Identity Transformation Research Articles

Diamond-like carbon coating enhances mechanical performance of NiTi rotary instruments: A multimethod analysis.

This study aimed to evaluate the impact of diamond-like carbon (DLC) surface treatment on the mechanical properties of nickel-titanium (NiTi) rotary instruments. One hundred and tennickel-titanium instruments with a size of 25/.06 and a length of 25 mm, both with (n = 55) and without (n = 55) a DLC coating were selected and compared regarding their design (stereomicroscopy, scanning electron microscopy), metallurgy (energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy, differential scanning calorimetry), and mechanical performance (time to fracture, bending strength, buckling strength, cutting efficiency, and microhardness). Data were analysed using Mann-Whitney and independent Student's t-test (α = 5%). The design analysis confirmed that both instruments had identical geometric features, similar spiral and tip designs, with DLC-coated instruments showing fewer surface irregularities and a multi-coloured appearance. Metallurgical analysis revealed identical transformation temperatures for both groups, with the R-phase starting at ~32°C, finishing at ~25°C during cooling, and the austenitic finish occurring at ~35°C. DLC-coated instruments demonstrated significantly superior cyclic fatigue resistance (p = 0.0028), lower bending load (p = 0.0294), lower cutting efficiency (p < 0.0001), and higher microhardness (p = 0.0019), whilst no difference was observed in terms of buckling strength (p = 0.3569). Diamond-like carbon surface treatment significantly enhanced cyclic fatigue resistance, flexibility, and microhardness of NiTi rotary instruments without compromising their structural integrity.

Modern Iranian Zoroastrian Identity in Transition: Identity Strategies and Directions of Change

Abstract The article discusses the transformation of modern Zoroastrian collective identity in the diaspora in comparison with Iran. It has been inspired by Eisenstadt’s reflection on modern collective identities and is based on qualitative research in California, compared with the findings from Tehran. In contrast with shrinking traditional Zoroastrian communities, demographic growth has been observed in North America, primarily in the United States. The American environment, which is very different from the legal marginalization of minorities in Iran, contributes to greater openness, blurs ethnic boundaries, and accepts conversion. However, this poses new challenges, including the fear of US-born Zoroastrians losing links to their heritage and their lack of recognition in the surrounding society.

Identity in Second Language Learning: Theoretical Perspectives and Research Trends with an Emphasis on Chinese as a Second Language

This paper critically reviews the conceptualisations of identity in the field of Second Language Acquisition (SLA), with particular attention to both psychological and poststructuralist sociocultural perspectives. Drawing on foundational and contemporary literature, the evolution of identity theories and their relevance to language learning, motivation, and self-construction have been reviewed. The analysis highlights how identity is shaped and reshaped through interaction with social, cultural, and linguistic environments across varied learner contexts, including migrant experiences, foreign language classrooms, and study-abroad programmes. A special focus is placed on learners of Chinese as a second or heritage language, revealing both shared and unique identity negotiation processes. While SLA identity research has expanded in scope, it remains limited by narrow theoretical approaches and insufficient attention to context-specific dynamics. This paper calls for more nuanced, longitudinal, and interdisciplinary investigations to capture the complexity of identity transformation in language learners.

Iraqi Jewish immigrant teachers and the Israeli education system, 1949–61

ABSTRACT This article analyses the experiences of immigrant Iraqi Jewish teachers in Israel from 1949 to 1959. It offers key insights into two main areas. Firstly, it illuminates the development of Israel’s educational system, particularly in the nation’s social and geographical peripheries during this crucial period. Secondly, it explores Israeli social history by focusing on the integration process of Iraqi Jewish immigrants, with specific attention given to the role and impact of teachers within this community. The analysis employs two distinct approaches. One examines the opportunities for social mobility that becoming a teacher provided for these Iraqi newcomers. The second approach utilizes John Berry’s ‘intercultural encounter model’ to highlight the inherent tension immigrants faced between preserving their original cultural identity and undergoing identity transformation following their migration to Israel

Navigating Boundaries: How Pharmacists Develop Their Clinical Identity in a Complex Multidisciplinary Healthcare Setting.

