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The Kamchatka rhododendron (Therorhodion camtschaticum s.l.) is a small, cold-resistant arcto-alpine shrub species with a controversial taxonomy and a wide Beringian distribution, from northern Eurasia to Arctic North America. Some authors regard T. camtschaticum and the closely related Therorhodion glandulosum as separate species while others suggest that they represent regionally differentiated subspecies. In order to resolve this relationship, we sampled 33 populations within the native species ranges, using three fragments of plastid DNA (ptDNA) and ten nuclear microsatellites (nSSR). We recovered two genetic lineages consistent with species rather than subspecies. The distribution of these genetic lineages are consistent with two different migration pathways of species from western Beringia to eastern Beringia: (i) for T. glandulosum a northern pathway from northern East Asia to the Seward Peninsula in northern Alaska; and (ii) for T. camtschaticum a southern pathway from the southern part of western Beringia to the Aleutian Islands and the seashore of south-east Alaska. The northern route extends from the Okhotsk seashore through the Kolyma region, Chukotka, and central and northern Kamchatka. The southern route begins at the Sikhote-Alin ridge, and goes through Sakhalin Island, the Kuril Islands, and southern Kamchatka. Demographic analysis using nSSR data inferred a divergence time between T. camtschaticum and T. glandulosum long before the Last Glacial Maximum. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Статья посвящена анализу функционирования английского языка как лингва-франка в Северо-Восточной Азии. Несмотря на многочисленные международные контакты и потребность в инструменте для осуществления межкультурной коммуникации, распространение английского языка в регионе наталкивается на барьеры, которые обусловлены как экстралингвистическими, так и чисто лингвистическими факторами. К экстралингвистическим барьерам можно отнести ограниченность функционирования языка внутри стран. Так, английский язык, например, не выполняет регулирующую функцию ни в одной стране Северо-Восточной Азии. К лингвистическому барьеру можно отнести особенности локальных вариантов английского языка. Данные варианты подвергаются влиянию основного языка страны и значительно отличаются от вариантов Внутреннего круга. В совокупности с языковой политикой некоторых стран региона данные факторы ограничивают распространение английского языка.

Magadan Province, located on the southwestern edge of Greater Beringia, combines various floristic elements in its flora, including Beringian and circum-boreal species. The geographic position and habitat diversity of Magadan Province predicts its liverwort flora is one of the richest hemiarctic floras in Asia. The distribution of species throughout the region is uneven, and while its southern part shows close connections with the suboceanic floras of Kamchatka, the middle and central parts are clearly related to the floras of Chukotka, where the Beringian land bridge directly lies in the past. The wide distribution of basic rocks here leads to the existence of a significant complex of basiphylous taxa. A total of 214 taxa (including 205 species and nine varieties) are reported in the present paper. The study of liverworts of Magadan Province should be continued and several new additions to the floral list are highly likely. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Koryak Highland is one of the areas of the present-day mountain glaciation in the north-east of the Asian part of Russia. Its remoteness and inaccessibility are serious obstacles to the ground-based (field) researches, so our knowledge of the regime of glaciers in this area is still incomplete. Objective of this study was to obtain data on changes in the state of glaciers for about a half-century period. For this purpose, the following information was used: results of ground-based phototheodolite surveys of two glaciers on the Ledyanaya Mountain massif (2,453 m) in the central part of the highland, carried out in August 1961 by the expedition of the Institute of Geography of the USSR Academy of Sciences, data from recent space surveys SPOT 6, and a digital relief model ArcticDEM v3.0 2016. The glaciers under investigation are Nezhdanny and Sosedniy. Using these data, the mass balance of glaciers was estimated by the geodetic method. It was found that for 55 years, the area of glaciers decreased by 0.75 km2 (15.2%), the volume – by 71.74 ± 16.51 million m3, and the average lowering in height of the surface – 16.7 m. For the period 1961–2016 the average annual specific mass balance of glaciers was equal to –0.362 ± 0.065 m w.e. yr−1. In this region the main factors exerting influence upon changes in the size of glaciers are the following: first, the summer air temperature rise of about 2 °C since the end of the twentieth century, and the second, a decrease in the amount of solid precipitation by 0.15 m w.e. per year. Degradation of glaciers is caused by changes in conditions of glacial alimentation, increased ablation, and the active cryogenic factors. At the same time, a new rock glacier is being formed in the alimentation area. It is possible that in the future the new one will replace the degrading glacier.

