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2. Initial Teacher Training: South Asian Approaches. Quality in Basic Education: Professional Development of Teachers. Papers Prepared for a South Asian Colloquium on Teacher Training in Bangladesh, India, Pakistan, and Sri Lanka (Colombo, Sri Lanka, April 1992).
- Author
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Commonwealth Secretariat, London (England).
- Abstract
This publication is one of two prepared for a South Asian Colloquium on issues related to teacher training in Bangladesh, India, Pakistan, and Sri Lanka. The papers in this volume focus on innovations and alternative strategies designed to improve quality in teacher education at preservice phase. The publication is in five sections. The first four sections were prepared by the respective national Ministries of Education. Section 1 is on Bangladesh and includes an overview of literacy and primary education and a discussion of provisions for initial training of teachers, the funding of education, and problems and remedies. Section 2, on India, includes a brief history of India's educational system, a review of key issues in the National Policy of Education, a discussion of issues facing Indian educators in the nineties, and several data tables. Pakistan is the focus of section 3 which looks at historical perspectives on teacher training, training of elementary and secondary teachers, qualifications for teacher educators, innovations in teacher training, analysis of teacher training programs, financing of teacher education, and recommendations for future development. The fourth section is on Sri Lanka and covers inservice and preservice teacher education, successful innovations in teacher training, problems and issues, and statistical information. The final section is an overview by Beatrice Avalos which summarizes the educational context and the characteristics, issues, and alternatives of teacher education in general and in each of the four countries. (Individual sections contain references.) (ND)
- Published
- 1993
3. Teaching and Research in International Law in Asia and the Pacific. Report of a Regional Consultation Meeting Including Nine Country Status Surveys (Seoul, Republic of Korea, October 10-13, 1984). Social and Human Sciences in Asia and the Pacific. RUSHSAP Series on Occasional Monographs and Papers, 11.
- Author
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United Nations Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization, Bangkok (Thailand). Regional Office for Education in Asia and the Pacific.
- Abstract
Information on teaching and research in international law for countries of the Asia-Pacific region is presented in proceedings of a 1984 conference sponsored by the United Nations Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization. In addition to a regional overview, suggestions are offered for promoting regional cooperation in international law. Challenges in the teaching and study of international law, problems areas for students graduating in international law, and problems of the profession are considered. Status reports for nine countries on teaching and research in international law are provided by conference participants as follows: Australia (James Crawford), India (M. L. Upadhyaya), Indonesia (Komar Kantaatmadja), Japan (Onuma Yasuaki), Republic of Korea (Chi Young Pak), Pakistan (M. A. Mannan), The Philippines (Adolfo S. Azcuna), Sri Lanka (A. R. B. Amerasinghe), and Thailand (Vitit Muntarbhorn). Appendices include: a conference program, list of participants and brief introductory conference addresses by Jae Hoon Choi, E. Hyock Kwon, Bong-shik Park, and Yogesh Atal. (SW)
- Published
- 1985
4. Poverty, Growth, and Safety Nets: A Comparative Regional Perspective.
- Author
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Deolalikar, Anil B.
- Subjects
ECONOMIC development - Abstract
Among the most remarkable events in the world during the last half-century has been the notable economic growth, social transformation and poverty reduction that has taken place in Asia. The March 2002 issue of the 'Journal of Asian & African Studies,' contains nine papers, authored by economists, sociologists and anthropologists, covering five countries in the region including India, Pakistan, Philippines, Thailand and Vietnam. These papers suggest that rather than making land reform the centerpiece of the strategy for rural development and poverty reduction, the government should give priority to investments in physical and social infrastructures, agricultural research and technology transfer and enforcement of contractual arrangements and property rights. The paper by Saurabh Sinha, Michael Lipton and Shahin Yaqub is closely related to the Baulch and McCulloch paper in that it also is concerned with transitory changes in household welfare.
- Published
- 2002
- Full Text
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5. Community Based Rehabilitation: Information Accumulation & Exchange. South Asian Research Notes.
- Author
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Miles, M.
- Abstract
This paper reviews research and evaluates information gathered on disabilities and service development in South Asia, especially India and Pakistan. The concept of "community-based rehabilitation" (CBR), which stresses the need for rehabilitation efforts rooted in the context of local cultural concepts, is discussed. The paper emphasizes the necessity of integrating philosophical and anthropological perspectives into disability information development and community-based rehabilitation programs. The paper recommends rehabilitation efforts that incorporate indigenous disability-related practices, such as casual educational integration, and that integrate local concepts of the child, personhood, ability, disability, and relationships. A review of South Asian information resources, especially those concerning mental retardation, suggests the difficulty of developing indigenous knowledge production when Western material is easily accessible. The historical development of some Asian and European community responses to disability is outlined as background for a description of the rise of CBR programs in India and Pakistan during the 1980s. Among issues discussed are CBR training, information technology, program evaluation, and the roles of foreign rehabilitation professionals and aid and development organizations. (Contains 247 references.) (DB)
- Published
- 1996
6. Overlooked impact of less severe physical violence on antenatal care visits: Findings from South Asia.
- Author
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Ling Liu, Di Liang, Anwar, Saeed, Michael, Zunaira, Shrestha, Shrinkhala Barun, Sultana, Nasrin, and Jiayan Huang
- Subjects
CONFIDENCE intervals ,CROSS-sectional method ,RURAL conditions ,INTIMATE partner violence ,MEDICAL care use ,RESEARCH funding ,DESCRIPTIVE statistics ,PRENATAL care ,MEDICAL appointments ,LOGISTIC regression analysis ,ODDS ratio ,METROPOLITAN areas - Abstract
Background In South Asia, women often experience intimate partner violence (IPV) and have limited access to maternal health services (MHS). However, the effects of IPV on antenatal care (ANC) visits remain unclear. This study aimed to examine the impact of IPV of different forms and severities on ANC visits in South Asia. Methods This cross-sectional study used the latest available data from demographic and health surveys conducted in Bangladesh, India, Afghanistan, Nepal, Maldives, and Pakistan. The study sampled 4467 women who had given birth within the past 12 months and were interviewed for IPV. IPV was measured by binary variables indicating the presence of physical violence (PV), categorised into less severe (LSPV) and severe physical violence (SPV), emotional violence (EV), and sexual violence (SV). ANC utilization was measured using binary variables indicating whether respondents had any, at least four, or at least eight ANC visits, as recommended by World Health Organization (WHO). Logistic regressions adjusted for survey weights were used to assess associations between ANC utilization and exposure to IPV during pregnancy and lifetime. Results The prevalence of LSPV, SPV, EV, and SV during pregnancy were 14.5%, 4.4%, 11.6%, and 4.1%. LSPV experience during pregnancy was associated with decreased likelihoods of at least four ANC visits (odds ratio (OR) = 0.55; 95% confidence interval (CI) = 0.40-0.76) and eight ANC visits (OR = 0.53; 95% CI = 0.31-0.90). Results of lifetime exposure to IPV followed similar patterns. Lifetime exposure to LSPV was associated with decreased likelihoods of at least four ANC visits (OR = 0.55; 95% CI = 0.41-0.74) and eight ANC visits (OR = 0.47; 95% CI = 0.29-0.77). Conclusion This study highlights the negativities of LSPV on the frequency of women seeking ANC visits. Policies are necessary to identify women at risk of the often-overlooked LSPV early and provide protective interventions to promote maternal health in South Asia. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
- Published
- 2023
- Full Text
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7. South Asia in the Global Electronic Village: Issues and Implications.
