Identification Of Expression Research Articles

Immunological Poetics and Postcolonial Echoes: Traversing the Medical Narratives From T.S. Eliot to J.M. Coetzee

ABSTRACTThis article explores the intersection of immunological discourse and literary narrative through the works of T.S. Eliot and J.M. Coetzee. The paper examines the early twentieth‐century shift from holistic disease models to germ theory, paralleling this scientific evolution with Eliot's use of chemical metaphors in “Tradition and the Individual Talent.” Eliot's essay is analyzed alongside scientific insights from scholars like Michael Whitworth and Kevin Brazil, highlighting the blend of personal insight and historical awareness in poetic and scientific innovation. This analysis extends to Coetzee's Age of Iron, contrasting Eliot's impersonal poetics with Coetzee's nuanced exploration of cancer, apartheid, and racial and gendered bodies. Through an immunological lens, the paper delves into how literature can challenge canonical boundaries, advocate for inclusive narratives, and foster cross‐racial empathy. By drawing parallels between medical narratives and literary expressions of illness and identity, it proposes literature as a means to navigate and reconcile the divides between health, the body, and the postcolonial other.

Validating the Black Identity, Hair Product Use, and Breast Cancer Scale (BHBS) Among Black Breast Cancer Survivors

Personal care products containing toxic chemicals (e.g., endocrine-disrupting chemicals) may increase breast cancer risk, especially for Black women who use these products more than other racial groups. There are limited tools that examine the intersections of identity, behaviors, and attitudes surrounding product use, perceived safety, and breast cancer risk; thus, the Black Identity, Hair Product Use, and Breast Cancer Scale (BHBS) was developed to bridge this gap. While initial validations lacked diverse survivor representation, this study seeks to validate the BHBS among Black survivors. Methods: This study is a part of the Bench to Community Initiative (BCI), where respondents (n = 167) completed a 41-item survey including the BHBS between 2020 and 2022. The use of Principal Component Analysis (PCA) and confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) established the underlying component structures and model fit. CFA measures used to confirm component structures included the Root Mean Square Error of Approximation, the Comparative Fit Index, and the Tucker Lewis Index. Results: Black survivors on average were diagnosed with breast cancer before age 40 (37.41 ± 8.8) with Stage 1 (45%) disease. Sixty-three percent of the total variance resulted in a two-component structure. Subscale 1 (S1) measures the sociocultural perspectives about hair and identity (28% of the total variance; α = 0.73; 95% CI = 0.71–0.82). Subscale 2 (S2) can be used to assess perceived breast cancer risk related to hair product use (35% of the total variance; α = 0.86; 95% CI = 0.81–0.94). The two-component structure was confirmed with Root Mean Square Error of Approximation = 0.034, Comparative Fit Index = 0.93, and Tucker Lewis Index = 0.89. Discussion/Conclusions: The BHBS is a valid tool to measure identity, attitudes, and behaviors about product use and breast cancer risk among survivors. Hair is a significant cultural identity expression, and the health effects of styling products should be considered in future interventions.

P1280 Gender identity and inflammatory bowel disease: estimates of prevalence across Europe

Abstract Background Societal trends in recent decades have led to greater expression and awareness of gender identity however little is known about the unique healthcare needs of people who identify as transgender or gender non-conforming (TGNC) particularly with regards to the impact of also suffering from a chronic disease such as inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). The duality of identifying as TGNC and also suffering from IBD (TGNC-IBD) is poorly understood with questions remaining about impact of IBD on gender-affirming hormones and vice versa, the mental health challenges and the impact of perianal disease on gender affirming surgery. Whilst some work has attempted to investigate the unique healthcare needs of this group of individuals,(1) there is still a significant gap in our knowledge including basic demographic data from this population. We therefore aimed to calculate for the first time the size of this under-researched population across Europe. Methods The global burden of disease study gathers data from various sources including censuses, household surveys, health service use and disease registries and uses a Bayesian meta-regression to provide prevalence estimates on a country-by-country basis. We used this data to generate estimates of the number of people suffering from IBD in each European country with available data.(2) The IPSOS Pride 2023 uses data from interviews of between 500 and 1000 people in each participant country and adjusts this data to reflect the demographics of that country.(3) Data from these two sources were then cross-referenced to calculate estimated numbers of TGNC-IBD individuals in each country. Any European country that did not have IPSOS data available was excluded. Results 11 European countries were included in the IPSOS report. The results of the prevalence estimates are summarised in table 1. Germany had the highest number of overall IBD cases whilst Switzerland has the highest percentage of people identifying as TGNC. The greatest number of TGNC-IBD individuals was found in Germany at 7081. Conclusion Our analysis provides for the first time an estimate of prevalence of the TGNC-IBD population across multiple European countries and builds on previous work performed in the United Kingdom using national census data. We have demonstrated significant population sizes across Europe reinforcing the need for both greater awareness of, and greater research into, the unique needs of this under-represented minority.

