Preparatory Commission Research Articles

The modernization process and transformation of the space of old town of Xi’an: a historical research on the Xijing construction (1932–1945)

ABSTRACT In 1932, Xi’an was designated as the auxiliary capital and renamed “Xijing” 1 1 Xijing（西京）means “Western Capital”, When a dynasty implements the system of two capitals or multiple capitals, the naming of the capital and the secondary capital is based on the relative direction of the capital city. In China, “Xijing” usually refers to the ancient capital of Chang’an during the 13 dynasties (now Xi’an). Xi’an is also the city that has used the term “Xijing” for the longest time. initiated a period of swift urban development, now recognized as the “Xijing Construction Period” 2 2 The decision was made during the Second Plenary Session of the Fourth National Congress of the Kuomintang in 1932, stating: “Chang’an shall be the provisional capital, renamed Xijing,” and appointing Zhang Ji and others to form the “Xijing Preparatory Committee” responsible for urban construction in Xi’an. On March 19, 1945, the National Government issued Order No. 188, “dissolving the Xijing Preparatory Committee and transferring its original work to the Shaanxi Provincial Government,” marking the end of the construction of Xijing as the provisional capital. in academia. During this era, authorities, along with relevant planners and engineers executed a series of construction activities in Xi’an, including road construction, new urban area development, zoning planning, and the preservation of urban heritage, thereby adding a modern touch into the city’s ancient and traditional Chinese fabric. “Xijing Construction” is an important part for understanding the modernization process of Xi’an’s urban space. By reviewing of local history books and newspapers, this paper delineates the specific timeline, process, and content of the construction period. It further interprets the changes of Xi’an’s old town space through the redrawing of historical maps, illustrating how traditional urban space transitioned from being confined to expanding and connecting beyond the city walls. Finally, the paper concludes with a discussion on the evolution of the old city area’s urban function distribution and its ongoing influence on Xi’an’s current urban form.

China in the UNCLOS and BBNJ negotiations, yesterday once more?

Abstract This article compares China’s stance during the UNCLOS negotiations – the starting point of contemporary law of the sea, with its engagement in the latest development of negotiations on the United Nations agreement on biodiversity beyond national jurisdiction (BBNJ). It answers the question, how does China participate in these two important rules-making processes of the international law of the sea? By identifying salient positions China took in each set of lengthy negotiations and explaining the reasons behind, the article also aims to reflect what a rising China may bring to the international legal maritime order in the foreseeable future. The first part of this article, on the nature of China’s engagement in the UNCLOS negotiations, draws on archival study of official records of the UNCLOS III (1973–1982), as has been digitalized by the UN Office of Legal Affairs. The second part examines the period between the adoption of the UNCLOS (1982) and the start of the BBNJ process (2004), paying attention to China’s shifting practice towards the exploration and exploitation of the deep seabed mineral resources, and its concerns over the ratification of the UNCLOS and the 1995 FSA. Then the article focuses on China in the BBNJ negotiations – Working Groups, Preparatory Committee Meetings and Intergovernmental Conferences. Drawing upon the evolution of China’s positions over the past five decades, the article concludes with some insights on the likely future directions and implications of China’s engagement with the international law of the sea.

Hugo Schnell’s 'votum' for the Liturgical Preparatory Commission of the Second Vatican Council (1961)

The Munich art historian and publisher Hugo Schnell (1904-81) was appointed in 1961 as an external consultant to the Liturgical Preparatory Commission of the Second Vatican Council (1960-62). He was asked to collaborate in the drafting of the chapter on sacred art of the future constitution Sacrosanctum Concilium. To this purpose, Schnell wrote an extensive votum (report). In it, among other topics, he urges ecclesiastical clients to respect contemporary culture and styles, stresses the importance of prudence in this area and the need to cultivate an objective Christian mentality among artists and architects. However, it seems that Schnell's recommendations had a rather limited impact on the final text of Sacrosanctum Concilium.

