370 research outputs found
Ifa Fuyū’s Search for Okinawan-Japanese Identity
No full textThis paper focuses on the crucial role played by Ifa Fuyū, the “father of Okinawan studies,” in articulating ideas related to Okinawan-Japanese identity. Starting with a brief overview of Ifa’s life and work, especially his pioneering work in Ryukyuan linguistics, the author observes how Ifa’s progressive and reformist perspective shapes his discourse on religion, language, and history. The author then moves into analyzing a recently discovered wartime article that Ifa wrote in 1945, when he learned in Tokyo that the battle of Okinawa broke out between Japan and the U.S. Ifa’s controversial article shows how a strong sense of nationalistic identity was imposed upon Okinawans, on the one hand, while also revealing Ifa’s intention to fight prejudice toward Okinawans, on the other. This leads to the broader context of Japan’s emergence as a “nation state.” Problematizing the question of identity, the author argues that alternative histories of Japan should be taken into account for its proper understanding. Comparing Ifa’s view with historian Amino Yoshihiko’s thesis on Japan and modernization, the author envisions how identity can be seen as a growing network of plural identities rather than an abstractly imagined monolithic identity
Saudi Arabia: at a glance
No full textSaudi Arabia’s “Vision 2030”, introduced in 2016, reinterprets the country’s role in ECP and sees a stronger investment in arts and culture. New programs and institutions created in the context of the Vision 2030 join the country’s strongly education-focused ECP strategy, which already includes several schools abroad and large scholarship programs. However, Saudi Arabia has also encountered distrust abroad, particularly because of the country’s human rights record and recent scandals attributed to its Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, the country’s de facto leader
Development and characterization of an anti-bat antisera and its implementation in screening for rabies antibody in bats via ELISA and IFA
No full textBats have long been associated with the transmission of a number of zoonotic agents, including human rabies. Comprehensive surveys of wild bat populations to characterize the seroprevalance rate of the population could prove helpful in implementing control programs designed to reduce the number of human and veterinary cases resulting from bat-associated rabies. The antiserum was developed by immunizing rabbits with purified Eptesicus fuscus (big brown bat) IgG. Following immunization, the rabbits were bled and the anti-bat antiserum was purified and characterized. The antisera is currently being used to develop an indirect enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) and an indirect immunofluorescent antibody test (IFA), which will be used to screen for rabies-specific IgG antibody in bats. While these tests do not detect active viral infection or neutralizing antibody, they have clear advantages over the rapid fluorescent focus inhibition test (RFFIT), fluorescent antibody virus neutralization test (FAVN) and mouse inoculation test. The proposed methods do not require the use of live virus for the assay and are inexpensive. They also confer a clear advantage in that the amount of serum required for the assay is considerably less than that which is required for RFFIT or FAVN. We describe the development of the rabbit anti-bat IgG antibody and report preliminary results on our ELISA and IFA assays.High Honors
China's Cultural Diplomacy in a New Era of Multilateralism: The Case of the China-Community of Latin American & Caribbean States (CELAC) Forum (CCF)
No full textCultural diplomacy has been one component of China's foreign policy since its very foundation. However, it is only in recent decades that culture has been wielded as a tool to serve high-reaching goals commensurate with China's rising superpower status and its capacity to contend for global hegemony. This study examines China's recent efforts to enhance cultural exchanges in multilateral and regional platforms. The primary aim is to analyse the rationale, motivations, main initiatives and strategies underpinning China's cultural diplomacy based on a conceptual framework centred on the notions of cultural diplomacy and hegemonic transition. The author begins by presenting the guiding conceptual framework and providing an overview of China's overall cultural diplomacy approach over the last two decades. The analysis then delves into China’s engagement in well-established and new multilateral platforms such as UNESCO, the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI), the BRICS group, and regional forums established between China and developing regions. Shifting the focus to Latin America, the research investigates the China-Community of Latin American and Caribbean States (CELAC) Forum (CCF) as a platform for cultural exchanges and an instrument of China’s cultural diplomacy, and systematizes its cultural initiatives, prioritized areas, key actors involved, and strategies. By way of conclusion, the study summarizes the main findings, assesses the trajectory of the CCF in the cultural dimension and proposes recommendations
Mucus enhances gut homeostasis and oral tolerance by delivering immunoregulatory signals
No full textA dense mucus layer in the large intestine prevents inflammation by shielding the underlying epithelium from luminal bacteria and food antigens. This mucus barrier is organized around the hyperglycosylated mucin MUC2. Here we show that the small intestine has a porous mucus layer, which permitted the uptake of MUC2 by antigen-sampling dendritic cells (DCs). Glycans associated with MUC2 imprinted DCs with anti-inflammatory properties by assembling a galectin-3-Dectin-1-FcγRIIB receptor complex that activated β-catenin. This transcription factor interfered with DC expression of inflammatory but not tolerogenic cytokines by inhibiting gene transcription through nuclear factor κB. MUC2 induced additional conditioning signals in intestinal epithelial cells. Thus, mucus does not merely form a nonspecific physical barrier, but also constrains the immunogenicity of gut antigens by delivering tolerogenic signals10.1126/science.123791
Revised estimates and projections of international migration : 1980-2000
No full textThis report reviews the World Bank's latest international migration statistics for every country in the world for each five year period from 1980 - 2000. The estimates and projections of net international migration during this period will be used as input statistics for the forthcoming edition of the World Population Projections. In the early 1980s, net international migration to all receiving countries totaled more than 1.2 million persons a year. The author assumes this figure to gradually decrease to fewer than 900,000 persons a year in the period 1995 - 2000. The current male dominance of international migration flows is also expected to decrease. He also assumes that the importance of the United States as a prime destination of immigrants will increase substantially in the 1990s. Mexico is by far the largest net exporter of international migrants.Human Migrations&Resettlements,Voluntary and Involuntary Resettlement,Health Monitoring&Evaluation,International Migration,Gender and Social Development
- …
