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The spread of English as a global language has sparked debate over how language should be taught and learned and the optimal connection between traditional and Global Englishes (GE) approaches to teaching English as a second/foreign language. According to the GE approach, teaching and learning English might focus more on different contexts than rules of Standard English based on native speaker norms, particularly in Asia, where varieties of English occur, and English is mainly taught as a foreign language. Data were collected using a questionnaire and semi-structured interviews before being subjected to descriptive statistics and content analysis. The results indicate that students had three core beliefs: 1) native speakers are better teachers, 2) native speakers model the norm, and 3) native speaker cultures represent an ideal. Simultaneously, some students dissented from those beliefs, and others indicated a preference for pedagogy that included aspects of GE. This study argues for employing the traditional approach as a foundation with units that engage with English, as practised in India, East Africa, Southeast Asia, and other countries. The study also suggests specific techniques for incorporating GE learning modules into regular instruction so that students comprehend English as a language of both continuity and change.

University mottos have been demonstrated to convey educational philosophies, but few studies have investigated the educational philosophies reflected by university mottos from countries along the "One Belt, One Road" (OBOR) route, with applying the analytical approaches like text mining and natural language processing (NLP). This present investigation constructed a database of university mottos from 1,535 universities in 61 countries along the OBOR route and applied NLP technology to explore the similarities and differences of educational philosophies among the universities along the OBOR route. Methods of NLP used in this article included text mining, cluster analysis, and Latent Dirichlet Allocation (LDA) topic model. The social network analysis (SNA) model was used to further analyze the interconnection and exchange of educational philosophies expressed through university mottos. Based on the five identified topic categories, we concluded that countries along the OBOR route have the same basic educational philosophy for higher education but have different emphases due to cultural differences, such as the different emphases on virtue education, collectivism, and individualism. Education for sustainability is another focus of higher education philosophy reflected by the topic categories of university mottos, which is consistent with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals, for example, quality education. In addition to demonstrating the BRI impact on educational philosophies of countries along the OBOR route, this present investigation could also contribute to the growing body of knowledge about international cooperation and communication of higher education under the framework of BRI, for a globalized, shared and sustainable education in the post-COVID era.

Special education is a natural yardstick to measure a country's educational level and the whole civilization. China has a massive special education undertaking that develops rapidly and forms a unique system. This study used bibliometric methods to conduct a macroscopic comparative analysis of Chinese and global literature, discuss the existing problems of China's special education, and put forward relevant recommendations accordingly. The CiteSpace V visual analysis software was used to draw the scientific knowledge map of the Chinese local database CSSCI and the global database SSCI, and the results of the map were discussed. Research conclusions: Firstly, China's research institutions lack a macro-level cooperation network. Second, there are differences in the focus of special education objects between China and the world. This difference is mainly caused by the definition of special education objects, which may be influenced by the formulation of educational concepts and policies. Thirdly, in the reference co-citation analysis, the focus of Chinese research is narrow and generally focuses on special education teachers. This article provides implications for solving special education problems in China, and its research method provides a reference for future related research for other countries.

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]

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]

Background: Gastrointestinal tumors represent a significant component of the cancer burden in Asia. This study aims to evaluate the burden of gastrointestinal tumors in Asia from 1990 to 2021 using data from the Global Burden of Disease Study 2021 (GBD 2021). Methods: The absolute incidence, mortality, and disability adjusted life years (DALYs) number and rate of six gastrointestinal tumors(colon and rectum cancer (CRC), stomach cancer (SC), pancreatic cancer (PC), esophageal cancer (EC), liver cancer (LC) and gallbladder and biliary tract cancer (GBTC)) in 48 Asian countries were extracted from GBD 2021. Differences were analyzed based on gender, age, year, location and socio-demographic index (SDI). Results: In 2021, SC accounted for the highest disease burden in Asia (DALYs=16.41million [95% UI: 13.70, 19.62]). From 1990 to 2021, the age-standardized incidence rates of EC, LC, and SC in Asia declined, while the incidence rates of CRC and PC increased significantly, with CRC showing the largest rise (AAPC=1.08 [95% CI: 1.02 to 1.12]). Gastrointestinal tumors DALY rates peaked at age 70 and above, with males generally exhibiting higher rates than females. Furthermore, East Asia bears a higher burden compared to other Asian subregions. A higher SDI correlates with increased DALY rates for PC, but no linear relationship was observed for other gastrointestinal tumors. Conclusion: The burden of gastrointestinal tumors in Asia remains high and may continue to increase. Therefore, effective prevention and treatment measures are essential to address the challenge posed by gastrointestinal tumors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The objective of this meta-analysis was to assess the dental health status of children with ASD in terms of decayed, missing, and filled permanent teeth (DMFT) and decayed, missing, and filled deciduous teeth (dmft). PubMed, Embase, psycINFO, and Cochrane library were searched for studies published until September 2018. A random-effects model was applied to estimate the pooled results. Nine studies comprising 532 children with ASD and 622 controls were included. No significant differences between children with ASD and controls were observed for DMFT and dmft in the world. Subgroup analyses revealed that children with ASD had a significantly higher dmft index than that of controls in Asia. Children with ASD have a worse dental health status than healthy children in Asia, but caution is necessary given the limited studies available for analysis.

Background: This study aims to analyze the efficacy of metformin on carotid intima media thickness (CIMT) and flow-mediated dilation (FMD) for patients with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS). Methods: A literature search of PubMed, Embase, and the Cochrane Library from inception to December 2023 was conducted. Then, after studies selection and data extraction, the mean difference (MD) with a 95% confidence interval (CI) was used to evaluate metformin efficacy in CIMT and FMD for PCOS patients. Heterogeneity was investigated through subgroup and sensitivity analysis. The protocol of our study has been registered in PROSPERO (CRD42024497239). Results: A total of 12 studies with 248 patients were included. CIMT was lower in the endpoint group (after metformin) compared with the baseline group (before metformin) (MD = -0.11, 95% CI = -0.21 to -0.01, p = 0.04). FMD was higher in the endpoint group compared with the baseline group (MD = 3.25, 95% CI = 1.85 to 4.66, p < 0.01). No statistically significant difference was observed in nitroglycerin-mediated dilation (NMD) between the two groups (MD = 0.65, p = 0.51). Subgroup analysis showed that a relatively lower MD of CIMT in PCOS patients from Europe in the endpoint group compared with the baseline group (MD = -0.09, 95% CI = -0.14 to -0.04, p < 0.001). However, the MD in CIMT was not significantly different between the endpoint group and baseline group in PCOS patients from Asia (p = 0.270). Conclusion: Metformin may have a beneficial effect on CIMT and FMD, but not on NMD, suggesting that metformin may help reduce cardiovascular events in PCOS patients. Notably, the clinical efficacy of metformin can be influenced by regional differences and study types. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The main aim of this paper is to explore economic inequality in 'the Belt and Road' region where the investigation of the economic status is important but remains underdeveloped. The application of night‐time satellite imagery in 2015 can effectively make up for the shortcomings of insufficient data at various scales, especially for developing countries. We explored inequality at a multi‐scale level using the Theil decomposition method. As a result, (1) night‐time light data can present economic development and assess inequality in 'the Belt and Road' region. (2) The between‐sub‐region inequality contributed most to disparity, while the between‐country inequality was the least. Night‐time light data in West Asia and Central and Eastern Europe was higher than that in other sub‐regions. Countries within Central, Southeast and West Asia exhibited high inequalities, indicating an obvious sub‐regional pattern. (3) Both positive and negative impacts of economic growth on inequality are observed, indicating that 'the Belt and Road' countries are in different stages of economic development. Nightlight satellite imagery can effectively monitor social‐economic development and will play an important role in the implementation of 'the Belt and Road' initiative and achieving the sustainable development goals. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper aims to achieve bedrock geologic mapping in the overburden area using big data, distributed computing, and deep learning techniques. First, the satellite Bouguer gravity anomaly with a resolution of 2'x2' in the range of E66°E96°, N40°-N55° and 1:5000000 Asia-European geological map are used to design a dataset for bedrock prediction. Then, starting from the gravity anomaly formula in the spherical coordinate system, we deduce the non-linear functional between rock density ρ and rock mineral composition m, content p, buried depth h, diagenesis time t and other variables. We analyze the feasibility of using deep neural network to approximate the above nonlinear generalization. The problem of solving deep neural network parameters is transformed into a non-convex optimization problem. We give an iterative, gradient descentbased solution algorithm for the non-convex optimization problem. Utilizing neural architecture search (NAS) and human-designed approach, we propose a geological-geophysical mapping network (GGMNet). The dataset for the network consists of both gravity anomaly and a priori geological information. The network has fast convergence speed and stable iteration during the training process. It also has better performance than a single neural network search or human-designed architectures, with the mean pixel accuracy (MAP) = 63.1% and the frequency weighted intersection over union (FWIoU) = 42.88. Finally, the GGMNet is used to predict the rock distribution of the Junggar Basin. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cancer remains a significant global challenge, with escalating incidence rates and a substantial burden on healthcare systems worldwide. Herein, we present an in-depth exploration of the intricate interplay between cancer cell death pathways and tumor immunity within the tumor microenvironment (TME). We begin by elucidating the epidemiological landscape of cancer, highlighting its pervasive impact on premature mortality and the pronounced burden in regions such as Asia and Africa. Our analysis centers on the pivotal concept of immunogenic cell death (ICD), whereby cancer cells succumbing to specific stimuli undergo a transformation that elicits robust anti-tumor immune responses. We scrutinize the mechanisms underpinning ICD induction, emphasizing the release of damage-associated molecular patterns (DAMPs) and tumor-associated antigens (TAAs) as key triggers for dendritic cell (DC) activation and subsequent T cell priming. Moreover, we explore the contributions of non-apoptotic RCD pathways, including necroptosis, ferroptosis, and pyroptosis, to tumor immunity within the TME. Emerging evidence suggests that these alternative cell death modalities possess immunogenic properties and can synergize with conventional treatments to bolster anti-tumor immune responses. Furthermore, we discuss the therapeutic implications of targeting the TME for cancer treatment, highlighting strategies to harness immunogenic cell death and manipulate non-apoptotic cell death pathways for therapeutic benefit. By elucidating the intricate crosstalk between cancer cell death and immune modulation within the TME, this review aims to pave the way for the development of novel cancer therapies that exploit the interplay between cell death mechanisms and tumor immunity and overcome Challenges in the Development and implementation of Novel Therapies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Osmanthus fragrans has a long history of cultivation in Asia and is widely used in food production for its unique aroma, which has important cultural and economic values. It is rich in flavonoids with diverse pharmacological properties, such as antioxidant, anti-tumor, and anti-lipid activities. However, little is known regarding the effects of Osmanthus fragrans flavonoid extract (OFFE) on adipogenesis and pre-adipocyte transdifferentiation. Herein, this research aimed to investigate the effect of OFFE on the differentiation, adipogenesis, and beiging of 3T3-L1 adipocytes and to elucidate the underlying mechanism. Results showed that OFFE inhibited adipogenesis, reduced intracellular reactive oxygen species levels in mature adipocytes, and promoted mitochondrial biogenesis as well as beiging/browning in 3T3-L1 adipocytes. This effect was accompanied by increased mRNA and protein levels of the brown adipose-specific marker gene Pgc-1a, and the upregulation of the expression of UCP1, Cox7A1, and Cox8B. Moreover, the research observed a dose-dependent reduction in the mRNA expression of adipogenic genes (C/EBPα, GLUT-4, SREBP-1C, and FASN) with increasing concentrations of OFFE. Additionally, OFFE activated the AMPK signaling pathway to inhibit adipogenesis. These findings elucidate that OFFE has an inhibitory effect on adipogenesis and promotes browning in 3T3-L1 adipocytes, which lays the foundation for further investigation of the lipid-lowering mechanism of OFFE in vivo in the future. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Enpatoran is a novel, highly selective, and potent dual toll‐like receptor (TLR)7 and TLR8 inhibitor currently under development for the treatment of autoimmune disorders including systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), cutaneous lupus erythematosus (CLE), and myositis. The ongoing phase II study (WILLOW; NCT05162586) is evaluating enpatoran for 24 weeks in patients with active SLE or CLE and is currently recruiting. To support development of WILLOW as an Asia‐inclusive multiregional clinical trial (MRCT) according to International Conference on Harmonisation E5 and E17 principles, we have evaluated ethnic sensitivity to enpatoran based on clinical pharmacokinetic (PK), pharmacodynamic (PD), and safety data from an ethno‐bridging study (NCT04880213), supplemented by relevant quantitative PK, PD, and disease trajectory modeling (DTM) results, and drug metabolism/disease knowledge. A single‐center, open‐label, sequential dose group study in White and Japanese subjects matched by body weight, height, and sex demonstrated comparable PK and PD properties for enpatoran in Asian vs. non‐Asian (White and other) subjects across single 100, 200, and 300 mg orally administered doses. DTM suggested no significant differences in SLE disease trajectory for Asian vs. non‐Asian individuals. Aldehyde oxidase (AOX) is considered to be a key contributor to enpatoran metabolism, and a literature review indicated no relevant ethnic differences in AOX function based on in vitro and clinical PK data from marketed drugs metabolized by AOX, supporting the conclusion of low ethnic sensitivity for enpatoran. Taken together, the inclusion of Asian patients in MRCTs including WILLOW was informed based on a Totality of Evidence approach. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Biapenem is a carbapenem antibiotic widely used in Asia, can be used for the treatment of adults and children with infections due to susceptible bacteria. Although biapenem is utilized in the treatment of a diverse range of bacterial infections, current pharmacokinetic data in the context of septic populations remain limited. Consequently, our research aims to evaluate the pharmacokinetics and efficacy of biapenem within a septic population to optimize biapenem therapy. Methods: In this study, we characterized the pharmacokinetics of biapenem in septic patients using a population pharmacokinetic (PPK) approach. The clinical PK data to develop the PPK model were obtained from 317 septic patients admitted to Nanjing Drum Tower Hospital between 2018 and 2022. All patients were randomized to the modeling and validation cohorts at a 3:1 ratio, with PPK modeling and validation performed utilizing the NONMEM software. Results: The model found to best describe the available data was a twocompartment PPK model with first-order elimination characterized by the parameters clearance (CL), central volume (V1), peripheral volume (V2), and intercompartmental clearance (Q). A covariate analysis identified that creatinine clearance (CLCR) was a significant covariate influencing biapenem CL, while blood urea nitrogen (BUN) was a significant covariate influencing biapenem Q. Accoding to the clinical outcome analyses, 70% of the time that the free antimicrobial drug concentration exceeds the MIC (fT>MIC) is associated with favourable clinical outcomes. The PPK model was then used to perform Monte Carlo simulations to evaluate the probability of attaining 70% fT>MIC. Conclusions: A final PPK model of biapenem was established for patients with sepsis. The current daily dosage regimen of 1.2 g may insufficient to achieve 70% fT>MIC in septic patients. The dosage regimen of 600 mg every 6 h appears to be the optimal choice. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

