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Identity of the tree-spider crab, Parasesarma leptosoma (Hilgendorf, 1869 (Decapoda: Brachyura: Sesarmidae), with descriptions of seven new species from the Western Pacific

Li JJ, Rahayu DL, Ng PKL

Zootaxa, 2018 Sep 19;4482(3):451-490.
PMID: 30313809 DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.4482.3.2

The identity of the tree-spider crab, Parasesarma leptosoma (Hilgendorf, 1869) (family Sesarmidae), which is believed to be widely distributed in the Indo-West Pacific, is reassessed and shown to be a species-complex with nine species, seven of which are here described as new. Parasesarma leptosoma sensu stricto is now restricted to South and East Africa; and P. limbense (Rathbun, 1914) from Sulawesi, which had been regarded as a junior synonym, is here recognized as a valid species. The following species are described as new: P. gecko n. sp. from Vanuatu, Fiji, Guam and Japan; P. macaco n. sp. from Taiwan and the Philippines; P. kui n. sp. from Taiwan; P. parvulum n. sp. from the Philippines; P. gracilipes n. sp. from Indonesian Papua; P. purpureum n. sp. from Malaysia; and P. tarantula n. sp. from Sulawesi, Indonesia. The nine species of the Parasesarma leptosoma species-complex can be separated by the different shapes of their carapaces, the form of the dactylar tubercles on the male chelipeds, proportions of their ambulatory legs and the structure of the male first gonopod.

Matched MeSH terms: Philippines
Fulltext Modelling the effect of 2-4, D on the growth kinetics of cell suspension cultures of Ficus deltoidea L

Ling, A.P.K., Halmi, M.I.E., Hussein, S., Ong S.L.

Journal of Biochemistry, Microbiology and Biotechnology, 2015;3(2):1-5.
MyJurnal

The mistletoe fig (Ficus deltoidea) is frequently found in several areas of the world, and primarily functions as houseplant or an ornamental shrub. The plant is discovered indigenous generally in Asia tropical region for example Indonesia, Philippines, Malaysia, and Thailand. Scientific studies on the effect of plant growth regulators on cells production from this plant are vital as optimization of cells production may result in effective production of secondary products characterization and output. The growth of cell suspension cultures from this plant shows sigmoidal property. In this work, we model the effect of the plant growth regulator 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid (2,4-D) on the growth kinetics of the cells from this plant according to the modified Gompertz model. The coefficient of determination showed good agreement between experimental and predicted data with values ranging from 0.97-0.98. The results showed that 2,4-D at 2 mg/L was optimal for achieving the highest cells growth rate. It is anticipated that the growth parameter constants extracted from the modelling exercise will be helpful in the future for additional secondary modelling on the effect of media conditions as well as other factors on cells growth.

Matched MeSH terms: Philippines
Review of the huntsman spider genus Rhitymna Simon, 1897 (Araneae: Sparassidae)

Jäger P

Zootaxa, 2019 Feb 26;4560(3):zootaxa.4560.3.2.
PMID: 31716566 DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.4560.3.2

The genus Rhitymna Simon, 1897 is revised by means of new material. Four new species are described: R. gerdmangel spec. nov. (Thailand, Malaysia; male, female), R. merianae spec. nov. (Indonesia: Bali; male), R. flores spec. nov. (Indonesia: Flores; male, female), R. senckenbergi spec. nov. (Philippines; male). The male of R. plana Jäger, 2003 and the female of R. tangi Quan Liu, 2012 are described for the first time. Rhitymna simoni Jäger, 2003 is recognised as junior synonym of R. cursor (Thorell, 1894) comb. nov., the latter transferred from the genus Olios Walckenaer, 1837. New records are given for further Rhitymna species, among them new country or island records for R. verruca (Wang, 1991) (Thailand), R. tangi Quan Liu, 2012 (Laos), R. plana Jäger, 2003 (Cambodia), R. pinangensis (Thorell, 1891) (Thailand), R. deelemanae Jäger, 2003 (Bali). The number of cheliceral bristles close to the fang base is recognised as size dependent, therefore without true phylogenetic signal. Two main types of copulatory organs within the genus are recognised and discussed. R. gerdmangel spec. nov. has a special biology as it lives exclusively in bamboo. Holes made by beetles or woodpeckers are used to enter the bamboo stem. Spiders hide during the day and lay their eggs in bamboo internodes.

