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Innovations in technologies coupled with evolving military thinking have led to advanced emerging military technologies ranging from artificial intelligence, lethal autonomous weapons, hypersonic weapons, directed energy weapons, biotechnology, and quantum technology. These technologies not only open new domains in warfighting capabilities and strategy by changing the size and speed of destructions but may also bring challenges in curbing arms race, managing networks, and achieving peace and security. This study examines the rising significance of emerging technologies in Indo-Pacific security and further explores US strategies for building, dominating, and managing the different networks of technologies, domains, command and control (C2), alliances, and partners. As advanced technologies play a critical role in supporting national strategic goals, as in the case of China, it seems clear that the future of strategic competition will be dictated by who builds, dominates, and manages these networks and how one does it most effectively with clear strategic vision. In this paper I argue that networks are crucial in understanding emerging technologies and Indo-Pacific strategy for the unfolding era of strategic competition. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: With increasing number of migrants in Korea, there is an increasing need for blood products with rare blood antigens. Accordingly, the role of blood donors among migrants has been acknowledged. We investigated migrants' experiences and perceptions of blood donation along with their sociodemographic status and identified the effects on selfreported blood donation status. Methods: A cross-sectional survey using a self-developed, structured questionnaire was conducted on 479 migrants. The questionnaire included items about experiences, knowledge, and perceptions on blood donation and sociodemographic factors of respondents. Results: Most migrants in this study were from Southeast Asia (54.7%) or China (39.9%). Among them, 28.6% (N=137) had donated blood previously, and 2.7% (N=13) had previously donated blood in Korea. All previous blood donors were volunteers, and the two major deterrents of blood donation for non-donors were the fear of pain and lack of knowledge about blood donation. In multivariable logistic regression analysis, the country of birth (odds ratio [OR]=2.65, P<0.001 [China]; OR=4.85, P=0.001 [countries other than China and Southeast Asian countries]) and employment status (OR=2.80, P=0.034) were independently associated with blood donation. Conclusions: This is the first Korean study to analyze migrants' experiences and perceptions of blood donation in relation to their sociodemographic status. Our findings can help establish blood donation policies for migrants, devise campaigns to enhance blood donation awareness, and ultimately create a pool of rare blood resources in a multicultural society. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Honeyberry (Lonicera caerulea) has long been used as a traditional medicine in China, Japan and northern Russia. Functional studies of honeyberry have mainly focused on the fruits, which have been reported to exert various pharmacological activities, including anti‑inflammatory activity, with limited or no studies on the other parts of the plant, such as the leaves and branches. In the present study, the anti‑inflammatory effects of extracts of the leaves (HBL), branches (HBB) and fruit (HBF) of honeyberry plant were evaluated in lipopolysaccharide (LPS)‑stimulated RAW264.7 cells. HBL and HBB significantly inhibited the production of pro-inflammatory mediators in LPS‑stimulated RAW264.7 cells, and the inhibitory effects of HBL and HBB were stronger than those of HBF. HBL and HBB blocked the nuclear accumulation of p65 independently of IκB‑α. HBL did not inhibit the phosphorylation of ERK1/2 or p38; however, HBB effectively inhibited the phosphorylation of p38 but not ERK1/2. HBL and HBB increased the expression of heme oxygenase‑1 (HO‑1) protein by inducing the nuclear accumulation of nuclear factor erythroid 2‑related factor 2 (Nrf2) through the activation of the reactive oxygen species (ROS)/p38 pathway; the reduction in inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) and interleukin‑1β (IL‑1β) expression by HBL and HBB was inhibited by HO‑1 knockdown. In addition, HBL and HBB increased the expression of activating transcription factor‑3 (ATF3), and the reduction in iNOS and IL‑1β expression by HBL and HBB was inhibited by ATF3 knockdown. Collectively, HBL and HBB inhibited LPS‑induced nuclear factor‑κB activation by blocking the nuclear accumulation of p65, increasing HO‑1 expression through activation of the ROS/p38/Nrf2 pathway, and increasing ATF3 expression. Furthermore, HBB inhibited LPS‑induced p38 phosphorylation. These findings suggest that HBL and HBB may have great potential as natural products for the development of anti‑inflammatory drugs.