scholarly journals Annotated checklist of Hongkong Lichens

1999 ◽  
Vol 17 (1) ◽  
pp. 57-101 ◽  
Author(s):  
André Aptroot ◽  
Mark R.D. Seaward
Keyword(s):  
Air Pollution ◽  
Hong Kong ◽  
East Asia ◽  
New Records ◽  
Distribution Patterns ◽  
The Past ◽  
Habitat Disturbances ◽  
Annotated Checklist

An annotated checklist of the lichens of Hong Kong, based on all available literature reports and specimens, including those recently collected by the authors, is presented. In total, 261 species are reported, of which 176 are new records for Hong Kong, 132 of which are new for China, 43 are new for East Asia, and 27 are new for Asia. The lichen vegetation is mainly tropical, as is shown by the distribution patterns of the identified species: 53 species are cosmopolitan, 40 northern temperate, 122 pantropical, 17 paleotropical and 29 endemic to tropical East Asia. With regard to substrata, 129 species are corticolous, 148 saxicolous, 17 foliicolous and 19 terricolous. Four species are newly described: Anisomeridium conorostratum Aptroot, A. hydei Aptroot, Caloplaca pulicarioides Aptroot and Placidiopsis poronioides Aptroot. The flora is rather poor in species; for example, no Caliciales have been found. In the past, the numbers of species of several groups such as the Graphidaceae, Heterodermia and Xanthoparmelia have been overestimated, whereas few pyrenocarps have been reported. The flora of wet granitic outcrops is surprisingly well developed in Hong Kong. Although not a single Peltula species was reported before, six species were identified, including one that was previously only known from Africa. In addition, several other cyanophilic genera are present, such as Euopsis, Psorotichia, Pyrenopsis and, most unexpectedly, Vestergrenopsis, each with one species. A comparison between old and recent records shows that many Lobarion species are now extinct. The drastic decline of species of the Lobarion vegetation indicates that air pollution and other habitat disturbances, mainly deforestation, to which these species are very sensitive, are seriously threatening the lichen biodiversity of Hong Kong.

scholarly journals Trends in mortality rates of cutaneous melanoma in East Asian populations

PeerJ ◽  
2016 ◽  
Vol 4 ◽  
pp. e2809 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ling Chen ◽  
Shaofei Jin
Keyword(s):  
Hong Kong ◽  
Mortality Rate ◽  
East Asia ◽  
East Asian ◽  
Mortality Rates ◽  
Joinpoint Regression ◽  
The Past ◽  
Asian Populations ◽  
Rate Ratios ◽  
Mortality Rate Ratio

The incidence of cutaneous melanoma (CM) has rapidly increased over the past four decades. CM is often overlooked in East Asian populations due to its low incidence, despite East Asia making up 22% of the world’s population. Since the 1990s, Caucasian populations have seen a plateau in CM mortality rates; however, there is little data investigating the mortality rates of CM in East Asian populations. In this study, the World Health Organization Mortality Database with the joinpoint regression method, and a generalized additive model were used to investigate trends in age standardized mortality rates (ASMRs) of CM in four East Asia regions (Japan, Republic of Korea (Korea), China: Hong Kong (Hong Kong), and Singapore) over the past six decades. In addition, mortality rate ratios by different variables (i.e., sex, age group, and region) were analyzed. Our results showed ASMRs of CM in East Asia significantly increased non-linearly over the past six decades. The joinpoint regression method indicated women had greater annual percentage changes than men in Japan, Korea, and Hong Kong. Men had significantly greater mortality rate ratio (1.51, 95% CI [1.48–1.54]) than women. Mortality rate ratios in 30−59 and 60+ years were significant greater than in the 0−29 years. Compared to Hong Kong, mortality rate ratio was 0.72 (95% CI [0.70–0.74]) times, 0.73 (95% CI [0.70–0.75]) times, and 1.02 (95% CI [1.00–1.05]) times greater in Japan, Korea, and Singapore, respectively. Although there is limited research investigating CM mortality rates in East Asia, results from the present study indicate that there is a significant growth in the ASMRs of CM in East Asian populations, highlighting a need to raise awareness of CM in the general population.

scholarly journals The Cultural Mission of Premier Universities in East Asia

2017 ◽  
pp. 29
Author(s):  
Rui Yang
Keyword(s):  
Hong Kong ◽  
East Asia ◽  
East Asian ◽  
Cultural Perspective ◽  
Research Project ◽  
The Past ◽  
Remarkable Progress

Over the past few decades East Asia has made remarkable progress in highereducation development in both quantity and quality. Yet, an assessment regarding itsfuture development is less certain. Adopting a cultural perspective, this article reportssome findings from a recent research project financed by the Hong Kong ResearchGrants Council. It argues that the gap between Western and East Asian ideas of auniversity is narrowing. East Asian premier universities are making a cultural experimentto achieve an integration of both. Their efforts have global significance.

