Asian Research Research Articles

ON THE BORDER OF ARCHAEOLOGY AND ETHNOGRAPHY: FIRE STRIKERS IN HUNGARY

The aim of my study is to present the types of fire-strikers that were once used in the Hungary and Carpathian Basins, their general forms and dating problems. Most of the types were in continuous use from the Middle Ages to the beginning of the 20th century, but Hungarian archaeology and ethnography know little about each other's results in this case, moreover, archaeological literature is not uniformised in terminology either. It is worth taking the names of object types and their parts from common ethnographic practice and applying them to the material recovered from excavations. The typology follows a fairly simple and logical structure, but the chronology is complicated by the lack of material communication. In connection with Biedermeier animal-shaped chirpers, earlier research has suggested medieval or even Roman dating, but this is clearly refuted by the research. In addition to their functionality, these objects are sometimes very ornate, even with scratched the year of production. In addition to everyday life in Hungary, fire-strikers also play a significant role in folk tradition, as an accessory to wedding ceremonies, folk medicine (analogical magic) or religiosity of certain groups. Although we know the European parallels relatively well, the results of the Asian research did not have a great impact on the examination of this topic in Hungary, so our further goal is to get acquainted with the material here.
 Materials and methods of research. The research materials were chairs from the archaeological and ethnographic collections of museums in Hungary.
 The research methodology is based on scientific approaches and principles; the following were applied: logical, systematic, comprehensive, comparative historical and archaeological-ethnographic approaches using interdisciplinary research.
 The work is based on an integrated approach to the object of study. During the study, a typological and chronological analysis of artifacts was carried out. Using the comparative typological method, an analysis of archaeological and ethnographic types of armchairs was carried out, and common and distinctive features were identified. For a systematic description of the artifacts, a formal typological method of studying the iconography of forms and images, supplemented by stylistic analysis, was used. To identify historical, archaeological and ethnographic connections, the historical-comparative method was used. Chronological attribution of artifacts was carried out using relative and absolute dating.

Humanizing Asian Americans in educational research

ABSTRACT In this article, four Asian American faculty, working at different stages of the tenure-track/tenured pipeline and different regions of the United States, provide scholarly personal narratives about their experiences in academe to contribute to humanizing Asian Americans in educational research. The narratives comprise a collective counter-story that resists the racialization of Asian Americans as a monolith. Analyzing the narratives, the authors identify barriers to and supports for humanizing Asian Americans in educational research. The collective counter-story resists ahistorical views that overlook, gloss over, or reframe the recent resurgence of anti-Asian violence as separate from a larger history of systemic racism. The authors argue that humanizing Asian Americans in educational research is critical for uncovering and addressing educational inequities built on White supremacy. Through a discussion of themes that emerged across the scholarly narratives, the authors conclude with recommendations for Asian American-focused researchers, as well as educational research.

A New Perspective and Search for East Asian Research ‘Beyond’ East Asia in the 21st Century

A New Perspective and Search for East Asian Research ‘Beyond’ East Asia in the 21st Century

Ecology with artificial intelligence and machine learning in Asia: A historical perspective and emerging trends

AbstractThe use of artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning (ML) has significantly enhanced ecological research in Asia by improving data processing, analysis, and pattern extraction. Analyzing 1550 articles, I show an overview of the use of AI and ML for Asian ecological research. Following the last 20 year trend, I found that the topics in Asian ecological research have transitioned from technical perspectives to more applied issues, focusing on biodiversity conservation, climate change, land use change, and societal impacts. Non‐Asian countries, on the other hand, have focused more on theoretical understanding and ecological processes. The difference between Asian and non‐Asian regions may have emerged due to the ecological challenges faced by Asian countries, such as rapid economic growth, land development, and climate change impacts. In both regions, deep learning related technology has been emerging (e.g., big data collection including image and movement). Within Asia, China has been the Asia‐leading country for AI/ML applications followed by Korea, Japan, India, and Iran. The number of computer science education programs in China has been increasing 3.5× times faster than that in the United States, indicating that a nationwide strategy for computer science development is key for ecological science with AI. Overall, the adoption of AI and ML technologies in ecological studies in Asia has propelled the field forward and opened new avenues for innovative research and conservation practices.

