Eastern Asia Region Research Articles

Optimising HIV spending in 12 eastern European and central Asian countries: a modelling study

The eastern European and central Asian (EECA) region has the fastest growing HIV epidemic globally. We aimed to identify how HIV resources could be allocated for maximum health impact. Between Aug 1 and Dec 23, 2022, allocative efficiency analyses were undertaken for 12 countries in the EECA region (Albania, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Georgia, Kazakhstan, Kosovo, Kyrgyzstan, Moldova, Serbia, Tajikistan, and Uzbekistan) using HIV epidemic models developed with Optima HIV. Country models were calibrated to demographic, epidemiological, and programmatic data and validated by national teams. Three scenarios were projected from 2023 to 2030: status quo (continued 2021 spending on HIV programmes); optimised allocation of different spending envelopes to minimise HIV infections and deaths; and achieving 95-95-95 UNAIDS targets by 2030. Aggregated across the 12 models, HIV infections attributable to sexual transmission were estimated to surpass those attributable to transmission through injecting drugs in 2018, with male-to-male sexual transmission accounting for a continuously increasing share. In the status quo scenario, there were an estimated 111 520 (95% CI 28 960-208 270) new HIV infections and 34 530 (17 280-57 410) HIV-related deaths between 2023 and 2030. Aggregated optimisation results suggest that 35 860 (32%) of 111 520 new HIV infections and 9170 (27%) of 34 530 HIV-related deaths could be averted from 2023 to 2030 compared with the status quo, by prioritising antiretroviral therapy and targeted key population programmes. For ten countries, achieving 95% diagnosis was projected to not be possible with the current budget envelope, and for seven countries, this target could require more than three times the current spending. Compared with the status quo, achieving 95-95-95, or as close as possible, could avert 70 880 (64%) of 111 520 new HIV infections and 18 890 (55%) of 34 530 HIV-related deaths from 2023 to 2030. Targeted key population programmes should remain high priorities in the EECA region. Achieving 95-95-95 will require more emphasis on implementing appropriate modes of service delivery that reduce the gap in diagnosis and treatment coverage for people living with HIV. The Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria. For the Russian translation of the summary see Supplementary Materials section.

An implementation evaluation of the Breaking Down human rights barriers to HIV services initiative in Ukraine.

Globally, stark inequities exist in access to HIV treatment and prevention. The eastern European and central Asian region is experiencing the sharpest rise in new HIV acquisition and deaths in the world, with low rates of treatment and prevention services, especially for key and vulnerable populations who face a range of human rights-related barriers to HIV prevention and treatment. An implementation learning evaluation approach was used to examine the implementation of the Breaking Down Barriers initiative targeting key and vulnerable populations in Ukraine. Between September 2022 and April 2023, researchers conducted 23 key informant interviews with individuals from the Ukrainian government, implementing organizations and human rights experts. Using a concurrent triangulation design, researchers and key informants, in a process of co-creation, sought to describe programme accomplishments, challenges and innovations in implementation, between 2021 and 2023, including periods before and after Russia's February 2022 full-scale invasion. Eight rights-based interventions related to HIV were identified in Global Fund programme documents and key informant interviews as making up the core of the Breaking Down Barriers initiative in Ukraine. These included programmes seeking to: eliminate stigma and discrimination; ensure the non-discriminatory provision of medical care; promote rights-based law enforcement practices; expand legal literacy ("know your rights"); increase access to justice; improve laws, regulations and policies; reduce gender discrimination, harmful gender norms and violence against women and girls; and mobilize communities for advocacy. These programmes received US$5.9 million in funding. Key informants reported that significant progress had been made addressing human rights barriers and scaling up interventions, both before and after Russia's invasion. Programme implementors adopted innovative approaches, including using paralegals, hotlines and other community-led interventions, to ensure that key and vulnerable populations, including displaced individuals, were able to access prevention and care. An implementation learning evaluation approach examining programmes addressing human rights barriers to HIV services, designed as a process of co-creation between researchers, programme implementors, government officials and human rights experts, can provide a robust assessment of programme outputs, outcomes and evidence of impact, despite a challenging operational environment.

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.

