A Study on the Chess Culture of Ethnic Minority Groups in Gansu Province

As a region inhabited by large populations of ethnic minority groups, Gansu province boasts rich ethnic cultural resources which reflect traditional culture and intangible cultural heritage that had taken shape thousands of years ago. Among these are various ethnic folk chess games. They are time-honored with many types such as the “Fang” chess of the Hui ethnic group, the “Jiu” chess of the Tibetans, the “King and Ministers” chess, the Mongolian chess, the Mongolian military chess, etc. These games embody distinctive ethnic and regional characteristics, as well as the cultural elements of a particular ethnic minority group. It is of great significance, therefore, to study the ethnic chess by collecting, documenting and comparing different types of related chess. The paper explores ways to standardize, protect and promote them scientifically in joint efforts, and draws a conclusion that examining their significance in the present era and the ethnic characteristics is the key to understanding the profound culture behind the chess.

Poverty Alleviation Program Helps “Small Ethic Minority Groups”

Here we were at a picturesque village inhabited by the ethnic Kinos, one of the smallest ethnic minority groups in China. Immediately beyond the village, Bapiao, a highway snakes deep into the rolling mountains until it reaches Jinghong, the capital city of Xishuangbanna Dai Autonomous Prefecture, Yunnan Province. When New China was founded in 1949, there were no more than 3,800 ethnic Kinos engaging in slash-and-bum farming for a meager subistence in those deep, subtropical lbrests. Now the Kino population has multiplied, and they have settled in 45 villages under the jurisdiction of a self-governing township.

Strategies to Build Trust and COVID-19 Vaccine Confidence and Engagement among Minority Groups in Scotland

As countries continue to deal with the global COVID-19 pandemic and its consequences, policymakers recognize that science, technology, and innovation(STI) practices offer a means of addressing many of the health problems that arise from the ongoing pandemic. Such recognition has given rise to many STI policy initiatives across various areas of science and policy, leading to a better understanding of coronavirus and the development of COVID-19 vaccines,treatments, and diagnostics. However, the practical implementation of vaccine and treatment strategies within local communities extends well beyond the laboratory. This study explored how misinformation and trust amplify or attenuate coronavirus and COVID-19 vaccine perceptions of those from ethnic minority groups deemed more susceptible to the impacts of the virus. Primary data in this study were collected in Scotland through semistructured interviews with 26 expert and nonexpert members from Scotland’s minority ethnic communities. The study findings show that risk perception is fluid and dependent on the information and evidential environment in which people find themselves. Misinformation, fake news, conspiracies, and trust or distrust(from prior experiences and historic practices) influence the perception of coronavirus and how risk messages are received, including the acceptance of coronavirus vaccines.This article reflects on Scotland’s approach to building trust and COVID-19 vaccine confidence and engagement based on the findings of this study, identifying areas of strength and areas for further improvement or research. The authors believe, as shown by our research, that vaccine engagement will be more impactful if developed by and with the public,and reflects public values, concerns, and priorities.

Farming Ritual and Festival Folk Custom of Dong Ethnic Minority Group

In order to pray for harvest and express gratitude, Dong ethnic arranged sacrifices of farming in accordance with periodicity of rice production and its requirements to festivals and calendar. Meanwhile, New Year, Pray in Spring and Return in Autumn not only play significant roles in agricultural production, but also evolve to farming holidays which are enriched with more social connotations. Centered on husbandry and production, some folklore that is rich in local color has been formed in Dong society. The writer introduced some farming ritual of Dong ethnic group, such as, sowing, Kai Yang Men, Rain-praying, Chang Xin, reaping and Lunar New Year, summarized their belief in the land worship, festival ritual, ancestor ritual and ceres ritual. It is concluded that sacrifice is a production-related folklore, which is formed by repeated operation and constant practice. Some taboos were also prohibited in agricultural sacrifice because people were not able to change the unfavorable reality of farming with their insufficient experience and knowledge; however, they resorted to witchcraft for the purpose of harvest. It is believed that the activity of sacrifice will also be kept in the life of Dong ethnic group due to their dependency on agriculture and the land.

Genetic polymorphism of mitochondrial DNA HVS-I and HVS-II of Chinese Tu ethnic minority group

We analyzed the two hypervariable segments HVS-I and HVS-II of 108 Chinese Tu ethnic minority group samples for forensic and population genetics purposes, Comparing with Anderson sequence, 79 polymorphic loci in HVS-I and 40 in HVS-II were found in Chinese Tu ethnic minority group mtDNA sequences, and 90 and 64 haplotypes were then defined. Haplotype diversity and the mean pairwise differences were 0.9903±0.0013 and 5.7785 in HVS-I, and 0.9777±0.0013 and 3.5819 in HVS-II, respectively. By analyzing the hypervariable domain from nucleotide 1,6180 to 1,6193 in HVS-I, we defined some new types of sequence variations. We also compared the relationship between Tu population and other populations using mtDNA HVS-I sequences. According to Rst genetic distances, the phylogenetic tree showed that the Tu population, the Xi＇an Han population, the Chinese Korean, and the Mongol ethnic group were in a clade. This indicated a close genetic relationship between them. There were far relations between the Tu population and other Chinese southern Han populations, Siberian, European, African, and other foreign populations. The results suggest that Tu population has a multi-origin and has also merged with other local populations.

