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Although the Paralympic Games have been around for over 60 years, women remain underrepresented in almost all aspects of the Paralympic Movement. It has been suggested that a way to increase women's involvement is through the implementation of mixed-gender events. On paper, this approach makes sense. However, when it comes to the implementation of mixed-gender opportunities for women, it is less clear how effective these events are in increasing participation by women in Para sport. Through document analysis and interviews with athletes and organizers of mixed-gender Paralympic sport, we explore the various strategies that four mixed-gender sports have used to address the issue of gender parity. Using critical feminist theories, we illustrate how larger social, political, and cultural ideas about gender influence women's experiences within these events and discuss the potential of using mixed-gender initiatives to address gender parity within the Paralympic Movement. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aim of this discussion paper is to explore factors and contexts that influence how nurses might conceptualise and assign personhood for people with altered consciousness, cognition and behaviours. While a biomedical framing is founded upon a dichotomy between the body and self, such that the body can be subjected to a medical and objectifying gaze, relational theories of self, multiculturalism and technological advances for life‐sustaining interventions present new dilemmas which necessitate discussion about what constitutes personhood. The concept of personhood is dynamic and evolving: where historical constructs of rationality, agency, autonomy and a conscious mind once formed the basis for personhood, these ideas have been challenged to encompass embodied, relational, social and cultural paradigms of selfhood. Themes in this discussion include: the right to personhood, mind–body dualism versus the embodied self; personhood as consciousness, rationality and narratives of self; social relational contexts of personhood and cultural contexts of personhood. Patricia Benner's and Christine Tanner's clinical judgement model is then applied to consider the implications for nursing care that seeks to reflexively incorporate personhood. Nurse clinicians are able to move between conceptions of personhood and act to support the body, as well as presumed autonomy and relational, social and cultural personhood. In doing so, they use analytical, intuitive and narrative reasoning which prioritises autonomous constructions of self. They also incorporate relational and social contexts of the person receiving care within the possibilities of technological advances and constraints of contextual resources. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The book "Western Ceramic Traditions: Prehistoric and Historic Native American Ceramics of the Western U.S." edited by Suzanne Griset explores the diversity of ceramic traditions and social identities reflected in pottery production in the far southwestern desert and coastal region of the U.S. The book features 11 chapters that critically examine traditional typologies of plainware pottery and explore new datasets for dating and identifying the composition of pottery. The volume provides important discussions on the sociocultural aspects of pottery technology and challenges the limitations of typological classification. The book is recommended for researchers working with plainware or other ceramic wares, although the technical ceramic data presented may be daunting for readers without an archaeological or ceramic analyst background. [Extracted from the article]

Isabella Ou, I University of Minnesota i , and Evan Roberts, I University of Minnesota i Origins of a Violent Land: The Role of Migration There is substantial variation in violent crime rates across the US - can cultural differences explain this? Explaining Gender Differences in the Selection and Sorting of Migrants: Evidence from Canada-... This paper uses newly digitized border crossing records from 1906 to 1954 and US census data to study the selection and sorting of migrants from Canada to the United States. David Escamilla-Guerrero, I University of St. Andrews i , Miko Lepistö, I University of Helsinki i , and Chris Minns, I London School of Economics i Return Innovation: Evidence from the English Migration to the United States, 1850-1940 What drives the direction of innovation? Andrea Bernini, I University of Oxford i , Giovanni Facchini, I University of Nottingham i , Marco Tabellini, I Harvard Business School i , and Cecilia Testa, I University of Nottingham i The Power of Narratives: Anti-Black Attitudes and Violence in the US South Systematic discrimination and violence against minorities are enduring phenomena. [Extracted from the article]

The discussion paper "Institutionalization of Teacher Education" was developed within the framework of the QLB-Camp and aims to establish institutional standards for teacher education in central scientific institutions. There are no institutional standards for teacher education in Germany, and the diversity of teacher education leads to problems and challenges. The Quality Initiative for Teacher Education has brought about positive changes, but there is uncertainty about how the created structures can be sustained and legally secured. The text describes various key points for the institutionalization of teacher education, including anchoring it in state higher education laws and promoting scholars in subject didactics and educational sciences. Teacher education institutions should regularly evaluate their measures and the development of teacher education students. [Extracted from the article]

The Mauritanian written press has gone through several stages during its historical journey and has not been isolated from the political situation of the country, but has been subject to its perception of what His Majesty should be, since its appearance during the French colonization of the country, and after the creation of the national state in the sixties of the last century, passing through the period of the military regime before the declaration of political and media pluralism in the country in 1991 and the consequent dilution of the journalistic field, where the door was opened wide to excessive leniency in obtaining a press license, as well as some major obstacles, such as lack of funding, training and harassment of journalists. However, this did not prevent this press from playing at that time the role of watchdog over the executive power by awakening public opinion on the conduct of public affairs and by revealing many hidden social and political problems that the public opinion would not have been aware without the pioneering role of this written press. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article presents the discussion on high-tech electronic industrial development in Taiwan and the challenges to ill-equipped environmental governance. Topics include industrialization or urbanization related pollution disputes such as citizen science initiatives around fenceline communities in petrochemical industrial clusters; and showing worst wildfires in Australia's history, locust infestations in East Africa, marine litter, and loss of biodiversity.