Resolving confusion in the native distribution of Aedes (Hulecoeteomyia) koreicus (Diptera: Culicidae).

Recent studies on invasive Aedes koreicus (Edwards 1917) have been conducted to elucidate the source population introduced to Europe. However, current information about the native range of Ae. koreicus is not consistent. The purpose of this study is to resolve confusion in the native distribution of Ae. koreicus by reviewing available literature from the first description of the species in its native range in 1917 to the first invasion in Europe in 2008. Aedes koreicus have been recorded in China, Japan, Korea, and eastern Russia. The 2 existing records of Ae. koreicus from Hokkaido, Japan, however, is likely due to the misidentification of 2 different morphologically similar species, Ae. koreicoides (Sasa, Kano & Hayashi 1950) and Aedes japonicus (Theobald 1901). Upon re-examination of published records, we conclude that the native distribution of Ae. koreicus is confined to continental eastern Asian regions, specifically China, Korea, and eastern Russia.

Prediction of the Global Distribution of Arhopalus rusticus under Future Climate Change Scenarios of the CMIP6

Arhopalus rusticus is a significant forestry pest known for its destructive impact on various host plants. This species, commonly found in coniferous forests across the Northern Hemisphere, has successfully spread to regions like New Zealand, Australia, and South America. This research is based on the known distribution sites of A. rusticus. Projections are made for the potential global distribution of A. rusticus under historical climatic conditions (1970–2000) and future climatic conditions (2081–2100) for the four forcing scenarios of the Coupled Model International Comparison Program 6 (CMIP6). The aim was to analyze the effects of climate change on the distribution range of this pest and its invasion trend in the southern hemisphere, and to support relevant departments in enhancing the effectiveness of forestry pest control strategies. The study utilized the Biomod2 software package in R to compare six models: generalized linear models (GLMs), generalized additive models (GAMs), multivariate adaptive regression splines (MARSs), artificial neural networks (ANNs), classification and regression trees (CTAs), and random forests (RFs) for modeling species distributions. The optimal model was selected based on evaluation indexes such as AUC and TSS. Projections of A. rusticus distribution under historical and future climate scenarios were created. The prediction results were visualized using ArcGIS software (version 10.2) to classify fitness levels and calculate distribution areas. Based on evaluation metrics, random forests (RFs) demonstrated the highest average assessment index scores, indicating high prediction accuracy (AUC = 0.99, TSS = 0.91, Kappa = 0.93). Model predictions revealed that, under historical climatic conditions, A. rusticus was predominantly found in northern Europe, eastern Asia, eastern and southwestern coastal regions of North America, and there were also highly suitable regions in parts of the southern hemisphere, including central and southwestern Argentina, southern Australia, New Zealand, and South Africa. Among these models, each of the CMIP6’s different climate prediction scenarios had a significant impact on the predicted distribution of A. rusticus. The SSP126 scenario depicted the broadest range of suitability, while the SSP585 scenario presented the narrowest and, overall, the extent of highly suitable regions was contracting. Multi-model predictions suggested that the potential distribution area of A. rusticus during the period of 2081–2100 would likely expand compared to that of 1970–2000, ranging from an increase of 1.13% (SSP126) up to 6.61% (SSP585), positively correlating with the level of radiative forcing. Notably, the most substantial growth was observed in potentially low-suitability region, escalating from 1.17% (SSP126) to 5.55% (SSP585). The distribution of A. rusticus shows decreasing trends from coastal areas to inland areas and from high to low level suitability of regions, and further expansion into the southern hemisphere under future climate conditions. Therefore, quarantine efforts at ports of entry should be strengthened in areas that are not currently infested but are at risk of invasion, and precise preventive measures should be strengthened in areas that are at risk of further expansion under future climatic conditions to prevent its spread to inland areas.