Orchids of the Occupied Palestinian Territories (West Bank, Palestine)

2021 ◽  
Vol 42 ◽  
pp. e72120
Author(s):  
Julius Pahl ◽  
Mazin B. Qumsiyeh
Keyword(s):  
Spatial Data ◽  
Agricultural Land ◽  
New Records ◽  
Historical Data ◽  
Distribution Patterns ◽  
Dead Sea ◽  
Palestinian Territories ◽  
The Past ◽  
Preliminary Study ◽  
Using Data

Literature data and new records of members of the orchid family (Orchidaceae) in the Occupied Palestinian Territories were reviewed and updated with field data. Using data from the Palestine Museum of Natural History (PMNH), data from fellow botanists, and the Biodiversity databases (BioGIS and GBIF), the distribution patterns were analyzed with the QGIS package. Twenty-three taxa of eight genera were found in this preliminary study. For two species, no recent data from the last 20 years were available and in some cases likely declined due to human activity. Most species are from the Mediterranean phytogeographical zone, Epipactis veratrifolia Boiss. & Hohen was found in the Sudanian-Ethiopian zone (Dead Sea valley). The majority of the species found prefer semi-open shrublands (garrigue). Nine species had fewer than 20 records overall. Trends observed from the historical data, and current spatial data revealed major threats, including habitat fragmentation, urbanization, intensification of agricultural land use, afforestation and reduced precipitation due to global warming. We noted the proximity to thorny shrubs in many species indicating pressure by grazing animals during field visits. As recent data is scarce, surveys of sites where rare species have been encountered in the past are recommended, and measures to protect vulnerable populations are discussed.

Ubiquitous and Smart System Approaches to Infrastructure Planning

2010 ◽  
pp. 165-182 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sang Ho Lee ◽  
Tan Yigitcanlar ◽  
Johnny K.W. Wong
Keyword(s):  
Economic Growth ◽  
Hong Kong ◽  
East Asia ◽  
South East Asia ◽  
Municipal Services ◽  
Policy Makers ◽  
Smart System ◽  
The Past ◽  
System Approaches ◽  
Smart Infrastructure

The robust economic growth across South East Asia and the significant advances in nano-technologies in the past two decades have resulted in the creation of intelligent urban infrastructures. Cities like Seoul, Tokyo and Hong Kong have been competing against each other to develop the first ‘ubiquitous city’, a strategic global node of science and technology that provides all municipal services for residents and visitors via ubiquitous infrastructures. This chapter scrutinizes the development of ubiquitous and smart infrastructure in Korea, Japan and Hong Kong. These cases provide invaluable learnings for policy-makers and urban and infrastructure planners when considering adopting these systems approaches in their cities.

scholarly journals Review of the genus Strumigenys (Hymenoptera, Formicidae, Myrmicinae) in Hong Kong with the description of three new species and the addition of five native and four introduced species records

ZooKeys ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 831 ◽  
pp. 1-48 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kit Lam Tang ◽  
Mac P. Pierce ◽  
Benoit Guénard
Keyword(s):  
Hong Kong ◽  
New Species ◽  
Southeast Asia ◽  
New Records ◽  
Additional Species ◽  
Ecological Information ◽  
The Past ◽  
Three New Species ◽  
Worker Caste ◽  
First Time

The species of the ant genusStrumigenysSmith, 1860 found in Hong Kong are reviewed based on new sampling efforts performed over the past five years (2014–2018). Prior to this, 12Strumigenysspecies had been recorded from Hong Kong, all confirmed here. Moreover, we add to this list three newly described species:S.hirsutasp. n.,S.lantauisp. n., andS.nathistorisocsp. n., and describe for the first time the worker caste ofS.formosaTerayama, Lin & Wu, 1995. We report new records for nine additional species, bringing the total number of species to 24, including four newly recorded species (S.hexameraBrown, 1958,S.membraniferaEmery, 1869,S.nepalensisBaroni Urbani and De Andrade, 1994, andS.rogeriEmery, 1890) which are considered to be introduced to Hong Kong. A global review of the introducedStrumigenysspecies is presented. The taxonomic validity ofS.feaeandS.formosensisis discussed in light of new specimen measurements. New ecological information on the swarming periods of 11 species is presented on the basis of year-long sampling of aerial insects. Finally, the importance of our results within Southeast Asia and the need for future sampling efforts in the region is discussed.

