Multicultural Research Articles

Abstract 1: A Brand-New Sourcing to Maximize Ethnic Diversity in Neonatal Stem Cell Collections and Correlated HLA Deep Understanding. Both to Improve Unrelated Cord Blood Units Inventory Efficiency and Biodata Based Drug Research

Abstract 1: A Brand-New Sourcing to Maximize Ethnic Diversity in Neonatal Stem Cell Collections and Correlated HLA Deep Understanding. Both to Improve Unrelated Cord Blood Units Inventory Efficiency and Biodata Based Drug Research

"I do think that accessibility is a really major thing that has come [out] of [the] pandemic": The lived experiences of resilience and health-related quality of life among a diverse sample of graduate students during the COVID-19 pandemic.

The COVID-19 pandemic has negatively impacted the mental health and wellbeing of post-secondary students. Resilience has been found to serve as a protective factor against mental distress among students during the pandemic. Despite the plethora of research that exists on post-secondary students during this crisis, most studies exploring students' health and resilience are quantitative and lack diversity. To date, the lived experiences of health-related quality of life (HRQOL) and resilience among graduate students representing diversity in age, gender, ethnicity, parental status, university, degree, and faculty during the COVID-19 pandemic remain unknown. As a part of a larger study, the purpose of this qualitative paper was to understand the lived experiences of resilience and HRQOL among a diverse sample of graduate students approximately 18 months into the COVID-19 pandemic in Ontario, Canada. A total of 14 students participated in semi-structured interviews exploring HRQOL domains, factors that supported/undermined participants' resilience, challenges/barriers to being resilient, and participants' inner strength. Thematic analysis revealed 5 themes: (1) cultural influences on resilience; (2) the role of privilege/power in shaping resilience; (3) how life stage and past experiences support resilience; (4) how the COVID-19 pandemic has undermined the resilience of equity-deserving groups; and (5) the role of disability/chronic pain. This work presents a unique dichotomy between how the COVID-19 pandemic has disrupted the lives of some graduate students, while simultaneously creating opportunities for others to thrive. Findings from this work underscore the importance of creating inclusive and accessible educational spaces to support graduate students' resilience and HRQOL currently, and in times of crisis.

Socio-environmental drivers of human-nature interactions in urban green spaces

Online platforms have broadened the opportunities of people to interact with nature through community/citizen science, especially in urban areas. However, there is a lack of comprehensive understanding of the social and environmental factors that influence nature interactions in cities. Here, we aim to identify the social and environmental predictors that impact nature interactions, by combining citizen science data with environmental and demographic data in New York City. We applied generalized linear models to identify which of 12 social and environmental factors influence nature interactions in public parks (n = 355) in the Borough of Queens, New York, New York (USA) in two scenarios, small-medium sized parks only (n = 355) and all parks (n = 359). We used iNaturalist records, including the number of users (Observers), Observations, Observed Biodiversity, and a calculated interaction effect (number of users × observations, Interaction), as metrics of nature interactions. For small-medium parks, all nature interactions were significantly influenced by park area, canopy cover, percent population with blood pressure and asthma conditions, noise, and summer mean temperature. Observers and Interaction were positively associated with median income. Observers, Observations, and Interaction were predicted by percent water cover, impervious cover, distance to public transportation, and ethnic diversity. In the analysis that included all parks, the results were similar with minor differences. This study demonstrates a holistic approach to a very specific type of human-nature interaction newly made available with technological advances, seen through an interdisciplinary lens and will help inform planners, residents, and city government on creating more interactive and socio-environmentally beneficial urban green spaces.