Analisis Historis Pembentukan UUD NRI 1945

This research aims to analyze the process of forming the 1945 NRI Constitution from several perspectives, including the political, economic and social historical background, the role of figures in the process, as well as the process of drafting and ratifying the 1945 NRI Constitution. At that time, before the proclamation of independence in 17 August 1945, Indonesia experienced political resistance from figures such as Sukarno and Mohammad Hatta, as well as social and economic dissatisfaction from the Dutch colonial system. In the 1945 Draft Constitution of the Republic of Indonesia (UUD NRI), nationalists played an important role in formulating the vision of the country through the Research Institute for Preparatory Efforts for Indonesian Independence (BPUPKI) and the Preparatory Committee for Indonesian Independence (PPKI). The BPUPKI and PPKI conferences became the main forum for the ratification and promulgation of the 1945 Constitution on 18 August 1945 and became the starting point for the newly independent country. This research method uses a historical approach which involves analysis of various relevant primary and secondary sources. It is hoped that the results of this research will provide a better understanding of how the process of forming the 1945 NRI Constitution took place, which focuses on the background to its formation, the roles of the figures involved in its formulation, as well as the drafting process until the 1945 NRI Constitution was ratified. In addition to understanding the process the formation of the 1945 NRI Constitution. This research also looks at the contribution of figures to the development of the political and legal system in Indonesia.

Examining the potential for detecting simultaneous noble gas and aerosol samples in the international monitoring system radionuclide network

The purpose of the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty (CTBT) is to establish a legally binding ban on nuclear weapon test explosions or any other nuclear explosions. The Preparatory Commission for the CTBT Organization (CTBTO PrepCom) is developing the International Monitoring System (IMS) that includes a global network of 80 stations to monitor for airborne radionuclides upon entry into force of the CTBT. All 80 radionuclide stations will monitor for particulate radionuclides and at least half of the stations will monitor for radioxenon. The airborne radionuclide monitoring is an important verification technology both for the detection of a radionuclide release and in the determination of whether the release event originates from a nuclear explosion as opposed to an industrial use of nuclear materials.Nuclear power plants and many medical isotope production facilities release radioxenon into the atmosphere. Low levels of a few particulate isotopes, such as iodine, may also be released. Detections of multiple isotopes are useful for screening the radionuclide samples for relevance to the Treaty. This paper examines the anticipated joint detections in the IMS of noble gas and particulate isotopes from underground nuclear explosions where breaches in the underground containment vents from low levels to up to 1% of the radionuclide inventory of the resulting fission products to the atmosphere. Detection probabilities are based on 844 simulated release events spaced out at 17 release locations and one year in time. Six different release (venting) scenarios, including two fractionated scenarios, were analyzed.When ranked by detection probability, 11 particulate isotopes and one noble gas isotope (133Xe) appear in the top 20 isotopes for all six release scenarios. Using the 11 particulate isotopes and the one noble gas isotope, the IMS has nearly the same detection probability as when 45 particulate and 4 noble gas isotopes are used. Thus, a limited list of relevant radionuclides may be sufficient for treaty verification purposes. The probability that at least one particulate and at least one radioxenon isotope would be detected in the IMS from the release events ranged from 0.15 to 0.86 depending on the release scenario.