This article deals with the history of the Fux family from Metlika in the region of Bela Krajina and the bonds between social elites of the town Metlika in Slovenia and the surrounding communities from Croatia. One part of the family history was taken from the personal papers of Emil Laszowski at the Croatian State Archives because he had a relationship with this family; the other part was taken from numerous published sources. The history of the Fux family was carefully researched by Jože Dular, a museologist, poet and fiction writer, who was the founder of the Belokranjski Museum in Metlika and its long-term director. He was married to the one of descendants of the Fux family and lived until his death in the house which was built in 1863 by Antonija Fux, born Wanka von Lenzenheim. The Fux family, who had been accumulating wealth for years (which peaked in the 18th and 19th centuries), made their social and economic position among the social elite along the border through marriages. Thanks to the diary of Emil Laszowski, which is also preserved in his personal papers at the Croatian State Archives it was possible to describe in detail the unhappy marriage and fate of Antonija Jr., born Fux and Daniel Šufflay from the nearby Croatian mansion of Brlog. Special attention in the article is dedicated to Antonija Wanka, married Fux, and her connections with Metlika folk revivalists such as Janez Kapelle and Anton Navratil. Navratil was the founder of the town’s reading room in 1865 and in his opposition to the German influence he mobilised not only the local followers, but also the adjacent Croats, of whom it is worthy to mention the Šufflays from Brlog, the Kniewald brothers from Grič near Karlovac and the Vranitzany family from Jurovo. We have consequently established that the social elite of such a small frontier town in the second half of the 19th century was international. In addition to the local Slovenes, it was composed of descendants of Czech immigrants (Navratil, Wanka von Lenzenheim, Horaček), Italians (Parma, immigrants from Monaster near Aquileia, Capelle) and the Germans from Kočevje (Sturm, Weibl and possibly Fux). The marriages of members of the Fux family with the border elites of neighbouring Croatia (Hranilović, Šufflay, Krištof, Lorković) were negligible. Namely, the composition of the Habsburg Monarchy and its administrative practices encouraged ethnic pluralism and frequent migration in almost all parts of it, which was the case in Metlika too. Finally, a few words are dedicated to the chronicle of the Fux family, which allegedly proves that they are of a noble origin. The transcript is in Emil Laszowski’s personal papers. Laszowski received the template from members of the Fux family, with whom he was a friend, as well as a relative. Special attention was paid to avoid mistaking this fictional creation for a historical fact. Although the “nobility” of the Fux family is proven to be a forgery, the question remains how this large family did not receive it at a time when families of clerks and soldiers received the nobility very easily, and the rich simply bought it. A sufficient reason for “merit and loyalty” to the emperor would be the longterm hereditary lease of an important post office in Metlika, which sent mail from Karlovac, one of the most important strategic strongholds of the Habsburg Monarchy, further to Ljubljana, Graz and Vienna. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

An introduction is presented in which the editor discusses articles in the issue on topics including history of science in East Asia; Korean and Taiwanese academic contexts; and conversations among Asian societies.

This article analyses the impact of the cost‐of‐living crisis on older ethnic minority people. The discussion suggests that while the UK is experiencing the greatest living standards crisis in modern times, the pressures facing older people are not new. They should be understood in the context of austerity and the impact of COVID‐19 on the older population, which drastically rationed support of all kinds. The analysis focuses on qualitative data from interviews with older people from ethnic minority backgrounds and community organisations supporting them in Greater Manchester, UK. The findings suggest that the cost‐of‐living crisis is having a particularly profound impact on older Black, Asian and other ethnic minorities, who tend to be poorer, have lower quality housing, lower pensions and are often in poorer health. The inequalities faced by ethnic minority people are driven by entrenched structural and institutional racism and racial discrimination leading to their disproportionate representation in insecure and low‐paid employment, overcrowded housing, and deprived neighbourhoods. The paper argues that the rising cost‐of‐living in the UK is not being uniformly felt, due to inequalities that place ethnic minority groups at a greater risk from high inflation and a stalling economy. To conclude, the paper suggests that since the older population is set to become more ethnically diverse in the years ahead, tackling inequalities between older groups should be a priority as the older population becomes more varied. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper explores the cultural imperatives to determining democratic survival in Nigeria. It observes that the general notion that cultural inequality may systematically obstruct democratic participation by the members of subordinated groups is trite. It argues rather that the current crisis faced by democracy is linked essentially to the lack of a space capable of dealing with both social complexity and cultural pluralism. The paper is a desk study borrowing heavily from secondary sources of data and review of extant literature. While not pretending about the potential for ethno-cultural and religious violence imminent in Nigeria's attempt at democratic consolidation, findings, however suggest that in a multicultural society like Nigeria, democracy has the potential to flourish if the different cultural groups understand and tolerate one another by enlarging the space for public participation and debates naturally encapsulated in the principle of popular rule. It recommends that a practical engagement with federal democracy, rooted in the principle of federalism, remains an attractive model for the survival of Nigeria. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper employs data from the 2021 UK census to initially explore sub-state (English, Welsh) national identities among minority ethnic groups. This shows that these identities remain much more exclusive of people in minority groups than is a British identity, and that this exclusion is particularly marked with respect to English identity. The analysis then builds on this observation using similar data to examine English identification among the White British ‘majority’ in a ‘superdiverse’ city – London. Attributes which are typically shared by London boroughs in which identification as English deviates most from the national average, and multi-variable analysis which considers the ethnic structure of the borough in which an individual lives alongside other key factors (age, education, social class) suggest differences in identification between people living in boroughs that are characterised by more established and extensive ethnic diversity and those in boroughs transitioning from a previously more homogeneous (white) ethnic structure. In exploring how the articulation of a specific national identity might relate to ethnically-diverse or ‘superdiverse’ contexts, the paper uniquely contributes to recent research which calls for a stronger focus on how people who do not belong to migrant-minority groups might respond to living in such contexts. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Diversifying the teaching profession is critical for social justice and equity in education. Yet, teacher candidates from ethnic minority backgrounds remain underrepresented in initial teacher education (ITE) programmes in many countries. This paper reports on a review of 40 studies that examine the experiences of minority teacher candidates and the strategies to improve their recruitment and retention. Findings reveal structural and institutional barriers that affect minority teacher candidates’ experiences and their transformative power and agency to navigate these challenges. Recruitment and retention strategies are identified. This paper contributes to the discourse on equity, diversity, and inclusion in teacher education and offers insights for policymakers and ITE providers. Implications for policies and practice are discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the context of globalization, the integration of cultural elements into scientific research, particularly through the incorporation of traditional Chinese cultural motifs in scientific illustrations, represents a novel frontier in enhancing the universality and appeal of scientific discoveries. This paper explores the innovative practice of embedding traditional Chinese cultural elements into scientific paper illustrations, highlighting its significant role in augmenting the global appeal of research findings, promoting diversity and innovation in scientific inquiry, and facilitating cross-cultural understanding. Through a series of case studies, including symbolic representations of ancient myths and the use of traditional themes to elucidate complex scientific phenomena, we demonstrate how this cultural integration not only makes scientific content more accessible and engaging but also fosters a deeper appreciation of Chinese heritage among international audiences. This approach not only bridges the gap between science and culture but also contributes to a more inclusive and interconnected global scientific community, underscoring the importance of cultural diversity in enriching scientific exploration and communication. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Fresno, California, is home to more than 30,000 Hmong. The purpose of this research was to explore the utilization of Hmong shamans 40 years after the first Hmong immigrants arrived in the United States. Hmong shamanism is examined to identify and analyze changes to shamans' practices or patients. Methods: Using grounded theory, semistructured interviews were conducted with a convenience sample of 20 shamans in their homes. Transcribed data were qualitatively analyzed. Results: Shamans continue to train and practice in this community; utilization by older patients persists while young adult patients have become the fastest-growing group of users. Healing rituals have changed in response to the legalities of animal sacrifice in urban areas and the time demands of work schedules. Discussion: Nurses' awareness that the availability of biomedicine does not preclude the continuing or recurring utilization of traditional healers can facilitate understanding of culturally defined health care needs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Penned in 2004 by Louis de Bernières and articulated through the viewpoints of diverse characters, Birds Without Wings illuminates the harrowing scenes of war and their impact on local inhabitants and migrants during the formative years of the new Turkish Republic. Examining the reverberations of the national struggle in the international context, this paper specifically investigates the repercussions of the population exchange between Greece and the emerging Turkish state in 1923, focusing on a South-West Anatolian village (Eskibahçe) in a tumultuous historical era, which is the central issue in Birds Without Wings. Employing polyphony, that is, a muti-voiced narrative style with Bakhtin’s terminology about the novels with a variety of perspectives and narrators, the novel explores themes such as war, love, forced migration, and identity. The plot unfolds against the backdrop of a multicultural late Ottoman Empire, where Turkish-speaking Christian villagers and Greek Orthodox migrants initially coexist harmoniously but later face social isolation and loneliness after being exiled to Greece. Therefore, this paper aims to underscore individual and social isolation resulting from the devastating impact of wars on the idyllic lives of villagers in Birds Without Wings, drawing on Homi K. Bhabha’s third space theory. Another objective of this study is to demonstrate that Birds Without Wings celebrates hybridity and ethnic diversity by reevaluating the forced migration between Greece and Turkey, prompting reflection on the villagers’ attempts to redefine their identities after the Turkish Republic’s establishment and an analysis of its long-term implications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper examines the impact and implications of ChatGPT and other generative AI technologies within the African context while looking at the ethical benefits and concerns that are particularly pertinent to the continent. Through a robust analysis of ChatGPT and other generative AI systems using established approaches for analysing the ethics of emerging technologies, this paper provides unique ethical benefits and concerns for these systems in the African context. This analysis combined approaches such as anticipatory technology ethics (ATE), ethical impact assessment (EIA), and ethical issues of emerging ICT applications with AI (ETICA) with specific issues from the literature. The findings show that ChatGPT and other generative AI systems raise unique ethical concerns such as bias, intergenerational justice, exploitation of labour and cultural diversity in Africa but also have significant ethical benefits. These ethical concerns and benefits are considered crucial in shaping the design and deployment of ChatGPT and similar technologies responsibly. It further explores the potential applications of ChatGPT in critical domain areas such as education, agriculture, and healthcare, thereby demonstrating the transformative possibilities that these technologies can have on Africa. This paper underscores the critical role of AI governance as Africa increasingly adopts ChatGPT and similar AI systems. It argues that a comprehensive understanding of AI governance is essential not only for maximising the benefits of generative AI systems but also for facilitating a global dialogue. This dialogue aims to foster shared knowledge and insights between the Global North and the Global South, which is important for the development and creation of inclusive and equitable AI policies and practices that can be beneficial for all regions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the quest for effective environmental governance, the integration of legal and cultural pluralism within conservation strategies emerges as a critical factor, especially in regions marked by rich ethnic diversity and complex historical legacies. This paper explores the symbiotic relationship between state conservation efforts and the engagement of local communities, with a particular focus on the Indigenous Maroon communities in the Blue and John Crow Mountains (BJCMs) of Jamaica. It underscores the imperative of aligning conservation objectives with the aspirations and traditional practices of these communities to foster sustainable ecosystems and safeguard Indigenous autonomy. Central to this discourse is the development of collaborative frameworks that respect and incorporate the legal and cultural dimensions of pluralism, thereby facilitating a co-managed approach to environmental stewardship. This study emphasizes the role of collaboration and trust as pivotal elements in cultivating a mutual understanding of the interdependencies between state law and Indigenous law. This research advocates for a reciprocal exchange of knowledge between the state and community members, aiming to empower the latter with the resources necessary for effective environmental protection while respecting their legal autonomy. This approach not only enhances conservation initiatives overall, but also ensures that these efforts are informed by the rich cultural heritage and traditional ecological knowledge of the Maroon communities. By examining the conservation practices and governance challenges faced by the Maroons in the BJCMs, this paper reveals the nuanced dynamics of implementing state-led conservation laws in areas characterized by cultural and legal pluralism. The findings highlight the necessity for state regulatory