South East Research Articles

Self-determination and secessionism in Nigeria: a contextual analysis through Edward Azar’s protracted social conflict theory

ABSTRACT This article examines the rising divergence but convergence of self-determination and secessionist campaigns in Nigeria. For a contextual analysis, it turns to Edward Azar's protracted social conflict (PSC) theory, exploring the connections between communal disgruntlement and self-determination. The analysis indicates a significant relationship between communal dissatisfaction and self-determination. Through purposive sampling, it selected 44 in-depth interview respondents to obtain complementary qualitative data that were content analysed. In contrast to the 1960s secessionism, which was largely restricted to Eastern Nigeria, combined with the legacies of colonial rule, popularity of ethno-religious politics, an increase in insecurity and violence, economic hardship, communal insecurity, and deeper perception of ethnic marginalisation, the current wave of self-determination is more contagious and politically attractive in three (South West (SW), South East (SE) and South (SS) –) of the existing six geopolitical zones in Nigeria. The article concludes, returning to the erstwhile regionalism will salvage Nigeria from territorial disintegration..

Deformities in Litopenaeus vannamei caused by infectious hypodermal and hematopoietic necrosis viral (IHHNV) infection in intensive grow-out ponds of South east coast of India

Deformities in <i>Litopenaeus vannamei</i> caused by infectious hypodermal and hematopoietic necrosis viral (IHHNV) infection in intensive grow-out ponds of South east coast of India

Discovering down's syndrome: An account from A low middle income country.

This study aims to establish the frequency of Down's syndrome which will enhance the knowledge of our local population as well to understand our genotypic patterns and variations. Electronic Medical Records of inborn babies at the Department of Neonatology, Sheikh Saeed Memorial Campus of The Indus Hospital Karachi during the study period from 1st January 2021 to 31st December 2022 were retrieved. Chromosomal karyotyping was done for all babies with suspicious clinical features identified on routine new born examination by consultant neonatologists, trainee doctors and experienced nurses. There was a total of 7,433 live births during the study period, out of which 14 babies had features suggestive of DS. repetition of sentence. What about karyotyping result?? The frequency of DS in our study is slightly higher than the incidence reported within South East Asia. It is high time to perform effective antenatal screening and efficient prenatal diagnostic services for early detection of chromosomal numerical aberration such as Down syndrome for better management of upcoming pregnancies.

Corruption’s Crossroads: Exploring Firm Performance and Auditors’ Role in Emerging Markets

This study examines the relationship between country-level corruption (proxied by the Corruption Perception Index, CPI) and firm performance (measured by Return on Assets, ROA) across 18,286 firms in the East Asia, South Asia, and Southeast Asia regions. Additionally, the moderating effects of audit quality (proxied by auditors’ reputation) on the relationship are examined. The findings of the study indicate a positive association between corruption and ROA in high-income nations, thus providing evidence in favor of the “greasing the wheel” theory. On the other hand, a negative association is documented in the upper middle- and low-income nations, which is consistent with the “sanding the wheel” notion. Notably, audit quality has a positive moderating influence on the relationship between corruption and ROA, especially in nations with low corruption levels, reaffirming the pivotal role of reputable auditors in enhancing firm performance within these economic contexts. The results of this study have important ramifications for forming policy suggestions and enhancing governance. The findings highlight the opportunity to improve governance practices and regulations to reduce corruption and increase transparency. Policymakers can develop ways to strengthen institutional frameworks by recognizing the complex link between corruption, corporate profitability, and the function of respected auditors.

Developing Predictive Models and Early Warning Systems for Invading Pathogens: Wheat Rusts.