Preface

3rd International Conference on Agricultural Sciences and Sustainable Environment (ICASE 2022) presents This conference provides a forum for international researchers, academics, practitioners, policymakers and related communities to discuss, share and exchange their latest research and experience progress associated with the field of Biotechnology and modern advanced methods in addressing various environmental problems related to all lands, air, animals, desertification and the green environment. In addition, this conference also aimed to address a common issue of georesources sustainability, renewable energy sources and climate change related geohazard and disasters in the development of urban areas. ICASE 2022 provides opportunities to all participants in expanding their network collaboration at the regional and international. We invited research papers on the topic of Soil, Water Resources and Dessertification Combat Axis, Horticulture and Plant protection Axis, Field Crops Axis, Farm Machinery, Economic and Agricultural Extention Axis, Biotechnology Axis., geo-environmental engineering and any related geoscience. The ICASE 2022 is held from 15-16 January 2023, Samawah, Al-Muthanna, Iraq.This conference has attracted more than 193 papers. After being reviewed, the scientific committee has selected around 172 papers to be presented at this conference. During the plenary session of the conference, we were pleased to welcome distinguished experts to share their experience and present their insightful keynote speech. Participants did their presentations live, engaged throughout plenary, panel discussion and parallel sessions. Feedbacks, comments and questions from participants in all sessions were very positive and constructive. About 172 papers received final decision to be accepted and submitted for publication into the IOP Conference Series: Earth and Environmental Science. We would like to acknowledge all of those who supported the ICASE 2022. We would like to express our sincere gratitude to all scientific committees who made in-depth reviews of full papers, to sponsors who give their support, and to each individual and institutional help that is very important for the success of this conference. Thank you to all the organizing committee and related parties who built this conference feasible and successful. We are hopeful that the proceedings will serve as important references which will lead not only to scientific research and academic purposes but also in practical, industry and policy aspects associated.List of Chair of the Conference, Editor, Keynote Speakers, Scientific Committee, International Advisory, Preparatory Commission are available in this Pdf.

Preface

Welcome to the Proceedings of the 9th International Conference on Agriculture and Environmental Sciences (CAES-2023) 6-7 March 2023, Tikrit, Iraq.The CAES-2023 addresses conference is established to provide an ideal platform for researchers to share views and experiences in Environmental areas and discussion on food, agriculture, and how technology is effectively employed for sustainable development of food and agriculture. It is aimed to bring researchers, academicians, scientists, students, and practitioners together to participate and present the latest research findings, developments, and applications related to various aspects of agriculture engineering, organic agriculture, agribusiness, animal nutrition, animal production, veterinary Science, food science and technology, food safety, food security and sovereignty, IT for Agriculture, renewable energy and other researches.The conference was participated by 119 participants. The committee has selected 106 papers to be published to IOP Conference series : Earth and Environmental Science.All the papers have been through rigorous review by a panel of reviewers who provide critical comments and corrections, and have contributed substantially to the improvement of the quality of the papers to meet the requirements of International publication standard and IOP EES Scope.We would like to express our sincere gratitude to the Chairman, the distinguished keynote speakers, as well as all the participants. We also want to thank the publisher for publishing the proceedings. May the readers could enjoy the gain some valuable knowledge from it. We are expecting more and more experts and scholars from all over the world to join this international event next year.List of Head of The Conference, Editor, Keynote Speakers, Scientific Committee, Preparatory Committees, Electronic Committees are available in the pdf.

An HMM-DNN-Based System for the Detection and Classification of Low-Frequency Acoustic Signals from Baleen Whales, Earthquakes, and Air Guns off Chile

Marine passive acoustic monitoring can be used to study biological, geophysical, and anthropogenic phenomena in the ocean. The wide range of characteristics from geophysical, biological, and anthropogenic sounds sources makes the simultaneous automatic detection and classification of these sounds a significant challenge. Here, we propose a single Hidden Markov Model-based system with a Deep Neural Network (HMM-DNN) for the detection and classification of low-frequency biological (baleen whales), geophysical (earthquakes), and anthropogenic (air guns) sounds. Acoustic data were obtained from the Preparatory Commission for the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty Organization station off Juan Fernandez, Chile (station HA03) and annotated by an analyst (498 h of audio data containing 30,873 events from 19 different classes), and then divided into training (60%), testing (20%), and tuning (20%) subsets. Each audio frame was represented as an observation vector obtained through a filterbank-based spectral feature extraction procedure. The HMM-DNN training procedure was carried out discriminatively by setting HMM states as targets. A model with Gaussian Mixtures Models and HMM (HMM-GMM) was trained to obtain an initial set of HMM target states. Feature transformation based on Linear Discriminant Analysis and Maximum Likelihood Linear Transform was also incorporated. The HMM-DNN system displayed good capacity for correctly detecting and classifying events, with high event-level accuracy (84.46%), high weighted average sensitivity (84.46%), and high weighted average precision (89.54%). Event-level accuracy increased with higher event signal-to-noise ratios. Event-level metrics per class also showed that our HMM-DNN system generalized well for most classes but performances were best for classes that either had a high number of training exemplars (e.g., generally above 50) and/or were for classes of signals that had low variability in spectral features, duration, and energy levels. Fin whale and Antarctic blue whale song and air guns performed particularly well.