Matched MeSH terms: Philippines
A phylogenomic analysis of Nepenthes (Nepenthaceae)

Murphy B, Forest F, Barraclough T, Rosindell J, Bellot S, Cowan R, et al.

Mol Phylogenet Evol, 2020 03;144:106668.
PMID: 31682924 DOI: 10.1016/j.ympev.2019.106668

Nepenthaceae is one of the largest carnivorous plant families and features ecological and morphological adaptations indicating an impressive adaptive radiation. However, investigation of evolutionary and taxonomic questions is hindered by poor phylogenetic understanding, with previous molecular studies based on limited loci and taxa. We use high-throughput sequencing with a target-capture methodology based on a 353-loci, probe set to recover sequences for 197 samples, representing 151 described or putative Nepenthes species. Phylogenetic analyses were performed using supermatrix and maximum quartet species tree approaches. Our analyses confirm five Western outlier taxa, followed by N. danseri, as successively sister to the remainder of the group. We also find mostly consistent recovery of two major Southeast Asian clades. The first contains common or widespread lowland species plus a Wallacean-New Guinean clade. Within the second clade, sects. Insignes and Tentaculatae are well supported, while geographically defined clades representing Sumatra, Indochina, Peninsular Malaysia, Palawan, Mindanao and Borneo are also consistently recovered. However, we find considerable conflicting signal at the site and locus level, and often unstable backbone relationships. A handful of Bornean taxa are inconsistently placed and require further investigation. We make further suggestions for a modified infra-generic classification of genus Nepenthes.

Matched MeSH terms: Philippines
First record of Artoria Thorell, 1877 (Araneae: Lycosidae) from Malaysia, with the description of a new species

Wang LY, Zhang ZS, Peng XJ

Zootaxa, 2019 Aug 19;4657(2):zootaxa.4657.2.12.
PMID: 31716793 DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.4657.2.12

The wolf spider genus Artoria Thorell, 1877 is a common group in Australasia, currently including 41 species from Australia, three from New Zealand and four from Pacific islands (Framenau Baehr 2018; Word Spider Catalog 2019). This does not, however, comprise the whole distribution of the genus. The type species, A. parvula Thorell, 1877 has been recorded from China, Philippines, Indonesia (Sulawesi) and Australia (Northern Territory). An endemic species, A. ligulacea (Qu, Peng Yin, 2009) was described from Yunnan, China. This indicates that there must be some undescribed species from Southeast Asian countries. A recent collecting expedition to Malaysia confirms this hypothesis. Two species of Artoria were found, the type species, A. parvula from East and West Malaysia and a new species, A. weiwei sp. nov. from East Malaysia. In this study, we illustrate the former and describe for the first time the latter species.

Matched MeSH terms: Philippines
Fulltext Noncommunicable disease risk factors and socioeconomic inequalities – what are the links? A multicountry analysis of noncommunicable disease surveillance data. Report to the WHO Regional Office for the Western Pacific

Bauman A, Phongsavan P, Schoeppe S, Chey T

ISBN: 978-92-9061-474-6

Citation: Bauman A, Phongsavan P, Schoeppe S, Chey T. Noncommunicable disease risk factors and socioeconomic inequalities – what are the links? A multicountry analysis of noncommunicable disease surveillance data. Report to the WHO Regional Office for the Western Pacific. Geneva: World Health Organization; 2010

Malaysia as contributing authors and in full text.