Innovations in aerobiological and epidemiological modeling are enabling the development of powerful techniques to infer connectivity networks for transboundary pathogens in ways that were not previously possible. The innovations are supported by improved access to historical and near real-time highly resolved weather data, multi-country disease surveillance data, and enhanced computing power. Using wheat rusts as an exemplar, we introduce a flexible modeling framework to identify characteristic pathways for long-distance spore dispersal within countries and beyond national borders. We show how the models are used for near real-time early warning systems to support smallholder farmers in East Africa and South Asia. Wheat rust pathogens are ideal exemplars because they continue to pose threats to food security, especially in regions of the world where resources for control are limited. The risks are exacerbated by the rapid appearance and spread of new pathogenic strains, prodigious spore production, and long-distance dispersal for transboundary and pandemic spread.

A decision support tool for habitat connectivity in Australia

Context Species connectivity mapping is a technically challenging task for conservation practitioners and nongovernment organisations to undertake as it requires experience in geographic information systems and often some computer programming. Aims We developed a decision support tool to provide spatial information and data on potential habitat connectivity and optimum connectivity pathways for a selection of forest-dependent vertebrate fauna in eastern and south-western Australia. Methods We systematically searched spatial data repositories for Australian spatial datasets for modelling connectivity. A least cost paths and patch connectivity approach was used to map potential habitat connectivity for (1) a single species – the glossy black cockatoo (Calyptorhynchus lathami) of South East Queensland, and (2) four species guilds – rainforest pigeons, gliding possums, the black cockatoos of south-western Western Australia and a landscape level forest connectivity. Optimum connectivity pathways were assessed for protection status. Key results In total 71 spatial datasets useful for habitat connectivity mapping were identified. Species and guild modelling found that the protection status for optimum connectivity pathways varied between 24.7% and 53.3%. A decision support mapping tool was then created to enable users to interactively explore the connectivity data and download the spatial datasets for further analysis. Conclusions The development of a decision support tool for mapping habitat connectivity in eastern and south-western Australia represents a useful platform for conservation practitioners as it provides valuable spatial information on potential connectivity pathways for forest-dependent vertebrate fauna. Implications The tool can aid in the prioritisation of conservation actions aimed at enhancing habitat connectivity and mitigating the impacts of habitat fragmentation on biodiversity in the two regions.

SP3.6 - Do non-colorectal surgeons produce an inferior lymph node yield in emergency colorectal cancer resections?

Abstract Introduction Lymph node yield is a surrogate indicator of adequate resection and yields of 20 or more have been shown to be associated with better survival outcomes. There is controversy as to whether colorectal cancers should be operated on by non-colorectal surgeons in the emergency setting. This study explores whether there are differences in lymph node yield between colorectal and non-colorectal surgeons in the context of emergency Hartmann's procedures performed for malignancy. Methods A retrospective study was conducted at a 3-site Trust in South East England between 2012 and 2022. Theatre and Info flex Cancer records were used to obtain patients who had undergone a Hartmann's procedure for malignancy and their operating surgeon. The histology reports were then reviewed and statistical analysis was undertaken. Results 346 patients were included in the study, in a 197:149 male-to-female ratio. The mean age was 73 (28-92 IQR). Histology confirmed malignancy in all the study participants. 11% (38/346) of the operations were conducted by non-colorectal surgeons (UGI, Breast, and Endocrine). The mean lymph node yield for the non-colorectal surgeons was 28 (24-33 IQR). The mean lymph node yield for colorectal surgeons was 29 (26-34 IQR). There was no statistical difference between the lymph node yield between colorectal and non-colorectal surgeons (p=0.671) Conclusion The study concluded that adequate oncological colonic resections could be conducted safely by non-colorectal surgeons in emergency settings.

FP3.15 - Are non-colorectal surgeons more likely to make a stoma in an emergency right hemicolectomy for cancer?

