American Studies Research Articles

Refining Heterogeneities near the Core–Mantle Boundary Beneath East Pacific Regions: Enhanced Differential Travel-Time Analysis Using USArray

Recent advancements in seismic data analysis have enhanced our grasp of the seismic heterogeneities near the core–mantle boundary (CMB). Through seismic tomography, persistent lower-mantle structures like the large low shear velocity provinces (LLSVPs) beneath the Pacific and South Africa have been identified. However, variations in the finer-scale features across different models raise questions about their origins. This study utilizes differential travel-time measurements from the USArray, operational across the contiguous United States from 2007 to 2014, to examine the impact of upper-mantle heterogeneities on tomographic models. By averaging the P-wave travel times and calibrating them with diffracted P-waves at the same stations, we mitigate the effects of shallow heterogeneities. The findings confirm that this method accurately maps the seismic anomalies beneath the USArray, consistent with other North American studies. Calibrated Pdiff travel-time data indicate significant anomalies in the mid-Pacific and Bering Sea and lesser anomalies in the northern Pacific, aligning with the global tomographic images. Moreover, the study highlights sharp travel-time variations over short distances, such as those across the northern boundary of the mid-Pacific anomaly, suggesting a chemically heterogeneous Pacific LLSVP.

Continental differences in the association between excess body weight and prognosis in triple-negative breast cancer: a meta-analysis.

The association between obesity and triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) prognosis has been equivocal, with considerable heterogeneity between and within studies. Recent meta-analyses report adverse associations with overall survival (OS) and disease-free survival (DFS) in TNBC. We update this evidence and examine study- and disease-specific sources of heterogeneity. A systematic search of four databases was conducted until February 22, 2023. Random-effects meta-analyses were used to pool hazard ratios (HR) for OS, DFS, and breast cancer-specific mortality (BCSM). Subgroup analyses examined sources of study heterogeneity. In meta-analyses of included studies (n = 33), significant associations were observed between excess body weight and worse OS (n = 24; HR = 1.20; 95%CI 1.20-1.34), DFS (n = 26; HR = 1.15; 1.05-1.27), and BCSM (n = 9; HR = 1.13; 1.00-1.27). In subgroup meta-analyses, significant inter-study survival differences were observed for study location (OS, DFS), time period of diagnoses (DFS), menopausal status (OS), and body mass index cut points examined (OS). Asian and European studies reported significant associations with OS (HR = 1.31; 1.11-1.54 and HR = 1.38; 1.00-1.89, respectively) and DFS (HR = 1.28; 1.07-1.54 and HR = 1.44; 1.13-1.84, respectively); however, no association was observed between obesity and TNBC prognosis in North American studies (OS: HR = 1.03; 0.89-1.19; DFS: HR = 1.05; 0.95-1.15). Location subgroup differences remained robust after excluding poor-quality studies. Post hoc analysis in the subset of studies reporting predominantly (≥ 70%) White sample showed no statistically significant associations for OS (HR = 1.13; 95%CI 0.96, 1.34), DFS (HR = 1.03; 95%CI 0.86, 1.23), or BCSM (HR = 1.08; 95%CI 0.91, 1.27). This study further confirms that obesity is associated with poor prognosis in TNBC and identified subgroups at higher risk. Ethnic differences in the association between excess body weight and TNBC are reported. Further exploration of study and patient characteristics is needed to properly understand the populations most at risk.

A Comparative Analysis of Educational Leadership Research: Insights from U.S. and China based on CiteSpace

Research on educational leadership in the United States began in the early 1980s, originating from principles of industrial and business management, with leadership theories and practices from business being adapted for educational settings. Over time, educational leadership theories have evolved through various interdisciplinary perspectives. The United States has produced extensive research on educational leadership, providing valuable insights for Chinese scholars. Most Chinese research is based on American experiences, with little comparative analysis between Chinese and American studies, and often relies on subjective content interpretation with limited use of scientific tools. This study uses CiteSpace, a scientific measurement software, to visually analyze Chinese and American research literature. It aims to objectively compare educational leadership research between the two countries, offering new ideas and perspectives for Chinese researchers.