Hepatitis C risk assessment,testing and referral for treatment in urban primary care:Role of race and ethnicity

AIM: To determine rates of hepatitis C (HCV) risk factor ascertainment, testing, and referral in urban primary care practices, with particular attention to the effect of race and ethnicity. METHODS: Retrospective chart review from four primary care sites in Philadelphia; two academic primary care practices and two community clinics was performed. Demographics, HCV risk factors, and other risk exposure information were collected. RESULTS: Four thousand four hundred and seven charts were reviewed. Providers documented histories of injection drug use (IDU) and transfusion for less than 20% and 5% of patients, respectively. Only 55% of patients who admitted IDU were tested for HCV. Overall, minorities were more likely to have information regarding a risk factor documented than their white counterparts (79% vs 68%, P < 0.0001). Hispanics were less likely to have a risk factor history documented, compared to blacks and whites (P < 0.0001). Overall, minorities were less likely to be tested for HCV than whites in the presence of a known risk factor (23% vs 35%, P = 0.004). Among patients without documentation of risk factors, blacks and Hispanics were more likely to be tested than whites (20% and 24%, vs 13%, P < 0.005, respectively). CONCLUSION: (1) Documentation of an HCV risk factor history in urban primary care is uncommon, (2)Racial differences exist with respect to HCV risk factor ascertainment and testing, (3) Minority patients, positive for HCV, are less likely to be referred for subspecialty care and treatment. Overall, minorities are less likely to be tested for HCV than whites in the presence of a known risk factor.

Investigation for the transcultural self-efficacy of nurses in Guizhou,China

Aim:As conflict caused by cultural diversity among patients in China continues to rise,hospitals are in urgent need for improvement of transcultural efficacy among nurses.This study aims to evaluate the transcultural self-efficacy of nurses working in the tertiary general hospital in Guizhou Province,an ethnic minority region in western China,and to identify whether nurses'demographic characteristics affect their transcultural self-efficacy.Method:We used the Chinese version of the Transcultural Self-Efficacy Tool(TSET-CV)to survey 1,190 inservice nurses.Results:Results showed that the level of transcultural self-efficacy of the nurses was generally moderate;few of the nurses had high or low transcultural self-efficacy.The nurses'transcultural self-efficacy was affected by demographic variables,including age,marital status,employment type,income,work experience,and whether or not they were head nurses.Having a stable work environment,a stable marriage,a good educational background,and a high-ranked professional title were associated with increased transcultural self-efficacy.Conclusion:Nursing administrators in hospitals should offer continuing education on transcuitural nursing according to nurses'demographic characteristics and the SEST scores.

Syndemic aspects between COVID-19 pandemic and social inequalities

Although the coronavirus disease 2019(COVID-19)pandemic has reached all over the world population,it has demonstrated a heterogeneous impact on different populations.The most vulnerable communities which coexist daily with the social inequalities like low access to hygiene and personal protection products,crowded residences,and higher levels of chronic diseases have a higher risk of contact and the spread of infection,beyond unfavorable clinical outcomes.The elevation of the risk of infection exposure can be related to gender due to the presence of a larger contingent of women in essential services,as well as frontline and cleaning professionals who regardless of gender have the greatest exposure to the virus.Such exposures can contribute to the development of fear of contaminating themselves or their family members associated also with the work stress,both of which are related to the emergence of mental disturbances in these populations.Furthermore,conditions of unsanitary living and low socioeconomic status,populations at war,pre-existing social barriers,and ethnicity have contributed to more impact of the pandemic both in the exposure to the virus and access to health services,COVID-19 management,and management of other pathologies.At the same time,factors such as the closing of non-essential services,the loss of jobs,and the increase in household spending aggravated the social vulnerabilities and impacted the family economy.Lastly,the COVID-19 pandemic contributed still more to the impact on women's health since it propitiated a favorable environment for increasing domestic violence rates,through the segregation of women from social life,and increasing the time of the victims with their aggressors.

On General Issues of Bilingual Education for Minority Ethnic Groups

Minority language literacy is an important issue in national education policy for any multi-nationality country.China sticks to the policy of safeguarding the rights and interests of ethnic minority groups to use their own languages and writing systems.In education,considering communications among different nationalities and the development of minority ethnic groups,a bilingual education policy is being implemented by insisting on teaching students in their own ethnic languages;when the mastery of their own languages has been achieved,bilingual teaching will be employed.There are three types of bilingual teaching for minority ethnic groups:teaching in their own languages,with Mandarin Chinese added;teaching in Mandarin Chinese,with minority languages added;teaching both in Mandarin Chinese and in minority languages.The biggest problems to be solved in implementing bilingual education in ethnic minority regions are the editing of language textbooks and supporting materials for minority ethnic groups and the training of ethnic minority teachers.

Distribution of Dongxiang Folk Story Resources in Dongxiang Autonomous County,Gansu Province

Based on the field survey in Dongxiang Autonomous County of Gansu Province in 2017 and 2018,we found and obtained rich effective Dongxiang folk story resources.These first-hand story resources remain in relatively remote areas of the county,with elderly women in the Dongxiang Language Reservation Area in the central and east of the county as the main oral inheritance group.The distribution characteristics of folk stories:few people preserve most stories,while most people could not narrate complete stories,and few traditional story resources are widespread.At present,due to various reasons,the oral environment and inheritance status of folk stories in Dongxiang County is not optimistic,the survey is difficult,and the story resources are scattered,and there is a tendency to gradually disappear.Therefore,it is necessary to actively protect the existing Dongxiang folk artists and folk story resources,and to conduct digital sorting of these resources in time.