- Author
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Singh, Jagtar
- Abstract
This paper discusses issues related to developments in computer and communication technologies in south Asia. The first section considers the Internet and its impact. Paradigm shifts and globalization are addressed in the second section, including the shifts away from stand alone libraries to library and information networks, ownership to access, just-in-case to just-in-time, print-based publications to digital documents, stand alone libraries to networked systems, intermediary model to end-user model, command-based systems to menu-based systems, linear to non-linear mode of access, hierarchical to non-hierarchical systems, one-way dissemination of information to interactive communication, bundling of scholarly journal to unbundling, stability to instability, physical format to formless data, and top-down to bottom-up systems. The third section examines the existing gaps and inequality between and within developed and developing countries. South Asia and its problems are described in the fourth section, including geographical, socioeconomic, and political factors, as well as steps in the direction of regional cooperation and socioeconomic development such as SAARC (South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation) and SAPTA (SAARC Preferential Trading Arrangement). The conclusion points out the need to coordinate and consolidate the resources and services of different types of libraries in South Asia and describes some resource sharing programs in the region. Contains 32 references. (MES)
- Published
- 1999
8. Class, Power, and Patronage: Landowners and Politics in Punjab.
- Author
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Javid, Hassan
- Subjects
LANDOWNERS ,PATH dependence (Social sciences) ,SOCIAL classes ,IMPERIALISM ,ELITE (Social sciences) ,BRITISH colonies ,HISTORY - Abstract
In the century following their conquest of the province, the British in Punjab erected an administrative apparatus that, like those of precolonial regimes, relied heavily upon the support of the province's landed class. The relationship between the landed class and the colonial state was one of mutual benefit, with the latter using the former to ensure the maintenance of order and collection of revenue in exchange for state patronage. In this paper, it is argued that this administrative framework gave rise to a path-dependent process of institutional development in Punjab, allowing for the different fractions of the province's landowning class to increasingly entrench themselves within the political order in the postcolonial epoch. This paper outlines the mechanisms underlying this process of institutional development, focusing, in particular, on the strategies adopted by the landowning class to reproduce its power. This paper also considers the potentialities for institutional change in Punjab, allowing for the creation of a more democratic and participatory politics in the province. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
- Published
- 2011
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9. Globalization, English Language Policy, and Teacher Agency: Focus on Asia
- Author
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Hamid, M. Obaidul and Nguyen, Hoa Thi Mai
- Abstract
This paper focuses on English teachers in Asia in the context of globalization, the global spread of English and the emergence of English as an "Asian language." It highlights the dilemmas facing these teachers in meeting the growing social demands of English proficiency in a technology-influenced, managerial and neoliberal education environment with limited expertise, skills and policy support. We locate the paper in language policy and planning (LPP) within which the concept of micro-level agency provides a critical lens. We draw on insights from several Asian countries including Bangladesh, India, Indonesia, Japan, Malaysia, Pakistan and Vietnam. We argue that while English teachers are found to exercise their agency to meet changing demands of English proficiency, this agency can be seen as the result of what we call "policy dumping" at the macro-level--i.e. education policymakers not paying due attention to the requirements of policy implementation but dumping down policies to educational institutions and English teachers for their implementation. We conclude the paper by suggesting implications for English language policies in Asian countries that respond to globalization and the dominant discourses of English in a globalized world.
- Published
- 2016
10. Teaching students with autism spectrum disorders in South Asia: a scoping study and recommendations for future.
- Author
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Sharma, Umesh and Rangarajan, Rashmi
- Subjects
AUTISM ,FACILITATED communication ,STUDENT assistance programs ,SYSTEMATIC reviews ,EVIDENCE-based medicine ,PROFESSIONAL practice ,LITERATURE reviews ,TEACHING methods - Abstract
Objectives: Our paper reviews current teaching practices used to support students with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) in the South Asian region, and to what extent these teaching practices reflect key research based effective practices. We have focused our attention on teaching practices at a time when we are witnessing a greater thrust towards achieving inclusive education at both, regional and global levels. Methods: We have used an eclectic approach for the study by employing a scoping review methodology to identify peer reviewed journal articles from South Asian countries. Having identified 10 articles and three dissertations in total from India, Pakistan, and Sri Lanka, we have used a matrix method to present our data against nine best teaching practices for students with ASD. Results: Results from the review indicate three practices (of the nine best teaching practices) were most frequently used. These are assessments, alternative, and augmentative communication systems, and parent-implemented instruction/program. The other six teaching practices were not widely reported. Conclusions: We identify significant implications for practitioners, educators, and teacher education programs within the Asian region and beyond. The use of an eclectic approach in making choices regarding teaching strategies, incorporating varied research based effective teaching practices, and following a systematic and informed approach of assessments – teaching interventions – ongoing evaluation are key to supporting students with ASD. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
- Published
- 2019
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11. Hepatitis B and the Case of the Missing Women
- Author
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Oster, Emily
- Abstract
In many Asian countries the ratio of male to female population is higher than in the West: as high as 1.07 in China and India, and even higher in Pakistan. A number of authors (most notably Amartya Sen) have suggested that this imbalance reflects excess female mortality and have argued that as many as 100 million women are "missing." This paper proposes an explanation for some of the observed overrepresentation of men: the hepatitis B virus. I present new evidence, consistent with an existing scientific literature, that carriers of the hepatitis B virus have offspring sex ratios around 1.50 boys for each girl. This evidence includes both cross-country analyses and a natural experiment based on recent vaccination campaigns. Hepatitis B is common in many Asian countries, especially China, where some 10-15 percent of the population is infected. Using data on prevalence of the virus by country and estimates of the effect of hepatitis on the sex ratio, I argue that hepatitis B can account for about 45 percent of the "missing women": around 75 percent in China, between 20 and 50 percent in Egypt and western Asia, and under 20 percent in India, Bangladesh, Pakistan, and Nepal. (Contains 29 notes, 12 tables, and 3 appendixes.)
- Published
- 2005
12. Linguistic Diasporas and the Sindhi Biradari.
- Author
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Khubchandani, Lachman M.
- Abstract
A discussion of the Sindhi language diaspora, the biradari, across India and Pakistan looks at the implications of this geographic dispersal for the cohesion of the Sindhi-speaking community and culture. Three sociocultural characteristics of the scattered population are identified: urbanization; near-universal literacy; and bilingualism. Patterns of ethnic/linguistic identity and language choice in various cultural circumstances are also examined. Rapidly changing patterns of ethnic mix in previously Sindh areas are identified. It is concluded that information technology offers a means for continued connection and networking within the now geographically dispersed Sindh community. Contains 17 references. (MSE)
- Published
- 1998
13. Parents’ perspectives on care of children with autistic spectrum disorder in South Asia – Views from Pakistan and India.