Ethical human participant research in Central Asia: a quantitative analysis of attitudes and practices among social science researchers based in the region

Central Asian researchers are underrepresented in the global research production in social sciences, resulting in a limited Central Asian perspective on many social issues. To stimulate the production of local knowledge, it is important to develop strong research cultures, including knowledge of ethical practices in research with human participants. There is currently scarce evidence about research ethics regulations used by social science researchers working in the Central Asian region. This article reports findings from an online survey conducted in Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, and Uzbekistan ( n = 296) from October 2021 to January 2022. Focusing on three Central Asian countries, this article addresses the following research questions: What are the attitudes and practices of social science researchers based in Central Asia toward research ethics regulations and research ethics committees (RECs)? Is research ethics training associated with improved attitudes and practices in relation to research ethics among social scientists based in Central Asia? Is research experience associated with improved attitudes and practices in relation to research ethics among social scientists based in Central Asia? Regression analyses results demonstrate that locally based social scientists with prior research ethics training implement ethical procedures in their empirical research practice more often compared to researchers without any prior research ethics training. The preliminary findings indicate that research ethics training is positively associated with Central Asia-based social science researchers’ engagement in ethical research, thus potentially increasing the amount and quality of empirical social science research produced in the region.

Promoting South Asian primary care research and projecting family medicine practitioner-scholars: A matter of critical importance

ABSTRACT South Asia, constituting India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Nepal, Sri Lanka and Bhutan represents the most populous region in the world burdened with significant multilevel poverty. Primary care is well-documented to reduce the burden of diseases (both chronic and acute) and associated morbidity and mortality; be cost-effective and improve health outcomes and health equity for both individuals and populations. Any field, for it to stay relevant and to effectively achieve its stated mission, needs to produce its own knowledge through research. This translates into patient care, practice models, education, and advocacy for health systems strengthening and reform. In primary care, weaving experiential wisdom with clinical evidence lies at the heart of translation. In this editorial, we highlight: a) that local context, in terms of geography, community, culture, language and beliefs, influences the clinical context and practice and therefore research. Thus, relying on primary care research done elsewhere in the globe will not suffice; b) effective primary care is based on a generalist approach that involves certain ways of being, knowing, perceiving, and doing guided by the values of humility and intellectual curiosity, diversity and inclusion, equity, holistic approach to evidence, integrity, transparency, accountability and adaptability, and communication; and c) that the South Asian Region (SAR) has a number of groups experimenting and innovating with various healthcare delivery systems, much of which is not known to the larger field. The WONCA SAR Primary Care Research Network has been set up to facilitate and support scholarship, writing, and publication in primary care especially by practising family physicians. In conclusion, it will be critical to simultaneously promote grounded theory research that integrates both the family medicine/primary care perspective and the voices of families and address the ‘hidden curriculum’ that shapes the attitudes and aspirations of young doctors at both the undergraduate and postgraduate level. Family Physicians treat a variety of patients on a daily basis, in order to improve the quality of care and impact of primary care, it is imperative that the understanding and application of research is enhanced by specialists of this discipline.

Is there interest in green deal research in Central Asia?

Research activities play a critical role in facilitating growth and promoting sustainable development. However, the scientific interest level in the European Green Deal in Central Asia remains uncertain. Therefore, this research paper aims to define the interest of Central Asian researchers in the Green Deal. A literature review was conducted using the bibliographic analysis method for Web of Science publications published over 2018-2023 and originating from Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, and Uzbekistan. Co-occurrence analysis of keywords and co-authorship analysis were performed using the VosViewer 1.6.19 software. The co-occurrence analysis revealed that the Green Deal is a complex and interdisciplinary issue that highlights the importance of collaboration among stakeholders and researchers from different sectors. The co-authorship analysis identified the patterns of collaboration among authors, with many working with international partners. The distribution of publications and citations varied across different countries and keywords related to environmental and sustainability topics. It was also found that the number of publications has been increasing. Finally, correlation and regression analysis were applied to identify the factors that influence publication activity about the Green Deal.