Formation of Inter-Ethnic Solidarity of The Kazakhstani Society Based on The Implementation of The Multiculturalism Concept in The Student Environment

The article presents the results of a sociological study on the problem of modern inter-ethnic relations among students based on the concept of multiculturalism. The purpose of this study is to identify the attitudes of urban students towards the implementation of the ideology of multiculturalism, and the implementation of interethnic communication; to identify possible strategies for their behavior in a situation of interethnic tension and conflict in the context of the implemented state policy in the field of interethnic relations. The survey showed that Kazakhstani students have a high level of interethnic tolerance and are ready to enter into interethnic relations, which confirms the existence and implementation of the ideas of multiculturalism. The ideas of multiculturalism in the higher education system of Kazakhstan are implemented through various mechanisms that allow for preserving ethnic diversity and strengthening interethnic harmony, which contributes to the formation of interethnic solidarity in society.

Working together or apart? Exposure between natives and migrants in Danish workplaces from 1996 to 2019

ABSTRACT This article examines the extent to which the increasing ethnic diversity of Northern Europe’s population translates into exposure between natives and migrants (and their descendants) in the workplace, using Danish register data over nearly three decades. Consistent with the expectations of neo-assimilation theory, we find that Danish workplaces have become a common site of mutual exposure, including exposure between natives and two subcategories of culturally distant migrants. At the same time, consistent with segmented assimilation theory, we find increasing segmentation, even in a highly regulated Danish labour market. The distribution of migrants and their descendants in workplaces increasingly deviates from a (simulated) random distribution and we find increasing discrepancies between opportunity pools and exposure levels, particularly at the lower end of the labour market. By opening the black box of workplace composition, this article demonstrates the co-occurrence of increased exposure and labour market segmentation, with its potential to respectively facilitate and hinder integration.

Changes in Substance Use Diagnoses in the Great Plains during the COVID-19 Pandemic.

As drug overdose mortality rises in the United States, healthcare visits present critical opportunities to mitigate this trend. This study examines changes in healthcare visits for substance use disorders (SUDs) and remission prior to and during the COVID-19 pandemic in the Great Plains, with a focus on identifying the characteristics of those served. Data were analyzed from 109,671 patient visits (mode = one visit per patient), encompassing diverse demographics, including sex, age, race, ethnicity, and geographic location. Visits analyzed included those for Alcohol Use Disorder (AUD), Opioid Use Disorder (OUD), or Stimulant Use Disorder (StUD) and those in remission of these disorders between March 2019 and March 2021. Patient demographic information and geographic factors, like rurality and Medicaid expansion status, were considered, and logistic regression was utilized. Visits were primarily by White (70.83%) and Native American (21.39%) patients, non-Hispanic (91.70%) patients, and males (54.16%). Various demographic, geographic, and temporal trends were observed. Findings indicated that males were more likely to receive an AUD diagnosis, while females were more likely to receive an OUD or StUD diagnosis. Metropolitan-residing patients were more likely to receive an AUD diagnosis, while non-metropolitan patients were more likely to receive an OUD diagnosis. Remission odds increased for StUD during the pandemic but decreased for AUD and OUD. These findings illuminate the demographic and geographic patterns of SUD-related healthcare visits, suggesting critical touchpoints for intervention. The results emphasize the urgent need for targeted healthcare strategies, especially in rural and underserved areas, to address persistent health disparities.

Actualisation of Inclusive Values Through Religious Education in High Schools

This study aims to analyse the actualisation of inclusive values in religious learning and examine how the values of tasamuh, ta'awun, and justice are applied at SMA Karuna Dipa Palu, which has a diversity of ethnicities, cultures, and religions. The main objective is to assess how these values strengthen inclusive religious education and identify opportunities and challenges in their implementation. This study uses a qualitative field study method with a case study approach, collecting data through interviews, observations, and documentation analysis to understand the application of inclusivism values in religious education at Karuna Dipa High School, with data analysis carried out using the Miles and Huberman techniques which include data condensation, data presentation, and concluding. The formal-textual approach in religious learning actualises the values of inclusivity through the opening, core, and closing stages. In the opening stage, teachers from various religions prepare the class and motivate students. In the core stage, the values of openness, tolerance, mutual assistance, and justice are taught through each religion's teachings. In the closing stage, teachers and students summarise necessary materials and give assignments, thus creating solid social solidarity in the school. Karuna Dipa High School faces challenges in developing inclusivism values, such as limited technological resources, visualisation facilities for materials, and limited learning time. In addition, the lack of sustainable religious programs also hinders students' comprehensive understanding of inclusivism. This research implies that inclusivism values in religious education can strengthen social solidarity and inclusivity in diverse schools but requires increased resources, facilities, and sustainable programs for optimal results.

