Eastern Asian Countries Research Articles

The disease burden of bladder cancer and its attributable risk factors in five Eastern Asian countries, 1990–2019: a population-based comparative study

BackgroundsThe study aimed to estimate bladder cancer burden and its attributable risk factors in China, Japan, South Korea, North Korea and Mongolia from 1990 to 2019, to discuss the potential causes of the disparities.MethodsData were obtained from the Global Burden of Disease Study 2019. The annual percent change (APC) and average annual percent change (AAPC) were calculated by Joinpoint analysis, and the independent age, period and cohort effects were estimated by age-period-cohort analysis.ResultsIn 2019, the highest incidence (7.70 per 100,000) and prevalence (51.09 per 100,000) rates of bladder cancer were in Japan, while the highest mortality (2.31 per 100,000) and DALY rates (41.88 per 100,000) were in South Korea and China, respectively. From 1990 to 2019, the age-standardized incidence and prevalence rates increased in China, Japan and South Korea (AAPC > 0) and decreased in Mongolia (AAPC < 0), while mortality and DALY rates decreased in all five countries (AAPC < 0). Age effects showed increasing trends for incidence, mortality and DALY rates, while the prevalence rates increased first and then decreased in older groups. The cohort effects showed downward trends from 1914–1918 to 2004–2008. Smoking was the greatest contributor and males had the higher burden than females.ConclusionBladder cancer was still a major public health problem in East Asia. Male and older population suffered from higher risk, and smoking played an important role. It is recommended that more efficient preventions and interventions should be operated among high-risk populations, thereby reduce bladder cancer burden in East Asia.

Effect of atmospheric response induced by preceding typhoon on movement of subsequent typhoon over Northwestern Pacific

This study investigates the atmospheric interactions between two closely located typhoons in 2019. Typhoons in the Western Pacific significantly impact Eastern and Southeastern Asian countries, leading to various damages. As global warming is expected to increase typhoon intensity, accurate track forecasting becomes crucial for coastal disaster management. Despite the existing knowledge about the influence of typhoon activities on the atmospheric background, limited research addresses the atmospheric response between two typhoons. The study focuses on the cases of LEKIMA and KROSA, occurring simultaneously in 2019, and utilizes the Weather Research and Forecasting (WRF) model for simulations. The experimental setup involves comparing two scenarios: one with both typhoons and one with LEKIMA removed. Results reveal LEKIMA-induced distinctive atmospheric responses, including the closure of the western North Pacific subtropical high (WNPSH) boundary and the formulation of a wave train, influencing KROSA’s stagnation. The absence of LEKIMA allows KROSA to move more freely along the steering flow. Furthermore, the study highlights the potential of atmospheric models for understanding typhoon effects at regional to mesoscale levels. A comprehensive analysis of similar cases could enhance typhoon predictions, contributing to better damage mitigation strategies.

Mapping the cobalt and lithium supply chains for e-mobility transition: Significance of overseas investments and vertical integration in evaluating mineral supply risks

The potential shortages of critical materials such as cobalt and lithium induced by the global e-mobility transition have recently raised enormous concerns. Here, we map the global cobalt and lithium material flows and discuss their supply risks at both country and company levels. We demonstrate highly concentrated supply chains for cobalt and lithium, especially in the production (69 % of cobalt in DRC and 80 % of lithium in Australia and Chile), refining (over half in China), and for cathode materials and cell production (by Eastern Asian countries). The top 10 companies control around 80 % of global mining and refining production. Overseas investments, particularly by multinational companies, may potentially decrease supply chain concentration. Many upstream companies engage in vertical integration to enhance business value, whereas downstream companies invest in mining or refining operations for a reliable supply. Achieving supply chain security for cobalt and lithium requires transparent international trading systems, responsible sourcing practices, and enhanced recycling.

Being yourself is a defect: analysis of documented rights violations related to sexual orientation, gender identity and HIV in 2022 using the REAct system in six eastern European, Caucasus and Central Asian countries.