Matched MeSH terms: Philippines
Detection of Sugarcane yellow leaf virus in Quarantine and Production of Virus-free Sugarcane by Apical Meristem Culture

Chatenet M, Delage C, Ripolles M, Irey M, Lockhart BEL, Rott P

Plant Dis, 2001 Nov;85(11):1177-1180.
PMID: 30823163 DOI: 10.1094/PDIS.2001.85.11.1177

Sugarcane yellow leaf virus (SCYLV) was detected for the first time in 1996 in the Centre de Coopération Internationale en Recherche Agronomique pour le Développement (CIRAD) sugarcane quarantine at Montpellier by reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) in varieties from Brazil, Florida, Mauritius, and Réunion. Between 1997 and 2000, the virus was found by RT-PCR and/or tissue-blot immunoassay (TBIA) in additional varieties from Barbados, Cuba, Guadeloupe, Indonesia, Malaysia, Philippines, Puerto Rico, and Taiwan, suggesting a worldwide distribution of the pathogen. An excellent correlation was observed between results obtained for the two diagnostic techniques. However, even though only a few false negative results were obtained by either technique, both are now used to detect SCYLV in CIRAD's sugarcane quarantine in Montpellier. The pathogen was detected by TBIA or RT-PCR in all leaves of sugarcane foliage, but the highest percentage of infected vascular bundles was found in the top leaves. The long hot water treatment (soaking of cuttings in water at 25°C for 2 days and then at 50°C for 3 h) was ineffective in eliminating SCYLV from infected plants. Sugarcane varieties from various origins were grown in vitro by apical bud culture and apical meristem culture, and the latter proved to be the most effective method for producing SCYLV-free plants.

Matched MeSH terms: Philippines
First Report of a Soft Rot of Phalaenopsis aphrodita Caused by Dickeya dieffenbachiae in China

Zhou JN, Lin BR, Shen HF, Pu XM, Chen ZN, Feng JJ

Plant Dis, 2012 May;96(5):760.
PMID: 30727539 DOI: 10.1094/PDIS-11-11-0942

Phalaenopsis orchids, originally from tropical Asia, are mainly planted in Thailand, Singapore, Malaysia, the Philippines, and Taiwan and have gained popularity from consumers all over the world. The cultivation area of Phalaenopsis orchids has been rising and large-scale bases have been established in mainland China, especially South China because of suitable environmental conditions. In September 2011, a soft rot of Phalaenopsis aphrodita was found in a Phalaenopsis planting base in Guangzhou with an incidence of ~15%. Infected plants initially showed water-soaked, pale-to-dark brown pinpoint spots on leaves that were sometimes surrounded by a yellow halo. Spots expanded rapidly with rising humidity and temperatures, and in a few days, severely extended over the blade with a light tan color and darker brown border. Lesions decayed with odorous fumes and tissues collapsed with inclusions exuding. The bacterium advanced to the stem and pedicle. Finally, leaves became papery dry and the pedicles lodged. Six diseased samples were collected, and bacteria were isolated from the edge of symptomatic tissues after sterilization in 0.3% NaOCl for 10 min, rinsing in sterile water three times, and placing on nutrient agar for culture. Twelve representative isolates were selected for further characterization. All strains were gram negative, grew at 37°C, were positive for indole production, and utilized malonate, glucose, and sucrose but not glucopyranoside, trehalose, or palatinose. Biolog identification (version 4.20.05, Hayward, CA) was performed and Pectobacterium chrysanthemi (SIM 0.868) was confirmed for the tested isolates (transfer to genus Dickeya). PCR was used to amplify the 16S rDNAgene with primers 27f and 1492r, dnaX gene with primers dnaXf and dnaXr (3), and gyrB gene with primers gyrBf (5'-GAAGGYAAAVTKCATCGTCAGG-3') and gyrB-r1 (5'-TCARATATCRATATTCGCYGCTTTC-3') designed on the basis of the published gyrB gene sequences of genus Dickeya. BLASTn was performed online, and phylogeny trees (100% bootstrap values) were created by means of MEGA 5.05 for these gene sequences, respectively. Results commonly showed that the representative tested strain, PA1, was most homologous to Dickeya dieffenbachiae with 98% identity for 16S rDNA(JN940859), 97% for dnaX (JN989971), and 96% for gyrB (JN971031). Thus, we recommend calling this isolate D. dieffenbachiae PA1. Pathogenicity tests were conducted by injecting 10 P. aphrodita seedlings with 100 μl of the bacterial suspension (1 × 108 CFU/ml) and another 10 were injected with 100 μl of sterile water as controls. Plants were inoculated in a greenhouse at 28 to 32°C and 90% relative humidity. Soft rot symptoms were observed after 2 days on the inoculated plants, but not on the control ones. The bacterium was isolated from the lesions and demonstrated identity to the inoculated plant by the 16S rDNA sequence comparison. Previously, similar diseases of P. amabilis were reported in Tangshan, Jiangsu, Zhejiang, and Wuhan and causal agents were identified as Erwinia spp. (2), Pseudomonas grimontii (1), E. chrysanthemi, and E. carotovora subsp. carovora (4). To our knowledge, this is the first report of D. dieffenbachiae causing soft rot disease on P. aphrodita in China. References: (1) X. L. Chu and B. Yang. Acta Phytopathol. Sin. 40:90, 2010. (2) Y. M. Li et al. J. Beijing Agric. Coll. 19:41, 2004. (3) M. Sławiak et al. Eur. J. Plant Pathol. 125:245, 2009. (4) Z. Y. Wu et al. J. Zhejiang For. Coll. 27:635, 2010.

