Regions Of Country Research Articles

Spatiotemporal evolution of hedging effects in Asia-Pacific countries amid Sino-US competition: Insights from massive event data.

Facing the pressure of Sino-US strategic competition, countries in the Asia-Pacific region often adopt hedging strategies to minimize risk and protect their interests. If implemented, these strategies could impact relationships between countries and lead to political instability. Owing to a lack of theoretical evaluation frameworks and methods, few studies have examined the implementation effects of hedging strategies adopted by Asia-Pacific countries amid Sino-US competition. This study proposes a novel four-quadrant evaluation theoretical framework, and constructs a Geopolitical Relation Index and a Comparative Relation Index based on the Global Database of Events, Language, and Tone massive event data. Since 2000, the effects of hedging strategies in 19 Asia-Pacific countries against China and the US have been dynamically quantified. The research reveals that Asia-Pacific countries' dynamic performances over 24 years can be categorized into three groups: significantly closer to China, significantly closer to the US, and swinging. Since implementing the Belt and Road Initiative, countries close to China have deepened their ties, while those aligned with the US have strengthened their ties. Asia-Pacific countries have demonstrated similar characteristics from Obama's presidency to Biden's presidency. The results contribute to the dynamic assessment and ongoing monitoring of the execution effects of Asia-Pacific countries' diplomatic strategies towards China and the US, offering valuable insights for timely refinement of their foreign policies.

The Sea Level Rise under Global Warming

Global warming is the biggest environmental issue facing humanity in the 21st century, and the resulting sea level rise (SLR) is a major disaster that humans need to confront. According to predictions, even in the most optimistic scenario, global temperatures will still rise by 0.3-1.7 before 2100, and sea levels will continue to rise by at least 2.3 meters within the next 2000 years. Even though many regions are currently experiencing severe SLR and many countries have implemented corresponding strategies, there is little can be done for small and underdeveloped countries. This study summarizes the current situation and predictions of SLR through a literature review, and compiles various hazards caused by SLR, as well as how different countries in different regions are responding to it, and proposes opinions on how to deal with SLR. It can be used as a reference for readers who want to understand SLR, its hazards, and how to deal with it, so that readers can have a clear understanding of the relevant knowledge about SLR.

Can monetary and fiscal policy reduce CO2 emissions? Analysis of regional country groups

PurposeThis study examines the impact of monetary and fiscal policy on carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions from fossil fuel energy consumption. The study extends the literature by linking monetary and fiscal policy to climate action for achieving the net zero emissions goal.Design/methodology/approachIn the empirical analysis, the monetary policy indicator is the lending interest rate, the fiscal policy indicator is the tax revenue to GDP ratio while CO2 emissions from fossil fuel energy consumption is the CO2 emissions indicator.FindingsContractionary monetary and fiscal policy jointly reduce CO2 emissions in the regions of the Americas and Africa. Contractionary monetary and fiscal policy combined with higher renewable energy consumption jointly reduce CO2 emissions in the regions of the Americas, Asia and Europe. Also, contractionary monetary and fiscal policy combined with higher institutional quality jointly reduce CO2 emissions in African countries. Higher renewable energy consumption reduces CO2 emissions in Africa, Asia, Europe and Americas regions while strong institutional quality consistently reduce CO2 emissions in Europe and the Americas.Practical implicationsMonetary and fiscal authorities should strengthen existing institutions, increase renewable energy consumption, and increase interest rate and taxes on the fossil fuel economy in a coordinated manner to reduce CO2 emissions from fossil fuel energy consumption.Originality/valueThere are calls for monetary and fiscal authorities to use policy tools to support ongoing efforts to achieve the net zero emissions goal. However, limited attention has been paid to the regional differences in the relationship between monetary-fiscal policy and CO2 emissions.

Impact of COVID-19 on Utilization of Healthcare Services Among People Living with HIV (PLHIV): A Systematic Review