Removing legal barriers to HIV services is crucial for the global 2030 goal of ending the HIV and AIDS epidemic, particularly in eastern Europe, the Caucasus and central Asia. Despite state commitments to uphold human rights, gay, bisexual and other men who have sex with men (gbMSM), along with transgender people (TP) still face stigma and discrimination. This article presents an analysis of rights violations based on sexual orientation and gender identity (SOGI) and HIV reported in 2022 across six countries, highlighting features and their links to legislation and law enforcement practices. We examined documented cases of rights violations among gbMSM and TP in Armenia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Uzbekistan and Ukraine in 2022 using the REAct system, a tool for documenting and responding to rights violations against key populations. Initially, we employed directed content analysis based on Yogyakarta Principles to analyse narratives of violations. A codebook was developed through contextual, manifest and latent coding, with themes, categories and codes converted into quantitative variables for statistical analysis. Descriptive statistics were used to identify the characteristics of violations. A total of 456 cases of rights violations related to SOGI and HIV were documented, ranging from 22 cases in Tajikistan to 217 in Ukraine. Most violations concerned gbMSM (76.5%), with one-fifth involving TP, predominantly transgender women. Complex violations with multiple perpetrators or infringements were documented in Armenia and central Asia. Privacy rights were commonly violated, often through outing. Cases of violations of the right to the highest attainable standard of health (13.6%) and protection from medical abuses (2.6%) were also documented. Other rights violations were sporadic, with each country exhibiting distinct patterns of violated rights and types of violations. In Ukraine, the full-scale war in 2022 influenced the nature of documented cases, reflecting the challenges faced by gbMSM and TP. Monitoring rights violations proved effective for assessing the situation of gbMSM and TP, particularly in the insufficiently studied and diverse eastern Europe, Caucasus and central Asia regions. As rights violations are linked to both legislation and law enforcement practices, comprehensive interventions to minimize structural and interpersonal stigma are essential.

Evaluation of the genus Hypnea phytochemical and pharmacological potential

The red seaweed Hypnea J.V. Lamouroux is a cosmopolitan genus of the family Cystocloniaceae. It has been used in folk medicine, especially in eastern Asian countries. However, little literature highlighted the phytochemical and pharmaceutical values of its different species. In the past centuries, and until now, different Hypnea species have also been widely utilized as a main component in food recipes because they are rich in various bioactive compounds including polysaccharides, particularly ‘κ-carrageenans’, polyphenolics, vitamins, tannins, saponins, terpenoids, alkaloids, sterols, and minerals. Additionally, the aforementioned constituents have been shown to combat different diseases and complications due to their outstanding antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, antibacterial, anti-proliferative, gastroprotective, anticoagulant, enzyme inhibitor, and immunostimulatory potentials. Considering the aforementioned issues, this review aims to provide detailed information about the different phytochemical and pharmacological potentials of species of the genus Hypnea, as well as their mode of action.

How can reading and writing be promoted in Anglophone West Africa? Evidence from new perspective: a word of mouth from experts in basic education

ABSTRACT The unintended consequence of primary school enrolment is to reduce illiteracy among pupils; however, increased school enrolment in sub-Sahara Africa yields fewer results of equipping pupils with reading and writing skills as many primary school pupils can hardly read and write. The study explores barriers influencing pupils’ poor reading and writing skills and strategies to promote reading and writing using qualitative inquiry. Thus, a semi-structured interview was administered to collect data from experts in primary education from the two most populated countries in West Africa (Ghana and Nigeria) that share similar educational policies, priorities, and challenges. The study's finding indicates that the illiteracy of parents, inadequate school facilities, and lack of community support for reading and writing activities were the fundamental barriers. The study suggests that schools adopt reading promotion tools used in Eastern Asia and Pacific countries as a national strategy. Parental involvement and community support for reading promotion activities should be encouraged, and primary schools should be resourced with reading materials, cheaper internet for schools, and digital learning facilities should be provided, which will make reading and writing less stressful and fun for pupils.

