Han Chinese Research Articles

Chinese in France amid the Covid-19 Pandemic: Daily Lives, Racial Struggles and Transnational Citizenship of Migrants and Descendants, edited by Simeng Wang: Brill, 2023, 365 pp. : Redefining Anti-Asian Racism among Chinese Diaspora in France during the COVID-19 Pandemic.

Chinese in France amid the Covid-19 Pandemic: Daily Lives, Racial Struggles and Transnational Citizenship of Migrants and Descendants, edited by Simeng Wang: Brill, 2023, 365 pp. : Redefining Anti-Asian Racism among Chinese Diaspora in France during the COVID-19 Pandemic.

A lower atherogenic index of plasma was associated with a higher incidence of sarcopenia

Sarcopenia is an age-related muscle senescence disease that leads to functional limitations, physical disability and premature death in older adults. Atherogenic index of plasma (AIP) is a novel indicator of atherosclerotic status based on triglycerides and high-density lipoprotein cholesterol. The aim of this study was to investigate the association between AIP and new-onset sarcopenia and its components among middle-aged and older adults in a Chinese community. This cohort study included 7,992 participants who were free of sarcopenia in 2011 in the China Health and Retirement Longitudinal Study and were followed up in 2013 and 2015. Sarcopenia was assessed using the recommendations of the Asian Working Group for Sarcopenia 2019. Longitudinal associations between AIP and sarcopenia and its components were assessed using Cox proportional risk regression modeling. The results showed that AIP was negatively associated with sarcopenia [HR and 95% CI: 0.73 (0.62–0.86)]; with muscle mass [β and 95%CI: 0.49 (0.4–0.57)], skeletal muscle mass index [β and 95%CI: 0.17 (0.15–0.2)], and grip strength [β and 95% CI: 0.17 (0.15–0.2)] being positively correlated. A lower AIP was associated with a lower muscle mass and handgrip strength and higher incidence of sarcopenia. Regular measurement of AIP in the middle-aged and older population in the community can help in the early diagnosis and intervention of sarcopenia.

Aberrant acetylation caused by a CDYL splicing mutation contributes to thin mid-piece related asthenoteratozoospermia and male infertility.

Acetylated tubulin is a hallmark of flagellar stability in spermatozoa, and studies have demonstrated the ability of CDYL to function as a tubulin acetyltransferase in spermatozoa. Of note, germline conditional knockout of Cdyl can lead to asthenoteratozoospermia and infertility in male mice. However, the role of CDYL gene in human fertility remains uncharacterized. Data were collected through in silico analysis for an infertile man with asthenoteratozoospermia of Han Chinese descent by performing whole-exome sequencing. Light and electron microscopy were used to characterize the sperm cells of the proband, and the pathogenicity of the genetic factors was determined by functional experiments. To overcome fertility problems, intracytoplasmic sperm injections were performed in the couple. Here, we recruited an infertile proband, born to first-cousin parents, displaying idiopathic asthenoteratozoospermia. Whole-exome sequencing identified a splicing mutation (c.103+1G>A) in CDYL, recessively cosegregating in the family. In vitro minigene assays demonstrated that the mutation resulted in aberrant alternative splicing. We found that CDYL co-localizes with Ac-tubulin along the flagella of human spermatozoa. In addition, the expression of Ac-tubulin was severely reduced in spermatozoa from the patient with CDYL mutation. Disruption in CDYL results in thin mid-piece related abnormal flagella morphology and decreased sperm motility. The primary manifestation of sperm ultrastructural abnormalities under the electron microscope is primarily characterized by disorder of axonemal protein complex and anulus. We demonstrated that a homozygous CDYL splicing mutation specifically induces a decrease in microtubule acetylation, resulting in thin mid-piece related asthenoteratozoospermia, providing a novel marker for genetic counseling and diagnosis of male infertility.

Do higher educated people feel happier?-Evidence of Han and minority nationalities from China.

