• Journal of Contemporary Eastern Asia
• /
• 제19권2호
• /
• pp.148-168
• /
• 2020

In April, 2020, amid widespread fear of a second wave of infections of the novel coronavirus in China, local authorities in Guangzhou cracked down on the city's black population, resulting in mass evictions of Africans. The incident raises several questions about racism in China. How should we interpret this heavy-handed treatment of black people? Was this an isolated incident? What motivated such operations? In this article, I explain social control of Guangzhou's African communities as a problem of municipal politics. What underlies the government's heavy handed approach, I argue, are those communities' ties to rurality, which constitute a roadblock in the city's urban upgrade. Using Dengfeng Village, one of the best known African communities in China, as a case study, I show that efforts to upgrade the area by the local state and the real estate industry were frustrated by the community's status as an urban village. Africans, whom Chinese have historically associated with rurality, are seen as contributing to a space that has long been stigmatized as a spatial manifestation of rural people's lack of self-discipline. To better reveal the interconnection between social control and urban politics, I place official action in context of the history of the community's formation and the lived experience. This analysis of Dengfeng applies to various extents to other major African communities in Guangzhou.

• 한국아프리카학회지
• /
• 제43권
• /
• pp.89-111
• /
• 2014

This article deals with the characteristics and limitations of Edwin W. Smith's study of African religions. He was born as son of British Primitive Methodist missionary in South Africa, 1876. He was trained to become a Bible translator. After marriage he moved to Africa with his wife and translated the Bible into the Ila language. Most Western missionaries despised African cultures and religions, but Smith proposed a new way to study African cultures and religions on the anthropological basis of respect and understanding. Though he kept the mission mind to convert Africans to Christians and supported the fulfillment theology, he accepted the values and significance of African religions. With scientific and object approaches, Smith regarded Africans as rational and philosophical human beings. He rejected the traditional concept of mission that Western form of Christianity should be forced upon the mind and heart of Africans. Rather Smith encouraged Africans to build up their own churches and theologies with creative and dynamic worldviews including magic, Dynamism, Spiritism, ancestor worship and the faith to the Supreme Being. In conclusion, despite his limitations as missionary, Smith has been remembered as 'the founder of African Studies' and 'the ancestor of British phenomenological school.' His missionary experience became the solid foundation for becoming scholar of African religions.

• The Korean Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology
• /
• 제8권1호
• /
• pp.21-25
• /
• 2004

People in tropics have the ability to tolerate heat by residential permanence in the tropics. Previously, we have shown that African and Thai subjects who lived for whole their lives in only their respective countries sweat less under hot conditions than South Koreans who also lived whole their lives in Korea. The difference in sweating responses was attributed to the dissimilar central and peripheral sweating mechanisms operating in people from both groups. In the present study, acetylcholine (ACh), the primary transmitter for the sudomotor functions, was iontophoretically administered to South Koreans and Africans to determine the characteristic sudorific responses of their acclimatized biologic make-up to their respective environments. Using quantitative sudomotor axon reflex test (QSART), direct (DIR) and axon reflex (AXR) responses were evaluated. The findings revealed that the sweat onset-time among South Koreans was 0.91 min earlier than among Africans (P<0.01). The axon reflex sweat volume of nicotine receptor activity AXR(1) and sweat volume of muscarinic receptor activity DIR(2) among South Koreans were 79% and 53% greater (P<0.01), respectively. These results indicate that the reduced thermal sweating among Africans is at least in part attributed to the diminished sensitivity of sweat glands to ACh.

• 유통과학연구
• /
• 제16권3호
• /
• pp.49-57
• /
• 2018

Purpose - This paper explores the perceptions held by native grocery shop-owners of their foreign counterparts to ascertain if there are lessons to be shared especially regarding operational/survival strategies. Research design, data and methodology - A questionnaire was used to collect data from 121 subjects who were purposively selected. The data was processed and analysed with the aid of Statistical Package for the Social Sciences(SPSS) software. Results - The study found that native South Africans hold the perception that immigrants have operational advantage over them. The study also found that with bulk buying, immigrants' stores stock a larger variety of groceries while their items are sold cheaper. It is also arguable from the standpoint of the findings that immigrant grocery store owners avoid expensive lifestyles which often is common among natives who own informal grocery shops. Conclusions - It is the position of this paper that adopting the strategies utilized by immigrant entrepreneurs, informal grocery shops owned by native South Africans are likely to see an improvement in their township-based grocery stores. A major merit of this study beyond its novelty is its potential to advance learnership and collaboration between immigrant entrepreneurs and their native counterparts.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
• /
• 제17권5호
• /
• pp.2629-2635
• /
• 2016