Proactive biological control of spotted lanternfly: Parasitism and host feeding behavior of Anastatus orientalis (Hymenoptera: Eupelmidae) on Lycorma delicatula (Hemiptera: Fulgoridae) egg masses

Lycorma delicatula (Hemiptera: Fulgoridae) is a recognized threat to perennial vine, tree crops, and forest ecosystems. Native to China, L. delicatula has invaded eastern Asian countries (The Republic of Korea [i.e., South Korea] and Japan) and is spreading rapidly through the eastern and mid-western regions of the USA. Stablished populations in these regions present a significant incursion threat to California’s multi-billion-dollar perennial crops (e.g., grape and nut production). As a part of a proactive classical biological control program targeting L. delicatula in California, USA, the egg parasitoid, Anastatus orientalis (Hymenoptera: Eupelmidae), is being evaluated for possible use against this pest should it establish in California. In support of this proactive research, the oviposition and host feeding behavior of A. orientalis was investigated. The effect of time exposure (i.e., 48-, 72-, 96-, 168-hours) on the percentage of eggs parasitized by 7-day old female parasitoids previously exposed to L. delicatula egg masses in presence/absence of a conspecific male was also investigated. Parasitism rates were significantly higher after 96 h of exposure time and offspring sex ratio did not change in any of the treatments (i.e., exposure time, presence/absence of a male). In another experiment, mated and unmated female parasitoids of three different ages (i.e., ≤ 24-, 72- and 120 h of age) were digitally video recorded for 24 h while foraging on L. delicatula egg masses and host use behaviors were quantified. Anastatus orientalis females that were 72 h old (mated) and 120 h (mated and unmated) spent significantly more time antennating and probing/ovipositing in L. delicatula egg masses than younger unmated females. An increase in host feeding behavior was always associated with increased oviposition behavior. No detrimental effects of host feeding on rates of parasitism and A. orientalis offspring emergence were detected. This finding confirms that A. orientalis is a concurrent parasitoid and can use the same host egg for feeding and parasitism. Implications of these results on possible rearing and release strategies of A. orientalis as a biological control agent of L. delicatula are discussed.

The Global Temperament Project: Parent-reported temperament in infants, toddlers, and children from 59 nations.

Data from 83,423 parent reports of temperament (surgency, negative affectivity, and regulatory capacity) in infants, toddlers, and children from 341 samples gathered in 59 countries were used to investigate the relations among culture, gender, and temperament. Between-nation differences in temperament were larger than those obtained in similar studies of adult personality, and most pronounced for negative affectivity. Nation-level patterns of negative affectivity were consistent across infancy, toddlerhood, and childhood, and patterns of regulatory capacity were consistent between infancy and toddlerhood. Nations that previously reported high extraversion, high conscientiousness, and low neuroticism in adults were found to demonstrate high surgency in infants and children, and countries reporting low adult openness and high adult neuroticism reported high temperamental negative affectivity. Negative affectivity was high in Southern Asia, Western Asia, and South America and low in Northern and Western Europe. Countries in which children were rated as high in negative affectivity had cultural orientations reflecting collectivism, high power distance, and short-term orientation. Surgency was high in Southeastern and Southern Asia and Southern Europe and low in Eastern Asian countries characterized by philosophies of long-term orientation. Low personal income was associated with high negative affectivity. Gender differences in temperament were largely consistent in direction with prior studies, revealing higher regulatory capacity in females than males and higher surgency in males than females, with these differences becoming more pronounced at later ages. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2024 APA, all rights reserved).

Evaluation of Swine Protection with Three Commercial Foot-and-Mouth Disease Vaccines against Heterologous Challenge with Type A ASIA/G-VII Lineage Viruses.

Outbreaks caused by foot-and-mouth disease (FMD) A/ASIA/G-VII lineage viruses have often occurred in Middle Eastern and Southeast Asian countries since 2015. Because A/ASIA/G-VII lineage viruses are reported to have distinct antigenic relatedness with available commercial FMD vaccine strains, it is necessary to investigate whether inoculation with vaccines used in Korea could confer cross-protection against A/ASIA/G-VII lineage viruses. In the present study, we conducted two vaccination challenge trials to evaluate the efficacy of three commercial FMD vaccines (O/Manisa + O/3039 + A/Iraq, O/Campos + A/Cruzeiro + A/2001, and O/Primorsky + A/Zabaikalsky) against heterologous challenge with ASIA/G-VII lineage viruses (A/TUR/13/2017 or A/BHU/3/2017 strains) in pigs. In each trial, clinical signs, viremia, and salivary shedding of virus were measured for 7 days after challenge. In summary, the O/Campos + A/Cruzeiro + A/2001 vaccine provided full protection against two A/ASIA/G-VII lineage viruses in vaccinated pigs, where significant protection was observed. Although unprotected animals were observed in groups vaccinated with O/Manisa + O/3039 + A/Iraq or O/Primorsky + A/Zabaikalsky vaccines, the clinical scores and viral RNA levels in the sera and oral swabs of vaccinated animals were significantly lower than those of unvaccinated controls.

