scholarly journals A Survey on the Impact of COVID-19 on Lacrimal Surgery: The Asia-Pacific Perspective

2020 ◽  
Vol Volume 14 ◽  
pp. 3789-3799
Author(s):  
Akshay Gopinathan Nair ◽  
Natasha Narayanan ◽  
Mohammad Javed Ali
Keyword(s):  
Asia Pacific ◽  
Lacrimal Surgery ◽  
The Impact

THE ACCESS TO GOVERNMENT FINANCIAL SUPPORT THROUGH LEGAL CHANNELS OF SMALL AND MEDIUM ENTERPRISES IN FOUR ASIA PACIFIC COUNTRIES

2020 ◽  
Vol 9 (2) ◽  
pp. 298
Author(s):  
Muhamad Marwan
Keyword(s):  
Financial Support ◽  
Small And Medium Enterprises ◽  
Mediation Effect ◽  
Asia Pacific ◽  
Survey Questionnaire ◽  
Access To Finance ◽  
Medium Enterprises ◽  
The Impact ◽  
The Relationship

The aim of this study is to determine the impact of networking on SME’s ability to access government financial support through legal channels in Asia Pacific. This study is quantitative in nature in which the data has been gathered from 281 employees and managers working in SMEs through survey questionnaire. The SEM technique was utilised for the purpose of analysing and testing the mediation effect. The study found that there is a partial mediation of government financial support through legal channels among the relationship between networking with officers and access to finance. This study is restricted to the SMEs operating in the region of Asia Pacific.

scholarly journals Imaging with Coherent X-rays: From the Early Synchrotron Tests to SYNAPSE

2021 ◽  
Vol 7 (8) ◽  
pp. 132
Author(s):  
Giorgio Margaritondo ◽  
Yeukuang Hwu
Keyword(s):  
Human Brain ◽  
International Collaboration ◽  
Phase Contrast ◽  
Asia Pacific ◽  
X Rays ◽  
New Techniques ◽  
Simple Description ◽  
Contrast Radiography ◽  
The Impact ◽  
Extract Information

The high longitudinal and lateral coherence of synchrotron X-rays sources radically transformed radiography. Before them, the image contrast was almost only based on absorption. Coherent synchrotron sources transformed radiography into a multi-faceted tool that can extract information also from “phase” effects. Here, we report a very simple description of the new techniques, presenting them to potential new users without requiring a sophisticated background in advanced physics. We then illustrate the impact of such techniques with a number of examples. Finally, we present the international collaboration SYNAPSE (Synchrotrons for Neuroscience—an Asia-Pacific Strategic Enterprise), which targets the use of phase-contrast radiography to map one full human brain in a few years.

scholarly journals Does Diabetes Affect the Surgical Outcomes in Cases With Cervical Ossification of the Posterior Longitudinal Ligament? A Multicenter Study From Asia Pacific Spine Study Group

2021 ◽  
pp. 219256822199630
Author(s):  
Narihito Nagoshi ◽  
Kota Watanabe ◽  
Masaya Nakamura ◽  
Morio Matsumoto ◽  
Nan Li ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Multicenter Study ◽  
Surgical Outcomes ◽  
Hemoglobin A1c ◽  
Perioperative Complications ◽  
Japanese Orthopaedic Association ◽  
Posterior Longitudinal Ligament ◽  
Asia Pacific ◽  
C5 Palsy ◽  
Significant Difference ◽  
The Impact