Toward a Super-COP? Timing, Temporality, and Rethinking World Climate Governance

Toward a Super-COP? Timing, Temporality, and Rethinking World Climate Governance

ПОЛИТИЧЕСКАЯ НАУКА КАК ПРОЕКТ ЮНЕСКО: К 75-ЛЕТИЮ МЕЖДУНАРОДНОЙ КОНФЕРЕНЦИИ "МЕТОДЫ В ПОЛИТИЧЕСКОЙ НАУКЕ"

The article analyzes the UNESCO activities in the implementation of the research project “Methods in political science” in the first years after the end of World War II. The project realization resulted in recognizing political science as an independent discipline by the world academic community. One of the key events during the work on the project was the holding of the international conference on “Methods in political science” in September 1948 in Paris. The participants of this conference reached a fundamental agreement on the content of the scope of the emerging discipline, while noting, however, that the list of subjects does not claim to be exhaustive completeness or strict logic. As shown by the reference to archival documents copies posted on the UNESCO website,subsequently the above list underwent certain adjustments, but, nevertheless, it became the basis for further fruitful cooperation between scientists and specialists from different countries involved in the study of various aspects of social and political reality. The conference also formed a Preparatory Committee to convene and organize the work of the Founding Conference of the International Political Science Association (IPSA), which took place exactly a year later, in September 1949.

Book review on the Mr Oswal's autobiography <em>Globe Trotting and 62 Years of ENT</em>

As Vasant Oswal's professional colleague and friend, it gives me immense pleasure to review Vasant's biography, published and launched in Edinburgh in the U.K. in May 2022 at the Annual British Medical Association conference.
 I met Vasant at the annual meeting of the Form (Preparatory Committee) of the World Federation of Societies in Laser Medicine and Surgery (WFSLMS). I was elected Secretary-General and Vasant, Honorary Treasurer. Subsequently, our encounters went on for many years at the various international laser medical, dental, and veterinary conferences in different parts of the world. [...]

The Different Waves of Citizen Participation in the Constituent Process of 1991

This reflection article describes the different waves of citizen participation that occurred in the constituent process of 1991. It begins with the student movement of 1989, continues with the great national debate that took place in the working groups and the preparatory commissions, and ends with the National Constituent Assembly, the most pluralistic and multicultural in national history. It concludes that the Political Constitution of 1991 emerged from an unprecedented constituent process, which changed the way of making constitutions in Colombia.

Alur Pemikiran Finalisasi Pancasila dalam Undang-Undang Dasar Negara Republik Indonesia Tahun 1945

This study aimed to describe the historical review of the formulation and ratification of the Pancasila and to analyze the flow of thought for the finalization of Pancasila in the 1945 Constitution of the Republic of Indonesia. This study used ideological-historical methods with literature study techniques. The Panitia Sembilan formulated Pancasila's ideology at the Investigative Agency for the Preparatory Work for Independence (BPUPK) meeting on 29 May 1945 to 1 June 1945 and stipulated in the Jakarta Charter on 22 June 1945 and ratified by the Preparatory Committee for Indonesian Independence (PPKI) on 18 August 1945. Finalization of Pancasila in the Constitution The Republic of Indonesia of 1945 was based on the ideological historical experience of the Indonesian nation to maintain national integration by limiting the authority of the People's Consultative Assembly as contained in Article 37 paragraph (1) of the 1945 Constitution of the Republic of Indonesia.This study aimed to describe the historical review of the formulation and ratification of the Pancasila and to analyze the flow of thought for the finalization of Pancasila in the 1945 Constitution of the Republic of Indonesia. This study used ideological-historical methods with literature study techniques. The Panitia Sembilan formulated Pancasila's ideology at the Investigative Agency for the Preparatory Work for Independence (BPUPK) meeting on 29 May 1945 to 1 June 1945 and stipulated in the Jakarta Charter on 22 June 1945 and ratified by the Preparatory Committee for Indonesian Independence (PPKI) on 18 August 1945. Finalization of Pancasila in the Constitution The Republic of Indonesia of 1945 was based on the ideological historical experience of the Indonesian nation to maintain national integration by limiting the authority of the People's Consultative Assembly as contained in Article 37 paragraph (1) of the 1945 Constitution of the Republic of Indonesia.