Clinical pharmacists are crucial for optimizing medication therapy and improving patient outcomes, yet their potential is underutilized in many low- to middle-income countries. Shifting from traditional dispensing to clinical roles requires professional development and identity transformation. In South Africa's public healthcare system, this shift faces additional challenges, such as a lack of formal positions, limited resources, and role ambiguity. Understanding how clinical pharmacists navigate this transition and develop their clinical identity is essential for their integration into healthcare teams and for improving patient care. Using a constructivist approach, this qualitative study employed semi-structured interviews with clinical pharmacists (n = 12) across South Africa's public healthcare sector. We analyzed data through the lens of boundary crossing. Through thematic analysis we explored how pharmacists navigate the complexities of transitioning from dispensing to broader clinical roles, and how these experiences shape their professional identity. Clinical pharmacists navigated both intrapersonal and interpersonal boundaries in their evolving roles. Three key themes were identified: (a) Bridging the gap within: Pharmacists navigate intrapersonal boundaries for clinical identity formation, (b) Bridging the gap between: Pharmacists navigate interprofessional boundaries for collaboration and identity formation, and (c) Building bridges: Pharmacists employ strategies to promote collaboration and recognition. This study uncovered the complex interplay between intrapersonal boundaries - such as role ambiguity, self-doubt, reconciling traditional dispensing roles with expanded clinical responsibilities, and the need for mentorship - and interpersonal boundaries, including hierarchical structures, unclear role expectations, limited recognition, and challenges in interprofessional collaboration, in shaping clinical pharmacists' identities. Fostering boundary crossing competence and interprofessional collaboration can help overcome systemic barriers, enabling pharmacists to navigate their roles, advocate for their expertise, and gain recognition within healthcare teams, ultimately enhancing their integration and improving patient care in resource-constrained settings like South Africa.

The ethnic identity specificity of modern Kazakhstani youth in the context of cultural globalization

The article examines the processes of formation, transformation, and expression of ethnic identity among contemporary Kazakhstani youth under conditions of cultural globalization and identifies the key external and internal factors that support its preservation and development. The research is grounded in a narrative approach to ethnic identity, wherein any phenomenon is conceptualized as “a story of …,” an account (not necessarily phenomenological) of a sequence of events that presupposes a particular mode of interpretation. The study finds that youth in Kazakhstan’s regional areas tend to adhere to a traditionalist model of ethnic identity with a strong emphasis on language as a primary marker whereas urban youth regard ethnic identity merely as one facet of personal identity, freely self-constructed through narrative practices. The principal conclusion is that the specificity of Kazakhstani youth ethnic identity manifests as a complex and ambiguous configuration, characterized by an underlying tension between traditionalist and modernist orientations. The practical significance of this research lies in its potential to inform the integration of case studies and project-based assignments into social studies and humanities curricula, thereby facilitating critical engagement with ethnic identity and its transformation under the influence of global trends.

THE ECHOES OF THE WORLD: LEXICAL BORROWING AND CULTURAL EXCHANGE IN MARQUEZ, ONE HUNDRED YEARS OF SOLITUDE

Language functions beyond basic communication because it reflects both historical elements and power structures that unite with cultural traditions. Throughout One Hundred Years of Solitude, Gabriel García Márquez combines Spanish indigenous languages and African dialects with English vocabulary in his story creation. The paper employs William Labov’s Sociolinguistic Variation Theory (1966) to examine how borrowed lexical items display Macondo’s evolving social order together with its colonial relationships and economic transformations. According to Labov, language variation is influenced by historical circumstances, social status, and identity markers. Elite members of society in One Hundred Years of Solitude speak traditional Spanish while the underprivileged combine indigenous and foreign words in their language. The arrival of the banana company introduces English words to Macondo thereby symbolizing rising contact between global capitalism and exploitation. Through the combination of code-switching, style- shifting and linguistic prestige Márquez enables words to act as narrators that demonstrate both colonial influence and indigenous resistance and cultural development patterns within his novel. Lexical borrowing in Márquez work serves more than mere decorative purposes since the author uses it to develop textual meaning that examines identity transformation alongside institutional oppression as well as cultural modernization. The author creates richer storytelling layers through language mixture to display Macondo’s struggle between traditional beliefs and modern changes which define its social complexion. One Hundred Years of Solitude presents an extended tale since the author expresses that his work encompasses the complete linguistic record of Latin America in history. Keywords: Language Variation, Lexical Borrowing, Linguistic Prestige, Sociolinguistic Variation Theory, Power Structures

