Ethnic Backgrounds Research Articles

The Impact of Board Diversity on Corporate Governance Practices: A Comparative Analysis

This comparative analysis explores the impact of board diversity on corporate governance practices within the contemporary business landscape. With an increasing emphasis on inclusivity and equitable representation, corporations worldwide are reconsidering the composition of their boards to reflect a broader spectrum of perspectives and experiences. This study delves into the multifaceted dimensions of diversity, including but not limited to gender, ethnicity, age, and professional background, and investigates how these factors influence decision-making processes, risk management strategies, and overall governance effectiveness. Drawing upon a comprehensive review of existing literature, empirical studies, and case analyses, this research elucidates the complex interplay between board diversity and corporate governance outcomes.

A Cross-Sectional Study on Prevalence and Association Between Sociodemographic Factors, Body Mass Index and the Development of Eating Disorders among Undergraduates of University of Cyberjaya

Eating disorders are severe conditions marked by disrupted eating habits, thoughts, and emotions, with primary types being Anorexia Nervosa, Bulimia Nervosa, and Binge-eating disorder. The prevalence of these disorders is rising globally and pose significant threats to both mental and physical health. This study aims to determine the prevalence of developing eating disorders among undergraduates of University of Cyberjaya and to determine the associations between sociodemographic factors, gender, Body Mass Index (BMI), and the development of eating disorders. A descriptive cross-sectional study design was done among undergraduates of University of Cyberjaya across seven faculties of study who fulfil the inclusion and exclusion criteria. Stratified random sampling followed by convenience sampling was used in this research. Data collection was done by distributing online questionnaires. Out of 250 respondents, 76% of the participants were female, 65.6% were Malays and 57.6% were aged 21 to 25 years old. This study showed that 54% of the participants are at risk of developing an eating disorder. This study also proved that there is significant association between BMI (p = 0.05) and ethnicity (p = 0.01) with the development of eating disorders. However, no significant associations were found for gender (p = 0.91), age (p = 0.98), residency (p = 0.62), faculty of study (p = 0.90), and monthly allowance (p = 0.83). These results indicate the critical need for targeted interventions focusing on BMI and ethnic backgrounds to address and mitigate the risk of eating disorders among undergraduate students from University of Cyberjaya.

Framing Ethnicity in Initial Teacher Education: A Focus Group Study with Student Teachers

ABSTRACT This study aimed to explore how student teachers experienced the framing of ethnicity in initial teacher education in Sweden. Ten focus group discussions were conducted (N = 42; 21% minoritized ethnic background). An inductive thematic analysis was used. The findings showed that ethnicity was framed as mainly concerning “others” and that it was framed as sensitive. The current framing of ethnicity suggests that initial teacher education does not prepare student teachers to support positive youth ethnic-racial identity development. The findings highlight a need for student teachers, and teacher educators, to explore their own ethnic-racial identities through critical discussions that challenge notions of ethnicity as something that concerns “others”. Furthermore, the findings highlight student teachers’ and teacher educators’ needs for structured support in how to critically engage in “sensitive” discussions. Further, the results illustrate how the framing of ethnicity resonates with aspects of social identity theory and with the postcolonial concept “othering”.

Theory-based science communication at comic cons

ABSTRACT The majority of research concerning science communication happens in spaces where people already have a vested interest in or knowledge of science, such as museums and science cafes. Thus, there is a gap in understanding what theory-based science communication looks like in non-science-centered spaces. This qualitative research study, which featured cosplaying science communicators at comic conventions, offers insights into what science communication practices occur within everyday spaces. We conducted observations of and semi-structured interviews with 15 cosplaying scientists, examining how they utilized effective framing and narrative structuring when communicating science at comic cons in cosplay. Across 700 coded utterances, cosplaying scientists most often used effectively framed messaging which allowed for visitors to unite their interests with STEM topics. Alternatively, we rarely witnessed cosplaying scientists using messaging that assuaged or addressed politically polarized scientific topics, such as climate change. While not originally within the scope of data analysis, we also noted that cosplaying scientists indicated that varied aspects of their identities, such as their gender and ethnic backgrounds helped or hindered their science communication practices at comic conventions. Our research provides evidence how science communication changes when it occurs in everyday spaces and indicates avenues for future study in these spaces.

