Educational Cooperation between Russia and Laos

The objective of the research is to determine the features of educational cooperation between Russia and Laos with a focus on the period since 2010, when the intensification of bilateral political, military and economic ties between Moscow and Vientiane within the framework of a bilateral "strategic partnership" occurred. While preparing the paper, the authors used bilateral agreements concluded between Russia and Laos, materials from official websites of state bodies and universities, publications of Russian ambassadors in Laos, statistical data from the Russian Ministry of Science and Higher Education, and materials from news agencies. The paper discusses the legal basis for cooperation, as well as the factors and dynamics of the allocation of scholarships by Rossotrudnichestvo for Lao citizens;analyzes the open statistics of the Russian Ministry of Science and Higher Education regarding the education of students from Laos;cites the cases of interuniversity cooperation between Russia and Laos. The research reached the following conclusions. The legal basis of Russian-Lao relations in the field of education are the 1994 agreement on cultural and scientific cooperation and the protocol on the equivalence of documents on education and academic degrees, signed by the USSR and Laos in 1978. Due to lack of demand in the 2000s the Rossotrudnichestvo's quota for Laos was the minimum. Since 2010, against the background of the deepening of bilateral ties and the growth of the study of the Russian language in Laos, the number of Rossotrudnichestvo scholarships for citizens of Laos has gradually increased, from 15 to 93 for 2022. The statistics of the Russian Ministry of Education and Science based on the reports of universities "VPO-1" shows that, firstly, the vast majority of Lao citizens study at the expense of the Rossotrudnichestvo scholarships. Secondly, a significant increase in the enrollment of students from Laos to Russian universities has been taking place since 2015. Thirdly, in Tomsk, mainly due to admission to Tomsk State University, the largest student diaspora of Laotians in Russia has formed. Fourth, despite the covid pandemic, in 2020 enrollment remained at the same level, but dropped noticeably in 2021. Fifth, there is the problem of successful completion of studies by the students from Laos. For example, in 2017 47 citizens of Laos received Rossotrudnichestvo scholarships for undergraduate programs of Russian universities, and in 2021 only 25 students graduated. The students from Laos require additional support from Russian universities. The most active in interuniversity cooperation between Russia and Laos are regional universities from Vladivostok, Tomsk, Kaluga.

Joint External Evaluation scores and communicable disease deaths: an ecological study on the difference between epidemics and pandemics

The Joint External Evaluation (JEE) assesses national capacities to implement the International Health Regulations (IHR). Previous studies have found that higher JEE scores are associated with fewer communicable disease deaths. But given the impact of COVID-19 in many countries, including those believed to have developed IHR capacities, the validity of the JEE for pandemic preparedness has been questioned. We constructed univariable and multivariable linear regression models to investigate the relationship between JEE scores and (i) deaths from communicable diseases before the pandemic and (ii) deaths from COVID-19. We adjusted for country differences in age, health system access, national wealth, health expenditure, democratic governance, government restrictions, pre-pandemic tourist arrivals and testing capacity (estimated by test positivity rates). For COVID-19 deaths, we calculated cumulative deaths per 100,000 at 3, 6 and 12 months into the pandemic. A total of 91 countries were included, with a median JEE score of 50%. On multivariable linear regression the association between JEE scores and log COVID-19 deaths was significant and positive at 3 months (ss 0.05, p = 0.02), becoming statistically non-significant, at 6 (ss 0.02, p = 0.27) and 12 months (ss -0.03, p = 0.19), while the association with log communicable disease deaths was significant and negative (ss -0.03, p = 0.003). A higher Stringency Index was significantly associated with higher log COVID-19 deaths at 3 (ss 0.04, p = 0.003) and 6 (ss 0.04, p = 0.001) months, but not at 12 months (ss 0.02, p = 0.08). Higher test positivity rates were associated with higher log COVID-19 deaths at all time points, at least partially attenuating the positive association between Stringency Index and log COVID-19 deaths. While universal health coverage indices (ss -0.04 p<0.001) and international tourist arrivals were associated with log communicable disease deaths (ss 0.02, p = 0.002), they were not associated with log COVID-19 deaths. Although the same tool is used to assess capacities for both epidemics and pandemics, the JEE may be better suited to small outbreaks of known diseases, compared to pandemics of unknown pathogens.