The Dadong site, located in the Changbaishan region of Jilin province, China, is an important Upper Paleolithic site characterized by its large distribution area and abundant stone artifacts. This study presents a geoarchaeological study of a newly excavated area of this site. Soil micromorphology, particle size analysis, and pH measurements were used to reconstruct the site formation process from around 60 ka to the present. Additionally, this study examines the impact of volcanic eruptions and local geomorphology on ancient human adaptation in this area. This paper also investigates the effects of post-depositional processes, particularly freeze-thaw, on the distribution of lithics. This study is the first soil micromorphological study of a Paleolithic site in Northeast China, and is important for studying the changes of the Pleistocene environment in this region as well as the development of microblade technology in Northeast Asia.

Magadan Province, located on the southwestern edge of Greater Beringia, combines various floristic elements in its flora, including Beringian and circum-boreal species. The geographic position and habitat diversity of Magadan Province predicts its liverwort flora is one of the richest hemiarctic floras in Asia. The distribution of species throughout the region is uneven, and while its southern part shows close connections with the suboceanic floras of Kamchatka, the middle and central parts are clearly related to the floras of Chukotka, where the Beringian land bridge directly lies in the past. The wide distribution of basic rocks here leads to the existence of a significant complex of basiphylous taxa. A total of 214 taxa (including 205 species and nine varieties) are reported in the present paper. The study of liverworts of Magadan Province should be continued and several new additions to the floral list are highly likely.

The eastern regions of Russia are the convenient zone in which Russia cooperates with the actively developing Asian region. The key states of North-East Asia such as China, Japan, and the Republic of Korea are the largest participants in world trade at the present stage. The servicing of large-scale commodity flows with the European Union and the U.S. is provided by the market of transport services, by means of which the most effective schemes of delivery are built. Under these conditions, the transport system of the East of Russia has objective prerequisites for integration into the international transport system. The goal of our present study is to assess the potential of integration of the transport system of the Far East in the market of transport services in North-East Asia. At the same time, we assess integration opportunities with the help of dividing the territory of the East of Russia into districts based on the results of cluster analysis. Considering the achievement of the research goal, this approach is a new one. The need for division is due to the fact that the Far East is quite a large region, extremely heterogeneous in its internal composition, economic-geographical and socio-economic characteristics. Constituent entities of the Russian Federation as part of the Far Eastern Federal District have, among other things, different integration potential and level of development of the transport system. In the course of cluster analysis we use indicators of transport network development and the scale of foreign economic activity as the criteria for division. As a result of our calculations, we divide the Far East into five regions that differ in the potential of integration interaction of the transport system with the market of transport services in North-East Asia. The paper presents specific features of the selected areas, characteristics of transport systems and prospects for participation in the international transport market. In the future, it is possible to conduct a study taking into account the projects for development of the transport system of the Far East, which adjust the prospects for integration interactions

The article presents the dynamics of the gas market development for two scenarios of the economy of the Eastern regions of Russia (Eastern Siberia, Far East). We have determined rational volume of natural gas required to meet the domestic demand of the Eastern regions for gas and the volume of its exports to the NEA countries. Based on the economic estimation of efficiency of different options of export (pipeline gas, LNG), we give the prognosis of the dynamics and structure of gas export from the Eastern regions of the country. Based on the calculations using the dynamic optimization model of the country’s fuel and energy industry the following conclusions can be made for the Eastern regions of Russia till 2035: the volume of gas consumption may increase 2.1–2.3 times up to 31–35 billion m3; the export of natural gas may increase to 70–71 billion m3 at projected ‘global’ prices; the gas extraction volume may constitute 107–113 billion m3 annually. Additionally, estimating the efficiency reserve of the Russian gas export allowed prioritizing, among new export projects in the East of Russia, LNG plants (Sakhalin-LNG-2, Far Eastern LNG) and the pipeline ‘Power of Siberia’, which would allow exporting 38 billion m3 of gas to China through the pipeline and 32–33 billion m3 of LNG to the markets of the NEA countries