Genetic polymorphisms constitute one of the reasons behind the racial variation in prostate cancer occurrence. Published studies regarding genetic associations of glutathione S-transferase mu 1 (GSTM1) and glutathione S-transferase theta 1 (GSTT1) null deletion polymorphisms with prostatic carcinoma have generated inconsistent results among different populations. To date, even a single meta-analysis is not available representing the association of these genes with prostate cancer in different ethnic groups. Therefore, the aim of the current study was to provide a clear picture of GSTM1 and GSTT1 null deletion and risk of prostate cancer among different ethnic groups (i.e. Asians, Europeans, Americans, Africans and Eurasians). A systematic search was performed with the help of various search engines to find out the all the recent studies (2004 to 2015) evaluating the role of GSTM1 and GSTT1 deletion in prostate cancer development. Odds ratios (ORs) with 95% confidence interval (CI) of a total of 34 studies with 7,281 cases and 9,082 controls was analyzed using STATA and MedCalc software. Overall, GSTM1 deletion (OR 3.67; CI 1.39-9.85; P= 0.001) was strongly associated with prostatic cancer. In the sub group analysis GSTM1 null deletion was also significantly associated with prostate cancer among Asians (OR 4.84; CI 1.08-21.5; P= 0.03), Eurasians (OR 17.69; CI 9.87-31.70; P< 0.001) and Americans (OR 0.11; CI 0.01-1.06; P= 0.05). No association was observed among Europeans (P=0.42) and Africans (P= 0.40). As a whole GSTT1 null deletion (OR 0.85; CI 0.28-2.58; P= 0.77) did not show anyt significant association with prostate cancer risk among different populations. When the data were stratified into different groups, however, Africans demonstrated a significant association of GSTT1 null deletion (OR 1.95; CI 1.57-2.39; P<0.001) with prostate cancer, whereas no association was found among Asians (P= 0.90), Americans (P= 0.50), Europeans (P= 0.89) and Eurasians (P= 1.0). In conclusion, both GSTM1 and GSTT1 may contribute to prostate cancer development but GSTM1 may prove to be a stronger candidate risk factor.

• 의정연구
• /
• 제22권2호
• /
• pp.157-188
• /
• 2016

아프리카의 많은 국가들이 민주화를 경험함에 따라 입헌주의의 중요성이 점점 더 부각되고 있다. 본 논문은 아프로바로메터 여론조사 데이터를 이용해 아프리카인들이 사법부에 대한 신뢰도 형성에 영향을 미치는 요인이 무엇인가를 경험적으로 분석하고 있다. 민주주의 체제에서 사법제도가 효과적으로 실현되기 위해 시민의 사법부에 대한 높은 신뢰도는 핵심적 요소 중 하나이다. 기존 연구들이 사법부의 기능이나 소송절차 등에 초점을 맞춰왔음에 비해 본 연구는 아프리카인들이 자국의 대통령이 헌법이나 사법제도를 어느 정도 존중하는가와 본인들이 일상생활에서 느끼는 법치의 수준, 법관의 부패 수준 등이 사법제도에 대한 그들의 신뢰도 형성에 영향을 미친다는 것을 경험적으로 보여준다. 분석 결과는 행정부의 수장(대통령 혹은 수상)이 사법제도나 헌법을 존중하는 모습을 보여줄수록, 아프리카인들이 법치가 공정하게 이루어진다고 평가할수록, 또한 아프리카인들이 부패한 법관이 많지 않다고 생각할수록 자신이 속한 국가의 사법부를 더 신뢰한다는 것을 보여준다. 본 연구는 과도기적 체제전환을 경험하는 신생민주주의 국가에서 법과 정치 사이에 긴장이 발생할 수있으며, 사법에 대한 시민들의 이상과 정치의 현실이 과도기 정의에 상호 교차적으로 부담을 줄 수 있다는 것을 보여준다.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
• /
• 제15권19호
• /
• pp.8301-8310
• /
• 2014