Al-Khwarizmi is an outstanding representative of oriental pedagogy

Introduction. Currently, there is no holistic representation of the pedagogical system that developed in the IX–XII centuries on the territory of the Arab East and Central Asia. The reconstruction of the pedagogical heritage of the East will, firstly, let lay a value platform for determining the coordinates of the development of Islamic education in the present period; secondly, the appeal to positive experience can contribute to the solution of educational and educational tasks of modern Russian education. The purpose of the article is to holistically present the educational theory of one of the founders of oriental pedagogy – al-Khwarizmi. Methodology. The following methodological foundations are defined: at the philosophical level – civilizational, at the general scientific level – systemic and oriental, at the concrete scientific level – axiological approaches. The biographical, historical-typological and constructive-genetic methods of historical and pedagogical research are used. The main sources were the works of Arab, Persian and Central Asian researchers, as well as the published works of Russian and foreign authors who considered various problems of the culture of medieval Islam. Results. The pedagogical theory of al-Khwarizmi has been systematized, which was one of the earliest appeals in world science to pedagogy as a science – the main tool for cognition of educational reality. The definition of the concept of "Oriental pedagogy" is substantiated, which is a science of upbringing and education that historically arose in the IX century, based on the legacy of outstanding Islamic enlighteners of the East, and associated with ethnic and religious views of peoples living in the territories of Arab and Central Asian countries, having equal importance on a par with the widespread world pedagogical systems. Conclusion. The pedagogical theory of al-Khwarizmi was aimed at the formation of an independent, creative, religious, virtuous personality striving for a constant expansion of the horizons of knowledge. He and his like-minded people believed that the combination of scientific knowledge, constant work on oneself and spiritual culture, contribute to the development of a fully developed personality, in which spiritual development, improvement of mind, consciousness, thinking and feelings are balanced. The pedagogical approaches of al-Khwarizmi, supplemented by the achievements of subsequent generations, are reflected in modern educational concepts and theories.

The Asian American teaching method? An overview of language education, social justice issues, and challenging ‘Oppressed’ versus ‘Model’ minority binary discourse

Abstract Amidst the backdrop of anti-Asian violence and the COVID-19 pandemic, this article addresses key social justice issues and praxes in language education with Asian American populations, especially with regards to pedagogy and K–12 schooling contexts. The article’s structure utilises four main sections, with the first section presenting key demographics and typology on who is considered ‘Asian American’ in the US schooling system. The second section provides an overview of major historical developments in language education with Asian American students, teachers, and researchers, over a time period spanning the past 50 years. The third section addresses the falsely essentialised binary of being an ‘Oppressed Minority’ versus a ‘Model Minority’ which Asian Americans often have to contend with, and effects of that binary in schooling. The fourth section presents some promising approaches to improving research methodology and classroom pedagogy with Asian American students, teachers, and families. Ultimately this papers seeks to make a contribution, along with the other papers in this special issue, towards more equitable research, policy and practice concerning communities of Asian heritage in North America.

Opportunities and challenges in Asian bee research and conservation

The challenges of bee research in Asia are unique and severe, reflecting different cultures, landscapes, and faunas. Strategies and frameworks developed in North America or Europe may not prove applicable. Virtually none of these species have been assessed by the IUCN and there is a paucity of public data on even the basics of bee distribution. If we do not know the species present, their distribution and threats, we cannot protect them, but our knowledge base is vanishingly small in Asia compared to the rest of the world. To better understand and meet these challenges, this perspective conveys the ideas accumulated over hundreds of years of cumulative study of Asian bees by the authors, including academic, governmental, and other researchers from 13 Asian countries and beyond. We outline the special circumstances of Asian bee research and the current state of affairs, highlight the importance of highly social species as flagships for the lesser-known solitary bees, the dire need for further research for food security, and identify target research areas in need of further study. Finally, we outline a framework via which we will catalyze future research in the region, especially via governmental and other partnerships necessary to effectively conserve species.