This study summarizes seasonal thawing data collected in different permafrost regions of northeast Asia over the 1995–2018 period. Empirical observations were undertaken under the Circumpolar Active Layer Monitoring (CALM) program at a range of sites across the permafrost landscapes of the Yana-Indigirka and Kolyma lowlands and the Chukotka Peninsula, and supplemented with 10 years of observations from volcanic mountainous areas of the Kamchatka Peninsula. Thaw depth observations, taken using mechanical probing at the end of the thawing season, and ground temperature measurements, were analyzed with respect to air temperatures trends. The data from 24 sites (16 in the Indigirka-Kolyma region, 5 in Chukotka and 3 in Kamchatka) reveal different reactions of the active layer thickness (ALT) to recent changes in atmospheric climate. In general, there is a positive relation between ALT and summer air temperatures. Since the early 2000s positive ALT anomalies (compared with mean data from all sites) prevail in the Kolyma and Chukotka area, with only one alas site showing a negative ALT trend. The only active site in the Kamchatka Mountains shows no significant thaw depth changes over the period of observation. Two other Kamchatka sites were affected during a volcanic eruption in 2012. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The status of 15 marine fish and invertebrate populations exploited by Chinese, South Korean or Japanese fishing fleets were assessed, using two newly developed computer-intensive methods, CMSY and BSM. The results show that among the 15 populations in question, 2 have collapsed, 3 are grossly over-fished and 9 are overfished. Also, we compared results of the CMSY and BSM methods, and it shows that, while the CPUE data for use with the BSM method lead to narrower confidence intervals and may modify the shape of the biomass trajectory, they do not lead to over- or underestimates of terminal B/BMSY values. These results, although still tentative because the methods used to generate them are relatively new, generally match what is known of the status and exploitation of the populations in question, which makes CMSY and BSM to be promising stock assessment approaches in data-sparse situations. Based on our results, a consistent signal is obtained, thus suggesting that a reduction in fishing pressure would be necessary to restore the abundance status of these 15 populations.

The paper examines the role of Asian regions of the country (Siberia and Far East) in production and consumption of fuel and energy resources until 2035. Based on the modeling calculations the following conclusions can be drawn: the production of energy in the regions has to increase (compared to 2015) by 14–22% and make up 1700–1825 million tons of conditional fuel; increase rates of energy consumption in Asian regions would outrun the all-Russian by 4–5%, while the region’s share in energy consumption would make up 30%; the Asian regions would remain the main providers of energy – more than 80% (1380–1480 million tons) energy resources procured in the region would be exported out, out of which 840–885 – for foreign export; the European direction would dominate while its share would decrease from 72 to 60%; Asian export can increase 1.7–1.9 times by 2035 and make up 325–360 million tons with its share increasing from 28 to 40

Copyright of Bylye Gody is the property of Cherkas Global University Press and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Summary: As a 'banal' everyday practice of state conduct, diplomatic summonses — colloquially known as a 'dressing down' — are a rich yet untapped source for research. To that end, this article's objectives are to: 1) introduce this practice of reprimand between states, along with a sample dataset of summonses in North-East Asia from 2000 to 2016; and 2) then extract valuable contributions that summonses could make to a variety of ongoing discourses. Specifically, the article highlights a summons' ability to reveal the foreign policy priorities of a state, as well as emphasise the need to think about dyadic relations as a set of two separate relations that might not exhibit the kind of reciprocity or symmetry that scholars have come to associate with inter-state relations. Along the way, the article also suggests ramifications for the ongoing literature on 'emotions', given the nature of summonses and its aspect of 'insult' or 'shaming'. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper examines two strategies that United States can use in order to block the rise of China as a regional hegemon in North-East Asia. The two strategies are balancing and buck-passing and I argue that the first is better for United States than the second. After these two strategies will be presented follows the demonstration that China is a potential hegemon in North-East Asia and that the other powers in the region are too weak to oppose, and finally, an explanation of the fact will be provided that why balancing is better for USA in this case than the buck-passing.

Copyright of Bylye Gody is the property of Cherkas Global University Press and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Copyright of Bylye Gody is the property of Cherkas Global University Press and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

The author focuses on one of the most complicated problems of North-East Asia, namely the issue of a peaceful resolution of the crisis on the Korean peninsula, the prospects of signing a peace treaty instead of the current ceasefire agreement as well as Russia's position. The author emphasizes the importance of the nuclear crisis to be resolved on the basis of agreements reached within six-party talks. This may create preconditions for concluding a peace treaty and establishing a peace mechanism for North East Asia.