Exploring opportunities to expand groundwater use for livelihood enhancement and climate change adaptation in Laos

This project aimed to identify and prioritize opportunities for sustainable development of groundwater resources with specific focus on the lowland plains and upland plateaus of Laos. It addressed this aim through three key objectives: (1) establish the potential to develop groundwater for irrigation in key hydrogeological settings in Southern Laos;(2) assess the opportunities that solar-powered pumping technologies may provide smallholder farmers seeking to engage in more profitable, market-oriented agriculture;and (3) enhance the capacity of current and emerging groundwater professionals in Laos. Two areas with promising aquifer development potential were selected in Southern Laos: a drought-prone lowland area underlain by sandstone aquifers in Savannakhet province (Outhomphone district);and a wetter, upland basaltic area on the Bolaven Plateau (Pakxong district). For the first objective, a preliminary hydrogeological assessment was undertaken based on the collation and analysis of existing (limited) data supplemented by data from a network of around 40 to 50 monitoring wells in each district and other hydrogeological measurements collected during two field campaigns. For the second objective, the opportunities for solar-powered groundwater pumping to provide an alternative to conventional grid electricity or fuel pumps was explored through policy analysis and the evaluation of a demonstration project as well as actual field operations. The third and final objective involved a cross-cutting effort to enhance capacity of current or emerging groundwater professionals. For Outhoumphone, where the need for dry season access to reliable groundwater sources is high, the sandstone aquifers present are likely sufficiently replenished but inadequately productive to provide a substantial resource for expanding dry season irrigation. Drillers in the area report well instability, saline water and drilling failure as common technical challenges. With adequate field investigations these challenges may be overcome and supplies for commercial agriculture could become feasible. For Pakxong, where the basaltic aquifers are more productive and reliable, field observations show that more entrepreneurial farmers have already started to develop groundwater for high value commercial crops. There is clear scope to expand irrigation development. Drillers report high success rates for wells and this is supported by the aquifer testing undertaken during this research. Even though policies on solar technologies in agriculture are limited, the solar industry appears to be expanding rapidly, with over twenty solar companies based in Laos;most of which are also servicing the agricultural sector. A demonstration site operated by the National Agriculture and Forestry Research Institute in Vientiane Capital provides firsthand experience of solar pumping and data is emerging on its functioning and performance. Rapid assessments of six solar pumping sites on the Vientiane Plain show that better-off farmers and investors with the means to afford the upfront capital cost are accessing water on demand at effectively little or no marginal cost. Although the situation is evolving rapidly, solar water pumping for agriculture still remains an emerging technology in Laos and hence the long term technical performance, economic viability and potential impacts on the groundwater resources remain entirely unanswered at the present time. A one-week hydro-geophysics training course took place in Pakxong in November 2020 that involved 14 attendees from government agencies and the national university. Training was provided in fieldwork and analysis in new techniques to investigate groundwater using geophysical equipment, site wells, drilling and aquifer testing and aquifer conceptualization. In-situ guidance was provided by in-country team members supported by higher level oversight provided remotely by trainers based in Australia due to travel restrictions associated with COVID-19. The project has also enabled 5 Bachelor, Master and Doctorate students to unde

Genetic diversity of porcine deltacoronavirus in Guangxi Province from 2017 to 2019

To understand the genetic diversity of porcine deltacoronavirus(PDCo V) in Guangxi Province, clinical diarrhea samples were collected from suspected piglets in Guangxi Province from2017 to 2019, detected by RT-PCR for PDCoV, and the positive samples were used for amplification and sequence of S, M, N genes. Finally, 16 S, M and N gene sequences of PDCoV were obtained. Homology analysis showed that the S, M, N gene nucleotide identity among Guangxi strains were 95.8% -99.9%, 95.9%-100% and 97.9%-99.9%, respectively. The nucleotide identity of S, M and N genes among Guangxi strains and other reference strains were 95.1%-100%, 95.0%-100%and 96.3%-99.9%, respectively. Sequence alignment showed that S1 protein existed amino acid mutations and insertions, and there were some variations among different epidemic strains. Phylogenetic trees based on S, M and N genes obtained similar topological diagram and all strains could be divided into Group I, Group II and GroupIII, of which Group I came from USA, Japan and Korea, Group II came from China, and Group III came from China, Vietnam, Laos and Thailand. Most strains from Guangxi Province distributed in Group II, individual strain distributed in Group III and some strains formed a single small branch. The evolutionary rates of S, M and N genes of Guangxi strains and other reference strains were 2.57 x 10-4, 2.07 x 10-4, 1.70 x 10-4 substitutions/site/year, respectively, showing that the evolutionary rate of S gene was the fastest. The results indicated that the S, M, N genes of PDCo V strains from Guangxi Province had some variations and existed genetic diversity.