Sex estimation using metrics of the innominate: A test of the DSP2 method.

Sex estimation is a critical component of the biological profile, and forensic anthropologists may use a variety of sex estimation methods depending upon the degree of completeness and state of preservation of the skeletal remains being analyzed. The innominate is widely accepted to be the most sexually dimorphic skeletal element. The Diagnose Sexuelle Probabiliste (DSP) method, which uses 10 measurements of the innominate, was introduced in 2005 and updated as DSP2 in 2017. While DSP2 has been reported to have high classification accuracy rates in studies of South American and European populations, the method has not been widely tested in US samples, and few US practitioners incorporate this method into their casework. The goal of this study was to test the reliability and accuracy of DSP2 using a large, modern sample from the US (n = 174). Two observers, blinded from demographic information associated with each specimen, collected the DSP2 metrics. Intra- and interobserver error analyses showed acceptable levels of agreement for all measurements, except for IIMT. Classification accuracies exceeded 95%, with minimal sex bias, for both observers and using various measurement combinations; however, an inclusivity sex bias occurred with more males reaching the 0.95 posterior probability threshold required by DSP2 to provide a sex classification estimate. Based on its high accuracy, forensic anthropologists in the US may consider incorporating DSP2 into their casework, although we recommend excluding IIMT and using SPU with caution. Additional methods will continue to be needed when the posterior probability threshold is not reached.

Dr. Ling-Chi Wang reflections on Lau v. Nichols (1974): Bilingual education, language rights, and political activism

ABSTRACT Born in Xiamen, China in 1938, Dr. Ling-Chi Wang was the founder of Chinese for Affirmative Action, an organization focused on affirmative action in employment, representation of the Chinese in politics, voting, and language rights. He is also a Professor Emeritus of Asian American Studies at the University of California Berkeley. Ling-Chi established the Asian American Studies program at Berkeley, teaching its first course in 1969. In this paper, Ling-Chi shares his perspectives on the long history of Chinese discrimination dating back to the Chinese Exclusion Act (1882) and his years as a political activist during the 1960s to the present in San Francisco’s Chinatown. His role in community organizing was pivotal in the events leading up to this pivotal U.S. Supreme Court case. Ling Chi’s reflections on activism and linguistic justice documents his imprint on the this language rights case that has shaped US educational language policies for the last fifty years.

TRACING AMERICAN SPIRIT IN INDONESIA’S INDEPENDENCE: A HISTORICAL-COMPARATIVE STUDY

The US and Indonesia, two countries that fought for freedom, are fascinating subjects to delve more into, despite their great distance from one another and their distant times of conflict. This research used a Transnational American Studies perspective and comparative-historical analysis. By using comparative historical analysis, this research aimed to explore the similarities and differences that exist in the journey of American independence and Indonesian independence. The results of this research showed that even though the independence movements in the US and Indonesia occurred several centuries apart, they had the same goal, namely opposing colonialism. Both showed the same enthusiasm to fight colonial power and the desire to determine the fate of their nation without interference from other parties. Thomas Paine and Bung Tomo through their writings and speeches led the spirit of independence in the US and Indonesia. Even though they use different communication styles, both have an impact in forming the spirit of resistance and unity of their nation. Additionally, by looking at the history of the struggle of the Indonesian people, it can be seen the spirit of freedom that the US promoted.

Latin American, Caribbean, and Colombian cultural studies trajectories: Cartographies of the relation between culture and power in the region

ABSTRACT This article presents a particular trajectory of Latin American and Caribbean intellectual practices as a contribution to the effort of pluralizing the various genealogies of Cultural Studies conversations, projects, and research and political agendas from a global perspective. It departs from what could be thought as a strategic port encompassing both the analytic of the complex, dynamic, and intertwined relation between culture and power and the recognition of intellectual practices as key elements not only for the diagnosis of the present conjuncture; but also for imagining and enabling other futures. From this vantage point, different intellectual traditions interpellated or not with the cultural studies label are described to historize the Cultural Studies project as one produced from the peripheries of the World System. The article argues that this was the pool of intellectual practices that inspired the institutionalization of Cultural Studies in Colombia in the 1990s. Finally, it describes some of the most pressing and relevant research agendas in the present while arguing that today Cultural Studies in the country is not only an academic project inside universities.