Overview of temporary radioxenon background measurement campaigns conducted for the CTBTO between 2008 and 2018

The Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty (CTBT) specifies that an overall network of at least 40 International Monitoring System (IMS) stations should monitor the presence of radioxenon in the atmosphere upon its entry into force. The measurement of radioxenon concentrations in the air is one of the major techniques to detect underground nuclear explosions. It is, together with radionuclide particulate monitoring, the only component of the network able to confirm whether an event originates from a nuclear test, leaving the final proof to on-site inspection.Correct and accurate interpretation of radioxenon detections by State Signatories is a key parameter of the verification regime of the Preparatory Commission for the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty Organization (CTBTO). In this context, the discrimination between the highly variable radioxenon background generated by normal operations of nuclear facilities and CTBT-relevant events is a challenging, but critical, task. To this end, the radioxenon background that can be expected at IMS noble gas systems must be sufficiently characterized and understood. All activities conducted to study the global radioxenon background are focused on the calibration and performance of the verification system as described in the Treaty.The unique CTBTO noble gas system network is designed to optimally covering the globe. By the end of 2019, 31 systems were put in operation, 25 of which being already certified. It took two decades from the first experimental setup of noble gas system in the field to reach this stage of maturity. In the meantime, it was an urgent need to gain empirical evidence of atmospheric radioxenon concentrations with the full spectrum of characteristics that IMS noble gas systems may be observing. This experience was significantly advanced through temporary measurement campaigns. Their objective was to gain the additional necessary knowledge for a correct understanding and categorization of radioxenon detections. The site selection for these campaigns put emphasis on regions with low coverage by the initially few experimental noble gas systems at IMS locations or where potential interferences with normal background might be observed.Short-term measurements were first initiated in 2008. Sites of potential interest were identified, and campaigns up to few weeks were performed. Based on the findings of these short campaigns, transportable systems were procured by the CTBTO. Longer temporary measurement campaigns were started afterwards and operated by local hosts in different regions of the globe. Site selections were based on purely scientific criteria. Objectives of the measurement campaigns were continually reassessed, and projects were designed to meet the scientific needs for radioxenon background understanding as required for nuclear explosion monitoring.As of today, several thousands of samples have been collected and measured. Spectra of temporary measurement campaigns were (and are still) analysed in the International Data Centre (IDC). As they are not part of the CTBT monitoring system, no IDC product is generated. Analysis results are stored in a non-operational database of the CTBTO and made available, together with raw data, to authorized users of States Signatories through a Secure Web Portal (SWP) and to scientific institutions for approved research projects through a virtual Data Exploitation Centre (vDEC) after signing a cost-free confidentiality agreement (https://www.ctbto.org/specials/vdec).This paper aims at providing an overview of the temporary measurement campaigns conducted by the CTBTO since the very first field measurements. It lays out scientific results in a systematic approach. This overview demonstrates the asset of radioxenon background measurement data that have been collected with a wide variety of characteristics that may be observed at IMS stations. It bears a tremendous opportunity for development, enhancement and validation of methodologies for CTBT monitoring.In 2018, a campaign started in Japan with transportable noble gas systems in the vicinity of the IMS station RN38 in Takasaki. It will be described separately once the measurements are completed.