Advancing disability inclusion through social and digital entrepreneurship in ASEAN

Based on explorative case studies from Indonesia and Malaysia, this study examines how inclusive social entrepreneurship can capture the transformative potential required to economically and socially empower persons with disabilities in Southeast Asia. This research study explores Identity Theory and Social Role Valorization (SRV) concepts from theoretical perspectives to understand the relevance and significance of identity formation, co-creation, and digital entrepreneurship in developing a sustainable model for empowerment. This study utilized a qualitative case study methodology through in-depth, semi-structured interviews with individuals and stakeholders, field observations, and thematic analysis, on the two enterprises Rumah Harapan Mulya (RHM) in Karangpatihan, Indonesia, and GOLD (Generating Opportunities for Learning Disabled) in Malaysia. This research shows that both programs work to integrate people with intellectual and developmental disabilities into their communities by providing adaptive vocational training, defining meaningful social roles, and creating multi-stakeholder partnerships. Despite their different approaches, RHM by traditional batik production and GOLD by culinary micro-enterprises both facilitate identity transformation and social inclusion. However, digital illiteracy, heavy reliance on volunteers, and poor infrastructure remain barriers to scaling digital entrepreneurship. The study emphasizes the need for systemic support, inclusive policy frameworks, and local adaptation to sustain the change in the long term. Finally, the research concluded that inclusive social entrepreneurship is both a viable and resilient development model for promoting disability inclusion and economic participation in ASEAN nations.

Two female young adults reclaiming refugee identities: an ecological systems analysis

ABSTRACT This study examines the manifestation of identity construction, negotiation, and transformation of two female young adults from refugee backgrounds – one black Muslim and the other Asian, considering the complex social-ecological systems of refugee camps as well as the challenges of transitioning and resettlement in the United States. Applying the reflective thematic analysis (RTA) method, the study found the ways in which the two participants established social environments enabling them to collaborate with other social agents, confront dominant ideologies of racism and model minority stereotype, and become transformative agents in their multidimensional ecological in culturally and linguistically meaningful ways.

Empowering Victimhood Through Litigation: Trials from the Jeju April 3 Uprising and Political Repression

Abstract This article addresses a critical gap in the study of victimhood in historical grievance cases by examining the transformation from passive and powerless victims to active, empowered victim identities through litigation. Focusing on the aftermath of the 1947-1954 political repression and violence in Jeju Island, South Korea, known as the Jeju April 3 Incident, this study draws on archival research and in-depth interviews with survivors, bereaved family members, activists, and lawyers. It demonstrates how litigation plays a crucial role in empowering victims by allowing survivors and families to actively engage in the legal process, where they publicly perform, socialize, and symbolically mobilize their narratives. The Jeju April 3 trials show how survivors and bereaved families, once stigmatized as “rioters” or “families of rioters,” reclaimed their dignity and transitioned from passive subjects of injustice into active agents of social change. By highlighting how court proceedings serve as crucial spaces for marginalized individuals, this study contributes to the scholarship on legal mobilization and identity transformation, particularly in the contexts of state violence and historical grievances.

Sustaining a translanguaging community of practice: a narrative inquiry by teacher educators

ABSTRACT As linguistic and cultural diversity increases globally, teachers need to develop translanguaging pedagogies that leverage students’ full linguistic repertoires. Enacting such pedagogies can be challenging due to policy, ideology, and knowledge constraints. This study explores the processes and factors that allow Translanguaging Communities of Practice (TCoPs) to form and evolve equitably. Through narrative inquiry, the authors examine critical incidents that enabled them to create and sustain their TCoP. Findings reveal key elements: an initiating leader, accepting invitations for legitimate peripheral participation, attending to affective dimensions, valuing reciprocity, enabling identity transformations, making impact, and extending invitations.The authors argue that such communities empower scholars to broaden pedagogical practices in linguistically diverse contexts. The study highlights TCoPs’ potential in meeting the challenge of enacting translanguaging design and fostering inclusive approaches to language teaching and learning. Despite constraints, collaboration within a TCoP allowed members to develop pedagogies that leverage students’ full linguistic repertoires.