- Author
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Minhas, Ayesha, Vajaratkar, Vivek, Divan, Gauri, Hamdani, Syed Usman, Leadbitter, Kathy, Taylor, Carol, Aldred, Catherine, Tariq, Ahmareen, Tariq, Mahjabeen, Cardoza, Percy, Green, Jonathan, Patel, Vikram, and Rahman, Atif
- Subjects
AUTISM ,PARENTS of children with disabilities ,RESEARCH funding ,SOCIAL attitudes ,BURDEN of care ,PARENT attitudes ,DATA analysis software ,DESCRIPTIVE statistics - Abstract
Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) affects about 1.4% of the population in South Asia but very few have access to any form of health care service. The objective of this study was to explore the beliefs and practices related to the care of children with ASD to inform strategies for intervention. In Pakistan, primary data were collected through in-depth interviews of parents (N = 15), while in India a narrative review of existing studies was conducted. The results show that the burden of care is almost entirely on the mother, leading to high levels of stress. Poor awareness of the condition in both family members and front-line health-providers leads to delay in recognition and appropriate management. There is considerable stigma and discrimination affecting children with autism and their families. Specialist services are rare, concentrated in urban areas, and inaccessible to the majority. Strategies for intervention should include building community and family support networks to provide respite to the main carer. In the absence of specialists, community members such as community health workers, traditional practitioners and even motivated family members could be trained in recognizing and providing evidence-based interventions. Such task-shifting strategies should be accompanied by campaigns to raise awareness so greater inclusivity can be achieved. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
- Published
- 2015
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14. Sustainability Practices at Higher Education Institutions in Asia
- Author
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Leal Filho, Walter, Dinis, Maria Alzira Pimenta, Sivapalan, Subarna, Begum, Halima, Ng, Theam Foo, Al-Amin, Abul Quasem, Alam, Gazi Mahabubul, Sharifi, Ayyoob, Salvia, Amanda Lange, Kalsoom, Qudsia, Saroar, Mustafa, and Neiva, Samara
- Abstract
Purpose: It is still unclear how Asian universities incorporate the theory or practice of sustainable development (SD) in their research and education programmes. To address this gap, the purpose of this paper is to report on a study that has examined how universities in Asian countries handle and address matters related to SD. Design/methodology/approach: The study used a bibliometric analysis and an online survey-method. The online survey data were analysed through descriptive analysis and one-sample student's "t"-test. Findings: The study indicates that there is considerable variation among the Asian countries regarding sustainability practices in higher education institutions (HEIs). The HEIs in far eastern countries, such as Indonesia, Malaysia and Thailand are perceived to demonstrate more sustainability practices. Research limitations/implications: Even though a substantial number of participants participated in the survey, it did not cover all Asian countries. The online survey was carried out over a limited period of time, and not all HEIs in the field may have received information about the study. Practical implications: Asia is the largest continent facing a number of sustainability challenges. In this context, the contribution of HEIs is very important. The findings of the current study may serve as a baseline for Asian HEIs to take more initiatives towards SD goals, as HEIs are responsible for the education and training of hundreds of thousands of students who will be occupying key positions in industry, government or education in the coming years. Originality/value: The study contributes to the existing literature in two distinct ways. First, it was possible to develop a comprehensive instrument to measure sustainability practices in HEIs. Second, this study has filled the gap of the scarcity of studies regarding sustainability practices in HEIs in Asia.
- Published
- 2022
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15. Vocational Qualification Frameworks in Asia-Pacific: A Cresting Wave of Educational Reform?
- Author
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Comyn, Paul
- Abstract
The introduction of national qualification frameworks (NQFs), including frameworks specifically for the vocational sector (NVQFs), are policy initiatives that have far reaching implications for the management and delivery of education and training. Despite the caution called for by researchers and the challenging reality of implementation in both developed and developing countries, NQFs and NVQFs continue to be included in national reform programs in many regions of the world. This paper summarises current developments in the Asia-Pacific region, where enthusiasm for national qualification frameworks has reached new heights. The paper also draws on the author's experience in working on NVQF development and implementation in Bangladesh and Papua New Guinea to highlight the role of donors who are active partners in the expansion of the international trend to implement qualification frameworks. (Contains 3 tables.)
- Published
- 2009
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16. Power Cycle Analysis of India, China, and Pakistan in Regional and Global Politics.
- Author
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Kumar, Sushil
- Subjects
CHANGE - Abstract
Structural change in Asia among India, China, and Pakistan has been intense and is directly associated with the instability that has resulted. As these governments move forward on their regional and global power cycles, what points of non-linearity (critical points) yet await the region and the larger system, and with what effect? The article calls for management of the foreign policy role such that comparative calm is sustained in the midst of structural change and uncertainty. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
- Published
- 2003
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17. Adult Teachers as Researchers: Ethnographic Approaches to Numeracy and Literacy as Social Practices in South Asia
- Author
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Street, Brian V., Rogers, Alan, and Baker, Dave
- Abstract
It has long been orthodoxy among adult educators that those who teach adults need to take into account the existing knowledge, practices, perceptions and expectations of the learners. This is true at both central level where curricula and teaching-learning materials are developed and at local level where adult teacher/facilitator meets adult learners. The problem has been how to train adult educators in appropriate ways to discover the existing epistemologies and aspirations of the adult learners. This paper outlines such a training programme using ethnographic approaches to discovering the existing numeracy and literacy practices of "dalit" women learners in a rural part of India. The programme is aimed at a group of trainers working with the NGO Nirantar (India) and others from south Asia (India, Nepal, Pakistan and Bangladesh) with the support of ASPBAE (Asian South Pacific Bureau of Adult Education) and a UK-based NGO, Uppingham Seminars in Development. We begin the paper by looking at the theoretical background to the project and then reporting on the workshops held so far, and finally linking it to the next stage of the project. (Contains 3 notes.)
- Published
- 2006
18. Governance of Open Universities--A Few Observations on Trends in Asia
- Author
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Kaushik, Madhulika and Dhanarajan, G.
- Abstract
Like all organisations, good governance is a fundamental requirement for the responsible and accountable management of universities in general and open universities in particular. This is to ensure that these (open) universities remain relevant to their mission of facilitating unfettered access to higher education for citizens and at the same time continue being reliable contributors to personal and institutional developments, the vital ingredients to maintaining sustained national development. While several studies have, in the past, been conducted on governance of universities, almost all of them have centred around conventional, face-to-face institutions. Not much published literature is in evidence on the governance of Open Universities. This paper, drawing from a study on the governance of a few open universities in Asia, tries to discuss the nature of their challenges, and the lessons that can be drawn from their practices and experience. The study focused on aspects relating to institutional autonomies such as curriculum, budgeting and financial management, admission standards, conferment of qualifications, academic staff appointments, development and promotions and research policies. Our findings indicate that, similar to conventional systems, the state plays a crucial role in many aspects of governance both in publicly funded and privately supported institutions. Recent attempts at governance transformation towards greater institutional autonomies is beginning to show limited changes in some but not all jurisdictions studied.