“I’ve adopted it as my smell”: transgender identity and the olfactory

ABSTRACT Smell is an often-overlooked sense within transgender studies, despite the extensive theorization of the ways that scent and perfume is categorized along gendered lines, and its links to identity more broadly. This article begins to address this presently under-studied topic, drawing on data from 26 interviews with transgender people about their perspectives on smell, scent, and fragrance in relation to identity. Interview data was analyzed using a combination of thematic and critical discourse analysis approaches. The participants reported that smell was often a central component of early experiences which prompted them to explore or question their gender identity; that fragranced items were something which they used to affirm their gender personally; and that smell was something they used to manage or direct others’ perceptions of their identity, including to minimize experiences of misgendering. Participants were acutely aware of how fragrances are culturally “read” as gendered, and while they were often critical of these divisions, they also acknowledged they could be useful at times. It is evident that smell and fragrance can form part of the process of gender identity exploration and expression for transgender people.

Discreditation and Mitigation Strategies as Two Forms of Online Identity Expression in Conflict-Generating Discourse

This article explores the language of conflict-generating discourse in socially important contexts using the methods of complex linguo-stylistic and communicative analysis, elements of content and intent analysis, conceptual and discourse analysis, etc. The characteristics of contemporary online texts, in a broad sense, were identified. Their differences from media texts were outlined. The shifting roles of the author and audience, verbal functions, and the writer’s pragmatic intentions and communication strategies on the internet were revealed. Five key characteristics of this new form of online discourse, involving either direct or indirect interaction between the communicators (explicit dialogization), were singled out. The study is based on a number of public Telegram channels that focus on burning socio-political issues, each catering to diverse audiences, fulfilling different communication tasks, and reflecting the distinct objectives of their authors. Two speech strategies typical of socio-political discourse – discreditation and mitigation, which are opposite in their pragmatic aims – were examined. Their manifestations in the modern, potentially conflict-generating online space were demonstrated. Particular attention was given to the tactical implementation of these strategies and how it depends on the author’s stance and personal qualities. The speech examples under study were taken from previous works and provided here for illustration purposes only. The conclusion was made about the interrelation between the speech strategies and tactics used by the authors of Telegram channels and their social status, content focus, and gender. The results obtained are relevant for understanding how individuals express their identity online, as well as for increasing the safety of online interaction, promoting the principles of language ecology, and preventing excessive radicalization in the online environment.

Queering Contemporary Comedy: FX's What We Do in the Shadows and the Mediation of Nonnormative Gender and Sexual Identities

Utilizing queer theory, a textual analysis of 50 episodes of the FX horror-comedy series What We Do in the Shadows (2019–) resulted in three overarching themes: (1) representation of different forms of queerness and open expression of character identities, (2) normalization of queer identity and resistance to homophobia, and (3) inclusivity of relational configuration beyond queer-based narratives. Findings demonstrate the series promotes a queer perspective in addition to outright support for nonheteronormative characters. This reading of its dialogic and visual text adds to the literature on the positive media treatment of LGBTQ+ communities and how popular media texts serve as conduits of resistance to normative heterosexuality. Research in this vein is especially cogent and relevant given increasing antitransgender and intersex legislation that marks the U.S. political environment in recent years.

