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The southeastward extrusion of Indochina along the Ailao Shan-Red River shear zone (ARSZ) is one of two of the most prominent consequences of the India-Asia collision. This plate-scale extrusion has greatly changed Southeast Asian topography and drainage patterns and effected regional climate and biotic evolution. However, little is known about how Indochina was extruded toward the southeast over time. Here, we sampled 42 plant and animal clades (together encompassing 1,721 species) that are distributed across the ARSZ and are not expected to disperse across long distances. We first assess the possible role of climate on driving the phylogenetic separations observed across the ARSZ. We then investigate the temporal dynamics of the extrusion of Indochina through a multitaxon analysis. We show that the lineage divergences across the ARSZ were most likely associated with the Indochinese extrusion rather than climatic events. The lineage divergences began at ~53 Ma and increased sharply ~35 Ma, with two peaks at ~19 Ma and ~7 Ma, and one valley at ~13 Ma. Our results suggest a two-phase model for the extrusion of Indochina, and in each phase, the extrusion was subject to periods of acceleration and decrease, in agreement with the changes of the India-Asia convergence rate and angle from the early Eocene to the late Miocene. This study highlights that a multitaxon analysis can illuminate the timing of subtle historical events that may be difficult for geological data to pinpoint and can be used to explore other tectonic events. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Observations have revealed that the deadly "hot eastern‐pluvial western" climate pattern in Asia in summer 2022 is by no means an exception. In recent decade this pattern is becoming much more frequent owing to the notable westward extension and enhancement of the western Pacific subtropical high (WPSH). The anomalously enhanced WPSH fills the gap in geopotential heights between the Arabian Sea‐Iranian Plateau and the western Pacific, produces a heat dome over eastern Asia and intensifies the moisture convergence over western Asia by changing the water vapor transportation path. Projections of 19 CMIP6 models show that both the temperature in eastern Asia and precipitation in western Asia will remarkably increase under Shared Socioeconomic Pathway (SSP) 2‐4.5, SSP 3‐7.0, and SSP 5‐8.5 scenarios, with temperature anomalies 0.8°C, 1.5°C, and 2.4°C higher and the percentages of precipitation anomaly 6.3%, 9.4%, and 12.5% larger than the reference period in the near, middle, and long terms under the moderate emission scenario (SSP2‐4.5). Therefore, the "hot eastern‐pluvial western" Asia is becoming a new normal and exacerbating the risk of compound disasters. Plain Language Summary: In summer 2022, eastern Asia experienced the most extensive and long‐lasting heatwave since 1951, while exceptional floods hit western Asia during the same period. It is found that this "hot eastern‐pluvial western" pattern has occurred more and more frequently since 1981. This could be attributed to the linear trend of the westward extension and enhancement of the western Pacific subtropical high. In this paper, we assess the expected changes by using the latest generation of global climate model projections. The "hot eastern‐pluvial western" climate pattern and the associated atmospheric circulations are projected to increase from 2020s to the end of the 21st century under different greenhouse gas emission scenarios, suggesting more fatal heatwaves in eastern Asia and floods in western Asia in the future. Key Points: The catastrophic climate pattern of "hot eastern‐pluvial western" Asia occurred frequently in recent decades especially in summer 2022The increasing trend of this pattern could be attributed to the westward extension and enhancement of the western Pacific subtropical highProjections of CMIP6 models show that the "hot eastern‐pluvial western" will occur normally in future [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Interest has been growing in the financial impact of online reviews, an important form of electronic word-of-mouth (eWOM), on hotel performance. Existing research in this area is overwhelmingly focused on the relationship between online reviews and room-related revenue. For a more comprehensive understanding of online reviews' financial impacts, this study investigates the value of these reviews relative to hotels' non-room revenue, total revenue and gross operating profit (GOP). To the authors' best knowledge, this study is the first to link hotels' online reviews or any form of eWOM to GOP, a firm-level outcome. A panel dataset comprising the annual operating performance of 104 hotels in Asia was assembled and matched with 50,732 TripAdvisor reviews. Analyses indicated that review valence, variance and volume correlated to varying degrees with hotels' GOP but demonstrated limited association with non-room revenue. Our findings also indicated that online reviews more strongly influenced room revenue and total revenue than non-room revenue and GOP. Overall, the positive effects associated with room revenue demonstrated selective generalizability to GOP. This in turn reflects the insufficiency of relying solely on room revenue indicators (i.e. average daily rate, occupancy and revenue per available room) to fully understand the impact of online reviews. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Many essential oils have excellent insecticidal activity and have the potential to be developed as alternatives to chemical insecticides for pest control. Previously, we showed that β‐asarone, a major constituent of the essential oil derived from Acorus calamus L. (Acoraceae), has strong pesticidal activity against brown planthopper, Nilaparvata lugens (Stål) (Hemiptera: Delphacidae), the most notorious rice pest in Asia. Here, we report the first evaluation of the sublethal and transgenerational effects of β‐asarone on N. lugens. β‐Asarone significantly decreased female longevity, male longevity, fecundity, and hatchability of F0 generation individuals exposed to the LD30 and LD45 of β‐asarone relative to the acetone control. Moreover, compared with acetone, exposure to LD30 and LD45 of β‐asarone significantly shortened the duration of the egg stage, developmental duration of first instars, and female longevity of F1 generation individuals. Furthermore, the intrinsic rate of increase (r), finite rate of increase (λ), and net reproductive rates (R0) of insects treated with LD30 and LD45 of β‐asarone were significantly lower than those of insects treated with acetone. Compared with acetone, the fecundity and hatchability of F1 generation individuals were significantly decreased after exposure to β‐asarone at LD30 and LD45. These findings indicate the negative effects of sublethal doses of β‐asarone on N. lugens and provide novel information on the potential use of β‐asarone as a substitute chemical pesticide. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Plant fermentation extracts (PFEs) produced from fermenting various fruits and vegetables by microorganisms have traditionally been consumed as healthy beverages in Asia. Herein, the immunomodulatory activities of a novel polysaccharide (AP) isolated from PFE were examined in RAW264.7 cells. The results showed that AP was composed of Rha, Xyl, Man and Glu in a molar ratio of 9.7:27.6:8.81:53.85 and the average molecular weight was 4.81 × 105 Da. Our data showed that AP could significantly enhance the phagocytic activity of RAW264.7 cells and their ability to release NO, TNF-α, IL-6 and IL-10. Furthermore, AP could significantly up-regulate the mRNA expression of iNOS, cytokines (TNF-α, IL-6, IL-10) and pattern recognition receptors (TLR2, MR, GR, CR3 and SR). Western blotting demonstrated that the regulation of NO and TNF-α were mediated through the NF-κB and MAPK signalling pathways. These findings helped to elucidate the immunomodulatory properties of the polysaccharide AP and PFE. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The climatic impacts of the Tibetan Plateau since the Neogene and the phytogeographic pattern changes of formerly widely‐distributed forest communities on the plateau remain poorly constrained. Today, Cercis L. (Fabaceae) is a well‐known arborescent genus typically distributed in subtropical to warm temperate zones of the Northern Hemisphere, and Paleogene fossil occurrences from Eurasia and North America show a long history of the genus in mid‐low latitudes of the Northern Hemisphere. Here, we describe a fossil species, Cercis zekuensis sp. nov. based on well‐preserved fruits from the early Miocene of the northeastern Tibetan Plateau. Detailed morphological comparison (e.g., ventral margin with a veinless wing) of extant and fossil members of Cercis and other genera confirmed validity of the present taxonomic identity. Based on the comparison with extant relatives and their climate preferences, this unexpected occurrence of thermophilic Cercis in northeastern Tibetan Plateau indicates this area had higher temperature and precipitation in the Miocene than today. Integrated with inferred (paleo‐)temperature lapse rates, this indicates a low paleoelevation of less than 2.4 km. In contrast with the present‐day alpine climate here (~3.7 km), such a low elevation facilitated a more favorable habitat with comparatively high biodiversity and warm temperate forests at that time, as were evidenced by co‐occurring megafossils. Moreover, the present existence of Cercis implies the genus was widespread in interior Asia during the early Neogene and shows its modern disjunction or diversification between eastern and central Asia was possibly shaped by the late Cenozoic regional tectonic uplift and consequential environmental deterioration. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Wing polymorphism significantly contributes to the ecological success of some insect species. For example, the brown planthopper (BPH) Nilaparvata lugens, which is one of the most destructive rice pests in Asia, can develop into either highly mobile long‐winged or highly fecund short‐winged adult morphs. A recent study reported a highly provocative result that the Hox gene Ultrabithorax (Ubx) is expressed in BPH forewings and showed that this wing development gene is differentially expressed in nymphs that develop into long‐winged versus short‐winged morphs. Here, we found that Ubx may be a mir‐9a target, and used dual luciferase reporter assays and injected micro RNA (miRNA) mimics and inhibitors to confirm the interactions between mir‐9a and NlUbx. We measured the mir‐9a and NlUbx expression profiles in nymphs and found that the expression of these two biomolecules was negatively correlated. By rearing BPH nymphs on host rice plants with different nutritional status, we were able to characterize a regulatory cascade between insulin receptor genes, mir‐9a, and NlUbx that regulate wing length in BPHs. When host quality was low, NlInR1 expression in the nymph terga increased and NlInR2 expression decreased; this led to a higher mir‐9a level, which in turn reduced the NlUbx transcript level and ultimately resulted in longer wing lengths. Beyond extending our understanding of the interplay between host plant status and genetic events that modulate polymorphism, we demonstrated both the upstream signal and miRNA‐based regulatory mechanism that control Ubx expression in BPH forewings. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article focuses issue on domestic tourism in Asia. Topic include United Nations World Tourism Organization (UNWTO) and the World Travel and Tourism Council (WTTC), it is agreed that domestic tourism represents around 80% of world tourist arrivals; including estimated that domestic tourist spending contributes between 71% and 75% of total travel spending worldwide.

