Showing papers by "Japan International Cooperation Agency published in 2017"

Burden of musculoskeletal disorders in the Eastern Mediterranean Region, 1990–2013: findings from the Global Burden of Disease Study 2013

Abstract: Objectives We used findings from the Global Burden of Disease Study 2013 to report the burden of musculoskeletal disorders in the Eastern Mediterranean Region (EMR). Methods The burden of musculoskeletal disorders was calculated for the EMR's 22 countries between 1990 and 2013. A systematic analysis was performed on mortality and morbidity data to estimate prevalence, death, years of live lost, years lived with disability and disability-adjusted life years (DALYs). Results For musculoskeletal disorders, the crude DALYs rate per 100 000 increased from 1297.1 (95% uncertainty interval (UI) 924.3-1703.4) in 1990 to 1606.0 (95% UI 1141.2-2130.4) in 2013. During 1990-2013, the total DALYs of musculoskeletal disorders increased by 105.2% in the EMR compared with a 58.0% increase in the rest of the world. The burden of musculoskeletal disorders as a proportion of total DALYs increased from 2.4% (95% UI 1.7-3.0) in 1990 to 4.7% (95% UI 3.6-5.8) in 2013. The range of point prevalence (per 1000) among the EMR countries was 28.2-136.0 for low back pain, 27.3-49.7 for neck pain, 9.7-37.3 for osteoarthritis (OA), 0.6-2.2 for rheumatoid arthritis and 0.1-0.8 for gout. Low back pain and neck pain had the highest burden in EMR countries. Conclusions This study shows a high burden of musculoskeletal disorders, with a faster increase in EMR compared with the rest of the world. The reasons for this faster increase need to be explored. Our findings call for incorporating prevention and control programmes that should include improving health data, addressing risk factors, providing evidence-based care and community programmes to increase awareness.

Determinants of attending antenatal care at least four times in rural Ghana: analysis of a cross-sectional survey.

Abstract: Background: Improving maternal health is a global challenge In Ghana, maternal morbidity and mortality rates remain high, particularly in rural areas Antenatal care (ANC) attendance is known to i

Build Back Better: In recovery, rehabilitation and reconstruction

Abstract: Recommendations 1. The primary goal of recovery, rehabilitation and reconstruction should be “building disasterresilient cities and communities with long term vision” to be better prepared against possible future disasters. 2. “Build Back Better” should include “rebuilding livelihoods,” “rebuilding economy” and “rebuilding regional communities,” as common paradigms to be shared by relevant stakeholders in the recovery, rehabilitation and reconstruction process. 3. The process of recovery, rehabilitation and reconstruction needs to be structured systematically. Indicators on “Build Back Better” need to be developed to measure the achievements and progress towards “building disaster-resilient cities and communities” and “rebuilding livelihoods, economy and regional communities”. Guidelines based on scientific evidence should be formulated, provided by multi and interdisciplinary perspectives of science. 4. Cities and communities need to continue their efforts for improving and renovating themselves with the aim of building resilient societies. These efforts should not presuppose disasters (including devastating cases) alone. However, in the unfortunate event of a disaster, recovery, rehabilitation and reconstruction should be conducted with the same aim. To this end, cities and communities should, prior to disasters and based on scientific scenarios on possible disaster damage, plan for disaster recovery, rehabilitation and reconstruction processes and prepare legislations and procedures, land tenures and civic rights, as well as public access to such scientific information, so as to gain prior public consensus on post-disaster actions and to enable their smooth implementation after a disaster. 5. Science and research can provide an essential foundation to support decision makers in the private sector and government as they seek to build back better. Case studies and other research tools should be used to identify and assess options to strengthen recovery and rebuilding efforts. This research should focus on issues that include the identification of alternative rebuilding strategies, sources of funds for reconstruction, evidence to measure the cost and benefit of specific enhancements, risk of delays in recovery time, and public acceptance of change.