Background and Objectives: People living with HIV/AIDS have been impacted notably by the COVID-19 pandemic in diverse dimensions. Although some impacts of COVID-19 on PLHIV have been well documented, there is still insufficient research that captures the overall understanding of the implications of COVID-19 for the healthcare utilization among PLHIV. This review aims to evaluate the impact of COVID-19 on PLHIV, narrowing it down to women living with HIV/AIDS. Materials and Methods: An electronic database search of primary studies that obtained information from health facility data regarding PLHIV since 2020 was carried out according to the PRISMA statement. A combination of search terms, e.g., “COVID-19 pandemic”, “SARS-CoV-2”, “Health services utilization”, “People living with Human immunodeficiency virus”, was included. Results: There was an overall decline in the utilization of health services such as medical consultations, ART uptake, and viral load monitoring by PLHIV at primary health centers at the forefront of care delivery. However, the countries in the sub-Saharan African region showed a progressive service increase over the pandemic. There was a scarcity of research on the impact of COVID-19 on women populations living with HIV/AIDS. Other methods of healthcare delivery such as telemedicine and postage services were instrumental to the delivery of HIV care services. Conclusions: The COVID-19 pandemic reduced the overall uptake of healthcare services among PLHIV and women living with HIV/AIDS. There is a need to boost research and strengthen health emergency preparedness for PLHIV, particularly women living with HIV/AIDS, during pandemics and further harness and maximize the use of contemporary healthcare delivery methods other than the traditional ones.

Untargeted Characterization and Biological Activity of Amazonian Aqueous Stem Bark Extracts by Liquid and Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry.

Aqueous stem bark extracts of Aspidosperma rigidum Rusby, Couroupita guianensis Aubl., Monteverdia laevis (Reissek) Biral, and Protium sagotianum Marchand have been reported as traditional remedies in several countries of the Amazonian region. Despite previous research, further investigation to characterize secondary metabolites and the biological activity of extracts is needed to derive potential applications. Metabolic profiling was carried out using liquid and gas chromatography coupled with mass spectrometry (UHPLC-MS/MS and GC-MS). The chemical composition of the studied plants was further compared by principal component analysis (PCA). Additionally, chemical profiles were correlated with antimicrobial and toxicity activities, which suggested potential metabolites for future research. We identified 16 and 32 compounds by UHPLC-MS/MS and GC-MS analysis, respectively. Antimicrobial activity was detected in three stem bark extracts. C. guianensis showed inhibition of all tested microorganisms, including antibiotic-resistant strains. Molecular networking approaches, in silico tools, and Pearson's correlation showed that antifungal compounds could be a terpene glycoside (r = 0.918) and/or a phenolic (r = 0.882) metabolite class. This study highlights the use of the established procedure in exploring the metabolomes of these species, which could be a novel source of antimicrobial drug discovery. Coupling the observed biological potential with UHPLC-MS/MS data has also accelerated the tracing of their bioactive compounds. These findings update the state of the art regarding the chemical composition and biological activity of the plant extracts, defining potential new applications for the pharmaceutical applications.

Economic and Social Transformations in the Caspian ‘Rentier States’

The article raises the issue of various challenges and conditions related to the economic and social transformation of post-Soviet countries in the Caspian region. Effective economic transformation was limited by significant dependence on Russia in this respect and the lack of regional cooperation. In recent years, the newly established countries of the region have largely focused on exporting energy raw materials. All countries in the Caspian region are examples of the “paradox of wealth” phenomenon related to energy nationalism. Countries producing fossil fuels control the energy industry, which enables them to pursue specific political and social goals.

The Protracted Rohingya Refugee Crisis: A Growing Incertitude for Bangladesh, the Rohingyas, and the Regional Countries

The protracted Rohingya refugee crisis is one of the most significant ongoing refugee crises in the world. The Rohingyas have been facing decades of discrimination, statelessness and targeted violence in Myanmar which forced them to cross the Bangladeshi border for saving lives. The Rohingyas entered into Bangladesh after violent attacks in 1978, 1991-1992 and in 2016. The recent influx of Rohingya arrival in 2016 crossed the previous records that shifted the number of Rohingya refuges in Bangladesh to 1.2 million. This significant number of refugees have not only created humanitarian crisis but also security risks. Though, the host country is getting humanitarian assistance from international communities to support the refugees but the security risks are getting less attention. This study emphasizes on the security aspects of this refugee crisis. It explains that the protracted Rohingya refugee crisis has created multi-dimensional non-traditional security risks. The host country is in the risk of several national security issues and the Rohingyas are also facing human security crisis. This crisis has also posed security risks towards the regional countries at the same time. It also explains the necessity of immediate attention to resolve the crisis permanently by short-term and long-term measures.

Early intervention in psychosis programs in Africa, Asia and Latin America; challenges and recommendations.