Assessment of Occupational Based Stress and Internal Coherence Related with Quality of Life Through Heartrate Variability (HRV) - A Cross Sectional Study

Background: This study aimed to evaluate occupation-based stress levels and internal coherence in individuals visiting dental clinics of a tertiary care hospital using heart rate variability (HRV) measures. Occupational stress can significantly influence various aspects of quality of life, including emotional health and cardiovascular risks. Objective: The primary objective was to assess the relationship between occupational stress, internal coherence, and quality of life through HRV metrics in a diverse population. Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted over six months, enrolling 323 voluntary participants aged 18 years and older, irrespective of gender, ethnic background, or occupation. Participants were informed about the study and provided consent one day prior to their participation. HRV recordings were taken for six minutes in a quiet, temperature-controlled room after a 30-minute relaxation period. HRV sensors were applied to either the index finger or earlobe based on the participant's choice. Data were analyzed using emWave Pro Plus and Kubios HRV software. Statistical analysis was performed using SPSS version 25, with numerical variables reported as medians and interquartile ranges and categorical variables as frequencies and percentages. Results: The study comprised 161 males (49.8%) and 162 females (50.2%), with an age range of 18-65 years. Sympathetic activity increased with age, while younger participants exhibited higher parasympathetic activity. The median SDNN was 78.70 ms (IQR 43.8, 148.0) for males and 60.0 ms (IQR 35.1, 132.2) for females. The coherence levels were low across all age groups, and the stress index scores increased with age. Specifically, the stress index was higher in older age groups, with males aged 54-65 years showing a median stress index score of 45.8% in the high-stress category, compared to 17.9% in males aged 18-29 years. Conclusion: The findings highlight the significant impact of occupational stress on HRV and overall well-being. Sympathetic activity increased with age, and stress levels were higher in older participants. These results underscore the importance of work-life balance and stress management strategies to mitigate cardiovascular risks and improve quality of life.

Genomic Insights for Personalized Care: Motivating At-Risk Individuals Toward Evidence-Based Health Practices.

Lung cancer and tobacco use pose significant global health challenges, necessitating a comprehensive translational roadmap for improved prevention strategies. Polygenic risk scores (PRSs) are powerful tools for patient risk stratification but have not yet been widely used in primary care for lung cancer, particularly in diverse patient populations. We propose the GREAT care paradigm, which employs PRSs to stratify disease risk and personalize interventions. We developed PRSs using large-scale multi-ancestry genome-wide association studies and standardized PRS distributions across all ancestries. We applied our PRSs to 796 individuals from the GISC Trial, 350,154 from UK Biobank (UKBB), and 210,826 from All of Us Research Program (AoU), totaling 561,776 individuals of diverse ancestry. Significant odds ratios (ORs) for lung cancer and difficulty quitting smoking were observed in both UKBB and AoU. For lung cancer, the ORs for individuals in the highest risk group (top 20% versus bottom 20%) were 1.85 (95% CI: 1.58 - 2.18) in UKBB and 2.39 (95% CI: 1.93 - 2.97) in AoU. For difficulty quitting smoking, the ORs (top 33% versus bottom 33%) were 1.36 (95% CI: 1.32 - 1.41) in UKBB and 1.32 (95% CI: 1.28 - 1.36) in AoU. Our PRS-based intervention model leverages large-scale genetic data for robust risk assessment across populations. This model will be evaluated in two cluster-randomized clinical trials aimed at motivating health behavior changes in high-risk patients of diverse ancestry. This pioneering approach integrates genomic insights into primary care, promising improved outcomes in cancer prevention and tobacco treatment.

