Distinct Identity Research Articles

Characterisation of the avascular mesenchyme during digit outgrowth.

Characterisation of the avascular mesenchyme during digit outgrowth.

Narrative, Identity and Terrorism: A Constructivist Analysis of the Pahalgam 2025 Attack in the Escalating India–Pakistan Conflict

The terrorist assault on Pahalgam in 2025 signified a new chapter in the enduring conflict between India and Pakistan. This study analyses how the governments of both nations produced official narratives in reaction to the occurrence and how these narratives embody and promote their distinct national identities. The research used a constructivist method to examine the production of identity and meaning through political speeches, government pronouncements, and media framing. The analysis relies on qualitative interpretation of secondary sources, such as diplomatic briefings, ministerial speeches, and reports from esteemed foreign media sites. Evidence suggests that India characterized the assault as an instance of cross-border terrorism, supporting its self-perception as a secular and democratic nation under threat and justifying retaliatory measures. Pakistan, in response, dismissed the claims and sought to recast the episode as a contrived crisis intended to divert attention from Indian persecution in Kashmir, portraying itself as a victim rather than an aggressor. This study illustrates that identity formation and story creation are essential strategies in perpetuating the competition between India and Pakistan, distinguishing this research from earlier studies mainly concentrating on strategic, legal, or security aspects. It contends that absent a shift in one state's perception and representation of the other, future crises will likely follow analogous discursive patterns.

Resilience Mechanisms of School Counselors in Wartime: A Grounded Theory Study

ABSTRACTSchool counselors play a pivotal role in supporting the resilience of students and staff; however, scant attention has been given to their own resilience during times of crisis. Utilizing a grounded theory approach, this study constructs a multidimensional model of resilience among school counselors operating under wartime conditions. Data were gathered from 181 Israeli school counselors, spanning all grade levels and ranging from one to 36 years of experience, via an online questionnaire with open‐ended items, administered during the third week of the Swords of Iron War (November–December 2023). Data analysis proceeded through open, axial, and selective coding, culminating in the development of the Counseling Resilience Circle model. This model delineates two central components ‐ counselor efficacy and a distinct professional identity—structured within three domains: personal (emotional processing, personal and professional life experiences, motivation for professional growth), organizational (collegial support, proactive work, professional autonomy), and spiritual (beliefs, optimism, sense of meaning and mission). The findings illuminate the dynamic interplay of personal, professional, and spiritual mechanisms of resilience, offering insights for targeted interventions aimed at enhancing counselors' capacity to navigate crises. Practical implications for counselor preparation, institutional support, and policy formulation are discussed, providing a foundation for bolstering resilience among school counselors in times of crisis.

Invisible racism rethought: a globally oriented approach to anti-Chinese racism

ABSTRACT This article explores the invisible educational space in which overseas Chinese grapple with and resist anti-Chinese racism. Focusing on examining ethnic expressions and experiences of Chinese postgraduate research students (PGRs) in the post-pandemic UK, it identifies institutional limitations to subject them to the BAME (Black and Asian Minority Ethnic) category that does injustice to the historical and everyday formations of their distinct (inter-)national, racial and ethnic identities. By responding to a rare opportunity in the post-pandemic UK, this research is co-produced with Chinese PGRs who became open to reflecting on their racial, ethnic, and educational experiences in UK higher education (HE). I argue for anti-Chinese racism to be recognised as geopolitically infused and structurally embedded under the rising concerns of knowledge security and global mobility. Through the geopolitical lens, I conceptualise the recent development of racism experienced by Chinese PGRs, especially those from Mainland China, as interlinked to politicised global events and border control practices, intersecting the higher education sector. This article contributes to understanding how the geopolitics of higher education impacts Chinese PGRs’ racialised experiences and navigation strategies in the global university system. It highlights the heterogeneity of Chinese educational migrants and calls for greater knowledge, sensitivity, and attention to support provisions on university campuses.

Reuse Strategies of Urban Areas and Built Heritage: Case Study of Karbala Old City

Preserving urban heritage and identity is a pressing issue in cities undergoing rapid development. The city center of Karbala, home to one of the holiest shrines for Shia Muslims, faces significant pressure from its annual influx of over 20 million pilgrims. This necessitates development initiatives focused on creating vast open areas around the shrines, which involve demolishing approximately half of the old city. This research critically assesses potential problems stemming from this approach and explores alternative solutions. Through analyzing the traditional urban fabric, including its distinctive characteristics, existing open spaces, land use, and pilgrimage movement patterns, and drawing insights from similar practices, it uncovers possibilities within the current city center and strategies to address the demands of increasing visitor numbers without compromising the invaluable historic urban fabric. The research advocates for the pivotal role of "Reuse" in preserving the historic urban fabric, complemented by its rehabilitation and restoration. By utilizing the existing urban fabric, the city can reduce the necessity for extensive demolition and redevelopment, thus safeguarding its distinctive urban character and identity. Additionally, it underscores the essentiality of prioritizing adaptability and flexibility, particularly in light of the significant transformations experienced during the annual event.

