[Cross-sectional study on the use of masks among occupational groups with high-risk positions for overseas import and pollution transmission].

Objective: To investigate the wearing of masks and the knowledge of masks among high-risk positions for overseas import and pollution transmission. Methods: From May 14 to 17, 2022, a convenient sampling method was used to conduct an online survey among 963 workers in high-risk positions for overseas import and pollution transmission in Beijing. The behaviors of individual use and wearing masks, the distribution and supervision of the unit, the knowledge of personal mask protection and the subjective feelings of wearing masks were analyzed. The χ(2) test and logistic regression model were used to analyze the influencing factors of the correct selection of masks. Results: The majority of the workers in high-risk positions for overseas import and pollution transmission were male (86.0%, 828/963), age concentration in 18-44 years old (68.2%, 657/963), and the majority of them had college or bachelor degrees (49.4%, 476/963). 79.4%(765/963) of the workers chose the right type of masks, female, 45-59 years old and high school education or above were the risk factors for correct selection of masks (P <0.05). Workers had good behaviors such as wearing/removing masks, but only 10.5% (101/963) could correctly rank the protective effect of different masks. 98.4% (948/963) of the workers believed that their work units had provided masks to their employees, and 99.1% (954/963) and 98.2%(946/963) of them had organized training and supervision on the use of masks, respectively. 47.4%(456/963) of the workers were uncomfortable while wearing masks. Conclusion: The overall selection and use of masks among occupational groups in high-risk positions for overseas import and pollution transmission in China need to be further standardized. It is necessary to strengthen supervision and inspection on the use of masks among occupational groups, and take improvement measures to improve the comfort of wearing masks.

Resilience strategies of Filipino irregular migrant domestic workers in the Netherlands during the COVID-19 pandemic

COVID-19 has brought a combination of health, socioeconomic and protection challenges to migrants everywhere, and a common view is that these effects have been harshest for those already in vulnerable situations before the pandemic. However, the lived experiences of Filipino irregular migrant domestic workers (IMDWs) in the Netherlands point to a range of impacts instead of a homogenous one. Drawing on interviews and participant observations, we analyse three specific pandemic consequences: income and financial remittance volatility, dual country or transnational precarity and physical and migration status immobility. We then analyse the resilience strategies deployed by IMDWs to navigate through such impacts. While our focus is on the microlevel, we also highlight the vital importance of the responses by the community on the mesolevel, and the government on the macrolevel. Following this relational approach, we put forward a conceptualisation of individual resilience as the capacity to navigate the negative impacts of a shock or crisis to maintain, adapt, or transform valued functionings. We argue that IMDWs cultivate resilience despite their precarious legal status;however, the effectiveness of strategies is contingent on personal circumstances as well as the sociopolitical context wherein they are deployed. The paper contributes to the literature by providing a more nuanced picture of the impacts of and responses to COVID-19 in relation to migrants with irregular status. The articulation of resilience in terms of valued functionings also paves the way for the advancement of the still nascent research agenda on migration and human development.

Model of Transnational Online Serial Sociocultural Lectures for Overseas Chinese Children and Its Evaluation

Previous lectures targeted at overseas Chinese children have mostly been offline in the form of youth camps sponsored by the Chinese governments before the COVID-19 pandemic and are now usually administered online in a single-topic format trans-nationally post-pandemic. This form of "one-to-many” singular online lectures comes along with discontinuity, mass audiences, chaos, and being less tailored to the individual needs and context, failing to meet the evaluation metrics in different evaluation levels. This paper proposes a model of transnational online livestreaming serial socio-cultural lectures for overseas Chinese children, which puts forward the synergy of lecturing staff from higher educational institutions (HEIs) in China and students at Chinese language schools (CLSs) worldwide as participants. Lecturing staff from needs and context HEIs can guarantee sufficient keynote speakers for "one-on-one” mode and cope with the above-mentioned problems. After the implementation of five sessions of these serial lectures, evaluation of this model shows that the pre-lecture, during-lecture, and post-lecture stages have are applicable. Furthermore, for sociocultural lectures, the audience may be more interested in literature classics than folk arts from a specific region. Correlation analysis reveals that younger children have a better evaluation of this model and an improved inclination to attend lectures, which sheds light on the improvement of sociocultural lectures as online lectures are preferred among overseas Chinese children. © ZHILING YANG, 2023.