Next-generation identity and access management with SAP BTP, SAP AI, and SAP IAM

This article explores the transformation of Identity and Access Management (IAM) through the integration of SAP Business Technology Platform (BTP), SAP AI, and SAP IAM solutions. As organizations face increasing challenges in managing user identities across diverse technology environments, the convergence of cloud technologies and artificial intelligence has created new opportunities for advancing IAM solutions. The article examines how SAP's integrated approach revolutionizes traditional IAM frameworks through enhanced authentication services, intelligent provisioning capabilities, and AI-driven security management. The article demonstrates that this next-generation approach significantly improves security posture, operational efficiency, and compliance management while reducing administrative overhead. Through analysis of real-world implementations, the article highlights the critical success factors for deployment and explores emerging trends shaping the future of identity management. The article indicates that organizations adopting these integrated solutions experience substantial improvements in security incident prevention, access management efficiency, and overall operational effectiveness.

‘A Haunting Silent Companion’: Exploring Fear of Ageing and Gerascophobia Among Older Adults in Senior Living Facilities

Ageing is inevitable, and so is the fear that accompanies it—present in different forms and intensities, yet often misunderstood or dismissed. The study explores the lived experiences of older adults in senior living facilities settings, examining how they perceive, experience and cope with the fear of ageing and gerascophobia and assessing the implications of these fears on their well-being. Using Moustakas’ transcendental phenomenology and the modified Stevick–Colaizzi–Keen method, the study offers a detailed examination of the lived experiences of 21 older adults. Four themes emerged: identity transformation, levels of fear, triggers of fear of ageing and adaptive versus maladaptive coping strategies. The results revealed that the fear of ageing in senior living facilities is a multifaceted phenomenon that does not fade away in old age—it remains constant and, in severe cases, coexists with gerascophobia, which has a diverse and lasting impact on the human mind. These fears were found to be often present but not always openly expressed. This in-depth analysis from an understudied population contributes to the existing literature by suggesting that the psychological impact of fears of ageing, especially gerascophobia, profoundly influences the social behaviour, mental health and decision-making processes of older adults in senior living facilities. Recognizing the fear of ageing is not enough—healthcare professionals, caregivers and policymakers must implement concrete interventions and redesign environments that empower older adults, preserve their autonomy, and reduce the psychological toll of ageing.

Matrix mKdV Integrable Hierarchies via Two Identical Group Reductions

This paper applies a pair of identical group reductions or similarity transformations to formulate integrable models. An application to the Ablowitz–Kaup–Newell–Segur (AKNS) matrix spectral problems leads to reduced matrix modified Korteweg–de Vries (mKdV) integrable hierarchies. In particular, several illustrative examples of reduced matrix mKdV integrable models are derived from the reduced AKNS matrix spectral problems.

Converged IAM: Transforming Enterprise Identity Management in the Cloud Era

This article examines the transformation of Identity and Access Management (IAM) in the context of enterprise digital transformation and cloud adoption. It explores how traditional siloed approaches to IAM have created significant operational challenges and security vulnerabilities, leading organizations to adopt converged IAM solutions. The article investigates the benefits of integrating Access Management, Identity Governance and Administration, and Privileged Access Management into unified platforms. Through analysis of implementation cases across various industries, with particular focus on healthcare sectors, the article demonstrates how converged IAM solutions enhance security posture, streamline compliance processes, and improve operational efficiency. The article also examines the role of artificial intelligence and automation in modern IAM frameworks, highlighting their impact on threat detection, access management, and compliance monitoring.