Barriers to integrating diagnostic services for febrile illness to support surveillance and patient management in Asia‐Pacific

As malaria cases continue to decline in Asia, an integrated service delivery approach is ever more urgent to ensure that no malaria and fever cases are missed, and that malaria health workers continue contributing to broader infectious disease control efforts. However, despite its perceived merit, translating integrated surveillance into practice poses several systemic challenges. This article aims to identify what is hindering improved processes for integrating diagnostic and surveillance services for febrile illnesses. Data from peer‐reviewed and grey literature were reviewed using a systems approach based on the World Health Organisation health systems building blocks to fully understand the connections between different elements and system implications of integration. We include snippets from Sri Lanka, Myanmar, Malaysia and Nepal, highlighting expanded diagnostic integration best practices. This review provides a foundation for ‘integration roadmaps’ that can be adapted to different contexts and guide national stakeholders on the operational and political steps for a successful integration model. Such a model can support malaria elimination efforts and serve as a public health tool in the context of disease surveillance and regional health security.

The 5th Indonesian Society of Limnology (MLI) Congress and International Conference 2021

The 5th Indonesian Society of Limnology (MLI) Congress and International Conference 2021 is a biannual conference organized by the Indonesian Society of Limnology, with the theme is “Building synergies towards sustainable use of inland waters.” This year due to the COVID-19 pandemic, we hold the event virtually from 2nd to 3rd December. The objectives of this event are to (1) Connect, discuss, share and create a mutual network among communities from different backgrounds who are interested in inland waters ecosystem;(2) Disseminate science & technology and lessen the gap between scientific and common communities through fruitful discussion settings;(3) Underpin sustainable use and management of inland aquatic ecosystems.There were four keynotes speakers, four invited speakers, and 66 general presenters in the conference sessions. In total, 116 participants were registered and joined the conference. The first keynote speaker was Prof. Dr. Gadis Sri Haryani from the Research Center for Limnology and Water Resources, National Research and Innovation Agency of the Republic of Indonesia (BRIN), Indonesia, who presented research about Migratory freshwater fish in Indonesia: Threats and conservation efforts. The second presenter was Dr. Robert Walsh from the Australian Water Life, Australia, who presented research about Discover the world of Micro-invertebrates. The third keynote speaker was Dr. Khamla Inkhavilay from the National University of Laos, Lao PDR, who presented Persistent Organic Pollutants in Wetland of Mekong Basin. The fourth speaker was Dr. Kwanraree Joy Sirikanchana from the Chulabhorn Research Institute, Thailand, who presented Microbial Source Tracking and Quantitative Microbial Risk Assessment for Sustainable Water Pollution Management.In addition, the four invited speakers and 66 general presenters split into four rooms for parallel discussions which covered the latest research on inland water ecosystems, including;(1) Biotic resources, biodiversity, and conservation;(2) System Dynamic of inland waters;(3) Applied technology for the management and pollution control;(4) Modelling, system information, decision support tool, disaster risk reduction;(5) Management, policies, regulation, education, social, economy, and culture.We highly appreciate the generous support from Research Centre for Limnology-BRIN (Indonesia), Australian Water Life (Australia), Chulabhorn Research Institute (Thailand), National University of Laos (Lao PDR), Southeast Asian Limnological Network (SEALnet), Advisory Board, Steering and Organizing committee and all presenters and participants.List of Committees, Advisory Board, Steering Committee, Scientific Committee, Organizing Committee, Documentation, all photos are available in this pdf.