An aposymbiotic primary coral polyp counteracts acidification by active pH regulation

Abstract: Corals build their skeletons using extracellular calcifying fluid located in the tissue–skeleton interface. However, the mechanism by which corals control the transport of calcium and other ions from seawater and the mechanism of constant alkalization of calcifying fluid are largely unknown. To address these questions, we performed direct pH imaging at calcification sites (subcalicoblastic medium, SCM) to visualize active pH upregulation in live aposymbiotic primary coral polyps treated with HCl-acidified seawater. Active alkalization was observed in all individuals using vital staining method while the movement of HPTS and Alexa Fluor to SCM suggests that certain ions such as H+ could diffuse via a paracellular pathway to SCM. Among them, we discovered acid-induced oscillations in the pH of SCM (pHSCM), observed in 24% of polyps examined. In addition, we discovered acid-induced pH up-regulation waves in 21% of polyps examined, which propagated among SCMs after exposure to acidified seawater. Our results showed that corals can regulate pHSCM more dynamically than was previously believed. These observations will have important implications for determining how corals regulate pHSCM during calcification. We propose that corals can sense ambient seawater pH via their innate pH-sensitive systems and regulate pHSCM using several unknown pH-regulating ion transporters that coordinate with multicellular signaling occurring in coral tissue.

Spatio-temporal variation of roadkills show mass mortality events for amphibians in a highly trafficked road adjacent to a national park, Costa Rica

Abstract: Roads have detrimental impacts on wildlife populations around the world. Specifically, roads pose direct and indirect threats to wildlife by limiting dispersal movements or through vehicle-related mortality. The rate of wildlife mortality varies both in time and space depending on the landscape composition and the type and use of road infrastructure. The objective of this study was to investigate spatiotemporal variation of vertebrate mortality in a 4km segment of the 34 national road, adjacent to Carara National Park, Costa Rica. We conducted 81 roadkill surveys by car and bicycle from June 2010 to May 2011, georeferenced the locations of the kills and identified them to the lowest possible taxonomic level. We recorded a total of 4 709 road-killed animals of at least 58 species of vertebrates during the whole study. Amphibians accounted for 93.5 % of all the vertebrate losses and showed strong spatiotemporal variation of mass mortality events. Reptiles, especially snakes, were the second most affected taxon followed by mammals and birds. Relative mortality per day in the 4 km segment was 125.4 amphibians, 4.6 reptiles, 2.7 mammals, 1 bird and 0.46 undetermined. Road proximity to the border of the park, traffic volumes and lack of enforcement of speed limits may influence the high rate of roadkills found. We suggest the reinforcement of speed limits, wildlife crossing signage and the retrofitting of the existing culverts as under passes for animals to minimize vertebrate mortality at the road adjacent to Carara National Park.

Calcification process dynamics in coral primary polyps as observed using a calcein incubation method.

Abstract: Calcification processes are largely unknown in scleractinian corals. In this study, live confocal imaging was used to elucidate the spatiotemporal dynamics of the calcification process in aposymbiotic primary polyps of the coral species Acropora digitifera. The fluorophore calcein was used as a calcium deposition marker and a visible indicator of extracellular fluid distribution at the tissue-skeleton interface (subcalicoblastic medium, SCM) in primary polyp tissues. Under continuous incubation in calcein-containing seawater, initial crystallization and skeletal growth were visualized among the calicoblastic cells in live primary polyp tissues. Additionally, the distribution of calcein-stained SCM and contraction movements of the pockets of SCM were captured at intervals of a few minutes. Our experimental system provided several new insights into coral calcification, particularly as a first step in monitoring the relationship between cellular dynamics and calcification in vivo. Our study suggests that coral calcification initiates at intercellular spaces, a finding that may contribute to the general understanding of coral calcification processes.

Cost-effectiveness analysis of population-based tobacco control strategies in the prevention of cardiovascular diseases in Tanzania