Bibliometric analysis of Asian ‘language and linguistics’ research: A case of 13 countries

The foci of voluminous bibliometric studies on ‘language and linguistics’ research are limited to specific sub-topics with little regional context. Given the paucity of relevant literature, we are relatively uninformed about the regional trends of ‘language and linguistics’ research. This paper aims to analyze research developments in the field of ‘language and linguistics’ in 13 Asian countries: China, Hong Kong, India, Indonesia, Iran, Israel, Japan, Malaysia, Saudi Arabia, Singapore, South Korea, Taiwan, and Turkey. This study probed 30,515 articles published between 2000 and 2021, assessing each within four major bibliometric perspectives: (1) productivity, (2) authorship and collaborations, (3) top keywords, and (4) research impact. The results show that, in Asian ‘language and linguistics’ research, the relative contributions made by the 13 countries comprised 85% of the total number of articles produced in Asia. The other 28 Asian countries’ output, for the past two decades, never surpassed that of the individual 13 countries. Among the 13 countries, the most prolific were China, Japan, Hong Kong, and Taiwan; they especially published most articles in international core journals. In contrast, Indonesia, Iran, and Malaysia published more in regional journals. Traditionally, research on each country’s national language(s) and dialects were chiefly conducted throughout a period of 22 years. In addition, coping with internationalization worldwide, from 2010 onward, topics related to ‘English’ were of burgeoning interest among Asian researchers. Asian countries often collaborated with each other, and they also exerted a high degree of research influence on each other. The present study was designed to contribute to the literature on the comprehensive bibliometric analyses of Asian ‘language and linguistics’ research.

일본의 구승문예 연구동향과 전망

This paper was written to share tasks with Korean oral literature researchers by summarizing the genre of old Seung Literature in Japan and introducing the genre that has recently attracted attention in Japan.
 Japanese and Korean oral literature genres do not differ very much. However, some genres are similar and have unique characteristics. Similar to Korean pansori, masquerade, and exorcism, "Katarimono" has been delivered in various and rich ways throughout Japan. However, since the early 20th century, the transmission has been cut off, from a significant number of branches, so it is difficult to assert that "Katarimono" is common literature. In addition, unlike Korean literature, which is rich in Chinese literature written by intellectuals, there is a difference in that oral literature was a major genre of Japanese literature. In other words, it is worth keeping in mind that the existence of oral literature in Japanese literature is significant.
 In recent Japanese oral literature, the genres that have attracted attention are ghost stories and disaster legends. The Japanese have painted strange beings in literature and painting works since ancient times, and even in modern times, rumors and legends of strange beings have been discussed among the population. Recently, the word "Yokai(specter)" has been used as a generic term encompassing all strange beings, and new characters have been born. Japanese people, regardless of age or gender, enjoy the world of monsters through various works such as novels, cartoons, animations, and game software. The ghost story is a genre of oral literature that remains alive in modern society. In addition, the value of disaster legends was re-examined in the wake of the 2011 Great East Japan Earthquake. In Japan, where natural disasters are frequent, legends related to disasters-that is, stories about avoiding disasters-are told in various places. As these stories were discovered, recorded, and published, the need to inherit future disaster legends was raised.
 Among recent trends in Japanese literature, researchers demonstrate interest in nature, which is a notable topic in the field of oral literature. Literary researchers are accumulating achievements in how the Japanese perceive nature and expressed it in literary works a topic that East Asian researchers belonging to the Chinese character culture should share and think about in the era of the climate crisis.

What Drives Nuclear-Aspiring States? The Cases of Iran and North Korea

What Drives Nuclear-Aspiring States? The Cases of Iran and North Korea

Universities, imperialism and the collective work ahead.

Universities, imperialism and the collective work ahead.

Clozapine Use for Bipolar Disorder: An Asian Psychotropic Prescription Patterns Consortium Study.

