Governing sex workers in Timor Leste

This paper argues that international security forces in Timor Leste depend upon civilian partners in HIV/AIDs "knowledge networks" to monitor prostitutes' disease status. These networks produce mobile expertise, techniques of government and forms of personhood that facilitate international government of distant populations without overt coercion. HIV/AIDs experts promote techniques of peer education, empowerment and community mobilisation to construct women who sell sex as health conscious sex workers. Such techniques make impoverished women responsible for their disease status, obscuring the political and economic contexts that produced that status. In the militarised context of Timor Leste, knowledge of the sexual conduct of sub-populations labelled high risk circulates among global HIV/AIDs knowledge networks, confirming their expert status while obscuring the sexual harm produced by military intervention. HIV/AIDs knowledge networks have recently begun to build Timorese sex worker organisations by contracting an Australian sex worker NGO to train a Timorese NGO tasked with building sex worker identity and community. Such efforts fail to address the needs and priorities of the women supposedly empowered. The paper engages theories of global knowledge networks, mobile technologies of government, and governmentality to analyse policy documents, reports, programmes, official statements, speeches, and journalistic accounts regarding prostitution in Timor Leste.     

Sustainable urbanization in Southeast Asia and beyond: Challenges of population growth,land use change,and environmental health

As economic growth centres, the Southeast Asian cities feature high population pressure, unsustainable land use, environmental degradation, and large ecological footprints. It is difficult to manage environmental health and basic services for urban dwellers, and ensure optimum flow of ecosystem services in the context of rapid, unplanned, and haphazard urbanization. These challenges are particularly multifaceted in the developing countries of Southeast Asian region. This study, based on secondary sources, adopted multidisciplinary lenses, such as geographical information systems, socio‐economic perspective, and sustainability science to examine the population situation, land use change pattern, and drivers of environmental degradation in the Southeast Asian cities as well as the Dhaka megacity, and brought forth a fresh perspective to look into contemporary urban ecosystems, population dynamics, environmental health, and sustainability. It also focused on identifying the commonalities among the cities under study to create a common understanding towards promoting collaborative urban development. This study shows that the urbanization process in the Southeast Asia region is taking place mostly in an unplanned and haphazard manner. With little concern for nature, life‐supporting ecological systems, and the environment, urban spatial growth continues unabated. The data surveyed and discussed in this paper shows that the current style of urbanization in Southeast Asia can best be called unsustainable. The findings also suggest that the general wellbeing and welfare of the current and future generations in Southeast Asian cities as well as in Dhaka is at risk. The paper recommends concerted efforts towards making the urbanization process sustainable, including better urban planning, policymaking, and international and regional cooperation.     

The setting: demographic mosaic of the Asia Pacific region — issues defining the future

The Asia Pacific region is demographically extremely diverse, with respect to both the sizes of national populations and the processes that determine population growth. Nevertheless, it is clear that in the 1990s development planning needs primarily to confront the implications not of continued high fertility, but of often rapid fertility decline to as yet uncertain levels. This paper briefly discusses these themes as a scene-setter for the papers which follow.     

Rye doubled haploids as a research and breeding tool – a practical point of view

Doubled haploid (DH) plants were produced using anther culture from out‐crossing rye, including breeders’ lines, cultivars and F₁ plants with DH parents, to examine the feasibility of using the DH technique for breeding and specifically for developing mapping populations. Only 10–36% of green regenerants produced via anther culture were suitable for research or breeding purposes because of low survival rate or low fertility. Spontaneously arising DH regenerants were more often fertile compared with the colchicine‐treated ones. The fertility of spontaneous DHs varied from sterile to half that found in a normal rye population, which has implications for the design of a crossing scheme and subsequent anther culture. In the reciprocal crosses within one DH population, fertility was the lowest observed, probably because of self‐incompatibility factors, whereas in the DH crosses with normal heterozygous cultivars fertility was the highest. Two mapping populations using DHs were established, the first for out‐crossing rye it would seem. These populations will be used for mapping two important traits, the semi‐dwarf growth habit and preharvest sprouting resistance in rye.     