Роль социальной активности молодежи в выраженности идентичностей и их согласованности

<p style="text-align: justify;"><strong>Objective.</strong> To identify the role of commitment to various forms of social activity in the expression of student youth identities and their consistency. <br><strong>Background.</strong> Social activity is the sphere of socialization of young people. Therefore, in the process of its implementation, various socio-psychological formations of the individual are formed. One of the most important is social and personal identity, considered in this study as the effects of social activity. The most important task is to study the role of involvement in various forms of activity in the formation of social identity and the stability of the personal role identity of young people. Such scientific knowledge will allow to establish the potential of social activity in the formation of youth identity. <br><strong>Study design.</strong> The factor structure of social identity and the relationship between types of identity and forms of social activity were studied. To establish the types of identity, factor analysis was used, the presence and nature of the relationship were recorded through correlation and regression analyses. <br><strong>Participants.</strong> 442 residents of Russia (average age 21,8; 33,5% men, 66,5% women). <br><strong>Measurements. </strong>Questionnaire, including 18 scale questions, meaningfully describing the forms of social activity (R.M. Shamionov, etc.); 17 categories of social identity, identified on the basis of preliminary piloting; methodology of stability of personal-role identity (E.A. Petrash, V.B. Nikishina). <br><strong>Results. </strong>Various categories of social identity form 4 enlarged groups (types) based on factor analysis. Various forms of social activity of young people form 4 enlarged groups (types) based on factor analysis: identity – personal, Internet-user, political and civil-family identity. The effects of combinations of different forms of social activity is the formation of a particular type of social identity. Forms of social activity explain from 21% to 36% of variations in social identity. The most pronounced relationship between the stability of personal-role identity was found with civic identity. <br><strong>C</strong><strong>onclusions.</strong> The inclusion of students in certain forms of social activity can contribute to the formation of various types of identity and achieve a certain level of them. It is also established that the consistency of personal-role identity is positively conditioned by religious and family-household activity, and protest, spiritual and leisure forms contribute to its decrease.</p>

Cultural Memory and Identity in Motion: Analyzing the Performance Characteristics of Yellow Mud Drum Dance

The Yellow Mud Drum Dance is deeply rooted in the ritual customs of the Yao people, functioning both as a repository of cultural memory and a dynamic expression of collective identity. This study explores the performance characteristics of the Yellow Mud Drum Dance, a traditional Yao ritual, within the broader context of cultural preservation and adaptation. Based on fieldwork conducted in Jinxiu, Guangxi, China, this study employed qualitative research methods, including participant observation, interviews with local practitioners, and performance analysis, to examine the choreography, music, and spatial arrangements of the dance. The results indicate that these elements play a critical role in enhancing community cohesion and fostering emotional resonance among participants. As the Yellow Mud Drum Dance transitions from ritual spaces to modern performance venues, its evolution preserves core symbolic elements while demonstrating the resilience and adaptability of traditional cultural expression in the face of modernization and globalization. This study underscores the importance of preserving such performative cultures, while also allowing room for innovation to ensure they continue to play a meaningful role in contemporary society.

Transcending Transit Deserts: Participatory Design of Interactive Bicycling Advocacy Tools in an American City

Recent HCI research has focused on developing interactive technologies for cyclists and using technology to promote this activity. However, the community-building and advocacy aspects of cycling remain relatively unexplored. In this study, we explored the integration of urban cycling and participatory technology design to address transportation inequities and promote cycling advocacy in a US city characterized by infrastructural and social disparities. We engaged with nine bicycling advocates from five organizations in Baltimore, USA in participatory design activities to understand their motivations for promoting cycling in urban areas and how interactive technology can aid in creating a cyclist-friendly city. Along with the various practical motivations, we found the participants also promote cycling with a desire to challenge historical discriminatory practices and infrastructural inequalities and as a means of community building and identity expression. We identify three interconnected directions for future change: supporting ancillary bicycle infrastructure and DIY repair practices, changing perceptions through community engagement, and using technology to support community awareness and inclusion. We argue cycling can be a tool for resistance and identity shaping in this context, and participatory design can offer innovative directions for urban designers, policymakers, and system designers to strengthen efforts toward creating inclusive and equitable urban environments.

