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This paper offers a Bourdieusian field analysis to unpack the intersection among sexuality, place, and mobility through an ethnographic study of Taiwanese gay men's trips to Bangkok. It unveils that how the societal cause of 'Eastern orientation'— a racialised sexual desire for 'white Asians' among Thai gay men — and other material circumstances have transformed distinct scales of territory, including nation-states and gay establishments, into nuanced yet not thoroughly disparate sexual fields. Such nuances are closely associated with gay men's intra-Asian mobility between Thailand and Taiwan that I elucidate through the concept of 'sexuality on the move.' This concept suggests that individuals' geographical movements may diversify their sexual habitus as well as fluctuate their tiers of desirability and vice versa, delineating how different aspects of human sexuality are reshaping and reshaped during or after their embodied mobility. At the same time, their yearning for sexuality alterations also shapes the pattern of individuals' trans-national and intra-urban movements. Moreover, the paper underscores that these alterations are not just objective reality but these gay men's subjective belief which, along with their sexual desire, embodied practices and personal experiences composing a conceptual 'circuit of sex and tourism', attracting and captivating gay men to participate in and then be obsessed with this form of sexual/touristic practice. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Diasporic communities, and in particular ethnic-specific associations, are known for offering invaluable support to immigrants. This support may range from the practical (connecting people with jobs and housing), to the emotional (helping people to adapt to their new environment) to the spiritual (providing people with opportunities to practice their faith). While much is known about the role and importance of diasporic communities in assisting immigrants under ordinary circumstances, less is known about the capacity of these communities to mobilise during times of crisis. This paper examines how diasporic communities provided care for South Asian immigrants and international students during the COVID-19 pandemic. Through an analysis of interviews with key stakeholders representing South Asian-focused associations, different levels of government, as well as non-governmental organizations in Ontario, Canada, the paper contributes a deeper understanding of the role of diasporic social capital and the value of this capital during times of acute need. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This response to Kris Yi's paper, Asian American Experience: The Illusion of Inclusion and the Model Minority Stereotype considers the ways in which we are libidinally invested in structures of Whiteness. Using queer theory as well as critical race and postcolonial theory, this paper questions the impossibilities of inclusion and the inescapable seduction of Whiteness. Centering Fanon's writing on decolonization, this paper argues for the necessity of violence, intrapsychically as well as interpersonally, for structures to fundamentally change rather than seeking inclusion within already existing organizational models that have been informed by exclusivity and whiteness. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Studies of racism against migrants have recently attempted to move away from the presumed dichotomy between whites and "Others", yet the focus is still on white people racialising others: whether Black, Asian or Muslim. Attending only to white versus Others homogenizes select groups of non-whites including Asians. Racialization and racism by Asians and among Asians have also been ignored. Consequently, there is a dearth of studies on issues of race in non-white settings. Through engaging the themes of co-ethnicity, intersectionality and postcoloniality, this special issue contributes to extant studies in three ways through 1) examining new geographical sites of racialization and racism; 2) illuminating racialization and racism beyond the white/Other binary; and 3) introducing new dynamics in racialization and racist discourses, including intersectional factors such as nationality, class, gender, language, religion, temporal framings and postcoloniality. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Asian Neuropsychological Association (ANA) is a recently established cultural identity-based organization with the mission to ensure accessibility and provision of culturally sensitive neuropsychological services for individuals of Asian descent. One of ANA's programmatic goals has been to foster a pipeline of neuropsychologists through mentoring and networking. In this paper, we aim to understand the historical context as well as unique considerations that are relevant for mentoring in the Asian American community. A search of the existing literature in psychology and allied fields such as counseling and sociology was conducted to identify and formulate suggestions for mentoring culturally diverse communities, with a specific focus on Asian Americans. Firsthand narrative descriptions of effective examples of mentoring experiences in the context of shared values are discussed. This paper reviews the historical context and establishes an initial contextual foundation for increasing knowledge about best practices that can be used to establish effective mentoring relationships for Asian Americans. Six key considerations were identified: model minority myth, acculturation and enculturation, ethno-racial status and gender, the context of communication, quantity and quality of mentorship, and unique values specific to the Asian American community. Our findings identify the value of cultural identity-based organizations in creating communities that can support the professional development of future neuropsychologists at various career stages. Overall, findings have implications for maintaining the relevance of the field of neuropsychology in adequately serving an increasingly culturally diverse national and international population. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: The prevailing scientific literature aggregates Asians living in America into one omnibus category and thus can problematically result in a subpar and at times inaccurate understanding of health, social and cultural factors necessary for competent and informed medical care. Method: A literature search was conducted by cultural experts familiar with Asian Indian culture with a focus on immigrants from this community living in the US. Database using search engines was sought in the following domains: immigration patterns, prevalence for key medical and neurological conditions commonly associated with cognitive dysfunction, psychiatric/psychological needs in the community, some preliminary neuropsychological testing considerations while working with this community, and treatment considerations that could affect adherence and efficacy of outcomes. Articles were selected from 2000 to the most recent date, with emphasis on compiling information from review papers and meta-analysis from the past decade. Conclusions: Asian Indians living in the US are distinct from the larger Asian American community. Immigration trends underscore that Asian Indians have a bimodal distribution of wealth. Regarding medical conditions, a key and highly concerning finding is the higher prevalence of cardiovascular risk factors, especially in young males. The lack of non-existent cognitive data in this community is glaring and should serve as an impetus for conducting high-priority research in this community. Preliminary neuropsychological testing considerations are discussed from a practical perspective with emphasis on multilingualism and region of origin. Finally, treatment considerations include understanding attitudes and beliefs regarding traditional medicine. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Racial and ethnic minorities like Asians in the United States are significantly less likely to receive mental health treatment than Caucasians. Using 2012 Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System data, we examined the underutilization of mental health treatment in the US and find that being over 65 or 35–44, being unmarried, and being insured were positively associated with mental health treatment utilization, and as mentally unhealthy days increased, the utilization of treatment also increased. The paper offers a discussion on why there is this underutilization of mental health services amongst Asians and what steps can be taken to improve utilization. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In order to see how Asian countries in this special volume (Japan, South Korea, Vietnam, Singapore, and Indonesia) are looking at China in chronological and comparative perspectives, using Global Attitudes Survey data conducted by Pew Research Center would be the best way because they cover the data from 2002 to 2019 as of now. We can get a lot of insights on different views of the rise of China in Asia through the analysis of Pew Research Center's Global Attitudes Survey data, but there are some inconveniences. Some data in Asian countries are lacking, and the timing of survey is different from one country to another, which makes it difficult to compare the results across the countries. In order to overcome such limitations, this paper uses the second wave and third wave data of Asian Student Survey. Main findings of the analysis are as follows. As of 2018, Singapore and Indonesia were comparatively positively viewing the influence of China, while Vietnam was viewing it negatively, and Japan and South Korea were in-between. The changes in these five years, however, were different from country to country. Changing views of Chinese toward Asian countries were basically symmetrical to those of Asian countries toward China. In these surveyed countries, "peaceful rise frame" was the most powerful determinant of the views of China, which explains why views of China were worsening in these countries. But the concrete determinants of the views were different from one country to another. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The increase in hostile behavior targeted at Asian people is a concern that school districts must address. To respond well, educators need to apply effective methods for preventing this problem. One of the ways they can achieve this goal is by implementing a culturally responsive approach to teaching. Another involves using effective anti-bullying programs. This paper provides details about the importance of implementing these strategies to prevent anti-Asian attacks. It also provides several examples of anti-Asian incidents that occurred shortly after the COVID-19 pandemic began. A few historical events involving the hostile treatment of Asian people are included to provide a context for understanding this problem. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Personal recovery is a relatively novel concept in many Asian countries, and recovery-oriented interventions are usually adapted from western conceptualizations of recovery. To understand what personal recovery in mental health means to people in Asia, what meanings they give to their conditions, and what factors they perceive as hindering or facilitating their recovery. The review focused on peer-reviewed papers published in English between the years 2000 and 2020. Arksey and O'Malley 5-stage method was used to guide the review. Thirty studies were included. Personal recovery in Asia meant a return to a pre-illness state and involved a transformative process. Mental illness was explained as being biomedically oriented, although religious/culturally bound explanations were also present in some studies. Social support, religion, meaningful activities, supportive professionals, and personalized coping strategies were viewed as supporting recovery. Religious stigma, discrimination, gendered norms, and negative societal perceptions of mental illness hindered recovery. The concept of personal recovery in Asia is extremely diverse. Studies exploring personal recovery among people experiencing mental illness in Asia remains in its early stages and more research is needed to better understand how it is conceptualized. Such knowledge could benefit frontline implementation of recovery-oriented services. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

As shown by the recent increase in anti-Asian racism and violence worldwide, the label of "model minority" is flawed and fails to capture the breadth and depth of the experiences of Asian people. Our paper is the first to provide a scoping review of empirical research (ninety-seven studies) that examine the social, educational and health and wellbeing impacts of the model minority myth (MMM) for people of Asian descent in white-majority countries. Key findings indicate that the MMM is complex and contradictory and is present across multiple sectors. Therefore, the MMM needs to be understood holistically as a structural issue that has implications for reinforcing racial inequities. Future research should adopt multilevel frameworks and methods to further understand community and structural impacts of the MMM on people of Asian descent internationally and consider how the MMM contributes to a white racial grammar that normalizes racial stratification and racist structures. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background and objective: Association of interleukin-10 (IL-10) polymorphism with diabetes and its complication was recently established, while there were few kinds of research considering the potential role of IL-10 in gestational diabetes (GDM). This study aimed to systematically review the association between serum IL-10 level and GDM susceptibility. Methods: A comprehensive literature search for the published studies in PubMed, Scopus, CENTRAL (Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials), and Google Scholar databases was performed for English language papers published up to 31st July 2020. Following key terms were used: “Cytokine level” OR “Interleukin-10” OR “IL-10,” OR “Pro-inflammatory Cytokines” OR “gestational diabetes mellitus” OR “GDM.” Fixed or random-effects models were used to estimate the pooled SDM and 95% confidence intervals (CIs). Begg’s funnel plot was used to assess the potential for publication bias. Results: In our meta-analysis, a total of ten studies for the risk of GDM involving 609 GDM cases and 664 controls were included. No significant association between IL-10 levels and risk of GDM as compared to control subjects (SMD = - 0.09, 95% CI = -0.73 to 0.55). Subgroup analysis based on ethnicity also does not reveal any association between IL-10 levels and risk of GDM as compared to control subjects has more or less similar trends in Caucasian (SMD = - 0.07, 95% CI = - 0.58 to 0.45) as well as Asian population (SMD = -0.03, 95% CI = - 1.56 to 1.49). Conclusion: Our findings suggest that the serum IL-10 level may not be significantly associated with an increased risk of susceptibility to GDM. Further well-designed prospective studies embedded with a large sample size are needed to confirm these findings. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Gender (in)equality in entrepreneurship has been getting more attention in recent decades. The number of female entrepreneurs repeatedly reported less than males due to cultural issues, education, and lack of support. Moreover, launching start-up apiaries is more challenging for Asian women in tourism, and the likelihood of unsuccessful experiences is higher among them. Accordingly, the lack of empirical material on female entrepreneurs in tourism and gender equality issues, especially in middle east countries, are the two main gaps. Therefore, this paper tries to reveal the Iranian female entrepreneurship experience to fulfil these gaps. This research applied a qualitative research design leading with social constructivism and critical theory. 12 Iranian female tourism entrepreneurs participated in semi-structured online interviews. The snowball sampling technique was applied to collect data that was analysed thematically. The findings of this study highlighted that family responsibility, legal disparities, credit constraints, and the social construction of gender roles and norms are among the hurdles restricting females from engaging in social and economic opportunities. Moreover, the participants mentioned that the lack of social, government, and sponsors' support and a platform for training and sharing peers' experiences impact their businesses. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In August 1972, the Ugandan dictator General Idi Amin Dada expelled the 70,000-strong Asian community from the country on charges of economic sabotage, corruption, and refusal to integrate with the majority. The accusations that Asian Ugandans faced at the time were reiterated almost half a century later in South Africa while the country experienced its worst civil conflict since the country's transition to democracy in the early 1990s. The coastal port of Durban, home to the largest population of Indians outside of India, became the epicentre of the violence and saw ethnic tensions between the Afro-Indian community explode with ferocity as racism reared its ugly head. Amid the violence and in the aftermath of it, strong anti-Indian sentiments characterized the entire narrative of the riots with one distinct characterization that Indians are the "Jew of Africa". Delving into this indictment, this paper analyzes this claim by exploring discrimination against the Jewish people and comparing this to the "Jews of Africa's" own predilection. At its crux, the research highlights the dangers of scapegoating. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper uses autoethnographic storytelling to examine the perpetually silenced space I occupy as an Asian immigrant teacher educator in the United States. Guided by four tenets of AsianCrit, I weave together fragments of my lifeworld that both fuel and challenge my position as a teacher educator in the hope of establishing fragile connectivities with other Asian American teachers and expanding the limited presence of Asian American voices in the field of teacher education. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Previous research on gender relations has overlooked the similarities and differences among East Asian societies. To fill this gap, this study investigated the association among men's gender-role attitudes, the actual share of housework, and perceptions of fairness in housework division, and how it differs across four East Asian societies. Using data from the 2012 International Social Survey Programme, the results demonstrated that Japanese and Taiwanese men had more egalitarian attitudes than mainland Chinese and South Koreans, while mainland Chinese men did more housework. Korean men held the most traditional gender-role attitudes and were least likely to feel they did less than their fair share. The paper concludes with implications for the gender revolution, suggesting policies should promote men's involvement in the family besides helping mothers balance work and family. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper examines Chinese international students' lived experiences of being stigmatized during the early onset of the COVID-19 pandemic in the United States. To understand their dual-marginalization due to Othered Chinese-ness (e.g. racialized immigrant Others and foreigner Asians) and presumed contagiousness (e.g. suspected, diseased, and infectious), we adopt co-cultural theory to centralize their experiences of coping with COVID-related stigmatization. Semi-structured interviews and thematic analysis demonstrate how Chinese students in this study heightened their sensitivity to ambiguous yet hostile stigmatization and how they often opted for nonassertive, non-confrontational, and threat-avoiding coping strategies. We reflect on how current health and racism crises further marginalize immigrant Others in general and Chinese immigrants in particular. We conclude with discussing theoretical application of co-cultural theory to understand stigmatizing and stigmatized health communication. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Recent discoveries in north-west China and the Central Asian steppes have shed new light on the study of power display and material connections amongst nomadic groups during the development of gold-making technology in Iron Age Eurasia. Bringing together material science and archaeological approaches, this paper presents an interdisciplinary study of serially produced gold artefacts recovered from the elite burials of north-west China, to gain a better understanding of the inventive nature of early gold-making industry. In particular, we find that the technology used to craft the gold appliqués found in the Xigou cemetery (3rd-2nd centuries BCE) in north-west China attested to the use of moulds or matrices for serial production, closely linked to technological practice of the central Asians steppes. We consider the spread of the peculiar technique and iconography as a tangible way to examine technology transfer and cultural interactions. The contextual analysis reveals that the mould-pressing technique, the animal-style gold artefacts, and the burial practice of using prestigious gold as body adornment constitute a shared set of material expressions of the status and power of nomadic elites in north-west China, Kazakhstan and southern Siberia. Technological practice, in turn, opens up new research avenues in the field, recalibrating our recognition and understanding the active involvement of material objects in human life and culture. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Genetics is increasingly defining how we understand health and disease, affecting for some, their understanding of inherited disease, and the meaning of medical genetic information. When interpretations of hereditary conditions are determined, partly, by one's familial experience of heritable characteristics and partly by various other lived experiences, the meaning of genetics becomes highly personal. Through descriptions of stocks of knowledge, this paper describes findings from a qualitative study with a cohort of Black and Asian women with family and personal histories of cancer, about their interpretations of their genetic tests. We describe their interpretations as shaped by different experiences of biomedical practice as well as familial experiences of cancer and genetic testing; and we introduce a metaphor of "moving within a landscape," to show how those interpretations were created and influenced by various sources of knowledge and life experiences. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