Indian tourism and hospitality, the FTAs, domestic tourism, GDP and tourism promotion

Tourism and hospitality have had a dynamic role in different countries and became the mainstay of the economy. Tourism, if proliferated appropriately, supports countries to accrue the benefits of the industry. Considered to have multiplier effects, tourism banks on visitors who come to a host country from other countries or are domestic visitors who move around the country. Countries such as Thailand, Malaysia, India and the Maldives have depended on Foreign Tourist Arrivals (FTA) for several years. More the FTAs, the higher the benefits. India too had the facet of promoting the country as a tourist destination to the world and inviting them to be part of the tourism juggernaut. Unfortunately, the metrics are not in line with the quality of destinations in India compared to the FTAs in Thailand, the Maldives or even in Singapore. With a black swan event like the twenty-first century COVID-19 pandemic, many countries focus on domestic travellers, so does India. Just before the pandemic, several plans and policies encouraging domestic travel made their way along with the promotion of quality tourism globally with a lesser number of Overseas Tourism Offices (OTO). The Federal Government in India, in a strategic manner, ensured that domestic travel and FTAs would happen in tandem. It was done through robust global tourism promotion through the India Missions and OTOs that ensured a positive growth trajectory and the metrics that provided the ammunition for economic growth. The research team also got to interview former officers of the Ministry of Tourism, Government of India and players from the private sector that have played a role in the sectoral business operations. © 2022 Shaheed Khan and Freeda Maria Swarna M.

Quality control circle applied to improve the compliance rate of infection control and prevention measures for staff in the medical observation isolation area for overseas tourists

Objective To ensure the safety of both doctors and patients，we should strengthen the management of infection control in the medical observation isolation area for overseas tourists，and continuously improve the compliance rate of infection control prevention measures. Methods In Mar 2020，the domestic COVID-19 was under control，however the overseas epidemic began to spread. As a designated screening hospital for overseas tourists，to prevent the occurrence of nosocomial infections caused by imported cases from abroad，the department carried out quality control prevention circle activities with the theme of"improving the compliance rate of infection control and prevention measures for staff in the medical observation and isolation area of overseas passengers”and determined four countermeasures implementation plans based on current situation grasp，goal setting，cause analysis and countermeasure formulation. Results Compared before and after the implementation of QCC，the compliance rate of the prevention measures of the staff in the medical observation and quarantine area for overseas passengers was increased from 45.08% to 91.54%，and the difference was statistically significant（P<0.001）.The target achievement rate was 84.43%，and the progress rate was 108.85%. Conclusion The quality control circle activities can improve the compliance rate of infection control and prevention measures for staff in the medical observation quarantine area for overseas tourists，thereby ensuring the safety of patients and staff. © 2022 Fudan University. All rights reserved.

Moving in the time of COVID-19: how did the pandemic situations affect the migration decisions of Hong Kong people?

Following mass social protests in 2019 and the enactment of a national security law in 2020 in Hong Kong, a significant proportion of Hong Kong people considered migrating to another country. At the same time, the COVID-19 pandemic had spread rapidly around the world. This study examines investigate whether the migration intention and the planned timing of migration of Hong Kong people have changed with the COVID-19 pandemic situations both locally and abroad. We also examine if the impact of the pandemic might have varied with people's age, gender, education, and parental status. Data are from a random-sampled survey (N = 2,492) conducted in 2021–2022. We find that a more severe COVID-19 situation in Hong Kong is positively associated with one's migration intention. The migration intention of younger and more educated people is more strongly associated with the COVID-19 situation in Hong Kong. However, the COVID-19 situation in the UK is not significantly associated with one's migration intention. Among people who intend to emigrate, a more severe local COVID-19 situation is positively associated with uncertainty about the timing of migration. We conclude by highlighting the significance of global pandemics in shaping migration decisions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR] Copyright of Asian Population Studies is the property of Routledge and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

From study abroad to study at home: Spontaneous neuronal activity predicts depressive symptoms in overseas students during the COVID-19 pandemic.