- Published
- 2018
19. Affordability of nutritious foods for complementary feeding in South Asia.
- Author
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Ryckman, Theresa, Beal, Ty, Nordhagen, Stella, Murira, Zivai, and Torlesse, Harriet
- Subjects
FOOD habits ,EGGS ,VITAMIN B12 ,NUTRITIONAL assessment ,INFANT development ,CONFIDENCE intervals ,POULTRY ,MEAT ,NUTRITIONAL requirements ,INGESTION ,INFANT nutrition ,FOOD animals ,FOOD portions ,SOCIOECONOMIC factors ,FOOD preferences ,DAIRY products ,COST analysis ,RESEARCH funding ,VITAMIN A ,DESCRIPTIVE statistics ,NATURAL foods ,FOLIC acid ,DIETARY calcium ,MICRONUTRIENTS ,DATA analysis software ,DIETARY proteins - Abstract
The high prevalence of stunting and micronutrient deficiencies among children in South Asia has lifelong health, educational, and economic consequences. For children aged 6–23 months, undernutrition is influenced by inadequate intake of complementary foods containing nutrients critical for growth and development. The affordability of nutrients lacking in young children's diets in Bangladesh, India, and Pakistan was assessed in this study. Using data from nutrient gap assessments and household surveys, household food expenditures were compared with the cost of purchasing foods that could fill nutrient gaps. In all 3 countries, there are multiple affordable sources of vitamin A (orange-fleshed vegetables, dark leafy greens, liver), vitamin B
12 (liver, fish, milk), and folate (dark leafy greens, liver, legumes, okra); few affordable sources of iron and calcium (dark leafy greens); and no affordable sources of zinc. Affordability of animal-source protein varies, with several options in Pakistan (fish, chicken, eggs, beef) and India (fish, eggs, milk) but few in Bangladesh (eggs). Approaches to reduce prices, enhance household production, or increase incomes are needed to improve affordability. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]- Published
- 2021
- Full Text
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20. A Report to the Australian Development Assistance Bureau. Regional Symposium on Distance Teaching in Asia (Penang, Malaysia, May 1981).
- Author
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Office of Research in Librarianship, Wagga Wagga (Australia). and Reid-Smith, Edward R.
- Abstract
Reports and summaries of papers presented at the 1981 Regional Symposium on Distance Teaching in Asia are presented. The symposium, which was represented by 22 countries, was organized by the Universiti Sains (University of Science) Malaysia as part of the activities associated with the completion of 10 years of off-campus program facilities. The symposium was designed to promote information exchange among scholars involved in distance teaching, extension education, and external degree programs; to promote understanding of the problems involved in the teaching and learning process of self-learning programs; and to identify approaches to raise the effectiveness of distance teaching programs in the various countries. Reports on distance education in the following countries are presented: South Korea, Japan, the Philippines, Thailand, Bangladesh, India, Sri Lanka, Pakistan, and Malaysia. Selected papers on the following topics are summarized: philosophy, goals, and objectives of distance educational systems; infrastructure, staff training, and educational technology; problems in distance education; research on distance education; and attainment of regional cooperation in Asia. Information on the University of Science Malaysia and the opening and closing sessions of the symposium are included. (Author/SW)
- Published
- 1981
21. Distance Education in Asia and the Pacific. Volume II. Proceedings of the Regional Seminar on Distance Education (Bangkok, Thailand, November 26-December 3, 1986).
- Author
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Asian Development Bank, Manila (Philippines).
- Abstract
The paper presented in this three-part conference report trace the growth and development of distance education in the Asian and Pacific region. Part 1 provides a general review. Part 2 contains the following case studies: "Distance Education in India" (S. P. Mullick); "Distance Education in Indonesia" (Professor Setijadi); "Distance Education in Pakistan" (Shaukat Ali Siddiqui); "Distance Education in the Republic of Korea" (Kwon Soonchan and Chandong Kim); and "Distance Education in Thailand" (Iam Chaya-Ngam). The following country papers are included in part 3: "Distance Education in Australia" (Vernon White); "Distance Education in Bangladesh" (K. M. Sirajul Islam); "Distance Education in Bhutan" (Zangley Dukpa); "Distance Education in Burma" (Kyaw Sein); "Distance Education in Fiji" (Hari Ram); "Distance Education in Hong Kong" (Michelangelo Pagliari and John Anthony Frost); "Distance Education in Japan" (Yoshiya Abe); "Distance Education in Malaysia" (G. Dhanarajan); "Distance Education in New Zealand" (Douglas Gunn and Peter McMechan); "Distance Education in Papua New Guinea" (John Paul and Howard Van Trease); "Distance Education in the Philippines" (Remigio Romulo); and "Distance Education in Sri Lanka" (D.A. Kotelawele). (MN)
- Published
- 1987
22. Library and Information Science Education in South Asia: India, Pakistan, Bangladesh and Sri Lanka.
- Author
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Mangla, P. B.
- Abstract
Reviews formal postgraduate-level library and information science programs offered by universities, documentation centers, and research institutions in India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, and Sri Lanka. Highlights include historical background; admission requirements; length of program; curricula; faculty; course content; research; administrative organization; accreditation; employment opportunities; and professional literature. (41 references) (LRW)
- Published
- 1994
23. Information Systems and Development in the Third World.
- Author
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Heitzman, James
- Abstract
Discussion of the relationship between information and development in Third World countries highlights information systems development in four South Asian nations: India, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, and Bangladesh. The impact of microelectronics technology, development theories, multinational corporations, international information agencies, and variables of national political economy are considered. (57 references) (LRW)
- Published
- 1990
24. Falling Trend of Western Disturbances in Future Climate Simulations.
- Author
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Hunt, Kieran M. R., Turner, Andrew G., and Shaffrey, Len C.
- Subjects
CLIMATOLOGY ,JET streams ,MERIDIONAL winds ,WESTERLIES ,WIND shear - Abstract
Western disturbances (WDs) are synoptic-scale cyclonic weather systems advected over Pakistan and northern India by the subtropical westerly jet stream. There, they are responsible for most of the winter precipitation, which is crucial for agriculture of the rabi crop as well for as more extreme precipitation events, which can lead to local flooding and avalanches. Despite their importance, there has not yet been an attempt to objectively determine the fate of WDs in future climate GCMs. Here, a tracking algorithm is used to build up a catalog of WDs in both CMIP5 historical and representative concentration pathway (RCP) experiments of the future. It is shown that in business-as-usual (RCP8.5) future climate simulations, WD frequency falls by around 15% by the end of the twenty-first century, with the largest relative changes coming in pre- and postmonsoon months. Meanwhile, mean WD intensity will decrease, with central vorticity expected to become less cyclonic by about 12% over the same period. Changes in WD frequency are attributed to the projected widening and weakening of the winter subtropical jet as well as decreasing meridional wind shear and midtropospheric baroclinic vorticity tendency, which also explain the changes in intensity. The impact of these changes on regional precipitation is explored. The decline in WD frequency and intensity will cause a decrease in mean winter rainfall over Pakistan and northern India amounting to about 15% of the mean—subject to the ability of the models to represent the responsible processes. The effect on extreme precipitation events, however, remains unclear. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
- Published
- 2019
- Full Text
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25. South Asia in the Minds of Pennsylvania High School Students.