Based on the data of China General Social Survey (CGSS), this study adopts empirical analysis method to explore the impact of education on residents' subjective well-being and its differentiated mechanism in different ethnic groups. The results show that, first of all, education significantly improves residents' subjective well-being, and the conclusion is still robust after controlling for endogenous problems. Secondly, compared with Han nationality, education has a more significant effect on the subjective well-being of ethnic minority residents. Finally, by comparing the internal mechanism of education on the subjective well-being of Han and ethnic minority residents, the research finds that education mainly improves subjective well-being by improving residents' relative income level and enhancing their social class identification, in which the intermediary effect of income is particularly prominent. However, in the Han population, education may weaken the sense of fairness, and thus reduce happiness to some extent; This phenomenon has not been verified in ethnic minority groups. This study not only expands the literature on the relationship between education and subjective well-being, but also has important policy implications, providing a strong empirical basis for formulating more accurate education policies, improving the happiness of ethnic minority residents, and enhancing national cohesion.

Chinese Adolescents’ Belief in a Just World: Social Class and Age Disparities

This cross-sectional study examined how Chinese adolescents’ belief in a just world (BJW) varied across social class and age. A sample of 2,748 adolescents aged 10 to 18 years (47.2% female; 99.1% Han ethnicity) from diverse socioeconomic backgrounds in China completed the Belief in a Just World Scale and the Socioeconomic Status Survey. Adolescents from higher social-class backgrounds were found to have higher general and personal BJW compared to their peers from lower social-class backgrounds, with the difference being more pronounced for personal BJW. Additionally, SES moderated age-related changes in BJW: for adolescents from middle- or higher-class backgrounds, BJW decreased with age, whereas for those from lower-class backgrounds, BJW remained relatively stable across adolescence. These findings suggest that BJW functions as a psychological defense mechanism, shaped by an individual’s perceived access to fairness and opportunity within their social environment.

Devotion to Ong Bon (Xuan Tian Shang Di) of the Chinese Community in Binh Duong

Xuan Tian Shang Di is a significant deity within Taoist and Vietnamese folk religion, esteemed for his power, valor, and sanctity. This belief system was introduced from China with the migration of Chinese people and has become established in various regions of Vietnam. In Binh Duong, this belief takes on a unique form within the Hokkien Chinese community (Hoa Phuoc Kien). The Hokkien Chinese community, particularly the Wang clan, has specifically identified Ong Bon with Xuan Tian Shang Di. Over time, this belief has become deeply integrated into the spiritual life of the community and has enriched the local cultural landscape. This study aims to examine the process through which Xuan Tian Shang Di was personified as Ong Bon and to elucidate the development of this belief within the Hokkien Wang clan in Binh Duong.

Long-read sequencing reveals novel genetic polymorphisms in the major histocompatibility complex region and their impacts on the Han Chinese population.

Human leukocyte antigen (HLA) genes in the major histocompatibility complex (MHC) region are crucial for immunity and are associated with numerous diseases and phenotypes. The MHC region's complexity and high genetic diversity make it challenging to analyze using short-read sequencing (SRS) technology. We sequence the MHC region of 100 Han Chinese individuals using both long-read sequencing (LRS) and SRS platforms at approximately 30X coverage to study genetic alterations and their potential functional impacts. LRS provides significantly greater coverage of the MHC region and eight classical HLA genes, particularly at the HLA-DRB1 locus, compared with SRS. We detect 78,249 single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) using LRS, with 26.0% undetectable by SRS. Based on SNP and inferred HLA allele types, we construct an LRS-based MHC reference panel for the Han Chinese, containing approximately 2.6 times more genetic variants than the SRS-based Han-MHC reference panel. A phenome-wide association study assessing 26,024 phenotypes across 15 categories identifies significant associations for 7,879 independent variants (including 809 LRS-specific SNPs) with 409 phenotypes in nine categories. This analysis reveals 24 unreported HLA allele associations in the bioelectric and cellular categories. The conditional analysis identifies 530 independent signals across the 409 phenotypes, including 28 previously unreported signals of eight classical HLA genes associated with 33 phenotypes. Of the top-associated SNPs, 191 are detected by LRS only. Fine-mapping identifies 126 independent candidate causal SNPs for three immune-related cellular phenotypes, with 17 detected exclusively by LRS. Our study reveals previously unreported variants and their functional impacts in the MHC region, enhancing our understanding of genetic diversity and its potential biological implications in the Han Chinese population.