The Baby Boom and Nonmetropolitan Population Change, 1975‐1990

ABSTRACT Both economic and demographic contexts influence aggregate migration streams at the regional scale. The influence of demographic and economic context on aggregate migration at the nonmetropolitan scale, however, remains unstudied. This paper presents analysis based on 1980 and 1990 Public Use Microdata Sample (PUMS) data related to age cohort effects on nonmetropolitan population change. The analysis provides enhanced understanding of how demographic factors like the baby boom might influence population movements into and out of nonmetropolitan regions. Using modified age‐cohort decomposition techniques, the analysis demonstrates how the fluctuations in nonmetropolitan population growth between 1975 and 1990 are tied to the differential migration flows of the peak baby boom years (those born between 1955 and 1964). The analysis further demonstrates how fluctuations in nonmetropolitan population growth across regions are tied to migration flows of these baby boomers. Significant variation remains within regions.     

Asia and the Pacific on the move: workers and refugees,a challenge to nation states

In the last 30 years international migration has been transformed from being of little or no significance in Asia to being of substantial economic, social, political and demographic importance. Two types of migration which have increased greatly in significance since the 1970s are international labour migration and refugee movements. Throughout most of the last two decades Asia has had more refugees than any other world region, although numbers have declined in the 1990s with the success of resettlement and repatriation programmes for Indochinese refugees. On the other hand, international labour migration has continued to increase in scale and importance, with the majority of workers moving between Asian countries in the 1990s, although the Middle East remains an important destination. It is argued that two elements, proliferating migrant social networks and the emergence of a vibrant immigration industry, have given a momentum to international migration which to some extent limits the power of nation states to control it. There is some concern among countries in the region that the increase in migration is creating excessive economic dependence upon the export of labour. Fears that migration threatens social cohesion depend upon the extent to which migrants settle permanently in destination areas.     

Breeding apomictic bahiagrass (Paspalum notatum Flügge) with improved turf traits

The development of a turf‐type bahiagrass could have a remarkable impact on the billion‐dollar turf industry in the south‐eastern United States. The goals of this study were to (i) select bahiagrass genotypes with improved turf attributes and (ii) determine the reproductive mode and seed fertility of selected genotypes. The population included mutants, wild types, hybrids and standard cultivars evaluated at two locations for two years. Morphological variation was observed and clonal repeatability (H²) ranged from 0.27 to 0.90. Flowering was extremely reduced in some mutants, which also exhibited dark green colour, finer texture and reduced canopy height. Cytoembryological observations revealed that diploids reproduced sexually and tetraploids by obligate or facultative apomixis. Genotypes with superior seed fertility were identified, while others were comparable to the standard cultivars. While mutant plants exhibited great morphological variation, the random mutations did not affect their reproductive mode, validating the use of mutagenesis in apomictic species. The high H² indicated that selection for improved turf attributes could be successfully performed with the advantage of clonal seed propagation.     

Quality of Life and the Migration of the College‐Educated: A Life‐Course Approach

ABSTRACT This paper examines how the college‐educated population—segmented into selective demographic groups, from young adults to the elderly—differentially values quality‐of‐life (QOL) indicators of metropolitan areas in the United States. Using data from the 2000 Census and the 1997 Places Rated Almanac, out‐migration patterns are shown to depend jointly upon stage in the life course, the spatial‐demographic setting, and QOL characteristics. An abundance of cultural and recreational amenities lowers out‐migration rates of young college‐educated. For the older college‐educated population, the revealed preferences shift toward concerns for safety and a strong preference for milder climates. The study also finds significantly lower out‐migration rates for metropolitan areas with growing human capital. In light of shifting age distributions and rising educational attainment levels, the results have important implications for the emergence of new migration patterns and the concentration of human capital.     

Mapping of minor quantitative trait loci (QTLs) conferring fertility restoration of wild abortive cytoplasmic male sterility and QTLs conferring stigma exsertion in rice

Cytoplasmic male sterility (CMS) hybrid rice has made a great contribution to the increase of rice yield globally. To facilitate the development of high‐quality pairs of the wild abortive (WA) male sterile and maintainer lines, the genetic basis of fertility restoration of WA‐CMS and stigma exsertion was investigated in this study using a testcross population with the WA‐CMS background. Seed‐setting rate and stigma exsertion rate were used as the indicators of the two traits, respectively. Results showed that four minor QTL regions from 9311 were responsible for the variation of seed‐setting rate, while a few minor QTLs and epistatic QTL pairs influenced stigma exsertion rate. These results would be of great use in the development of high‐quality pairs of WA male sterile and maintainer lines in rice.     