While early intervention in psychosis (EIP) programs have been increasingly implemented across the globe, many initiatives from Africa, Asia and Latin America are not widely known. The aims of the current review are (a) to describe population-based and small-scale, single-site EIP programs in Africa, Asia and Latin America, (b) to examine the variability between programs located in low-and-middle income (LMIC) and high-income countries in similar regions and (c) to outline some of the challenges and provide recommendations to overcome existing obstacles. EIP programs in Africa, Asia and Latin America were identified through experts from the different target regions. We performed a systematic search in Medline, Embase, APA PsycInfo, Web of Science and Scopus up to February 6, 2024. Most EIP programs in these continents are small-scale, single-site programs that serve a limited section of the population. Population-based programs with widespread coverage and programs integrated into primary health care are rare. In Africa, EIP programs are virtually absent. Mainland China is one of the only LMICs that has begun to take steps toward developing a population-based EIP program. High-income Asian countries (e.g. Hong Kong and Singapore) have well-developed, comprehensive programs for individuals with early psychosis, while others with similar economies (e.g. South Korea and Japan) do not. In Latin America, Chile is the only country in the process of providing population-based EIP care. Financial resources and integration in mental health care, as well as the availability of epidemiological data on psychosis, impact the implementation of EIP programs. Given the major treatment gap of early psychosis in Africa, Latin America and large parts of Asia, publicly funded, locally-led and accessible community-based EIP care provision is urgently needed.

Bartonellosis in World Health Organization Eastern Mediterranean Region, a systematic review and meta-analysis.

Bartonella is a vector-borne zoonotic pathogen, which could also be transmitted directly and cause a variety of clinical illnesses. This study aimed to investigate the prevalence of Bartonella in countries in the WHO Eastern Mediterranean Region (WHO-EMR) region. We searched using the keywords Bartonella and the name of each country in the WHO-EMR in databases such as PubMed, ISI (Web of Science), Scopus, and Google Scholar, with a publication date range of 1990-2022 and limited to English articles. We evaluated the quality of the studies using the STROBE 6-item checklist and used the random effects model to integrate the findings of the included studies. A total of 45 papers out of 240 were included in the analysis. The results showed the prevalence of Bartonella infection among endocarditis patients was 3.8% (95% CI: 0.2-7.4) and the seroprevalence of Bartonella among other people was 27.5% (95% CI: 13.5-41.5). The overall prevalence of Bartonella spp. among animals, as determined by molecular, serological, and culture methods, was 11.9% (95% CI: 5.7-18.2), 38.9% (95% CI: 27.5-50.2), and 1.7% (95% CI: 0.5-2.9), respectively. Furthermore, the prevalence of Bartonella spp. in ectoparasites was 3.9% (95% CI: 3.5-5.2), with fleas (6.2%) showing a higher prevalence compared to lice (4.9%) and ticks (1.0%). The detection of Bartonella in all animal and ectoparasites species and human populations in the WHO-EMR with prevalence ranging from 0.3% to 23% is concerning, emphasizes the importance of conducting more comprehensive studies to gain a deeper understanding of the spread of Bartonella in these areas.

Tác động của cấm vận tới xuất khẩu của các nước châu Á- Thái Bình Dương

This article analyzes the impact of sanctions on the exports of countries in the Asia-Pacific region, focusing on five main types: arms, military, trade, financial, and travel sanctions. Using a trade gravity model with control variables such as GDP per capita and geographical distance, the study reveals that different sanctions have varied effects on international trade. The results indicate that trade and financial sanctions have a significant negative impact on exports, reducing the flow of goods and exerting a profound influence on national economies. In contrast, military and arms sanctions show inconsistent effects. Travel sanctions also have a negative impact but to a lesser extent, primarily through indirect economic consequences. The study highlights the importance of the adaptability of countries in mitigating the impact of sanctions, including seeking new trade partners and adjusting export strategies. These findings provide a basis for policymakers to develop appropriate response strategies to protect and promote national economic interests. The study sheds light on how different types of sanctions impact exports in Asia-Pacific, helping policymakers identify economic risks and develop effective responses.

The new multipolar world order and the south Caucasus

The article will analyze the obvious phenomenon of changing global architecture of world power and domination in the 21st century, which implies the transition from the unipolar dominance of the United States of America to a multipolar world order. In addition, the impact of the mentioned global changes on the South Caucasus region will be discussed. This article aims to analyze the changes from unipolar to multipolar world order in terms of economics, military balance, security, political conditions, and subsequent challenges for the South Caucasus. The South Caucasus region is already facing complex problems caused by the recent changes in global great power politics. The article analyzes in detail the interests of global players in relation to the countries of the South Caucasus region, their actions in the past, present and actions expected from them. The presented article is also important from the point of view that only a few articles and works have been published about the South Caucasus region in the context of the transition from a unipolar system to a multipolar system, but given the current processes in the region, readers' interest in the topic is great.

