United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific

The chronic impact of ambient air pollutants on lung function in adults is not fully understood. The objective of this study was to investigate the association of long-term exposure to ambient air pollution with lung function in adult participants from five cohorts in the European Study of Cohorts for Air Pollution Effects (ESCAPE). Residential exposure to nitrogen oxides (NO₂, NOx) and particulate matter (PM) was modelled and traffic indicators were assessed in a standardised manner. The spirometric parameters forced expiratory volume in 1 s (FEV₁) and forced vital capacity (FVC) from 7613 subjects were considered as outcomes. Cohort-specific results were combined using meta-analysis. We did not observe an association of air pollution with longitudinal change in lung function, but we observed that a 10 μg·m(-3) increase in NO₂ exposure was associated with lower levels of FEV₁ (-14.0 mL, 95% CI -25.8 to -2.1) and FVC (-14.9 mL, 95% CI -28.7 to -1.1). An increase of 10 μg·m(-3) in PM10, but not other PM metrics (PM2.5, coarse fraction of PM, PM absorbance), was associated with a lower level of FEV₁ (-44.6 mL, 95% CI -85.4 to -3.8) and FVC (-59.0 mL, 95% CI -112.3 to -5.6). The associations were particularly strong in obese persons. This study adds to the evidence for an adverse association of ambient air pollution with lung function in adults at very low levels in Europe.

The pharmaceutical industries face a series of challenges in the delivery of many newly developed drug molecules because of their low solubility, bioavailability, stability and polymorphic conversion.

Sea-floor spreading magnetic anomalies of Mesozoic age have been mapped for the entire northwest Pacific, from the mid-Mesozoic quiet zone to the Cretaceous quiet zone. There are two general lineation directions: NE-SW between Shatsky rise and Japan, and NW-SE to the east and southeast of Shatsky rise. These two patterns are joined in a magnetic bight southwest of Shatsky rise. The bight is assumed to have been produced by spreading from ridges of a former ridge-ridge-ridge (R-R-R) triple junction between the Pacific, Kula, and Farallon plates which existed at the beginning of the late Mesozoic geomagnetic reversal period (anomaly M-26, 155 m.y.B.P.). Evolution of the triple junction resulted in the formation of Shatsky rise during 142 to 116 m.y.B.P. and Hess rise during 116 to 95 m.y.B.P. Identification of the anomalies is based on a late Mesozoic reversal model constructed from four closely spaced, parallel profiles recorded across the complete late Mesozoic sequence of reversal anomalies near the Hawaiian ridge. Anomalies which are repeated in all four profiles are considered due to reversals, while those not repeated are shown to be associated with seamounts or other topographic features. It is concluded that at 155 m.y.B.P. (M-26) the Kula-Pacific, Pacific-Farallon, Pacific-Phoenix ridge system described a comparatively small triangle about the Pacific plate. Assuming that spreading existed at the same rates prior to the period of late Mesozoic reversals, and projecting it back in time, the system would have started essentially at a point in the vicinity of 15°N and 155°E at 185 to 190 ill.y.B.P. Spreading was faster on the Kula-Pacific and the Pacific-Phoenix ridges than on the Pacific-Farallon ridge during the late Mesozoic. Spreading direction of the Kula-Pacific and northern Pacific-Farallon ridges changed clockwise with time (40° from M-26 to Cenozoic anomaly 32), while spreading direction changed counterclockwise on the Pacific-Phoenix ridge. This evolution of the spreading system has persisted to the present time; thus, the Pacific plate has apparently formed from a small cell by the unfolding of the spreading ridges bordering it.