Rethinking Identity in Contemporary High-rise Architecture in Bangkok

Homogenization is a prominent concern in the discourse on globalization’s impact on architecture, particularly in high-rise buildings. This research explores how architectural identity can address perceptions of homogenization by analyzing the design concepts of three prominent skyscrapers in Bangkok, Thailand—a modern Asian metropolis with a rich history and cultural traditions. Drawing from existing theories and literature, the study examines how these buildings reflect local identity while engaging with global architectural trends. The case studies—The MET (2005), Central Embassy (2017), and King Power Maha Nakhon (2019)—are evaluated for their ability to convey distinct architectural identities that resonate with the cultural and local context while avoiding overt nationalistic symbolism. The MET reflects tropical identity through design strategies rooted in vernacular architecture, emphasizing climatic responsiveness. Central Embassy reinterprets traditional Thai craftsmanship with modern materials and technology, offering an innovative yet subtle connection to local culture. Maha Nakhon Tower, the most iconic of the three, adopts a bold, pixelated form that engages with Bangkok’s urban scale and morphology, though its local references remain speculative. The findings suggest that high-rise architecture in Bangkok can incorporate global trends without succumbing entirely to homogenization, limitations notwithstanding. While The MET succeeds in establishing a clear relationship with its tropical context, Central Embassy takes a more experimental approach with uncertain outcomes. In contrast, Maha Nakhon Tower prioritizes urban contextuality but achieves limited success in resisting homogenization due to its ambiguous local references. Together, these cases highlight the possibilities and challenges of integrating cultural identity into high-rise design, emphasizing the need for nuanced approaches to counteract the homogenizing tendencies.

Destierros y cruces culturales rumanos en Argentina durante la Guerra Fría

Concepts such as exile, migration and acculturation point to some of the most ancient and ever-present phenomena in humanity, although the reasons have varied, ranging from socio-political and economic to more personal ones. Undoubtedly, beyond the places of origin, crossings and lands of adoption, the trajectory of an exile is neither unitary nor stable, because it involves experiencing different historical, political, linguistic and cultural contexts, subject to continuous hybridization and adaptation. This research aims to illustrate a brief overview of communism in Romania and the stages of Romanian exile during the Cold War. Our analysis explores the cultural importance of two of the most prominent intellectuals who chose the Argentinean territory for their political exile, literary creation, cultural and educational activity in the second half of the 20 th century: the linguist Dumitru Găzdaru -from 1946 until his death in 1991- and the renowned Vintilă Horia -between 1948 and 1953- before settling permanently in Spain, where he died in 1992. Their complex but distinct identities, their eagerness to establish and collaborate in journals and institutions of great cultural stature, the relationship they maintain between their own language and others, and also the valuable studies of romanistics and hispanism they published all over the world, bear witness to their high level of research.

Navigating Islamophobia: Examining the Role of Religion and Community in the Everyday Lives of Muslim Adolescents in England

This study explores the coping strategies employed by Muslim adolescents in reaction to the challenges they face in schools across England. Rather than making broad generalizations about Muslim students in the UK, the study focuses on understanding how these young people navigate stressful experiences—particularly discrimination and Islamophobia—through their own lived experiences. Muslim minority communities in the UK frequently encounter difficulties related to their distinct identities on daily basis. In this context, religion, spirituality, and a sense of community often play a vital role in helping minority communities, including Muslims, cope with everyday challenges. Drawing on a qualitative research methodology, the study involved semi-structured interviews with 14 British Muslim students aged 15 to 16. The findings reveal three key coping mechanisms: religious consciousness, community belonging, and avoidance. Religious consciousness—expressed through prayer and spiritual engagement—supports psychological resilience. Community belonging provides a sense of solidarity and peer support, while avoidance functions as a practical strategy for managing ongoing experiences of discrimination. This research offers deeper insight into the lived experiences of Muslim youth and has important implications for educational policy and practice.

Reverse engineering neuron-type-specific and type-orthogonal splicing-regulatory networks using diverse cellular transcriptomes.

