Evolution of cities in Borneo: a kaleidoscope of urban landscapes for planning future resilient cities

PurposeThis study aims to examine the trajectory of the urban growth of Borneo by portraying its resilient settlements in the pre-colonial times, tropical sensitive colonial architecture, the built environment of the post–independence period and finally the contemporary city image. This is followed by a comparative study of its major urban centres and determining how globalisation and neoliberalism impact the traditional urban settlements of this island and poses a threat to its rich biodiversity.Design/methodology/approachThis study uses case study research methodology involving selected cities on the Island of Borneo including Kota Kinabalu, Sandakan, Miri and Kuching (Sabah and Sarawak, Malaysia), Bandar Seri Begawan (Brunei), and major cities of the state of Kalimantan, Indonesia. Data collection includes a literature review, content analysis, field assessment and observations. The major research objectives would address past and current issues in the selected urban environment of Borneo. They address the historical evolution of major cities of Borneo, current urban development trends, the deterioration of the traditional urban fabric as a result of post–independence development and later globalisation.FindingsThis study found that the rich cultural tradition and climate-responsive architecture from the past have been discontinued to pave way for fast track and often speculative development. The results contribute in the convergence of existing shortcomings of cities from three nations on Borneo Island in guiding future sustainable urban planning agenda for achieving a resilient city status while reinstating the character and the sense of place. The study expects the recommendations to become prerequisites for future urban planning in sensitive tropical regions.Originality/valueThis research identified a new “Borneo approach” to urban development. The study strongly recommends top priorities for the central, state and local governments of Malaysia, Brunei and Indonesia allowing the planners and decision-makers to establish a new tropical urban planning initiative with the ample design practice for this unique region in Southeast Asia. The results of this study can serve as the guiding principles for other urban environments in fragile and sensitive tropical regions.

Prediction of the Sex-Associated Genomic Region in Tunas (Thunnus Fishes)

Fish species have a variety of sex determination systems. Tunas (genus Thunnus) have an XY genetic sex determination system. However, the Y chromosome or responsible locus has not yet been identified in males. In a previous study, a female genome of Pacific bluefin tuna (T. orientalis) was sequenced, and candidates for sex-associated DNA polymorphisms were identified by a genome-wide association study using resequencing data. In the present study, we sequenced a male genome of Pacific bluefin tuna by long-read and linked-read sequencing technologies and explored male-specific loci through a comparison with the female genome. As a result, we found a unique region carrying the male-specific haplotype, where a homolog of estrogen sulfotransferase gene was predicted to be encoded. The genome-wide mapping of previously resequenced data indicated that, among the functionally annotated genes, only this gene, named sult1st6y, was paternally inherited in the males of Pacific bluefin tuna. We reviewed the RNA-seq data of southern bluefin tuna (T. maccoyii) in the public database and found that sult1st6y of southern bluefin tuna was expressed in all male testes, but absent or suppressed in the female ovary. Since estrogen sulfotransferase is responsible for the inactivation of estrogens, it is reasonable to assume that the expression of sult1st6y in gonad cells may inhibit female development, thereby inducing the individuals to become males. Thus, our results raise a promising hypothesis that sult1st6y is the sex determination gene in Thunnus fishes or at least functions at a crucial point in the sex-differentiation cascade.

Hadal aragonite records venting of stagnant paleoseawater in the hydrated forearc mantle

The hadal zone at trenches is a unique region where forearc mantle rocks are directly exposed at the ocean floor owing to tectonic erosion. Circulation of seawater in the mantle rock induces carbonate precipitation within the deep-sea forearc mantle, but the timescale and rates of the circulation are unclear. Here we investigated a peculiar occurrence of calcium carbonate (aragonite) in forearc mantle rocks recovered from ~6400 m water depth in the Izu–Ogasawara Trench. On the basis of microtextures, strontium–carbon–oxygen isotope geochemistry, and radiocarbon analysis, we found that the aragonite is sourced from seawater that accumulated for more than 42,000 years. Aragonite precipitation is triggered by episodic rupture events that expel the accumulated fluids at 10−2–10−1 m s−1 and which continue for a few decades at most. We suggest that the recycling of subducted seawater from the shallowest forearc mantle influences carbon transport from the surface to Earth’s interior.