Parasite fauna of the bullhead Cottus kolymensis in the rivers Penzhina and Talovka is considered for the first time. In total, 19 species of parasites are found, including two speciesspecific ones: Echinorhynchus cotti (marine) and Trichodina tumefaciens (freshwater). Boreal lowland species prevail (9) among the parasites, infusoria have the highest species diversity (7 species). Invasion of parasites typical for mass fish species, as ninespine stickleback, northern pike, burbot, and salmons, is detected. The environments favorable for the bullhead parasites are characterized by plenty organics, active mixing of bottom sediments, and abundant benthos that is favorite prey for this fish species. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Estimation of chlorophyll concentration in the marine biosphere has been the central topic of ocean color remote sensing since its advent. While various algorithms were proposed in the literature so far and tested for oceanic waters of diverse constituent composition, an independent algorithm evaluation is needed for local ocean waters that have dynamic variation in optically active water constituents such as colored dissolved organic matters (CDOM) and suspended particulate matter (SPM). This paper evaluates the performance of chlorophyll algorithms for Geostationary Ocean Color Imager (GOCI) radiometric data, using in situ measurements collected at 491 stations around Korea Peninsula during 2010–2014 from which there were 130 match-ups with GOCI data. For the evaluation in areas with high variation in SPM, water samples were first classified into three levels of SPM, and then the coefficients of candidate algorithms were newly derived for the turbidity cases using the in situ and GOCI remote sensing reflectance ( R rs ) data. Functional forms of traditional band ratio algorithms ( e.g. OC algorithms (O′Reilly et al., 1998) and Tassan's algorithm (Tassan, 1994)), fluorescence line height algorithm, and near-infrared-to-red band ratio approach were tested. The evaluation results for the coincident in situ pairs of R rs and chlorophyll measurements showed that the mean uncertainty was < 35% with the correlation around 0.8 by using the OC3 with turbidity consideration (OCT) and Tassan's algorithm with turbidity dependent coefficients (Tassan-TD). For the GOCI match-ups, the mean uncertainty for all turbidity levels was around 35% with correlation around 0.65, when OCT and Tassan-TD were used. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper examines two strategies that United States can use in order to block the rise of China as a regional hegemon in North-East Asia. The two strategies are balancing and buck-passing and I argue that the first is better for United States than the second. After these two strategies will be presented follows the demonstration that China is a potential hegemon in North-East Asia and that the other powers in the region ar too weak to oppose, and finally, an explanation of the fact will be provided that why balancing is better for USA in this case than the buck-passing. Adrian Eugen Preda is a first year student at Security and Diplomacy Master, National School of Political and Administrative Studies from Bucharest. His research interests are International Relations Theory, Theory of Alliances, Security Studies and Strategic Studies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In order to define a cost optimal 100% renewable energy system, an hourly resolved model has been created based on linear optimization of energy system parameters under given constrains. The model is comprised of five scenarios for 100% renewable energy power systems in North-East Asia with different high voltage direct current transmission grid development levels, including industrial gas demand and additional energy security. Renewables can supply enough energy to cover the estimated electricity and gas demands of the area in the year 2030 and deliver more than 2000 TW h th of heat on a cost competitive level of 84 €/MW h el for electricity. Further, this can be accomplished for a synthetic natural gas price at the 2013 Japanese liquefied natural gas import price level and at no additional generation costs for the available heat. The total area system cost could reach 69.4 €/MW h el , if only the electricity sector is taken into account. In this system about 20% of the energy is exchanged between the 13 regions, reflecting a rather decentralized character which is supplied 27% by stored energy. The major storage technologies are batteries for daily storage and power-to-gas for seasonal storage. Prosumers are likely to play a significant role due to favourable economics. A highly resilient energy system with very high energy security standards would increase the electricity cost by 23% to 85.6 €/MW h el . The results clearly show that a 100% renewable energy based system is feasible and lower in cost than nuclear energy and fossil carbon capture and storage alternatives. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper explores the causes of migration through the migrants' biographies. Although many discussions have contributed to a better understanding of migration, they still have not answered the question: why do so few people migrate? In answering this question, I utilise oral histories of Koreans migrating to Japan after the Second World War. Koreans once comprised the biggest ethnic minority in Japan, and a recent historical study of them found that the Cold War in post-war Korea caused migration of Koreans into Japan. However, considering the relatively small size of this post-war migration, there may be other contributing factors. Examining the migrants' biographies, I focus on 'migration seeds' as a factor that connects migration policy, personal history and family strategies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Phylogenetic and statistical analyses of DNA sequences of two genes, cytochrome oxidase subunit 1 (cox 1) of the mitochondrial DNA and 18S subunit of the nuclear ribosomal RNA (18S rRNA), was used to characterize Neoechinorhynchus species from fishes collected in different localities of North-East Asia. It has been found that four species can be clearly recognized using molecular markers—Neoechinorhynchus tumidus, Neoechinorhynchus beringianus, Neoechinorhynchus simansularis and Neoechinorhynchus salmonis. 18S sequences ascribed to Neoechinorhynchus crassus specimens from North-East Asia were identical to those of N. tumidus, but differed substantially from North American N. crassus. We renamed North-East Asian N. crassus specimens to N. sp., although the possibility that they represent a subspecies of N. tumidus cannot be excluded, taking into account a relatively small distance between cox 1 sequences of North-East Asian specimens of N. crassus and N. tumidus. Maximum likelihood, maximum parsimony and Bayesian inference analyses were performed for phylogeny reconstruction. All the phylogenetic trees showed that North-East Asian species of Neoechinorhynchus analyzed in this study represent independent clades, with the only exception of N. tumidus and N. sp. for 18S data. Phylogenetic analysis has shown that the majority of species sampled (N. tumidus + N. sp., N. simansularis and N. beringianus) are probably very closely related, while N. salmonis occupies separate position in the trees, possibly indicating a North American origin of this species. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Fifty-one species of lichenicolous fungi are reported from Kamchatka, all but three being new to the area. Epinephroma gen. nov., Endococcus peltigericola sp. nov. (on Peltigera membranacea), Epinephroma kamchatica sp. nov. (on Nephroma parile) and Stigmidium buelliae sp. nov. (on Buellia disciformis) are described as new to science. Phoma lobariicola is new to Asia and Russia, Epicladonia stenospora, Plectocarpon peltigerae, Sphaerellothecium propinquellum and Tremella cetrariicola are new to Asia, Zwackhiomyces sphinctrinoides is new to Russia. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Stratum Plus Journal is the property of P.P. Stratum plus and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