Working Poverty in Kazakhstan: Causes and Solutions

Objective: To consider the causes, consequences and possible solutions to the problem of working poverty in Kazakhstan. Methods: The paper uses methods of statistical data processing, dynamic and structural analysis, and comparative analysis. Results: Working poverty in Kazakhstan means that people, having jobs, cannot provide basic needs due to low wages, unstable employment and limited access to social guarantees. The main causes of working poverty include low wages in some industries with low labor productivity, a relatively high proportion of informal employment in some industries and regions, and uneven economic, infrastructural and demographic development of the country's regions. Conclusions: The analysis of statistical data on the incomes of the population in Kazakhstan shows that the problem of working poverty has a multi-layered character and requires an integrated approach to solve it. It is necessary to regularly monitor data, develop and implement measures aimed at increasing wages, combating informal employment and improving the level of education and vocational training, and stimulating economic growth in regions with high levels of poverty. This approach will significantly reduce the level of working poverty and improve the quality of life of working citizens in Kazakhstan.

Социокультурные практики молодежи в туризме

The article examines the socio-cultural practices of young people in tourism. According to the article, the study revealed a number of new trends in the modern travel industry: the reorientation of external youth tourism to domestic tourism; the desire for independent choice of travel without the help of travel agencies and tour bureaus; the desire to travel alone; the reduction of time for leisure. Over the past five years, the frequency of trips has noticeably decreased among those respondents who travel rarely. This was indicated by 57.8 % of respondents. In addition, they began to choose more budget-friendly types of travel. As for respondents who travel frequently, their travel strategy has changed: choice of internal tourism (61.3 %), replacement of trips to European countries with countries of the Asian region (34.3 %).

Основные проблемы и перспективы реализации российских арктических СПГ-проектов в новых геополитических условиях

The European energy market is currently facing a paradox. On the one hand, European Union countries are actively pursuing sanctions aimed at limiting the development of the Russian energy sector. On the other hand, they are seeking to compensate for the sharp decline in pipeline gas supplies—particularly after the explosions damaging the Nord Stream and Nord Stream 2 pipelines—by increasing their imports of liquefied natural gas (LNG), including Russian-produced LNG. Meanwhile, Russian companies, notably Novatek and Gazprom, supported by the government, are striving to advance new LNG projects. Among these, the Arctic LNG 2 and Murmansk LNG projects are regarded as highly promising for successful implementation. This study identifies the leading LNG importers by the end of 2023, which include countries in the Asia-Pacific region—such as China, Japan, South Korea, India, and Thailand—along with EU countries like France and Spain. Key LNG exporters by the end of 2023 include the United States, Qatar, Australia, and Russia. The purpose of this study is to analyze the state of the global LNG market under the new geopolitical conditions and to explore the challenges and prospects for the implementation of Russian Arctic LNG projects. The study’s scientific contribution lies in assessing the potential for new domestic LNG projects and identifying the needs of energy companies for gas tankers. The next phase of the research will involve evaluating the prospects for the sale of LNG from Russia, the United States, and Qatar to Asia-Pacific and European Union markets.

A scoping review of participatory approaches in child maltreatment research across Europe.

Participatory approaches in child maltreatment (CM) research increasingly focus on involving children, youth, and adults as co-researchers. However, little is known about their use in Europe. To review the European literature on participatory approaches in CM research. The study was undertaken by members of the Euro-CAN (COST Action 19,106) representing 35 countries in the European region. Focusing on the European research literature, we searched eight databases for studies investigating CM and using a participatory approach. The review followed scoping review guidelines and PRISMA-ScR, with thematic analysis for data synthesis. We identified 4927 potentially relevant articles, of which 307 were fully assessed for eligibility, and eight were ultimately included. The included studies addressed all types of CM; however, only two studies involved child and youth survivors of CM, while six involved children and youth from the community. Notably, no studies involving adult survivors were found. The findings indicate that children, youth, and adults can be involved in all stages of the research process, but the level of participation remains low. Eighteen different participatory methods were identified, and the ethical procedures and safeguarding of co-investigators varied significantly. Several barriers and challenges were identified, including issues related to adult gatekeeping behaviors, parental consent, confidentiality, and practical difficulties. The involvement of children, youth, and adults as co-researchers in CM research across Europe remains limited, with considerable variation in methods and procedures. These findings inform an ongoing e-Delphi study aimed at building consensus recommendations for participatory CM research.