First family with Perry syndrome from Mexico.

Perry syndrome (PS) is a rare autosomal dominant disease characterized by parkinsonism, central hypoventilation, weight loss and depression and is caused by pathogenic mutations in the dynactin subunit 1 (DCTN1) gene (encoding p150glued protein). To date, only two cases have been reported in Latin America, specifically in Colombia and Argentina. The present study, to the best of our knowledge, reports the first recorded Mexican family with PS. The clinical features of the proband and a family history of early parkinsonism led to the suspicion of PS. The pathogenic variant NM_004082:c.212G>A, causing a (p.Gly71Glu) mutation in the p150glued protein, was identified in exon 2 of the DCTN1 gene by exome sequencing, confirming the diagnosis of PS. (p.Gly71Glu) has been previously identified in at least 4 cases of PS from different ethnic backgrounds. Genetic counseling was provided to the available family members. To clarify the impact of the (p.Gly71Glu) variant on the structure and function of the cytoskeleton-associated protein Gly rich (CAP-Gly) domain of p150glued, Glu71 mutated CAP-Gly domains were modeled and compared with the wild-type. It was hypothesized that the larger and more charged side chain of Glu may induce conformational and electrostatic changes, imposing a conformational restriction on the peptide backbone that would affect interaction with the p150glued protein partners, causing dysfunction in the dynactin protein complex.

Peri-operative fever and LVAD: SIRS or impaired right ventricular strain?

An inflammatory milieu after left ventricular assist device (LVAD) implantation is associated with multi-organ dysfunction and pre-operative heightened inflammatory state is associated with right ventricular failure after LVAD implantation. We performed a retrospective analysis of 30 LVAD patients in our institution within the last 2 years for the development of fever and compared them to 30 non-LVAD open-heart surgery patients. Our results suggest that patients undergoing LVAD implantation are more likely to develop fever in the immediate post-operative period compared to other open-heart surgeries. This is independent of pharmacological treatment, age, or ethnical background. Females and obese patients were more likely to develop fever. Patients with right ventricular dysfunction, as demonstrated by elevated central venous pressure (CVP), had the strongest correlation with fever development. These results pose the question if there is a systemic inflammatory response-like phenomenon driven by increased right ventricular dysfunction.

A duoethnography: female academics’ experiences of gendered health issues at the intersection of middlescence, ethnic origin, social and professional status in the neoliberal academy

A duoethnography: female academics’ experiences of gendered health issues at the intersection of middlescence, ethnic origin, social and professional status in the neoliberal academy

Pengelolaan Keragaman Sumber Daya Manusia dalam Organisasi

Management of human resource (HR) diversity in organizations. HR diversity includes differences in race, ethnicity, gender, age, religion, disability, sexual orientation and cultural background. There are several challenges faced by organizations in managing HR diversity, including potential conflicts between employees, bias and discrimination, as well as difficulties in building cohesive teams. However, diversity also brings various opportunities, such as increased creativity and innovation, market expansion, and the ability to attract the best talent from various backgrounds. To maximize the benefits of HR diversity, organizations need to implement inclusive management strategies, such as diversity awareness training, anti-discrimination policies, and mentoring programs. In conclusion, effective HR diversity management not only helps organizations create a harmonious and productive work environment, but also provides a competitive advantage in an increasingly global and dynamic market.

Universal Credit receipt among working-age patients who are accessing specialist mental health services: results from a novel data linkage study

BackgroundIn 2013, Universal Credit (UC) was introduced by the UK Government. Understanding of how UC provision is allocated among people with mental disorders, and its intersection with protected characteristics is...

Influence of donor age, sex and ethnicity on high-titre anti-A and -B: Review of 6 million donations from two national blood providers.