Abstract Introduction Right sided colonic cancers can often cause bowel obstruction and present as an emergency. The decision to perform an anastomois following a right hemicolectomy resection is frequently multifactorial. There is controversy as to whether colorectal cancers should be operated on by non-colorectal surgeons in the emergency setting. This study explores whether there are differences in stoma formation rates between colorectal and non-colorectal surgeons in the context of emergency right hemicolectomy operations performed for malignancy. Methods A retrospective study was conducted at a 3 site Trust in South East England between 2017 and 2022. Theatre and Infoflex Cancer records were used to obtain patients who had undergone an open right hemicolectomy for malignancy and their operating surgeon. Results There were 281 patients included in the study, in a 152:129 female:male ratio. The mean age was 68 (34-86 IQR). 13% (37/281) of operations were conducted by Upper Gastro-intestinal Surgeons. 54% (20/37) of these patients had stoma formation as part of their operation. 47% (115/244) of operations undertaken by colorectal surgeons also had stoma formation. There was no significant difference between the stoma formation between colorectal and non-colorectal surgeons (p=0.108) Conclusion The study shows that although the decision to form a stoma following a right hemicolectomy multifactorial and is dependent on a wealth of patient and operative factors, there is no statistical difference between colorectal and non-colorectal surgeons in the emergency setting.

Prevalence of Methamphetamine (Mkpurummiri) use in south east Nigeria: a community-based cross-sectional study

BackgroundMethamphetamine (MA) (Mkpurummiri) is seen as the most common, accessible and new drug of use/abuse in south east Nigeria. Despite the overwhelming evidence of the dire consequences of this drug to the users, there is lack of empirical research to determine its prevalence in this area where use is assumed to be common. This study aimed to determine the prevalence of MA use, characteristics of the users and the control measures.MethodsA descriptive cross-sectional survey research design was conducted from May through November 2023 among adolescents/adults at the age bracket of 15-64 years in the five states of south east, Nigeria. Three hundred and seventy-one (371) respondents were recruited using purposive/convenience sampling methods. A semi structured questionnaire was the instrument used. Data were analyzed using percentage, bivariate and multivariate logistics regression statistics. The Prevalence of MA was determined using percentages whereas the factors that are associated with MA use were expressed using multivariate logistics regression statistics AORs and 95%CIs. The level of significance was set at P < 0.05.ResultsThe prevalence of Methamphetamine (Mkpurummiri) was (21.8%). The most common reason for MA use was depression (86.5%), the most common route of administration was inhalation (64.9%). The most common characteristic of MA (Mkpurummiri) user was aggressive/violent behaviour (94.1%).The control measures were self-control (92.2%), parental monitoring (85.7%), drug education (83.1%) and legal control (80.8%). The multivariate logistics regression statistics AOR shows that off-campus were 3 times (AOR = 0.298; CI = 0.12–0.73 P = 0.008), family house 4 times (AOR = 0.241; CI = 0.09–0.65; P = 0.005 ≤0.05\\documentclass[12pt]{minimal} \\usepackage{amsmath} \\usepackage{wasysym} \\usepackage{amsfonts} \\usepackage{amssymb} \\usepackage{amsbsy} \\usepackage{mathrsfs} \\usepackage{upgreek} \\setlength{\\oddsidemargin}{-69pt} \\begin{document}$$\\le 0.05$$\\end{document}) less likely than on-campus to predict MA use. Recently married were 3.25 times (aOR = 3.25; CI = 1.47–7.18), divorced 3.45 times (aOR = 3.45; CI = 1.23–9.58), polygamy 2.3 times (aOR = 2.3; CI = 1.08–4.90; P = 0.031 ≤0.05\\documentclass[12pt]{minimal} \\usepackage{amsmath} \\usepackage{wasysym} \\usepackage{amsfonts} \\usepackage{amssymb} \\usepackage{amsbsy} \\usepackage{mathrsfs} \\usepackage{upgreek} \\setlength{\\oddsidemargin}{-69pt} \\begin{document}$$\\le 0.05$$\\end{document}), tradition 4.44 times (aOR = 4.44; CI = 1.77–11.15; P = 0.001 ≤0.05)\\documentclass[12pt]{minimal} \\usepackage{amsmath} \\usepackage{wasysym} \\usepackage{amsfonts} \\usepackage{amssymb} \\usepackage{amsbsy} \\usepackage{mathrsfs} \\usepackage{upgreek} \\setlength{\\oddsidemargin}{-69pt} \\begin{document}$$\\le 0.05)$$\\end{document}, more likely than others to use MA.ConclusionsMA use prevalence was relatively high, and marital status, living arrangements, family type and religion were the predictors. These findings underscore the need for concerted effort among the relevant government agencies, community stakeholders, families, religious bodies and school authorities to designing MA use policy/laws with special focus on adopting the punitive measure used in checking cocaine users. This may help to arrest and prosecute the manufacturers, distributors and users of MA.