Defiant school choice? Educational freedom, access, and Arkansas’s AP African American studies controversy

On August 11, 2023, the Arkansas Department of Education (ADE) notified schools just before the fall semester’s start that they would no longer support the college-board-approved AP African American Studies (APAAS) course. Subsequently, all five districts offering the course declared their intent to proceed despite the lack of state funding and course credits. We conduct a document and qualitative thematic analysis in this mixed methods study. In documents, we find distinctive shifts in how the significance of APAAS is portrayed within differing contexts. Using interviews with Arkansas superintendents, teachers, students, and stakeholders, we find four major interview themes: the role of education in preserving democratic values, equity concerns, the significance of community support and advocacy, and the impact of political influences. Documents and stakeholders interviewed perceive the ADE’s withdrawal of support as politically motivated, while superintendents, teachers, and students are primarily motivated by the curriculum, student welfare, and community interests in offering APAAS. We conclude by suggesting that greater consideration of factual knowledge, coupled with choice within and between schools, could defuse such controversies.

Linguopoetic Analysis of the Perception of Uncle Tom’s Cabin by Harriet Beecher Stowe Novel in Kyrgyz and Russian Cultures

This article analyzes the linguopoetic perception of Uncle Tom’s Cabin by Harriet Beecher Stowe novel in Kyrgyz and Russian cultures. The goal of the study is not only to analyze the linguistic and poetic means used in the translation and adaptation of the novel into Kyrgyz and Russian languages but also to identify the differences and similarities in the interpretation of the text by representatives of both cultures. The paper examines the cultural contexts that influence the perception of the novel and analyzes how these contexts are reflected in the lexical and stylistic features of the translation. Special attention is given to how Kyrgyz and Russian ethnocultural values manifest in the interpretation of the plot and imagery of the work. The study reveals the features of the linguocultural adaptation of the novel and allows conclusions to be drawn about the significance of the linguopoetic approach in comparative literary studies. In the concluding part of this work, we will review the interpretation of Harriet Beecher Stowe's work in contemporary African American studies, focusing primarily on the interpretation of the novel proposed by Henry Louis Gates Jr., a leading historian, and theorist of African American literature, which reflects the radical Afrocentrism of the 1960s and 1990s.

An Exploration of Human and Social Capital Factors of Desistance for Female Offenders in Singapore

This study applies qualitative methods to understand factors that are relevant for desistance in women. The narratives of 12 women living in Singapore and in the community for the past five years were studied to uncover pathways to desistance. Using the concepts of Human and Social Capital adapted from the Good Lives Model, we found that the majority of women in this sample indicated values and internal capacities, self-efficacy, identity and connectedness to their religion as crucial to their continued stay in the community; congruent with the literature in North American studies. Additionally, all women mentioned their social capital as an important factor for recovery, indicating factors such as positive relationships and external support from stakeholders. Overall, this study illuminated several pathways that offer a deeper understanding of desistance for women exiting the criminal justice system.

Violences, displacements, and responses: exploring settler colonialism in North and Central America

ABSTRACT The essays in this special issue engage with the multiple enduring and contemporary violences that Indigenous communities – and in particular Indigenous women – experience within and across states in North and Central America. The special issue incorporates a hemispheric and transborder focus, situating accounts of violence, dispossession, and migration experienced by Indigenous communities in Guatemala and Mexico, next to, or side-by-side with accounts of multiple violence that Native communities face in the US. Indigenous peoples and cultures in the Americas have collectively endured some of the most violent and lethal acts of colonization, elimination, and erasure in the world, and the essays here directly address shared aspects of this historic and ongoing legacy. Summarizing the major themes addressed in articles in this special issue, this Introduction reflects on the content with special attention in the ways in which settler colonialism, and a focus on gender in relation to settler colonialism (Simpson 2014; Speed 2019; Theidon 2022) forces neo-Marxian Latin American studies perspectives such as coloniality to reevaluate foundational assumptions including historical periodizations and theoretical positionalities.