Exploring Differences Between Daily Activity Spaces and Access to Urban Resources in Suburban Affordable Housing Based on the Different Income Groups: A Case of Nanjing, China

Most of the affordable housing communities are built in disadvantaged locations (e.g., the suburbs of Chinese cities) and are generally considered to be the main space for middle- and low-income groups to live in. After decades of development, with the relocation of residents, housing sales and the implementation of mixed housing policies in some countries, there is a common phenomenon of mixed living among different groups in many affordable housing communities. Existing studies have explored the differences and social inequities between affordable housing communities and other types of neighborhoods, but little attention has been paid to the differentiation of residents’ daily activities and the unfair access to resources within affordable housing communities. Understanding this difference is crucial to sustainable community development and the delicate management of cities. From a personal-based perspective, this study examines the sociospatial differentiation of different income groups in the community from two aspects: the multidimensional characteristics of the individual activity space and the availability of different types of urban space. The results highlight significant differences in the activity spaces of different income groups across four dimensions: extensity, intensity, diversity, and exclusivity. Low-income suburban residents have fewer opportunities to access inner-city and inner-suburban areas compared to their non-low-income counterparts. They are more constrained to the outer suburbs. Regression models show that income is a key factor influencing how outer-suburb residents use urban spaces. Other factors, such as one’s employment status, family structure, education level, and the built environment, also play an important role in shaping access to different urban resources. This study highlights the impact of income on social isolation within Chinese urban affordable housing communities. It provides nuanced insights that can inform future policy recommendations in a broader urban context.

Low clinical activity score, ‘progressive’ thyroid eye disease: presentations of 1439 patients from a tertiary centre in Hong Kong

BackgroundTo report the presenting clinical, serological and treatment profiles of 1439 patients with thyroid eye disease (TED) from a tertiary centre in Hong Kong.Study populationsConsecutive patients with TED presented to...

Endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography combined with extracorporeal shock wave lithotripsy for the removal of large gallbladder stones: a pilot study

BackgroundEndoscopic gallbladder-preserving cholecystolithotomy (EGPC) has become an alternative option for treating cholecystolithiasis. However, developing a new method of EGPC in which the gallbladder wall is not damaged remains a challenge. This study introduced a new EGPC method called endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP) combined with extracorporeal shock wave lithotripsy (ESWL), which preserves the integrity of the gallbladder wall in the treatment of cholecystolithiasis complicated with choledocholithiasis.MethodsIn total, six patients (aged 23–72 years, 3 males and 3 females, Han ethnicity) who had large gallbladder stones (diameter ≥ 1 cm) complicated with common bile duct (CBD) stones and who underwent ERCP combined with ESWL at the First Affiliated Hospital of Nanchang University from July 2022 to December 2022 were enrolled. The patients’ clinical characteristics, endoscopic treatment and follow-up data were analyzed. A paired t test was performed to compare the differences in the main serological indicators before and after EGPC.ResultsOf the six patients, five completed EGPC, and one failed due to intolerable abdominal pain during ESWL and was subsequently transferred to surgery. With respect to post-EGPC adverse events, one patient developed mild post-ERCP pancreatitis, and no other adverse events occurred. Both the technical success rate and clinical success rate of ERCP combined with ESWL were 83.3% and the incidence of adverse events was 16.7%. The six patients were followed up for an average of 24 months, during which only one patient experienced a recurrence of gallbladder stones at the 3-month follow-up, but no gallbladder stones were found at the 6-month follow-up after oral administration of ursodeoxycholic acid.ConclusionsERCP combined with ESWL is a potentially safe and effective treatment for large gallbladder stones.Trial registrationThis study was registered at the Chinese Clinical Trial Registry site. [Registration number: ChiCTR2200060927 (http://www.chictr.org.cn/); registration date: June 14, 2022].

Population pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics of HFB30132A, a monoclonal antibody against SARS-CoV-2, in healthy Chinese and US subjects.