GIS and Remote Sensing-Based Approach for Monitoring and Assessment of Plastic Leakage and Pollution Reduction in the Lower Mekong River Basin

Determination of plastic leakage sources and pathways is essential in plastic pollution mitigation. Finding ways to stem land-sourced plastic waste leakage requires understanding its sources. Spatial analysis conducted in a geographic information system (GIS) environment and remote sensing investigation uncovered insights into the distribution of plastic leakage in the lower Mekong River basin (LMRB). The main objectives of this approach were: (i) to map plastic leakage density using multi-source geospatial data;and (ii) to identify plastic leakage source hotspots and their accumulation pathways by incorporating hydrological information. Mapping results have shown that plastic leakage density was highly concentrated in urban areas with a high intensity of human activities. In contrast, the major pathways for plastic leakage source hotspots were the high morphometric areas directly influenced by facilities, infrastructure, and population. The overall efforts in this study demonstrate the effectiveness of the proposed novel method used for predicting plastic leakage density and its sources from land-based activities. It is also accomplished using multi-geospatial data with GIS-based analysis to produce a graphical model for plastic leakage waste density in each region that non-technical personnel can easily visualize. The proposed method can be applied to other areas beyond the LMRB to improve the baseline information on plastic waste leakage into the river.

Impacts on Exports and Imports of Entrepreneurs in Northeastern Thailand under the COVID-19 Epidemic

This research aims to study the impact on exports and imports of entrepreneurs in the Northeastern region of Thailand in the situation of the COVID-19 epidemic. The sample is entrepreneurs in the northeastern region who export and import to Lao People's Democratic Republic, Cambodia, and Vietnam, totaling 389 people. The research tool was a questionnaire. The statistic used is the multiple regression analysis. The results showed that the impacts on exports and imports of entrepreneurs in the Northeastern region of Thailand in the situation of the COVID-19 epidemic consisted of;Entrepreneurs' performance factors, market promotion factors, and government support factors could explain the variability of competitiveness by 61.0% (R2=0.610) at 95% confidence level.The results of this research show a significant impact on competitiveness. if entrepreneurs use it as a guideline for adapting to changes in trade, and the government uses it as a guideline to promote and support the development of the capacity of traders with the Lao People's Democratic Republic, Cambodia, and Vietnam can create a competitive advantage in the international trade arena, benefiting the country's overall economy in the long run. Guidelines for trade competition with the Lao People's Democratic Republic, Cambodia, and Vietnam, entrepreneurs in the Northeast of Thailand are;(1) Entrepreneurs bring knowledge and skills to develop and apply in business operations, both exporting and importing to keep up with ever-changing situations. (2) Entrepreneurs should focus on practicing marketing skills to create strengths and opportunities for businesses in exporting and importing goods and services. (3) The government sector should promote and support the development of entrepreneurial potential following the changes that occur. (4) Entrepreneurs create opportunities for integration and business networking to have the power to negotiate trade and create value for products. And (5) the government sector should provide support and opportunities to access funding sources for entrepreneurs to create business opportunities so that businesses have a plan to cope with the impact of changes that may occur, whether controllable or uncontrollable. will affect the business in the future.

Drivers of Economic Catch-up in Asia: A Study of ASEAN Countries with Comparative Views of China and India

This paper conducts a comprehensive examination of the sources of economic growth and catch-up of ASEAN countries since the Asian Financial Crisis, with comparative views ofChina and India. The study employs different decomposition frameworks to gain insights into the drivers of the Association's economic performance over the 1997-2017 period. Three findings are most notable. First, all ten member states, except for Brunei, recorded a strong catch up performance, with labour productivity being the leading driver in most countries. Second, the drivers of labour productivity catch-up exhibit some distinctive patterns among countries, which depend on the level of income and economic structure. Third, in all decomposition analyses, ASEAN countries are well below China and India across sources of growth, which tends to suggest that countries in the grouping could improve their performance by enhancing market integration and policy coordination. Although the long-term prospect of ASEAN is bright, the COVID19 pandemic and the recent military coup in Myanmar have indicated that the road to future prosperity of the region is expected to face formidable challenges.

