of foreign intermediate suppliers, input composition, and import intensity in terms of the import structure; and production structure, trade balance, trade openness, and domestic demand in terms of the export one. The development of production fragmentation in Northeast Asia's electronic industry was associated with the coexistence of nine subregional patterns, including four VS patterns of Coastal China, Inland China, North China, and Central China; four vertical integration (VI) patterns of Northeast Japan, Central Japan, Seoul region, and Busan region. The substantial increases in the VS of North China and Central China result from changes in domestic demand and production structure, while the decline in the VS in Central Japan and Busan region is influenced by the shifts in import intensity and trade openness. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The EQ-5D-Y is a generic preference-weighted measure for children and adolescents which was developed within Europe. Two versions exist, the EQ-5D-Y-3L (Y-3L) and EQ-5D-Y-5L (Y-5L). This study aimed to cross-culturally adapt the Y-3L and Y-5L for use in Singapore and to assess the content validity, specifically, the relevance and comprehensiveness of the EQ-5D-Y descriptive system (DS) in Asia. Methods: To culturally adapt the instruments, an expert panel consisting of paediatricians and primary school educators were consulted. Modifications suggested by the expert panel were tested via cognitive debriefing interviews with children aged 8–12 in Singapore. To assess the content validity of the EQ-5D-Y DS, interviews were conducted with both healthy (n = 8) and ill children (n = 6) aged 8–15. In the interviews, children discussed their experience with poor health and commented on the comprehensiveness and relevance of the EQ-5D-Y DS. Results: The cross-cultural adaptation process led to minor modifications to the UK English Y-3L and Y-5L versions, including using phrases familiar to the local children and adding examples to facilitate understanding. The five health dimensions in the EQ-5D-Y DS were spontaneously elicited when children discussed their experience with poor health. All health dimensions related to poor health elicited from the interviews fell into three broad categories: physical health (e.g. Appetite, Mobility, and Sleep), mental well-being (e.g. Annoyed/Frustrated and Scared/Worried), and social relationships (e.g. Family and Friends). The EQ-5D-Y DS was generally found to be relevant and comprehensive, although some health dimensions that may be relevant to the local population (Social relationship and Appetite) were not covered. Conclusions: The UK English EQ-5D-Y instruments were adapted to produce the Singapore English EQ-5D-Y instrument that were comprehensible to local children as young as 8 years old. The EQ-5D-Y DS was generally relevant and comprehensive to measure poor health of local children. Future studies should ascertain the benefits of adding bolt-on items related to social relationships and appetite to the EQ-5D-Y DS. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Light‐absorbing carbonaceous aerosols that dominate atmospheric aerosol warming over India remain poorly characterized. Here, we delve into UV‐visible‐IR spectral aerosol absorption properties at nine PAN‐India COALESCE network sites (Venkataraman et al., 2020, https://doi.org/10.1175/bams‐d‐19‐0030.1). Absorption properties were estimated from aerosol‐laden polytetrafluoroethylene filters using a well‐constrained technique incorporating filter‐to‐particle correction factors. The measurements revealed spatiotemporal heterogeneity in spectral intrinsic and extrinsic absorption properties. Absorption analysis at near‐UV wavelengths from carbonaceous aerosols at these regional sites revealed large near‐ultraviolet brown carbon absorption contributions from 21% to 68%—emphasizing the need to include these particles in climate models. Further, satellite‐retrieved column‐integrated absorption was dominated by surface absorption, which opens possibilities of using satellite measurements to model surface‐layer optical properties (limited to specific sites) at a higher spatial resolution. Both the satellite‐modeled and direct in‐situ absorption measurements can aid in validating and constraining climate modeling efforts that suffer from absorption underestimations and high uncertainties in radiative forcing estimates. Plain Language Summary: Particulate pollution in the atmosphere scatter and absorb incoming solar energy, thus cooling or warming Earth's atmosphere. In developing countries and especially in India, one of the most polluted regions of the world, the extent to which particles can absorb solar energy and warm the atmosphere is not well understood. Here, for the first time, we measure particle absorption simultaneously at nine ground sites across India, in diverse geographical regions with different levels and types of particulate pollution. We find that organic carbon particles exert large absorption at near‐ultraviolet wavelengths, which contain significant solar energy. These light absorbing organic carbon particles, called brown carbon, are emitted in large quantities from biomass burning (e.g., burning crop residue and cooking on wood‐fired stoves). Comparing ground measurements of absorption with satellite‐retrieved measurements that are representative of the entire atmospheric column, we find that near‐surface atmospheric particles can exert significant warming. This study highlights the need to improve climate model simulations of particulate