Matched MeSH terms: Philippines
Fulltext Exploratory Study on Occupational Health Hazards among Health Care Workers in the Philippines

Faller EM, Bin Miskam N, Pereira A

Ann Glob Health, 2018 08 31;84(3):338-341.
PMID: 30835385 DOI: 10.29024/aogh.2316

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: Healthcare workers are prone to occupational hazards. The study aims to identify the occupational health hazards among healthcare workers in the Philippines and its essential relevant developmental framework. This article evolved on the responses of participants on how they can improve strategies and barriers for healthcare workers to comply with Occupational Health and Safety (OSH).
METHODS: A qualitative study design in which 15 healthcare workers from nurses (4), pharmacists (3), medical technologies (4) and medical doctors (4) participated: two focus group of three to four participants each and eight in-depth interviews. The thematic sessions were identified, including occupational health and safety policy implementations, hazards experiences, barriers, and strategies for quality improvement for OSH. Focus groups and interviews using transcript-based analysis were identified relating to emerging themes on the challenges they had experienced while accessing provisions of OSH in their workplace.
RESULTS: Majority of the participants revealed the existence of policy on Occupational Health and Safety (provisions, guidelines and regulations on OHS from the government) and mentioned that there were limited OHS officers to supervise the healthcare workers in their workplace. Some have limited accessibility to the requirements of the implementation of OHS (free facemasks, gloves, disinfectants, machines, OSH staff, etc.) among healthcare workers, while the workload of the staff in the implementation of OHS in the workplace gradually increased. The results indicated that the respondents were knowledgeable in the implementation of OHS in the workplace, and that there was no existing ASEAN framework on the protection and promotion of the rights of healthcare workers in their workplace. Facilities need to improve health assessment, and to ensure constant evaluation of the existing laws for healthcare workers (quality assurance of existing policies) in their working areas. Direct access to OSH officers, occupational hazards education, emergency contact etc. must be improved. Adherence must be strengthened to fully comply with the OHS standards.
CONCLUSION: The researchers inferred that issues and concerns regarding compliance on provisions of occupational health and safety among health care workers must be properly addressed through immediate monitoring and reevaluation of personnel in terms of their knowledge and practices in OHS. Barriers and challenges have been identified in the study that can lead to improved compliance among healthcare workers in regards to OHS.