Graphical abstract Highlights • Paleomagnetic results of Cretaceous cherts in Zhongba, southern Tibet are reported. • The results yield a reliable, ∼120–93.9 Ma paleopole for Tethyan Himalaya (TH). • Apparent polar wander paths of TH and cratonic India exhibit similar patterns with no separations. • The new paleomagnetic results do not support the Greater India Basin hypothesis. • The new evidence argues against the proposed dual collisions between India and Asia. Abstract An oceanic Greater Indian Basin was hypothesized to have formed between ∼120 Ma and ∼65 Ma by regional extension that separated the cratonic India from its northern margin of Tethyan Himalaya (TH). However, the lack of paleomagnetic data from this critical time interval in the TH marks an important gap in our knowledge about the tectonic evolution of the Greater India. We have conducted a paleomagnetic study of a Cretaceous marine succession in Zhongba, southern Tibet that consists of predominantly purple reddish cherts and siliceous limestone. Paleomagnetic samples from 12 sites were subjected to stepwise thermal demagnetization that revealed either two- or three-component magnetizations with the high-temperature component (HTC) typically unblocked at ∼650 °C. The HTCs exhibit dual polarities that yield a positive reversed test at 95% confidence level, suggesting a primary origin of the remanence. With chronologic constraints from the combined analysis of the magnetostratigraphic and radiolarian data, the HTCs yield a mean of D s = 336.9°, I s = −50.7°, k s = 18.0, α 95 = 5.3° for the ∼120.8–93.9 Ma interval of the TH, which corresponds to a paleopole at 25.0°N, 285.7°E (dp/dm = 4.8/7.1°). The apparent polar wander path (APWP) of the TH overall resembles that of cratonic India, suggesting no polarward separation that is sufficiently large to merit an oceanic basin between the TH and cratonic India. Therefore, our new reliable paleomagnetic data from the critical time interval do not support the Greater Indian Basin hypothesis and its implied dual collisional processes between India and Asia. On the other hand, the APWPs exhibit relative shifts for the post-120 Ma segment and the pre-130 Ma segment, indicating relative motions between the TH and cratonic India that most likely resulted from shearing along boundary-parallel faults during the India-Asia collision. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The lotus (Nelumbo nucifera Gaertn.) is the largest aquatic vegetable in Asia. The lotus seedpod (LS) is an inedible part of the mature flower receptacle of the lotus plant. However, the polysaccharide isolated from the receptacle has been less studied. The purification of LS resulted in two polysaccharides (LSP-1 and LSP-2). Both polysaccharides were found to be medium-sized HG pectin, with a Mw of 74 kDa. Their structures were elucidated via GC–MS and NMR spectrum and proposed as the repeating sugar units of GalA connected via α-1,4-glycosidic linkage, with LSP-1 having a higher degree of esterification. They have certain content of antioxidant and immunomodulatory activities. The esterification of HG pectin would have an adverse effect on these activities. Furthermore, the degradation pattern and kinetics of LSPs by pectinase conformed to the Michaelis-Menten model. There is a large amount of LS, resulting from the by-product of locus seed production, and thus a promising source for the isolation of the polysaccharide. The findings of the structure, bioactivities, and degradation property provide the chemical basis for their applications in the food and pharmaceutical industries. [Display omitted] [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Andrographolide and anti-PD-1 antibody co-treatment boosted the function of T cells. • Andrographolide treatment inhibited COX2 activity and PGE2 release both in vivo and in vitro. Cancer immunotherapy has now become a first line therapy for several kinds of tumors. However, the clinical performance of immnuocheckpoint blockade therapy is usually limited by low response rate or side effects including cytokine storm. Andrographolide, a natural diterpenoid from Andrographis paniculata , has been used in Asia for treatment of bronchitis, paristhmitis and bacillary dysentery for its unique anti-inflammatory effect. However, its effect on anti-tumor immunity remains elusive. In this study, we found that andrographolide in combination with anti-PD-1 antibody showed a higher therapeutic benefit than individual therapy in murine xenograft model of CT26 colon cancer. Consequently, andrographolide and anti-PD-1 antibody co-treatment boosted the function of CD4+ and CD8+ T cells evidenced by considerable tissue infiltration, elevated IFN-γ secretion and enhanced expression of cytotoxic T-cell related molecules including FasL, perforin and Granzyme B, which significantly decreases the tumor load. Mechanistically, andrographolide treatment inhibited COX2 activity and PGE2 release both in vivo and in vitro , which augments anti-tumor efficiency of anti-PD-1 therapy. Finally, we confirmed that COX2 level in human colon cancer sample positively correlated with tumor-promoting factors. Our study here provides a potential combination strategy for immunotherapy against colorectal cancer. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]