frameworks to enable collaborative governance models that complement, rather than undermine, the traditional governance structures of the Maroons. This research contributes to the broader discourse on environmental governance by illustrating the potential of culturally informed conservation strategies to address environmental threats while respecting and reinforcing the social fabric of Indigenous communities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Focusing on the challenges brought about by the devastating COVID-19 pandemic in China and the Chinese government's increasingly stringent regulatory policies, this paper poses the following research questions: During the pandemic and in interactions with the government, why did some non-governmental organizations (NGOs) survive while others were shut down, although most of those that survived were small and medium-sized NGOs? In addressing this question, this paper delves into the strategies adopted by small and medium-sized NGOs to cope with COVID-19. Using data drawn from three years of field observations and research in six major cities in China, this paper finds that four types of small and medium-sized NGOs resorted to different strategies that followed degree of competitiveness and scope of main business. The scarcity of resources resulting to the pandemic plunged NGOs into a competitive survival posture; thus, the strategies for the four types of small and medium-sized NGOs achieved three levels of effectiveness, namely good, medium, and poor. The findings of this paper shed significant light on the diversity and complexity of the survival and development of NGOs under the authoritarian regime of China. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper reports on the employment migration behavior of non‐White ethnic minority graduates in the United Kingdom for the 2018/2019 graduation cohort, which is the last cohort to enter the labor market before the COVID‐19 pandemic. Using data from the new Graduate Outcomes survey and controlling for a rich set of background characteristics, the findings indicate that ethnic minority graduates are more likely than their White counterparts to find work in ethnically diverse areas of the United Kingdom after leaving higher education. An identity utility framework is then formalized that combines identity economics with traditional approaches of human capital theory and job search theory. A test of an ethnic identity‐based hypothesis reveals that Asian, Black, and Mixed‐background graduates are comparatively more likely to migrate to areas with higher ethnic diversity levels, rather than less diverse areas. In addition to traditional explanations based on human capital theory and job search theory, this paper argues that these patterns are best explained by ethnic identity norms, which introduce a preference for working in ethnically diverse places. However, the results should be interpreted with some caution because of concerns related to heterogeneity within the ethnic group classifications used in the paper and possible omitted and unobserved variables. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Papers of the Bibliographical Society of America has announced the recipients of the 2024 BSA Fellowship Awards. The fellowship program supports research in books and textual artifacts in both traditional and emerging formats. The recipients include scholars from various disciplines, such as history, art, literature, and more. Additionally, the Mitchell Prize for Research on British Serials was awarded to Dr. Kelly Plante for her dissertation on death writing in the Atlantic World. The Society is also calling for volunteers for various committees and working groups, emphasizing the importance of diversity and inclusion in their selection process. They are also reviewing their Equity Action Plan and organizing events that align with their mission. [Extracted from the article]

This paper offers a comparison between Romanian communist counterinsurgency (1944–1962) and similar campaigns fought by Western and Eastern governments in the early Cold War, in particular those waged by the British and French governments in their African, Asian and European colonies and those of the Soviet Union in its borderlands. The comparison focuses on three main components, population control, intelligence and military operations. Highlighting both similarities and differences across different cultural, economic, geographical, ethnic and political landscapes, the perspective laid out in this paper is an argument in favour of systematic and sustained comparative approaches to asymmetric warfare. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Articulating the complexities of relational wellbeing can be challenging at the best of times, and even more complex during periods of heightened stress and uncertainty. Taking inspiration from feminist materialisms and recent writings on material methods, we explore the potential of object interviews to reveal the material-discursive dimensions of women's experiences of wellbeing during the pandemic. In this paper we describe our research process conducting object interviews with 38 women living in Aotearoa New Zealand from a range of socio-economic, cultural, and ethnic backgrounds. We explore the potential and challenges of object interviews for surfacing new ways of knowing (theoretically, methodologically, and cross-culturally) wellbeing beyond human-oriented health, medical and social-constructionist models, and towards more multidimensional and relational understandings. This paper offers our reflections and learnings about the process of re-turning object interviews and the potential of such approaches for evoking complex ways of knowing wellbeing during and beyond pandemic times. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Value-based healthcare has been described as the sustainable, equitable and transparent use of healthcare resources to achieve improved experiences and outcomes for people and communities. It is supported by all levels of government in Australia, with recent initiatives championing a shift away from traditional, clinician-centric care delivery to a more contemporary, value-based approach. To date, however, efforts in Queensland have focused on smaller scale siloed models of care and have not extended to the transformational change required to create equitable and sustainable healthcare delivery. The Queensland Health Allied Health Framework for Value-Based Health Care (the Framework) builds on contemporary frameworks with reference to the local context in Queensland and provides a structure and starting point for clinicians and managers to work together with consumers to transform services to focus on preventative health and wellbeing, shifting the focus of care to the community and sustainably improving the quality of care delivered. The Framework outlines key considerations for the design and implementation of new services, including understanding the care pathway, supporting an outcome driven workplace culture, measuring what matters and designing for outcomes. Several key lessons were learnt during the development of the Framework, including the importance of early and sustained consumer partnerships, of establishing a shared definition of value-based healthcare that enables integration across the care pathway and the need for leadership at all levels to actively support the change management process. While developed for Queensland public allied health services, the Framework is intended to be a system-wide tool relevant to all health professionals and services. What is known about the topic? Value-based healthcare provides an approach to restructure healthcare systems to improve health outcomes and the holistic experience of care for people and communities. What does this paper add? This paper details the development of a framework to support health services to transition to a value-based approach. What are the implications for practitioners? By reflecting on the diversity of health practitioners, managers and consumer experiences and the unique opportunities and challenges of individual healthcare services, the framework provides a structure and starting point for services to transition to value-based healthcare. This article belongs to the Special Issue: Value-Based Healthcare. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Qualitative research methods are increasingly used in nutrition and dietetics research. Ethnography is an underexploited approach which seeks to explore the diversity of people and cultures in a given setting, providing a better understanding of the influences that determine their choices and behaviours. It is argued that traditional ethnography, that is, the methodology of living within participant communities, is a dated practice, with roots in colonialism, accessible to only researchers with the means, connections and status to conduct such research, typically white, privileged males. This paper proposes a formal interpretation of 'patchwork ethnography', whereby research is carried out in situ around existing modern‐day commitments of the researcher, thus enabling more researchers within health, nutrition and dietetic practice to benefit from the rich data that can be discovered from communities. This review proposes the concept that pragmatic patchwork ethnography is required, proposing a framework for implementation, providing researchers, particularly within the fields of human nutrition, dietetics and health, the accessibility and means to deploy a meaningful client‐centric methodology. We present pragmatic patchwork ethnography as a modern method for use within multiple healthcare settings, thus adding a progressive brick in the wall of qualitative research. Key points: Ethnography in health research allows professionals to gather rich qualitative data such as lived experiences of participants.However, undertaking traditional ethnography can be demanding, costly and time‐consuming, consequently rendering it inaccessible and challenging to undertake.Pragmatic patchwork ethnography is underpinned by guiding principles of traditional ethnography, enabling researchers to weave the method into existing life and health practice commitments.This paper sets out the seven steps required to deploy pragmatic patchwork ethnography enabling and empowering public health, nutrition and dietetic researchers to undertake valuable qualitative research in a contemporary research landscape. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The recent commentary article in this journal by Chandra-Mouli et al. speaks of a never-before opportunity to strengthen investment and action on adolescent contraception. We endorse the positive 'can-do' tone of the article, but noticed that at least four issues, which in our view are crucial, merit a comment. Main body: First of all, the article suggests that there is some sort of shared interest, based on a presumed global consensus around the use of contraceptives by adolescents - which is not the case: sexual rights are controversial. Secondly, for real progress in adolescent contraception to occur, we believe it is critical to thoroughly investigate and mention the factors, including political ones, that would need to be overcome. Thirdly, new avenues need to be explored that allow for accurate and positive teaching of adolescents about contraception in socio-cultural and political environments that are ambivalent about the issue. Fourthly, barriers at the global level that we already know of should not be silenced. There is sufficient evidence to call upon donors and international agencies to choose position and stop obstructing women's - including young women's - access to a broad range of contraceptives. The 'She Decides' movement is a heartening example. Conclusion: It is crucial to acknowledge the political dimension of sexual rights. It requires solutions not only at national levels, but also at the global level. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cross-nationally, urbanization is associated with the decline of minority languages and a shift towards national and official languages. But the processes that link urbanization with language shift have not been adequately documented. In this paper we consider the relationship between cities and language shift from a sociolinguistic perspective, focusing our attention on the issue of language use and language shift in Indonesia – a large, ethnically and linguistically diverse, rapidly urbanising country. We use census data to examine how ethnic diversity shapes language shift in the context of urbanicity. We find that in ethnically homogenous regions, urbanicity itself has little relationship with language shift. By contrast, ethnic diversity is consistently associated with a greater probability of speaking Indonesian both among urban and rural Indonesians and in urban and rural areas. These findings contribute to our understanding of language shift and linguistic vitality in diverse, urbanising societies, and highlight the need to distinguish between the process of urbanization and the state of being urban. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: Autistic camouflaging is a collection of strategies used to hide autistic characteristics. It can have serious consequences on autistic people's mental health and needs to be addressed and measured in clinical practice. The purpose of this study is to evaluate the psychometric properties of the French adaptation of the Camouflaging Autistic Traits Questionnaire. Methods: 1227 participants (744 autistic, 483 non-autistic) answered the French version of the CAT-Q in an online survey or on paper. Confirmatory factor analysis, measurement invariance testing, internal consistency analysis (McDonald's ω), and convergent validity with the DASS-21 depression subscale were conducted. Test-rest reliability was assessed on a sample of 22 autistic volunteers using intraclass correlation coefficient. Results: A good fit was found for the original three-factor structure as well as a good internal consistency, excellent test-retest reliability and highly significant convergent validity. Measurement invariance testing indicates however that the meaning behind items is different for autistic vs. non-autistic people. Conclusion: The French version of the CAT-Q can be used in clinical settings to assess camouflaging behaviors and intent to camouflage. Further research is needed to clarify the camouflage construct and whether reported measurement noninvariance are due to cultural differences or a true difference in what camouflaging might mean for non-autistic people. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Culturally and racially responsive practice continues to be a common challenge among Mental Health Practitioners (MHPs). To the authors' knowledge, this systematic review was the first to collate and synthesize clients' perspectives of MHPs' cultural and racial awareness and responsiveness from around the world. Original studies that were published between 2010 and 2021 reporting on qualitative data about clients' perspectives regarding MHPs' cultural-racial awareness and responsiveness were included in the review. The studies' key findings that addressed this review's question were synthesized and analyzed using reflexive thematic analysis. This review found 48 papers that met inclusion criteria, which represented the views of 652 clients across 10 countries. Three major themes and eight subthemes were established that concerned characteristics of the MHP, the client, and the therapeutic alliance. The results of this review indicate individual and systemic factors that influence mental health access for people from culturally and racially marginalized groups. Ongoing training of MHPs, increased racial and cultural representation among MHPs, inclusive physical settings, and reduced discrimination by MHPs are among the key findings and directions based on the results of this review. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper, we argue that one of the variables that may influence perceived inequality in everyday life is cultural differences in relational mobility. We examined this research question across two cross‐cultural studies in Japan (Study 1, N = 196; Study 2, N = 214) and Spain (Study 1, N = 199; Study 2, 199), two countries that differ in their relational mobility levels. In Study 1, we contrasted two competing hypotheses: On the one hand, it could be predicted that individuals in countries with high relational mobility perceive greater inequality due to increased exposure to diverse social networks. On the other hand, it is also plausible that in contexts of high relational mobility, people perceive less inequality as they selectively choose to interact with individuals who share similar social backgrounds. Results supported the former hypotheses and showed that people in a country high in relational mobility (i.e. Spain) tend to perceive more economic inequality (vs. Japan, a country low in relational mobility). Moreover, we found an indirect effect of this cross‐cultural difference through the cultural affordances for meeting new people (i.e. one of the dimensions of relational mobility). In Study 2, we preregistered and replicated these results. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This document is a collection of abstracts from the International Journal of Psychology, covering a wide range of topics related to leadership, workplace well-being, and human resources. The studies and research papers explore various aspects of leadership, including identity leadership, emotional intelligence, and leadership qualities in different cultural contexts. They also examine the impact of workplace factors on employee well-being, such as supervisor incivility, mindfulness, and digital connectivity. Additionally, the document includes studies on gender equality, safety behavior in the construction industry, emotional labor, and the well-being of university staff after the COVID-19 pandemic. The findings provide valuable insights for understanding and improving leadership practices and promoting employee well-being in diverse workplace settings. [Extracted from the article]

This paper explores the relationship between educational technologies and public education, discussing issues of technology becoming an end in itself, the impact of learner access to knowledge, technology’s role in assessment, requisite skills for a technological society, and the technology’s capacity to inform policy and practice. While educational technologies hold promise, they often reinforce the status quo instead of enabling transformation. For productive change, we must update teacher training, recognize outdated assumptions, and evaluate which problems technology might help solve. With thoughtful implementation, technology facilitates the development of effective, humanistic education systems through personalization, cultural pluralism, effective teaching, and policy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper analyzes how ethnic diversity affects the provision of public goods in democratic and non‐democratic societies when political parties compete for voter support by offering a mix of private and public goods. Our model implies that increasing diversity that leads to more heterogeneous preferences for public goods decreases the provision of public goods in democracies, where political power is distributed equally among citizens, while there is a weaker or no effect in non‐democracies, where political power is distributed unequally among citizens. When measuring diversity by ethnic fractionalization and public good provision by either levels of government expenses, expenditures on health, or life expectancy, we indeed observe a negative association between diversity and the provision of public goods in democracies but no or only a weak association in non‐democracies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Physical activity and healthy eating are important for physical and mental health, yet long-standing inequalities constrain the ability of ethnic minorities in the United Kingdom (UK) to adopt these behaviours. Programmes aimed to improve these behaviours have also often not been engaged with by these communities. This study therefore aimed to: (1) identify the values underlying the physical activity and healthy eating behaviours of UK ethnic minorities and (2) explore how structural, socio-economic and environmental factors interact with these values to influence their physical activity and healthy eating behaviours. The study adopted a relativist ontological and subjectivist epistemological philosophical assumption. Qualitative interviews were used to address research objectives. A total of 10 group and five individual interviews were conducted with 41 participants. All participants were from an ethnic minority background (Black, Asian or Mixed according to the UK Office for National Statistics classification), recruited purposively and aged between 18 and 86 years and were living in England and Wales. Data were analysed using inductive thematic analysis. Community engagement was embedded throughout the study. We found that culture and family, community and social life, and health are important values underlying the physical activity and healthy eating behaviours of UK ethnic minority communities. External factors, including racism and access (geographical, social and economic), interact with these values to drive health behaviours. Using an illustrative guide, we conclude the paper with policy and practice recommendations on how public health programmes on physical activity and healthy eating can be aligned with these values to ensure relevance for ethnic minority communities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aim Background Method Results Conclusion Relevance to Clinical Practice Patient or Public contribution To describe how clinicians provide culturally responsive care to culturally diverse people with kidney failure in haemodialysis centres.Culturally diverse individuals receiving in‐centre maintenance haemodialysis have unique cultural needs. Unmet cultural needs can impair and profoundly affect their experiences. Given culturally responsive care has the potential to enhance the experiences of culturally diverse people, it is vital to understand how clinicians provide culturally responsive care.A scoping review was undertaken using Arksey and OMalleys framework. Five databases: Medline and CINAHL Complete (EBSCO), PsycINFO, Embase (OVID) and ProQuest Theses and Dissertation databases were searched for research literature published in English between 1990 and 2023. Narrative synthesis was used to synthesise the data.From the 17,271 records screened, 17 papers reporting 14 studies met the inclusion criteria. Narrative synthesis revealed two themes: (i) communication enablers and barriers including linguistic differences, professional and lay interpreter use; and (ii) the importance of culture, which encompassed acknowledging cultural priorities, accommodating cultural food preferences and access to cultural training.While competing priorities associated with haemodialysis may be a challenge for clinicians, recognising the significance of cultural care needs and accommodating them in care is important. Demonstrating respect towards cultural diversity and providing person‐centred care by facilitating the unique cultural needs of people with kidney failure in haemodialysis is imperative.Culturally responsive care is complex and multidimensional. Individuals' cultural care needs should be acknowledged, respected, and accommodated in care.No patient or public contribution. The study protocol was registered in the Open Science Framework. https://osf.io/uv8g3. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Sexualized drug use (SDU) describes drug-facilitated sexual enhancement, and chemsex is an SDU subculture involving the use of specific drugs by men who have sex with men (MSM). This study aimed to identify research trends, foci, and themes within the SDU and chemsex-specific literature. The Web of Science Core Collection was searched with a list of SDU synonyms. All SDU-related articles were analyzed using the R package, bibliometrix. Full text review identified chemsex-specific records, and text was extracted verbatim for content analysis in Leximancer. The search returned 1,866 unique records. A total of 521 addressed SDU, and 301 papers specifically addressed chemsex. The small but growing SDU literature primarily addressed consensual encounters between MSM, and drug-facilitated assault experienced by women, in Western settings. Little attention was given to transgender communities or consensual SDU in cisgender heterosexual individuals. The literature primarily viewed SDU through a public health lens, specifically focusing on the risk conferred to sexual health.The SDU and chemsex-specific literature are potentially limited in scope and may inadequately capture the geographical, demographic, and cultural diversity of these phenomena. Future research should address the myriad social and health implications of SDU and chemsex participation across all relevant communities and settings. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In today's highly disruptive business environment, the development of a new set of specific key competencies is crucial for career and organizational success. Based on a survey study carried out within the context of the hospitality industry of Cyprus, this paper proposes a novel framework for competency development, grounded in the insights of hospitality industry professionals. The study addresses the gap in existing competency frameworks in light of recent technological advancements and sectoral restructuring. The proposed model encompasses six key core competency categories: communication, operational knowledge, cultural diversity, human resource management, leadership, and information technology; each integral to organizational performance and individual career success. The resulting framework offers invaluable guidance for educators, hospitality industry managers, and government institutions in designing effective educational programs, thereby equipping hospitality management graduates with the necessary competencies for a successful career in a turbulent digital globalized economic realm. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Considering the set of key competencies supported by social work organizations in the development of the social work profession at the global level, we aim to analyze from a theoretical point of view those competencies that presuppose the integration in professional practice of attitudes and behaviors that encourage non-discrimination, cultural diversity, equity and inclusion in the training of social work students. The student in the field of social work here can be both the one who benefits from training and continuing education, and the one who in turn perpetuates future practices and balanced client-professional relationships, after being integrated into specific social work organizations. The analysis starts from how the professionalization of future social workers is correlated with their guidance and involvement in practices based on anti-racism/non-discrimination, equity, equal opportunities, cultural diversity and inclusion. The objective of this paper is to draw, at a theoretical level, lines of connection between professionalization practices at the international level -as formulated by the Boston University School of Social Work in agreement with the Council on Social Work Education, the national association that represents education of social work from the United States, with Romanian national norms - adopted from European and international practices - the National College of Social Workers in Romania (NCSWR./ CNASR - the acronym in Romanian language), in agreement with UNICEF and ISCO. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study explores religious diversity in Romania and how the trends of indices of religious fractionalization and polarization manifest at the county level in a post-communist period. The county level was selected as the relevant level for analysis due to its more clearly visible spatial dynamics with regard to religions. Recent studies have revealed that the erosion of diversity is an important aspect for any country and needs to be considered as an important aspect of democracy. This paper highlights how digital mapping of religious polarization and fractionalization in Romania has been generally maintained, although the regions of Transylvania, Banat, Dobrogea and Western Moldova remain areas in which there are different religions. Other than the general aspect of religious diversity depending on ethnic trends, there has been a rise of Pentecostals and Baptists at the county level. This aspect has further implications for our study, which calls for creating new institutions for dialogue between majority Orthodox communities and Protestants, not only so that potential conflicts do not appear between Orthodox and emerging religious communities but also to ensure objective, cultural, religious coherence. Our maps revealed the distribution patterns and the temporal evolution of religious denominations for the 1992–2011 period. The major line of originality in our research rests in the findings that after conducting a bivariate spatial autocorrelation analysis of religious fractionalization and polarization, we were able to identify two distinct clusters with spatial overlap over historical provinces. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

AbstractJapan’s dropping birthrate is a frequent topic in both media and political discourse and yet, an increasing number of non-Japanese women are giving birth in the country. While praised for several of its women-centered features, Japanese maternity care also faces criticism for its perceived inflexibility and lack of cultural sensitivity. This article presents a comprehensive overview of Japanese and English language studies on non-Japanese women’s access to maternity care in Japan. It highlights the challenges many women encounter, such as linguistic and cultural barriers, as well as institutional and physician inflexibility. The article also acknowledges noteworthy aspects, including excellent midwifery and support for new mothers. Ultimately, this paper argues that research utilizing in-depth narratives from foreign women is necessary to develop a more culturally sensitive approach to maternity care. It also underscores the need for medical professionals to collaborate with grassroots organizations to understand the dynamic needs of non-Japanese women and sufficiently support them through pregnancy, birth, and post-natal care. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper seeks to advance our theoretical understanding of diversifying and homogenizing processes in human societies by exploring the sources of and threats to ethnolinguistic or cultural diversity. Invoking concepts such as ethnogenesis, schismogenesis, and structural transformations, it discusses the parallels as well as the divergences between biological and cultural theory. Models in historical linguistics risk importing unwarranted assumptions about diversification from biological models of speciation. A more pertinent theorization of ethnolinguistic diversity might build on anthropological perspectives such as those of Fredrik Barth, Gregory Bateson, and Claude Lévi-Strauss, all of whom recognized that such diversity reflects interaction rather than isolation. The empirical test of these considerations is the ethnography and history of language use among Indigenous peoples in Amazonia and the Andes. The conclusion is that premodern expansions of language families, in tolerating local cultural autonomy, multilingualism, and diglossia, did not threaten ethnolinguistic identities as has modern globalization. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This research paper brings the analysis on the impact of the digitization of public services in increasing transparency, institutional accountability and citizens' access to digitized public services in Kosovo. Digitization with dynamic developments in the field of technology remains almost surpassed as a concept and approach for the modernization of Public Administration, namely the deployment of public services on digital platforms. Digitization is an extremely complex and demanding process with particular emphasis on societies where the institutional culture is challenged by various problems such as lack of accountability, limited transparency, the presence of corruption, the lack of sustainable economic development, an education system that has not been achieved to adapt to the demands of the labour market as well as the last but not least the importance where disadvantaged groups in all their diversity are recognized and protected by the legal framework but their inclusion in practice is at an unsatisfactory level as a result of not being priority during policy planning and their budgeting. Therefore, it is of scientific interest, but simultaneously for the creation of applicable policies that aim to regulate and improve the access of citizens to public services, and to increase accountability, transparency, and reduce corruption in the Public Administration sector to analyse how and how much through the digitalization of public services, such an increase of the system in the service of citizens is possible, and what does digitalization actually bring. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper is based on a Horizon 2020 research project on the enhancement of migrant children's ability to contribute to the change of their conditions of integration in the education system in seven countries (Children Hybrid Integration: Learning Dialogue as a way of Upgrading Policies of Participation, CHILD‐UP; GA 822400). The paper draws on data collected in vocational schools, with adolescents aged 14–16, in Italy. It draws on transcribed interactions to analyse activities in school classrooms in which facilitators support migrant adolescent's agency in producing narratives of their personal cultural trajectories. The paper shows how facilitators and adolescents share the rights of telling the narratives, the gender differences that become visible in the adolescents' narratives, and the ways in which facilitation supports the hybrid integration of migrant adolescents. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Ackerman Institute for the Family, established in 1960 by Dr Nathan Ackerman, stands as one of the oldest and most respected family therapy institutes in the United States. Ackerman pioneered the integration of systemic insights into group settings, emphasised the crucial role of family in therapy, and advocated for the advancement and acceptance of family therapy. 'The Ackerman' played a pivotal role in launching Family Process, the first journal dedicated to academic activities in family therapy. Diversity and inclusion have been central tenets of Ackerman philosophy, evident in its programs, training courses, and staff composition. This commitment has produced a veritable cadre of family therapy leaders who have contributed significantly to both the Ackerman Institute and the profession, influencing policy decisions and clinical practices. One of the most esteemed and respected thought leaders and innovators of our field, who played a vital role in the legacy of several institutions, including the Ackerman, is Dr. Evan Imber‐Black. She served as a long‐time faculty member and director of the Ackerman Center for Families and Health. Her expertise encompasses the exploration of family rituals and family secrets, with a focus on the importance of rituals in providing meaning, identity, and connection across diverse cultures and family life cycles. As editor of Family Process for 8 years, she highlights the importance of examining scholarly work in the context of cultures as a requirement – we do not stand outside the culture – we are active participants. This paper is based on a conversation with Dr Evan Imber‐Black, held in June 2023, delving into her personal and professional experiences, her connection to the Ackerman Institute, and her influential work on family rituals and secrets. Through this exploration, the paper sheds light on her commitment to diversity and the lasting impact of Dr Imber‐Black's contributions to family therapy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Northwest Yunnan is nested in the border areas of Tibet, Myanmar, and Southwest China. The religiously and ethnically diverse region has astonishingly seen a lack of "conflict", as is often assumed in regions of ethnic and religious differences. This paper argues that there is an organic form of pluralism through frequent inter-ethnic and inter-religious marriages, multi-lingual daily interactions, and strategic ethnicity registrations. Ethnic and religious boundaries are made permanently or temporarily permeable through the celebration of boundary-crossing rituals such as weddings and funerals and other shared experiences such as collective labor and migrant work. Despite an increasingly strong push to be integrated into the state power through various top-down developmental projects, minority peoples here still use kinship, collective rituals, and other shared experiences to foster group formation that is fluid, porous, and malleable, instilling empathy and obligation as the basis of this pluralistic borderland society. This organic form of pluralism presents an alternative to the nation as the standard modern form of community. This paper ultimately argues that this specific type of plurality requires us to think beyond the normative liberal notions of religious tolerance and diversity that are still promoted within the frame of the exclusivist nation-state. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the face of death, different ethnic groups have unique coping ways. The physical care and spiritual care for the dying can demonstrate the diversity and particularity of ethnic cultural thought. Taking two villages in the interlaced residential areas inhabited by Han, Tibetan, and Hui ethnic groups in Linxia and Wuwei of Gansu Province as examples, this paper focuses on the presentation and significance of multi-ethnic cultural integration in the process of end-of-life care, with a focus on spiritual care. One main point of this paper is that, although hospice care in the modern medical sense is not really implemented in the vast rural areas of China, local end-of-life care, based on the village medical system and religious rituals, equally plays an important role. This is mainly manifested through the implementation of the Narcotics Card System and the widespread spiritual care. The second main point of this paper is that the form of end-of-life care, which embodies the integration of ethnic cultures, contains a certain degree of nursing functions, while taking into account the spiritual care needed by the dying and the grief consolation needed by the bereaved family. Considering the lack of spiritual care and bereavement management in China's medical space, the religious approaches to end-of-life care, as delineated in this study, could serve as a source of inspiration for the country's efforts to integrate hospice services into its healthcare system. In short, compared with Western forms of hospice care, in which modern medicine constitutes the main body, China's local end-of-life care is more reflected in the diversity and integration of spiritual care for the dying. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper examines the discourses on Indonesian identity as they were negotiated by Indonesian intellectuals in the late colonial period, 1900–1942. During this period, ethnic diversity and Islamism constituted key issues in which different intellectuals exchanged their thoughts as to what it meant to be an Indonesian. This paper argues that, while various ideological discourses for the formation of Indonesian national identity had developed in the early twentieth century, the depth that these discourses were debated and agreed upon by the Indonesian intellectual elite was asymetrical. Strong nationalist discourses had promoted a key political instrument by which to unite a people of diverse ethnicity, race, and religion. On the other hand, the debates on the discourse of Islamic identity during the same period lacked consensus among Muslim scholars and between Islamists and secular nationalists, especially concerning the concept of unity, nationalism, and independence, and the role of women and polygamy. Notwithstanding this, Javanese Islamic syncretism and the colonial containment policy towards Islam also contributed as external factors which served to constrain Islamists from positing an overt Islamic identity. Concurrently, it raised the nationalists' racial transcendence as a shared value of being Indonesian. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]