Some blood operators routinely screen blood donations for high-titre (HT) anti-A/B to reduce the risk of a haemolytic transfusion reaction due to out-of-group plasma-rich components. We assessed donor factors associated with an increased likelihood of screening positive and compared routine data between England and Australia. Data were assessed from HT screening during 2018-2020 in Australia and 2018-2021 in England, totalling nearly 6 million blood donations. Screening was performed using a Beckman Coulter PK7300 analyser with a micro-titre plate saline direct agglutination test in both countries, although different reagent red cells were chosen. HT-positive was defined as testing positive at a titre of 128 or above. The likelihood of a donor testing HT-positive was greater for females than males, declined with age and was dependent on the ABO group. However, the proportion of donors testing HT-positive was consistently higher in Australia than in England: overall, 14% of group O donations and 5% of group A donations in England tested HT-positive, compared with 51% and 22%, respectively in Australia. English data also showed that donors from Black, Asian or mixed ethnic backgrounds were more likely to test HT-positive than White donors. These data demonstrate that donor sex, age, ABO group and ethnicity affect the likelihood of testing HT-positive. Differences in testing methods likely had a significant impact on the proportion of donors testing as HT-positive or -negative rather than any differences in donor populations.

Linkage of administrative family court care proceedings and hospital records for mothers in England: linkage accuracy and cumulative incidence of family court care proceedings after a first live birth

IntroductionLinkage of public law family court care proceedings (CP) data to all women giving birth in NHS hospitals in England allows calculation of the cumulative incidence of CP involvement for mothers with first children born. ObjectivesTo assess linkage accuracy and determine the 10-year cumulative incidence of CP after a first live birth (FLB) for population subgroups. MethodNHS England linked records for mothers in Cafcass (Children and Family Court Advisory and Support Service) involved in CP (2007-2021) to all mothers with a delivery in England using Hospital Episode Statistics (HES: 1997-21). We calculated match rates and assessed indirect evidence of potential false positive and missed links. We used survival analyses to estimate cumulative incidence of CP within 10 years overall and for five-year maternal age groups at first live birth. ResultsOf 120,937 mothers involved in CP, 6.6% (n = 8,010) were excluded due to missing postcode or date of birth, or age < 15 or > 50. Of the remaining 112,927 mothers, 92,891 (82.8%) were linked to a HES delivery record. Match rates were lowest for mothers with an ethnic minority background, older at first case, or residing in Greater London, but improved over time. Of 3,572,737 mothers with a FLB, 38,462 had CP involvement. The cumulative incidence of CP at 10 years from FLB was 1.31% (95% Confidence Interval [CI]; 1.29-1.32) overall and highest in mothers aged 15--19 years (6.79%, 95% CI: 6.69-6.89) and those living in the most deprived areas (2.47%, 95% CI: 2.43-2.51). ConclusionOne in 77 of all mothers and one in 15 aged less than 20 at first live birth were involved in CP within 10 years. Linkage error may underestimate the incidence of CP for mothers in London or with an ethnic minority background.

To confront or not to confront? Seeing minorities’ responses to ethnoracial stigmatisation through Goffman’s ritual interaction order

The last decade has seen a proliferation of sociological research on minorities’ responses to ethnoracial stigmatisation. Compared to social and cultural structures, face-to-face interaction has thus far received insufficient theoretical attention, even though social situations are a prime site for stigmatisation. This has resulted in three shortcomings in the research: (1) a tacit individual–structure dualism; (2) neglect of situational variation; and (3) neglect of dialogical concerns behind people’s responses. Building on 20 in-depth qualitative interviews with Norwegians of ethnic and/or racial minority backgrounds, and homing in on non-confrontations to ambiguous stigmatisation, we investigate the role of face-to-face interaction as such. We rely on Erving Goffman’s theories of interaction order and interaction ritual. The interaction order highlights social interaction’s semi-autonomous existence vis-a-vis both human personalities and social structures, and is sustained by interaction ritual, that is, the mutual protection of selves in interaction. Among our key findings is that non-confrontations are concurrently self- and other-oriented, mirroring Goffman’s concept of facework. Regarding situational variation, we distinguish, for instance, situations of hierarchy from those of assumed equality; interactions with strangers from established relations; situations framed by professional ethics from those not; work from private settings and public spaces.