pollution's impact on the climate by incorporating spatiotemporal surface‐level absorption measurements, including absorption by brown carbon particles. Key Points: Measurements at nine regional PAN‐India sites reveal several regions with large aerosol absorption strengthBrown carbon contributes significantly (21%–68%) to near‐ultraviolet absorption, indicating its importance in shortwave light absorptionStrong correlations observed between satellite data and surface absorption indicate future potential in modeling surface absorption [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The importance of evidence-informed health policymaking is widely recognized. However, many low- and middle-income countries lack evidence-informed mental health policies due to insufficient data, stigma or lack of resources. Various policies address adolescent mental health in India, but published knowledge on their evidence-informed nature is limited. In this paper, we report results of our analysis of the role of evidence in adolescent mental health policymaking in India. Methods: This paper reports findings from the document analysis of key policy documentation (n = 10) and in-depth interviews with policy actors including policymakers, researchers, practitioners and intermediaries (n = 13). Framework analysis was used, informed by the components of a conceptual framework adapted from the literature: actors, policy and evidence processes, nature of evidence itself and contextual influences. Results: Results show that adolescent mental health policies in India were generally evidence-informed, with more key evidence becoming generally available from 2010 onwards. Both formal and informal evidence informed mental health policies, particularly agenda-setting and policy development. Mental health policymaking in India is deemed important yet relatively neglected due to competing policy priorities and structural barriers such as stigma. Use of evidence in mental health policymaking reflected differing values, interests, relative powers and ideologies of policy actors. Involvement of government officials in evidence generation often resulted in successful evidence uptake in policy decisions. Policy actors often favoured formal and quantitative evidence, with a tendency to accept global evidence that aligns with personal values. Conclusions: There is a need to ensure a balanced and complementary combination of formal and informal evidence for policy decisions. Evidence generation, dissemination and use for policy processes should recognize evidence preferences by key stakeholders, while prioritizing locally available evidence where possible. To help this, a balanced involvement of policy actors can ensure complementary perspectives in evidence production and policy agendas. This continued generation and promotion of evidence can also help reduce societal stigma around mental health and promote mental health as a key policy priority. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Simple Summary: The demand for traditional and complementary medicine (T&CM), perceived as natural and safe, among cancer patients has been steadily increasing. However, this trend raises concerns about the potential risks of using these therapies concurrently with conventional treatments and whether patients are fully adhering to their prescribed treatments. In Asia, T&CM is particularly common due to cultural and historical influences. This systematic review and meta-analysis is the first study to investigate the prevalence of T&CM use among cancer patients in Asia, how often they disclose this use to their physicians, and the factors influencing their choices. Understanding these aspects may enhance communication between patients and physicians, ultimately leading to safer and more effective cancer care. Globally, cancer patients frequently use T&CM during their treatment for various reasons. The primary concerns regarding the use of T&CM among cancer patients are the potential risks associated with interactions between pharmaceuticals and T&CM, as well as the risk of noncompliance with conventional cancer treatments. Despite the higher prevalence of T&CM use in Asia, driven by cultural, historical, and resource-related factors, no prior review has tried to estimate the prevalence and influencing factors of T&CM use and disclosure among cancer patients in this region. This study aims to examine the prevalence and disclosure rates of T&CM use among cancer patients in Asia to assess various factors influencing its use across different cancer treatment settings in Asia. Systematic research on T&CM use was conducted using four databases (PubMed, EMBASE, Web of Science, and CINAHAL) from inception to January 2023. Quality was assessed using the Appraisal Tool for Cross-Sectional Studies (AXIS). A random effects model was used to estimate the pooled prevalence of T&CM use, and data analysis was performed using Stata Version 16.0. Among the 4849 records retrieved, 41 eligible studies conducted in 14 Asian countries were included, involving a total of 14,976 participants. The pooled prevalence of T&CM use was 49.3%, ranging from 24.0% to 94.8%, and the disclosure rate of T&CM use was 38.2% (11.9% to 82.5%). The most commonly used T&CM modalities were herbal medicines and traditional medicine. Females were 22.0% more likely to use T&CM than males. A subgroup analysis revealed the highest prevalence of T&CM use was found in studies conducted in East Asia (62.4%) and those covered by both national and private insurance (55.8%). The disclosure rate of T&CM use to physicians remains low. Moreover, the factors influencing this disclosure are still insufficiently explored. Since the disclosure of T&CM use is a crucial indicator of patient safety and the quality of cancer treatment prognosis, future research should focus on identifying the determinants of non-disclosure. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Adhesions arising from gynecologic surgeries and cesarean sections pose substantial clinical, social, and economic challenges, leading to issues like pelvic pain, infertility, bowel obstruction, and recurring surgeries. Preventing adhesions is a pressing unmet need, hindered by difficulties in assessing postoperative adhesions and understanding barriers. To bridge adhesion prevention gaps, statements on clinical practices were synthesized to present Asia‐Pacific expert perspectives on gynecologic surgery and cesarean section adhesion prevention. An expert panel of eight physicians from various healthcare settings in the Asia‐Pacific region was convened and a comprehensive literature search on topics related to adhesion prevention in gynecologic surgeries and cesarean sections was performed. Information from full‐text publications was used to develop draft consensus statements, with each statement assigned the highest available evidence level based on a systematic literature review and graded using the Oxford Center for Evidence‐based Medicine criteria. A modified Delphi process, involving two rounds of online voting and discussions with an extended group of 109 experts, was employed to reach a consensus on six topics related to adhesion barriers. A set of 15 consensus statements were synthesized. Key topics include adhesion incidence in Asia, cesarean section complications, barrier application status, adhesion formation and prevention, absorbable barriers' effectiveness, recommendations, and future considerations. The statements provide guidance for healthcare professionals, especially in the Asia‐Pacific region, to tackle the challenges posed by postoperative adhesions and improve patient outcomes. Further research is needed to enhance understanding and prevention of adhesions in this region. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background Methods Results Conclusions Technological disasters in Asia have significant public health and environmental implications, but there is limited epidemiological analysis of these events. This study aims to characterize the epidemiological profile of technological disasters in Asia from 2000 to 2021, focusing on morbidity and mortality trends.A retrospective descriptive observational analysis was conducted using data from emergency events database (EM‐DAT), DesInventar, NatCAt, and Sigma. The study categorized disasters into transport, industrial, and miscellaneous accidents. Statistical analyses were used to examine frequencies, trends, and correlations among the different disaster types.From 2000 to 2021, Asia experienced 2333 technological disasters, with transport accidents being the most frequent (55.77%), followed by industrial (26.10%) and miscellaneous accidents (18.13%). The overall trend showed a statistically significant decrease in the frequency of these disasters and in average mortality and injury rates. The study highlighted the varying impact of different disaster types, with industrial accidents causing the highest fatality and affected rates despite being less frequent than transport accidents.The study indicates a declining trend in the frequency and severity of technological disasters in Asia, reflecting improved safety measures and disaster management. However, the high impact of industrial accidents underscores the need for targeted prevention strategies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The direct and indirect costs of chronic kidney disease (CKD) are substantial and increase over time. Concerns regarding our capacity to manage the financial burden that CKD) places on patients, caregivers, and society are raised by its increasing prevalence and progression. Lack of awareness of CKD's economic effects is a major reason that lawmakers and administrators pay little attention to this chronic illness. Objective: We aimed to analyze the direct burden of CKD across Asian countries and evaluate the main cost drivers among all mentioned cost centers in previous studies. Methodology: Related works evaluating the expenditures of CKD from the perspective of the patient were interpreted by a thorough search of PUBMED and GOOGLE SCHOLAR. Results: Country-wise, in Asia, the direct mean average medical costs in RRT patients were reported in 8 studies as $4574, $18668, $2901, $6848, $16669, $3489, $5945, and $6344 in Singapore, Korea, Taiwan, China, Jordan, Vietnam, Lebanon, and India respectively and the direct mean average medical costs in non-RRT patients were reported in six studies as $3412, $2241, $4534, $290 and $1500 in Singapore, Japan, China, Vietnam, and India respectively. Conclusion: Hemodialysis is the main cost driver having an average mean cost of $23,358 per patient per year while the average mean cost of disease management is $4977 per patient per year. More research is needed to understand the specific economic challenges disadvantaged populations face, including the impact of income, education, and access to healthcare resources on the financial burden of CKD. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Infectious causes of diarrhea contribute significantly to morbidity in Asia. We conducted a systematic review and meta‐analysis of the prevalence of infectious etiologies of persistent and chronic diarrhea in Asian adults. Searches were performed on PubMed and Scopus for studies from January 1, 1970, to May 30, 2023. Sixteen studies were identified and included. The meta‐analysis was conducted with the random‐effects method, estimating the pooled prevalence of groups of infectious pathogens as causes of persistent and chronic diarrhea among Asian adults. The findings were highly heterogeneous and indicative of publication bias. The majority of studies were conducted on persons living with human immunodeficiency virus infection (PLHIV). The studies were predominantly from low‐income and middle‐income Asian countries. The most common cause was parasitic, with a pooled prevalence of 0.52 (95% confidence interval 0.28–0.65, I2 = 99%, Cochran's Q = 1027.44, P < 0.01), followed by bacterial, fungal, and viral causes, which were substantially rarer. Negative microbiological testing was also common, with a pooled prevalence for a negative test being 0.37 (95% confidence interval 0.17–0.52, I2 = 99%, Cochran's Q = 1027.44, P < 0.01). Subgroup analyses of studies conducted among PLHIV, from year 2000 and among those conducted in Southeast Asia showed a similar prevalence of parasitic causes of diarrhea. In conclusion, in Asian adults with persistent and chronic diarrhea, parasitic causes were most prevalent. However, the estimate of true prevalence is limited by significant heterogeneity among the available studies. More study in this field is required, especially examining PLHIV in the post‐antiretroviral therapy era and from high‐income countries. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The evolutionary development and phylogenetic division between Asian and African cercopithecoids (Cercopithecidae) have attracted significant attention in genetics, molecular biology, behavior, and morphology. However, less emphasis has been placed on how they have evolved morphologically after divergence, approximately 10 million years ago (mya) for Colobinae and 5–7 mya for Cercopithecinae, corresponding to the significant variation and diversity in landscape, climate, habitat, and ecologies between the two continents. This study examines whether such variation and diversity have been reflected in dental morphology. Our findings reveal substantial differences between Hylobatidae and Cercopithecidae, as well as between Colobinae and Cercopithecinae, indicating that size-adjusted dental variation mainly reveals the diversity associated with evolution and phylogenetic inertia. Interestingly, despite the earlier divergence of Afro-Asian colobines, their Euclidean Distance is comparable to that of Afro-Asian cercopithecines. This implies that latecomers (macaques) demonstrate equivalent diversity to colobines due to their extensive dispersion and broader adaptative radiation on the same continent. Colobinae exhibit more developed premolar and molar regions. However, when post-canine teeth are considered alone, Colobinae present a significantly larger molar size than Asian Cercopithecinae but not with the African Cercopihecinae. This contradicts the hypothesis that folivorous primates (Colobinae) have larger post-canine molars than frugivorous ones (Cercopithecinae). The considerable molar size in African Cercopithecinae must be associated with their more protrusive and larger facial structure rather than a specific dietary preference, being less diverse than their Asian counterparts—a trait that has evolved phylogenetically. This study also paves the way for further exploration of facial and cranial differences between the continental groups of Cercopithecinae and Colobinae, delving deeply into diversity variation due to geographical and climatic adaptations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Development economics has long focused on growth patterns to explain countries' ability to catch up and forge ahead. We argue, however, that resilience to economic shrinking matters more. Using the examples of Brazil and Indonesia, we propose that a framework consisting of social capabilities—namely structural transformation, autonomy, and inclusion—can explain why Indonesia is more resilient to economic shrinking than Brazil and why the country is more likely to be successful in its catching-up process. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article that forms part of a Special Section on 'Invisible Privilege in Asia' is committed to expanding the theoretical debates in race and ethnic studies, which has been previously critiqued as a field that has focused more on the gathering of empirical observations than the development of theory. This critique is even more pronounced within the realm of studying race and ethnicity in Asia, where research is often siloed within the contexts of national boundaries and area studies. While national, sub-regional and other specificities exist, here we provide a framework that identifies particular practices and structural processes that are best understood as indicative of a form of invisible, or latent 'privilege'. In paying attention to the geographical and historical specificities of how privilege functions, this article seeks not to uncritically impose a definition, but understand how and when 'privilege' provides a useful analytical framework in the absence of, or in collusion with, other explanatory mechanisms. In doing so, this introduction speaks back to the Western-centric conceptual landscape that sociology as a discipline tends to draw from. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This introduction to the special section 'Invisible Privilege in Asia' suggests a framework within which studies of privilege in Asia can be situated. Animated by a global politics of Blackness and social movements that have renewed the focus on racialised inequality and hierarchy, we use this moment to urge an interrogation of the conceptual productivity of the notion of privilege. This project is particularly significant within a region that is often seen only as empirical site and not as a space for theory-building in the social sciences. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The International Federation of Foot and Ankle Societies (IFFAS) is a global organization for foot and ankle societies, comprising the Asian Federation of Foot and Ankle Surgeons (AFFAS), the European Foot and Ankle Society (EFAS), the Latin American Federation of Medicine and Surgery of the Foot and Leg (FLAMECIPP), the North American Federation of Foot and Ankle Societies (NAFFAS), and the Southern Federation of Foot and Ankle Society. Since 2005, IFFAS has organized worldwide conferences every three years, starting in Naples, Italy. The 2020 conference in Chile was postponed to 2022 due to COVID-19 pandemic and became biennial with the founding of the Southern Federation. Consequently, the conference is set to take place in Seoul in 2024. IFFAS 2024 was the first global foot and ankle conference held post-pandemic and significant as the first IFFAS event in Asia since the 2011 conference was canceled because of the Great East Japan Earthquake. Under the theme "Meet the knowledge and beautifulness," the event was hosted in Seoul. The academic program included an AFFAS-hosted event on May 30, followed by the IFFAS-hosted conference from May 31 to June 1, with all events organized by the Korean Foot & Ankle Society (KFAS). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

BACKGROUND Intertrochanteric femur fractures are typically treated with proximal femoral nails. There are two varieties of proximal femoral nails in our study: PFNA2, which has a single proximal blade, and normal PFN, which has two proximal screws. AIM Our study compares functional results and implant-related problems in individuals treated for proximal femur fracture using PFNA2 nails versus conventional PFN nails. MATERIAL AND METHODS After obtaining ethical clearance from Institutional ethical committee, this prospective study was conducted in the Department of Orthopaedics in Sri Madhusudhan Sai Institute of Medical Sciences and Research from Nov 2022 to Nov 2023. A series of 50 cases were included in the study. After obtaining prior informed and written consent from the patients. Fracture diagnosis confirmed by clinical examination and radiography. Pre-anaesthetic evaluation done as per protocols. 25 Patients underwent PFN nailing and 25 Patients underwent PFN- A2 nailing. Post operatively follow up was done until 6 months to assess various outcomes namely fracture healing, incidence of post-operative complications, rehabilitation and functional outcome. RESULTS Implant A2-PFN nails has better results than implant standard PFN nail in terms of operative time, operative blood-loss and functional outcome. CONCLUSION We concluded from the study that, in comparison to standard PFN nails, PFNA2 nails minimises surgical time, blood loss, and radiation exposure. When compared to standard PFN nail, PFNA2 nails offers substantially superior functional outcomes and a greater union rate. PFNA2-treated patients are able to bear weight quickly. PFNA2 does not cause too many implant-related issues including screw backing out and cut-through of screws in the femoral head (also known as the z-effect and reverse z-effect). Consequently, we draw the conclusion that PFNA2 nails are better than standard PFN nails. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives To explore differences in axial spondyloarthritis (axSpA) clinical phenotype around the world in a large sample of patients included in the International Map of Axial Spondyloarthritis (IMAS). Method IMAS was a cross-sectional online survey (2017–2022) of 5557 unselected axSpA patients from 27 countries. We analysed across five geographic regions the age at symptom onset, diagnostic delay, gender, HLA-B27, family history, extra-musculoskeletal manifestations, presence of comorbidities, disease activity (BASDAI), level of spinal stiffness and treatments. Results Of 5557 IMAS participants, 3493 were from Europe, 770 from North America, 600 from Asia, 548 from Latin America and 146 from South Africa. Age at symptom onset ranged between 25 and 30 years and was higher in Latin America. Diagnostic delay was longest in South Africa and lowest in Asia. The lowest HLA-B27 positivity was observed in Latin America and the highest in Asia. Extra-musculoskeletal manifestations were the lowest in Europe. Mean disease activity (BASDAI) was 5.4, with highest values in South Africa and lowest in Asia. Most of the patients had used NSAIDs for their condition and less than half had ever taken conventional synthetic DMARDS; both were more frequent in Latin America and South Africa. Almost half of the patients had ever taken biologic DMARDs, more frequent use being in the Americas. Conclusion There is great heterogeneity of axSpA clinical phenotype presentation around the world. AxSpA manifests differently in different regions, so further understanding of these differences of phenotypes is needed to achieve early diagnosis and initiation of optimal disease treatment in axSpA in the different regions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article uses theories of industrial policy to assess the development of China's 5G telecommunications equipment policy. It considers the path China's 5G build-out has taken, and American security concerns in reaction to several nations' potential adoption of China's latest generation of communications equipment. It focuses on several East, South, and Southeast Asian countries and their decisions on whether or not to incorporate China's 5G technology for their networks. It concludes with assessment of future paths in the Sino-US competition over 5G and later generation communications systems adoption. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Prevalence of hearing loss in children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is uncertain, as it is more challenging to assess hearing function in children with developmental difficulties (DD). We aimed to determine the prevalence and profiles of hearing loss in preschool children with ASD in a Southeast-Asian population who passed newborn hearing screening. A retrospective study of preschool children with DD (ASD, Global Developmental Delay (GDD), and Speech and Language Delay (SLD)) attending the Child Development Unit (CDU) at our hospital was performed. Three hundred and thirty-three children (ASD: n = 129; GDD: n = 110; and SLD: n = 94) underwent hearing assessments. Of these, 10.8% of children (n = 36, comprising 15 with ASD, 12 with GDD and 9 with SLD) had confirmed hearing loss. Hearing loss was predominantly bilateral in children with ASD and GDD; in those with SLD, unilateral and bilateral hearing loss were equally common. Conductive hearing loss occurred as frequently as sensorineural hearing loss in children with ASD and SLD, but was the dominant subtype in those with GDD. Moderate to severe hearing loss (n = 2) was noted only in children with ASD. Children with ASD and GDD required significantly more audiology visits and procedures to obtain conclusive hearing test results, compared to those with SLD. The need to identify hearing loss and monitor for resolution is particularly important in vulnerable populations with communication deficits, such as in those with ASD. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The traits of the dark triad (narcissism, psychopathy, and Machiavellianism) capture the individual differences in the aversive personality. The dark triad has shown significant relations with behaviors that affect people's lives. One of the best-known instruments to assess the dark triad is the Dirty Dozen. However, controversy continues over the use of one general dark triad score or, conversely, three different scores. This study aimed to investigate the factor structure of the Dirty Dozen across eight global regions. There were 11,477 participants in 49 countries grouped into eight regions. Different factor structures were studied using confirmatory factor analyses. Both the three-dimensional models and the bifactor models (symmetrical or traditional and non-symmetrical or bifactor-[S – 1]) showed a good fit to the data. The bifactor-(S – 1) models (with psychopathy or Machiavellianism as the reference factors) show adequate fit to the data, supported by the coherence of the factorial loadings and the bifactor indices. Regarding measurement invariance for both models, configural, metric, and scalar invariance were satisfied. The results indicate that it is not clear whether a psychopathy or Machiavellianism reference factor predominates in the Dirty Dozen. For both models, templates are provided to obtain standardized scores for applied researchers in the eight studied world regions until future studies offer a greater amount of validity evidence for this instrument. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The public–private partnership (PPP) environment in Asia is complex due to the different levels of development. Thus, investigating critical success factors (CSFs) of PPP projects plays an important role for both the public and private sectors to ensure sustainable development. The purpose of this study is: (1) to seek and evaluate CSFs of PPP infrastructure projects in Vietnam; and (2) to compare top CSFs among several countries in Asia. Data were collected through a questionnaire survey with 36 obtained responses. Collected data were analyzed using the mean score technique, factor analysis, and fuzzy synthetic evaluation (FSE) method. Finally, a comparison among countries in Asia was carried out. Seventeen CSFs were identified and five main groupings were grouped, including favorable investment environment, good partnership management, sound financial package, effective contract management, and ability of the private sector. The comparative result has shown that PPP investment in middle-income countries is more complicated than the high-income countries. This finding not only helps the government and investors to be more understanding of CSFs for implementing PPP procurement in Vietnam, but also offers the overall picture of the PPP market in the Asia region. In addition, it provides practitioners with an evaluation framework regarding CSFs in decision-making for PPP implementation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Students as partners (SaP) has become an impactful practice in higher education as it enables students to take ownership of their learning and exercise agency. However, the implementation of SaP, particularly in Asia, has encountered many challenges, including concerns about a large power distance between students and