Pharmacoepidemiological studies of clozapine use to treat bipolar disorder (BD), especially in Asia, are rare, although they can provide insights into associated clinical characteristics and support international comparisons of indications and drug dosing. We examined the prevalence and clinical correlates of clozapine treatment for BD in 13 Asian countries and regions (China, Hong Kong SAR, India, Indonesia, Japan, Korea, Malaysia, Myanmar, Pakistan, Singapore, Sri Lanka, Taiwan, and Thailand) within an Asian Prescription Patterns Research Consortium. We compared BD patients treated with clozapine or not in initial bivariate comparisons followed by multivariable logistic regression modeling. Clozapine was given to 2.13% of BD patients overall, at a mean daily dose of 275 (confidence interval, 267-282) chlorpromazine-equivalent mg/day. Patients receiving clozapine were older, more likely males, hospitalized, currently manic, and given greater numbers of mood-stabilizing and antipsychotic drugs in addition to clozapine. Logistic regression revealed that older age, male sex, current mania, and greater number of other antipsychotics remained significantly associated with clozapine treatment. Clozapine use was not associated with depressed mood, remission of illness, suicidal risk, or electroconvulsive treatment within the previous 12 months. The identified associations of clozapine use with particular clinical features call for vigilance in personalized clinical monitoring so as to optimize clinical outcomes of BD patients and to limit risks of adverse effects of polytherapy.

Island studies and socio-economic development policies in East Asia

The globalization of island studies has resulted in a greater recognition by island studies scholars of the need for more regional-based island research to encompass the diversity of island knowledge and experiences. Island research in East Asia provides examples of both English and native language perspectives across four distinct socio-cultural contexts: Japan, South Korea, the Chinese mainland, and Taiwan. Historical literature and contemporary scholarly research provide a context for understanding: (1) how East Asian researchers engaged with island studies and islandness; and (2) how East Asian socio-economic development policies reflect understandings of islandness locally and across the region. We found similarities among the four East Asian regions, but also variations based on different domestic political perspectives. Given the late start of island research in East Asia, many topics await more detailed future examination.

A new era of the Asian clinical research network: a report from the ATLAS international symposium.

This report summarizes the presentations and discussions in the first Asian Clinical Trials Network for Cancers (ATLAS) international symposium that was held on 24 April 2022, in Bangkok, Thailand, and hosted by the National Cancer Center Hospital (NCCH), co-hosted by the Pharmaceuticals and Medical Devices Agency (PMDA), Clinical Research Malaysia (CRM) and the Thai Society of Clinical Oncology (TSCO), and supported by Embassy of Japan in Thailand. Since 2020, the NCCH has conducted the ATLAS project to enhance research environments and infrastructures to facilitate international clinical research and cancer genomic medicine in the Asian region. The purpose of the symposium was to discuss what we can achieve under the ATLAS project, to share the latest topics and common issues in cancer research and to facilitate mutual understanding. Invitees included stakeholders from academic institutions, mainly at ATLAS collaborative sites, as well as Asian regulatory authorities. The invited speakers discussed ongoing collaborative research, regulatory perspectives to improve new drug access in Asia, the status of phase I trials in Asia, the introduction of research activities at the National Cancer Center (NCC) and the implementation of genomic medicine. As the next steps after this symposium, the ATLAS project will foster increased cooperation between investigators, regulatory authorities and other stakeholders relevant to cancer research, and establish a sustainable pan-Asian cancer research group to increase the number of clinical trials and deliver novel drugs to patients with cancer in Asia.

Scientific production of an oral implantology journal: a 5-year bibliometric study

Oral implantology is a science in constant evolution, with a considerable number of articles being published every year in scientific journals. Publications can be analyzed through bibliometric analysis, thus observing the evolution and trends of the articles published in the journal. To evaluate, through bibliometric analysis, the scientific production of Clinical Implant Dentistry and Related Research (CIDRR) and its evolution and trends in the last 5 years (2016–2020).All articles published in CIDRR in the last 5 years were reviewed and classified according to the year of publication, volume, number, the number of authors, demographic data of the first and last author, the geographical scope of the article, the number of affiliations of the authors, research topic, type of study, and study design. The association between these variables and citation counts was also analyzed. 599 articles were analyzed. 77.4% were authored by 4–6 authors, obtaining 78.4% from 1 to 3 different affiliations. Male researchers predominated in both the first and last authorship. China showed the highest number of publications when comparing the origin of the authors’ affiliations individually; however, most researchers (40.9%) were from the European Union (EU)-Western Europe area. The most studied topic was the implant/abutment design/treatment of the surface (19.1%). Clinical research articles accounted for 92.99% of the publications, of which cross-sectional observational studies prevailed (21.7%). The presence of articles from the United States of America-Canada and EU-Western Europe was positively correlated with the impact factor. This study revealed an increasing trend in Asian research production, particularly Chinese, whereas production of European origin showed a decrease. Clinical studies increased their relative weight to the detriment of translational ones. A growing tendency in the relative weights of female authors was appreciated. Journal citations were associated with certain study variables.