A Quantitative Model of Innovation Readiness in Urban Mobility: A Comparative Study of Smart Cities in the EU, Eastern Asia, and USA Regions

The smart cities paradigm has gained significant attention as a tool to address the multifaceted challenges posed by contemporary urban mobility systems. While cities are eager to integrate cutting-edge technologies to evolve into digital and intelligent hubs, they often deal with infrastructure and governance bottlenecks that prevent the rapid adoption of industry-driven innovations. This study introduces a three-step methodological approach to forecast a city’s innovation readiness in urban mobility, thus facilitating city-led innovation and identifying key areas within urban mobility systems that require attention. Initially, a comprehensive literature review was undertaken to ascertain the most impactful innovation indicators influencing a city’s ability to embrace new technologies. Subsequently, Principal Component Analysis (PCA) was applied to identify these indicators, highlighting the primary markers of innovation for each city. The final step involved the application of both random and fixed-effects regression models to quantify the influence of distinct unobserved variables—such as economic, cultural, and political factors—on the innovation readiness of various cities. The methodology’s effectiveness was tested using data from cities across diverse regions. The findings underscore that merely 7 out of 21 innovation indicators are critical for assessing a city’s innovation readiness. Moreover, the random-effects model was identified as the most suitable for capturing the nuances of unobserved variables in the studied cities. The innovation readiness scores at the city level revealed a diverse range, with cities like Madrid, Gothenburg, and Mechelen demonstrating high readiness, while others like Kalisz and Datong showed lower scores. This research contributes to the strategic planning for smart cities, offering a robust framework for policymakers to enhance innovation readiness and foster sustainable urban development, with a newfound emphasis on city-specific analysis.

Reticulate evolution of the tertiary relict Osmanthus.

When interspecific gene flow is common, species relationships are more accurately represented by a phylogenetic network than by a bifurcating tree. This study aimed to uncover the role of introgression in the evolution of Osmanthus, the only genus of the subtribe Oleinae (Oleaceae) with its distribution center in East Asia. We built species trees, detected introgression, and constructed networks using multiple kinds of sequencing data (whole genome resequencing, transcriptome sequencing, and Sanger sequencing of nrDNA) combined with concatenation and coalescence approaches. Then, based on well-understood species relationships, historical biogeographic analyses and diversification rate estimates were employed to reveal the history of Osmanthus. Osmanthus originated in mid-Miocene Europe and dispersed to the eastern Tibetan Plateau in the late Miocene. Thereafter, it continued to spread eastwards. Phylogenetic conflict is common within the 'Core Osmanthus' clade and is seen at both early and late stages of diversification, leading to hypotheses of net-like species relationships. Incomplete lineage sorting proved ineffective in explaining phylogenetic conflicts and thus supported introgression as the main cause of conflicts. This study elucidates the diversification history of a relict genus in the subtropical regions of eastern Asia and reveals that introgression had profound effects on its evolutionary history.

Complete Chloroplast Genome Structural Characterization and Comparative Analysis of Viburnum japonicum (Adoxaceae)

Viburnum japonicum (Thunb.) Sprengel is an endangered species endemic to coastal regions of eastern Asia (China, Japan, and South Korea). However, its systematic position has been controversial. In this study, we present the complete chloroplast (cp) genome of V. japonicum (GenBank OP644292) sequenced using the Illumina NovaSeq platform. The cp genome has a total length of 158,606 bp and a G+C contents of 38.08%. It consists of a large single-copy (LSC) region, a small single-copy (SSC) region, and a pair of inverted repeats (IRs) regions measuring 87,060 bp, 18,510 bp, and 26,516 bp, respectively. A total of 131 genes were identified, including 87 protein-coding genes, 36 transfer RNA genes (tRNAs), and 8 ribosomal RNA genes(rRNAs). Additionally, a total of 44 dispersed repeats were detected, including three types: forward, palindromic, and reverse. Among the 38 SSR loci that were discovered, the majority were mononucleotide loci composed of A/T. Furthermore, we found that 15 genes (accD, atpF, ndhA, ndhB, petB, petD, rpl16, rpl2, rpoC1, rps12, rps16, trnA-UGC, trnI, trnK-UUU, and trnL-UAA) contain one intron, while clpP and ycf3 have two introns. The relative synonymous codon usage (RSCU) analysis detected 31 high-frequency codons, where A/U bases accounted for 93.55% of the total, indicating an asymmetry in chloroplast gene and a presence for A/U bases. Comparative analysis of genome structure and sequences data of V. japonicum chloroplast genomes in comparison with other closely related species demonstrated a high level of conservation in their structure and organization. Furthermore, three mutation hotspots (psbH, rps19, and trnL) were identified, which could be valuable for future phylogenetic and population genetic research. Phylogenetic analysis revealed that the two accessions of V. japonicum are closely related to a group of V. setigerum, V. erosum, and V. fordiae within the Viburnum genus. In conclusion, this study provides important insights for accurately identifying and understanding the phylogeny of Viburnum species through the complete cp genome sequencing of V. japonicum.