Reverse engineering neuron-type-specific and type-orthogonal splicing-regulatory networks using diverse cellular transcriptomes.

The Role of the Fire King Institution (Yang Pơtao Apui) of Gia Rai Minority in Gia Lai Province in the New Context

Yang Pơtao Apui (the Fire King) is a unique traditional institution in the social life of the Gia Rai people in particular and the Central Highlands (Tây Nguyên) in general. Throughout history, the Fire Kings have preserved their distinctive cultural identity despite many changes in social life. These cultural values continue to play a meaningful role in the contemporary life of the Gia Rai community. This article focuses on clarifying key perspectives and assessing the role of the Fire King in terms of its origin, development, and functions in community management, spiritual communication, and daily life. Based on fieldwork and collected data, the paper aims to analyze and highlight the current role of the Fire King institution, thereby proposing several solutions to preserve and promote its cultural value in alignment with the Party’s viewpoints and the Government’s policies.

Selective moral priorities: White evangelicals, imago Dei, and cultural engagement

This article examines how White evangelicals constructed “culture” as a theological and sociological category during 18 months of ethnographic fieldwork in both formal and informal pedagogical contexts, including a private, K-12 Christian academy and church-based programs. For them, concerns about “the culture” overwhelmingly focus on bodily issues, including non-heteronormative sexuality, transgender identities, and abortion, while issues like racism, immigration, con­sumerism, and income inequality receive minimal instructional attention. These selective concerns are constructed from interpretations of imago Dei—the belief in God’s “design” for humanity—and form the basis of a distinct evangelical social identity used to advance social and political ends. Delivered through educational pedagogy, these beliefs shape responses to perceived cultural threats, thereby cultivating and reinforcing White evangelical group identity.

Visual Artist, Craftsperson, Entrepreneur or … All in One? Identity Struggles and Juggles in Creative Crafts

ABSTRACTSocial identity theories explain how identities intertwine with individuals' choices and behaviours. Simultaneously, an institutional context imposes constraints on people's agency due to the norms, habits and expectations it engrains. This is the case in the artistic realm, where numerous categorization norms remain implicit. In the present paper, we examine the links between identity and professional activities in the creative crafts sector, which exhibits characteristics of both contemporary arts and traditional crafts. Employing a mixed methodology that combines survey data and a focus group, we explore the ways in which different identities and professional activities within the market for creative crafts are interconnected. We show ‘how’ creative crafts practitioners self‐identify (as an artist, craftsman [artisan], designer, maître d'art and creative entrepreneur) and reveal contradictions between—what we label—individuals' self‐attributed identity (self‐identification) and positioned social identity (the categorization by others). Notably, the identity of the ‘artist’ emerges as the most prominently promoted one, while that of the craftsperson is found to be more comfortable. Specific instances of identity struggles and juggles are identified. To explain the identity positioning issues faced in this sector, we invoke the nomenclative habits and market activities that prevail in creative crafts. Our empirical data allow us to disentangle two distinct identity strategies, which we label ‘rooted identity strategy’ and ‘floating identity strategy’. Our contributions lie in a more in‐depth exploration of identity perceptions within cultural and creative industries, by showing how creative people deal with multiple, sometimes conflicting, identities and discussing how this can affect careers.

Coherence, continuity, and comprehensiveness in shaping leadership development systems in Swedish companies

This study explores the relationship between organizational leadership identity, defined as “who we are” and “what we value related to leadership”, and leadership development practices in five Swedish companies. Through the analysis of their narratives, the study reveals five distinct organizational leadership identities, ranging from individual leadership excellence to collaborative self-leadership. These identities significantly influence the shaping of a leadership development system (LDS) in practice. The study highlights three critical aspects— coherence , continuity , and comprehensiveness —that define the interdependency between leadership identity and an LDS. A closer linkage creates high interdependency, resulting in a stronger and more effective system, while weaker linkages reduce this interdependency and its potential to support organizational objectives and manage change. This research challenges traditional, linear models of leadership development, emphasizing the interaction and interconnectedness of practices within an organized “place”. This place serves as a site of integration, activation, and interconnection between people, things, and experiences. By integrating concepts of organizational identity, historical context, and values, the study provides a more holistic theoretical framework for understanding how effective leadership is developed within organizations.