The first International Conference on Mechanical System Dynamics grandly convened in Nanjing, China

The first International Conference on Mechanical System Dynamics grandly convened in Nanjing, China

Politicization, Foreign Policy and Nuclear Diplomacy

According to the current literature, since the redemocratization, Brazilian foreign policy has been marked by a process of politicization. This article’s main objective is to verify the relation between administrative shifts and Brazilian nuclear diplomacy. Accordingly, the question dealt with in the article is: since Brazil joined the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons (NPT), have administration variations interfered with the formulation ofBrazilian nuclear diplomacy? This article argues that Brazilian nuclear diplomacy has been an exception to this trend. No matter how innovative some administrations have been in foreign policy, nuclear diplomacy has been insulated from governmental changes, havingconsolidated a coherent and stable rhetoric internationally. The research was carried out by analyzing the Brazilian rhetoric between 1998 and 2019 in the NPT Review Conferences and Preparatory Committees, vis-à-vis different administrations, through the method of substantive content analysis. The result was the verification that the majority of the rhetorical issues used were present in all studied administrations, indicating the absence of correlation between administration shifts and the Brazilian stance in the Global Nonproliferation Regime.

The corruption of international society? General and complete disarmament from the perspective of the practitioners

This article investigates whether practitioners argued that general and complete disarmament (GCD) would corrupt international society during the two major debates of this issue in the 20th century, namely in 1927–1928 and 1959. The purpose and value of this analysis is to learn more about the workings of international society. Following Bull and other English School scholars, GCD probably represents the most radical challenge to the traditional conception of international society and its institutions. The only challenge of similar magnitude would appear to be the creation of a universal state or world government, fundamentally removing anarchy from the ‘anarchical society’. The article thus investigates whether those concerns about corruption, raised by scholars, resonate with the expressed public opinion of practitioners – diplomats and statesmen – in the actual deliberation of GCD in international fora: the Preparatory Commission for the Disarmament Conference, 1927–1928, and the United Nations, 1959. The main finding is that the corruption argument does appear in these public deliberations, and in intriguing and complex ways. The article thus offers a novel analysis of how practitioners publicly deal with a supposedly radical challenge to international society.

Консолідаційні процеси в українській діяспорі: діяльність Панамериканської Української Конференції (1947–1967 рр.)

The Ukrainians were politically active in emigration, but for a long time there existed only a well-branched chain of local organizations. They lacked organizational superstructure. In the end, the hierarchy of the Ukrainian diaspora’s organizations was built completely in 1967 with the institution – World Congress of Free Ukrainians. Though the idea of calling up a Congress originated among Ukrainian emigrants in the 1930s, it was realized only in 1967 by the PAUC. Despite the significant role the PAUC played in the process of Ukrainian diaspora consolidation, the institution was not the object of individual research in modern historiography. Dmytro Reshetchenko, Roman Kostyshyn, Ruslan Siromskyi, Andriy Yatsiv partly investigated a few sessions of the PAUC and its other activities. The function of the PAUC must be meticulously examined and clarified, as our study aims to analyze activity of PAUC in 1947–1967 and determine its contribution to the unification processes of the Ukrainian diaspora. The American Ukrainians established the PAUC in 1947 and delegated to it the task of holding the World Congress of Free Ukrainians. We may perceive that after unsuccessful attempts of organizing congress in 1930 the Ukrainians were persistent in bringing the idea to life. To the contrary, the ambition to hold the congress gained even more popularity and relevance after ІІ World War. The first obstacle the PAUC faced in the process of consolidation was the existence of several political centers which held opposite views. Every center wanted to dominate in political life and take its lead in establishing the superstructure. The reason why the activities of the PAUC were limited only to declamatory documents and manifesto іn 1947–1957 was the lack of unity and conflicts among political bodies. The colonel Andriy Melnyk emphasized the necessity of convening the All-Ukrainian congress and establishing a unifying organization for Ukrainian diaspora in his speech in 1957. He asked the Canadian Ukrainians to lead this process. They initiated the 4th session of PAUK, which again announced the World Congress of Free Ukrainians in autumn 1961. They established the Preparatory Committee, including two commissions – Organizational and Program to realize this declaration. The committee worked very intensively according to chairmen Organizational and Program commission reports, announced on the 4th session of the PAUC. Despite this, they were unable to fully perform their duties and organize the congress. The reasons were the same – the rivalry among political centers. On the Preparative Committee conference held in 1966 the date of the World Congress of Free Ukrainians was announced – November, 1967, which was dedicated to the anniversary of proclamation of the Ukrainian National Republic. They also reported about the preparatory state to congress. After that, on January 22, 1967 Manifesto on holding the World Congress of Free Ukrainians was declared. The preparations for the congress was the most hotly discussed topic in the Ukrainian newspapers. To sum up, the PAUC was acting during 1947–1967 with the aim to hold the World Congress of Free Ukrainians and establish the superstructure for the Ukrainian diaspora. Despite a lot of failures, the PAUC did not stop its activities and fulfilled its duty. The most prominent achievement of the PAUC was successful negotiations with the representatives of the leading organizations and the involvement into the work of congress, which gave the World Congress of Free Ukrainians an opportunity to represent all the Ukrainian nation. The World Congress of Free Ukrainians was a permanently active institution, defended rights Ukrainians, and cherished Ukrainian identity.