PREVENTIF STATE ASSET MANAGEMENT VS SULTAN GROUND: A STUDY CASE IN SPECIAL REGION OF YOGYAKARTA

This research uses principal negotiation theory to identify further a dispute emerging between the state asset manager, the central government, and the special local government, the sultanate government. This study examines the dispute resolution and the implementation of the dispute resolution between applying the Yogyakarta Privileges Act to the management of State Property. This research uses study literature, secondary data and then is analyzed qualitatively. This study explains that dispute resolution outside the court is more effective and efficient in managing state property. The costs incurred are enormous, and the time required is extensive. Therefore, it is better to immediately design policies, breakthroughs, and arrangements for resolving disputes between state property and sultanate ground. This study was conducted in the Indonesian context. However, the study's findings may not be generalizable to State Asset Management in other countries, especially the Western ones. These findings are likely to have significant implications for State Asset Management in designing and implementing how to resolve dispute problems in asset management in the unique region of Yogyakarta.

304 - Mental healthcare services and advocacy for older people amidst the COVID crisis: Voices from South Asia

Asia has some of the fastest developing economies and largest conglomerations of populations in the world. One such geographically unique region is South Asia, which accounts for nearly 25% of the global population and one-fifth of the psychiatric morbidity worldwide. This region is also ageing rapidly compared to rest of the world due to modifications in healthcare facilities, hygiene, and lifestyle as well as improved sanitation and infection control. Besides, some of the South Asian countries have also been worst-hit by the COVID-19 pandemic which has led to an exaggerated psychosocial crisis among their older people. Many of these nations face issues with community psychiatric care, trained manpower, socio-economic resources, legislation catering to psychological care and health inequalities. However, recent years have also witnessed paradigm shift in mental health policies, infrastructure and technology among these nations. Climate changes, migration, displacement and ecological characteristics further make South Asia unique in mental health needs and challenges.With this background, leaders in the field of psychogeriatric care from some of the South Asian nations come together to discuss and highlight upcoming strategies for mental health advocacy and service delivery among older people in these regions. Mutual collaboration and cross-country research are globally called upon.Panelists:1. Dr. Gautam Saha (President, Indian Psychiatric Society) [email protected]. Dr. G.Prasad Rao (President, Indian Association of Geriatric Mental Health) [email protected]. Dr. Sudarshan Narsingh (President, Psychiatrists’ Association of Nepal & President, SAARC Psychiatric Federation) [email protected]. Dr. Wazizul Alam Chowdhury (President, Bangladesh Associa tion of Psychiatrists) [email protected]. Dr. Afzal Javed (President, World Psychiatric Association and Chairman, Pakistan Psychiatric Centre, Fountain House, Lahore) [email protected]:Dr. Debanjan Banerjee (Old Age Psychiatrist, NIMHANS, Bangalore; Member, IPA Public Awareness and Advocacy Committee) [email protected]

The Issue of Terrorism: The Prospect of Security in South Asia

South Asia was under the colonial regime for a long period of time and it is a very diverse and unique region. South Asia has been plagued by terrorism for so many years. Due to terrorism, South Asia has suffered economically as well as politically and it has strained the relationship between many countries. Almost all the countries of South Asia are the sufferers of this threat and therefore a number of conventions and frameworks have been formulated to eradicate this. Terrorism is a challenge for all and a good cooperation among all the stakeholders is required in this regard. SAARC as a regional organization of South Asia has a lot of responsibility in this issue. Since its inception, SAARC has done various things but due to the political differences between the members it has failed to evolve an effective strategy. It has also failed to implement its guidelines and conventions on the ground and therefore a reform in SAARC is very necessary. To make South Asia a terror free region, all the countries should join hands and should work collectively. They should work by removing their political differences because a unified and strong SAARC will help South Asia in numerous ways and it will bring hope for the betterment of this region in all the possible ways. In this regard the present paper tries to examine the issue of terrorism and the prospect of security in South Asia.