scholarly journals The Cultural Mission of Premier Universities in East Asia

2017 ◽  
pp. 29-30 ◽  
Author(s):  
Rui Yang
Keyword(s):  
Hong Kong ◽  
East Asia ◽  
East Asian ◽  
Cultural Perspective ◽  
Research Project ◽  
The Past ◽  
Remarkable Progress

Over the past few decades East Asia has made remarkable progress in highereducation development in both quantity and quality. Yet, an assessment regarding itsfuture development is less certain. Adopting a cultural perspective, this article reportssome findings from a recent research project financed by the Hong Kong ResearchGrants Council. It argues that the gap between Western and East Asian ideas of auniversity is narrowing. East Asian premier universities are making a cultural experimentto achieve an integration of both. Their efforts have global significance.

scholarly journals Additions to the checklist of Indian lichens after 2010

2018 ◽  
Author(s):  
G.P. Sinha ◽  
Sanjeeva Nayaka ◽  
Siljo Joseph
Keyword(s):  
New Records ◽  
Lichenized Fungi ◽  
Present Communication ◽  
The Past ◽  
Online Journals ◽  
The Family ◽  
Indian Lichens ◽  
Taxonomic Novelties ◽  
Annotated Checklist ◽  
Current List

The present communication includes a list of 411 species of lichens under 147 genera reported or described from India after the publication of “Indian Lichens: An Annotated Checklist” by Singh and Sinha (2010). According to latest issue of Plant Discoveries 2016 (Singh and Dash, 2017) 2511 species of lichens are known from India. However, a thorough collation including less popular and online journals where taxonomic novelties in the form of new records are not mentioned, revealed significant increase during the past seven years. By addition of 411 species to the list of Singh and Sinha (2010), now the total number of lichens for India raises up to 2714 species. However, due to nomenclature changes and synonymy, revisions, etc. this data may change. Few species which were not included in Singh and Sinha (2010) are also included in this list. Species simply transferred to other genera without affecting the number tally are not listed here. Like-wise obligate lichenicolous and non-lichenized fungi are not included in the present list. The current list indicates that large number of taxa are reported from the family Graphidaceae (106 spp.) where genus Graphis alone counts 34 species. Large number of taxa are also reported from order Arthoniales (52 species) with Opegrapha representing 17 species. The species listed here follows the pattern of; species name (in bold), reference, and name of the state from where the species is reported. For the references cited in this paper readers may refer ‘Bibliography to the Indian lichens from the year 2010 onwards’ by Joseph et. al. (2018) published in the same issue of this journal.

Introduction

2017 ◽  
Author(s):  
Alex J. Bellamy
Keyword(s):  
Cold War ◽  
East Asia ◽  
First Century ◽  
The Past ◽  
Twenty First Century ◽  
The Cold War

Until recently, East Asia was a boiling pot of massacre and blood-letting. Yet, almost unnoticed by the wider world, it has achieved relative peace over the past three decades.1 At the height of the Cold War, East Asia accounted for around 80 percent of the world’s mass atrocities. By the second decade of the twenty-first century, it accounted for less than 5 percent....

Statehood and the State-Like in International Law

2019 ◽  
Author(s):  
Rowan Nicholson
Keyword(s):  
Hong Kong ◽  
International Law ◽  
The State ◽  
Alternative Methods ◽  
Important Conclusion ◽  
Territorial Integrity ◽  
The Past ◽  
Imperial China ◽  
Peremptory Norms ◽  
Legal Sense

If the term were given its literal meaning, international law would be law between ‘nations’. It is often described instead as being primarily between states. But this conceals the diversity of the nations or state-like entities that have personality in international law or that have had it historically. This book reconceptualizes statehood by positioning it within that wider family of state-like entities. An important conclusion of the book is that states themselves have diverse legal underpinnings. Practice in cases such as Somalia and broader principles indicate that international law provides not one but two alternative methods of qualifying as a state: subject to exceptions connected with territorial integrity and peremptory norms, an entity can be a state either on the ground that it meets criteria of effectiveness or on the ground that it is recognized by all other states. Another conclusion is that states, in the strict legal sense in which the word is used today, have never been the only state-like entities with personality in international law. Others from the past and present include imperial China in the period when it was unreceptive to Western norms; pre-colonial African chiefdoms; ‘states-in-context’, an example of which may be Palestine, which have the attributes of statehood relative to states that recognize them; and entities such as Hong Kong.

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