Summary of the Clinical Practice Guidelines for Penile Cancer 2021 by the Japanese Urological Association.

Penile cancer is a rare cancer for which no medical guidelines have been established before in Japan. These guidelines aim to standardize, as much as possible, the therapeutic modality for penile cancer, for which empirical evidence is limited on a global scale, thereby bolstering therapeutic outcomes for patients with penile cancer. The new guidelines conform to the Minds Guide for Developing Clinical Practice Guidelines (2017) as much as possible. However, virtually no randomized comparative studies and meta-analyses based on such randomized studies have been conducted. Therefore, only the findings available at present were listed after conducting an exhaustive literature review of items with extremely low evidence levels and for which bodies of evidence and grades of recommendation were not evaluated. Clinical questions were set for items with a relatively large number of studies, including retrospective studies. However, since it is virtually impracticable to summarize bodies of evidence by systematic reviews, recommendation grades and evidence levels were discussed and determined by the consensus panel of the Preparatory Committee. The following were outlined: epidemiological, pathological, diagnostic, therapeutic, follow-up, and quality of life-related findings. Additionally, seven clinical questions were established to determine recommendation grades and evidence levels. We hope that these guidelines will prove to be useful to medical professionals engaged in clinical practice related to penile cancer in Japan and anticipate that critical reviews of the guidelines will lead to further refinement of the next edition.

Earthquake catalog improvements and their seismic hazard impacts for the Arabian Peninsula

The Reviewed Event Bulletin (REB) issued through the International Data Centre (IDC) using the International Monitoring System (IMS) network of the Preparatory Commission for the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty Organization (CTBTO) is a seismo-acoustic bulletin distributed to the Member States of the CTBTO for the purpose of verifying the Treaty. The REB is partially available within a few days on the public site of the International Seismological Center (ISC), where the REB events are labeled ‘IDC’. This study focuses on the seismicity of the Arabian Peninsula and its adjacent regions, but the conclusions would be similar for regions that include good quality seismic stations of the IMS auxiliary seismic network, which has no weight in the current Event Definition Criteria (EDC). It is indicated that the consideration of the confidence ellipse factors (semi-major a-axis, semi-minor b-axis, and the epicentral area (A) as alternative EDC would significantly improve the completeness of the REB for the Arabian Peninsula, which consequently enhance the quality of the ISC bulletin.The Arabian Peninsula has been chosen as a study region not only because it is surrounded by the IMS auxiliary seismic stations but also due to its increasing population, rapid urbanization, and strong economic growth in recent years. It has attracted many mega-projects (e.g., Multinational NEUM in Saudi Arabia, Expo 2020 in Dubai, the Special Economic Zone at Duqm in Oman, and the World Cup 2022 in Qatar). The earthquake hazards impact for the big cities in Saudi Arabia, such as Dammam in the east, and Jeddah, Tabuk, and Jizan in the west and the nearby cities are reviewed. The completeness catalog of the revised earthquakes may serve to improve the calculation of earthquake hazards threatening big cities in and around Saudi Arabia.