Detecting the response characteristics and thresholds of grassland spring phenology to climatic factors in the Mongolian Plateau

Understanding the response characteristics and thresholds of grassland spring phenology (GSP) to different climatic factors in arid and semi-arid regions is of great significance to deal with global climate change. The Mongolian Plateau is one of the largest plateaus located in arid and semi-arid regions of eastern Asia, extremely sensitive to climate change. At present, the response characteristics and thresholds of the grassland spring phenology to climate factors in the Mongolian Plateau remain uncertain. Here, we used statistical analysis, random forest and geographical detector to explore these uncertainty. We found that 1) 76.67% of study area showed a significant advancing trend. GSP has significantly advanced by −0.656 days/decade (P < 0.05) over the past three decades. 2) The vapor pressure (VAP) shows a more important impact on the GSP than other climate factors both in strength and range. Especially when the VAP value was between 2 and 5 hPa, the GSP advanced as the VAP increased. The near-surface temperature minimum (TMN), near-surface temperature (TMP), near-surface temperature maximum (TMX) and diurnal temperature range (DTR) have the greatest impact on the GSP in June, and the six-month cumulative effects of precipitation (PRE), wet day frequency (WET) and cloud cover (CLD) are greater than those in a single month. The interaction between VAP and PRE could largely explain GSP changes (69.35%). 3) The GSP have different response threshold to climate factors. The GSP advances as the temperature increases when TMP < 0 °C, DTR < 14 °C, TMX > 10 °C and TMN > −5 °C, and it delays as the FRS, WET and CLD increase. This study is of great significance to reveal the impact characteristics and threshold of climate change on the GSP, which could do help in understanding climate change.

Population genetic assessment of Viburnum japonicum in China using ddRAD-seq.

Viburnum japonicum is a rare plant species and endemic to the coastal region of Eastern Asia with extremely small populations. Within mainland China, this species can be only found in narrow habitats of the northeast coastal islands of Zhejiang Province. However, there are scarce conservation genetic studies on V. japonicum, which has limited the effective conservation and management of this rare species. Here, 51 individuals in four natural populations covering the Chinese geographic range of the species were sampled to assess the genetic diversity and population structure. A total of 445,060 high-quality single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) were identified using double digest restriction-site associated sequencing (ddRAD-seq). The overall average values of observed heterozygosity (Ho), expected heterozygosity (He), and average nucleotide diversity (π), were 0.2207, 0.2595, and 0.2741, respectively. The DFS-2 population exhibited the highest level of genetic diversity among all the populations. Genetic differentiation between populations was moderate (F ST = 0.1425), and there was selfing between populations (F IS = 0.1390, S = 24.52%). Of the total genetic variation, 52.9% was found among populations through AMOVA analysis. The Mantel test (r = 0.982, p = 0.030) combined with analyses of the Maximum Likelihood (ML) phylogenetic tree, ADMIXTURE, and principal component analysis (PCA), revealed that populations of V. japonicum were genetically segregated and significantly correlated with their geographical distribution. Our study demonstrated that V. japonicum maintained a medium level of genetic diversity and differentiation with a strong population structure, and the results were mainly affected by its island distribution pattern and self-crossing characteristics. These results provide insights into the genetic diversity and population history of V. japonicum, critical information for conserving and sustainably developing its genetic resources.