Matched MeSH terms: Philippines
Fulltext Data on Indicators used in Southeast Asian nations' 4th and 5th National Reports to the Convention on Biological Diversity

Han X, Young BE, Gill MJ, Hamilton H, Vergara SG

Data Brief, 2020 Aug;31:105705.
PMID: 32490077 DOI: 10.1016/j.dib.2020.105705

The data presented in this article are related to the research article entitled "Progress on National Biodiversity Indicator Reporting and Prospects for Filling Indicator Gaps in Southeast Asia " (Han et al., 2020). We examined quantifiable information about biodiversity indicators from the most recent two national reports (i.e., 4th in 2010 and 5th in 2015) to the United Nation's Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) by the 10-member countries of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN): Brunei Darussalam, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam. This article presents the number of indicators, their level of development, and detailed lists of indicators for each country, and demonstrates general improvement in indicator use by the highest level of government reporting about implementation of the CBD at the national scale.

Matched MeSH terms: Philippines
Fulltext Ecology of bat flies in Singapore: A study on the diversity, infestation bias and host specificity (Diptera: Nycteribiidae)

Lim ZX, Hitch AT, Lee BPY, Low DHW, Neves ES, Borthwick SA, et al.

Int J Parasitol Parasites Wildl, 2020 Aug;12:29-33.
PMID: 32420022 DOI: 10.1016/j.ijppaw.2020.04.010

Bat flies are highly-specialized, hematophagous arthropods that are globally ubiquitous. There is little published research on bat flies (Diptera: Nycteribiidae) in Singapore and understanding the diversity of nycteribiids, host association and infestation rates can provide insight into this host-ectoparasite relationship. Nycteribiids were collected from bats trapped in Singapore (2011-2016) and identified using morphological keys. Host-ectoparasite relationships were investigated with logistic regression and Bayesian poisson regression. Nycteribiids were found to be monoxenously associated with their host bat species and host age, sex, species, and BBCI appear to contribute to differences in prevalence and intensity. Differences in host specificity between bat fly species in Singapore and their conspecifics in less disturbed habitats with higher bat biodiversity, such as Malaysia, Philippines and Thailand, suggest that the high host specificity in Singapore derives from the paucity of suitable hosts and abundance of single species roosts and not from their coevolved restrictions to them.

Matched MeSH terms: Philippines
Fulltext Comparative Studies on Patient Safety Culture to Strengthen Health Systems Among Southeast Asian Countries

Kang S, Ho TTT, Lee NJ

Front Public Health, 2020;8:600216.
PMID: 33511097 DOI: 10.3389/fpubh.2020.600216

Patient safety is an important issue in health systems worldwide. A systematic review of previous studies on patient safety culture in Southeast Asian countries is necessary for South Korea's partnership with these countries, especially given South Korea's assistance in strengthening the health systems of these developing countries. Studies on patient safety culture in Southeast Asian countries, published in English and Thai languages, were retrieved from computerized databases using keywords through a manual search. Data extraction, quality assessment, and analyses were performed using several tools. The review included 21 studies conducted in Indonesia (n = 8), Thailand (n = 5), Malaysia (n = 3), Vietnam (n = 2), Singapore (n = 1), and the Philippines (n = 1). They were analyzed and categorized into 12 dimensions of safety culture, and differences in response rate or scores were identified compared to the mean of the dimensions. The heterogeneous of safety culture's situation among Southeast Asian countries, both in practice and in research, can be explained since patient safety policy and its application are not prioritized as much as they are in developed countries in the priority compared to the developed countries. However, Vietnam, Cambodia, Myanmar, and Laos are the priority countries for South Korea's official healthcare development assistance in the Southeast Asia region. Vietnam, for instance, is an economically transitioning country; therefore, consolidated patient safety improvement by inducing patient safety culture in the provincial and central health system as well as strengthening project formulation to contribute to health policy formation are needed for sustainable development of the partner countries' health systems. It is recommended that more evidence-based proactive project planning and implementation be conducted to integrate patient safety culture into the health systems of developing countries, toward health policy on patient safety and quality service for the attainment of sustainable development goals in South Korea's development cooperation.