Where Are You From?

In the middle of the African diaspora, identities relativise, and the notion of belonging takes another tone. What was concrete in these terms in the home country becomes abstract in the foreign land; however, caution! Either stereotypes or history of fact holds. The question “Where are you from?” translates in the home country in terms of ethnic differences takes the form of country belonging when asked in a foreign land. It embraces the idea of recognition, belonging and remembrance. Out of a banal and unconscious habitus, the land becomes the most robust expression of identity, which Merga Yonas Bula (2023) resumed in terms of “nationality-based collective identity” and “ethnonational-based collective identity”, which, of course, can either be any of these or both; out of which burnt the need of identity recognition and acceptance. Social media platforms have become the drum of identity construction and transmission, simultaneously expressing fragmentation and participation. They have strengthened identity bonds for the African diaspora and have been used as advocacy platforms for social justice and as a safe space for discussing issues perceived as controversial. As Berna (2020) notes, social media provides an “immediacy of connection” across geographic and political borders. These social media bolster the visibility of the African community by bringing together both the diaspora and the nationals through diaspora advocacy pledges, change narratives, identity construction through African diaspora cultural events, and spotlighting their contributions in Germany. These platforms have created new public spheres, opportunities for social groupings and avenues for organising protests for the African communities in Germany. Yet, a major barrier appears to be coming to terms with the overall effects of these digital interactions. In contrast to the United States, where demographic breakdowns specific to social media usage are routinely collected, Germany’s strict data protection laws and lack of political will to collect disaggregated demographic information impose significant barriers to measuring and understanding diaspora social media engagement. This data gap hampers research efforts and limits the development of targeted policies for enhancing digital inclusion and representation of diaspora communities.

Integrating Newcomers: Effective Models for Organizational Adoption

This study utilizes a comparative approach to explore and contrast various models for newcomer integration within organizational contexts. By conducting a systematic literature review, the research identifies key components, outcomes, and challenges associated with each model. Through a detailed analysis of models such as the Developers Joining Model, Onion Model, Identity Socialization Model, Four C's Model, and Traditional On-boarding Process, the study evaluates their performance across critical factors including onboarding plans, mentorship, feedback, cultural fit, flexibility, and role clarity. The findings reveal distinct strengths and limitations for each model, highlighting their varied effectiveness in promoting employee engagement and retention. The Identity Socialization Model and Four C's Model, for instance, excel in fostering long-term engagement, while the Traditional Model supports initial integration but may limit personal identity expression. The study also addresses potential drawbacks, such as resource intensity or context-specificity, proposing mitigation strategies such as phased implementation and role development. Ultimately, this research provides actionable insights and practical recommendations for HR leaders aiming to enhance their newcomer integration strategies. By aligning the on-boarding strategies with organizational goals, organizations can foster both the immediate and long-term benefits to enhance the overall satisfaction and retention of employees.

Exploring the role of leisure behaviour in finding identity for Chinese diasporic people: looking through the lens of music

ABSTRACT Identity has both personal and social facets, shaped by authentically answering ‘who I am’. Individual authenticity involves living according to one’s principles, values, and beliefs, influenced by self-awareness, independence, social connections, and reason. Philosophers such as Descartes and Aristotle have contributed to this concept, focusing on human awareness and eudaimonia, respectively. Existentialists like Sartre emphasise personal choice and self-definition, underscoring the role of authentic actions and decisions in shaping identity. Beyond individual authenticity, identity is also socially constructed. Social identity complements individual authenticity as individuals integrate their social roles with their personal self. Leisure activities, including music, offer opportunities for self-exploration, empowerment, and expression, allowing individuals to connect with their true selves while engaging with society. This paper explores how leisure shapes the identity of the Chinese diaspora through the first author’s music performance experiences in New Zealand. It explains how leisure activities facilitate cultural communication and identity expression through Chinese traditional music. Using an autoethnographic approach, it highlights how music helps Chinese diasporic individuals express their identity and navigate the complexities of dual or multiple identities within communities. These identities go beyond Chinese and diaspora communities, prompting individuals to balance their true self with multiple identities.