Study Design: Retrospective multicenter study. Objectives: To evaluate the surgical outcomes of cervical ossification of the posterior longitudinal ligament (OPLL) in diabetes mellitus (DM) patients. Methods: Approximately 253 cervical OPLL patients who underwent surgical decompression with or without fixation were registered at 4 institutions in 3 Asian countries. They were followed up for at least 2 years. Demographics, imaging, and surgical information were collected, and cervical Japanese Orthopaedic Association (JOA) scores and the visual analog scale (VAS) for the neck were used for evaluation. Results: Forty-seven patients had DM, showing higher hypertension and cardiovascular disease prevalence. Although they presented worse preoperative JOA scores than non-DM patients (10.5 ± 3.1 vs. 11.8 ± 3.2; P = 0.01), the former showed comparable neurologic recovery at the final follow-up (13.9 ± 2.9 vs. 14.2 ± 2.6; P = 0.41). No correlation was noted between the hemoglobin A1c level in the DM group and the pre- and postoperative JOA scores. No significant difference was noted in VAS scores between the groups at pre- and postsurgery. Regarding perioperative complications, DM patients presented a higher C5 palsy frequency (14.9% vs. 5.8%; P = 0.04). A similar trend was observed when surgical procedure was limited to laminoplasty. Conclusions: This is the first multicenter Asian study to evaluate the impact of DM on cervical OPLL patients. Surgical results were favorable even in DM cases, regardless of preoperative hemoglobin A1c levels or operative procedures. However, caution is warranted for the occurrence of C5 palsy after surgery.

scholarly journals A thematic study: impact of COVID-19 pandemic on rare disease organisations and patients across ten jurisdictions in the Asia Pacific region

2021 ◽  
Vol 16 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Claudia Ching Yan Chung ◽  
Yvette Nga Chung Ng ◽  
Ritu Jain ◽  
Brian Hon Yin Chung
Keyword(s):  
Focus Group ◽  
Rare Disease ◽  
Qualitative Data ◽  
Healthcare Access ◽  
Asia Pacific ◽  
Pacific Region ◽  
Group Meeting ◽  
Asia Pacific Region ◽  
Focus Group Meeting ◽  
The Impact

Abstract Background This study assesses the areas and extent of impact of the Coronavirus Disease of 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic on rare disease (RD) organisations in the Asia Pacific region. There is no existing literature that focuses on such impact on RD organisations in any jurisdictions, nor RD populations across multiple jurisdictions in the Asia Pacific region. A cross-sectional survey was distributed to RD organisations between April and May 2020. Quantitative and qualitative data on the impact of COVID-19 on RD organisations and patients were collected from the organisation representative’s perspective. Qualitative data was analysed using thematic analysis. A follow-up focus group meeting was conducted in August 2020 to validate the survey findings and to discuss specific needs, support and recommendations for sustainable healthcare systems during the pandemic. Results A total of 80 RD organisations from Australia, Hong Kong Special Administrative Region of China, India, Japan, mainland China, Malaysia, New Zealand, the Philippines, Singapore and Taiwan participated in the study. Of all, 89% were concerned about the impact of pandemic on their organisations. Results indicate that 63% of the organisations functioned at a reduced capacity and 42% stated a decrease in funding as their biggest challenge. Overall, 95% believed their patients were impacted, particularly in healthcare access, social lives, physical health, psychological health and financial impact. Specifically, 43% identified the reduced healthcare access as their top impact, followed by 26% about the impact on daily living and social life. Focus group meeting discussed differential impact across jurisdictions and point towards telemedicine and digitalisation as potential solutions. Conclusions This serves as the first study to assess the impact of COVID-19 on RD patients and organisations across multiple jurisdictions in the Asia Pacific region, identifying major themes on the impact on both RD patients and organisations. By including 80 organisations from ten jurisdictions, our study presents the most comprehensive assessment of the pandemic’s impact to date. It highlights the need for mental health support and sheds light on moving towards telemedicine and digitalisation of organisation operation, which constitutes a sustainable model in times of pandemics and beyond.

scholarly journals Processes, Challenges and Optimisation of Rum Production from Molasses—A Contemporary Review

Fermentation ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 7 (1) ◽  
pp. 21
Author(s):  
Tinashe Mangwanda ◽  
Joel B. Johnson ◽  
Janice S. Mani ◽  
Steve Jackson ◽  
Shaneel Chandra ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Management Practices ◽  
Scientific Literature ◽  
Asia Pacific ◽  
Yeast Strains ◽  
Challenges And Opportunities ◽  
The Caribbean ◽  
The Impact ◽  
Production Industry ◽  
Stringent Quality