Indoor Radon Research in the Asia-Pacific Region

Indoor radon is a major hazard to human health; it is one of the leading causes of lung cancer. Therefore, radon research in Asia has intensified recently due to the growing awareness of the harm that radon poses. An analysis of the collected literature data showed that in Asia–Oceania, some regions have—or are believed to have—little indoor radon problems due to climate and low Rn ground. It can be concluded that countries have their own approaches, techniques, and protocols. Data were not harmonized within each region; however, measurement techniques were compared by regional intercomparison exercises. The situation differs regarding studies on the usability of radon as a tracer or potential predictor of tectonic phenomena, as some countries are in seismically active zones, such as India, Taiwan, China, Japan, etc. India and Taiwan are global leaders in this research, as well as Italy, which is another seismically affected country. We provide an overview of radon-related surveying and research activities conducted in the western, southern, and eastern Asian regions over the past few years. Additionally, we observed that the number of indoor radon measurements per million inhabitants increases as the human development index (HDI) increases.

Innovative Research Offers New Hope for Managing African Swine Fever Better in Resource-Limited Smallholder Farming Settings: A Timely Update.

African swine fever (ASF) in domestic pigs has, since its discovery in Africa more than a century ago, been associated with subsistence pig keeping with low levels of biosecurity. Likewise, smallholder and backyard pig farming in resource-limited settings have been notably affected during the ongoing epidemic in Eastern Europe, Asia, the Pacific, and Caribbean regions. Many challenges to managing ASF in such settings have been identified in the ongoing as well as previous epidemics. Consistent implementation of biosecurity at all nodes in the value chain remains most important for controlling and preventing ASF. Recent research from Asia, Africa, and Europe has provided science-based information that can be of value in overcoming some of the hurdles faced for implementing biosecurity in resource-limited contexts. In this narrative review we examine a selection of these studies elucidating innovative solutions such as shorter boiling times for inactivating ASF virus in swill, participatory planning of interventions for risk mitigation for ASF, better understanding of smallholder pig-keeper perceptions and constraints, modified culling, and safe alternatives for disposal of carcasses of pigs that have died of ASF. The aim of the review is to increase acceptance and implementation of science-based approaches that increase the feasibility of managing, and the possibility to prevent, ASF in resource-limited settings. This could contribute to protecting hundreds of thousands of livelihoods that depend upon pigs and enable small-scale pig production to reach its full potential for poverty alleviation and food security.

Realistic ocean initial condition for stimulating the successful prediction of extreme cold events in the 2020/2021 winter

In the first half of winter 2020/2021, several unprecedented cold events occurred in most parts of China and caused record-breaking low temperatures in many cities. However, seasonal predictions related to the onset and evolution of extreme cold events are still challenging. In this study, we first evaluated the short-term climate prediction skills in winter of the CAS-ESM-c global coupled model and revealed the key dynamic processes of the onset and development of 2020/2021 extreme cold events based on the ensemble forecasts starting on October 1st, 2020. Under the background provided by the synergistic effect of the warm Arctic and the cold tropical Pacific (La Niña), the model captured the abnormal meridional atmospheric pattern well, including the intensification of the Ural Blocking High and the negative phase of the Arctic Oscillation, forecasted the negative geopotential height anomalies over the Eastern Asian region, and finally, successfully predicted the outbreak of cold waves in December 2020 two months in advance. Moreover, the dominant differences in the initial ocean fields between the best and the worst forecast members were further compared to isolate the triggering factor for predicting cold events by CAS-ESM-c. The initial warm sea surface temperature over the Barents Sea can gradually form a meridional pattern between the warm Arctic and the cold Asian continent, which could lead to a reduction in the large-scale meridional temperature gradient at mid-high latitudes and weaken the atmospheric baroclinicity with more conducive to the southward outbreak of cold waves, highlighting that realistic Arctic ocean conditions in autumn can be reasonably assimilated into coupled models to stimulate the successful prediction of extreme cold events in the 2020/2021 winter.

Vignette of Vigna domestication: From archives to genomics.