Challenges in pharmacy education with limited resources during COVID-19: ASEAN perspective

The rapidly emerging COVID-19 pandemic resulted in the need for rapid and extensive changes in the education programs of universities. This chapter reviews the changes in teaching and learning made by pharmaceutical faculties in six universities located in the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN): Mahasarakham University (Thailand), Taylor's University (Malaysia), University of the Philippines-Manilla (Philippines), Hai Phong University of Medicine and Pharmacy (Vietnam), University of Health Sciences (Lao PDR), and Sanata Dharma University (Indonesia). The authors discuss adjustments that were made based on educational contexts, planning and infrastructure, educational processes, and products and outcomes. Each university provides a specific story concerning lessons learned in responding to the pandemic. The chapter concludes with changes that will be employed in future emergency situations, as well as those that will continue to be incorporated with the resumption of normal operations. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2022 APA, all rights reserved)

Special Issue: Microbiologists making waves around the South Pacific. (Special Issue: Microbiologists making waves around the South Pacific.)

This special issue includes 11 articles focusing on development of container laboratories in response to COVID-19;COVID-19 in Fiji;Pacific Regional Infectious Disease Association (PRIDA) - capacity-building for microbiology and infectious disease across the Pacific;meningococcal surveillance in Southeast Asia and the Pacific;tropical fever in remote tropics;movement of arboviruses between Indonesia and Western Australia;Rotavirus surveillance informs diarrhoea disease burden in the WHO Western-Pacific region;surveillance for One Health and high consequence veterinary pathogens (Brucellosis, Coxiellosis and Foot and Mouth Disease) in Southeast Asia - Lao PDR and Cambodia in focus and the importance of international partnerships;Avian influenza H5N1.

From field to lab

The Crawford Fund has supported a long-running program providing plant pathology and entomology support for smallholder farmers and provincial and district staff in southern Lao PDR. The program has involved over 32 volunteers, mentors and students covering 55 cash crops involved in poverty alleviation. The program has focused on identifying the key pests and diseases while working directly with the farmers to develop appropriate management practices. We endeavour to empower government advisers to work with farmers to alleviate poverty, for example through the production of high value horticulture crops. Activities have included workshops, establishment of small diagnostic laboratories, and the development of pest and disease checklists and extension materials. Benefits also flow to Australia, with volunteers and mentors gaining exposure to pests and diseases not present in Australia, and the opportunity to build professional networks. This case study describes the 'field to lab' approach that has characterised this program and made it successful. Dr Anderson visited Savannakhet and Champasak provinces in February and March 2019 as a volunteer with the Australian Volunteer Program. She worked with local government advisers to visit smallholder farmers and survey the leaf diseases that affect bananas in southern Lao PDR. In-field training for identification of banana leaf diseases was undertaken. Samples were taken to the laboratory for preliminary identification, providing the opportunity for training in specific techniques for working with banana leaf pathogens. Samples were sent to colleagues in internationally recognised laboratories for formal identification, making use of specialised resources not present in Lao PDR. During COVID, ongoing support for the identification of pest and diseases and their management has been through the use of social media such as WhatsApp which link the network of past volunteers, mentors and Lao counterparts.

Pooling sputum for Xpert MTB/RIF and Xpert ultra testing during the COVID-19 pandemic in Lao People's Democratic Republic

The global Covid-19 pandemic has limited access to molecular TB diagnostics and National Programmes are struggling to maintain essential services. The pooling method (testing several samples together) could reduce the number of cartridges and staff time needed for TB diagnosis but has not been tested within the pandemic. We conducted two independent cross-sectional surveys. Pools composed of four sputum samples were tested using either Xpert-MTB/RIF or Xpert-Ultra. Pooled and individual results were compared to determine the level of agreement. Each survey included 840 participants and 210 pools. In the Xpert MTB/RIF survey, 77/81 (sensitivity 95.1%, 95%CI 87.8%-98.6%) pools containing 1 positive sample tested MTB-positive and 4/81 (4.9%, 95%CI 1.4%-12.2%) tested MTB-negative. All 129/129 pools containing MTB-negative samples tested MTB-negative (specificity 100%, 95%CI 97.2%-100%), with 98.1% agreement (Kappa: 0.959). In the Xpert-Ultra survey, 70/70 (sensitivity 100%, 95%CI 94.9%-100%) pools containing 1 MTB-positive sample tested MTB-positive and 140/140 (specificity 100%, 95%CI 97.4%-100%) pools containing only MTB-negative samples tested MTB-negative, with 100% agreement (Kappa: 1). Pooled testing with Xpert-MTB/RIF and Xpert-Ultra saved 38.3% and 41.7% (322/840 and 350/840, respectively) in cartridge costs alone. The pooling method with Xpert-MTB/RIF and Xpert-Ultra has similar performance to individual testing and can reduce the number of cartridges needed. These efficiencies can facilitate maintenance of stocks and sustain essential services as countries face difficulties for laboratory procurement during the pandemic and will provide cost and time savings post-pandemic.