Forecasting Carbon Emission Reductions: The Role of Solar Energy in Substituting Coal for Sustainable Development Goals

This research aligns with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly SDG 7 (affordable and clean energy) and SDG 13 (climate action), by introducing a comprehensive model for carbon emissions reduction through the substitution of clean energy to achieve the SDGs. The analysis begins with panel regression using historical data from 2008 to 2023, focusing on selected countries in the Asia-Pacific region, including coal-exporting countries like Indonesia and Australia, as well as coal-importing countries like China. The analysis is then extended with an ARIMA approach to forecast coal and solar energy consumption for the period 2024-2030. Subsequently, the forecast for carbon emissions reduction is conducted on average, analyzed using the previous panel regression equation by introducing values from the ARIMA analysis into pessimistic, moderate, and optimistic categories. The findings of this study indicate that solar energy consumption plays a crucial role in reducing carbon emissions, while coal consumption increases carbon emissions. On the other hand, the optimistic approach can facilitate the dominance of solar energy in the overall energy mix, resulting in significantly lower carbon emissions growth rates. Therefore, this research emphasizes the need to implement an optimistic model to drive the achievement of SDG 7 and SDG 13 by 2030.

Understanding Turkey’s return to the Horn of Africa: historical legacies and their influence on current relations

ABSTRACT This study examines the relations between Turkey and the Horn of Africa, focusing on historical legacies and their impact on relationships. The examination of Turkey’s relations to the Horn of Africa can be categorized into three stages. The initial stage might be characterized as a period of active involvement during which the Ottomans emerged as a prominent participant in the Horn of Africa and the Red Sea areas. The historical legacies of this particular period play a significant role in enhancing our understanding of the opportunities and challenges that shaped Turkey’s subsequent interactions with the Horn region. The subsequent period, spanning from 1923 to 1998 can be characterized as an era of active withdrawal and shrinking from Empire to Statist Republicanism, during which Turkey’s engagement and relations with the Horn countries were constrained. The third phase, which has its origins in the Open to Africa document from 1998 and materialized in 2002 with the rise of AKP, can be interpreted as a period characterized by Turkey’s revitalized efforts to foster comprehensive collaborations with the countries in the Horn region. The research utilizes an analytical and interpretive methodology to examine various documents and secondary sources of literature.

Selected Bibliography of Publications on Slavic, East European, and Eurasian Librarianship and Collections, 2018–2023

ABSTRACT The Bibliography column documents scholarly communication in English for the interdisciplinary fields of librarianship and Slavic, East European and Eurasian (SEEE) studies. While the bibliography includes books, articles, exhibition catalogs, reports, etc. that were published in paper or digital form from all over the world, the vast majority of entries represents works published in North America and Europe (especially countries of the SEEE region, for obvious reasons).

Analysis and transformation of the water transport component of the ITC North-South in the context of the aggravation of the global confrontation

The article is devoted to the analysis of the routes of the Euro-Asian international transport corridor (ITC) "North-South," changing the status, conditions of functioning and directions of development in the context of the water transport component. The basis for the transformation of the North-South MTK is a number of strategic problems: the first is the low level of use of the corridor's inland waterways with a long river network connecting the Caspian and Baltic Seas; the second - insufficient contribution to the international cargo base on the Russian section of national cargo owners, weak participation in the formation of international cargo flows of the countries of the Caspian region; a sharp aggravation of the global confrontation between Russia and the collective West with a reduction in trade relations between Russia and the EU countries, including the passage of Eurasian transit through Russia. The changes proposed in the work set new approaches to the formation of promising international logistics of this Eurasian corridor, which excludes the participation of the EU countries in the current conditions, and provides for the maximum involvement of the logistics potential of the water transport component in the functioning of the ITC North-South.

«The Russian paradox»: high education/low human capital

Some aspects of contemporary Russia’s population profile — such as its depopulation and steady surfeit of deaths over births — once seemed distinctive, but are today increasingly common in both Europe and the UN’s other «developed regions». But other aspects still remain highly distinctive. We examine one of those here: we call it Russia’s «high education/low human capital paradox». Despite levels of schooling comparable to other European countries, and to developed countries in other regions, Russian adult mortality levels are no better than «Third World», and by some measures, actually look «Fourth World», e.g. in countries with the lowest level of socio-economic development. Furthermore, despite its sizeable cadre of highly educated men and women, Russia also appears to have serious problems with «knowledge creation». Projections suggest Russia’s working-age adult mortality profile will remain unfavorable for decades to come, and that Russia’s global share of highly educated manpower is set to decline over the coming generation. There are economic and potentially geopolitical implications to such trends. We conclude by noting similarities to Russia’s high education/high adult mortality elsewhere in the former Soviet space.