The main aim of the present study is to infer the post-glacial history of Abies species from north-east Asia and to test the hypotheses that coastal Abies populations suffered less from climatic fluctuations during Pleistocene glacial periods than their more continental counterparts, and that Sakhalin was a major area of introgression. Natural ranges of the fir species Abies nephrolepis, Abies sachalinensis and Abies holophylla in the Russian Far East, and of Abies gracilis, which is endemic to the Kamchatka Peninsula. Nineteen populations were sampled for allozyme analysis. Seventeen of these populations were also screened for variation at two paternally inherited chloroplast DNA microsatellite loci (cpSSR) and variation at one maternally inherited mitochondrial marker ( nad4-3/4). Finally a subset of 11 populations was analysed with amplified fragment length polymorphism (AFLP). Comparisons were made with already available Abies sibirica data. For all sets of markers, we estimated genetic diversity and differentiation using an analysis of molecular variance (AMOVA). Population clustering was assessed with a Bayesian approach implemented in v.2.3. Among the three major species, A. sibirica, A. nephrolepis and A. sachalinensis, A. sachalinensis demonstrated the highest cytoplasmic and nuclear diversity and the most continental species, A. sibirica, the lowest. Both nuclear and mitochondrial DNA markers revealed the presence of a transitional zone on Sakhalin Island between A. nephrolepis and A. sachalinensis of south Sakhalin. The analysis delivered very clear results confirming the admixed origin of A. sachalinensis, with a genetic contribution from A. nephrolepis. No variation in cytoplasmic markers was found in A. gracilis, suggesting the occurrence of a recent bottleneck. There is a clear reduction of genetic diversity in Abies species from the Pacific coast into the continent. The higher diversity in A. sachalinensis could have two causes: a larger effective population size in the islands due to relatively stable climatic conditions and consequently less pronounced demographic fluctuations in population size and/or hybridization with continental and Japanese populations. Sakhalin Island is a major transitional zone for conifer species. Finally, the fir from Kamchatka, A. gracilis, should be regarded as a separate species closely related to the A. nephrolepis- A. sachalinensis complex. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aim We used microsatellite markers to determine the range-wide genetic structure of Picea jezoensis and to test the hypothesis that the past population history of this widespread cold-temperate spruce has resulted in a low level of genetic variation and in imprints of inbreeding and bottlenecks in isolated marginal populations. Location The natural range of the three infraspecific taxa of P. jezoensis throughout north-east Asia, including isolated marginal populations. Methods We analysed a total of 990 individuals across 33 natural populations using four nuclear microsatellite loci. Population genetic structure was assessed by analysing genetic diversity indices for each population, examining clustering (model-based and distance-based) among populations, evaluating signals of recent bottlenecks, and testing for isolation by distance (IBD). Results The 33 populations were clustered into five groups. The isolated marginal groups of populations (in Kamchatka, Kii in Japan and South Korea) exhibited low levels of allelic richness and gene diversity and a complete or almost complete loss of rare alleles. A recent bottleneck was detected in the populations in Hokkaido across to mid-Sakhalin. The IBD analysis revealed that genetic divergence between populations was higher for populations separated by straits. Main conclusions Picea jezoensis showed a higher level of genetic differentiation among populations ( FST = 0.101) than that observed in the genus Picea in general. This might be attributable to the fact that historically the straits around Japan acted as barriers to the movement of seeds and pollen. The low levels of genetic diversity in the isolated marginal population groups may reflect genetic drift that has occurred after isolation. Evidence of a significant bottleneck between the Hokkaido and mid-Sakhalin populations implies that the cold, dry climate in the late Pleistocene resulted in the decline and contraction of populations, and that there was a subsequent expansion followed by a founder effect when conditions improved. The high polymorphism observed in P. jezoensis nuclear microsatellites revealed cryptic genetic structure that organellar DNA markers failed to identify in a previous study. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Changes in world trade and the shipping environment have created ever-increasing competition between ports in North-east Asia, especially Korea and China. Following intensive state investment in port developments through large-scale projects, Chinese ports now threaten to oust Busan in Korea as the regional hub. To identify and evaluate the competitiveness of major ports in the region, this paper identifies the components influencing their competitiveness and presents a structure for evaluating them. Based on the literature related to port selection and competition, a regional survey of shipping companies and owners employed factor analysis to reveal that port service, hinterland condition, availability, convenience, logistics cost, regional centre and connectivity are the determining factors in these regions. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