- Author
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Scull, C. Robert and McCartney, Donna
- Abstract
Pennsylvania high school seniors who were tested on their knowledge of South Asian geography, history, political science, and culture knew little about this politically important region. The sample included 684 urban and rural students from high and low income families who answered 43 multiple choice questions on knowledge, interests, and attitudes about South Asia. Some of the weak areas included confusion about American relationships with Pakistan and India; incorrectly identifying India, Pakistan, Afghanistan, and Bangladesh on maps; not recognizing India, Pakistan, and Bangladesh as former British colonies; and demonstrating uncertainty about religious and ethnic divisions within the area. Student attitudes toward South Asia were neutral to negative, but their attitudes toward South Asians personally were receptive. They were also somewhat interested in learning more about the culture of the region. Appendices include information about participating high schools and the breakdown for answers to 12 of the 43 questions used on the multiple choice test. (IS)
- Published
- 1984
26. Regional Gradients in Institutional Cesarean Delivery Rates: Evidence from Five Countries in Asia.
- Author
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Sepehri, Ardeshir and Guliani, Harminder
- Subjects
CESAREAN section ,CHILDBIRTH ,CONFIDENCE intervals ,DATABASES ,DEMOGRAPHY ,MATERNAL age ,RESEARCH methodology ,POPULATION geography ,PUBLIC hospitals ,LOGISTIC regression analysis ,PRIVATE sector ,PUBLIC sector ,SOCIOECONOMIC factors ,PARITY (Obstetrics) ,DESCRIPTIVE statistics ,ODDS ratio - Abstract
Background Although the influence of the type of institutional setting on the risk of cesarean birth is well documented, less is known about the regional variations in institution-specific cesarean rates within countries. Our purpose was to examine regional variations in cesarean rates across public and private facilities in five Asian countries with a sizeable private sector: Bangladesh, India, Indonesia, Pakistan, and the Philippines. Methods Demographic Health Survey data and a hierarchical model were used to assess regional variations in the mode of delivery while controlling for a wide range of socioeconomic, demographic, and maternal risk factors. Results The risk of cesarean birth was greater in a private facility than in a government hospital by 36-48 percent in India and Indonesia and by 130 percent in Bangladesh. Regional gradients in cesarean birth were found to be steeper for deliveries in private facilities than in government hospitals in India, Indonesia, and the Philippines. The residents of India's high-use states were 55 percent more likely to undergo a cesarean delivery in a government hospital and 83 percent more likely in a private facility than their counterparts in the medium-use states. Similarly, compared to the residents of the Philippines's medium-use provinces, giving birth in a government facility increased the likelihood of a cesarean delivery by 84 percent and by 173 percent in a private facility. Conclusions Large regional variations in cesarean rates suggest the need for more informed clinical decision making with respect to the selection of cases for cesarean delivery and the establishment of well-developed guidelines and standards at the provincial or state levels. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
- Published
- 2017
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27. Assessment in Education. IBE Special Alert
- Author
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International Bureau of Education (IBE) (Switzerland)
- Abstract
As another year is approaching, the time seems appropriate to look back and reflect on all the things that have been done, and more importantly learned during 2014. Along the same lines, and in order to offer further food for thought, the IBE is happy to share with you its latest Thematic alert on the topic of assessment in education. More specifically, the IBE has compiled this list of resources on educational assessment to assist curriculum developers, researchers and practitioners. The first section focuses on assessment for learning, followed by assessment of learning. Other sections include guides and tools, and reports and studies. The Links section provides the URLs for programmes such as: PISA, TIMSS, etc. where their numerous papers and reports may be consulted. Most of the publications and documents are freely accessible online.
- Published
- 2014
28. DNA barcode analysis of butterfly species from Pakistan points towards regional endemism.
- Author
-
Ashfaq, Muhammad, Akhtar, Saleem, Khan, Arif M., Adamowicz, Sarah J., and Hebert, Paul D. N.
- Subjects
BAR codes ,DNA - Abstract
DNA barcodes were obtained for 81 butterfly species belonging to 52 genera from sites in north-central Pakistan to test the utility of barcoding for their identification and to gain a better understanding of regional barcode variation. These species represent 25% of the butterfly fauna of Pakistan and belong to five families, although the Nymphalidae were dominant, comprising 38% of the total specimens. Barcode analysis showed that maximum conspecific divergence was 1.6%, while there was 1.7-14.3% divergence from the nearest neighbour species. Barcode records for 55 species showed <2% sequence divergence to records in the Barcode of Life Data Systems ( BOLD), but only 26 of these cases involved specimens from neighbouring India and Central Asia. Analysis revealed that most species showed little incremental sequence variation when specimens from other regions were considered, but a threefold increase was noted in a few cases. There was a clear gap between maximum intraspecific and minimum nearest neighbour distance for all 81 species. Neighbour-joining cluster analysis showed that members of each species formed a monophyletic cluster with strong bootstrap support. The barcode results revealed two provisional species that could not be clearly linked to known taxa, while 24 other species gained their first coverage. Future work should extend the barcode reference library to include all butterfly species from Pakistan as well as neighbouring countries to gain a better understanding of regional variation in barcode sequences in this topographically and climatically complex region. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
- Published
- 2013
- Full Text
- View/download PDF
29. URBANIZATION PROSPECTS IN ASIA: A SIX-COUNTRY COMPARISON.
- Author
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Rob, Ubaidur and Talukder, Noorunnabi
- Subjects
SOCIAL change ,DEVELOPING countries ,METROPOLITAN areas ,POPULATION ,POVERTY ,SOCIOECONOMIC factors - Abstract
Yet rural in nature, Asia is proceeding with a wide-ranging scale and fast pace of urbanization, resulting in accelerated economic growth. This article attempts a comparison on urbanization of six largest Asian countries: Bangladesh, China, India, Indonesia, Pakistan, and the Philippines. Among these countries, urban transition is underway in China, Indonesia, and the Philippines, which are also on track to mature as middle-income countries. India and Pakistan will soon graduate from low-income to lower-middle income countries, reaching the platform for faster urbanization with consequent economic growth. Regardless of the level of urbanization across countries, cities generate four-fifths of national income and the prominence of cities in generating country's national income is escalating. Still, urbanization primarily takes place through the development of large cities with surrounding industrial zones. Large cities will continue to play a significant role in absorbing future anticipated growth, but a decrease of growth rates in large cities is expected. Most of future city growth will occur in medium- and small-sized cities where existing coverage of basic public services is grossly inadequate, that entails greater concentration of power, investment, and services. To maximize the benefits of urbanization, countries need to judiciously plan the course of future urbanization--whether it should be a concentrated growth, a balanced growth, or a distributed growth. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
- Published
- 2012
- Full Text
- View/download PDF
30. The Political Economy of Opium Smuggling in Early Nineteenth Century India: Leakage or Resistance?
- Author
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MARKOVITS, CLAUDE
- Subjects
BRITISH occupation of India, 1765-1947 ,OPIUM trade ,INDIAN economy - Abstract
This article examines the impact of the opium trade in India during the years of British imperialism in the early nineteenth century on economic development in the country. It focuses particularly on the trading of opium cultivated in Malwa, India to Sindh, Pakistan, and considers how this ultimately integrated Sindh into the broader British imperial trading system. The author critiques arguments on the matter set forth in the book "Smuggling as Subversion: Colonialism, Indian Merchants and the Politics of Opium," by Amar Farooqi.