Abstract: Background Tobacco consumption contributes significantly to the global burden of disease. The prevalence of smoking is estimated to be increasing in many low-income countries, including Tanzania, especially among women and youth. Even so, the implementation of tobacco control measures has been discouraging in the country. Efforts to foster investment in tobacco control are hindered by lack of evidence on what works and at what cost. Aims We aim to estimate the cost and cost-effectiveness of population-based tobacco control strategies in the prevention of cardiovascular diseases (CVD) in Tanzania. Materials and methods A cost-effectiveness analysis was performed using an Excel-based Markov model, from a governmental perspective. We employed an ingredient approach and step-down methodologies in the costing exercise following a government perspective. Epidemiological data and efficacy inputs were derived from the literature. We used disability-adjusted life years (DALYs) averted as the outcome measure. A probabilistic sensitivity analysis was carried out with Ersatz to incorporate uncertainties in the model parameters. Results Our model results showed that all five tobacco control strategies were very cost-effective since they fell below the ceiling ratio of one GDP per capita suggested by the WHO. Increase in tobacco taxes was the most cost-effective strategy, while a workplace smoking ban was the least cost-effective option, with a cost-effectiveness ratio of US$5 and US$267, respectively. Conclusions Even though all five interventions are deemed very cost-effective in the prevention of CVD in Tanzania, more research on budget impact analysis is required to further assess the government’s ability to implement these interventions.

Association Between Maternal and Child Health Handbook and Quality of Antenatal Care Services in Palestine

Abstract: Objectives The Maternal and Child Health (MCH) handbook is an integrated home-based record allowing clients to keep records on the continuum of care for mothers and children. This study aimed to assess associations between MCH handbook ownership and receipt of selected content of antenatal care services in Palestine. Methods Distribution of the MCH handbook in Palestine was launched in 2008. We used an anonymous data set of the Palestinian Family Survey 2010 and analyzed the data of 2026 women who had live births within the past 12 months. Descriptive statistical analysis was conducted to assess differences between MCH handbook holders and non-holders. Multivariable logistic regression models were used to estimate adjusted odds ratios of the effects of MCH handbook use according to proxy indicators of antenatal care quality. Results Accounting for about 60% (n = 1202) of study participants, handbook holders were more likely to be primipara, live in the Gaza Strip, live in refugee camps, and live within a 30-min distance to antenatal care facilities; however, household wealth levels for handbook holders were lower compared with non-holders. Handbook users had significantly higher odds of receiving all three kinds of medical tests and receiving information on five or more health education topics as part of antenatal care. The higher odds remained after adjusting for possible confounding variables, such as household wealth, region, residential area, birth order of the child, frequency of antenatal care, and time required to reach antenatal care facilities. Conclusions for Practice Use of the handbook as a portable checklist possibly promoted providers’ higher adherence to the national guideline.

Improving quality of care for maternal and newborn health: a pre-post evaluation of the Safe Childbirth Checklist at a hospital in Bangladesh

Abstract: Bangladesh has achieved major gains in maternal and newborn survival, facility childbirth and skilled birth attendance between 1991 and 2010, but excess maternal mortality persists. High-quality maternal health care is necessary to address this burden. Implementation of WHO Safe Childbirth Checklist (SCC), whose items address the major causes of maternal deaths, is hypothesized to improve adherence of providers to essential childbirth practices. The SCC was adapted for the local context through expert consultation meetings, creating a total of 27 checklist items. This study was a pre-post evaluation of SCC implementation. Data were collected over 8 months at Magura District Hospital. We analysed 468 direct observations of birth (main analysis using 310 complete observations and sensitivity analysis with the additional 158 incomplete observations) from admission to discharge. The primary outcome of interest was the number of essential childbirth practices performed before compared to after SCC implementation. The change was assessed using adjusted Poisson regression models accounting for clustering by nurse-midwives. After checklist introduction, significant improvements were observed: on average, around 70% more of these safe childbirth practices were performed in the follow-up period compared to baseline (from 11 to 19 out of 27 practices). Substantial increases were seen in communication between nurse-midwives and mothers (counselling), and in management of complications (including rational use of medicines). In multivariable models that included characteristics of the mothers and of the nurse-midwives, the rate of delivering the essential childbirth practices was 1.71 times greater in the follow-up compared to baseline (95% CI 1.61–1.81). Implementation of SCC has the potential to improve essential childbirth practice in resource-poor settings like Bangladesh. This study emphasizes the need for health system strengthening in order to achieve the full advantages of SCC implementation.