This paper reviews the current status of service industries in the north-east Asian countries: China, Japan and Korea. The paper recognizes the need to increase the efficiency and competitiveness of service industries in the region. The paper then discusses Korean experience in deregulation and opening of service industries to foreign direct investment (FDI). Specifically, the paper examines FDI inflows into Korean service industries, identifying effects of recent regulatory changes in service industries in Korea. The paper derives policy implications regarding service industries in the region. Balanced view on service industries and broader approach to free trade agreement (FTA) are suggested. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We performed U-Pb dating of detrital zircons collected from Middle–Upper Jurassic strata of the Sugoi synclinorium and Cretaceous rocks of the Omsukchan (Balygychan-Sugoi) basin, in order to identify their provenance and correlate Jurassic–Cretaceous sedimentation of the south-eastern Verkhoyansk-Kolyma orogenic belt with various magmatic belts of the north-east Asia active margins. In the Middle–Late Jurassic, the Uda-Murgal magmatic arc represented the main source area of clastics, suggesting that the Sugoi basin is a back-arc basin. A major shift in the provenance signature occurred during the Aptian, when granitoids of the Main (Kolyma) batholith belt, along with volcanic rocks of the Uyandina-Yasachnaya and Uda-Murgal arcs, became the main sources of clastics deposited in the Omsukchan basin. In a final Mesozoic provenance shift, granitoids of the Main (Kolyma) batholith belt, along with volcanic and plutonic rocks of the Uyandina-Yasachnaya and Okhotsk-Chukotka arcs, became the dominant sources for clastics in the Omsukchan basin in the latest Cretaceous. A broader comparison of detrital zircon age distributions in Jurassic–Cretaceous deposits across the south-eastern Verkhoyansk-Kolyma orogen illustrates that the Sugoi and Omsukchan basins did not form along the distal eastern portion of the Verkhoyansk passive margin, but in the Late Mesozoic back-arc basins. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The purpose of this paper is to clarify similarities and differences in the family of older people in North-East Asia where there is a common tradition of filial piety based on Confucianism and also now the experience of rapid population aging. Compared with Western countries, in this region many older people are still living with their children. However, the ratio of cohabitation has been declining. Changes in living arrangements affect family relations and family functions. Though older people are still maintaining close relationships with their children, it is getting difficult to rely on children when they become frail. In North-East Asia, the core family caregiver is still a daughter-in-law but the increase in employment and the changing attitudes of women make it difficult to secure family caregivers, and so social services outside the home became inevitable. Now facing population aging and financial difficulties, each country is trying to find an optimum balance between social services and family care in order to maintain a sustainable social security system. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]