MiR-146a rs2910164 (G/C) variant may predict morbid obesity risk in adults

Obesity is a common public health problem associated with serious, life-threatening complications. MicroRNAs (miRs) have modulating roles in the immune and inflammatory systems. Therefore, this study aimed to analyze the relationship between miR-146a and morbid obesity (MO) in a Turkish population. In this study, a total of 258 subjects (110 patients with MO and 148 controls) were genotyped by the polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism (PCR-RFLP) method to analyze miR-146a rs2910164. Then, we examined the patients as males and females separately. The results of the analyses were evaluated for statistical significance. There was a significant difference in genotype and allele frequencies of miR-146a rs2910164 between patients with MO and control individuals. miR-146a rs2910164 CC genotype and C allele were shown to increase in the MO patients’ group compared to the control group (p = 0.000, p = 0.000, respectively). Also, the C allele was higher in both female and male patients compared to controls (p = 0.000, p = 0.000, respectively). High differences were also observed when the patients and the controls were compared according to CC versus GG + GC and GG versus GC + CC (p = 0.000, p = 0.000, respectively). A significant difference was found between the female/male patients and the female/male controls in terms of GG + GC versus CC (p = 0.000, p = 0.000, respectively). To the best of our knowledge, this is the first study to investigate the relationship between this variant and MO in Turkey. Our results showed that miR-146a rs2910164 is a valuable biomarker that can be used to distinguish between patients with MO and the healthy population. The findings can be extended by increasing the sample sizes with diverse ethnicities.

Strengthening the Profile of Pancasila Students with Global Diversity at Learning Studio Sentul Malaysia

Sentul Learning Studio is a form of tutoring for undocumented migrant children to obtain an education. The ethnic and linguistic diversity enhances the profile of Pancasila students with global diversity, as teachers incorporate this into their teaching. This research aims to understand how teachers contribute to strengthening the Pancasila Global Diversity student profile in Malaysian learning centers. The study utilizes a qualitative research method. Research findings show that raising the profile of Pancasila students with global diversity involves understanding and valuing various cultures, engaging in intercultural communication during interactions, and reflecting on and taking responsibility for diverse experiences. Conclusion This research explores the implementation of the Merdeka Curriculum, which allows Pancasila education teachers at the Sentul Malaysia learning center to design student-tailored learning experiences. The center originally had 7 students, increasing to 13, 24, 37, and now 41 students, with 6 students currently inactive. The curriculum emphasizes global diversity competencies. Teachers integrate Indonesia's cultural heritage through activities such as traditional dances and games, including the Jathilan dance and the Ampar-Ampar Pisang folk song. Two students are fluent in Javanese and Indonesian. Activities such as celebrating Mother's Day and making crafts from recycled materials foster curiosity about Indonesian culture. Gymnastics and games with Indonesian roots such as Senam 123, Gemo Famire, and penguin gymnastics are also included. Learning the Jathilan dance, jumping rope, and making soybean tempeh exposes students to authentic Indonesian culture, fostering acceptance, appreciation, and a desire to learn.