Trends in Firm Entry and New Entrepreneurship in Canada

Abstract: Le taux de creation d'entreprises et le taux d'entrepreneuriat ont eu tendance a diminuer au Canada depuis le debut des annees 1980. Les auteurs presentent ces tendances et examinent quelques explications. Une analyse structurelle-residuelle montre que l'evolution des structures industrielles et demographiques au Canada n'explique pas les tendances a la baisse, bien que le vieillissement de la population entraine en partie la diminution du taux d'entrepreneuriat depuis 2000. Les auteurs passent aussi brievement en revue d'autres facteurs qui pourraient contribuer aux tendances observees : la concentration industrielle, l'evolution du marche du travail, les avantages salariaux lies a l'education postsecondaire, l'augmentation des dettes des etudiants et la reglementation. Certains de ces facteurs pourraient etre importants, mais il faudra plus de recherche avant d'etre en mesure de tirer des conclusions fermes. Since the early 1980s, the firm entry rate and the rate of new entrepreneurship have trended downward in Canada. This article documents these trends and discusses potential explanations. A shift-share analysis suggests that industrial and demographic structure changes cannot explain these long-term trends, although population aging accounts for part of the decline in new entrepreneurship since around 2000. The article discusses other factors that could contribute to the downward trends: increased industrial concentration, changing labour market conditions, increased college wage premium, higher student debt, and government regulation. Some of these may be important, but more research is needed before firm conclusions can be reached.

Effectiveness of the Maternal and Child Health handbook in Burundi for increasing notification of birth at health facilities and postnatal care uptake.

Abstract: Background: In Burundi, birth certificate ownership (56.4%) and postnatal care (PNC) coverage (30%) remain low. Birth certificates prove birth registration and allow clients to receive free medical care including PNC. To obtain birth certificates, notification of birth by witnesses is indispensable. However, use of existing parallel home-based records for mother and child has prevented clients from successfully receiving notification of birth and related information.Objective: To assess the effectiveness of the Maternal and Child Health (MCH) handbook for increasing notification of birth at health facilities and PNC uptake.Methods: Pre- and post-introduction measurement were applied including: (i) structured interviews with two different sets of randomly selected mothers having infants aged less than six weeks at the pre- or post-studies; and (ii) secondary data from the national health management information system.Results: 95.1% of mothers had an MCH handbook post-study. Significant improvement ...

Importance of basic cultivation techniques to increase irrigated rice yields in Tanzania

Abstract: The productivity of irrigated rice is low in Tanzania. We hypothesized that this is caused by the absence of a packaged application of basic cultivation techniques. A baseline survey of 31 rice irrigation schemes across the country revealed that a large proportion of fields were cultivated without a technical package. Thus, a package was introduced to each of the 31 schemes through a farmer-to-farmer (FTF) extension approach. First, selected key farmers (KFs) were trained with the basic cultivation techniques at agricultural training institutes. Second, the KFs transferred their knowledge to intermediate farmers (IFs) by working together at a demo-field established in each scheme. Third, the KFs and IFs exhibited the rice performance to other farmers (OFs). The paddy yield across the 31 schemes greatly increased from the pre-training level of 2.4 t ha−1 to 3.6 t ha−1after the FTF extension. However, the farmer interviews in the four selected schemes suggested that the technical package was not adopted by all farmers owing to the time-consuming nature of the FTF extension. It was inferred from our study that the low productivity of irrigated rice is caused by the absence of basic cultivation techniques in Tanzania. However, the post-training yield remained relatively low compared with high-yields (4.3–8.4 t ha−1) recorded in cultivar selection trials and high-performing schemes in the county. This “yield gap” could be partly ascribed to the insufficient technical diffusion and the technique-dependent adoption among OFs.

Daytime behavior of Pteropus vampyrus in a natural habitat: the driver of viral transmission.

Abstract: Flying foxes, the genus Pteropus, are considered viral reservoirs. Their colonial nature and long flight capability enhance their ability to spread viruses quickly. To understand how the viral transmission occurs between flying foxes and other animals, we investigated daytime behavior of the large flying fox (Pteropus vampyrus) in the Leuweung Sancang conservation area, Indonesia, by using instantaneous scan sampling and all-occurrence focal sampling. The data were obtained from 0700 to 1700 hr, during May 11-25, 2016. Almost half of the flying foxes (46.9 ± 10.6% of all recorded bats) were awake and showed various levels of activity during daytime. The potential behaviors driving disease transmission, such as self-grooming, mating/courtship and aggression, peaked in the early morning. Males were more active and spent more time on sexual activities than females. There was no significant difference in time spent for negative social behaviors between sexes. Positive social behaviors, especially maternal cares, were performed only by females. Sexual activities and negative/positive social behaviors enable fluid exchange between bats and thus facilitate intraspecies transmission. Conflicts for living space between the flying foxes and the ebony leaf monkey (Trachypithecus auratus) were observed, and this caused daily roosting shifts of flying foxes. The ecological interactions between bats and other wildlife increase the risk of interspecies infection. This study provides the details of the flying fox's behavior and its interaction with other wildlife in South-East Asia that may help explain how pathogen spillover occurs in the wild.