Analisis Perubahan Penggunaan Lahan Dan Prediksinya dengan Menggunakan Markov – Cellular Automata Di Wilayah Peri Urban Kota Malang

Peri Urban Area is a unique region with spatial dynamics that continues to experience changes that have an important role to play in the urban life in the future. There are 8 sub-districts in Malang Regency which are directly adjacent to Malang City and have a significant influence on the development of the city. Objectives of this research are to determine the dynamics of land use change from 2008 - 2018 and to predict land use in 2030. The method used is the analysis of land use changes from landsat TM 8 images in 2008 and 2013 to predict land use in 2018 which then tested the validity to get a level of accuracy. The results showed the development of built-up area has increased by 12% while agricultural land has experienced a declining trend. Significant changes occurred in Singosari, Pakisaji and Karangploso sub-district. Validation of land use between the predictions of 2018 and actual land use in 2018 showed that the value of kappa was quite high, at 87%. The trend of land use in peri-urban areas until the year 2030 is predicted to have built up area of 26,456 ha, which means an increase 17,686 ha (33.6%) from the existing year 2018. The potential incompatibility of the RTRW with the predicted land use in 2030 is 11,950 ha or 22.7%.

Genome sequencing of the vermicompost strain Stenotrophomonas maltophilia UENF-4GII and population structure analysis of the S. maltophilia Sm3 genogroup

The Stenotrophomonas maltophilia complex (Smc) is a cosmopolitan bacterial group that has been proposed an emergent multidrug-resistant pathogen. Taxonomic studies support the genomic heterogeneity of Smc, which comprises genogroups exhibiting a range of phenotypically distinct strains from different sources. Here, we report the genome sequencing and in-depth analysis of S. maltophilia UENF-4GII, isolated from vermicompost. This genome harbors a unique region encoding a penicillin-binding protein (pbpX) that was carried by a transposon, as well as horizontally-transferred genomic islands involved in anti-phage defense via DNA modification, and pili glycosylation. We also analyzed all available Smc genomes to investigate genes associated with resistance and virulence, niche occupation, and population structure. S. maltophilia UENF-4GII belongs to genogroup 3 (Sm3), which comprises three phylogenetic clusters (PC). Pan-GWAS analysis uncovered 471 environment-associated and 791 PC-associated genes, including antimicrobial resistance (e.g. blaL1 and blaR1) and virulence determinants (e.g. treS and katG) that provide insights on the resistance and virulence potential of Sm3 strains. Together, the results presented here provide the grounds for more detailed clinical and ecological investigations of S. maltophilia.

Complete Mitochondrial Genome Sequence and Identification of a Candidate Gene Responsible for Cytoplasmic Male Sterility in Celery (Apium graveolens L.)

Celery (Apium graveolens L.) is an important leafy vegetable worldwide. The development of F1 hybrids in celery is highly dependent on cytoplasmic male sterility (CMS) because emasculation is difficult. In this study, we first report a celery CMS, which was found in a high-generation inbred line population of the Chinese celery “tanzhixiangqin”. Comparative analysis, following sequencing and assembly of the complete mitochondrial genome sequences for this celery CMS line and its maintainer line, revealed that there are 21 unique regions in the celery CMS line and these unique regions contain 15 ORFs. Among these ORFs, only orf768a is a chimeric gene, consisting of 1497 bp sequences of the cox1 gene and 810 bp unidentified sequences located in the unique region, and the predicted protein product of orf768a possesses 11 transmembrane domains. In summary, the results of this study indicate that orf768a is likely to be a strong candidate gene for CMS induction in celery. In addition, orf768a can be a co-segregate marker, which can be used to screen CMS in celery.