The genus Vigna comprises fast-growing, diploid legumes, cultivated in tropical and subtropical parts of the world. It comprises more than 200 species among which Vigna angularis, Vigna radiata, Vigna mungo, Vigna aconitifolia, Vigna umbellata, Vigna unguiculata, and Vigna vexillata are of enormous agronomic importance. Human selection along with natural variability within these species encompasses a vital source for developing new varieties. The present review convokes the early domestication history of Vigna species based on archeological pieces of evidence and domestication-related traits (DRTs) together with genetics of domestication. Traces of early domestication of Vigna have been evidenced to spread across several temperate and tropical regions of Africa, Eastern Asia, and few parts of Europe. Several DRTs of Vigna species, such as pod shattering, pod and seed size, dormancy, seed coat, seed color, maturity, and pod dehiscence, can clearly differentiate wild species from their domesticates. With the advancement in next-generation high-throughput sequencing techniques, exploration of genetic variability using recently released reference genomes along with de novo sequencing of Vigna species have provided a framework to perform genome-wide association and functional studies to figure out different genes related to DRTs. In this review, genes and quantitative trait loci (QTLs) related to DRTs of different Vigna species have also been summarized. Information provided in this review will enhance the in-depth understanding of the selective pressures that causes crop domestication along with nature of evolutionary selection made in unexplored Vigna species. Furthermore, correlated archeological and domestication-related genetic evidence will facilitate Vigna species to be considered as suitable model plants.

Two hypotrichs (Ciliophora, Hypotricha) from China: morphology and SSU rDNA sequence of Holosticha aestuarina nov. spec. and H. muuiensis Kim et al., 2017

The morphology, four ontogenetic stages, and the phylogenetic relationships based on the small subunit RNA-gene of Holosticha aestuarina nov. spec. from the Yangtze River Estuary (Shanghai) were investigated. The new species differs from the congeners by the following combination of features: body size 160–196 × 27–36 μm in vivo, a vesicular structure containing one or two bean-shaped opaque particles, 24–32 adoral membranelles, 16–34 midventral pairs, 17–26 left marginal cirri, 22–32 right marginal cirri, six or seven transverse cirri, four dorsal kineties, and usually two macronuclear nodules. The anlage for the left marginal row of the proter very likely originates de novo (anterior portion) and from parental cirri (posterior portion). Further, we provide a morphological description of a Chinese population of H. muuiensis Kim et al., 2017, originally discovered in South Korea, indicating that it is confined to the Eastern Asia region. Its SSU rDNA sequence is identical with that of the type population and forms a clade with the available Holosticha sequences. By contrast, H. aestuarina nov. spec. is sister to the Holosticha + Uncinata clade, indicating that Uncinata is a subgenus of Holosticha.

Aphananthe aspera (Thunb.) Planch.: An Unexploited Eastern Asian Species from the Center of Biodiversity

Aphananthe Aspera (Thunb.) Planch. is a towering woody deciduous tree and belongs to riparian forest territory. It is highly allocated to the Northern region of Eastern Asia especially Korea, China, Northern Vietnam, and Japan to be the richest countries with this species. The plants were assayed based on various types of methods including extraction. Based on folkloric usage it is important to treat acne, inflammation and cancer. Google Scholar, Web of Science, PubMed, Science Direct, and MEDLINE etc. are the electronic versions from which many bibliographic records were thoroughly explored to identify, collect, and analyze available information relevant to A. aspera. The extracted data were scrutinized in order to have a better understanding of the existing research on this species and to look into the plant's future potential in pharmaceutical research. This study aims to offer current knowledge on botany, distribution, ethnomedicinal applications, pharmacological actions, clinical study and reported phytochemicals of A. aspera. Finally, this plant is still recommended for extensive research to explore prospective novel sources of novel therapeutic agents as there are very little data available on this plant to the best of our knowledge. Extensive research on this plant can open a new horizon to discover novel therapeutics. Bangladesh Pharmaceutical Journal 25(2): 218-228, 2022 (July)