The rum industry is currently worth USD 16 billion, with production concentrated in tropical countries of the Caribbean and Asia-Pacific regions. The primary feedstock for rum production is sugar cane molasses, a by-product of sugar refineries. The main variables known to affect rum quality include the composition of the molasses, the length of fermentation, and the type of barrels and length of time used for aging the rum. The goal of this review is to provide an overview of the impact of these variables on rum quality, and to highlight current challenges and opportunities in the production of rum from molasses. In order to achieve this, we review the relevant contemporary scientific literature on these topics. The major contemporary challenges in the rum production industry include minimising the effects of variability in feedstock quality, ensuring the fermentation process runs to completion, preventing microbial contamination, and the selection and maintenance of yeast strains providing optimum ethanol production. Stringent quality management practices are required to ensure consistency in the quality and organoleptic properties of the rum from batch to batch. Further research is required to fully understand the influences of many of these variables on the final quality of the rum produced.

THE ACTIVITIES OF THE USA AND CHINA IN THE REGIONS OF THE WORLD, AFFECTING THE REALIZATION OF RUSSIA'S INTERESTS. Part 1: country interests and activities

2021 ◽  
Vol 1 (10) ◽  
pp. 149-166
Author(s):  
Dmitry V. Gordienko ◽  
Keyword(s):  
United States ◽  
Russian Federation ◽  
The United States ◽  
Asia Pacific ◽  
The Arctic ◽  
The World ◽  
The Usa ◽  
The Russian Federation ◽  
The Military ◽  
The Impact

The paper examines the interests of Russia, the United States and China in the regions of the world and identifies the priorities of Russia's activities in Europe, Central Asia and the Caucasus, the Asia-Pacific region, the Arctic, Africa, the Middle East and Latin America, their comparative assessment with the interests of the United States and China. An approach to assessing the impact of possible consequences of the activities of the United States and China on the realization of Russia's interests is proposed. This makes it possible to identify the priorities of the policy of the Russian Federation in various regions of the world. The results of the analysis can be used to substantiate recommendations to the military-political leadership of our country. It is concluded that the discrepancy between the interests of the United States and China is important for the implementation of the current economic and military policy of the Russian Federation.

Was India Right in Not Joining RCEP? A Cost–Benefit Analysis

2021 ◽  
pp. 097492842110477
Author(s):  
Monika Jain
Keyword(s):  
New Zealand ◽  
South Korea ◽  
Free Trade ◽  
Trade Diversion ◽  
Trade Agreements ◽  
Asia Pacific ◽  
Trade Creation ◽  
Asean Countries ◽  
The Cost ◽  
The Impact

India dropped out of the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP), which included the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) countries, China, South Korea, New Zealand, Japan and Australia, after negotiating for almost seven years in November 2018 on the grounds of national interest and also that free trade agreements (FTAs) did not amount to free trade and led to more trade diversion than trade creation. The cost and benefit of a regional agreement depend on the amount of trade creation with respect to trade diversion (Panagriya, 2000). This study tries to examine India’s concerns and at the same time, highlights the cost of not joining RCEP. India’s trade deficit with 11 out of the 15 RCEP nations has been a major cause of concern. Unfavourable trade balance, concerns about the impact on dairy sector, economic slowdown, past experience with FTA’s, China factor, data localisation, rules of origin, the experience of ASEAN countries with Sino-FTA have been some of the reasons behind India’s decision to opt-out of this mega multilateral agreement. Also, bilateral trade agreements with some RCEP countries such as Japan, Malaysia, Singapore, Thailand and South Korea were operational. A multilateral trade agreement with ASEAN countries was very much in place. So, trade between India and 12 of the RCEP member countries would not have changed much after India’s inclusion in RCEP. The impact of lower tariffs would have been evident for the remaining three countries: China, Australia and New Zealand. Furthermore, there was fear of a massive surge in imports of manufactures from China, dairy imports from Australia and New Zealand. This study also examines the long term impact of this decision and if India has missed out on becoming a part of the global value chain and gaining greater market access in the Asia Pacific region. India’s policy of import substitution and protectionism did not capitulate desired results in the past. Hence, a critical evaluation of India’s decision and some validation on her concerns and fears have been done.

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