Age, sex, and pre-arrest comorbidities shape the risk trajectory of sudden cardiac death— Patterns highlighted by population data in Taiwan

ObjectivesFew reports have indicated the secular trend in the sudden cardiac death (SCD) incidence and pre-arrest comorbidities. This study aimed to comprehensively analyze the trend of SCD incidence and its association with pre-arrest comorbidities. MethodsThis population-based cohort study analyzed Taiwan's National Health Insurance (NHI) research database and identified SCD incidents by inspecting data from all emergency department visits from 2011 to 2018. The inclusion criteria were ICD-9:427.5 or 427.41, or ICD-10:I46.9, I46.8, or I46.2. Pre-existing comorbidities were confirmed based on medication use. Multivariable logistic regression was adopted with covariates age, sex, and pre-existing comorbidities. ResultsThis study reviewed a total of 184,164,969 person-year records, and identified 92,138 SCD incidents. From 2011 to 2018, the SCD incidence rate increased from 36.3 to 55.4 per 100,000 enrollees in Taiwan. The top five pre-arrest comorbidities were stable, while the prevalence of chronic kidney disease rose significantly. Compared to those aged 20–29, enrollees aged >65 years had significantly higher odds of SCD (aOR:27.30, 95% CI:26.05–28.61). Higher odds of SCD were noted in the enrollees who had a seizure (aOR:2.24, 95% CI:2.12–2.38), parkinsonism (aOR:1.81, 95% CI:1.73–1.89), psychological disorders (aOR:1.59, 95% CI:1.56–1.62), diabetes mellitus (aOR:1.44, 95% CI:1.41–1.46), heart diseases (aOR:1.41, 95% CI:1.38–1.44). ConclusionsThe incidence of SCD steadily increased in Taiwan from 2011 to 2018. Hypertension, diabetes mellitus, heart disease, psychological disorders, and arthritis were major pre-arrest comorbidities. Age is the most important risk factor for SCD. Further large-scaled population-based study that investigated in diverse ethnicities from countries in addition to Asians would be warranted.

Neighborhood environment and quality of life of older adults in eastern Nepal: findings from a cross-sectional study

IntroductionQuality of life (QoL) is a subjective measure reflecting individuals’ evaluations based on their personal goals and values. While global research shows the role of neighborhood factors like ethnic diversity and socio-cultural dynamics on QoL, these are unexplored in the Nepali context. Therefore, this study examined the relationship between neighborhood environment and QoL among Nepali older adults in eastern Nepal.MethodsThis cross-sectional study involved 847 non-institutionalized older adults (aged ≥ 60 years) from two districts in eastern Nepal. QoL was evaluated using the 13-item brief Older People’s Quality of Life questionnaire, where a mean score of < 3 indicated low/poor QoL. The neighborhood environment, conceptualized across three domains (demographic, socio-cultural, and built environment), included ethnic diversity, connections with family, friends, and neighbors, cultural ties, residential stability, and rurality. Their association with QoL was examined using multivariable logistic regression.ResultsAround 20% of older adults reported poor QoL. Higher ethnic diversity (adjusted Odds Ratio [aOR] = 0.12, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.04–0.36), moderate contact with family and relatives (aOR = 0.26, CI: 0.11–0.61), and high contact with neighbors (aOR = 0.09, CI: 0.03–0.21) were associated with lower odds of poor QoL. Conversely, high contact with friends (aOR = 2.29, CI: 1.30–4.04) and unstable residence (OR = 6.25, CI: 2.03–19.23) increased the odds of poor QoL. Additionally, among the covariates, chronic disease, tobacco use, unemployment, and lack of education were also significantly associated with poor QoL.ConclusionOverall, the demographic environment, socio-cultural factors, and the built environment of the neighborhood influence QoL. Therefore, diversifying the neighborhood’s ethnic composition, promoting social connections such as frequent contact with family, relatives, and neighbors, and ensuring residential stability can enhance the QoL of older adults.

Generalizing the Results of Clinical Trials if Participants Are Not From Diverse Racial and Ethnic Groups.

Generalizing the Results of Clinical Trials if Participants Are Not From Diverse Racial and Ethnic Groups.

Molecular monitoring of myelodysplastic neoplasm: Don't just watch this space, consider the patient's ancestry.