Implementing a vector surveillance-response system for chagas disease control: a 4-year field trial in Nicaragua

Abstract: Chagas disease is one of the neglected tropical diseases (NTDs). International goals for its control involve elimination of vector-borne transmission. Central American countries face challenges in establishing sustainable vector control programmes, since the main vector, Triatoma dimidiata, cannot be eliminated. In 2012, the Ministry of Health in Nicaragua started a field test of a vector surveillance-response system to control domestic vector infestation. This paper reports the main findings from this pilot study. This study was carried out from 2012 to 2015 in the Municipality of Totogalpa. The Japan International Cooperation Agency provided technical cooperation in designing and monitoring the surveillance-response system until 2014. This system involved 1) vector reports by householders to health facilities, 2) data analysis and planning of responses at the municipal health centre and 3) house visits or insecticide spraying by health personnel as a response. We registered all vector reports and responses in a digital database. The collected data were used to describe and analyse the system performance in terms of amount of vector reports as well as rates and timeliness of responses. During the study period, T. dimidiata was reported 396 times. Spatiotemporal analysis identified some high-risk clusters. All houses reported to be infested were visited by health personnel in 2013 and this response rate dropped to 39% in 2015. Rates of insecticide spraying rose above 80% in 2013 but no spraying was carried out in the following 2 years. The timeliness of house visits improved significantly after the responsibility was transferred from a vector control technician to primary health care staff. We argue that the proposed vector surveillance-response system is workable within the resource-constrained health system in Nicaragua. Integration to the primary health care services was a key to improve the system performance. Continual efforts are necessary to keep adapting the surveillance-response system to the dynamic health systems. We also discuss that the goal of eliminating vector-borne transmission remains unachievable. This paper provides lessons not only for Chagas disease control in Central America, but also for control efforts for other NTDs that need a sustainable surveillance-response system to support elimination.

Detection of symbionts and virus in the whitefly Bemisia tabaci (Hemiptera: Aleyrodidae), vector of the Mungbean yellow mosaic India virus in Central India

Abstract: Legume crops in Central India, the main soybean production area of the country, may suffer from yellow mosaic disease caused by the Mungbean yellow mosaic India virus (MYMIV). MYMIV is transmitted by the sweet potato whitefly, Bemisia tabaci (Gennadius), which is a species complex composed of various genetic groups. This vector species harbors different endosymbionts among regional strains and among individuals. To elucidate fundamental aspects of this virus vector in the state of Madhya Pradesh, the infection status of the symbionts and the virus in whiteflies was studied. A polymerase chain reaction (PCR) survey of the whiteflies collected in Madhya Pradesh found four secondary endosymbionts, Arsenophonus, Hemipteriphilus, Wolbachia, and Cardinium, in addition to the primary endosymbiont Portiera. Arsenophonus and Hemipteriphilus were highly infected but the infection rates of Wolbachia and Cardinium were low. MYMIV was detected in whitefly populations collected from various host plants in Madhya Pradesh. The whitefly populations belonged to the Asia I and II genetic groups; several different Asia II populations were also distributed. Specific relations were not observed among symbiont infection status, virus infection, and the whitefly genetic groups in the populations of Madhya Pradesh, though Cardinium was highly detected in the Asia II-1 group. New primers, which can be used for PCR template validation and for discriminating two phylogenetically close endosymbionts, were designed.