Chief Editors' Note

To the community, We are honored and excited to share our third annual volume of the Asian American Research Journal with you all. This journal was established in Fall 2020, amid the pandemic, as a means of battling historical erasure and misunderstandings of Asian American history that continue to impact our community today. Our goal is to provide a platform to center Asian American and Asian diasporic experiences, studies, and research; we believe that by uplifting each other’s voices, we can inform, educate, and spark change. This volume’s theme of “Shaping Our Legacies” explores how generations of Asian Americans have evolved and persevered throughout time. The stories in this publication invite readers to retrace the roots of Asian American identity and contemplate how these communities have continued to persist in the face of hardship, fight against injustice, and build upon their cultures. Through this issue, we hope you will gain a deeper understanding of our present, and perhaps even a glimpse into our future, as our diverse communities continue to shape the legacies imparted upon them. The support of our authors, editors, designers, faculty, and community members has been invaluable to Asian American Research Journal’s growth as both a publication and an academic community. We want to emphasize that none of this work would have been possible without the incredible efforts of our AARJ Board; thank you to our executive editors Vivian Kuang and Grace Huang, our chief designer An Nguyen, our communications chair Frances Chai, and our finance and operations chair Kelly Lam. Finally, our gratitude goes out to the eScholarship team and our endlessly supportive faculty sponsors, Dr. Khatharya Um and Dr. Lok Siu.We hope you enjoy reading “Shaping Our Legacies” as much as we have!In Solidarity, Antonia Mou and Julianne HanChief Editors 2022-2023

Bibliometric analysis of endocrinology, diabetes and metabolism research in South Asia from (2012–2021): Comparison with five developed countries

Background and aimsIn the present study the research output of the South Asian region (India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Nepal, Maldives, and Bhutan) in endocrinology, diabetes and metabolism (EDM) is highlighted. It was compared with five scientifically advanced countries i.e. USA, UK, Italy, Japan and China. MethodsOn September 13, 2022, the data was retrieved from the Scopus database. The analysis focused on the number of publications, total citations (TC), citations per paper (CPP), field-weighted citations impact (FWCI), and degree of international collaboration. ResultsIn South Asia, India produced the highest number of publications (n = 7048), followed by Pakistan (n = 799), Bangladesh (n = 345), Sri Lanka (n = 256), Nepal (n = 144), Maldives (n = 12) and Bhutan (n = 4). The highest CPP (n = 19.4) and FWCI (n = 1.18) was recorded for Sri Lanka. Furthermore, USA (n = 64022), China (n = 23991), UK (n = 21449), Italy (n = 18884), and Japan (n = 12875), published the highest number of documents with the highest citations and FWCI in the world. It was noted that India published the highest number of documents (n = 47.28%) in the quartiles (Q) 6 and Q7. Pakistan produced the highest number of documents (n = 64.22%) in the top 50% of journals (Q1 to Q5). South Asian countries produced 8332 publications, with 130382 TC, 15.6 CPP and 1.06 FWCI. Importantly 46.50% of documents from South Asian countries were published in Q6 and Q7 journals. In contrast USA, UK, Italy, Japan and China published 77% documents in top 50% journals. ConclusionsAlthough the South Asian research publications have increased yearly (from 2012 to 2021), but approximately 50% of the South Asian output were in the lower quartile journals. Consequently, significant measures are needed to improve the quantity and quality of EDM research produced in South Asian coutries.