Biomechanical synthesis of H.R. Giger as a metaphor of technological metamorphosis

The author conducts an interdisciplinary analysis of Swiss artist Hans Rudolf ‘Rudy’ Giger’s work which considers his art through the prism of technological transformations of human nature. The study applies a peculiar methodological approach to understanding the ontological metamorphoses occurring in the context of the technologicalisation of modern society, including, in particular, hermeneutics, psychoanalysis and anthropology. At the same time, the author interprets Giger’s artworks as a visual philosophy reflecting collective fears and traumatic scenarios of human fusion with technological systems. Special attention is paid to the concept of metaparasitism and the transformation of human identity in the conditions of technological progress. The study allows the author to conclude that Giger’s work is the result of comprehension of the processes of technologisation of human nature, and is a kind of prediction of the ontological shift caused by these phenomena. Despite the predominantly pessimistic nature of Giger’s work, the artist’s heritage can be considered as a unique and promising methodological tool for comprehending modern transformations.

Understanding Embodied Experiences in a Traditional Chinese Medicine-Based Health Promotion Program: Insights from In-Depth Interviews and Participant Observations.

This study investigates people's lived embodied experiences in a Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM)-based health program. Guided by the Management of Meaning in Embodied Experience (MMEE) theoretical framework, we conducted in-depth interviews (n = 32) and participant observations (n = 59) to explore how participants interpreted and constructed the meaning of their embodied health experiences and experienced transformations through TCM practices. We identified four key themes: 1) self-discovery and identity transformation through TCM practices; 2) a process of personal growth; 3) integration of TCM concepts and practices into everyday life; 4) increased health awareness and holistic transformation through embodied practices; and several sub-themes. Observations further reveal that participants demonstrated a clear progression from mechanical imitations to an embodied understanding of TCM practices. These findings extend our understanding of health communication from an embodied and Chinese cultural perspective. We discussed the theoretical and practical implications of the study for researchers and practitioners interested in leveraging embodied experiences to promote holistic health and well-being.

Modern Thinking on Harmonious Coexistence between Man and Nature

Modernization of harmonious coexistence between man and nature is the basic strategy of my country's modernization at present, and it is also an important part of my country's ecological civilization construction. Its core content is how to deal with the relationship between man and nature, economic development and environmental protection. Taking the policy of returning farmland to forest as an example, under the condition that the ecological environment in the deforested areas has been significantly improved, this paper verifies the development concept of harmonious coexistence between man and nature through the definition of the concept, development process and benefit evaluation of the policy. Finally, it is found that the policy has a positive impact on the identity transformation, economic conditions, living environment and working methods of farmers who have returned farmland to forest, thus proving that this concept is worthy of long-term implementation by our party and people.

Religious Places and Cultural Heritage: The Greek Orthodox Church in the Historic Center of Turin

Religious places represent one of the most significant categories of protected heritage. In Italy, however, places of worship belonging to minority communities often remain inconspicuous and are not legally recognized as part of the nation’s cultural heritage. Consequently, the histories of these communities face challenges in securing a space within the collective memory. This contribution, through a spatial approach and an interdisciplinary methodology, highlights the richness of the hidden heritage—both tangible and intangible—of the Greek Orthodox Church of the Nativity of St. John the Baptist in Turin. In particular, this research explores the role of the Greek language, which constitutes a significant element of intangible heritage for the community. Since the 1960s, regular celebrations in the Byzantine rite and the Greek language have been held in the Piedmontese capital. These biritual practices emerged in response to the demands of numerous Greek university students and families who revitalized the Orthodox presence in the territory during those years. In 2000, the Catholic Archdiocese granted the Greek Orthodox community the use of a church in the city’s historic center. This church is interpreted as a shared religious space, having undergone a transformation of identity over time: its Orthodox identity remains architecturally invisible, as the community continues to worship in a former Catholic church.

Vestiges of Disability

This collection of poetry consists of two parts, marking a chronological transition from disability to empowerment. The first, ‘Big Yellow Buses’ and ‘The Dead of Winter’, address the consequences of growing up without an autism diagnosis, including themes of bullying, isolation, and despair. The second, ‘Autistic Bunker’ and ‘Atlas Unbound’, focus on life after receiving a diagnosis, including its effect on authenticity, purpose, and change. The temporal progression from the confusion and hardship of undiagnosed childhood and adolescence to the self-awareness and community integration of adulthood indicates a profound transformation in personal identity. By evoking the visceral and cognitive dimensions of autistic experiences across lifespan development, these poems reiterate the importance of awareness, acceptance, and community connectedness, which remain tantamount to supporting the health and wellbeing of autistic individuals currently and in the years to come.