Matched MeSH terms: Philippines
Alpha 1-protease inhibitor (PI) subtypes in seven populations of east Asia

Saha N

Ann Hum Biol, 1990 5 1;17(3):229-34.
PMID: 2337328

The distribution of serum alpha 1-protease inhibitor (PI) or alpha 1-antitrypsin (alpha 1AT) subtypes was determined by thin-layer isoelectric focusing in a group of 1233 individuals from six Mongoloid populations of East Asia and Dravidian Indians. The sample comprised 385 Chinese from Singapore and 151 Chinese from the Fujien province; 126 Malays; 243 Filipinos; 112 Thais; 56 Koreans and 160 Dravidian Indians. The frequency of PiM1 ranged from 0.65 in the Thais to 0.81 in the Fujien Chinese. The highest frequency of PiM2 was found in the Dravidian Indians (0.28) followed by the Thais (0.25). The frequency of PiM3 was found to vary from 0.03 to 0.07 in these populations. A low frequency of PiF (0.01 to 0.02) and PiS (0.01 to 0.04) was also observed in the Mongoloid populations but absent in the Indians. The PiZ allele was completely absent in all these populations. The phenotypic distribution of PI subtypes was at Hardy-Weinburg equilibrium in all the populations.

Matched MeSH terms: Philippines
Fulltext Serological Evidence of Japanese Encephalitis Virus Circulation in Asian Children From Dengue-Endemic Countries

Nealon J, Taurel AF, Yoksan S, Moureau A, Bonaparte M, Quang LC, et al.

J Infect Dis, 2019 Jan 09;219(3):375-381.
PMID: 30165664 DOI: 10.1093/infdis/jiy513

Background: Japanese encephalitis virus (JEV) is a zoonotic, mosquito-borne flavivirus, distributed across Asia. Infections are mostly mild or asymptomatic, but symptoms include neurological disorders, sequelae, and fatalities. Data to inform control strategies are limited due to incomplete case reporting.
Methods: We used JEV serological data from a multicountry Asian dengue vaccine study in children aged 2-14 years to describe JEV endemicity, measuring antibodies by plaque reduction neutralization test (PRNT50).
Results: A total 1479 unvaccinated subjects were included. A minimal estimate of pediatric JEV seroprevalence in dengue-naive individuals was 8.1% in Indonesia, 5.8% in Malaysia, 10.8% in the Philippines, and 30.7% in Vietnam, translating to annual infection risks varying from 0.8% (in Malaysia) to 5.2% (in Vietnam). JEV seroprevalence and annual infection estimates were much higher in children with history of dengue infection, indicating cross-neutralization within the JEV PRNT50 assay.
Conclusions: These data confirm JEV transmission across predominantly urban areas and support a greater emphasis on JEV case finding, diagnosis, and prevention.

Matched MeSH terms: Philippines
Fulltext Ancient divergence time estimates in Eutropis rugifera support the existence of Pleistocene barriers on the exposed Sunda Shelf

Karin BR, Das I, Jackman TR, Bauer AM

PeerJ, 2017;5:e3762.
PMID: 29093993 DOI: 10.7717/peerj.3762

Episodic sea level changes that repeatedly exposed and inundated the Sunda Shelf characterize the Pleistocene. Available evidence points to a more xeric central Sunda Shelf during periods of low sea levels, and despite the broad land connections that persisted during this time, some organisms are assumed to have faced barriers to dispersal between land-masses on the Sunda Shelf. Eutropis rugifera is a secretive, forest adapted scincid lizard that ranges across the Sunda Shelf. In this study, we sequenced one mitochondrial (ND2) and four nuclear (BRCA1, BRCA2, RAG1, and MC1R) markers and generated a time-calibrated phylogeny in BEAST to test whether divergence times between Sundaic populations of E. rugifera occurred during Pleistocene sea-level changes, or if they predate the Pleistocene. We find that E. rugifera shows pre-Pleistocene divergences between populations on different Sundaic land-masses. The earliest divergence within E. rugifera separates the Philippine samples from the Sundaic samples approximately 16 Ma; the Philippine populations thus cannot be considered conspecific with Sundaic congeners. Sundaic populations diverged approximately 6 Ma, and populations within Borneo from Sabah and Sarawak separated approximately 4.5 Ma in the early Pliocene, followed by further cladogenesis in Sarawak through the Pleistocene. Divergence of peninsular Malaysian populations from the Mentawai Archipelago occurred approximately 5 Ma. Separation among island populations from the Mentawai Archipelago likely dates to the Pliocene/Pleistocene boundary approximately 3.5 Ma, and our samples from peninsular Malaysia appear to coalesce in the middle Pleistocene, about 1 Ma. Coupled with the monophyly of these populations, these divergence times suggest that despite consistent land-connections between these regions throughout the Pleistocene E. rugifera still faced barriers to dispersal, which may be a result of environmental shifts that accompanied the sea-level changes.