Comparison of Non-ephedrine Constituents from Ephedra Plants Cultivated in Japan.

Ephedra plants, the main components of which are ephedrine alkaloids, are used as traditional medicines in Eastern Asian countries. In this study, we isolated non-ephedrine constituents from various Ephedra plant species cultivated in Japan. HPLC analysis suggested that kynurenic acid and its derivatives accumulated in a wide range of Ephedra plant species. Furthermore, a large amount of (2R,3S)-O-benzoyl isocitrate has been isolated from E. intermedia. This study suggests that Ephedra plants have diverse non-ephedrine constituents.

Estimating Rural Premium and Financial Crisis Effect on the Nexuses between Food, Energy, and Water Consumption on Urban-Rural Income Gap in South–Eastern Asian Countries Using Pooled Regression Analysis

Poverty and inequality reduction and access to affordable clean energy and clean water are among the global sustainable development goals. Yet, researchers have overlooked how food, energy, and water (FEW) resources can be instrumental in reducing the urban-rural income gap. In this article, ordinary least squares regression analysis was used to estimate rural premium and financial crisis effect on the nexuses between food, energy, and water consumption on urban-rural income gap using a sample of data pooled from three Asian countries: China, India, and Indonesia over 2000 to 2019. No significant urban or crisis effect on the poverty rate was established. However, a significant crisis effect on the poverty gap was established, but not on the urban premium. A significant positive interaction between food insecurity and water was established. Water supply improves agricultural production, improves food security, and reduces poverty by raising income. However, modern clean energy is associated with rising income inequality. Modern energy technologies benefit a few wealthier individuals investing in the energy and agriculture sectors. Therefore, improved water access, particularly to support food production and affordability, and efficient utilization of clean fuels and technologies among all individuals, regardless of socio-economic class, are crucial to escaping poverty and achieving prosperity.

Operational research as a mechanism to improve treatment outcomes for drug-resistant TB in the WHO European Region.

In 2022, the WHO European Region accounted for 15.1% of all incident rifampicin-resistant/multidrug-resistant TB (RR/MDR-TB) cases. Most occurred in 18 high-priority countries of eastern Europe and central Asia, many of which joined an initiative led by the WHO Regional Office for Europe. The aim was to introduce three, fully oral, 9-month modified shorter treatment regimens (mSTR) to treat RR/MDR-TB under operational research conditions. The three regimens were: 1) bedaquiline + linezolid + levofloxacin + clofazimine + cycloserine (BdqLzdLfxCfzCs); 2) BdqLzdLfxCfz + delamanid (Dlm) for children over 6 years of age and adults; and 3) DlmLzdLfxCfz for children under 6 years of age. The project aimed to enhance treatment success, facilitate mSTR implementation, promote quality of care and build research capacity, while also contributing to global knowledge on all-oral mSTR use. Between April 2020 and June 2022, >2,800 patients underwent mSTR treatment in the WHO European Region. This unique experience promoted further collaboration with national tuberculosis programmes, health authorities, experts and donors within and outside Europe, with a focus on implementing operational research and improving the quality of care in high TB burden countries of the region. In the hope of encouraging others to adopt this model, we have described the principles of the initiative, its strengths and weaknesses and next steps.

Green Onion (Allium fistulosum): An Aromatic Vegetable Crop Esteemed for Food, Nutritional and Therapeutic Significance.