2000—2017年中亚地区植被变化遥感监测

中亚地区植被对保障区域生态安全和“新丝绸之路经济带”建设具有重要作用,然而气候如何影响植被在中亚地区的生长模式尚不清楚。基于2000—2017年中亚地区遥感植被指数,结合气象、地形和中亚人口数据,研究了近18年中亚地区植被的时空分布规律和变化趋势,确定了植被变化与不同因子的相关性并大致预测植被未来长势。结果表明,2000—2017年中亚地区整体植被呈降低趋势,主要分布在中部和西南部且植被沿山脉分布,西坡比东坡植被长势旺盛。2010年整体植被由退化趋势转变成改善趋势。降水和温度对植被生长均有促进作用,但植被对降水的响应比温度的更敏感。未来中亚地区植被整体上呈现改善的趋势。此外,不同地理分区,人类活动对植被也有一定程度影响。     

Old-age support and care in China in the early 1990s

Owing to increased life expectancies and falling fertility, China will have not only the largest aged population but also the most rapid ageing process in the foreseeable future. The need to provide adequate and affordable support and care for the elderly has recently caused both scholars and policymakers concern. By analysing a 1992 sample of the aged in 12 provinces, this paper examines the support and care received by the elderly, focusing on living arrangements, economic security (income sources and levels), physical care, access to health services and emotional support. In the early 1990s old-age support in China was mainly provided by families, primarily through co-residence. The coverage of government-sponsored pension programmes was limited largely to city dwellers. Economically, physically and emotionally, most old people were well cared for, although the rural old and women were relatively disadvantaged. Rural elderly were more likely to still be engaged in productive activities, while old women were more likely than old men to be financially dependent on their children. Women played an important role as care-givers at home. However, the current familial system is under increasing pressure as the country’s social and economic structure changes drastically. To meet the mounting challenge of the future, early and comprehensive strategies are needed to establish an old-age support system that brings into full play the state, local communities and individuals.     

Interspecific amphiploid‐derived alloplasmic male sterility with defective anthers,narrow disc florets and small ray flowers in sunflower

The cytoplasmic male‐sterility (CMS)/fertility‐restoration system is important for hybrid sunflower (Helianthus annuus L.) seed production. The objective of this study was to characterize two novel alloplasmic CMSs, designated CMS GRO1 and CMS MAX3, with defective anthers, narrow disc florets with no swollen corolla, and short, narrow ray flowers derived from two tetraploid amphiploids (AMPs). Among 26 tested lines, only AMP Helianthus cusickii/P 21 and HA 410 failed to restore male‐fertility. Segregation of CMS, male‐fertile plants and plants with reduced male‐fertility was observed both in the testcross progeny of a six line half‐diallel cross of F₁s with CMS MAX3 and in an F₂ population of CMS GRO1 × RHA 274. Male‐fertility restoration was controlled by at least two dominant genes. Detailed analysis of the mitochondrial genes may provide insight into the differences between these CMSs and other CMS lines. The new CMSs will facilitate the studies of the incompatibility between cytoplasmic and nuclear genes, especially for the alloplasmic CMS involving perennial species, and also provide unique ornamental flower types and CMS sources for hybrid sunflower breeding.     

Growth and Yield Performance of Some Cotton Cultivars in Xinjiang,China, An Arid Area with Short Growing Period

Eleven cotton (Gossypium hirsutum L.) cultivars were evaluated for their growth and yield performance in Shihezi, Xinjiang, China, an area in Central Asia with short growing period in 1999 and 2000. In each cultivar the number of bolls per plant was low and the number of bolls per unit area was high. Each cultivar showed rather high seed and lint yields. The highest lint yield was Xinluzao 10 in both years with 1761 and 1809 kg ha^?1. High yield ability of the cultivars in this study was attributed to large number of bolls per unit area with high lint percentage. Seed and lint yields had significant positive correlations with mean net assimilation rate, ratio of reproductive to vegetative organs and mean boll weight at earlier stages of boll growth, suggesting that early boll formation and successive partitioning of dry matter into bolls were important factors for boll growth in this study area.     