Queer Transformation and Intersectional Identities: Analysing Race and Sexuality in Randall Kenan’s A Visitation of Spirits

This article offers an in-depth examination of Randall Kenan’s A Visitation of Spirits, contextualizing its narrative within the frameworks of Queer theory and African American cultural studies. Set against the backdrop of a rural North Carolina community, the novel focuses on the experiences of Horace Cross, a young African American grappling with his homosexuality amidst the constraints of a Christian Fundamentalist society. The analysis explores how the novel navigates themes of race, sexuality, and identity, particularly through Horace’s quest for self-transformation. This study underscores the novel’s intricate exploration of these themes, positing queer transformation as a pivotal element that provides insight into the complexities of identity and community within the African American context. Additionally, the article examines the novel’s integration of popular culture references, revealing their role in bridging the discussions of racial and sexual identity. The aim is to shed light on Kenan’s narrative as a significant contribution to the discourse on intersectionality in literature, highlighting its impact in the broader fields of Black and queer studies.

The Chinese Freedom Schools: Historicizing and intersecting Lau with Brown

AbstractThe Chinese of Chinatown, San Francisco largely opposed the city-wide racial integration plan that would bus their children across the city beginning in 1971. Claiming that it was a violation of their language rights, a need for cultural preservation and continued autonomy from the San Francisco that had long excluded them, Chinatown instituted its own school system called the Chinese Freedom Schools. With this boycott of the public schools, the Chinese were constituted as oppositional to the aims of racial integration, searing constructions of them as being pro-White, anti-Black, and separatist. Yet, such a simplistic and binary argument omits the long history of exclusion including employment, schooling, housing, and voting discrimination as evidenced by the Chinese Exclusion Act (1882–1965), the only law to exclude a specifically named ethnolinguistic group. To historicize and understand the Chinese Freedom Schools, I analyze this phenomenon using a racial matrix where Asians have long occupied a liminal, in-between space as perpetually foreign, unassimilable, and as a suspect class. Drawing from the theories and concepts of LangCrit, raciolinguistic ideologies and Asian American studies, I examine how agents, institutions, the press, and policies imposed, assumed, or negotiated specific identities of the Chinese during the development, implementation, and dissolution of the Chinese Freedom Schools. I analyze how the Chinese were constructed as uncooperative, creating a competitive cleavage among Asians and Blacks, while dismissing the centrality of White families who largely moved out of the system, avoiding critique. Implications for language-in-education policy are proposed for Lau’s 50th anniversary.

Nicola Cacciatore. Italian Partisans and British Forces in the Second World War: Working with the Enemy Italian and Italian American Studies. New York: Palgrave Macmillan, 2023. Pp. 248. $129.99 (cloth).

Nicola Cacciatore. Italian Partisans and British Forces in the Second World War: Working with the Enemy Italian and Italian American Studies. New York: Palgrave Macmillan, 2023. Pp. 248. $129.99 (cloth).

Is It Lonely (T)here? Intramurals, Black (W)holes, and Black Feminism

This essay employs the autotheoretical critique of the university and celestial cartography pioneered in Evelynn Hammonds’s “Black (W)holes and the Geometry of Black Female Sexuality” to understand the dynamic relationship between the silencing of black academics and black women/feminists in various sites of the neoliberal university. Narrating two experiences at Ivy League institutions, this essay meditates on the voids created and inhabited when the gravity of black study’s insistence on blackness as essential to the construction of modernity collapsed into and under the name of Afropessimism. The essay interrogates how looking for the distortion of the academic spaces that surround and engage black thought—namely, American studies, ethnic studies, and women and gender studies—renders visible (presuming we have the right instruments) the production of black (w)holes. Finally, it is interested in how the black intramural’s gender dynamics and the heteropatriarchy of its surrounds continue to silence black feminists.