The person-environment fit of immigrants to the United States: A registered report.

There are notable parallels between processes leading to person-environment fit (PE-fit) and processes of selection and acculturation among U.S. immigrants. Thus, a natural question is: Do immigrants benefit from fitting their new environments? PE-fit appears to have uniformly positive effects in the education, career, and personality literatures, but it is unclear whether this would be the case for immigrants. The present study evaluated the PE-fit of U.S. immigrants (N = 39,195) to their new host communities (9,925 Zip Code Tabulation Areas [ZCTAs]). PE-fit varied across immigrants. On average, immigrant PE-fit was lower (b = 0.23 and b = 0.35) than the PE-fit of U.S. natives (b = 0.47; N = 122,339 from 2,374 ZCTAs). Immigrants more closely matched their community's profile when they were older, more educated, from Western countries, or from countries with French or German as the official language. PE-fit was positively associated with immigrant traits of Honesty, Introspection, Creativity, and Industry. Immigrants experienced better PE-fit when they resided in communities with more educated residents, with residents born abroad-particularly in the same world region-or with residents with a similar ethnic background. Finally, immigrant PE-fit was associated with well-being and self-reported health. We discuss the implications for the study of U.S. immigrants and the field of acculturation and propose future directions. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2024 APA, all rights reserved).

Multiculturalism among Students in Madrasah: Knowledge, Challenges, and Social Capital

Multicultural knowledge among students is essential to building diversity and harmony in social life. This study illustrates the importance of multiculturalism among students in fostering a sense of empathy, tolerance, cooperation, and social care in social interactions. In addition, this study also aims to analyze Muslim students’ knowledge about multiculturalism. Students’ knowledge about multiculturalism is presented based on information obtained through questionnaires and interviews. This research was conducted in West Kalimantan, with the data source being students, with 40 respondents from various ethnic backgrounds who were Muslim. The findings revealed that Muslim students’ knowledge is a social capital that impacts social life in West Kalimantan. The multicultural knowledge of Muslim students is manifested in two forms: cultural accommodation and cooperation in the field of culture and religion. A limitation of this study is that the data sources focus on Muslim students. The researcher suggested the need to collect data on students from non-Muslim backgrounds, thus the need to use more in-depth methods to gain a more comprehensive understanding of the case.

Diversified Workforce and Employees' Performance: Moderating Effect of Bureaucratic Leadership in Third Sector

With the global workforce undergoing unprecedented diversification, organizations in the Third Sector are compelled to scrutinize the intricate relationship between a diverse workforce and employees' performance. This paper delves into the nuanced dynamics within the Third Sector, focusing on the moderating effect of bureaucratic leadership on the link between workforce diversity and performance. The unique challenges and opportunities faced by non-profit organizations, NGOs, and social enterprises underscore the significance of this study. The research employs quantitative surveys to offer a holistic understanding of the complex interplay among workforce diversity, bureaucratic leadership, and employee performance. The study aims to identify patterns, correlations, and moderating influences that may provide valuable insights for organizations within the Third Sector. The key variables under investigation include workforce diversity, assessed through established scales regarding age, gender, ethnicity, and educational background diversity; employees' performance and bureaucratic leadership were also measured through established scales. Data was collected from diverse employees across various levels and departments within Lahore's third-sector organizations. The analysis employed statistical tools like regression analysis for quantitative data. This research seeks to contribute to the academic understanding of the subject and provide practical implications for organizational leaders in the Third Sector. The findings aim to guide effective decision-making, foster inclusive leadership practices, and enhance organizational performance in a diverse workforce.