The heterogeneity of Myelodysplastic Neoplasm (MDS) extends beyond mutational diversity to include significant ethnic variability, a factor that has been underexplored. While the development of the IPSS-M prognostic tool has advanced our understanding of MDS, its reliance on data primarily from European cohorts limits its applicability to non-European populations. Duployez etal.'s review highlighted the importance of molecular markers in MDS for personalized treatment and disease monitoring yet did not address the impact of genetic ancestry. This commentary critiques the IPSS-M's limited sample of 110 Brazilian patients, questioning its adequacy in reflecting the influence of patient ancestry on prognostic accuracy. Given the potential for differing mutation profiles and prognostic implications across diverse ethnic groups, robust genomic ancestry studies are urgently needed. These studies should stratify MDS patients by ethnic background to investigate mutation incidence and impacts, thereby validating IPSS-M and potentially identifying new prognostic markers. Incorporating ethnic diversity into prognostic models is essential for ensuring they are truly universal and inclusive, thereby improving personalized treatment and care for all MDS patients. Commentary on: Duployez and Preudhomme. Monitoring molecular changes in the management of myelodysplastic syndromes. Br J Haematol 2024 (Online ahead of print). doi: 10.1111/bjh.19614.

Utilizing mentorship education to promote a culturally responsive research training environment in the biomedical sciences.

There is an urgent and compelling need for systemic change to achieve diversity and inclusion goals in the biomedical sciences. Because faculty hold great influence in shaping research training environments, faculty development is a key aspect in building institutional capacity to create climates in which persons excluded because of their ethnicity or race (PEERs) can succeed. We present a mixed methods case study of one institution's efforts to improve mentorship of PEER doctoral students through mentorship education workshops for faculty. These workshops were one strategy among others intended to improve graduate trainees' experiences, and positively affect institutional climate with respect to racial and ethnic diversity. Surveys of 108 faculty mentors revealed that about 80% overall agreed or strongly agreed with the value of culturally responsive mentoring behaviors but about 63% overall agreed or strongly agreed that they were confident in their ability to enact those behaviors. Through a series of three focus groups, PEER doctoral students reported that they noticed mentors' efforts to address cultural diversity matters and identified some guidance for how to approach such topics. We discuss future directions and implications for using mentorship education to activate systemic change toward inclusive research training environments and promoting the value of mentorship within institutions.

Nilai Keagamaan dan Moderasi Beragama : Upaya Pencegahan Permasalahan di Media Sosial

With this research, a researcher can study and analyze cases that occur on social media, representation of religious values and moderation of various efforts to prevent problems on social media. This research uses library research analysis methods and digital observation to deepen an analysis of cases that occur on social media related to religion and religious moderation. The large contribution of religious moderation is not far from problems on social media with issues off discrimination, SARA, minorities and the majority of cultural, religious, ethnic and racial diversity in virtual spaces on social media. Instilling and strengthening religious moderation and core religious values to prevent problems on social media through religious education, a frame of tolerance, harmonization and radical action.

A Polish Patriot in Paris: Albert Sowiński, Essayist, Anthologist and Lexicographer