- Published
- 2009
- Full Text
- View/download PDF
31. India and Pakistan's Unstable Peace: Why Nuclear South Asia Is Not Like Cold War Europe.
- Author
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Kapur, S. Paul
- Subjects
WAR & society ,COLD War, 1945-1991 ,NUCLEAR arms control ,NUCLEAR weapons - Abstract
Scholars attribute conventional violence in a nuclear South Asia to a phenomenon known as the "stability/instability paradox." According to this paradox, the risk of nuclear war makes it unlikely that conventional conflict will escalate to the nuclear level, thereby making conventional conflict more likely. Although this phenomenon encouraged U.S.-Soviet violence during the Cold War, it does not explain the dynamics of the ongoing conflict between India and Pakistan. Recent violence has seen Pakistan or its proxies launching limited attacks on Indian territory, and India refusing to retaliate in kind. The stability/instability paradox would not predict such behavior. A low probability of conventional war escalating to the nuclear level would reduce the ability of Pakistan's nuclear weapons to deter an Indian conventional attack. Because Pakistan is conventionally weaker than India, this would discourage Pakistani aggression and encourage robust Indian conventional retaliation against Pakistani provocations. Pakistani boldness and Indian restraint have actually resulted from instability in the strategic environment. A full-scale Indo-Pakistani conventional conflict would create a significant risk of nuclear escalation. This danger enables Pakistan to launch limited attacks on India while deterring all-out Indian conventional retaliation and attracting international attention to the two countries' dispute over Kashmir. Unlike in Cold War Europe, in contemporary South Asia nuclear danger facilitates, rather than impedes, conventional conflict. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
- Published
- 2005
- Full Text
- View/download PDF
32. Tense over Energy.
- Author
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Jishnu, Latha, Bera, Sayantan, and Paliwal, Ankur
- Subjects
ENERGY industries ,PETROLEUM export & import trade ,ENERGY security - Abstract
The article discusses the impact of the high dependence on petroleum import of South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC) coupled with mismanagement of their energy sector on the energy prospects of a South Asian grid. Topics include setting aside mutual distrust of India with Pakistan and find solutions for the energy security of the region, the inter-country power exchange between India and Bangladesh, and the energy resource potential in South Asia.
- Published
- 2013
33. Reframing Basic Education to Deliver Education for All: Flexible Provision and Enabling Frameworks
- Author
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Morpeth, Ros and Creed, Charlotte
- Abstract
Inclusion has traditionally been conceptualised as integrating children into the formal schooling system. Recent research conducted in South Asia, however, adds to evidence that the huge number of children out of school and the diversity of their needs can only be met by a diversity of provision, formal and non-formal; that because many state education systems cannot meet the demands in quantity and quality, governments must continue to reform, improve and expand the public system, but also consider reconceptualising their role away from being the exclusive provider and towards encouraging a more diversified and equitable educational system. This paper sets out six challenges for reaching marginalised children through such change, highlighting the political commitment needed to embed into national education policy framework a rights-based approach, with quality assurance and greater links between the formal and non-formal. It provides examples of non-formal providers, using open learning principles, which offer models of how a more flexible and equitable system could be delivered for marginalised children, with progression routes and accreditation equivalent to or the same as the formal system. (Contains 2 boxes.)
- Published
- 2012
- Full Text
- View/download PDF
34. Asia's Insecurity.
- Author
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Dibb, Paul, Hale, David D., and Prince, Peter
- Subjects
ECONOMIC forecasting ,FINANCIAL crises ,NUCLEAR weapons ,BALLISTIC missiles - Abstract
Glittering visions of a forthcoming 'Asian century' have given way to Asian insecurity. Since mid-1997, security planners have been confounded by three events: the Asian economic crisis; the end of President Suharto's regime in Indonesia; and the development of nuclear weapons and ballistic missiles by India, Pakistan and North Korea. There is clear potential for more strategic turbulence: Indonesia's disintegration, a nuclear miscalculation in South Asia, China's adoption of a more aggressive stance, or conflict on the Korean Peninsula. Given these risks and uncertainties, too many governments continue to rely on straight-line extrapolations of Asia's strategic future. Such analysis demonstrably failed to predict the economic crisis; strategic planners should spend more time preparing for 'alternative strategic futures'. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
- Published
- 1999
- Full Text
- View/download PDF
35. The project to understand and research preterm pregnancy outcomes and stillbirths in South Asia (PURPOSe): a protocol of a prospective, cohort study of causes of mortality among preterm births and stillbirths.
- Author
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McClure, Elizabeth M., Saleem, Sarah, Goudar, Shivaprasad S., Dhaded, Sangappa, Guruprasad, G., Kumar, Yogesh, Tikmani, Shiyam Sunder, Kadir, Masood, Raza, Jamal, Yasmin, Haleema, Moore, Janet L., Kim, Jean, Bann, Carla, Parlberg, Lindsay, Aceituno, Anna, Carlo, Waldemar A., Silver, Robert M., Lamberti, Laura, Patterson, Janna, and Goldenberg, Robert L.
- Subjects
AUTOPSY ,BIOPSY ,CAUSES of death ,PREMATURE infants ,LONGITUDINAL method ,EVALUATION of medical care ,PERINATAL death ,PREGNANCY - Abstract
Background: In South Asia, where most stillbirths and neonatal deaths occur, much remains unknown about the causes of these deaths. About one-third of neonatal deaths are attributed to prematurity, yet the specific conditions which cause these deaths are often unclear as is the etiology of stillbirths. In low-resource settings, most women are not routinely tested for infections and autopsy is rare. Methods: This prospective, cohort study will be conducted in hospitals in Davengere, India and Karachi, Pakistan. All women who deliver either a stillbirth or a preterm birth at one of the hospitals will be eligible for enrollment. With consent, the participant and, when applicable, her offspring, will be followed to 28-days post-delivery. A series of research tests will be conducted to determine infection and presence of other conditions which may contribute to the death. In addition, all routine clinical investigations will be documented. For both stillbirths and preterm neonates who die ≤ 28 days, with consent, a standard autopsy as well as minimally invasive tissue sampling will be conducted. Finally, an expert panel will review all available data for stillbirths and neonatal deaths to determine the primary and contributing causes of death using pre-specified guidance. Conclusion: This will be among the first studies to prospectively obtain detailed information on causes of stillbirth and preterm neonatal death in low-resource settings in Asia. Determining the primary causes of death will be important to inform strategies most likely to reduce the high mortality rates in South Asia. Trial registration: Clinicaltrials.gov (
NCT03438110 ) Clinical Trial Registry of India (CTRI/2018/03/012281 ). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]- Published
- 2018
- Full Text
- View/download PDF
36. RESOURCES FOR SOUTH ASIAN LANGUAGE STUDIES IN THE UNITED STATES, REPORT OF A CONFERENCE CONVENED BY THE UNIVERSITY OF PENNSYLVANIA FOR THE UNITED STATES OFFICE OF EDUCATION (JANUARY 15-16, 1960).