The objective of this study was to evaluate symptoms of depression and anxiety as well as changes in spontaneous neuronal activity in college students studying abroad during the coronavirus 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic. We examined functional brain changes using resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI), the amplitude of low-frequency fluctuations (ALFF), and regional homogeneity (ReHo) in overseas students with enforced isolation due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Additionally, emotional assessments were administered to determine the severity of depression and anxiety. The questionnaire results showed that anxiety and depressive symptoms differed between overseas students (i.e., those attending an overseas college virtually) and local students (i.e., those attending a local college in person). The fMRI data revealed higher ALFF values in the bilateral superior medial frontal gyrus, bilateral pre-central gyrus, left insula, and left superior temporal gyrus as well as lower ALFF values in the bilateral paracentral lobule (supplementary motor area) in overseas students. Moreover, ReHo analysis also revealed significant differences between overseas students and local students. Compared with local students, overseas students showed significantly increased ReHo in the right inferior frontal and superior temporal gyri and decreased ReHo in the bilateral paracentral lobule, bilateral superior medial frontal gyrus (supplementary motor area), and bilateral pre-central gyrus. In addition, in overseas students, altered ReHo in the cluster including the left superior and medial frontal gyri, pre-central gyrus, and paracentral lobule was significantly positively correlated with Self-Rating Depression Scale scores. Thus, spontaneous brain activity in overseas students changed during the COVID-19 pandemic. This change in brain function might be related to depression and anxiety symptoms. These results suggest that mental health services are needed to decrease the risk of anxiety and depression among college students studying abroad during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Indonesia's Relations With China in the Age of COVID-19

Seven decades after the establishment of diplomatic relations between Indonesia and China, the COVID-19 pandemic presents new prospects and challenges for bilateral cooperation. We seek to analyse various traits in China–Indonesia relations since 2020 by examining how Indonesia attempts balancing between such cooperation and maintaining peaceful ethnic relations domestically. By tracking the domestic discourse surrounding COVID-19 and China through Indonesia's domestic news media, the paper analyses the development of the pandemic in Indonesia, its procurement of vaccines, and, most significantly, domestic sentiments concerning Indonesia's ethnic Chinese Tionghoa citizens, as well as Indonesia's bilateral relations with China in general. The article argues that while the COVID-19 pandemic has created new avenues of cooperation between Indonesia and China, it has also adversely affected the domestic relations between ethnic Chinese citizens and the rest of the population. However, this has not translated into a widespread backlash toward China that might hinder bilateral cooperation. © The Author(s) 2023.

Quality control circle applied to improve the compliance rate of infection control and prevention measures for staff in the medical observation isolation area for overseas tourists

Objective To ensure the safety of both doctors and patients，we should strengthen the management of infection control in the medical observation isolation area for overseas tourists，and continuously improve the compliance rate of infection control prevention measures. Methods In Mar 2020，the domestic COVID-19 was under control，however the overseas epidemic began to spread. As a designated screening hospital for overseas tourists，to prevent the occurrence of nosocomial infections caused by imported cases from abroad，the department carried out quality control prevention circle activities with the theme of"improving the compliance rate of infection control and prevention measures for staff in the medical observation and isolation area of overseas passengers”and determined four countermeasures implementation plans based on current situation grasp，goal setting，cause analysis and countermeasure formulation. Results Compared before and after the implementation of QCC，the compliance rate of the prevention measures of the staff in the medical observation and quarantine area for overseas passengers was increased from 45.08% to 91.54%，and the difference was statistically significant（P<0.001）.The target achievement rate was 84.43%，and the progress rate was 108.85%. Conclusion The quality control circle activities can improve the compliance rate of infection control and prevention measures for staff in the medical observation quarantine area for overseas tourists，thereby ensuring the safety of patients and staff. © 2022 Fudan University. All rights reserved.