London's selection as hosts for the 2012 Olympic Games was a significant moment for Britain. It was a chance to reinforce, through sport, a collective and inclusive British national identity. Most international sporting contests draw on English rather than British loyalties and identity constructions. This might have been especially important for members of the large British Asian diaspora, many of whom feel excluded from ethnically exclusive and narrowly White notions of 'Englishness'. This paper is framed within a post-London 2012 period and examines the role of sport in constructing and negotiating British Asian national identities. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with young British Asians in two English cities. For those who rejected an English national identity through sport, the Games presented an opportunity to connect with a more inclusive British version of sporting allegiance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Domestic violence (DV) has serious implications for the welfare of South Asian (SA) women in the United States. Previous studies have identified significantly lower rates of help-seeking among SA women compared to the dominant culture and other cultural groups. However, there are no scoping reviews that summarize the literature to identify strategies for intervention and future research in order to promote faster and larger systemic wide change that is urgently necessary to meet the needs of this vulnerable population. Therefore, the purpose of this paper is to review and synthesize empirical studies that explore the socio-cultural factors related to the help-seeking behavior of SA women primarily in the United States. Forty-five English language peer reviewed articles met the inclusion criteria. The socio-cultural factors identified in the reviewed studies using a descriptive analytical method with a narrative review are patriarchy, acculturation, socioeconomic status, cultural competency, and immigration status. Implications for research and practice are discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Asian's gross domestic product (GDP) will reach 52% of the world's entire GDP in 2050,[13] and China's share of global GDP jumped from 3.05% in 2000, to 13.68% in 2010, and then 18.33% in 2020.[14] China's Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) was introduced by President Xi Jinping in 2013 during his visits to Kazakhstan and Indonesia. Instead, by examining the case of the Benban solar plant in Egypt, they discuss whether Chinese renewable energy investments in the region should be read within the wider global political economy of decarbonization, or as an element of China's geostrategic positioning in the Eastern Mediterranean. This special issue examines the increasing engagement of Asian countries in the Eastern Mediterranean. Taking China's BRI as opportunities for Greece and Cyprus as an example, more and more Eastern Mediterranean countries believe China is a balancing factor that supports their economic problems and geopolitical struggles. [Extracted from the article]

This article aims to highlight how the degree of ethnic enclaves plays an important role in travel mode choices according to racial/ethnic groups in the Atlanta metropolitan areas in the US. This study finds that ethnic enclaves play a different role in travel mode choices according to the degree of ethnic enclaves, racial/ethnic groups, and travel purposes. For example, white people in low enclaves are more likely to take public transit for work (0.390), and black people in high enclaves are more apt to use household carpool, inter-household carpool, public transit, and walk/bike for school (1.545, 1.725, 1.205, 1.659, respectively) and public transit and walk/bike for other purposes (0.273 and 0.233, respectively). Asian people in high enclaves are more inclined to take household carpool for leisure (3.480), and Hispanic people in low enclaves are more likely to use inter-household carpool for shopping (6.377). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article discusses the book "Rivers of Iron: Railroads and Chinese Power in Southeast Asia" by David Lampton, Selina Ho, and Cheng Chwee Kuik. The book examines China's investments in Southeast Asia, specifically focusing on Chinese infrastructure development and its political implications. The authors argue that Chinese railroads in Southeast Asia offer opportunities for economic development and connectivity, but also pose challenges in terms of political power, economic insecurity, and public perception. The book provides a comprehensive analysis of the historical, domestic, and regional contexts of China's rail development abroad, as well as the diverse responses from Southeast Asian nations. It also explores the potential impact of rail interconnectivity on the competitive landscape of the region and the role of other actors in balancing China's influence. Overall, the book offers valuable insights into the complexities of Chinese power and infrastructure development in Southeast Asia. [Extracted from the article]

In this article I critically examine the role of the Australian far-right in the racialisation of the COVID-19 pandemic. A Discourse-Historical Analysis of (n = 133) Facebook posts from Australia's most prominent far-right populist party, Pauline Hanson's One Nation, revealed a range of discursive strategies, linguistic and rhetorical devices, and multimodal semiotic practices were employed to scapegoat China and Chinese-Australians throughout the pandemic. The findings highlight the unique role played by the Australian far-right in the racialisation of the health crisis which engendered a wave of Sinophobic and anti-Asian racism on a global scale. This research furthers our empirical understanding of how crises are exploited by the far-right to advance their racial politics in the twenty-first century. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Asians are underrepresented in leadership roles in U.S. academic libraries and higher education. Their challenges and coping strategies were uncovered through this systematic review of peer-reviewed articles published between 2014 and 2021. The author performed a thematic analysis using NVivo through the lens of Asian Critical (AsianCrit) theory. Findings showed that their authority, expertise, and leadership capabilities are often questioned. They sometimes experience unfair performance and tenure reviews, xenophobia, negative stereotypes, and discrimination. To counter these harsh realities, they form alliances, find identity-informed mentors, collaborate with others, or seek visibility through scholarship or professional service. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper, I argue that the Cold War's militarized and imperialist logic has entangled with racialized migrant "illegality" to shape undocumented Korean immigrants' (in)voluntary enlistment in the MAVNI program. Drawing on several years of ethnographic research, I examine how young undocumented Koreans were mobilized in service of the US's imperial project to sustain its global supremacy through the "War on Terror." In particular, I attend to the way militarized imperialism embedded within U.S. citizenship becomes intimately tied to the transnational ideologies of South Korean militarized citizenship as experienced by the unprivileged descendants of the unending Cold War. The neoliberal practices of the DREAM Act and DACA only reinforced this connection. Focusing on the undocumented-to-military trajectory, this study contributes to interrogate the temporality of the racialized migrant "illegality" of Asian immigrants within the larger historical context of U.S. militarized imperialism in Asia during the unending Cold War. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

An Asian-American analyst offers a chronicling of his work with an Asian patient that culminates in its sudden, and clinically important, interruption by the Covid-19 pandemic. A dramatic and spontaneous act of creativity unmasks an essential misalignment and shakes the therapist and patient into a long-absent connection. The author organizes his formulation around the tensions that arise from intersections of race and family, improvisation and enactment, intimacy and alienation—each being constituent parts of a relational whole—and which leads him toward the internal resolution of a treatment truncated by global catastrophe. As the author works to align his experience as a mixed-race American within the experiential framework of his mono-cultured analytic partner, distinctions become the pathway to synthesis as they each contend with intra-psychic, interpersonal, and inter-cultural estrangements, culminating in a moment of meeting that is more than simply an ending. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Media trends are widely prevalent on social media sites, and have demonstrated the ability to influence people's perceptions, beliefs, and attitudes. The present study examined the fitness and health-focused media trend of "fitspiration" and its effects on the state self-esteem of young adult males and females. The study is one of the first to examine fitspiration in an Indian context and amongst an Asian population and contributes to the growing literature concerning media trends, body image, and self-esteem in women and men. The sample consisted of 61 undergraduate and postgraduate students aged 18–25 years, recruited through convenience sampling. A pretest posttest control group design was used and data was collected using a personal demographic sheet and state self-esteem scale (SSES). Pretest group equivalence was statistically ascertained and then pre-post comparison analysis was done for male and female participants separately. Contrary to expectations, findings revealed that fitspiration caused a significant increase in the social state self-esteem of females. The findings have been discussed based on the Self-Discrepancy Theory. The study contributes to the limited literature on media trends in an Asian setting and has valuable implications for the fields of social, health, and sports psychology, as well as advertising. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

After the government of Hong Kong branded Hong Kong as "Asia's World City," there has been more interest in addressing the needs of multicultural education in the city. This is also the intent of this study, which discusses the impact of a sports program that involves a South Asian sport called kabaddi on intercultural competence. The program was conducted in a multicultural setting in secondary schools and social communities with participants of different ethnic backgrounds. These participants included students, school teachers and kabaddi coaches. Four schools were purposefully selected, and the data collection methods comprised interviews and participant observation. The findings of the study revealed that the program which adopted the approach of teaching games for understanding (TGfU) could enhance the intercultural competence of both Chinese and South Asian students. The students gained new knowledge about heritage/minority cultures, learned to appreciate them, and developed bonding and bridging social capital. The implications of this study validate the feasibility and merit of integrating intercultural education into physical education. However, it is important to identify the ethnic composition and relations of the participants and devise a suitable pedagogy and curriculum when implementing the program for optimal results. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The present study examined how mental distress of older Asian Americans is influenced by various types of life stressors and social capital. Participants who were 60 and older (n = 533) were selected from the 2015 Asian American Quality of Life survey. A high level of mental distress was observed in the sample, particularly in the Korean and Vietnamese groups. Results of multivariate analyses indicated the detrimental effects of health- and immigration-related stressors and the beneficial effects of family and community resources and suggested ways to promote their mental health and well-being. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

X-chromosome short tandem repeat (X-STR) analysis complements autosomal and Y-chromosome STR typing for complex kinship analysis and screening of candidate lists in familial searches. To statistically evaluate X-STR profiling results, Australian forensic laboratories require X-STR haplotype frequency databases for relevant populations. Our study is the first to report haplotype data for the Australian Aboriginal population. X-STR haplotypes were generated for 298 self-declared male Aboriginals using the Investigator® Argus X-12 Kit. Haplotype frequencies and parameters of forensic interest are presented. The discrimination power of a full haplotype was 98.7% and the cumulative power of discrimination was 0.9999999988 for males and 0.999999999999999 for females. MDS plots of pairwise FST genetic distances and STRUCTURE histograms identified some segregation of X-STR haplotypes between individuals from the Desert and Eyre regions as compared to the Spencer, Riverine and urban Adelaide regions. Comparison of Australian Aboriginal X-STR haplotypes to those of other global populations showed the most similarity to Europeans and least similarity with Asian populations. Ancestral X-STR haplotypes appeared most conserved in the outback