During the boreal spring, extratropical cyclones in East Asia exhibit the highest frequency of occurrence in northeastern China. These cyclones are characterized by a distinct cold core, which is commonly referred to as the northeastern China cold vortex (NCCV), and most of NCCV events are usually accompanied by complex and hazardous weather, significantly impacting the regional climate in northeastern China. In this study, an automatic algorithm was employed to identify spring NCCVs from 1979 to 2022 using ERA5 reanalysis dataset, and a notable annual periodicity of 3–4 years was observed based on the defined spring NCCV intensity index (NCCVI). Through the analysis of anomalous strong/weak NCCVI years, it was found that the consistent heating (cooling) in the middle and lower troposphere of central Asia (northeastern China), along with a corresponding negative anomaly of geopotential height, as well as the enhanced cyclonic circulation in northeastern China, all contribute to the intensification and maintenance of NCCV activities. Furthermore, the winter snow cover in central Asia plays a vital role in local atmospheric heating and is associated with anomalous quasi-stationary Rossby waves that propagate eastward into northeastern China. The thermal forcing caused by preceding (DJF) snow cover anomalies in central Asia was somewhat replicated in ECHAM 4.6 model simulations. However, the simulations underestimated the contribution of snow cover anomalies to the eastward propagating Rossby wave trains. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Crassostrea ariakensis (Fujita, 1913) is one of the most important economic and ecological oysters that is naturally distributed along the coast of Asia, separated by the Yangtze River estuary. They are usually compared as different populations, while there is no consensus on whether C. ariakensis in northern and southern areas should be considered as two species or subspecies. Here, we analyzed morphological characteristics, COI, 16s rRNA, mitogenome sequences, and species delimitation analysis (ASAP and PTP) to resolve the intraspecific taxonomic status of the C. ariakensis. Phylogenetic and ASAP analysis highlight that C. ariakensis was divided into N-type and S-type. PTP was unable to differentiate between the two types of C. ariakensis. The divergence time of N-type and S-type C. ariakinsis is estimated to be 1.6 Mya, using the relaxed uncorrelated lognormal clock method. Additionally, significant morphological differences exist between the two groups in terms of the adductor muscle scar color. Despite these differences, the COI (0.6%) and 16S rRNA (0.6%) genetic distance differences between N-type and S-type C. ariakensis has not yet reached the interspecific level. These results suggest that N-type and S-type C. ariakensis should be treated as different subspecies and renamed as C. ariakensis ariakensis subsp. nov and C. ariakensis meridioyangtzensis subsp. nov. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper reviews the trends and driving forces for the relatively recent growth in cross‐national marriages in East and Southeast Asia with a specific focus on the experiences of female marriage migrants from Southeast Asia. It explicates the various forms of inequality faced by the low‐income marriage migrant women including gender power dynamics within the household, socioeconomic inequalities, integration into the destination society, and intergenerational transfer of inequalities. We acknowledge that the inequality experienced by marriage migrant women results from a complex web of intersecting social‐cultural, political, and economic forces occurring in Asia in the past three decades. As a result of rising female educational attainment and the practice of marriage hypergamy in Asia, an increasing number of low socioeconomic‐status men from developed countries seek marriage partners abroad from lower‐income and less‐developed countries. Upon entering the cross‐national marriage market, many low‐income migrant women face multiple disadvantages in the host country due to inadequate socioeconomic support, language barriers, social stigma on foreign brides, and a lack of legal status. These inequalities exacerbate their initial disadvantages to perpetuate a vicious cycle of intergenerational disadvantages for their offspring. We conclude with a critique of extant literature and identify promising future research directions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study evaluates the decadal prediction skill of 13 forecast systems in predicting winter precipitation over Eurasia, contributing to the Decadal Climate Prediction Project of the Coupled Model Intercomparison Project Phase 6. Northeast Asia stands out as a region with improved decadal prediction skill for forecast years 2–5 due to the initialization. Observations show anticyclonic and cyclonic wind anomalies over the North Pacific and Northeast Asia, respectively, with southwesterly flow to the east of Northeast Asia. Ten forecast systems reproduce such circulation anomalies favoring abundant winter precipitation in Northeast Asia. The significant positive (negative) correlations between the detrended Northeast Asian precipitation (NEAP) and AMV (PDO-like) time series are reproduced by seven (nine) forecast systems. However, most forecast systems underestimate the correlation between the NEAP and the AMV, and have relatively low skill in predicting the PDO. Further improvements in these aspects will help to improve the decadal prediction skill of winter precipitation over Northeast Asia. The multi-model ensemble (MME) is able to reproduce both links of NEAP with AMV and PDO-like variability. The MME demonstrates significant skill and outperforms the individual forecast systems in predicting the NEAP for all 4-year averaged periods in the range of 1–8 years, demonstrating the benefits of using the ensemble mean of multiple models. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Asia is not only the primary region for global pig production but also the largest consumer of pork worldwide. Although the pig production in Asia has made great progress in the past, it still is confronted with numerous challenges. These challenges include: inadequate land and feed resources, a substantial number of small-scale pig farms, escalating pressure to ensure environmental conservation, control of devastating infectious diseases, as well as coping with high temperatures and high humidity. To solve these problems, important investments of human and financial capital are required to promote large-scale production systems, exploit alternative feed resources, implement precision feeding, and focus on preventive medicine and vaccines as alternatives to antibiotics, improve pig breeding, and increase manure recycling. Implementation of these techniques and management practices will facilitate development of more environmentally-friendly and economically sustainable pig production systems in Asia, ultimately providing consumers with healthy pork products around the world. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The MIXv2 Asian emission inventory is developed under the framework of the Model Inter-Comparison Study for Asia (MICS-Asia) Phase IV and produced from a mosaic of up-to-date regional emission inventories. We estimated the emissions for anthropogenic and biomass burning sources covering 23 countries and regions in East, Southeast and South Asia and aggregated emissions to a uniform spatial and temporal resolution for seven sectors: power, industry, residential, transportation, agriculture, open biomass burning and shipping. Compared to MIXv1, we extended the dataset to 2010–2017, included emissions of open biomass burning and shipping, and provided model-ready emissions of SAPRC99, SAPRC07, and CB05. A series of unit-based point source information was incorporated covering power plants in China and India. A consistent speciation framework for non-methane volatile organic compounds (NMVOCs) was applied to develop emissions by three chemical mechanisms. The total Asian emissions for anthropogenic/open biomass sectors in 2017 are estimated as follows: 41.6/1.1 Tg NO x , 33.2/0.1 Tg SO 2 , 258.2/20.6 Tg CO, 61.8/8.2 Tg NMVOC, 28.3/0.3 Tg NH 3 , 24.0/2.6 Tg PM 10 , 16.7/2.0 Tg PM 2.5 , 2.7/0.1 Tg BC (black carbon), 5.3/0.9 Tg OC (organic carbon), and 18.0/0.4 Pg CO 2. The contributions of India and Southeast Asia were emerging in Asia during 2010–2017, especially for SO 2 , NH 3 and particulate matter. Gridded emissions at a spatial resolution of 0.1° with monthly variations are now publicly available. This updated long-term emission mosaic inventory is ready to facilitate air quality and climate model simulations, as well as policymaking and associated analyses. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background Hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection is a worldwide public health burden, especially in Asia and Africa. Concerns were raised that foetal exposure to HBV and antiretroviral therapy (ART) might suppress the innate immune response and reduce the production of hepatitis B surface antibody (HBsAb) in foetuses and infants. We therefore conducted the current study to evaluate the impact of ART on the development of the immune response to HBV in foetuses and infants. Methods We selected lamivudine instead of telbivudine or tenofovir as the intervention measurement because it was the oldest and most widely used ART during pregnancy and its safety data have been sufficiently documented. A comprehensive search was conducted in eight electronic databases, including four Chinese and four English databases. Studies that met the following eligibility criteria were included: human randomized controlled trials (RCTs); participants in the treatment group were exclusively exposed to lamivudine; participants in the control group were exposed to placebo, no treatment or hepatitis B immunoglobulin; all participants were HBV-positive pregnant women with a high viral load and the main outcome of interest was neonatal HBsAb seropositivity. Data were tabulated and analysed using R software. Results Nine RCTs were included and analysed. Compared with controls, lamivudine significantly decreased HBsAb seronegativity in the newborn within 24 h after birth (indicating the foetal immune response to HBV). Similar results were noted in infants within 6–7 months after birth and infants within 12 months (indicating the neonatal immune response to HBV vaccine). Conclusions Lamivudine treatment in late pregnancy boosted the foetal immune response to HBV in utero and enhanced the neonatal immune response to hepatitis B vaccine after birth. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Qinghai-Tibetan Plateau (QTP), the source of many major Asian rivers, is sensitive to climate change, affecting billions of people's livelihoods across Asia. Here, we developed high-resolution projections of precipitation and daily maximum/minimum temperatures at 0.1° spatial resolution over the QTP. The projections are based on the output from seven global climate models (GCMs) from the Coupled Model Intercomparison Project Phase 6 (CMIP6) for historical (1979–2013) and projected (2015–2100) climates across four scenarios (SSP1-2.6, SSP2-4.5, SSP3-7.0, and SSP5-8.5). An updated nonstationary cumulative distribution function matching method (called CNCDFm) was used to remove model systemic bias. We verify the necessity of taking into account altitude in downscaling processes and the validity of nonstationary bias correction. Compared to the historical period, the climate in the QTP in the 21st century is warmer (1.2–5.1 °C, for maximum surface temperature) and wetter (3.9–26.8%) according to the corrected GCM projection. For precipitation, the Indus River (IDR), Tarim River (TMR), Inner of Qiangtang Basin (IQTB), Yarlung Zangbo (YLZBR), and Qaidam Basin (QDB) showed growth well above the global average across high radiative forcing scenarios, which could have a profound impact on the regional hydrological cycle. However, there is great uncertainty in precipitation prediction, which is demonstrated by a very low signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) and a large difference between Bayesian model averaging (BMA) and multi-model averages (MMAs). This bias-corrected dataset is available for climate change impact research in the QTP at the subregion scale. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

BACKGROUND: Nilaparvata lugens (brown planthopper; BPH) is a significant rice pest in Asia, causing substantial yield losses. Pyramiding BPH resistance genes with diverse resistance traits into rice cultivars is an effective strategy for pest management. However, the response of pyramiding combinations to environmental changes remains unclear. To address this knowledge gap, we investigated three pyramiding rice lines (BPH2 + 32, BPH9 + 32, and BPH18 + 32) in the context of varying climate change conditions, ensuring sufficient N. lugens–rice interactions. Thus, we set three environmental conditions [30/25 °C (day/night) with 500 ppm CO2 concentration, 32/27 °C (day/night) with 600 ppm CO2 concentration, and 35/30 °C (day/night) with 1000 ppm CO2 concentration]. RESULTS: All three pyramiding rice lines maintained the insect resistant ability under the three environmental settings. In particular, the BPH18 + 32 rice line exhibited stronger antibiotic and antixenosis effects against N. lugens. In addition, BPH18 + 32 rice line had better shoot resilience under N. lugens infestation, whereas the performance of the other two selected pyramiding rice lines varied. Thus, although BPH2, BPH9, and BPH18 represent three alleles at the same locus, their resistance levels against N. lugens may vary under distinct climate change scenarios, as evidenced by the performance of N. lugens on the three pyramiding rice lines. CONCLUSION: Our findings indicate that all three tested pyramiding rice lines maintained their insect resistance in the face of diverse climate change scenarios. However, these lines exhibited varied repellent responses and resilience capacities in response to climate change. Thus, the combination of pyramiding genes needs to be considered for future breeding programs. © 2023 Society of Chemical Industry. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: The brown planthopper (BPH) poses a significant threat to rice production in Asia. The use of resistant rice varieties has been effective inmanaging this pest. However, the adaptability of BPH to resistant rice varieties has led to the emergence of virulent populations, such as biotype Y BPH. YHY15 rice, which carries the BPH resistance gene Bph15, exhibits notable resistance to biotype 1 BPH but is susceptible to biotype Y BPH. Limited information exists regarding how resistant rice plants defend against BPH populations with varying levels of virulence. Methods: In this study, we integrated miRNA and mRNA expression profiling analyses to study the differential responses of YHY15 rice to both avirulent (biotype 1) and virulent (biotype Y) BPH. Results: YHY15 rice demonstrated a rapid response to biotype Y BPH infestation, with significant transcriptional changes occurring within 6 hours. The biotype Yresponsive genes were notably enriched in photosynthetic processes. Accordingly, biotype Y BPH infestation induced more intense transcriptional responses, affecting miRNA expression, defenserelated metabolic pathways, phytohormone signaling, and multiple transcription factors. Additionally, callose deposition was enhanced in biotype Y BPH-infested rice seedlings. Discussion: These findings provide comprehensive insights into the defense mechanisms of resistant rice plants against virulent BPH, and may potentially guide the development of insect-resistant rice varieties. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The human‐environmental system in drylands is centered on oases. Despite its extent and socio‐ecological importance, understanding the dynamic changes of global oases and their human and environmental driving forces is imperative for sustainable development in drylands under global warming. Nevertheless, the dynamic changes of global oases and how they respond to the evolving environment are not well established. In this study, three criteria were summarized (i.e., existing in dryland climates, surrounded or partially surrounded by desert terrain, having a reliable source of freshwater and forming landscape units with higher vegetation coverage/productivity). A global oasis distribution map from 1995 to 2020 was generated using European Space Agency Climate Change Initiative Land Cover and GIMMS‐3G+ data (overall accuracy within a 95% confidence interval is 0.85 ± 0.01) based on overlay analysis and visual interpretation. In addition, we used geographic and temporal weighted regression methods to evaluate the potential macro‐level elements affecting both global and local oasis growth. The result showed that the global oases area in 2020 occupied an area of 191.91 Mha, and most oases existed in Asia (77.3%). The global oases area has significantly increased from 1995 to 2020 (+8.65 Mha). However, about 13.43 Mha of the global oases are desertified, indicating a high risk of desertification. Water resources, contributing 51.36% to the total driver's contribution, are key to the global oasis expansion. In the context of climate (climate variability and climate change), this research highlights the need for improved holistic water resource management for long‐term global oasis growth, particularly in developing countries where the oases' development is threatened by water scarcity and desertification. Plain Language Summary: In recent decades, global oases have exhibited an expanding trend. Under the backdrop of climate (climate variability and climate change), water resources profoundly influence this trend. We comprehensively assessed the distribution, dynamic changes, and factors driving the expansion of global oases. The research findings indicate that from 1995 to 2020, the global oasis area significantly increased by 8.65 Mha. However, approximately 13.43 Mha of global oases degraded into deserts, highlighting the extremely high risk of desertification. The abundance of water resources, accounting for 51.36% of the overall effect, emerges as the key determinant in global oasis growth. These findings emphasize the need for improved global comprehensive water resource management, particularly in developing countries' oasis regions, to address water scarcity and achieve the sustainable development of the oasis. Key Points: Global oases changed significantly from 1995 to 2020, yet desertification risk remains severeWater resources comprise 51.36% of all drivers and are the key to the world oasis's growthIn developing countries oases, climate (climate variability and climate change) will increase the demand for water resources [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Dunhua-Mishan fault, located in the northern segment of the Tanlu fault zone, experienced multiple tectonic processes associated with the effects of the Pacific Plate subduction and the Indo-Asia collision. The high-resolution fault-scale structure is critical for understanding the fault evolution and potential fault damage. However, the well-defined deep structure of the Dunhua-Mishan fault is still unclear due to the lack of the dense seismic array. In this study, we construct a high-resolution P-wave receiver function imaging based on linear dense seismic array across the fault. Our results reveal the strong Moho depth variation across the Dunhua-Mishan fault zone. The slightly higher Vp/Vs ratio values within the fault zone indicate the presence of a small amount of mafic crust composition. Interestingly, the significant double positive Ps converted phases are observed within the fault zone, which may represent double Moho discontinuities. The double Moho structure may be related to multiple significant tectonic activities in the Tanlu northern segment. These newly observed structures provide new seismic constraints on the formation and evolution of the Tanlu fault zone and probably reflect that the lithospheric structure of the Dunhua-Mishan fault has been modified by a series of tectonic processes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Understanding the competition and coexistence of flagship carnivores is key to creating strategies for their conservation in the face of global carnivore declines. Although studies exploring the dynamics and competition between tigers (Panthera tigris) and leopards (P. pardus) span decades, there is a lack of understanding regarding the factors that influence their coexistence mechanisms on a broad scale, as well as the drivers determining their exploitative and interference competition. We gathered a comprehensive list of research papers among which 36 papers explored the interspecific interactions between tigers and leopards and tested the influence of biotic and abiotic factors on the coexistence mechanisms along three dimensions using multiple response variables regression models; we also tested the influence of ecological drivers determining the exploitative or interference competition between tigers and leopards. Elevation and ungulate density were the most important predictors in regulating the coexistence mechanisms. Tigers and leopards exhibited more positive relations/higher overlaps as elevation increased in the spatial niche. In addition, they showed a higher dietary overlap in the prey‐rich regions. We determined that interference competition between tigers and leopards was less frequently observed in habitats with dense tree cover and homogeneous vegetation structures. Meanwhile, studies with multiple metrics would promote the detection of interference competition. Our study provides new insight into the competitive interactions and coexistence mechanisms of tigers and leopards on a broad scale. Policy‐makers and managers should pay more attention to the factors of elevation, prey abundance, and habitat structures for the conservation of tigers and leopards. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