shallow limestone platform and reefs. This has doubled the global cover of such MPAs.It contains 25-50% of the Indian Ocean reef area remaining in excellent condition, as well as the world's largest contiguous undamaged reef area. It has suffered from warming episodes, but after the most severe mortality event of 1998, coral cover was restored after 10 years.Coral reef fishes are orders of magnitude more abundant than in other Indian Ocean locations, regardless of whether the latter are fished or protected.Coral diseases are extremely low, and no invasive marine species are known.Genetically, Chagos marine species are part of the Western Indian Ocean, and Chagos serves as a 'stepping-stone' in the ocean.The no-take MPA extends to the 200 nm boundary, and. includes 86 unfished seamounts and 243 deep knolls as well as encompassing important pelagic species.On the larger islands, native plants, coconut crabs, bird and turtle colonies were largely destroyed in plantation times, but several smaller islands are in relatively undamaged state.There are now 10 'important bird areas', coconut crab density is high and numbers of green and hawksbill turtles are recovering.Diego Garcia atoll contains a military facility; this atoll contains one Ramsar site and several 'strict nature reserves'. Pollutant monitoring shows it to be the least polluted inhabited atoll in the world. Today, strict environmental regulations are enforced.Shoreline erosion is significant in many places. Its economic cost in the inhabited part of Diego Garcia is very high, but all islands are vulnerable.Chagos is ideally situated for several monitoring programmes, and use is increasingly being made of the archipelago for this purpose.

Abstract We use new data on trade and production in 167 countries to infer estimates of trade costs for manufactured goods and agriculture for 1996‒2010. Trade costs are strongly declining in country income level. Among developing countries, only the upper middle income group has been successful in reducing trade costs faster than elsewhere in the world. Sub-Saharan African countries and low income countries remain subject to very high trade costs. Regional trade agreements, maritime transport connectivity, and trade facilitation performance are important determinants of trade costs.

Abstract The significant increase in the adoption of Data Envelopment Analysis (DEA) for seaport efficiency measurement renders a literature synthesis and critical analysis of the application of the technique relevant and worthwhile. This paper provides a thorough review and critical analysis of the major studies undertaken to date, and highlights some problems and limitations in the application of the technique in the seaport context particularly in the specification of parameters, the sampling domain and the type of DEA to be applied. The paper informs the decision process as to the merits and limitations of DEA approaches for seaport efficiency measurement and makes a contribution towards methodological improvement by considering variations not yet applied to the port sector.

In this review, empirical investigations that followed the Kluckhohn and Strodtbeck model of value‐orientations are presented. The review finds between‐group as well as within‐group variations in cultural values. The author also discusses how an understanding of cultural values can enrich cross‐cultural effectiveness. En este repaso se presenta las investigaciones que utilizaron el modelo Kluckhohn y Strodtbeck de evaluación orientativa. Se encuentran variaciones de valores culturales inter e intra grupo. Elautor también discute la manera en que el conocimiento de valores culturales puede mejorar la efectividad intercultural.

) samples of seawater was used to determine the abundance of microplastics (MPs) in the water column in the West Pacific Ocean and the East Indian Ocean. Compared to the conventional sampling methods based on smaller volumes of water, the new data yielded abundance values for the deep-water column that were at least 1-2 orders of magnitude lower. The data suggested that limited bulk volumes currently used for surface sampling are insufficient to obtain accurate estimates of MP abundance in deep water. Size distribution data indicated that the lateral movement of MPs into the water column contributed to their movement from the surface to the bottom. This study provides a reliable dataset for the water column to enable a better understanding of the transport and fate of plastic contamination in the deep-ocean ecosystem.

An epidemic of a cholera-like disease occurred among Khmers in a camp in Aranyaprathet, Thailand, in May 1990. Of 215 patients with diarrhea, Vibrio cholerae O1 was isolated from 25 (12%) and V. cholerae non-O1 was isolated from 15 (7%). Five of 15 (33%) non-O1 V. cholerae isolates hybridized with two different oligonucleotide probes previously used to detect V. cholerae non-O1 that produces a heat-stable toxin. This is the first description of an epidemic of diarrhea caused by V. cholerae non-O1 that produces heat-stable toxin.