The generational divide: How late entrant entrepreneurs influenced field frames in the Ontario wine field

ABSTRACT Although research has shown how entrants create markets, few studies have explored how late entrant entrepreneurs influence institutional change in already formed markets. Our study considers how varying late entrant subgroups shift market meanings reflected in field frames used by producers in the media in ways that spur field change. We do this within the context of the Ontario-grown wine category from 1985 to 2018. We show that later generations founded prior to or around the category’s legitimation influenced the salience of field frames that refined and incrementally changed the category. Later generations founded after legitimation and second-career lifestyle entrepreneurs influenced the salience of field frames that contended against regulations that benefited other categories but hindered the growth of their category. Concurrently, our insights help further understanding of how late entrants change an existing category to not only create a space for their distinctive identities but also enhance the viability of the category overall.

INTEGRATING TRADITIONAL HAND-MADE EMBROIDERY INTO CUSTOM LINENS AND BEDDINGS: CULTURAL, ECONOMIC, AND EXPERIENTIAL BENEFITS FOR THE TOURISM ACCOMMODATION SECTOR

This article explores the integration of traditional hand-made embroidery into customized linens and beddings within the tourist accommodation sector. It examines the cultural, economic and experiential benefits of this practice, emphasizing its role in enhancing guest satisfaction, promoting local heritage and supporting artisan in Mubi, Adamawa State. A quantitative methodology, which measures both the benefits of customizing linens, was adopted with quantitative data being collected through 60 questionnaires distributed to guests, hotel managers and artisans. Drawing on case studies and industry insights, the study highlights how embroidered textiles not only elevate the aesthetic and uniqueness of hospitality interiors but also serve as a sustainable strategy for cultural preservation and community-based economic development. The findings suggest that such artisanal touches can create a distinctive identity for accommodations and foster deeper connections between tourists and local traditions.

Youth soccer coaches’ practice, agency, and professionalism: an intrapersonal identity perspective

ABSTRACT Despite extensive research on the implications of athletic identity for coaching practice and scholarly recognition of the dynamic and fluid nature of coaches’ identity formation, scholars have overlooked the interaction between coaches’ athletic identity and their multiple other identities. This gap is especially significant given that studies have long pointed out the existence of a multiple identity structure and indicated that intrapersonal identity relations are a fundamental driver of individual behavior. Addressing this gap, we used Ramarajan's (2014, Past, present and future research on multiple identities: Toward an intrapersonal network approach. Academy of Management Annals, 8(1), 589–659. https://doi.org/10.5465/19416520.2014.912379) network of identities theory to explore how the dynamics of coaches’ identities affect their professional considerations, practices, and agency. Deductive thematic analysis of semi-structured interviews with 28 male Israeli youth sport coaches unveiled a dual identity framework, encompassing both athletic and coaching identities. Within this framework, three distinct identity structures and relationships emerged in the contexts of winning, trainee selection, and inclusivity in play. With regard to winning and trainee selection, coaches reinforced competitive norms that potentially constrained professional growth but in the area of inclusivity in play, a dialectic identity process emerged. This process fostered professional exploration, demonstrating agency despite the deeply embedded nature of the athletic identity. Although prior research has examined sport coaches’ agency through their behaviors, our findings suggest that agency was prompted by intrapersonal conflict between equally important identities. This dual identity framework enabled coaches to distance themselves from their athletic identity while simultaneously drawing strength and stability from their coaching identity. We recommend increasing coaches’ awareness of their complex identity structures and supporting them in cultivating diverse identities that encourage critical reflection on their coaching practices.

200-OR: Targeting β-Cell Senescence and Secondary Senescence—Therapeutic Potential of JAK Inhibitors in Diabetes

Introduction and Objective: Cellular senescence is a stress response marked by the upregulation of antiapoptotic pathways, loss of function, and secretome remodeling (SASP). Pancreatic β-cells undergo senescence with age and insulin resistance, while their targeted removal improves glucose homeostasis, demonstrating the role of β-cell senescence in diabetes progression. However, β-cell senescence can also promote β-cell survival and function. Thus, a better understanding of the phenotypic and functional heterogeneity is needed to develop effective therapeutic strategies. Methods: scRNASeq of human and mouse islets revealed senescent subopulations and their transcriptional signatures. A p21Cip1-tdTom reporter mouse was developed through CRISPR editing and their islets isolated and used for flow cytometry, insulin secretion assays and protein content. siRNA against p21Cip1 was used for knockdown and downstream analysis of function and transcription. Inhibitors of JAK1/2 and JAK 2/3 were used on mouse and human islets to assess their effects on insulin secretion and senescence status. Results: Subpopulations of senescent β-cells, identified through the expression of Cdkn1a (encoding p21Cip1) and Cdkn2a (encoding p16Ink4a) had distinct transcriptional and functional identities. The predominant senescent β-cell subpopulation expressed Cdkn1a and was characterized by a lack of function, and transcription of SASP factors. The SASP from the Cdkn1a+ subpopulation induced secondary senescence and dysfunction in neighboring cells. JAK inhibitors counteracted secondary senescence, decreased SASP secretion and restored function in human islets from donors with insulin resistance and Type 2 Diabetes. Conclusion: The main subpopulation of senescent β-cells expressed Cdkn1a and led to secondary senescence, loss of function, and loss of transcriptional identity in neighboring cells. This was attenuated with JAK inhibitors Disclosure P. Carapeto: None. K. Iwasaki: None. H. Pan: None. C. Cahill: None. F. Hela: None. S. Le: None. C. Aguayo-Mazzucato: Consultant; Novo Nordisk. Funding This study was supported by Institutional Startup Funds to CAM, National Institutes of Health grants 1R01DK132535 to CAM, P30 DK036836 to Joslin Diabetes Center (Cores), Thomas J Beatson Jr Foundation grant 2020-010 and the Richard and Susan Smith Family Foundation Award to CAM. SL is funded by NIH R25DK140752. KI is a Iacocca Postdoctoral Fellow.