Development of neutralizing monoclonal antibody (nAb) is a strategy for treatment of infections caused by SARS-CoV-2. This study evaluated the pharmacokinetics (PK) and pharmacodynamics (PD) of HFB30132A, a fully human nAb targeting SARS-CoV-2 spike protein receptor binding domain, in healthy subjects. Randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled phase I trial was performed in healthy Chinese and US subjects, respectively. The subjects (n=44) received a single ascending dose (400, 1000, 2000 mg) or placebo. Safety and PK data were analysed. PD was evaluated by pseudovirus neutralization test in vitro using serum samples of Chinese subjects. Population PK/PD model was developed using non-linear mixed effects modeling. Effect of covariates was evaluated via covariate screening, Monte Carlo simulation, and randomisation test. The PK profile was consistent with three-compartment model. The clearance (CL) and V1 were 0.38 mL/h and 2.9 L, respectively. Ethnicity and body weight (BW) were factors affecting PK. Compared to the subjects who are not Hispanic or Latino, AUC0-∞ increased by 64% in the healthy subjects of Han nationality. The PD was consistent with effect-compartment model when ND50 titre (reciprocal of 50% neutralization dilution) was used as PD index. Emax reduced along with time, consistent with exponential model. The EC50 was 4590 mg/L. Half-life for reduction of Emax was 133 days. Albumin, lymphocytes, neutrophils or monocytes were covariates on PD. There was ethnic difference in PK, and tolerance in PD of HFB30132A. Population PK/PD model characterized dose-exposure-response relationship of HFB30132A in healthy subjects. These findings are useful for drug development in the future. Clinical trial registration: ClinicalTrial.gov NCT04590430, NCT05275660.

Determining the diagnostic cut-off on the Chinese version of severity of dependence scale for cannabis

IntroductionCannabis use and misuse are surging among the Chinese community in East and Southeast Asia. A quick screening instrument that can effectively identify users with dependence for early intervention is in utmost need. This study examined the psychometric properties of the Chinese version of the Severity of Dependence Scale for cannabis (C-SDS-C) in screening for the DSM-5 defined Cannabis Use Disorder (CUD).MethodsA retrospective chart review was conducted on Chinese-speaking individuals reporting cannabis use from three different substance use studies. Their demographic data, frequency of cannabis use within the past 30 days, scorings for the C-SDS-C and the severity of CUD at baseline were analyzed.ResultsThe C-SDS-C exhibited high reliability (Cronbach’s alpha = 0.778). It had a strong correlation with the severity of CUD (r = 0.456, p <.001) and a moderate correlation with the frequency of cannabis use within the past 30 days (r = 0.335, p = .001). All items loaded into a single factor which accounted for 56.64% of the variance. Receiver operating characteristic analysis demonstrated that a C-SDS-C cut-off score of ≥ 3 provided optimal discrimination for moderate to severe CUD among Chinese-speaking individuals using cannabis.ConclusionThe C-SDS-C is a valid and reliable screening instrument to identify cannabis users with moderate-to-severe CUD in the Chinese-speaking population.

Chinese Overseas Foreign Direct Investment and Income Inequality in the Developing World

Chinese Overseas Foreign Direct Investment and Income Inequality in the Developing World

From Chinatown to Every Town: How Chinese Immigrants Have Expanded the Restaurant Business in the United States

From Chinatown to Every Town: How Chinese Immigrants Have Expanded the Restaurant Business in the United States

Comparison of mortality in people with type 2 diabetes between different ethnic groups: Systematic review and meta-analysis of longitudinal studies.

Type 2 diabetes (T2D) is more common in certain ethnic groups. This systematic review compares mortality risk between people with T2D from different ethnic groups and includes recent larger studies. We searched nine databases using PRISMA guidelines (PROSPERO CRD42022372542). We included community-based prospective studies among adults with T2D from at least two different ethnicities. Two independent reviewers undertook screening, data extraction and quality assessment using the Newcastle-Ottawa Scale. The primary outcome compared all-cause mortality rates between ethnic groups (hazard ratio (HR) with 95% confidence intervals). From 30,825 searched records, we included 13 studies (7 meta-analysed), incorporating 573,173 T2D participants; 12 were good quality. Mortality risk was lower amongst people with T2D from South Asian [HR 0.68 (0.65-0.72)], Black [HR 0.82 (0.77-0.87)] and Chinese [HR 0.57 (0.46-0.70)] ethnicity compared to people of White ethnicity. Narrative synthesis corroborated these findings but demonstrated that people of indigenous Māori ethnicity had greater mortality risk compared to European ethnicity. People with T2D of South Asian, Black and Chinese ethnicity have lower all-cause mortality risk than White ethnicity, with Māori ethnicity having higher mortality risk. Factors explaining mortality differences require further study, including understanding complication risk by ethnicity, to improve diabetes outcomes.

Utilizing diffusive gradients in thin films technique for enhanced surveillance of drug abuse in two Chinese urban communities

Utilizing diffusive gradients in thin films technique for enhanced surveillance of drug abuse in two Chinese urban communities

Do we really need to drill through the intact ocean crust?