Katie N. Johnson. Racing the Great White Way: Black Performance, Eugene O’Neill, and the Transformation of Broadway

This book offers a meticulously researched exploration of the performance histories of Eugene O’Neill’s two major “race” plays, demonstrating how these performances negotiated and challenged racism in the theatre and society at large. Its target audiences include scholars of American theatre, Black studies, and global theatre, as well as theatre artists.

The Canadian Journal of Latin American and Caribbean Studies Turns 50

The Canadian Journal of Latin American and Caribbean Studies Turns 50

News/Resources

2U bankruptcy and online learning Massachusetts Makes Community College Free Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion offices close at Troy University and Alabama State The question remains: is college a “waste of time and money?” Georgia allows preexisting AP credit course in African American studies

Regulatory Roles of Long Non-Coding RNAs in Arterial Stiffness and Hypertension: Insights from Two African American Studies.

Arterial stiffness, commonly assessed via pulse wave velocity (PWV), is marked by reduced arterial elasticity and serves as a significant risk factor for cardiovascular disease and an early indicator of hypertension. This study investigated the regulatory roles of long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) in modulating mRNAs associated with arterial stiffness and hypertension, with a particular focus on African Americans, a population disproportionately impacted by hypertension. We utilized whole-blood transcriptome sequencing data from two African American (AA) cohorts with high hypertension prevalence: the GENE-FORECAST study (436 subjects) and the MH-GRID study (179 subjects). Our objectives were to: (1) identify lncRNAs and mRNAs differentially expressed (DE) between the upper and lower tertiles of PWV, (2) determine DE lncRNAs associated with the expression levels of each DE mRNA, and (3) link the lncRNA-modulated mRNAs to hypertension across both datasets. Differential expression analysis revealed 1,035 DE mRNAs and 31 DE lncRNAs between upper and lower PWV groups. Then lncRNA-mRNA pairs significantly associated were identified, involving 31 unique lncRNAs and 1,034 unique mRNAs. Finally, 22 of the lncRNA-modulated mRNAs initially linked to PWV were found associated with hypertension, in both datasets. Interestingly, 30 lncRNAs were linked to the expression of UCP2 (Uncoupling Protein 2), a gene implicated in oxidative stress and endothelial function. Our findings underscore the significant roles of lncRNAs in regulating gene expression associated with arterial stiffness and hypertension. The differential expression of UCP2 in relation to PWV and hypertension, along with its potential regulation by lncRNAs, offers valuable insights into the molecular mechanisms underlying arterial stiffness and its connection with hypertension.

Language bias, not knowledge shortfall, underestimates the evidence of megafauna kill sites in South America

The Megafauna Kill Sites (MKS), with irrefutable empirical evidence of human-megafauna interactions over the late Quaternary, have widely been recognized in North America and historically overlooked in South America. Here, we systematically reviewed the MKS from the Americas and showed that the neglected evidence from South American MKS is as robust as or even more robust, in both quantity and quality, than the evidence from North America. However, the South American studies are often limited to low-reach publications (gray literature or local journals) written in Latin languages, which are less cited than English-written publications. Our findings clearly indicate that the neglect of South American MKS is due to its limited scientific impact caused by language bias, and not due to the lack of robust knowledge, inadequate data, or questionable evidence. To reverse this context and put the rich evidence of South American MKS on an international audience, we strongly recommend that South American researchers prioritize publishing their studies in English, the universal language of science since sec. XX. We also suggest making all archaeological evidence readily available in online databases, such as the KillSite database (www.killsitedatabase.com). We believe our recommendations align with the current scope of science, which predominantly operates in English and benefits from the widespread accessibility provided by the internet, and will help South American publications reach international audiences interested in human-megafauna interaction and animal exploitation.