- Author
-
Pennsylvania Univ., Philadelphia. and BROWN, W. NORMAN
- Abstract
IN 1960 AT THE UNIVERSITY OF PENNSYLVANIA A CONFERENCE WAS CONVENED TO SURVEY THE RESOURCES AVAILABLE IN THE UNITED STATES FOR THE DEVELOPMENT OF LANGUAGE AND AREA STUDIES OF SOUTH ASIA AND TO MAKE RECOMMENDATIONS FOR A PROGRAM OF DEVELOPMENT. THE 23 PARTICIPANTS INCLUDED PROMINENT AMERICAN SCHOLARS FROM UNIVERSITIES WHERE SOUTH ASIAN LANGUAGES ARE TAUGHT AND REPRESENTATIVES OF THE FOREIGN SERVICE INSTITUTE AND OTHER INTERESTED GROUPS. ELEVEN WORKING PAPERS WERE PREPARED FOR THE CONFERENCE AND ARE PUBLISHED HERE. THE PAPERS DEAL WITH AMERICAN RESOURCES FOR SOUTH ASIAN LANGUAGE STUDY AND SUGGEST PRIORITIES FOR FURTHER WORK ON NEW TEXTS, RESOURCE MATERIALS, TEACHING METHODS, AND CURRICULUM GUIDES. IN A "REPORT OF THE CONFERENCE," ALSO PUBLISHED IN THIS VOLUME, THE EDITOR SUMMARIZES THE TOPICS COVERED AT THE CONFERENCE MEETINGS AND PRESENTS THE SPECIFIC RECOMMENDATIONS OF THE PARTICIPANTS. THIS BOOK IS PUBLISHED BY THE UNIVERSITY OF PENNSYLVANIA PRESS, 3436 WALNUT STREET, PHILADELPHIA, PA. 19104, ($4.00). (JD)
- Published
- 1960
37. RESOURCES FOR SOUTH ASIAN AREA STUDIES IN THE UNITED STATES, REPORT OF A CONFERENCE CONVENED BY THE COMMITTEE ON SOUTH ASIA OF THE ASSOCIATION FOR ASIAN STUDIES FOR THE UNITED STATES OFFICE OF EDUCATION (FEBRUARY 23-25, 1961).
- Author
-
Pennsylvania Univ., Philadelphia. and LAMBERT, RICHARD D.
- Abstract
THE 21 WORKING PAPERS IN THIS BOOK WERE PREPARED BY AMERICAN SCHOLARS IN THE FIELD OF SOUTH ASIAN AREA AND LANGUAGE STUDIES FOR A CONFERENCE CONVENED BY THE COMMITTEE ON SOUTH ASIA OF THE ASSOCIATION FOR ASIAN STUDIES IN 1961. THE CONFERENCE DEALT WITH THE NEED FOR RESEARCH ON SPECIFIC COUNTRIES AND IN SPECIFIC DISCIPLINES AS WELL AS THE PRESENT CONDITION OF SOUTH ASIAN AREA STUDIES IN GENERAL. A COMPANION VOLUME, "RESOURCES FOR SOUTH ASIAN LANGUAGE STUDIES," CONCERNS THE DEVELOPMENT OF LANGUAGE PROGRAMS AND PERSONNEL, WHILE THIS VOLUME INTEGRATES THE TEACHING OF SOUTH ASIAN LANGUAGES WITH AREA STUDIES. INCLUDED WITH THE WORKING PAPERS IS A "REPORT OF THE CONFERENCE" WHICH SUMMARIZES THE MANY SPECIFIC SUGGESTIONS PRESENTED IN THE PAPERS AND DISCUSSED AT THE CONFERENCE MEETINGS. THIS BOOK IS PUBLISHED BY THE UNIVERSITY OF PENNSYLVANIA PRESS, 3436 WALNUT STREET, PHILADELPHIA, PA. 19104, ($5.00). (JD)
- Published
- 1962
38. Women and ethnic cleansing: a history of Partition in India and Pakistan.
- Author
-
Gonzalez Manchon B
- Subjects
- Asia, Behavior, Developing Countries, Economics, India, Pakistan, Socioeconomic Factors, Interpersonal Relations, Violence, Women, Women's Rights
- Published
- 2000
- Full Text
- View/download PDF
39. Emigration dynamics in South Asia, IOM / UNFPA workshop, 2-3 September 1996, IOM headquarters, Geneva, Switzerland.
- Author
-
Appleyard R
- Subjects
- Asia, Bangladesh, Demography, Developing Countries, India, Pakistan, Population, Population Dynamics, Sri Lanka, Education, Emigration and Immigration, Health Planning Guidelines, Public Policy, Transients and Migrants
- Published
- 1996
- Full Text
- View/download PDF
40. The use of contraception in the Asian and Pacific region.
- Subjects
- Age Factors, Asia, Asia, Southeastern, Bangladesh, China, Contraception, Developing Countries, Family Planning Services, Asia, Eastern, Fiji, Health Planning, India, Indonesia, Korea, Malaysia, Nepal, Pacific Islands, Pakistan, Philippines, Polynesia, Population, Population Characteristics, Research Design, Sri Lanka, Thailand, Contraception Behavior, Data Collection, Patient Acceptance of Health Care
- Published
- 1985
41. Differential female mortality and health care in South Asia.
- Author
-
Harriss B
- Subjects
- Asia, Bangladesh, Delivery of Health Care, Demography, Developing Countries, Disease, Health, India, Organization and Administration, Pakistan, Population, Population Characteristics, Population Dynamics, Program Evaluation, Research, Sri Lanka, Age Factors, Congresses as Topic, Culture, Health Services, Health Services Accessibility, Infant Mortality, Mortality, Nutrition Disorders, Sex Factors, Social Change