In recent years, there has been a shift towards a greater demand for more nutritious and healthier foods, emphasizing the role of diets in human well-being. Edible Alliums, including common onions, garlic, chives and green onions, are staples in diverse cuisines worldwide and are valued specifically for their culinary versatility, distinct flavors and nutritional and medicinal properties. Green onions are widely cultivated and traded as a spicy vegetable. The mild, onion-like flavor makes the crop a pleasant addition to various dishes, serving as a staple ingredient in many world cuisines, particularly in Eastern Asian countries such as China, Japan and the Republic of Korea. The green pseudostems, leaves and non-developed bulbs of green onions are utilized in salads, stir-fries, garnishes and a myriad of culinary preparations. Additionally, green onions have a rich historical background in traditional medicine and diets, capturing the attention of chefs and the general public. The status of the crop as an important food, its culinary diversity and its nutraceutical and therapeutic value make it a subject of great interest in research. Therefore, the present review has examined the distribution, culinary, nutritional and therapeutic significance of green onions, highlighting the health benefits derived from the consumption of diets with this aromatic vegetable crop as a constituent.

Microbial communities of a variety of 75 homemade fermented vegetables.

Fermentation is an ancient practice of food preservation. Fermented vegetables are popular in Eastern European and Asian countries. They have received a growing interest in Western countries, where they are mainly manufactured at domestic and artisanal scales and poorly characterized. Our aim was to investigate the microbial communities and the safety of French homemade fermented vegetables, in the frame of a citizen science project. Fermented vegetables and the data associated with their manufacture were collected from citizens and characterized for pH, NaCl concentration, and microbiology by culturomics and 16S DNA metabarcoding analysis. Lactic acid bacteria (LAB) and yeast isolates were identified by 16S rRNA gene sequencing and D1/D2 domains of the large subunit of the rRNA gene, respectively. The 75 collected samples contained 23 types of vegetables, mainly cabbage, followed by carrots and beets, and many mixtures of vegetables. They were 2 weeks to 4 years old, and their median pH was 3.56, except for two samples with a pH over 4.5. LAB represented the dominant viable bacteria. LAB concentrations ranged from non-detectable values to 8.7 log colony-forming units (CFU)/g and only depended on the age of the samples, with the highest most frequently observed in the youngest samples (<100 days). The 93 LAB isolates identified belonged to 23 species, the two mains being Lactiplantibacillus pentosus/plantarum and Levilactobacillus brevis. The other microbial groups enumerated (total aerobic bacteria, halotolerant bacteria, Gram-negative bacteria, and acetic acid bacteria) generally showed lower concentrations compared to LAB concentrations. No pathogenic bacteria were detected. Viable yeasts were observed in nearly half the samples, at concentrations reaching up to 8.0 log CFU/g. The 33 yeast clones identified belonged to 16 species. Bacterial metabarcoding showed two main orders, namely, Lactobacillales (i.e., LAB, 79% of abundance, 177 of the 398 total ASVs) and Enterobacterales (19% of abundance, 191 ASVs). Fifteen LAB genera were identified, with Lactiplantibacillus and Levilactobacillus as the most abundant, with 41 and 12% of total reads, respectively. Enterobacterales members were mainly represented by Enterobacteriaceae and Yersiniaceae. This study is the first wide description of the microbiota of a large variety of homemade fermented vegetables and documents their safety.

The determinants of sustainable transportation in East Asian countries: Does the moderating role of institutional quality matter

Transportation has a profound effect on the environment, aggravating air pollution, climate change, and natural resource depletion. Additionally, the construction and maintenance of transportation infrastructure contribute to deforestation and habitat loss. Therefore, the aim of this research is to investigate the correlation between c02 emissions, natural resource depletion, trade, FDI inflow and transportation in a chosen number of eastern Asian countries, with a unique perspective of examining the influence of institutional qualities as a moderator among these factors. The analysis involves the utilization of CS-ARDL and dumitrescu-hurlin causality test to examine the data. The findings suggest that institutional qualities have a positive impact on the relationship between c02 emissions and transportation, reversing the negative association. Additionally, trade has a negative correlation with transportation, this can be explained by the fact that weak institutional quality can lead to corruption and a lack of transparency, which can discourage foreign investment and trade in the transportation sector. On the other hand, resource depletion and FDI inflows affect negatively the transportation services in East Asian countries. Therefore, the study highlights the significance of effective governance, regulation, and management of institutions in promoting better transportation planning and coordination, ultimately leading to sustainable transportation service.