Cultural Significance: A Global Evolution of Regional Food Cuisine

Food is not merely sustenance; it is a profound expression of culture, identity, and history. Regional cuisines reflect the traditions, geography, and resources of a community. However, with globalization, regional cuisines have transcended borders, evolving into global phenomena. This paper explores the cultural significance of regional food, its global journey, and the interplay between tradition and innovation. It delves into how cuisines act as cultural ambassadors, fostering connections and understanding among diverse societies while highlighting the challenges posed by modernization and commercialization.

The Expectation for a Son to Mature into a Paternity

<The South-Goods Shop> provides a rich and detailed portrayal of the lives of men in rural counties and villages of China in the latter half of the 20th century. Through this text, one can observe the discourse of masculinity mainly characterized by "paternity," as well as the contexts in which various survival needs and cultural experiences are generated. By exploring the dynamic of male growth and life experiences in the continuous pursuit of trusting connections between self and others, under the anxiety of "paternity" identity that haunts them, the situation of suppression and objectification faced by men can be revealed. In this process, the simultaneous attention to the stage-specific expression of male identity and that of the family space constitutes the main line of reasoning in this paper.

Student-Athletes Perceptions on the LGBTQIA+ Member Inclusion in Gender- specific Sports in the Philippine Educational System

This study explored and analyzed the perceptions of students' athletes regarding LGBTQIA+ inclusion in gender-specific sports in the Philippine Educational System. In order to better understand the perceptions of student-athletes from about LGBTQIA+ participants in any gender-specific sports, we used structured interviews. This study was led by a qualitative methodology, especially a phenomenological research design. Phenomenology is a qualitative research method that is ultimately suitable for gaining a thorough understanding of the effective process that describes the informant's life experiences. Through this design, we investigated how student athletes perceived the inclusion of LGBTQIA+ people in gender-specific sports from various perspectives. This study comes up different results, Inclusion and Acceptance of LGBTQIA+ Individuals in Sports, Gender-Inclusive Practices and Competence in Sports, Mitigating Gender Identity Discrimination, Identity Expression, and Comfort in Sports, Equality and Equity in Training Regardless of Identity, Gender Identity in Sports, Absence of Gender Identity-Based Exclusions and Inclusion Efforts. In conclusion, having a member who identifies as LGBTQIA+ is not a curse nor a blessing because athletes do not find it offensive; instead, it brings them joy at the end of a long day. Athletes contribute what they can because they feel respected by their teammates.

«Русский восток» как символ национальной самобытной красоты в музыке С. Рахманинова

This article explores the development of Orientalism in the works of Sergei Rachmaninoff, who, influenced by both Russian and Eastern musical traditions, creates a unique synthesis of cultural elements. Here, the expression of national identity is reflected through the lens of personal experience. The music of one of the greatest Russian composers of the 20th century represents a complex intertwining of cultural influences, emphasizing the uniqueness of the Russian character, which is marked by a pursuit of infinity and freedom through the concept of “elemental forces”, as well as through symbols of rebellion, space, and solitude. The article highlights the importance of understanding Russian culture not merely as a collection of customs and traditions, but as a valuable mosaic piece of the global cultural palette, unique in its multifaceted nature and depth of meaning. The author analyzes how Eastern motifs in the composer’s works become not just exotic insertions, but vital structural components that reflect the musician’s inner world and personal experiences. Through an examination of pieces such as “Piano Concerto No. 2”, “Symphony No. 2”, “Études-Tableaux for Piano, Op. 39”, and “Alexander Nevsky”, it is shown how Rachmaninoff transforms Eastern melodies, adapting them to his artistic language and creating multilayered musical textures. The article emphasizes that Orientalism in Rachmaninoff’s music serves not only as a means of self-expression but also as a philosophical tool for contemplating questions of human nature and identity. In conclusion, it is underscored that the composer shapes a musical space where personal and national experiences intertwine, creating a profound emotional revelation that mirrors the complex nature of the Russian spirit, reflecting its quest for self-understanding and comprehension of the surrounding world. It concludes that through his artistry, Sergei Vasilievich Rachmaninoff advocates for the preservation and understanding of Russian culture as an integral part of the world’s cultural heritage, which is crucial not only for maintaining historical memory and spiritual legacy but also for enriching humanity as a whole.