Desert and Eyre regions where assimilation with Europeans is lower. Overall genetic structure was minimal and a single X-STR haplotype database combining all regions is considered appropriate for likelihood ratio calculation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Recent teleneuropsychology (TeleNP) models provide some degree of guidance in the application of telecommunication technologies toward the practice of neuropsychology. However, there remains a paucity of peer-reviewed data on TeleNP practices with culturally diverse patients, including Asian patients. This manuscript describes the challenges related to TeleNP practices with Asian patients and offers practical recommendations to complement existing TeleNP guidelines. Based on extant literature on multicultural applications of neuropsychology, we provide recommendations for TeleNP services with Asian patients that pertain to specific components of a TeleNP evaluation, such as a) pre-evaluation preparation, b) determining the appropriateness of the referral, c) determining language proficiency, d) working with interpreters, e) informed consent and confidentiality issues, f) conducting a culturally sensitive clinical interview, g) behavioral observations and communication, h) test selection, and i) interpreting data and writing reports. Our recommendations for TeleNP services with Asian patients highlight the need for flexibility to accommodate cultural differences and commitment to the complex nature of working with patients requiring interpretation services, while also recognizing the importance of preserving the validity of neuropsychological methods. Moving forward, it is imperative that the field of neuropsychology increases the training and accessibility of neuropsychologists who are knowledgeable in providing TeleNP services to Asian patients, and promotes research on the validation of TeleNP for Asian and other ethnic minority groups. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Thiopurine toxicity is related to genetic polymorphism. Thiopurine methyltransferase (TPMT) variants do not explain thiopurine toxicity in more than half of patients. Asians, despite the low prevalence of TPMT variants, are more susceptible to thiopurine toxicity. Since 2014, studies from many Asian countries have shown a strong association between nucleoside diphosphate-linked moiety X-type motif (NUDT) 15 polymorphism and thiopurine-induced myelotoxicity. An English language literature search was performed for TPMT and NUDT15 genetic variants in inflammatory bowel disease and other diseases. This article discusses the merits of preemptive NUDT15 and TPMT testing in Asian and non-Asian IBD populations. The NUDT polymorphism occurs in up to 27% of the Asian and Hispanic population. Hematological toxicity occurs in up to one-third of patients with this genetic variant. Given this, preemptive testing for NUDT15 variant is worthwhile and is probably more cost-effective than TPMT testing in these groups. Prevalence of NUDT15 variants is low in non-Finnish European population, but NUDT15 variants have been linked to myelotoxicity along with TPMT genetic variants. NUDT15 preemptive testing should be considered in the migrant Asian population in Europe and North America and in Caucasian populations who develop myelotoxicity. The treatment of patients with inflammatory bowel diseases (ulcerative colitis andCrohn's disease) is based on the severity of the disease. They may need drugs called 'thiopurines' if the disease is not controlled by initial therapy. These drugs have side effects which are related to genetic variations. These side effects can be potentially prevented by testing for these genetic variants prior to starting these drugs. These tests include thiopurine methyltransferase (TPMT) genotype testing and nucleoside diphosphate-linked moiety X-typemotif (NUDT) 15 genotype testing. By doing these tests before starting the drugs, the dose can be modified to prevent side effects on the bone marrow and other tissues. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study examined variances in crime news involving Asian perpetrators and Asian victims in a mainstream English-language daily USA Today, and an ethnic newspaper Qiao Bao. Our quantitative content analysis focused on (a) the volume of crime stories published about Asians (as perpetrators and victims respectively), and (b) the news frames used to cover crime incidents involving Asians (as perpetrators and victims respectively). Our results revealed that relative to USA Today, the Chinese-language newspaper Qiao Bao not only reported more violent incidents involving Asians, but also placed less emphasis on thematic frames when covering violent incidents about Asians. On the other hand, the English-language newspaper USA Today published more articles emphasizing the consequences of violence when the crime incidents involved Asians (as either offenders or victims). We theorize that these differences arise due to the nature of ethnic news, as well as structural differences between the two outlets. Situated within the COVID-19 context, this study also found that the volume of crime news about Asian victims significantly grew during the pandemic in Qiao Bao's coverage but remained unchanged in the USA Today, indicating that Asian victims are more newsworthy to ethnic media and their readers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Western Eurasian Neogene tapirids are an intriguing but poorly known and poorly documented group of mammals. As the Western Eurasian Tapiridae are mainly represented by scanty and fragmented remains, their systematics have been the subject of debate. Here, we describe exquisite tapirid material from the late Pliocene locality of Camp dels Ninots (CN), North-East Iberia, providing new information on the taxonomy, morphological and morphometric variability, and phylogeny of fossil species. The material studied comprises five crania of different ages, shedding new light on the ontogenetic patterns of fossil European tapirs and their variability. The adult specimens from CN are morphologically similar to other latest Pliocene tapirs from Vialette (France) and Villafranca d'Asti (Italy), and are referred here to the species Tapirus arvernensis. Further, the differences detected among the animals of different ages shed light on the variability of some features and aid in reconsidering the validity of some fossil species. A new cladistic analysis of fossil Tapiridae suggests T. arvernensis is closely related to T. indicus, and is probably an Asian immigrant. Other latest Miocene fossil species, Tapiriscus balkanicus and Ta. pannonicus, are resolved sister taxa and probably represent endemic species of Europe that were replaced by T. arvernensis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Using 2010 Japanese census data, we critically interrogate the idea of integration through marriage in Japan. Intermarriage has been seen as a result of integration but the patterns of intermarriage and integration might depend on existing intersecting power structures in the receiving society. We explore assortative mating patterns in bi-national marriages in order to understand how citizenship status, race, gender, and educational level intersect and affect the patterns of intermarriage in Japan. We argue how 'integration' through bi-national marriage only perpetuates the structural hierarchy that premiers and maintain the status of the (male) native Japanese majority over Asian immigrants. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