Comparative assessment of the food purchase program and the national school feeding program's impact in Ubá, Minas Gerais, Brazil

Abstract: The Food Purchase Program (PAA) and the National School Feeding Program (PNAE) are the main trading programs of Brazil that promote a connection between the family farm and institutional markets. The case study portrayed in this article aimed to evaluate and compare the socioeconomic impacts generated by the PAA and PNAE among Uba's family farmers in Minas Gerais. To do this, two tipes of questionnaires were applied to managers and farmers who participate in the programs and obtained data were analyzed by descriptive statistic methods and non-parametric tests (Mann-Whitney). Results showed that the two policies present positive socioeconomic benefits to family farmers, although the PNAE's producers income be higher and the food prices traded in PAA are superior. On the other side, having participated in the PAA and PNAE does not provide extra income arising from entry into new markets, which in theory could be the result of improving the quality of production,and does not promote the reduction in the use of fertilizers and pesticides.

Understanding mSOS: A qualitative study examining the implementation of a text-messaging outbreak alert system in rural Kenya.

Abstract: Outbreaks of epidemic diseases pose serious public health risks. To overcome the hurdles of sub-optimal disease surveillance reporting from the health facilities to relevant authorities, the Ministry of Health in Kenya piloted mSOS (mobile SMS-based disease outbreak alert system) in 2013–2014. In this paper, we report the results of the qualitative study, which examined factors that influence the performances of mSOS implementation. In-depth interviews were conducted with 11 disease surveillance coordinators and 32 in-charges of rural health facilities that took part in the mSOS intervention. Drawing from the framework analysis, dominant themes that emerged from the interviews are presented. All participants voiced their excitement in using mSOS. The results showed that the technology was well accepted, easy to use, and both health workers and managers unanimously recommended the scale-up of the system despite challenges encountered in the implementation processes. The most challenging components were the context in which mSOS was implemented, including the lack of strong existing structure for continuous support supervision, feedback and response action related to disease surveillance. The study revealed broader health systems issues that should be addressed prior to and during the intervention scale-up.

Living in a Bubble

Abstract: This chapter describes how Japanese expatriates and families carve out their spaces as individuals and groups in new environments in Indonesia, outlining their everyday lives in non-work contexts. This chapter explains where, with whom, and how they connect, by shedding light on the lesser-known realities of their lives. The exclusive lifestyle of Japanese expatriates and families is structurally supported by three things—housing, transportation, and domestic servants—which upgrade their social class and create their image as privileged elites. In contrast, through open spaces on the surface of the “bubble,” they forge ties with the host nationals and host society. Such dual characteristics—the closure of their encapsulated lives and the particular types of openness—enable connections with the host nationals and society.

The Quality on Public Participation in Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) Reports in Thailand

Abstract: This study evaluates the public participation section of environmental impact assessment (EIA) reports in Thailand by using a grading system and the principal component analysis (PCA) method. The aim is to identify the key factors that influence quality in the topic of public participation in EIA reports. Of the EIA reports, 82 were analysed according to date and project type in the transportation sector in Thailand. The results indicated that 84.6% of total EIA reports in the period between 1992 and 2005 are of low quality with respect to the topic of public participation. In contrast, in the period after 2005 the quality of this topic received grades of A and B, which accounted for 76.7% of the total EIA reports in this period. The PCA method demonstrates the process of development in public participation in Thailand. Key factors are shown to be the methods of public participation and public information accessibility.

INDONESIAN HATCHERY REARED SEABASS LARVAE (Lates calcarifer), ASSOCIATED WITH VIRAL NERVOUS NECROSIS (VNN)

Abstract: Mass tuortality atuongs seabass larvae, Lates calcarifer, reared in hatcheries in East and Bali due to viral nervous necrosis were investigated. outbreaks of the disease occured from August to Novetnber 1997.

The effects of previous land-use to herbaceous vegetation in Quercus acutissima stands before and after clear-cutting

Abstract: In rural Japan, various types of forest and grassland once used for agroforestry have now been abandoned because of socioeconomic changes associated with the decline in forestry, falling birth rate and aging population. The biodiversity of such secondary forests and grasslands, which had been maintained by routine management, is now in crisis. Among them, Kunugi (Quercus acutissima) forests in Kyushu island were exceptionally maintained by its management with clear-cut every 15–20 years to produce bed logs for shiitake mushroom cultivation. Some of these Kunugi forests have been planted in abandoned cultivated fields and grasslands. To clarify the effect of clear-cutting on the conservation of herbaceous vegetation on the forest floor, the floor vegetation of Kunugi forests in Kumamoto Prefecture with various land-use histories was surveyed before and after clear-cutting. Detrended correspondence analysis showed that some plots that originated from grassland characterized by the dominance of Pleio...