The specter of empty countrysides and wetlands—Impact of hunting take on birds in Indo‐Burma

Hunting for the wild meat trade, medicines and other human uses has decimated Indo‐Burma's vertebrate biota and has led to widespread defaunation. Yet, there is surprisingly little data on how hunting impacts wild bird assemblages in different landscapes here. Based on concurrent snapshot surveys of bird hunting, food markets and hunting attitudes across six Indo‐Burma countries, we found that hunting threatens species not only in forested landscapes but also wetlands and farmlands such as orchards and paddy fields—ecosystems overlooked by past studies, with at least 47 species associated with wetlands and agricultural lands identified from market surveys across the region. High rates of mortality are suffered when hunting tools such as nets are used to exclude perceived bird pests in both aquaculture and agricultural landscapes, with over 300 individual carcasses of at least 29 identifiable species detected in one aquaculture landscape sampled in Thailand. We warn that the potentially unsustainable trapping of species for consumption and trade in Indo‐Burma, coupled with high incidental mortalities, could decimate the populations of erstwhile common and/or legally unprotected species. There is an urgent need for stronger regulatory oversight on the hunting take of wild birds and the use of hunting tools such as nets. Alongside this, conservation practitioners need to better engage with rural communities to address unsustainable hunting practices, especially outside of protected areas.

The limits of bodies: Gatherings and the problem of collective presence

Modern social collectivities-such as nations, publics, and political movements-depend upon the capacity of media technologies to transcend bodily proximity. The contemporary proliferation of such remote sociality may seem to render physical gatherings superfluous. But at times, people go to great pains to manifest collectivities by assembling bodies in one place. This article explores what we should make of cases in which it is not enough for collectivities to be projected, ed, imagined, or invoked-times when bodies together are all that will do. Presenting research from India and Laos, and in dialogue with reflections on the COVID-19 pandemic, we consider those cases in which bodies are thought to be essential for making collectivities. We show that it is the limits and weaknesses of bodies-that they require sleep and food, that they are vulnerable to police batons and thrown stones, that they can usually only be in one place at a time-that often make them potent materials for building mass actors. Sketching a comparative anthropology of gathering, we reflect on what these limits afford and rethink what bodies might mean for future modes of social connection.

Bat coronaviruses related to SARS-CoV-2: what about their 3CL proteases (MPro)?

Despite a huge effort by the scientific community to determine the animal reservoir of SARS-CoV-2, which led to the identification of several SARS-CoV-2-related viruses both in bats and in pangolins, the origin of SARS-CoV-2 is still not clear. Recently, Temmam et al. reported the discovery of bat coronaviruses with a high degree of genome similarity with SARS-CoV-2, especially concerning the RBDs of the S protein, which mediates the capability of such viruses to enter and therefore infect human cells through a hACE2-dependent pathway. These viruses, especially the one named BANAL-236, showed a higher affinity for the hACE2 compared to the original strain of SARS-CoV-2. In the present work, we analyse the similarities and differences between the 3CL protease (main protease, Mpro) of these newly reported viruses and SARS-CoV-2, discussing their relevance relative to the efficacy of existing therapeutic approaches against COVID-19, particularly concerning the recently approved orally available Paxlovid, and the development of future ones.

Laos in 2021: One More Return to the Subsistence Ethic?

The COVID-19 pandemic has led to a weakening of the formal economy and a crisis of the informal economy in Laos. The population has responded with a partial return to subsistence farming, which almost the entire rural population had been engaged in anyway. The return to subsistence farming was accompanied by a revival of the subsistence ethic, which is compatible neither with Stalinist socialism nor with capitalism. In the current configuration, the Lao People’s Revolutionary Party is in a position to take advantage of this revival, since it seems to support a communitarian morality, anti-capitalism, and self-sufficiency, which the socialist rhetoric of recent years has been propagating. The socialist rhetoric as well as the leadership of the LPRP were reconfirmed by its national congress in January. Social, political, and economic forces seem to complement each other to a larger degree than in the first two decades of the century.