Matched MeSH terms: Philippines
Fulltext Macroeconomic dataset for generating macroeconomic volatility among selected countries in the Asia Pacific region

Chow YP, Muhammad J, Amin Noordin BA, Cheng FF

Data Brief, 2018 Feb;16:23-28.
PMID: 29167816 DOI: 10.1016/j.dib.2017.11.015

This data article provides macroeconomic data that can be used to generate macroeconomic volatility. The data cover a sample of seven selected countries in the Asia Pacific region for the period 2004-2014, including both developing and developed countries. This dataset was generated to enhance our understanding of the sources of macroeconomic volatility affecting the countries in this region. Although the Asia Pacific region continues to remain as the most dynamic part of the world's economy, it is not spared from various sources of macroeconomic volatility through the decades. The reported data cover 15 types of macroeconomic data series, representing three broad categories of indicators that can be used to proxy macroeconomic volatility. They are indicators that account for macroeconomic volatility (i.e. volatility as a macroeconomic outcome), domestic sources of macroeconomic volatility and external sources of macroeconomic volatility. In particular, the selected countries are Malaysia, Thailand, Indonesia and Philippines, which are regarded as developing countries, while Singapore, Japan and Australia are developed countries. Despite the differences in level of economic development, these countries were affected by similar sources of macroeconomic volatility such as the Asian Financial Crisis and the Global Financial Crisis. These countries were also affected by other similar external turbulence arising from factors such as the global economic slowdown, geopolitical risks in the Middle East and volatile commodity prices. Nonetheless, there were also sources of macroeconomic volatility which were peculiar to certain countries only. These were generally domestic sources of volatility such as political instability (for Thailand, Indonesia and Philippines), natural disasters and anomalous weather conditions (for Thailand, Indonesia, Philippines, Japan and Australia) and over-dependence on the electronic sector (for Singapore).

Matched MeSH terms: Philippines
Fulltext Hiding in the dark: Local ecological knowledge about slow loris in Sarawak sheds light on relationships between human populations and wild animals

Miard P, Nekaris KAI, Ramlee H

Hum Ecol Interdiscip J, 2017 11 07;45(6):823-831.
PMID: 29213178 DOI: 10.1007/s10745-017-9954-x

Local ecological knowledge (LEK) increases understanding of certain species and the threats they face, especially little-studied taxa for which data on distribution and conservation are often lacking. We conducted 111 semi-structured interviews in Sarawak, Malaysia, to collect local knowledge about the behavior and distribution of the Philippine slow loris (Nycticebus menagensis) from two ethnic groups, the Iban and the Penan. Our study revealed that male Penan respondents, generally hunters, who frequently go into the forest were better at identifying animals from pictures. Overall, the Penan have a more detailed knowledge of slow loris behaviors, habitat, and distribution than the Iban. The two ethnic groups have different attitudes towards slow loris as the Penan hunt, eat, or keep them as pets while the Iban consider them sacred and signifiers of good luck. We advocate the use of LEK for providing complementary information to scientific methods in the study of cryptic animals.