This article presents the capability approach as an alternative conceptual and normative framework to assess the impact and relevance of existing labour market regulations. In this perspective, what matters is not GDP growth or the overall employment rate, but the development of people’s real freedom to choose a job or an activity they have reason to value. The two key notions of ‘capability for work’ and ‘capability for voice’ are presented in detail, as well as the way to use them as a framework for scientific analysis and empirical research. The article strongly emphasizes the significant difference that the use of such tools makes when it comes to assessing the impact and relevance of collective regulations in the field of work. Cet article présente l’approche par les capacités comme un cadre conceptuel et normatif alternatif pour évaluer l’impact et la pertinence des réglementations existantes du marché du travail. Dans cette perspective, ce qui importe, ce n’est pas la croissance du PIB ou le taux global d’emploi, mais le développement de la liberté effective des individus de choisir un emploi ou une activité qu’ils ont des raisons d’apprécier. Les deux notions essentielles de « capacité à exercer un travail » et de « capacité à faire entendre sa voix » sont présentées en détail, de même que la manière d’utiliser ces notions comme cadre d’analyse scientifique et de recherche empirique. L’article souligne fortement la différence considérable qu’entraîne l’utilisation de tels outils quand il s’agit d’évaluer l’impact et la pertinence des réglementations collectives dans le domaine du travail. In diesem Beitrag wird der Ansatz der Verwirklichungschancen als alternativer konzeptueller und normativer Rahmen vorgeschlagen, um die Auswirkungen und die Relevanz der bestehenden Arbeitsmarktvorschriften zu bewerten. Unter diesem Gesichtspunkt ist nicht das BIP-Wachstum oder die Gesamtbeschäftigungsrate von Bedeutung, sondern die Entwicklung der realen Freiheit der Menschen, eine Arbeit oder Tätigkeit zu wählen, die sie wertschätzen. Die beiden zentralen Konzepte der “capability for work” (Verwirklichungschance im Arbeitsleben) und der “capability for voice” (Chance, für Arbeitnehmerbelange einzutreten) werden ausführlich beschrieben, und es wird erklärt, wie diese als Rahmen für die wissenschaftliche Analyse und empirische Forschungsarbeiten dienen. Der Beitrag unterstreicht den bedeutenden Vorteil, der sich aus der Verwendung derartiger Konzepte bei der Bewertung der Auswirkungen und der Relevanz kollektiver Regelungen im Arbeitsbereich ergibt.

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to propose policy suggestions for the financing of small and medium enterprises (SMEs) in the Asia-Pacific region. Recent literature suggests that lack of capital is the most severe constraint for SME survival and growth. Enabling policymakers to assist SMEs in their search for financing will boost economic growth. Design/methodology/approach – The methodology includes both quantitative and qualitative components. Current World Bank data on the strength of various financial institutions in the countries of interest is analyzed to discover areas of improvement. Additionally, 32 experts from East and South Asia were interviewed several times to determine areas of concern in financing SMEs. Their responses and the evidence from the World Bank data form the basis of the policy prescriptions in the paper. Findings – Financing is a critical constraint for SMEs for several reasons. Many SME owners do not manage working capital effectively, information asymmetry between banks and SMEs retards the loan application and approval process, and underdeveloped equity markets deny SMEs future growth opportunities. Policymakers can ameliorate conditions by serving as facilitators and communicators; governments should not provide financing directly if possible. Practical implications – It is hoped and expected that the policy prescriptions offered herein will enhance the growth and survival prospects of SMES, thereby creating more employment, innovation, and economic growth. Originality/value – The main contribution of this work is its scope. While the financing of SMEs is a familiar topic, the review of issues and policies in East and South Asia, and their distillation into practical advice for officialdom, is what makes this manuscript unique.

Emerging global supply chains not only increased efficiency in production and delivery but also natural-disaster risks. Based on two recent major natural disasters in Japan and Thailand, this article discusses the increasing natural disaster risks due to the development of global supply chains and identifies the impact of natural disasters on global supply chains. The results indicate that the risk of natural disasters is not confined by geographical boundaries, as negative effects can spill over globally throughout the supply chains and affect all the entities involved including firms, governments, financial institutions and end consumers. The article argues that enhancing disaster resilience becomes increasingly important in this context for maintaining the competitiveness of firms and the health and strength of the whole economy. Both firms and governments need to take disaster risks into consideration in supply-chain management to avoid supply-chain disruptions and subsequent negative effects. The article proposes some strategies to build resilient supply chains against natural disasters, emphasizing collaboration between the public and private sectors.

In this article, we thoroughly examine the learning-by-exporting (LBE) hypothesis for Colombian manufacturing plants during 1981–91 and find significant evidence in its favor. The results are robust to the use of different samples of the data set, different econometric methods, and different modeling approaches. We find that export experience acquired by plants in years before the previous year has an important effect on plant productivity and that the effect of export experience on productivity is nonsignificant for exporters that stopped exporting in the previous year. We also find evidence of diminishing returns to export experience in that LBE effects are quantitatively lower for the experienced exporters in our sample.