Non-bleached colonies of massive Porites may attract fishes for selective grazing during mass bleaching events.

Abstract: In this study we investigated the variation in grazing scar densities between bleached and non-bleached colonies of massive Porites species in Sekisei Lagoon (Okinawa, southwestern Japan) during a mass bleaching event in 2016. The grazing scar densities and bleaching susceptibility varied among neighboring colonies of massive Porites spp. However, non-bleached colonies had significantly more surface scars than bleached colonies. One explanation for these variations is that corallivorous fishes may selectively graze on non-bleached, thermally tolerant colonies. This is the first report of a relationship between grazing scars and the bleaching status of massive Porites spp. colonies during a mass bleaching event.

Adding fish images taken in other countries to the biodiversity database of a Japanese public museum, with report of range extension of Labrisomus jenkinsi from the Pacific coast of Costa Rica

Abstract: Many biodiversity databases have been launched in recent years. Various species of certain developed taxa, such as fish, quadrupeds, and butterflies, are currently able to be photographically identified, in particular for ecological and biogeographic studies. However, there are problems that result from registration of images from countries with different primary languages. In this study, we provide an example of the challenges associated with registering fish images, specifically one case that has functioned as a voucher for the range extension of Labrisomus jenkinsi (Heller and Snodgrass, 1903) (Perciformes: Labrisomidae) from the Galapagos Islands to the Pacific coast of Costa Rica. The fish image database in question belongs to a Japanese public museum [the Kanagawa Prefectural Museum of Natural History; the online version (FishPix) is provided by the museum and the National Museum of Nature and Science]. We propose that there are problems associated with image registration caused by using different languages. Furthermore, these challenges should be a common subject for discussion among museums as they attempt to accumulate biodiversity data from citizens in the future.

Return Migration after Natural Disasters

Abstract: This special issue features policy priorities, public perceptions, and policy options for addressing post-disaster return migration in the United States, Japan, and a couple of Asian countries. It includes a series of case studies in these countries, which are based on a sustained dialogue among scholars and policymakers about whether and how to incentivize the return of displaced persons, considering social, economic, and environmental concerns. The research team, composed of researchers from Indonesia, Japan, Sri Lanka, and the United States, undertook a collaborative and interdisciplinary research process to improve understanding about how to respond to the needs of those displaced by natural disasters and to develop policy approaches for addressing post-disaster return. The research focused on the following three key issues: objectives of return migration (whether to return, in what configuration, etc.), priorities and perceptions that influence evacuees’ decision-making regarding return, and policies and practices that are used to pursue return objectives. This special issue includes ten articles on the following disaster cases: the Great East Japan Earthquake in 2011, Hurricane Katrina in 2005 and Hurricane Sandy in 2012, the Great Indian Ocean Tsunami in 2004, and the Great Sumatra Island Earthquake in 2009. Important lessons for the future were secured out of these case studies, covering the entire phase of return, namely planning, implementation, and monitoring.

Dollarization in Cambodia: Behavior of Households and Enterprises in a Highly Dollarized Environment

Abstract: In Cambodia, significant payment dollarization began in the early 1990s, triggered by massive inflows of US dollar notes in the fragile political and economic environment. With micro-dataset from a large-scale survey of households and firms on their use of dollar, we present a detailed picture of dollarization in Cambodia. The survey covers the use of dollar for payments, savings, and borrowings, as well as for unit of account. We illustrate that the degree of dollarization differs considerably by region, higher in the metropolitan area and lower in rural areas. We also find that the prevalence of dollar circulation differs from one commodity supply chain to another. These imply that network externalities influence the choices of currency by households and firms. This chapter was prepared with co-work with Mr. DaijuAiba, graduate student of Hitotsubashi University. He processed the survey data for analysis and wrote Sects. 4.3 Savings, 4.4 Borrowings, and 5.4 Dollarization of Financial Activities of this chapter.