teachers. Despite the emerging interests in exploring SaP in several Asian regions, there have been few studies about students' experiences of partnership throughout a project life cycle. This study explores students' experiences of SaP in three projects spanning two research-intensive universities in Hong Kong based on the Cultural-Historical Activity Theory (CHAT) and positioning theory. Data were collected from exit interviews with student partners, their reflective writings, and their responses to open-ended questions in a post-project survey. Our main contribution is the discovery of multiple contradictions between the project designs and students' enactment of partnership. Specifically, students' hesitation in assuming a partner's role was related to their disciplinary identity, the inquiry methods of the projects, and the pre-determined project specifications. In contrast, the cultural factors, which are largely framed as barriers in the literature, only affected the partnership development at the beginning of the project. Our study implies that future SaP projects need to ensure the alignment between project designs and a partner's role to facilitate equal and sustainable contributions from students and staff members. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background & Aims: Diabetes and related metabolic syndromes represent a significant global health challenge, with the global burden of diabetes increasing considerably since 1990. In this article, we examined the trend of publications in Endocrinology, Diabetes and Metabolism between 1996 and 2021, focusing on Asian countries. Methods: We obtained and used the data from the Scopus database from the SCImago website (https://www.scimagojr.com/), on 1 April 2023, related to the subspecialty of Endocrinology, Diabetes and Metabolism for country rankings between 1996 and 2021. We did not include any data related to other medical specialties or other fields. Results: There has been a steady rise in global publications on these subspecialties over the past decade, with the number of publications from Asian countries increasing significantly. Western Europe recorded the highest number of publications, followed by North America and Asia. The COVID-19 pandemic also contributed to a surge in publications in this field. In Asian countries, China and India have notably increased their global contribution to publications, with China emerging as the top Asian nation in 2021. Conclusion: Our findings provide valuable insights into the research output from various countries and the productivity trends in Diabetes, Endocrinology and Metabolism-related research. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Existing studies demonstrate how biomedical researchers construct multiethnic populations as biovaluable. A multiethnic population with a diverse gene pool allows for the scaling of disease research and treatments to other countries. This "fact" serves an important role to attract investments in the national bioscientific sector. Yet these studies do not describe how such promissory narratives are translated for public consumption, an important step given how science policy requires public buy-in. My research asks how the relationship between Singapore and Asia is constructed as biovaluable through the media. Examining the media discourse on diabetes in Singapore, I find that the construction of biovalue in the media (1) relies on emotional and pragmatic appeals to Asian inclusivity in scientific research, (2) highlights biological Asian difference and market opportunities based on scaling, and (3) enacts the connection between Singapore and Asia in a distorted manner where ethnic minorities are sometimes excluded. This research builds on the existing literature on the political economy of the biosciences through examining the intersection between science policy, public health, race and ethnicity, and scientific communication in postcolonial nations such as Singapore, where the media plays an authoritative role in communicating scientific information to the public. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The number of people in exile is rising. Sexual and ethnic minority refugee and asylum-seeking people present with special needs. This study utilised a collective narrative participatory design to explore how storying collective ways of resisting the effects of trauma, amongst gay and lesbian forced migrant people of Black African and Asian backgrounds in an urban context (London, UK) can be constitutive of healing. To do this, purposeful sampling procedures were pursued. Data collection was through individual and group format story telling sessions. Both sessions were structured around a co-constructed metaphor 'Passport of Life'. Narrative analysis was employed to examine the data, co-shaped with participants. Findings indicate that participants' (collective) storytelling is crafted as a site for resistances to emerge and be re-affirmed. Resistance pathways are inextricably linked to participants' diverse subjectivities. Healing is constituted as a dynamic process, bound by narrated and physical configurations of spaces of togetherness, which have re-definitional, hope-inducing, and social justice properties. The results support the use of participatory and narrative means for expanding (untold) stories of overcoming and supporting opportunities for healing and redress amongst this population. Implications for policy making, research, and psychological practice are considered. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]