South Asian individuals comprise almost a quarter of the world's population and have an excess risk of atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (ASCVD) compared to other ethnicities. In part, this can be explained by higher prevalence, earlier onset, and suboptimal control of traditional cardiovascular risk factors, such as insulin resistance, metabolic syndrome, and dyslipidaemia. However, there remains a significant residual excess risk associated with South Asian ethnicity after controlling for traditional risk factors. In this review, we describe the epidemiology of ASCVD in both native and diaspora South Asian populations. We explore how traditional cardiovascular risk factors, novel cardiovascular risk factors, and social determinants of health may contribute to the excess ASCVD risk seen in South Asian populations. There should be increased awareness of the relative importance of South Asian ethnicity and related social determinants of health, as risk factors for ASCVD. Systematic screening processes should be tailored to this population, and modifiable risk factors should be treated aggressively. Further research is required to quantify determinants of the excess ASCVD risk seen in South Asian populations and to develop targeted interventions to address these factors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Rising rates of divorce in Taiwan prompted debates over changes in the meaning of family, which must be understood alongside changes in attitudes toward divorce. The diffusion and lagged diffusion theories offer competing hypotheses regarding divorce attitude change by education and gender over time. Using the Taiwanese Social Change Survey, this study examines the trends in attitudes toward divorce in Taiwan over three decades (1985–2015). We test the diffusion and lagged diffusion theories by examining the relationships between higher educational attainment, gender, and attitudes towards divorce. We find that Taiwanese men and women became more open toward divorce in general along with higher education expansion. Increased acceptance toward divorce is more substantial for the college educated than those without, and college-educated women are more open to divorce than are college-educated men. The results support the diffusion theory and highlight the importance of education and gender in shaping attitude shift. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

With the greatest economic potential of the countries in the Central Asian region, the Republic of Kazakhstan is currently engaged in international commercial activities with more than 190 countries. At the same time, while actively pursuing modern marketing strategies and when communicating with business partners of different cultural and linguistic background, particularly, in business correspondence, Kazakhstan also bears witness to a Soviet legacy combined with specific Asian characteristics. The aim of this study is to examine socio-cultural factors identified in 316 business letters composed in Kazakh, Russian, and English, the most commonly used languages of the modern Kazakhstani business community. The forms of relationships between business communicants in the hierarchical chain of a superior and their subordinate are also considered, including their role statuses, social distance, the factors involved in the constructing a business text and other aspects. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The stereotype of Model Minority is often applied to Asian Americans, whose educational and economic achievements are held up as a sign of successful inclusion into American society. Yet the deadly anti-Asian attacks following the Coronavirus pandemic have shattered this illusion of inclusion. Using trauma theories, I explore Asian Americans' belief in the American Dream, alignment with whiteness, and the illusion of inclusion afforded by the Model Minority stereotype. In particular, I examine how the illusion of inclusion has obscured recognition of an Asian fetish, the sexualized objectification of Asian women and feminization of Asian men. Clinical examples illustrate the workings of racialized stereotypes and mutual dissociation of racial traumas in Asian therapist and Asian patient dyads. Finally, I add a plea for Asian American psychoanalysts and therapists to write and speak about their experiences from their own frame of reference for fuller recognition of Asian American subjectivity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Striking racial/ethnic disparities exist in pregnancy outcomes among various racial/ethnic Objective: To determine the incidence and risk factors associated with stillbirth in Asian-American women. Study design: We conducted this retrospective cohort study using the United States Birth and Fetal Death data files 2014–2017. We used the fetuses-at-risk approach to generate stillbirth trends by gestational age among Non-Hispanic (NH)-White and Asian-American births during the study period. We calculated the adjusted risk of stillbirth for Asian-Americans, overall, and for each Asian-American subgroup: Asian Indians, Koreans, Chinese, Vietnamese, Japanese and Filipinos, with NH-Whites as the referent category. Results: Of the 715,297 births that occurred among Asian-Americans during the study period, stillbirth incidence rate was 3.86 per 1000 births. From the gestational age of 20 weeks through 41 weeks, the stillbirth rates were consistently lower among Asian-Americans compared to NH-Whites. Stillbirth incidence ranged from a low rate of 2.6 per 1000 births in Koreans to as high as 5.3 per 1000 births in Filipinos. After adjusting for potentially confounding characteristics, Asian-Americans were about half as likely to experience stillbirth compared to NH-White mothers [adjusted hazards ratio (AHR) = 0.57, 95% confidence interval (CI) = 0.51–0.64]. This intrauterine survival advantage was evident in all Asian-American subgroups. Conclusion: The risk of stillbirth is twofold lower in Asian-Americans than in NH-Whites. It will be an important research agenda to determine reasons for the improved intrauterine survival among Asian-Americans in order to uncover clues for reducing the burden of stillbirth among other racial/ethnic minority women in the United States. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Conserving natural resources has socio-cultural underpinnings. Food is a fundamental natural resource, and its waste at the household level has received significant attention across the globe. Food waste reduction campaigns are a prominent way to bring social change to minimise food waste. This study explores the influence of food waste reduction campaigns from a cultural perspective. Specifically, it examines the effects of food waste reduction campaigns organised by a state government agency and a major supermarket chain on three South Asian communities (Indian, Bangladesh and Sri Lankan) living in Australia. Using data from 90 participants in nine focus groups, we found that cultural-religious backgrounds of the specific Asian communities significantly impact their food behaviour. These three communities share cultural similarities about frugality, food insecurity, and religion. In some instances, consumers from all three communities felt excluded from the food waste minimisation campaigns due to unfamiliar campaign faces, western menus, and inappropriate messages and moral appeal. To make food waste reduction campaigns more effective, the principles of social marketing must be employed in campaign design. It is also crucial that the target communities trust the campaign sponsors. Campaign communications could also benefit from a cultural-religious based consumer market segmentation e.g. by customising the campaign messages to include culture-specific emotional and moral appeals. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Asians are not immune to racial discrimination and discrimination against Asians has heightened during the COVID-19 pandemic because they were blamed as the origin of the virus. A pre-registered 14-day diary explored if self-compassion was associated with subjective well-being and protective behaviors for Asians (U.S. & Canada) who faced COVID-19 discriminations (N = 82 & ndiaries =711). Participants reported discriminations experience for 28% (U.S.) and 25% (Canada) of their days. Daily self-compassion predicted daily subjective well-being despite COVID-19 discrimination experience. Daily self-compassion predicted increased COVID-19 protective behaviors on days Asian Americans experienced COVID-19 discrimination. Daily acceptance, but not daily reappraisal, explained the link between daily self-compassion and daily subjective well-being. These findings could not be accounted for by daily self-esteem. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

By focusing on the neuropsychology of Asians and Asians American, this special issue demonstrates the ANA's dedication to advancing the field and contributing to its ongoing development. Members of the ANA have fostered international clinical and research collaboration among neuropsychologists of Asian descent and professional colleagues interested in cultural research on serving Asians. The formation of the Asian Neuropsychological Association (ANA) in 2018 has positively impacted the field of neuropsychology, especially in advocating for culturally sensitive and exceptional neuropsychological services for Asians. [Extracted from the article]

This study examined whether stereotypes of warmth and competence can be changed through exposure to outgroup musical behavior. We hypothesized that exposure to an outgroup musician would result in more perceived outgroup warmth, reduced intergroup anxiety, and more pro-diversity attitudes relative to nonmusical outgroup exposure, and that these effects would be mediated by target warmth, synchronization, empathy, and trust. The hypotheses were tested in the context of anti-Asian prejudice early in the COVID19 pandemic. We found substantial support for our mediator predictions: experimental exposure to an Asian musician yielded more positive warmth and synchronization perceptions, for instance, than exposure to an Asian nonmusician. Those perceptions were subsequently associated with more positive perceptions of Asians as a group. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Young children's racial stereotyping is poorly understood even though stereotyping can influence individuals' attitudes and behavior toward others. Here we present two preregistered studies (Total N = 257) examining White American children's (4–8 years) application of six stereotypes (about being American, smart, wealthy, sporty, honest, and nice) when considering Asian, Black, and White children. We observed clear and consistent evidence for one cultural stereotype across the two studies: participants indicated that Asian and Black children were less American than White children. In a measure of racial attitudes, participants also preferred White children over Black and Asian children. Taken together, this research suggests that, in contrast to findings from previous work, White American children only consistently applied stereotypes about being American. Moreover, this research suggests that children's cultural stereotypes might diverge from children's attitudes early in development. These studies raise new questions about the emergence of racial stereotype application early in childhood – including how best to study it. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Dying with dignity is important in Western culture. The aim of this qualitative study was to explore how Asian Buddhists, exposed to Western cultures, perceive death and dying with dignity, and examine their preferences for end-of-life care. We interviewed 15 Asian Buddhists living in Montreal (Canada). Participants regarded death as inevitable, while a good/dignified death had to be natural, peaceful, and, most of all, conscious. Most preferred palliative care to medical-aid-in-dying and emphasized death preparation through daily contemplation of impermanence. Care providers' understanding and respect of Buddhist patients' perception of a dignified death might help facilitate this important transition. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aim of this study was to accurately evaluate the efficacy of photodynamic therapy (PDT) on actinic keratosis (AK) in the Asian population and its relationship with preconditioning and dermoscopy grading, and to determine whether some dermoscopic features of AK can independently predict the response to PDT to optimize the choice of clinical treatment. From January 2017 to January 2020, patients who were diagnosed as AK with only one lesion in our hospital were included in our study. PDT was performed after pretreatment with ablative fractional CO2 laser or cryotherapy. Logistic regression analysis was used to evaluate the characteristics of dermoscopy to determine the independent predictors of efficacy. A total of 95 patients were enrolled in the study, and the final clinical evaluation was 92 cases (96.8%) as complete remission and 3 cases (3.2%) as partial remission/no response. Dermoscopy showed complete remission in 77 cases (81.1%) and partial remission/no response in 18 cases (18.9%). No significant difference was observed in the complete remission rate of dermoscopy grade 1 lesion after laser or cryotherapy pretreatment (p > 0.05), but for dermoscopy grade 2 and grade 3 lesions, the complete remission rate (dermoscopy evaluation) of the cryotherapy pretreatment group was higher than that of laser group (p < 0.05). The probability of complete remission with red pseudonetwork at the T0 time point increased by 3.8 times (odds ratio [OR] = 3.870,95%confidence interval [CI]:1.077–13.912, p = 0.048), while the probability of complete response for lesions with slight erosion at the baseline decreased by 85% (OR = 0.150,95%CI:0.033–0.671, p = 0.013). For dermoscopy grade 2 and 3 lesions, PDT after pretreatment with cryotherapy is more effective. Dermoscopy pseudo-reticular structure and microscopic erosions were independent predictors of PDT efficacy. These findings may help clinicians to better select patients with AK for PDT. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]