This study contributes to the emerging literature on the negative effects over consumption that social media users may develop as a consequence of being engaged on social media platforms. The authors tested materialism's direct and indirect impacts on compulsive, conspicuous, and impulsive buying, adding two novel mediators: attitudes toward social media content (SCM) and social media intensity (SMI). The study uses a convenience sample of 400 Thai social media users analyzed using structural equation modeling. The results confirmed the well-established positive relationships between materialism and each of the three-negative consumption behaviors also in the social media domain. A novel finding showed the important role played by SMI which was found to be a strong predictor of each of the three negative consumption behaviors and it was also found to significantly mediate the relationship between materialism and the three-negative consumption behaviors. An additional contribution of the study was found on the role of attitudes which, contrary to what is commonly believed, were often not significant in predicting any negative behavior.

There can be two broad objectives of transport corridor development: to improve efficiency in the transport and logistics processes in the corridor, and to generate economic development in the corridor region, capitalizing on improved connectivity and transport networks. This paper focuses on the second objective of corridor development. A transport corridor can become a tool for spatially balanced and more sustainable economic development and human well-being in the corridor region. Considering the promise of this approach, this paper undertakes a critical review of transport infrastructure development studies undertaken in Sub-Saharan and South Asian countries to find evidence of infrastructure development impacts. Evidence gathered from the review suggests that transport infrastructure development can have significant positive impacts on economic growth, income, poverty, employment, equity, and inclusion. However, there can be important trade-offs between economy and welfare and environmental quality, and the distribution of impacts can be uneven. The paper also considers how some of the transport corridor development issues are addressed and complementary interventions that may be required, and, finally, discusses lessons learned from the review and their policy implications which can be useful for future corridor designs, and provides suggestions of research studies to fill the current knowledge gaps.

ABSTRACT This study analyzes the modal shift from road to rail transport and resulting CO2 emissions along the Laem Chabang Port–Thanaleng corridor. A stated preference experiment is conducted to obtain feedback from freight forwarders, and a mode choice model is developed to estimate the freight mode share offered by the development of a dry port. A bottom-up approach is used to assess CO2 emissions from freight transport operations. The results show that in the base-case scenario, a 43% mode shift to rail from road and a 30% reduction in CO2 emissions can be expected compared with the business-as-usual scenario.

Abstract Four years on from the adoption of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), countries around the world seek methods that provide simple but comprehensive narratives on their progress. Given the complexity of the agenda and its indicator framework, key questions that arise are what is an appropriate method to summarize information? and how to get everyone counted? This paper provides an overview of various existing methodologies for assessing progress towards the SDGs. It provides guidance on how to choose an appropriate method that is fit for the purpose of analysis. The paper also recommends an approach for measuring SDG progress that accounts for progress among the furthest left behind groups in order to fulfil the leave no‐one behind ambition of the 2030 agenda. Applying the new approach to data from countries in Asia‐Pacific region shows that, when disaggregated statistics are available, the inclusive measurement can significantly change the progress narrative and our understanding of priorities for SDGs implementation.

Abstract The paper presents a general procedure for dealing with coupled fluid‐structure interaction under dynamic load. This incorporates a facility for dealing with a cavitating fluid and is based on the Newton displacement potential. Several solutions are obtained for two‐dimensional gravity dam problems illustrating the effects of cavitation on earthquake response and blast loading.

(1997). Towards a united future: Report of the Fiji constitution review commission. The Journal of Pacific History: Vol. 32, No. 1, pp. 71-84.

East Asian industrialisation has shown that modern industry has occurred across different cultures under a variety of factor‐endowment conditions. The global history of the diffusion of industrialisation over the past two centuries suggests two distinct routes. The first is the ‘Western path’ associated with capital‐ and energy‐intensive industry. The second path to creating a modern industrial economy is the ‘East Asian path’ based on labour‐intensive industrialisation that has built on quality labour resources cultivated in the traditional sector. This was the path followed by Japan from the nineteenth century and by many other countries in Asia during the twentieth century.