Transnationalism with Multi-Leveled Actors: A Systematic Review of Studies on Overseas Koreans' Voting

COVID-19 has affected several aspects of people's lives, including overseas voting by Koreans overseas. Compared to the high national voter turnout for Korea's 21st legislative elections (62.6%), the voter turnout among overseas Koreans was only 23.8%, the lowest since the inception of overseas voting in 2012. However, no study has systematically reviewed prior studies on overseas voting through the framework of political transnationalism with multilevel actors. By reviewing articles published between 2012 and 2020 that explore overseas Koreans' voting in their home country's election, this study aims to categorize studies at different levels and suggest policy implications and future directions for research that could contribute toward filling the gaps in the existing literature. The methods of overseas voting need to be diversified to adequately prepare for any exogenous shocks, such as COVID-19, during the upcoming election periods. [ FROM AUTHOR]

Dynamic Risk Assessment of Port Investment in Countries along the Belt and Road

China's port investments in countries along the Belt and Road are growing, while the global investment environment has deteriorated due to the Sino-US trade friction and the COVID-19 epidemic. However, the recent quantitative research on overseas port investment risk has not considered the time weight, and the related research is less. Therefore, this paper proposes a dynamic evaluation method specially for port investment risk of countries along the B&R based on entropy weight-TOPSIS and BP neural network. First, we figure out the static comprehensive risk value by entropy weight-TOPSIS method, and get the dynamic comprehensive risk value by time weighting method. Second, select three-dimensional data of 32 indicators in 18 host countries from 2010 to 2019 for empirical analysis, and obtain the risk level of each country. Lastly, compared with multiple regression, ridge regression, partial least square, we find BP neural network is the most effective means to estimate the simulation weight of evaluation indicators. The experimental result shows that, the proposed dynamic risk assessment approach for overseas port investment is able to assess risk well and can be extended to other fields. © 2022 IEEE.

"To go or not to go?": business travel decision with the risk of COVID-19

COVID-19 have led companies and organizations to carefully decide overseas business travel after borders reopen. This study aims to develop a theory to guide a structural analysis of the situational factors that companies and organizations would consider in overseas business travel decisions and how to measure these factors. A qualitative research approach was adopted. Bunn's situational characteristics were used as the starting point to guide the study. The findings suggest that the decision results from a struggle between carry-on and hold-back forces, which were affected by two and six situational factors respectively. Their measuring dimensions and ten propositions are suggested.

Unfinished Business: Mapping The Influence of The PRC & Taiwan in Sarawak through Qiaowu

This paper maps the Overseas Chinese affairs/Qiaowu-specific policies of both the People's Republic of China (PRC) and Taiwan in Sarawak State, Malaysia. These two governments are spreading their own versions of influence to win the hearts and minds of the local Chinese communities. The PRC's aim is to encourage the local Chinese to accept the PRC's cultural and diplomatic sovereignty;whereas Taiwan wishes to remain separate from the PRC as a sovereign state. The PRC's United Front Work Department manages Overseas Chinese affairs globally through a mechanism known as the 'five bridges.' For Taiwan, its Overseas Community Affairs Council provides links to the Overseas Chinese communities. In Sarawak, the Overseas Chinese affairs in general are managed by the PRC's Consulate-General Office. For education purposes, Sarawak's China Alumni, the Sarawak Liuhua is contesting with Sarawak Taiwan Graduates Association to attract local students to pursue tertiary education in either the PRC or Taiwan. The latter also manages Overseas Chinese affairs in Sarawak, especially involving applications for social visits and student visas to Taiwan. At this stage, the two governments are engaging with the local Chinese in Sarawak primarily via Chinese voluntary associations, through education, political-economic projects, and also the latest initiatives regarding medical aid to combat the Covid pandemic.

Current State and Tasks of Korean Language Education in Guatemala's Public Elementary Schools

Journal of the International Network for Korean Language and Culture 19-2, 259-280. This article aims to examine the state of Korean ww .e tic e et language education in Guatemala's public elementary schools and suggest future directions for its stable settlement and continuous development in Guatemala's public education. In March 2020, four public elementary schools in Guatemala adopted Korean as a regular foreign language subject for the first time. As of February 2022, ten elementary schools are offering regular Korean language courses. In Guatemalan public schools, Korean language education has grown quantitatively over the past two years despite COVID-19. However, some tasks need to be solved for the Korean language to have a stable footing in Guatemala's public education, ensure internal stability, and promote qualitative growth together. First, the most urgent task is to secure Korean language teachers. For the stable production of professional Korean teachers, it is essential to establish a training course for Korean language teachers and offer a major in Korean studies as a degree program within universities. Additionally, developing customized Korean textbooks considering the age, level, and culture of elementary school students in Guatemala is essential. Moreover, it is necessary to develop a Korean language curriculum so that the Korean language can establish its status as an official foreign language of Guatemala. Lastly, to expand the base of Korean language education in Guatemala, an institution in charge of spreading the Korean language and culture should be rapidly established.(Sogang University, Yonsei University, Myongji University)