Governing health service purchasing agencies: Comparative study of national purchasing agencies in 10 countries in eastern Europe and central Asia

This study discusses findings from comparative case studies of the governance of health services purchasing agencies in 10 eastern European and central Asian countries established over the past 30 years, and the relationship between governance attributes, institutional development, and the progress made in strategic purchasing. The feasibility and effectiveness of implementing international recommendations from the health sector and wider public sector governance literature and practice are also discussed. The study finds that only those countries that have transitioned from middle to high-income status during the study period have been successful in comprehensively and consistently implementing internationally recommended practices. Moreover, these countries have made varying progress in developing capable purchasers with technical and operational independence, as well as advancing strategic purchasing. However, the current middle-income countries (MICs) in the study have implemented only certain elements of recommended governance practices, often superficially. Notably, the study reveals that some international recommendations, particularly those related to higher degrees of purchaser autonomy and the associated governance structures observed in western European social health insurance funds, have proven challenging to implement effectively or sustain in the MICs. None of the MICs succeeded in strategic purchasing beyond a limited agenda or scale, and even then, only implementing and sustaining them during favorable conditions. Difficulties in maintaining these achievements can be attributed, in part, to governance deficiencies. However, setbacks are commonly linked to periods of political and economic instability, which in turn lead to fluctuations in policy priorities, institutional instability, and inadequacies in health budgets. The study findings point to some actions related to civil society and stakeholder engagement, accountability frameworks, and digitalization in MICs that can facilitate continuity in health reforms and the functioning of purchasing institutions despite these challenges. The findings of the study provide important lessons for countries designing or newly implementing health purchasing agencies and for countries reviewing the performance and governance of their health purchasing agencies with a view to developing or strengthening strategic purchasing.

Systemic EBV-Positive T-cell Lymphoma of Childhood: A Case Report and Comprehensive Literature Review

Abstract Introduction/Objective Systemic EBV-positive T-cell lymphoma of childhood (SETLC) is an extremely rare disease in which most cases have been reported in Eastern Asian countries. It is characterized by a clonal proliferation of EBV- infected cytotoxic T cells that most commonly affect immunocompetent children and young adults. Patients present with systemic disease with rapid disease progression and multi-organ failure leading to death. Here, we report a case of SETLC in an 18 year old male, and review clinicopathologic features of the entity from 12 reported cases in the literature. Methods/Case Report A previously healthy 18 year old male presented with fever, abdominal pain, and vomiting. Clinical workup revealed elevated serum EBV viral load, hepatosplenomegaly, lymphadenopathy, pancytopenia, DIC, and multi-organ failure. Peripheral blood smear and bone marrow biopsy showed increased atypical lymphocytes with CD3+, CD8+, CD56-, TIA-1+ phenotype. In addition, prominent hemophagocytosis was noted in the bone marrow. T- cell receptor beta gene rearrangement was positive by PCR. A diagnosis of SETLC was established. Despite chemotherapy, he deteriorated rapidly and passed. Results (if a Case Study enter NA) NA Conclusion SETLC is an extremely rare disease in which most cases have been reported in Eastern Asian countries. Common clinical manifestations include fever, hepatosplenomegaly, lymphadenopathy, cytopenia, elevated LFT, coagulopathy, hyperferritinemia, hemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis, and high serum EBV viral loads. It is a systemic disease with multiple organs involvement by EBV positive T cells. Comprehensive literature review of 12 reported cases along with our case demonstrated these neoplastic T cells were positive for CD2, CD3, CD8, TIA1 or granzyme, and EBER in situ hybridization; negative for CD56 in most cases. Hemophagocytosis was a common finding, and T cell receptor gene rearrangement confirmed clonality of the neoplastic T cells in all reported cases. Currently, there is no standard treatment. Most patient died from the disease weeks to months after disease onset.