- Published
- 1989
42. COVID19 in South Asians/Asian Indians: Heterogeneity of data and implications for pathophysiology and research.
- Author
-
Gupta R and Misra A
- Subjects
- ADAM17 Protein genetics, Alleles, Angiotensin-Converting Enzyme 2, Asia epidemiology, Asian People, BCG Vaccine, Bangladesh epidemiology, Bangladesh ethnology, Betacoronavirus, COVID-19, Coronavirus Infections genetics, Ethnicity, Global Health, Humans, Immune System, Immunity, Innate, Incidence, India epidemiology, India ethnology, Inflammation, Mutation, Nepal epidemiology, Nepal ethnology, Pakistan epidemiology, Pakistan ethnology, Pandemics, Peptidyl-Dipeptidase A genetics, Pneumonia, Viral genetics, Polymorphism, Genetic, Prevalence, SARS-CoV-2, Sri Lanka epidemiology, Sri Lanka ethnology, Coronavirus Infections epidemiology, Coronavirus Infections ethnology, Pneumonia, Viral epidemiology, Pneumonia, Viral ethnology
- Abstract
Despite a large population and limited health infrastructure, the incidence and mortality of Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) has been lower in South Asia than many regions. The underlying reasons and mechanisms for this relative protection are not established. However both genetic and environmental factors might play a role. Polymorphisms in ACE2 gene, ACE gene and in genes for some of the host cell proteases could affect the viral entry and replication. There is some evidence that HLA polymorphisms and several pathways involved in immune and inflammatory response could contribute to ethnic variation. Cross immunity because of past exposure to viral infections as well as malaria is likely to protect from the severe manifestations of disease. Role of BCG vaccination in trained innate immunity is recognised and could be a protective factor against COVID-19. There is limited evidence of the possibility of a less virulent viral strain circulating in South Asia. There is evidence from different parts of the world that temperature and humidity can influence viral survival as well as the host immune response. Finally implementation of early containment measures by some South Asian countries has also contributed to a less disease burden., Competing Interests: Declaration of Competing Interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2020 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)
- Published
- 2020
- Full Text
- View/download PDF
43. Epidemiology and determinants of type 2 diabetes in south Asia.
- Author
-
Hills AP, Arena R, Khunti K, Yajnik CS, Jayawardena R, Henry CJ, Street SJ, Soares MJ, and Misra A
- Subjects
- Asia epidemiology, Bangladesh epidemiology, Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 etiology, Humans, India epidemiology, Pakistan epidemiology, Risk Factors, Sedentary Behavior, Sri Lanka epidemiology, Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 epidemiology, Life Style, Obesity complications
- Abstract
Type 2 diabetes has rapidly developed into a major public health problem in south Asia (defined here as Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Nepal, Pakistan, and Sri Lanka) in recent decades. During this period, major lifestyle changes associated with economic transition, industrialisation, urbanisation, and globalisation have been key determinants in the increasing burden of non-communicable diseases. A decline in nutrition quality, reduced physical activity, and increased sedentary behaviours are reflected in the increasing prevalence of type 2 diabetes and related risk factors in the region. The International Diabetes Federation 2017 estimates of the prevalence of diabetes in adults in the region range from 4·0% in Nepal to 8·8% in India. The prevalence of overweight ranges from 16·7% in Nepal to 26·1% in Sri Lanka, and the prevalence of obesity ranges from 2·9% in Nepal to 6·8% in Sri Lanka. An increasing proportion of children, adolescents, and women are overweight or obese, leading to a heightened risk of type 2 diabetes. Ethnic south Asians present with greater metabolic risk at lower levels of BMI compared with other ethnic groups (referred to as the south Asian phenotype), with type 2 diabetes often developing at a younger age, and with rapid progression of diabetic complications. Because of the presence of multiple risk factors and a body composition conducive to the development of type 2 diabetes, south Asians should be aggressively targeted for prevention. In this Series paper, we detail trends in the prevalence of diabetes in the region and address major determinants of the disease in the context of nutrition and physical activity transitions and the south Asian phenotype., (Copyright © 2018 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)
- Published
- 2018
- Full Text
- View/download PDF
44. International labour migration statistics in Asia: an appraisal.
- Author
-
Athukorala PC and Wickramasekara P
- Subjects
- Asia, Asia, Southeastern, Bangladesh, Demography, Developing Countries, India, Indonesia, Pakistan, Philippines, Population, Population Dynamics, Research, Sri Lanka, Thailand, Data Collection, Emigration and Immigration, Reproducibility of Results, Research Design, Transients and Migrants
- Abstract
"The present paper attempts a critical review of the data systems of seven major labour-exporting countries--Bangladesh, India, Indonesia, Pakistan, Philippines, Sri Lanka and Thailand--which account for over 90 per cent of labour outflows from Asia....Data...are discussed under separate sections focusing on limitations as well as potential for further exploitation.... For all countries reviewed here, these data significantly understate total labour outflows, and the magnitude of the error seems to vary between countries and reflect both differences relating to the coverage and efficiency of the approval and monitoring procedure. This throws serious doubts on the appropriateness of official outmigration series for cross country comparison. Frequent changes in reporting procedures also make for discrete changes and spurious shifts in data which render trend analysis quite hazardous." (SUMMARY IN FRE AND SPA), (excerpt)
- Published
- 1996
- Full Text
- View/download PDF
45. Spouse migration from the Indian sub-continent to the U.K.: a permanent migration stream?
- Author
-
Coleman DA
- Subjects
- Asia, Bangladesh, Culture, Demography, Developed Countries, Developing Countries, Europe, Family Characteristics, India, Pakistan, Population, Population Characteristics, Population Dynamics, Transients and Migrants, United Kingdom, Emigration and Immigration, Ethnicity, Family Relations, Marriage, Residence Characteristics, Spouses
- Abstract
"This paper will describe trends in spouse migration [from the Indian subcontinent] using the U.K. example, which is believed to be reasonably representative of other European countries. To do so, it will have to consider both the re-unification of pre-existing families of immigrants, and the migration of new spouses both of immigrants and of members of ethnic minority populations who were themselves born in the receiving country. These two streams are not entirely conceptually separate, and there is no unambiguous way of separating them in the published U.K. statistics. However, it is clear that the former stream of pre-existing family members dominated up to the 1980s and that it is now being augmented and replaced by the latter stream of new spouses.", (excerpt)
- Published
- 1995
46. Improving the contribution of migrant remittances to development: the experience of Asian labour-exporting countries.
- Author
-
Athukorala P
- Subjects
- Asia, Asia, Southeastern, Bangladesh, Demography, Developing Countries, Asia, Eastern, India, Korea, Pakistan, Philippines, Population, Population Dynamics, Sri Lanka, Thailand, Economics, Emigration and Immigration, Public Policy, Transients and Migrants
- Abstract
"The purpose of this paper is to review policy initiatives [concerning migrant remittances] in six major labour-exporting countries in Asia--Bangladesh, India, Korea, the Philippines, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, and Thailand. Where relevant, the experience of these countries will be compared and contrasted with those of labour-exporting countries in other parts of the world....[The author concludes that] the imposition of mandatory remittance requirements on migrant workers is unlikely to enhance remittance inflows unless the government of the labour-exporting country effectively controls the migration process." (SUMMARY IN FRE AND SPA), (excerpt)
- Published
- 1993
- Full Text
- View/download PDF
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