We must persevere to drill through the intact ocean crust to fully address fundamental questions towards completion of the plate tectonics theory. The primary questions include: what is the ocean crust made up of, how thick is it and what is the petrological nature of the crust-mantle boundary (i.e., Mohorovičić discontinuity or Moho)? These questions may sound naive because they are widely believed to be well-understood facts, but they are not. Correctly, our current knowledge remains incomplete, and some popular misperceptions come from interpretations based on convenient assumptions. One assumption is that the ocean crust inferred from seismic data is of magmatic origin. Testing this assumption is a principal motivation of Project Mohole (1957–1966), attempting to drill intact ocean crust across the Moho into the mantle. Project Mohole failed because of its high cost, engineering challenges and insufficient tries, but the technologies developed made subsequent ocean drilling successful. However, answers to the original questions remain unsatisfactory. For example, seismic crust interpreted to be of magmatic origin is shown to have globally uniform thickness of 6.0 ± 1.0 km, but crust with such thickness at many slow-spreading ridge segments is dominated by serpentinized mantle peridotites exposed on seafloors. Therefore, the popular view on ocean ridge magmatism must be re-examined, which needs intact ocean crust drilling into the mantle. Drilling at geologically simple sites in the fast-spreading Pacific seafloor is most promising.The US-led D/V JOIDES Resolution that has well served the scientific ocean drilling since 1985 is to retire by the end of 2024, but timely the Chinese geoscience community wishes to continue this international endeavor using the purpose-built D/V Meng Xiang to be in service in 2025. The international community is to gather in November 24–27, 2024, Guangzhou, China, to discuss strategies on where and how to successfully drill intact ocean crust across the Moho in coming years

Socially Sustainable Entrepreneurship of Chinese Community in Southern Vietnam

Socially Sustainable Entrepreneurship of Chinese Community in Southern Vietnam

Practical Exploration of Anti-Japanese Ethnic Music Empowering Colleges and Universities to Cultivate a Strong Consciousness of the Chinese National Community

Anti-Japanese folk music, as an important art form for the Chinese people to fight against foreign invasion and inherit national culture, contains rich historical value and spiritual connotation. Integrating anti-Japanese folk music into the education of Chinese national community consciousness in higher education can strengthen students' sense of national identity, enhance cultural self-confidence, and promote the intermingling and inheritance of multi-ethnic cultures. Through exploring the historical background, artistic qualities and application of anti-Japanese folk music in college education, this paper proposes a path of implementation based on curriculum design, practical activities and campus culture construction to provide innovative practical experience for forging a strong sense of Chinese national community.

DETERMINANTS OF SLEEP HEALTH IN THE CONTEXT OF THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC AMONG OLDER CHINESE IMMIGRANTS IN THE U.S

Abstract Good sleep is crucial for healthy aging. While recent studies have examined psychosocial factors related to sleep health, their impact on older Asian immigrants is not well understood. Notably, few studies have examined how psychosocial factors and immigration factors may intensify the COVID-19 pandemic’s effect on sleep among this population. This study investigated how these factors, assessed prior to the pandemic, affected sleep health during COVID-19 among older Chinese immigrants. Data were drawn from the Population Study of Chinese Elderly (PINE), focusing on participants who completed the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index and Women’s Health Initiative Insomnia Rating Scale in wave 6 (2021-2023) and at least one prior wave between wave 4 (2017-2019) and wave 5 (2019-2021). A mixed-effects linear spline model analyzed predictors across five domains: individual characteristics (age, sex, marital status, education, income, health literacy, chronic conditions), psychological distress (depressive symptoms, anxiety, perceived loneliness), immigration factors (years living in the U.S., acculturation), interpersonal factors (social support, social strain, filial piety receipt and expectations), and perceived neighborhood environment (disorder and cohesion), all adjusted in the context of COVID-19. Results were stratified by residential environment (living in Chinatown versus living outside of Chinatown). The findings revealed that the pandemic worsened sleep health, with depressive symptoms being significantly related to a faster decline in sleep quality and faster increase in insomnia, regardless of residential environment. These findings suggest that the pandemic intensified the influence of psychosocial and immigration factors on sleep health among older Chinese immigrants, highlighting the need for targeted interventions.