Special Section: Islands of refuge, islands of contagion. (Special Section: Islands of refuge, islands of contagion.)

This section contains three papers dealing with: toxic colonialism in Ilet la Mere, French Guiana;the isolation of Mediterranean islands from COVID-19 and the recovery of their tourism economy;and the effect of colonialism and neocolonialism on the response of Barbuda and Puerto Rico to COVID-19.

Two-year clinico-biological feedback in Overseas France and French-speaking territories during Covid-19 pandemic / Retour d'expériences clinico-biologiques en Outre-mer et en Francophonie après deux années de pandémie Covid-19

The French Society of Clinical Biology (SFBC) set up a working group "Biochemical markers of Covid-19" whose main objective is to review, analyse and monitor biological prescriptions according to the patient's care path. This study covers all public and private sectors of medical biology in metropolitan France and overseas and extends to the French-speaking world. We present a summary of feedbacks after 2 years of the pandemic. At the early stage of Covid-19, with regard to the regions surveyed, a common symptomatology with local zoonosis (dengue fever, zika, malaria, leptospirosis, etc.) complicates the diagnosis of Covid-19. At a more advanced stage, it is a question of managing an influx of patients suffering from acute respiratory distress syndrome. In this case, the biology is then simpler and delocalized medical biology devices have proven their effectiveness. As a result, ICU clinicians can better manage the frequent comorbidities encountered in these regions: obesity, diabetes, chronic renal failure, cardiovascular diseases.

La Société française de biologie clinique (SFBC) a mis en place un groupe de travail « Marqueurs biochimiques de Covid-19 ¼ dont l'objectif principal est de revoir, d'analyser et de suivre les prescriptions biologiques en fonction du parcours de soins du patient. Cette étude couvre tous les secteurs publics et privés de la biologie médicale en métropole et en Outre-mer et s'étend à la Francophonie. Nous présentons une synthèse des retours d'expériences après 2 ans de pandémie. Au stade précoce de la Covid-19, pour les régions interrogées, une symptomatologie commune avec des zoonoses locales (dengue, zika, paludisme, leptospirose…) complique le diagnostic de la Covid-19. À un stade plus avancé, il s'agit de gérer un afflux de patients atteints de syndrome de détresse respiratoire aiguë. La biologie est alors plus simple, et les dispositifs de biologie médicale délocalisée ont prouvé leur efficacité. De ce fait, les réanimateurs peuvent mieux gérer les comorbidités fréquentes rencontrées dans ces régions : obésité, diabète, insuffisance rénale chronique ou maladies cardiovasculaires.

Developmental ecosystems of study abroad in a turbulent time: an Australian-Chinese’s experience in multilingual Hong Kong

The experiences of participants in disrupted study abroad (SA) programs have been largely overlooked in the literature, especially when it comes to experiences outside the norm. To fill this gap, this research explores the experience of an Australian university student taking part in an exchange program in Hong Kong (HK) during a turbulent period when HK was under sociopolitical tension, which was followed by the COVID-19 pandemic. We tracked the student’s experiences over six months through five monthly reflective journals and a postprogram interview. The qualitative data were analysed using a narrative approach, and Bronfenbrenner’s ecological systems theory (EST) framework was adopted to interpret the results. The student’s narrative demonstrated a progressive story structure: although it was a special historical time when mobility to HK was undesirable, the participant counterintuitively perceived HK as an ideal location for his future career because of his SA experience. Framed by EST, the study discusses the individual’s development in relation to a multilevel SA ecology (micro-, meso-, exo-, macro- and chronosystems) and the student’s agentic responses at the individual level. The study offers policy and practical implications for multicultural education, particularly in the post-COVID era, when cross-border mobility has been facing unprecedented challenges. © 2022 Informa UK Limited, trading as Taylor & Francis Group.

