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Recent scientific consensus suggests that climate-related disasters are becoming more frequent and destructive. Consequently, increasing importance is given to disaster risk reduction (DRR) and climate change adaptation (CCA) in global governance. The projected global warming at 1.5 ºC and the climate variability that the Philippine archipelago experiences make DRR-CCA the key priorities of both the national and local government units. In this study, we assessed and measured the degree of mainstreaming of DRR-CCA in the comprehensive development plans (CDPs) of the five component cities in the province of Nueva Ecija in the Philippines. These are among the areas in Central Luzon that are susceptible to hydrometeorological and geologic hazards. We distributed survey questionnaires to 25 employees of the local government units in the five component cities in Nueva Ecija who are directly involved in planning activities. We triangulated their responses using archival data (review of written policies and plans). The main findings of the study indicate that in spite the presence of laws and policies on DRR-CCA, their implementation is only in the preliminary stages. The results also provide insights to policymakers and future researchers on the challenges and opportunities influencing the systemic mainstreaming of DRR-CCA in the province. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article discusses a study conducted to evaluate the distribution and taxonomic status of the subspecific forms of Rhinolophus affinis in mainland Southeast Asia. It is noted that large sample size with multiple datasets were used to perform the study to elucidate taxonomic relationships. The study also provides levels of morphological variation in the region and provides an essential basis to understand the population genetics, phylogeography and taxonomy of the species.

This special issue explores multi-dimensional retail transitions in Southeast Asia against the backdrop of the ongoing globalization of retail capital. As an introduction to the special issue, this paper does three things. First, it introduces the rationale for, and wider context to, the special issue. Second, it offers a contemporary snapshot of the leading retail markets in Southeast Asia in order to highlight the considerable national variation in market conditions that exists, and thereby to situate the papers that follow. Third, it reviews the existing literature on retail transformations in Southeast Asia, with a particular focus on three areas: deregulation and reregulation with respect to retailing, competitive impacts of foreign retailers on domestic firms, and the supply network impacts of inward investment in retailing. The paper concludes by outlining a brief research agenda for work on retail transitions in Southeast Asia. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Based on a series of specimens collected in Cambodia and Vietnam, this paper describes 3 new species of tube-nosed bats belonging to the Murina "suilla-group" (Vespertilionidae: Murininae). We provide detailed accounts of their external and craniodental morphology, including a suite of standard measurements, and compare the new taxa with all other members of the group currently recognized in Southeast Asia. The 1st new species was previously included in M. tubinaris (Scully, 1881) but is considered distinct due to differences in external and craniodental features. This new species is widespread in continental Southeast Asia and relatively well represented in museum collections, whereas the other new species are known only from a few specimens collected at scattered localities. The new taxa are known only from forested areas, which highlights the incompleteness of existing knowledge and strong potential for further discoveries in the region. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article presents a study that reviews that taxonomy of Rhinolophus coelophyllus Peter 1867 and Rhinolophus shameli Tate 1943 in continental Southeast Asia. The study examines the acoustic characters, distribution and ecology of two often confused rhinolophid species. It notes that the species have essentially parapatric distribution in the continent. It reveals that Rhinolophus coelophyllus is widespread ranging from northern Myanmar to northern Malaysia and eastern Thailand. It also shows defined differences in the two taxa's skull morphology, size, and echolocation call frequency.

Highly pathogenic H5N1 influenza A viruses are now endemic in avian populations in Southeast Asia, and human cases continue to accumulate. Although currently incapable of sustained human-to-human transmission, H5N1 represents a serious pandemic threat owing to the risk of a mutation or reassortment generating a virus with increased transmissibility. Identifying public health interventions that might be able to halt a pandemic in its earliest stages is therefore a priority. Here we use a simulation model of influenza transmission in Southeast Asia to evaluate the potential effectiveness of targeted mass prophylactic use of antiviral drugs as a containment strategy. Other interventions aimed at reducing population contact rates are also examined as reinforcements to an antiviral-based containment policy. We show that elimination of a nascent pandemic may be feasible using a combination of geographically targeted prophylaxis and social distancing measures, if the basic reproduction number of the new virus is below 1.8. We predict that a stockpile of 3 million courses of antiviral drugs should be sufficient for elimination. Policy effectiveness depends critically on how quickly clinical cases are diagnosed and the speed with which antiviral drugs can be distributed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background The most advanced dengue vaccine candidate is a live-attenuated recombinant vaccine containing the four dengue viruses on the yellow fever vaccine backbone (CYD-TDV) developed by Sanofi Pasteur. Several analyses have been published on the safety and immunogenicity of the CYD-TDV vaccine from single trials but none modelled the heterogeneity observed in the antibody responses elicited by the vaccine. Methods We analyse the immunogenicity data collected in five phase-2 trials of the CYD-TDV vaccine. We provide a descriptive analysis of the aggregated datasets and fit the observed post-vaccination PRNT50 titres against the four dengue (DENV) serotypes using multivariate regression models. Results We find that the responses to CYD-TDV are principally predicted by the baseline immunological status against DENV, but the trial is also a significant predictor. We find that the CYD-TDV vaccine generates similar titres against all serotypes following the third dose, though DENV4 is immunodominant after the first dose. Conclusions This study contributes to a better understanding of the immunological responses elicited by CYD-TDV. The recent availability of phase-3 data is a unique opportunity to further investigate the immunogenicity and efficacy of the CYD-TDV vaccine, especially in subjects with different levels of pre-existing immunity against DENV. Modelling multiple immunological outcomes with a single multivariate model offers advantages over traditional approaches, capturing correlations between response variables, and the statistical method adopted in this study can be applied to a variety of infections with interacting strains. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]