Cultural Identity in Intercultural Communication: Analyzing the Impact of Linguistic Choices in Multilingual Interactions

In an era characterized by global migration and multicultural interactions, this study delves into the linguistic dimensions of cultural identity among Bangladeshi international students in China. The study employs a 20-question survey to examine the role of code-switching, bilingualism, and linguistic choices in identity formation and expression. The dataset includes 65 students from 34 disciplines. One of the major conclusions is that people are ambivalent, particularly about the sense of cultural identity mediated through multilingualism, although there was a strong correlation between cultural expression and use of the mother tongue. The huge proportion of these participants admitted the use of certain linguistic features in different sociolinguistic situations, nevertheless, the importance of English and Mandarin used in the educational contexts emphasized the global and local linguistic dynamics. In order to overcome the drawbacks of this study, future studies must aim to explore the longitudinal impact of settling down in unfamiliar language territories on people’s cultural orientation. Furthermore, this study recommends to take note of the growing need for engaging in acceptable linguistic behavior for the protection and promotion of cultural identity and appreciation among different societies.

Displaced memories in the Trieste border area: a neverending historical entanglement

ABSTRACT This paper aims to analyse the intertwined migrant mobility and the role of migrants’ memories by comparing different refugee flows arriving in the border area of Trieste (Italy) in different phases: the Italian exodus after the Second World War, refugees from the former Yugoslavia in the 1990s, asylum seekers arriving through the Balkans since 2015, and the more recent Ukrainian displacement (2022). Adopting an ethnographic approach, the main objective is to identify places, objects or other forms of identity expression in which refugees’ memories are embedded during different stages of displacement. Specifically, the paper explores how these memories are layered and intertwined with other migratory transits in the same border area, analysing both presences and absences through the traces left by migration.

A Reconsideration of Rio Sonora/Serrana Social Organization through Comparative Ceramic Analysis

Traditionally, interpretations of Rio Sonora/Serrana's social organization often focus on long-distance trade, relying heavily on ethnohistorical sources. The local ceramic tradition—primarily brownware with textured motifs—has been overlooked in socio-political studies. This research proposes a typology of textured decoration to explore social organization, identity, and interactions across the Sonora, Moctezuma, and Fronteras Valleys. Findings reveal distinct decorative patterns unique to each valley, with variations at inter-valley, intra-valley, and intra-site scales. Patterns in decoration are interpreted as expressions of identity and social dynamics, which aid in assessing existing models of social organization. Public architecture in the Sonora Valley is interpreted as spaces for social gatherings and integration among nearby groups. While this analysis enriches existing social organization models, it also enhances understanding of Pre-Colonial and Proto-Colonial groups in eastern Sonora, providing a refined framework for interpreting socio-political integration in the region and evaluating data from neighboring regions in the future.

Navigating the Textual Currents of Reconstruction in Mark Twain’s Life on the Mississippi

Abstract This article argues that the sketchlike patchwork of texts, identities, and histories that make up Mark Twain’s Life on the Mississippi emerges through the narrative mixing of passengers and pilots. Situating Twain’s Life in relation to Washington Irving’s The Sketch-Book of Geoffrey Crayon, Gent., the article suggests that in the aftermath of slavery, Civil War, and Reconstruction, Twain attempted to define the New (South) against the Old using the genre of the sketch. Concerned as it was with the ruins, relics, and monuments of the nation’s cultural ancestors, Irving’s Sketch-Book provided a useful framework for a writer like Twain whose Life on the Mississippi reconceptualized post-Reconstruction expressions of new southern literary identities. Lastly, the article argues that the many mixtures present in Twain’s Life are predicated on Irving’s earlier explorations of “racial” degeneracy, blended nations, hybrid identities, cross-cultural exchange, intertextuality, indigeneity, and mixed-race dynamics.