Government Patent Use to Promote Public Health in the United States: Overcoming Nonpatent Exclusivities

GOVERNMENT PATENT USE One way to facilitate public access to high-cost medications is through government patent use.1 Given sovereign immunity-a legal doctrine immunizing the government from being sued without its consent-the federal government and its agents, such as generic drug manufacturers, have the ability to make or use patented inventions without the permission of the patent holder;in other words, protected by sovereign immunity, the federal government could use inventors' US patents without legal consequence (US patent rights do not apply overseas). [...]nonpatent exclusivities generally prohibit the approval of competing products only if they rely on data generated by another manufacturer. [...]the government or any third party could submit full new drug applications with original data.1,2 This strategy would not be able to circumvent Orphan Drug Act exclusivity for rare disease drugs because that act blocks the FDA from approving the "same drug" for the same disease or condition if it is a generic;however, because full trials would be needed, it might be feasible to pursue approval of a chemically distinct but therapeutically identical drug. [...]many agency actions are judicially reviewable under the Administrative Procedure Act (1946, Pub L No. 79-404)-a statute that waives the federal government's sovereign immunity. Fourth, Congress could amend the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act (1938, Pub L No. 75-717) and the Public Health Service Act (1944, Pub L No. 78-410) to carve out exceptions to existing nonpatent exclusivities for government use.1,8 Although an exception exists for biologics the Public Health Service prepares when the biologic is unavailable from the license holder,9 this kind of authority could be expanded in terms of both to whom and to what it applies as well as under what conditions.

Emerging China–Africa relations in the context of increasing mobility – The Chinese presence in Africa from a historical and current perspective

Since the 2000s, when the Chinese presence in Africa is mentioned, 'the Chinese' no longer refers only to the people, whether they are ethnic Chinese holding non-Chinese passports or Chinese nationals living overseas, but also to the current deeds of the Chinese state. China's strengthened position on the global stage conflates the term with the state. The conflation is clearest in the context of China-Africa relations. The title of Tubel's (2018) article in the Business Insider South Africa, '10 massive projects the Chinese are funding in Africa', presents an example of such conflation. What Tubei means by 'the Chinese' is the state. When 'the Chinese' does refer to the people, they are portrayed as state agents - 'colonists'', in French's (2014) China's Second Continent. According to French, there are one million plus Chinese migrants, settling or becoming long-term residents in just a decade's time, nearly everywhere across Africa. Furthermore, these 'ordinary Chinese', who have penetrated every conceivable walk of life, from farming to prostitution, are 'China's export'. French's assertions fuel a neo-colonial view of China, treat Chinese mobility as exceptional and undermine the people's agency as well as history in Africa.In this commentary, I address the importance of distinguishing between the Chinese state and Chinese people who, as part of their livelihood strategy, are sojourning or making Africa their home. For the Chinese people who have lived in South Africa for a number of years (or generations), livelihood matters range from economic prospects to political autonomy, access to clean air and a different pace of life. Their current presence on the continent is part of a longer and broader history of mobility, connected to nineteenth-century British imperial exploitations of both Africa and Asia and to later neo-liberal policies. As significantly, distinguishing between the Chinese state and Chinese people is not only necessary against the backdrop of rising Sinophobia, exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic, but also it is important to do so to recognize substantial changes within the diaspora, beyond the increasing number of Chinese in Africa, in terms of gender, class and regional compositions that complicate notions of 'Chineseness'. The latter is now entangled with and defined through the Chinese state's efforts, as discussed below.

Analysis of Overseas Investment in Forest and Pulp Industry

The influence of COVID-19 on the world economy and the new risks and opportunities faced by the forest, pulp and paper industry were introduced in this paper. The changes that would occur in the world's political, economic and industrial patterns in the post-epidemic era had been analyzed. It was recommended that Chinese forestry, pulp and paper enterprises should work abroad together to expand investment in raw material production areas, and improve the industrial supply chain. © 2022, China National Pulp and Paper Research Institute Co., Ltd.(CNPPRI). All right reserved.