From resources to capital: Investigating the efficiency of forest ecosystem products value realization in China

Forest resources provide a good ecological environment for human beings and offer economic well-being and benefits. Value realization of ecosystem products reflects the process from resources to capital. This study investigates the two-stage value realization efficiency of China's forest ecosystem products from 2011 to 2021. A parallel nested network Data Envelopment Analysis model is applied to assess product supply and value transformation stages. In addition, the evolution of the spatial pattern is depicted by a multilayer Standard Deviational Ellipse. The results reveal that (1) the overall value realization trend of China's forest ecosystem products shows a fluctuating growth trend, with an average annual efficiency value of 0.86. (2) The efficiency level of the value transformation stage is lower than that of the product supply stage. (3) Regional disparities persist. The efficiency values in East China and South China are higher than that in other regions. (4) The value realization capacity of China's forest ecosystem products may be closely related to national development strategies and policy orientations.

Estimating the stochastic uncertainty underlying sample-based estimates of infant mortality in the Philippines: a first-time application to a country in the Southeast Asia/Pacific Basin region

ABSTRACT Infant mortality is an important population health statistic that is often used to make health policy decisions. Unfortunately, these data are not available for all populations. A newly developed method is presented for accounting for the stochastic uncertainty found in infant mortality rates (IMRs) estimated from sample surveys and for the first time applied to a country in the Southeast Asian/Pacific Basin area, the Philippines. The method is founded on the fact that there are two sources of variation in sample-based estimates of IMRs: (1) sample size; and (2) variation of infant deaths. The approach is aimed at taking into account stochastic uncertainty while preserving information concerning the uncertainty due to sampling. In applying the method to the Philippines, the sample-based IMR estimates appear to perform well in terms of accounting for stochastic uncertainty. This finding is consistent with previous research assessing this approach in Africa and with variations, in Canada, Europe and the United States, which suggests that in the form presented here or in one of its variants, it could successfully be employed not only elsewhere in the Southeast Asia/Pacific Basin region but also in East Asia, North Asia, South Asia, and West Asia.

Accessory Axillary Breast Management: Is Primary Skin Excision Necessary?

AbstractAxillary breasts are a common entity with a reported incidence of 2 to 6% in women and 1 to 3% in men. They are more common amongst Asians than Caucasians, namely amongst South East Asians and Indians, with the highest incidence amongst Japanese. While modalities like CoolScupting™, Kybella™ injections, and BodyTite™ have been used by surgeons for management of axillary breasts, the most effective treatment for this condition remains surgical management involving a combination of liposuction of the axillary breast with excision of the gland and skin. In the author's experience, primary skin excision always leaves a long visible scar that widens over time, at times leading to contractures and restricted axillary movements even when closure looks tension free on the table. Any skin excess is best dealt with secondarily. The author uses a modified protocol without any primary skin excision in axillary breast management to achieve excellent results with minimal scars.

Discrimination model of geographical area from coconut milk by near-infrared spectroscopy: Exploration in tandem with classical chemometrics, machine learning, and deep learning