Matched MeSH terms: Philippines
AGE AT MENARCHE AND SEXUAL DEBUT AMONG YOUNG FILIPINO WOMEN

Tey NP, Lai SL, Ng ST

J Biosoc Sci, 2019 01;51(1):77-94.
PMID: 29352813 DOI: 10.1017/S0021932017000682

There has been a secular decline in age at menarche since the 19th century. Early-maturing women are more likely to have their sexual debut at a younger age, which in turn gives rise to a host of reproductive health and social problems. This study used data from five waves of National Demographic and Health Surveys conducted in the Philippines between 1993 and 2013 to examine the trends and socioeconomic differentials in age at menarche and sexual debut. The changing trend in age at menarche and sexual debut was examined across birth cohorts, and logistic regressions were used to identify the determinants of early sexual debut. In the Philippines, the mean and median ages at menarche declined from 13.2 years and 12.6 years, respectively, among young women born in 1973-1977, to 12.9 years and 12.3 years, respectively, among those born in 1993-1997. The proportion who had their sexual debut by age 20 increased from 41.2% for the 1968-1972 birth cohort to 53.4% for the 1988-1992 birth cohort. Filipino women with low education, from poor families and living in rural areas were more likely to have earlier sexual debut despite attaining menarche at a later age as compared with their higher educated counterparts, and those from wealthier families and urban areas. Logistic regression analysis showed that, besides marital status, women's education and age at menarche were important determinants of early sexual debut. However, ethnicity, place of residence and family wealth had no significant effects on age at menarche. An increasing proportion of young women were found to be having unprotected sexual debut and at a younger age, with health and social ramifications. Hence, apart from increasing the enrolment of girls in schools and discouraging teenage marriage, there is a need for social and health agencies to implement appropriate adolescent sexual and reproductive health programmes such as counselling and educational campaigns, as well as support services, to address sexual problems among the youth.

Matched MeSH terms: Philippines
Speciation in Indo-Pacific swiftlets (Aves: Apodidae): integrating molecular and phenotypic data for a new provisional taxonomy of the Collocalia esculenta complex

Rheindt FE, Christidis L, Norman JA, Eaton JA, Sadanandan KR, Schodde R

Zootaxa, 2017 Apr 07;4250(5):401-433.
PMID: 28609999 DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.4250.5.1

White-bellied swiftlets of the Collocalia esculenta complex constitute a radiation of colony-breeding swifts distributed throughout the tropical Indo-Pacific region. Resolution of their taxonomy is challenging due to their morphological uniformity. To analyze the evolutionary history of this complex, we combine new biometric measurements and results from plumage assessment of museum specimens with novel as well as previously published molecular data. Together, this body of information constitutes the largest systematic dataset for white-bellied swiftlets yet compiled, drawn from 809 individuals belonging to 32 taxa for which new molecular, biometric, and/or plumage data are presented. We propose changing the classification of white-bellied swiftlets, for which two species are currently recognized, to elevate eight regional forms to species level, and we also describe two new subspecies. The ten taxa we recommend recognizing at the species level are: Collocalia linchi (Java to Lombok, Sumatran hills), C. dodgei (montane Borneo), C. natalis (Christmas Island), C. affinis (Greater Sundas, including the Thai-Malay Peninsula and Andaman-Nicobar Islands), C. marginata (Philippines), C. isonota (Philippines), C. sumbawae (west Lesser Sundas), C. neglecta (east Lesser Sundas), C. esculenta (Sulawesi, Moluccas, New Guinea, Bismarck Archipelago, Solomon Islands), and C. uropygialis (Vanuatu, New Caledonia). Future molecular and morphological work is needed to resolve questions of speciation and population affinities in the Philippines, Christmas Island, Wallacea and central Melanesia, and to shed light on historic diversification and patterns of gene flow in the complex.

Matched MeSH terms: Philippines
Fulltext Extramural training of medical students: lessons from Southeast Asia

Smilkstein G

J Fam Pract, 1977 May;4(5):873-6.
PMID: 864412

Several medical schools in Southeast Asia have identified deficiencies in their undergraduate medical education that result in inappropriate training of students for the health-care problems that exist in their respective countries. Curriculum changes have been made that take students out of the laboratory and the subspecialty-oriented university hospital and place them in extramural programs in the community. Both the deficiencies identified and the solutions developed merit study by North American medical educators, especially those teaching primary care in family practice.

Matched MeSH terms: Philippines

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