Amelioration of Liver Fibrosis by Pharbitis nil Through TGFβ1-SMAD2/3 Pathway

Amelioration of Liver Fibrosis by Pharbitis nil Through TGFβ1-SMAD2/3 Pathway

A NASA–Air Force Precipitation Analysis for Near-Real-Time Operations

Abstract This article describes a new precipitation analysis algorithm developed by NASA for time-sensitive operations at the United States Air Force. Implemented as part of the Land Information System—a land modeling and data assimilation software framework—this NASA–Air Force Precipitation Analysis (NAFPA) combines numerical weather prediction model outputs with rain gauge measurements and satellite estimates to produce global, gridded 3-h accumulated precipitation fields at approximately 10-km resolution. Input observations are subjected to quality control checks before being used by the Bratseth analysis algorithm that converges to optimal interpolation. NAFPA assimilates up to 3.5 million observations without artificial data thinning or selection. To evaluate this new approach, a multiyear reanalysis is generated and intercompared with eight alternative precipitation products across the contiguous United States, Africa, and the monsoon region of eastern Asia. NAFPA yields superior accuracy and correlation over low-latency (up to 14 h) alternatives (numerical weather prediction and satellite retrievals), and often outperforms high-latency (up to 3.5 months) products, although the details for the latter vary by region and product. The development of NAFPA offers a high-quality, near-real-time product for use in meteorological, land surface, and hydrological research and applications. Significance Statement Precipitation is a key input to land modeling systems due to effects on soil moisture and other parts of the hydrologic cycle. It is also of interest to government decision-makers due to impacts on human activities. Here we present a new precipitation analysis based on available near-real-time data. By running the program for prior years and comparing with alternative products, we demonstrate that our analysis provides better accuracy and usually less bias than near-real-time satellite data alone, and better accuracy and correlation than data provided by numerical weather models. Our analysis is also competitive with other products created months after the fact, justifying confidence in using our analysis in near-real-time operations.

Bronze and Iron Age population movements underlie Xinjiang population history.

The Xinjiang region in northwest China is a historically important geographical passage between East and West Eurasia. By sequencing 201 ancient genomes from 39 archaeological sites, we clarify the complex demographic history of this region. Bronze Age Xinjiang populations are characterized by four major ancestries related to Early Bronze Age cultures from the central and eastern Steppe, Central Asian, and Tarim Basin regions. Admixtures between Middle and Late Bronze Age Steppe cultures continued during the Late Bronze and Iron Ages, along with an inflow of East and Central Asian ancestry. Historical era populations show similar admixed and diverse ancestries as those of present-day Xinjiang populations. These results document the influence that East and West Eurasian populations have had over time in the different regions of Xinjiang.

Comparative Analysis of the Antioxidant and Antidiabetic Potential of Nelumbo nucifera Gaertn. and Nymphaea lotus L. var. pubescens (Willd.)

Background. Nelumbo nucifera Gaertn. and Nymphaea lotus L. var. pubescens (Willd.) are both aquatic rhizomatous perennial plants mostly found in the tropical region of Nepal, India, Bangladesh, China, and Eastern Asia. Nymphaea pubescens and Nelumbo nucifera plants are famous for their different biological activities such as antidiabetic, antioxidant, hepatoprotective, antidiarrheal, and anti-inflammatory properties. Objective. The present study majorly focused on the determination of in vitro antioxidant and antidiabetic properties of Nelumbo nucifera and Nymphaea pubescens. Methods. In vitro α-glucosidase inhibition was performed using PNPG as a substrate. Antioxidant property of the plant extract was determined by DPPH free radical scavenging assay. The aluminium trichloride method was done for the estimation of total flavonoid content. Likewise, Folin–Ciocalteu reagent was used for determining total phenolic content. Results. The total phenolic content of N. nucifera and N. pubescens was found to be 172.827 ± 0.41 and 194.87 ± 0.93 mg GAE/g, respectively, while the total flavonoid content was reported 17.12 ± 1.04 and 34.59 ± 1.73 mg QE/g, respectively. The IC50 values of the crude extract and its fractions of N. nucifera against the DPPH free radical ranged from 33.46 ± 0.6 to 3.52 ± 0.09 μg/mL, while that of the N. pubescens ranged from 14.30 ± 0.43 to 1.43 ± 0.08 μg/mL. Similarly, for the in vitro α-glucosidase inhibition activity, the IC50 of the crude extract and its fractions of N. nucifera varied from 349.86 ± 2.91 to 29.06 ± 0.24 μg/mL and that of N. pubescens ranged from 224.4 ± 6.85 to 5.29 ± 0.39 μg/mL. Conclusion. Both aquatic plants N. nucifera and N. pubescens show antioxidant properties and can inhibit α-glucosidase in in vitro. Further research is required to identify the inhibiting compounds.