Esprit de Corps: Regimental Journals and Belonging

‘Esprit de corps’ is a concept that is deep embedded in the psyche of the British Army. It is a term which is closely linked to ideas of community and belonging, and which has ties to the regimental system which developed in the British Army from the seventeenth century onwards. From their founding, regiments worked to create distinct identities. Regimental journals, which appeared from the 1860s, were a fundamental tool for the creation and circulation of that identity and to cementing ‘esprit de corps’. This article will explore how and why regimental journals built and promoted community, belonging, and collective memory, as well as their role in supporting morale and discipline. It will question how successful these periodicals were in meeting those aims, and will also recognise their complicated position that straddled the line between professional, community and lifestyle publication, reflecting the reality of military life during this period.

Ankyrin-G and Its Binding Partners in Neurons: Orchestrating the Molecular Structure of the Axon Initial Segment.

The axon initial segment (AIS) is a specialized subcellular domain that plays an essential role in action potential initiation and the diffusion barrier. A key organizer of the AIS is Ankyrin-G, a scaffolding protein responsible for clustering voltage-gated ion channels, cell adhesion molecules (CAMs), and cytoskeletal components at this critical neuronal domain. Recent proteomic analyses have revealed a complex network of proteins in the AIS, emphasizing Ankyrin-G's central role in its molecular architecture. This review discusses new findings in the study of AIS-associated proteins. It explains how Ankyrin-G and its binding partners (such as ion channels, CAMs, spectrins, actin, and microtubule-associated proteins including end-binding protein 3, tripartite motif-containing protein 46, and calmodulin-regulated spectrin-associated protein 2) organize their structure. Understanding the dynamic regulation and molecular interactions within the AIS offers insights into neuronal excitability and reveals potential therapeutic targets for axonal dysfunction-related diseases. Through these dynamic interactions, Ankyrin-G ensures the proper alignment and dense clustering of key channel complexes, thereby maintaining the AIS's distinctive molecular and functional identity. By further unraveling the complexity of Ankyrin-G's interactome, our understanding of AIS formation, maintenance, and plasticity will be considerably enhanced, contributing to the elucidation of the pathogenesis of neurological and neuropsychiatric disorders.

SHARING SPACES BETWEEN MAJORITIES AND MINORITIES: Negotiations of Muslim Communities in North Sumatra in Shaping a New Multiculturalism from a Social Philosophy Perspective

<span lang="IN">Multiculturalism often positions the majority group as the central axis in establishing the rules of sociality. This article examines how urban social spaces in North Sumatra serve as dynamic platforms for interactions among diverse ethnic, religious, and cultural groups, with the Muslim community as the dominant majority. Using a phenomenological approach, the study explores how social realities are constructed through intergroup interactions. Field data, analyzed hermeneutically within a qualitative philosophical framework, reveal that these social spaces function both as arenas of conflict and as catalysts for integration. The findings highlight the dual roles of social spaces in fostering cooperation and preserving diverse identities, conceptualized through the metaphors of a “symphony" and a “mosaic.” The “symphony” illustrates harmonious collaboration among groups, while the “mosaic” reflects the coexistence of distinct identities. These dynamics contribute to a distinctive model of multiculturalism in Indonesia, where conflict is integrated as part of the social fabric, fostering deeper social cohesion. This research provides valuable insights for global discourses on diversity management and conflict resolution, particularly in multicultural urban societies.</span>