Subtype H3N2 Influenza A Viruses: An Unmet Challenge in the Western Pacific

Subtype H3N2 influenza A viruses (A(H3N2)) have been the dominant strain in some countries in the Western Pacific region since the 2009 influenza A(H1N1) pandemic. Vaccination is the most effective way to prevent influenza; however, low vaccine effectiveness has been reported in some influenza seasons, especially for A(H3N2). Antigenic mismatch introduced by egg-adaptation during vaccine production between the vaccine and circulating viral stains is one of the reasons for low vaccine effectiveness. Here we review the extent of this phenomenon, the underlying molecular mechanisms and discuss recent strategies to ameliorate this, including new vaccine platforms that may provide better protection and should be considered to reduce the impact of A(H3N2) in the Western Pacific region.

Western Pacific Teachers’ Perceptions of Implementing Technology in the Classroom

At a Western Pacific Region school district with six public high schools, district administrators implemented an educational technology training program (ETTP) to improve technology integration in the classroom as measured by the Effective Learning Environments Observation Tool, but there was no follow-up to determine how the teachers perceived the ETTP and to identify the experiences of teachers related to instructional technology after taking the district training. This basic qualitative study, guided by the technology acceptance model, addressed this problem in the district by exploring how the teachers perceived the technology professional development program provided by the district and the teachers’ experiences related to instructional technology after taking the district training. The purposeful sample included 13 Western Pacific Region high school teachers who were interviewed via Zoom. Data were analyzed using thematic analysis to create codes, categories, and themes. The participants perceived the ETTP as helpful because they learned new tools and increased their confidence in using technology in their classrooms. Results showed that after completing the ETTP, teachers still needed content-specific technology training and continuous professional development. High school teachers expressed the need for these trainings to continue integrating technology using up-to-date technology tools. Rethinking science professional development is one potential form of social change.

A New Species of Diaphus Associated with Seamounts of the Emperor Chain, North-Western Pacific Ocean (Teleostei: Myctophiformes: Myctophidae)

A new species, Diaphus balanovi, is described based on 35 specimens collected over the Emperor Seamount Chain in the north-western Pacific Ocean. It belongs to the D. fulgens species complex and is most similar to D. kuroshio both morphologically and genetically. Nevertheless, the new species can be distinguished from D. kuroshio by its higher gill-rakers count, large luminous scale at PLO, large Dn, somewhat higher position of SAO3, otolith shape, and larger absolute size. The CO1 mtDNA sequence of D. balanovi differs by 16 substitutions from that of D. kuroshio. Diaphus balanovi may represent a benthopelagic derivate of D. kuroshio endemic to the Emperor Seamounts.

40Ar/39Ar Ages and Geochemistry of Seamount Basalts from the Western Pacific Province

Seamounts are features generated by hot spots and associated intraplate volcanic activity. The geochemical characteristics of igneous rocks constituting seamounts provide evidence of important details of dynamic processes in the Earth, such as mantle magma source areas, and are key to understanding how mantle plume processes control the formation and evolution of seamounts and their resulting geochemical characteristics. The Pacific Ocean contains a large number of hitherto unstudied seamounts, whose ages and geochemical characteristics remain poorly known. This study presents the geochemical characteristics of six basalt samples from five seamounts in the Western Pacific and the 40Ar/9Ar ages of three samples are determined. The new analysis yielded 40Ar/39Ar ages for seamounts samples MP3D21, MP5D11, and MP5D15A of 95.43 ± 0.33, 62.4 ± 0.26, and 99.03 ± 0.4 Ma, respectively. The geochemical profiles of seamounts samples MP3D04, MP3D21, MP5D11, MP5D15A, MPID201, and MPID202 are consistent with alkaline basalts, as evidence by alkali-rich, silicon-poor compositions along with high titanium concentrations. The primitive mantle normalized rare-earth elements and trace elements spider pattern are similar to those of ocean island basalts. The Ta/Hf and Nb/Zr ratios and La/Zr-Nb/Zr discriminant diagrams indicate that the six seamounts formed from magma that originated in the deep mantle.