This work proposes exploring the discrimination model by near-infrared (NIR) spectroscopy (FT-NIR and Micro-NIR) for geographical source areas of coconut milk in tandem with the classical to modern chemometrics classifier. The discrimination model was developed using qualitative chemometrics techniques from classic (Principal Component Analysis-PCA, Partial Least Squares Discriminant Analysis-PLS-DA, Linear Discriminant Analysis-LDA) to modern, including classifiers from machine learning (Support Vector Machine-SVM, k-Nearest Neighbor-KNN, Artificial Neural Network-ANN) and deep learning (Simple Convolutional Neural Networks-S-CNN, S-AlexNET, Residual Networks-ResNET). Three sources as geographical areas of coconut milk originally from Thailand were used, including the south region (Chumphon Province), middle region (Samut Songkhram Province), and east region (Chonburi Province). Our findings showed that a classifier from SVM and ResNET could yield the optimal performance for discriminating the geographical source area of coconut milk using FT-NIR. Furthermore, when using Micro-NIR, the classifier from LDA, SVM, KNN and ResNET delivered the highest accuracy. The performance discrimination models above were excellent when classified based on the kappa coefficient. This study concluded that both FT-NIR and Micro-NIR supported by classical to modern chemometric classifiers could be used to evaluate the geographical area source from coconut milk. Also, the method in this study includes a strategy for discovering feature-important NIR spectra for interpretability purposes, thereby facilitating the qualitative interpretation of results for all types of classifiers.

The Elimination Status of Visceral Leishmaniasis in Southeast Asia Region.

Visceral leishmaniasis (VL) is caused by an intracellular parasite that is transmitted to humans by sandfly bites. It is prevalent throughout Asia, Africa, the Americas, and the Mediterranean area, where 147million people are at risk of contracting the illness. The manifestation of heterotrophic illness relies on both Leishmania implicated and the host's immunological response, ranging from asymptomatic to severe leishmaniasis with potentially lethal effects. We reviewed the literature (published till 31st December 2023) on the worldwide situation of leishmaniasis, standard and novel detection techniques, and traditional and modern treatment strategies and endeavors to eliminate VL. Moreover, epidemiological data was collected from the World Health Organization's publicly available databases. GraphPad Prism Version 8 was used to analyze and produce figures based on the epidemiological data. Diagnosis of parasites in tissues or serology is commonly employed. Diagnosis by identifying parasite DNA using molecular techniques is becoming more popular. Despite recent findings of L. donovani resistance to pentavalent antimoniate medications, it continues to be the cornerstone in the medical management of VL. Amphotericin B and its lipid formulations, injectable paromomycin, and oral miltefosine are among the new therapy options being researched. The number of reported VL cases has reduced remarkably over the last decade due to human interventions made to eliminate VL. Particularly countries from the South East Asian region have experienced momentous progress in reducing VL cases and eliminating this disease from this region. Owing to the robust elimination programs, countries such as Bangladesh has eliminated VL as a public health concern. India and Nepal are on the verge of its elimination. Rapid diagnosis, effective and inexpensive treatment, simple access to newly discovered medications, appropriate vector control, and a well-designed vaccine are all required for the elimination of this disease burden in impoverished areas of the globe.

Iron Status of Pregnant Women at Different Trimester in Nsukka, Enugu State, South East, Nigeria

Iron Status of Pregnant Women at Different Trimester in Nsukka, Enugu State, South East, Nigeria

Pilot robotic mastectomy in Singapore (PRoMiSing I) study: first safety and feasibility prospective cohort trial in South East Asia.

Robotic mastectomy has been performed worldwide since 2015. The advantages of the robotic approach in nipple-sparing mastectomy have been proven with better visualization and preservation of blood supply to the nipple-areolar complex, with a lower incidence of necrosis. It also allows smaller incisions for both mastectomy and immediate breast reconstruction. To date, no centers in Singapore and Southeast Asia offer robotic mastectomy. We believe that robotic mastectomy is a feasible and safe technique that our population can utilize. This study aimed to ascertain the surgical outcomes and perform a learning curve analysis in patients undergoing robotic mastectomy in a multi-ethnic South East Asian population. A single-arm prospective pilot study of eligible patients aged 21-70 years old with early breast cancer or high-risk patients indicated for risk-reducing mastectomy who were eligible and consented to robotic mastectomy were enrolled in this trial from December 22, 2022 to December 15, 2023. A total of 29 consecutive robotic mastectomies were performed. The mean total operative time was 95±10.2min. The average blood loss was 5.7±1.9ml, and the average length of stay was 1.05 days. The mean mastectomy specimen weight was 251g, and there was no conversion to conventional mastectomy in any case. Furthermore, there were no 30-day morbidity or complications in terms of wound infection requiring intervention, flap, and nipple-areolar complex necrosis, and postoperative hematoma/bleeding requiring intervention. This study contributes to the current evidence that robotic mastectomy is a safe and feasible option and could prove to be a great alternative to conventional mastectomy. Further prospective trials examining the long-term oncological outcomes of robotic mastectomy will be performed to establish the oncologic safety of this technique in breast cancer treatment.