If there was one musician in mid-nineteenth-century Paris who diligently promoted Polish accomplishments, it was Albert Sowinski (Wojciech Sowiński). From his arrival in France in 1828 until his death in 1880, he championed the Polish cause as a performer, composer and scholar. Sowinski was a prolific writer, but with the exception of his Les musiciens polonais et slaves, anciens et modernes, Dictionnaire (1857), his studies of Polish repertoire rarely receive more than passing attention in modern scholarship. In this essay, I investigate Sowinski’s developing paradigms of Polish nationalism and Polish identity across the entirety of his major writings about and collections of Polish music: Chants polonais nationaux et populaires (1830), Chants de la révolution du 29 novembre 1830 (1830), Mélodies polonaises album lyrique (1833), ‘Chants populaires de l’Ukraine’ (1842), ‘De l’état actuel de la musique en Pologne’ (1842), Dictionnaire (1857) and Chants religieux de la Pologne, Op. 93 (1859). The four works from the 1830s, which focused on Polish folk music and revolutionary songs, were closely tied to Sowinski’s work with Léonard Chodzko (Leonard Chodźko) and his circle in Paris. Especially in the Chants polonais, Sowinski followed Chodzko and Joachim Lelewel in emphasising the exceptional geographic, linguistic and even ethnic diversity of the old Polish–Lithuanian Commonwealth, viewing this diversity as the basis for a glorious musical and political future. By contrast, in his critical writings of the 1840s, Sowinski interpreted Ukraine’s folk traditions as speaking largely to regional experience; he cast Warsaw and its musical institutions as the basis for a modern Polish musical identity. By the time of his Dictionnaire and Chants religieux de la Pologne, Sowinski de-emphasised Poland’s musical exceptionality in favour of delineating its long tradition of exchange with Western Europe, facilitated particularly through courts and the Roman Catholic Church.

Low ethnic diversity among university applicants in marine and environmental science in the United Kingdom

The planet faces a triple crisis from climate change, biodiversity loss, and pollution. Like any country, the UK needs to attract the best available talent to become thought leaders to overcome these global challenges. Several Science, Technology, Engineering and Maths subjects in the UK face challenges with attracting ethnic minority students. As part of a wider project on diversity in UK environmental/marine science, we analysed university applications amongst 180 environmental and 88 marine science degrees in the UK between 2019–2021. We found them to be the least diverse degree subjects for ethnic minority students and Asian students were less likely to be accepted than white students on environmental science degrees. A survey of UK marine science course leaders highlights the belief that these issues impact the pipeline of diversity from higher education institutions to marine/environmental science careers. In this paper, we discuss the impacts of these findings and develop a roadmap to change.

Cultural perspectives on academic dishonesty: exploring racial and ethnic diversity in higher education

ABSTRACT This study explores academic dishonesty within higher education, with a particular focus on the perspectives of the Arab ethnic community in Israel. Through in-depth interviews involving 38 students, the research unveils three overarching themes: (a) “Academic dishonesty as a social norm” illuminates the prevalent acceptance of cheating driven by moral justifications, emphasizing the crucial role of perceived low likelihood of detection and inconsistencies in enforcing academic standards in a multicultural context, (b) “Rationalizations for academic dishonesty and coping with minority status,” explores how overwhelming academic demands, familial and social pressures, and collaborative support networks contribute to unethical behavior, and (c) “Erosion of academic effort,” elucidates the connection between uninspiring teaching methods and the derision of less committed peers, contributing to plagiarism. These findings contribute to a culturally understanding of academic dishonesty. Practically, recognizing specific groups’ challenges with academic dishonesty can inform instructors and administrators, aiding effective strategies to promote integrity.

Implementation of multicultural education values in the learning process in grade V elementary school

Indonesia is a country that has a wide range of diversity in language, religion, culture, ethnicity, and customs. Diversity can trigger differences that have a negative impact, if not balanced with tolerance. Tolerance must be introduced early so that students have character values that can provide for the future. This research aims to analyze the role of teachers in applying the value of multicultural education in the learning process and the importance of instilling the value of multicultural education in students. The research method used is the descriptive qualitative method. The data collection techniques used were observation, interview, and documentation until triangulation. The data analysis technique used refers to the Miles &amp;amp; Huberman theory, namely with the stages of data collection, data reduction, data presentation, and conclusions/verification. The results of this study show that the implementation of multicultural education values can be done through habituation activities of character values in students that are arranged in the teacher's strategy.

Recruitment, retention and reporting of variables related to ethnic diversity in randomised controlled trials: an umbrella review

ObjectiveThis umbrella review synthesises evidence on the methods used to recruit and retain ethnically diverse participants and report and analyse variables related to ethnic diversity in randomised controlled trials.DesignUmbrella review.Data...