Sex and age distribution of the Hyperostosis frontalis interna (based on skulls analysis of tra-ditional societies in Eurasia)

Hyperostosis frontalis interna is an overgrowth on the inner surface of the frontal bone [Hershkovitz et al., 1999]. HFI is accompanied by hormonal and metabolic disorders usually [Hershkovitz et al., 1999]. The rate of HFI in historical groups is low (1–4 %) compared to the modern population, where the incidence of HFI can reach 70 % [Kolyasnikova, Buzhilova, 2023; Barber et al., 1997]. In the modern population, HFI is more common for women, predominantly elderly, which, at first glance, is explained by the general increase in women's life expectancy and the accumulation of various chronic pathologies in old age, including those related to metabolism. To examine the distribution of the HFI trait by sex and age, craniological material from representatives of traditional societies of farmers, hunters, nomadic and semi-nomadic pastoralists living in different climatic zones was studied. Craniological series were divided into three main groups: inhabitants of the Arctic and subarctic, temperate and continental climatic zones. A total of 1912 skulls were studied from the funds of the Research Institute and the Museum of Anthropology of Moscow State University [Alexe-eva et al., 1986]. As a result, using the example of 4 traditional groups from three climatic zones, it was shown that the sign of frontal internal hyperostosis is equally pronounced in both women and men, regardless of ethnic origin, place of residence and type of activity. The age-related increase in the frequency of hyperostosis, taking into account gender, does not give a clear trend in all groups obtained from the analysis of combined samples, which can be explained by the relatively small number of HFI observations in individual subgroups. The pattern of distribution of the trait of frontal internal hyperostosis in the modern population, where the trait is more common in older women, does not correlate with the distribution of HFI in the population adapted to environmental conditions. The results obtained suggest that in tradi-tional societies that have been selected for factors of conditions and lifestyle, regardless of their origin, the distribution of the trait of frontal internal hyperostosis will demonstrate a natural profile that is most adequate to their lifestyle and diet.

Initial teacher education seminars and minority ethnic students: exploring dialogic teaching and engagement

ABSTRACT This small-scale action research acts on the calls for more inclusive and holistic higher education. It explores the impact of dialogic teaching approaches on student engagement, focusing on the experiences of initial teacher education students from ethnic minority backgrounds. The qualitative analysis reveals how these practices increase student engagement and contribute to better student experiences. Dialogic teaching cultivates safe learning spaces and empowers students to contribute more freely during seminars, improving their social, emotional, and personal engagement with learning. The students included in this study also perceived dialogic teaching practices as improving their experiences by supporting them in forming relationships. However, the analysis suggests that they do not fully remove all barriers to learning and engagement. Therefore, further research is needed to examine both the benefits and complexities of dialogic pedagogies in HE and the extent to which these practices contribute to fostering inclusive spaces within multicultural university settings.

Long-term impact of type 2 diabetes onset on dementia incidence rate among New Zealanders with impaired glucose tolerance: A tapered-matched landmark analysis over 25 years.

We aimed to investigate the association between the onset of type 2 diabetes (T2D) and dementia incidence rates (IR) in the population with impaired glucose tolerance (IGT) identified in primary care in New Zealand (NZ) over 25 years. Tapered matching and landmark analysis (accounting for immortal bias) were used to control for potential effects of known confounders. The association between T2D onset and 5- and 10-year IR of dementia was estimated by weighted Cox models. The onset of T2D was significantly associated with the 10-year IR of dementia, especially in the socioeconomically deprived, those of non-NZ European ethnicity, those currently smoking, and patients with higher metabolic measures. Our findings suggest that the onset of T2D is a significant risk factor for dementia in individuals with IGT. Dementia screening and structured diabetes prevention are vital in the population with IGT, particularly those from deprived or ethnic minority backgrounds. Increased dementia incidence rate links with T2D onset in people with IGT. Significant incidence varied by ethnicity, socioeconomic status, and health factors. Results emphasize the diabetes manage and socioeconomic factors on dementia risk. Secondary analysis highlights the key role of vascular health in dementia prevention.