Identifying liver cancer cells using cascaded convolutional neural network and gray level co-occurrence matrix techniques

&lt;p&gt;Liver cancer has a high mortality rate, especially in South Asia, East Asia, and Sub-Saharan Africa. Efforts to reduce these rates focus on detecting liver cancer at all stages. Early detection allows more treatment options, though symptoms may not always be apparent. The staging process evaluates tumor size, location, lymph node involvement, and spread to other organs. Our research used the CLD staging system, assessing tumor size (C), lymph nodes (L), and distant invasion (D). We applied a deep learning approach with a cascaded convolutional neural network (CNN) and gray level co-occurrence matrix (GLCM)-based texture features to distinguish benign from malignant tumors. The method validated with the cancer imaging archive (TCIA) dataset, demonstrating superior accuracy compared to existing techniques.&lt;/p&gt;

Mapping spatial analysis of fish disease incidence and antibiotic resistance trends in selected provinces of Indonesia

Abstract Monitoring and visiting farmers affected by fish mortality is imperative. It offers insights into fish disease mapping and the trend of antibiotic resistance, serving as a fundamental for future strategies for preventing and treating fish diseases. The data collection was carried out by visiting farmers who suffered from fish mortality in 2022 in East Java, South Kalimantan, and Bali provinces. A total of 128 samples of infected fish were collected and analyzed using PCR and standard microbiological methods, and the findings were analyzed using spatial analysis and visual interpretation. Based on PCR results, the prevalence of fish diseases showed 65% iridovirus cases in gourami and tilapia, 31% in tilapia was TiLV, and 4% were Francisella sp. infection in tilapia. According to the results of microbiological tests, 86% of Edwardsiella tarda samples in pangasius were resistant to Oxytetracycline. Aeromonas sp. infection was the highest case in catfish, 58% were sensitive to Sulfamethoxazole. Streptococcosis was a typical tilapia disease that was 62% susceptible to Enrofloxacine and Sulfamethoxazole. Cases of Nocardia sp. and Staphylococcus sp. infection in gourami were found to be 71% intermediate to Enrofloxacine and Oxytetracycline, respectively.

Digital sociocracy: A decolonial state-in-society approach to participatory governance in South East Asia

Digital transformation has become a buzzword in government manifestos to become the first, the best and the leading nation in embracing digital technology. This is imposed on all areas of society – health, education, agriculture and the economy, often under yet another overused agenda (or guise) of sustainability. While governments strive towards this chaotic development, their societies are left in much disarray, subjected to further polarization, widened disparities and heightened discrimination. This article provides an overview of current state-led digital mechanisms in the region, namely Pangkalan Data Utama (PADU; Malaysia), LAPOR! (Indonesia), Bottom-Up Budgeting (BuB) and Full Disclosure Policy (Philippines), and Tang Rat (Thailand) prior to discussing two other digital public participation models – vTaiwan and Decidem. A comparative analysis of their processes, challenges and opportunities is discussed alongside Migdal’s state-in-society framework to posit the notion of sociocratic networks for participatory governance. The principles of rhizomorphic publics provide the conceptual framework for a new digital social contract in this region.

236 A pilot and evaluation of a dance intervention for young women following cancer treatment: Dance Exercise Intervention South East (The DEISE project)

236 A pilot and evaluation of a dance intervention for young women following cancer treatment: Dance Exercise Intervention South East (The DEISE project)