Population

The 1990s can be characterised as the decade of migration as far as New Zealand's 20th century population history is concerned. There was the largest decennial net migration gain this century, the largest annual net migration gain since 1875, the largest decennial numerical increase in population since the 1960s, and the largest influx of immigrants from countries in northeast Asia on record. This was a decade when migration flows both in and out of the country attracted considerable public and political comment. In the mid‐1990s it was the ‘Asian invasion’ that was the key migration‐related political issue; in the late 1990s it was the ‘Kiwi exodus’, especially to Australia, that was attracting attention both in New Zealand and Australia. A ‘blip’ in birth rates in the early 1990s also attracted considerable attention from demographers and policy analysts – a short‐lived increase associated with irregularities in New Zealand's population structure as well as the changing patterns of fertility evident in later child bearing. The decade also saw some significant changes in the ethnic composition of the population, as well as debates about socio‐economic ‘gaps’ between some of the major ethnic components.     

施肥水平及群体结构对茄子单株和群体效应的影响

本文研究了不同施肥水平及种植密度对茄子单株和群体效应的影响,结果表明：单株产量随着密度的增加而减少。密度对群体产量的影响与施肥水平有关。在低肥时,密度应小,高肥时可适当提高密度,品种才能获得高产稳产。随着密度的逐步降低,个体补偿效应和群体补偿效应下降,施肥水平越高,补偿效应下降越明显。     

Pacific Islanders

This paper examines some of the socio‐demographic changes which have occurred in the Pacific‐descent population in New Zealand in the last decade. It examines significant shifts which have occurred in the social and economic characteristics of overseas and locally‐born sub‐populations and identifies some of the factors which have produced these. The chapter points to the growing internal socio‐demographic diversity within the Pacific population and argues that we may need to think about this population in different ways in the near future.     

Low‐Income Dynamics in Canadian Communities: A Place‐Based Approach

ABSTRACT Canadian poverty rates have persisted at disappointingly high levels despite almost 15 years of continuous economic growth. The problem is exacerbated by some communities and neighborhoods having exceedingly high poverty, including very high rates for vulnerable demographic groups, such as aboriginals and recent immigrants. We investigate low‐income rates (poverty rates) for 2,400 Canadian “communities” over the 1981–2001 period. By focusing on communities, we fill a void in the related Canadian literature, which tends to focus on individuals, case studies, or more aggregate measures, such as provinces. Our approach allows us to assess the role of place‐based policies. Particular attention is given to communities with differing shares of aboriginal Canadians and recent immigrants. One novel feature is our analysis of both “short‐term” and “long‐term” causes of differential community poverty rates. The results suggest that community low‐income rates are more affected by initial economic conditions in the short term, with certain demographic factors becoming relatively more important in the long run.     

International healthcare worker migration in Asia Pacific: International policy responses

The growth of the international migration of health workers in recent decades has taken place in the context of the transnationalisation of healthcare provision as well as of governance and policy responses. This paper examines international policy responses to cross‐border health worker migration in the Asia Pacific region. These include multilateral (global and regional) and bilateral policy agreements, policy dialogue and programmes of action in relation to key issues of ethical recruitment, ‘circular’ migration and labour rights and key themes of health workforce planning and management. The paper brings original new analysis of international datasets and secondary data to bear on the pressing and important questions of what international policy initiatives and responses are at work in the Asia Pacific region, and what these mean for the nature of migration governance in the region. The paper's focus routes the evidence and argument towards current research and policy debates about the relationship between health worker migration, health worker shortages and poor health outcomes. In this, the paper brings new insights into the analysis of the international policy ‘universe’ through its emphasis on multiple and intersecting cross‐border institutions, initiatives and actors operating across different scales. Coherent national and international strategies for integrated health worker migration governance and policy need to incorporate these insights, and the paper considers their implications for current strategies to attain universal health care and improved health outcomes in Asia Pacific and beyond.