The Social Disorganization Theory Approach as a Crime Prevention Effort in Sumenep, Indonesia

Child marriage is a global social phenomenon that has even been identified as a crucial issue of child protection in the 21st century and has been addressed by various countries in Eastern Europe, Africa, and Asia. Indonesia itself has declared a child marriage emergency because by 2020 it was included in the 10 countries with the highest number of child marriages in the world, ie, about 1,220,900 children with early marriages were scattered in 22 provinces, one of which is East Java with 6084 cases in 2020, with the largest percentage in Madura Island and one in Sumenep Island with a total of 1723 cases. The Havana Convention of 1990 states that the elimination of the causal factors of social problems in a society is the most effective means of addressing the social problems themselves and must be an integral part of social defense itself. This paper is driven to identify and analyze the determinant causal factors of child marriage in Sumenep. It is written based on empirical legal research with a socio-legal approach, which prioritizes primary data obtained from the results of interviews and questionnaires and is analyzed descriptively and qualitatively. The results show that the causal factors of child marriages in Sumenep are dominated by cultural practices such as the “tan-pangantanan ” tradition, which is also promoted by the government as part of the preservation of local traditions, the conceptual shift of ' Tompangan ' Tradition, excessive fanaticism toward Muslim Priests (Kyai), low education, economic gain, and the worriness of free sex.

Origin, genomic diversity andevolution ofAfrican swine fever virus inEast Asia.

Since 2018, the outbreaks of genotype II African swine fever virus (ASFV) in China and several eastern Asian countries have caused a huge impact on the local swine industry, resulting in huge economic losses. However, little is known about the origin, genomic diversity, evolutionary features, and epidemiological history of the genotype II ASFV. Here, 14 high-quality complete genomes of ASFVs were generated via sequencing of samples collected from China over the course of 3 years, followed by phylogenetic and phylodynamic analyses. The strains identified were relatively homogeneous, with a total of 52 SNPs and 11 indels compared with the prototype strain HLJ/2018, among which there were four exceptionally large deletions (620-18,023 nt). Evolutionary analyses revealed that ASFV strains distributed in eastern Asia formed a monophyly and a 'star-like' structure centered around the prototype strain, suggesting a single origin. Additionally, phylogenetic network analysis and ancestral reconstruction of geographic state indicated that genotype II ASFV strains in eastern Asia likely originated from Western Europe. Overall, these results contribute to the understanding of the history and current status of genotype II ASFV strains in eastern Asian, which could be of considerable importance in disease control and prevention.

Sulfur hexafluoride in the marine atmosphere and surface seawater of the Western Pacific and Eastern Indian Ocean

Sulfur hexafluoride (SF6) is a powerful greenhouse gas with a high global warming potential. While SF6 emissions from urban areas have been extensively studied, our knowledge about SF6 concentrations in the oceanic atmosphere and its air-sea exchange remains limited. Herein, the concentrations of SF6 in the atmosphere and surface seawater of the WPO (Western Pacific Ocean) and EIO (Eastern Indian Ocean) were comprehensively characterized from 2019 to 2022 in the first long-term study. The mean mixing ratios of SF6 over the WPO and EIO during 2019–2020 (2021–2022) were 10.9 (11.2) and 10.9 (11.1) ppt, respectively. The atmospheric SF6 concentration over the WPO and EIO increased at rates of 0.40 ± 0.06 and 0.58 ± 0.28 ppt yr−1, respectively, surpassing previously reported annual growth rates. The faster growth was primarily attributed to the influence of polluted air masses originating from eastern Asian countries, particularly Japan, Northeast China, and India. This might explain why the radiative forcing caused by SF6 in the study region was higher than the global average. The concentrations of SF6 in the surface seawater of the WPO and EIO ranged from 0.33 to 2.54 fmol kg−1, and the distribution was affected by atmospheric concentrations and ocean currents. Estimated air-sea fluxes revealed that the ocean acted as a significant sink of atmospheric SF6, and the preliminary estimation suggested oceanic uptake accounts for about 7% of annual global SF6 emissions. Based on these findings, we tentatively suggest that the strength of the ocean as a sink of SF6 may warrant reassessment. The global oceanic uptake of SF6 has the potential to reduce its global abundance and environmental impacts.