'Single shot' laser-ablation split-stream (SS-LASS) technique analyzing unpolished zircon grains makes their thin rims tenable for determination, which thus offers great potential in deciphering the timing of multiple and short-lived episodes of anatexis and metamorphism in deeply-subducted continental crusts. Dominated granitic gneisses in the deeply subducted continental crust undergoing considerable fluid-melt activities persist multistage growth of zircon. Therefore, a comparative study of SS-LASS and laser ablation inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometer (LA-ICP-MS) zircon dating was conducted on the granitic gneisses from the Sulu belt in this study. Zircons mostly show a core-mantle-rim structure with CL-bright rims thinner than 5 µm. For LA-ICP-MS dating, relict magmatic zircon cores yield protolith ages of ca. 756–747 Ma; whereas the dark mantles record synexhumation anatexis at ca. 214 Ma. By contrast, according to the U-Pb dates, trace element features, zircon crystallization temperatures and geological context, SS-LASS zircon petrochronology deciphers three episodes of anatectic events, as follows: (i) the first episode of anatexis at ca. 218–217 Ma dominated by phengite-breakdown melting, likely facilitating the exhumation of the UHP slice from mantle depth; (ii) the second episode of anatexis at ca. 193–191 Ma indicating part of northern Dabie-Sulu belt was still "hot" because of buried in the thickened orogenic crust at that time; (iii) the third episode of anatexis (ca. 162–161 Ma) consistent with the intrusion ages (ca. 161–141 Ma) of the Jurassic to Cretaceous granitoids in this orogen, suggesting the initial collapse of the orogenic root of the Sulu belt occurred at Late Jurassic due to the Izanagi plate initially subducting beneath the margin of Eastern Asia. This study sheds new light upon the utilization of SS-LASS petrochronology deciphering multiple anatectic events in the deeply-subducted continental crust and supports us in better understanding the tectonic evolution of Dabie-Sulu Orogen. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Methane generation has a significant impact on climate change. Aquatic plants have been widely studied for their role in methane emissions. Most research has focused on the contribution of the plant itself whereas the potential involvement of the phyllosphere microbiota associated with aquatic plants in methanogenesis remains largely unexplored. This study investigated the phyllosphere microbiota on both the top and bottom sides of lotus (Nelumbo nucifera), a commonly found aquatic plant in Asia, sampled from two urban ponds, using sequencing for both the 16S rRNA gene and the methanogenesis functional marker gene. Methanogenesis potential was assessed through laboratory-based 13C labeling experiments. Results show that methanogenic archaea were successfully detected on the floating lotus leaves but not on the standing leaves. Among the methanogens detected, Methanobacterium was identified as the predominant group, with significantly higher relative abundance on the bottom sides of floating leaves compared to the surrounding pond water. This study demonstrates the metabolic activity of the phyllosphere methanogens of floating lotus. The microbiota associated with the bottom sides of floating leaves exhibited the ability to produce methane and incorporate 13C carbon into methane during incubation. Overall, this study provides the first compelling genetic and functional evidence for the existence of epiphytic methanogens on the phyllosphere of aquatic plants. Hence, the phyllosphere of floating-leaved macrophytes represents a previously unrecognized habitat for methanogens and a potential microbial source of methane at the water–atmosphere interface. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Porcine deltacoronavirus (PDCoV) is one of the emerging swine enteric coronaviruses (SECoVs), which has been widely prevalent in the North America and Asia. In addition to causing severe diarrhea in piglets, PDCoV also shows the potential to infect diverse host species, including calves, chickens, turkey poults, and humans. However, the clinical pathogenicity and genetic evolution of PDCoV is still not fully understood. Results: Here, we recorded an outbreak of a novel recombinant PDCoV strain (CHN-HeN06-2022) in a large nursery fattening pig farm. Genomic analysis showed that the CHN-HeN06-2022 strain shared 98.3-98.7% sequence identities with the Chinese and American reference strains. To clarify the evolutionary relationships, phylogenetic analysis was performed using the PDCoV genome sequences available in the GenBank database. Based on genetic distance and geographical distribution, the phylogenetic tree clearly showed that all the PDCoV sequences could be divided into lineage 1 and lineage 2, which were further classified into sublineage 1.1 (Chinese strains), 1.2 (the North American strains), 2.1 (the Southeast Asian strains), and 2.2 (Chinese strains). Corresponding to the evolutionary tree, we found that, compared to lineage 1, lineage 2 strains usually contain a continuous 6-nt deletion in Nsp2 and a 9-nt deletion in Nsp3, respectively. Furthermore, recombination analysis suggested that the CHN-HeN06-2022 occurred segments exchange crossed Nsp2 and Nsp3 region between sublineage 1.1 and sublineage 2.1. Combined with previously reported recombinant strains, the highest recombination frequency occurred in Nsp2, Nsp3, and S gene. Additionally, we identified a total of 14 amino acid sites under positive selection in spike protein, most of which are located in the regions related with the viral attachment, receptor binding, and membrane fusion. Conclusions: Taken together, our studies provide novel insights into the genetic diversity and adaptive evolution of PDCoV. It would be helpful to the development of vaccine and potential antiviral agent. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study aims to investigate the feasibility and efficacy of anterior atlantoaxial motion preservation fixation (AMPF) in treating axis complex fractures involving the odontoid process fracture and Hangman's fractures with C2/3 instability. A retrospective study was conducted on eight patients who underwent AMPF for axis complex fractures at the General Hospital of Central Theater Command from February 2004 to October 2021. The types of axis injuries, reasons for injuries, surgery time, intraoperative blood loss, spinal cord injury classification (American Spinal Injury Association, ASIA), as well as complications and technical notes, were documented. This study included eight cases of type II Hangman's fracture, five cases of type II and three cases of type III odontoid process fracture. Five patients experienced traffic accidents, while three patients experienced falling injuries. All patients underwent AMPF surgery with an average intraoperative blood loss of 288.75 mL and a duration of 174.5 min. Two patients experienced dysphagia 1 month after surgery. The patients were followed up for an average of 15.63 months. One case improved from C to E in terms of neurological condition, three cases improved from D to E, and four cases remained at E. Bony fusion and Atlantoaxial Motion Preservation were successfully achieved for all eight patients. AMPF is a feasible and effective way for simultaneous odontoid process fracture and Hangman's fractures with C2/3 instability, while preserving atlantoaxial movement. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Loess-paleosol sequences have been used in Asia to study climate and environmental changes during the Quaternary. The scarcity of age control datasets and proxy indices analysis data for Asian loess has limited our understanding of loess depositional processes and the reconstruction of paleoclimatic changes from loess-paleosol records. In this study, we present a dataset that includes 1785 quartz optically stimulated luminescence ages and 1038 K-feldspar post-infrared infrared stimulated luminescence ages from 128 loess-paleosol sequences located in different regions of Asia. We generate 38 high-resolution age-depth models of loess records based on the provided datasets. We provide data on 12,365 grain size records, 14,964 magnetic susceptibility records, 2204 CaCO3 content records, and 3326 color reflection records. This dataset contains the most detailed and accurate chronologies and proxy index data for loess records in Asia yet published. It provides fundamental data for understanding the spatial-temporal variations in loess depositional processes and climatic changes across the continent during the mid-late Quaternary. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: During the COVID-19 pandemic, many people devoted longer time to screen viewing due to the need for study, work, and online social activities, instead of outdoor activities, which may have led to an increase in dry eye symptoms. This study aimed to evaluate the prevalence of dry eye during the COVID-19 pandemic. Methods: PubMed, Cochrane Library, Embase, and Web of Science were searched from January 1, 2020 to October 20, 2022. Cross-sectional surveys on dry eye prevalence conducted after January 1, 2020 were included. Two review authors independently performed data extraction and assessed study quality. The random-effects model was used to analyze the prevalence of dry eye, and the odds ratio was used to assess the strength of the association between variables. Subgroup analysis was performed to detect heterogeneity, the leave-one-out method for sensitivity analysis, and the Egger test for publication bias. Results: A total of eleven studies with 15692 individuals met the eligibility criteria. The prevalence of dry eye during the COVID-19 pandemic was 61.0% (95%CI: 51.8%-70.2%) globally and 56.7% (95%CI: 45.3%-68.1%) in Asia. The prevalence of dry eye had significant differences in sex and visual display time, with higher prevalence among females and visual display time of more than 4 hours per day. Subgroup analysis was performed based on diagnostic tools, study population, and average age. A significant difference was found in diagnostic tools, but no significant change in heterogeneity (P<0.05). The leave-one-out method showed stable results, and the Egger test identified no significant publication bias. Conclusion: The prevalence of dry eye during the COVID-19 pandemic is significantly higher than before, and a higher prevalence is found among females and those having a visual display time of more than 4 hours per day. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Pacific abalone (Haliotis discus hannai) is an economically important marine shellfish for aquaculture and is distributed throughout eastern Asia. Although a lot of genetic breeding work has been carried out, chromosome identification in abalone is still a challenging task. Here, we developed a set of BACs to be chromosome-specific probes in Pacific abalone, and to study chromosome evolution in the related species. Through BAC paired-end sequencing and sequence alignment, we were able to in silico anchor 168 BACs onto 18 pseudochromosomes of Pacific abalone genome. After selecting 42 BACs that contained DNA inserts with minimal repetitive sequences, we validated them through PCR and Fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) test. As a result, We obtained specific FISH signals for 26 clones on the chromosomes of Pacific abalone with at least one BAC mapped per chromosome. We also applied the chromosome-specific BAC-FISH probes to a close relative of Pacific abalone, Xishi abalone (H. gigantea), which revealed that chromosome 13 and 15 between the two species underwent a chromosomes rearrangement event. This study provides the first set of chromosome-specific probes for the family Haliotidae, which can serve as an important tool for future cytogenetics and genomics research. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The MIXv2 Asian emission inventory is developed under the framework of the Model Inter-Comparison Study for Asia (MICS-Asia) Phase IV, and produced from a mosaic of up-to-date regional emission inventories. We estimated the emissions for anthropogenic and biomass burning sources covering 23 countries and regions in East, Southeast and South Asia, and aggregated emissions to a uniform spatial and temporal resolution for seven sectors: power, industry, residential, transportation, agriculture, open biomass burning and shipping. Compared to MIXv1, we extended the dataset to 2010 – 2017, included emissions of open biomass burning and shipping, and provided model-ready emissions of SAPRC99, SAPRC07, and CB05. A series of unit-based point source information was incorporated covering power plants in China and India. A consistent speciation framework for Non-Methane Volatile Organic Compounds (NMVOCs) was applied to develop emissions by three chemical mechanisms. The total Asian emissions for anthropogenic | open biomass sectors in 2017 are estimated as follows: 41.6 | 1.1 Tg NO x , 33.2 | 0.1 Tg SO2, 258.2 | 20.6 Tg CO, 61.8 | 8.2 Tg NMVOC, 28.3 | 0.3 Tg NH3, 24.0 | 2.6 Tg PM10, 16.7 | 2.0 Tg PM2.5, 2.7 | 0.1 Tg BC, 5.3 | 0.9 Tg OC, and 18.0 | 0.4 Pg CO2. The contributions of India and Southeast Asia have been emerging in Asia during 2010–2017, especially for SO2, NH3 and particulate matters. Gridded emissions at a spatial resolution of 0.1 degree with monthly variations are now publicly available at https://csl.noaa.gov/groups/csl4/modeldata/data/Li2023/. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The rice leaf folder, Cnaphalocrocis medinalis (Lepidoptera: Pyralidae), is a notorious pest of rice in Asia. The larvae and adults of C. medinalis utilize specialized chemosensory systems to adapt to different environmental odors and physiological behaviors. However, the differences in chemosensory genes between the olfactory organs of these two different developmental stages remain unclear. Here, we conducted a transcriptome analysis of larvae heads, male antennae, and female antennae in C. medinalis and identified 131 putative chemosensory genes, including 32 OBPs (8 novel OBPs), 23 CSPs (2 novel CSPs), 55 ORs (17 novel ORs), 19 IRs (5 novel IRs) and 2 SNMPs. Comparisons between larvae and adults of C. medinalis by transcriptome and RT-qPCR analysis revealed that the number and expression of chemosensory genes in larval heads were less than that of adult antennae. Only 17 chemosensory genes (7 OBPs and 10 CSPs) were specifically or preferentially expressed in the larval heads, while a total of 101 chemosensory genes (21 OBPs, 9 CSPs, 51 ORs, 18 IRs, and 2 SNMPs) were specifically or preferentially expressed in adult antennae. Our study found differences in chemosensory gene expression between larvae and adults, suggesting their specialized functions at different developmental stages of C. medinalis. These results provide a theoretical basis for screening chemosensory genes as potential molecular targets and developing novel management strategies to control C. medinalis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Panax ginseng C. A. Meyer (Araliaceae) is a tonic herb used in ancient Asia. This study investigated the antifatigue effect of P. ginseng on chronic fatigue rats. Sprague-Dawley rats were divided into control, model and EEP (ethanol extraction of P. ginseng roots) (50, 100 and 200 mg/kg) groups (n = 8). The rats were subcutaneously handled with loaded swimming once daily for 26 days, except for the control group. The animals were intragastrically treated with EEP from the 15th day. On day 30, serum, liver and muscles were collected, and the PI3K/Akt/mTOR signalling pathway was evaluated. The swimming times to exhaust of the rats with EEP were significantly longer than that without it. EEP spared the amount of muscle glycogen, hepatic glycogen and blood sugar under the chronic state. In addition, EEP significantly (p < 0.05) decreased serum triglycerides (1.24 ± 0.17, 1.29 ± 0.04 and 1.20 ± 0.21 vs. 1.58 ± 0.13 mmol/L) and total cholesterol (1.64 ± 0.36, 1.70 ± 0.15 and 1.41 ± 0.19 vs. 2.22 ± 0.19 mmol/L) compared to the model group. Regarding the regulation of energy, EEP had a positive impact on promoting ATPase activities and relative protein expression of the PI3K/Akt/mTOR pathway. Our results suggested that EEP effectively relieved chronic fatigue, providing evidence that P. ginseng could be a potential dietary supplement to accelerate recovery from fatigue. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This ethnic sensitivity analysis used data from the phase III POLARIX study (NCT03274492) to assess polatuzumab vedotin pharmacokinetics (PKs) in Asian versus non‐Asian patients with previously untreated diffuse large B‐cell lymphoma and examined the appropriateness of extrapolating global study findings to Asian patients. PK and population PK (PopPK) analyses assessed polatuzumab vedotin analyte exposures by ethnicity (Asian [n = 84] vs. non‐Asian [n = 345] patients) and region (patients enrolled from Asia [n = 80] vs. outside Asia [n = 349]). In patients from Asia versus outside Asia, observed mean antibody‐conjugated monomethyl auristatin E (acMMAE) concentrations were comparable (1.2% lower at cycle [C]1 postdose, 4.4% higher at C4 predose; and 6.8% lower at C4 postdose in patients from Asia). Observed mean unconjugated MMAE was lower in patients from Asia by 6.5% (C1 postdose), 20.0% (C4 predose), and 15.3% (C4 postdose). In the PopPK analysis, C6 area under the curve and peak plasma concentrations were also comparable for acMMAE (6.3% and 3.0% lower in Asian vs. non‐Asian patients, respectively) and lower for unconjugated MMAE by 19.1% and 16.7%, respectively. By region, C6 mean acMMAE concentrations were similar, and C6 mean unconjugated MMAE concentrations were lower, in patients enrolled from Asia versus outside Asia, by 3.9%–7.0% and 17.3%–19.7%, respectively. In conclusion, polatuzumab vedotin PKs were similar between Asian and non‐Asian patients by ethnicity and region, suggesting PKs are not sensitive to Asian ethnicity and dose adjustments are not required in Asian patients to maintain efficacy and safety. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Bacterial leaf streak (BLS), caused by Xanthomonas oryzae pv. oryzicola (Xoc), is a bacterial disease affecting rice production in Asia and Africa, whose severity is expected to increase with climate change. Identification of new quantitative-trait loci (QTL) or resistance genes for BLS resistance is essential for developing resistant rice. A genome-wide association study to identify QTL associated with BLS resistance was conducted using phenotypic and genotypic data from 429 rice accessions. Of 47 QTL identified, 45 were novel and two co-localized with previously reported QTL or genes conferring BLS resistance. qBLS6.2 on chromosome 6 explained the greatest phenotypic variation. Combined analysis of differential expression and annotations of predicted genes near qBLS6.2 based on haplotype and disease phenotype identified OsBLS6.2 (LOC_Os06g02960) as a candidate gene for qBLS6.2. OsBLS6.2 knockout plants showed higher resistance to Xoc than wild-type plants. Many other candidate genes for resistance to Xoc were identified. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The areca nut is the primary economic source for some farmers in southeast Asia. However, the emergence of areca yellow leaf disease (YLD) has seriously reduced the annual production of areca nuts. There is an urgent need for an effective method to monitor the severity of areca yellow leaf disease (SAYD). This study selected an areca orchard with a high incidence of areca YLD as the study area. An unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) was used to acquire multispectral and thermal infrared data from the experimental area. The ReliefF algorithm was selected as the feature selection algorithm and ten selected vegetation indices were used as the feature variables to build six machine-learning classification models. The experimental results showed that the combination of ReliefF and the Random Forest algorithm achieved the highest accuracy in the prediction of SAYD. Compared to manually annotated true values, the R2 value, root mean square error, and mean absolute percentage error reached 0.955, 0.049, and 1.958%, respectively. The Pearson correlation coefficient between SAYD and areca canopy temperature (CT) was 0.753 (p value < 0.001). The experimental region was partitioned, and a nonlinear fit was performed using CT versus SAYD. Cross-validation was performed on different regions, and the results showed that the R2 value between the predicted result of SAYD by the CT and actual value reached 0.723. This study proposes a high-precision SAYD prediction method and demonstrates the correlation between the CT and SAYD. The results and methods can also provide new research insights and technical tools for botanical researchers and areca practitioners, and have the potential to be extended to more plants. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper takes advantage of the Taiwan Assessment of Student Achievement data set to empirically evaluate whether the test score differentials between pupils with immigrant and native mothers are substantial across subjects, grades and years. Our results show that there exist test score differentials between the two groups after controlling for the students' individual characteristics and family background. The Chinese, Maths and English subjects exhibit larger test score gaps relative to Science and Society. We also find that the academic gaps between native students and pupils with mothers from Southeast Asian countries tend to widen, while the students' performance is about the same as that for native students if their mothers are from mainland China, confirming that the language proficiency of immigrant mothers significantly affects pupils' learning. Our empirical results may suggest that remedial teaching (or an equivalent preferential policy) for the lower-grade pupils with immigrant mothers might be required to create a fair environment for learning, and such a policy should take the nationality of those foreign mothers into account.

Several studies have evaluated the accuracy of ice thickness model inversions, but the effects of surface velocity and topographic factors have not been fully studied. Because of the important potential of models for estimating regional and global ice thickness, the influence of the characteristics of the glaciers themselves on the models is unknown. Therefore, we estimated the thickness of 10 glaciers in HMA based on remote sensing data using the GlabTop2, GV22, and VOLTA models, and we analyzed the factors affecting accuracy. The first two models are representative of the widely used shallow ice approximation and laminar flow theory, and the latter is a new model based on shallow ice approximation. The results show that the RMSEs for GlabTop2, VOLTA, and GV22 are 36.6 m, 56.8 m, and 63.2 m, respectively. The accuracy of the three models differed obviously under the influence of different slopes, aspects, and surface velocities. In contrast to glaciers with higher surface velocities, GV22 is more suitable for glaciers with smaller surface velocities, and the accuracy of the model is significantly reduced when surface velocities are greater than 50 m/yr. Aspect has an effect on the accuracy of the GV22 ice thickness inversion but not on the other models. Ice thicknesses estimated using the three models is more reliable at surface slopes of 16–24°. These three models do not apply to gentle glaciers such as icecaps. Our study provides an important reference for choosing a suitable model to invert the glacier thickness in HMA. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Cynomorium songaricum Rupr. has long been used as an anti-inflammatory, antidepressant, and anti-aging agent in traditional Chinese medicine in Asia. Its ethyl acetate extract (ECS) has been identified as the main antioxidant component with neuroprotective and estrogen-like effects. However, the potential of ECS in treating depression has not been explored yet. Methods: We identified the primary metabolites in ECS in this study using liquid chromatography-electrospray tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS). Network analysis was used to find the potential targets and pathways associated with the anti-neuroinflammatory depression action of the ECS. In addition, we established a corticosterone (CORT)-induced depression mouse model to assess ECS's antidepressant effects by monitoring various behavioral changes (e.g., sucrose preference, forced swimming, tail suspension, and open field tests) and biochemical indices of the hippocampus, and validating the network analysis results. Significant pathways underwent verification through western blotting based on network analysis prediction. Results: Our study demonstrates that ECS possesses significant antidepressant activity. The LC-MS/MS analysis of ECS identified 30 main metabolites, including phloridzin, phlorizin, ursolic acid, and naringenin, as well as other flavonoids, terpenoids, and phenolic acids. These metabolites were found to be associated with 64 candidate target proteins related to neuroinflammatory depression from the database, and ten hub proteins were identified through filtration: CXCL8, ICAM1, NOS2, SELP, TNF, IL6, APP, ACHE, MAOA and ADA. Functional enrichment analyses of the candidate targets revealed their primary roles in regulating cytokine production, inflammatory response, cytokine activity, and tumor necrosis factor receptor binding. In vivo, ECS improved hippocampal neuroinflammation in the mouse model. Specifically, ECS reduced the expression of inflammatory factors in the hippocampus, inhibited M1 microglial cell polarization, and alleviated depression through the regulation of the NF-κB-NLRP3 inflammation pathway. Conclusion: Based on experimental and network analysis, this study revealed for the first time that ECS exerted antidepression effect via anti-neuroinflammation. Our research provides valuable information on the use of ECS as an alternative therapeutic approach for depression. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Coffea arabica L. is one of the most important crops widely cultivated in 70 countries across Asia, Africa, and Latin America. Mitochondria are essential organelles that play critical roles in cellular respiration, metabolism, and differentiation. C. arabica's nuclear and chloroplast genomes have been reported. However, its mitochondrial genome remained unreported. Here, we intended to sequence and characterize its mitochondrial genome to maximize the potential of its genomes for evolutionary studies, molecular breeding, and molecular marker developments. Results: We sequenced the total DNA of C. arabica using Illumina and Nanopore platforms. We then assembled the mitochondrial genome with a hybrid strategy using Unicycler software. We found that the mitochondrial genome comprised two circular chromosomes with lengths of 867,678 bp and 153,529 bp, encoding 40 protein-coding genes, 26 tRNA genes, and three rRNA genes. We also detected 270 Simple Sequence Repeats and 34 tandem repeats in the mitochondrial genome. We found 515 high-scoring sequence pairs (HSPs) for a self-to-self similarity comparison using BLASTn. Three HSPs were found to mediate recombination by the mapping of long reads. Furthermore, we predicted 472 using deep-mt with the convolutional neural network model. Then we randomly validated 90 RNA editing events by PCR amplification and Sanger sequencing, with the majority being non-synonymous substitutions and only three being synonymous substitutions. These findings provide valuable insights into the genetic characteristics of the C. arabica mitochondrial genome, which can be helpful for future study on coffee breeding and mitochondrial genome evolution. Conclusion: Our study sheds new light on the evolution of C. arabica organelle genomes and their potential use in genetic breeding, providing valuable data for developing molecular markers that can improve crop productivity and quality. Furthermore, the discovery of RNA editing events in the mitochondrial genome of C. arabica offers insights into the regulation of gene expression in this species, contributing to a better understanding of coffee genetics and evolution. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Explaining contrasting patterns of distribution between related species is crucial for understanding the dynamics of biodiversity. Despite instances where hybridization and whole genome duplication (WGD) can yield detrimental outcomes, a role in facilitating the expansion of distribution range has been proposed. The Vitaceae genus Causonis exhibits great variations in species' distribution ranges, with most species in the derived lineages having a much wider range than those in the early-diverged lineages. Hybridization and WGD events have been suggested to occur in Causonis based on evidence of phylogenetic discordance. The genus, therefore, provides us with an opportunity to for explore different hybridization and polyploidization modes in lineages with contrasting species' distribution ranges. However, the evolutionary history of Causonis incorporating potential hybridization and WGD events remains to be explored. Results: With plastid and nuclear data from dense sampling, this study resolved the phylogenetic relationships within Causonis and revealed significant cyto-nuclear discordance. Nuclear gene tree conflicts were detected across the genus, especially in the japonica-corniculata clade, which were mainly attributed to gene flow. This study also inferred the allopolyploid origin of the core Causonis species, which promoted the accumulation of stress-related genes. Causonis was estimated to have originated in continental Asia in the early Eocene, and experienced glaciation in the early Oligocene, shortly after the divergence of the early-divergent lineages. The japonica-corniculata clade mainly diversified in the Miocene, followed by temperature declines that may have facilitated secondary contact. Species distribution modeling based on current climate change predicted that the widespread C. japonica tends to be more invasive, while the endemic C. ciliifera may be at risk of extinction. Conclusions: This study presents Causonis, a genus with complex reticulate evolutionary history, as a model of how hybridization and WGD modes differ in lineages of contrasting species' geographic ranges. It is important to consider specific evolutionary histories and genetic properties of the focal species within conservation strategies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective. This study used functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) to explore brain structural and related network changes in patients with spinal cord injury (SCI). Methods. Thirty-one right-handed SCI patients and 31 gender- and age-matched healthy controls (HC) were included. The gray matter volume (GMV) changes in SCI patients were observed using voxel-based morphometry (VBM). Then, these altered gray matter clusters were used as the regions of interest (ROIs) for whole- brain functional connectivity (FC) analysis to detect related functional changes. The potential association between GMV and FC values with the visual analog scale (VAS), the American Spinal Injury Association (ASIA) score, and the course of injuries was investigated through partial correlation analysis. Results. GMV of the frontal, temporal, and insular cortices was lower in the SCI group than in the HC group. No GMV changes were found in the primary sensorimotor area in the SCI group. Besides, the altered FC regions were not in the primary sensorimotor area but in the cingulate gyrus, supplementary motor area, precuneus, frontal lobe, and insular. Additionally, some of these altered GMV and FC regions were correlated with ASIA motor scores, indicating that higher cognitive regions can affect motor function in SCI patients. Conclusions. This study demonstrated that gray matter and related network reorgani- zation in patients with SCI occurred in higher cognitive regions. Future rehabilitation strategies should focus more on cognitive functions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Mesoscale convective systems (MCSs) frequently occur over Asia during the warm season, often producing intense precipitation with associated socioeconomic impacts. Here we reveal significant trends in MCS occurrence frequency and related precipitation in Asia during the warm season (March–September) in 2001–2020, using a tracking method that combines cloud and precipitation criteria with high‐resolution satellite data from the Global Precipitation Measurement mission. To examine whether there are differences between MCSs of different scales, both meso‐α scales (MαCSs) and meso‐β scales (MβCSs), with horizontal scales of 200–2,000 km and 20–200 km, are tracked. The distribution pattern of frequency and related precipitation of both MαCSs and MβCSs are quite similar and manifest positive trends over East Asia (EA) and Northeast Asia, and negative trend over Southeast Asia (SEA). The MCS precipitation trend contributes significantly to total precipitation trend, with MαCSs contributing the most. Our analysis indicates the trend in lower‐tropospheric water vapor flux convergence has a similar spatial pattern to the MCS frequency and related precipitation trend. Based on an atmospheric moisture flux decomposition analysis, the water vapor flux convergence trend can largely be explained by the change in horizontal wind convergence, while the specific humidity trend driven largely by temperature change plays a minor role. The trend in wind convergence in EA and SEA is possibly related to the evident trend in the lower‐tropospheric anticyclone over the western North Pacific and SEA, which might be due to the relatively stronger warming in the Indian Ocean during the past two decades. Plain Language Summary: Mesoscale convective systems (MCSs) occur frequently in Asia during the warm season and usually bring hazardous weather events and a large proportion of rainfall. In this study, we investigate the changing trends in MCSs over Asia during the warm season (March–September) in 2001–2020, using the data derived by high‐resolution satellites. The results show that the MCS frequency and related rainfall increase in East Asia (EA) and Northeast Asia and decrease in Southeast Asia (SEA). These changes are related to a trend in water vapor flux convergence–the amount of water vapor being transported by the winds into a given region. This trend can either be caused by winds converging more into a region, or higher amounts of moisture upwind of the region. The trend is mainly explained by higher wind convergence and this largely explains MCS trends. The trend in water vapor, which itself is mainly driven by higher temperatures, also plays a role. The horizontal wind convergence trend in EA and SEA is related to the lower‐tropospheric anticyclone change over the western North Pacific and SEA, which might be a result of the stronger warming in the Indian Ocean during the past two decades. Key Points: Frequency and rainfall of Mesoscale convective systems (MCSs) show positive trends over East Asia (EA) and Northeast Asia and negative trend over Southeast Asia (SEA) in 2001–2020MCS trends are related to trends in water vapor flux convergence which are mainly explained by horizontal wind convergence trendsHorizontal wind convergence trends over EA and SEA may be related to the relatively stronger warming in the Indian Ocean [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: In Asia, the proportion of patients with irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) with abdominal discomfort alone is significantly higher than that in western countries. The purposes of this study are to understand the cognition of abdominal pain and abdominal discomfort in Chinese patients with IBS and to compare the clinical characteristics of patients with abdominal pain alone and with abdominal discomfort alone. Methods: Patients with IBS with diarrhea (IBS-D) who met the Rome III diagnostic criteria and had episodes of at least one day/week were consecutively enrolled. The cognition of abdominal pain and abdominal discomfort were investigated through face-to-face unstructured interview. Patients were divided into a pain group and a discomfort group according to the cognition interviews, then the characteristics and severity of symptoms (IBS symptom severity scale, IBS-SSS), IBS quality of life (IBS-QOL) and psychological state were compared between groups. Results: A total of 88 patients with IBS-D were enrolled. Most of the patients with self-reported abdominal pain described their pain as spasm/cramping; patients with self-reported abdominal discomfort had as many as 24 different descriptions of discomfort. Most patients having abdominal pain and discomfort could accurately distinguish the two symptoms. The degree of abdominal pain in the pain group was higher than abdominal discomfort in the discomfort group (P = 0.002). There was no significant difference in IBS-SSS, extra-intestinal pain, IBS-QOL, and psychological state between the two groups. Conclusions: For Chinese patients with IBS-D, abdominal pain and abdominal discomfort are two different symptoms, but they have similar clinical features. Trial registration: ChiCTR, ChiCTR1900028082. Registered 11 December 2019 - Retrospectively registered, http://www.chictr.org.cn. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Leek (Allium fistulosum L.), a common and widely used food ingredient, is a traditional medicine used in Asia to treat a variety of diseases. Leeks contain a variety of bioactive substances, including sulfur compounds, dietary fiber, steroid compounds and flavonoid compounds. Many studies have shown that these active ingredients produce the following effects: promotion of blood circulation, lowering of cholesterol, relief of fatigue, anti-inflammation, anti-bacteria, regulation of cell metabolism, anti-cancer, anti-oxidation, and the lowering of fat and blood sugar levels. In this paper, the main bioactive components and biological functions of leeks were systemically reviewed, and the action mechanisms of bioactive components were discussed. As a common food, the health benefits of leeks are not well known, and there is no systematic summary of leek investigations. In light of this, it is valuable to review the recent progress and provide reference to investigators in the field, which will promote future applications and investigations of leeks. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]