Background: Published data regarding associations between the -765G>C polymorphism in cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) gene and digestive system cancer risk have been inconclusive. The aim of this study was to comprehensively evaluate the genetic risk of the -765G>C polymorphism in the COX-2 gene for digestive system cancer. Materials and Methods: A search was performed in Pubmed, Medline (Ovid), Embase, CNKI, Weipu, Wanfang and CBM databases, covering all studies until Feb 10, 2014. Statistical analysis was performed using Revman5.2. Results: A total of 10,814 cases and 16,174 controls in 38 case-control studies were included in this meta-analysis. The results indicated that C allele carriers (GC+CC) had a 20% increased risk of digestive system cancer when compared with the homozygote GG (odds ratio (OR)=1.20, 95% confidence interval (CI), 1.00-1.44 for GC+CC vs GG). In the subgroup analysis by ethnicity, significant elevated risks were associated with C allele carriers (GC+CC) in Asians (OR = 1.46, 95% CI=1.07-2.01, and p=0.02) and Africans (OR=2.12, 95% CI=1.57-2.87, and p< 0.00001), but not among Caucasians, Americans and mixed groups. For subgroup analysis by cancer type (GC+CC vs GG), significant associations were found between the -765G>C polymorphism and higher risk for gastric cancer (OR=1.64, 95% CI=1.03-2.61, and p=0.04), but not for colorectal cancer, oral cancer, esophageal cancer, and others. Regarding study design (GC+CC vs GG), no significant associations were found in then population-based case-control (PCC), hospital-based case-control (HCC) and family-based case-control (FCC) studies. Conclusions: This meta-analysis suggested that the -765G>C polymorphism of the COX-2 gene is a potential risk factor for digestive system cancer in Asians and Africans and gastric cancer overall.

• East Asian Economic Review
• /
• 제23권4호
• /
• pp.381-407
• /
• 2019

The Korean wave has become a global phenomenon whose effect has been widely studied in Asia, Europe and the US. However the presumption of cultural distance makes it appear unlikely that the Korean wave could gain traction among African consumers of cultural products. As such, a dearth of evidence exists on the effects of the wave in Africa. This paper examines the effect of the wave in East African countries employing both descriptive and Probit model analyses. The results show that, contrary to conventional beliefs, most Africans surveyed perceive value proximity with Korea through the values conveyed in Korean dramas, movies and music. Confucius values, such as filial piety, family love and respect for the elderly are the most appealing to the East African audience. Importantly, contact with Korean wave contents contributes to the respondents' disposition to form favorable attitude towards Korea. The African consumers of Korea's cultural products are equally likely to purchase other Korean commercial products. These results remotely suggest that Hallyu may be a tool for advancing Korea's soft power towards Africa and could generate positive economic externalities.

• Archives of Pharmacal Research
• /
• 제29권12호
• /
• pp.1132-1139
• /
• 2006

Single nucleotide polymorph isms (SNPs) in the MDR1 gene that are responsible for drug efflux can cause toxicity. Therefore, this study determined the SNPs of the Korean MDR1 gene, and analyzed the haplotypes and a linkage disequilibrium (LD) of the SNPs determined. The frequency of 9 SNPs from the MDR1 gene was determined by PCR-RFLP analyses of 100 to 500 healthy individuals. The frequcies of the SNPs were C3435T (47.7%), G2677T (37.6%), G2677A (4.4%), T1236C (21.7%), T129C (8%), A2956G (2.5%), T307C (1.5%), A41aG (9.2%), C145G (0%), and G4030C (0%). Analyses of the haplotype structure and an estimation of the LD of the combined polymorph isms demonstrated that the frequency of the 1236T-2677G-3435T haplotype is much higher in Koreans (14.1%) than in Chinese and western black Africans and the C3435T SNP in Koreans appears to have LD with T129C in Koreans for the first time. These results provide insight into the genetic variation of MDR1 in Koreans, and demonstrated the possibility of a new LD in this gene.

• Anatomy and Cell Biology
• /
• 제56권2호
• /
• pp.191-199
• /
• 2023

The anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) is mostly damaged in sporting activities. To reconstruct the damaged ACL, a patellar tendon (PT) is often the most preferred graft due to its fast healing and bone integration i.e. bone-patellar tendon-bone graft. Suitability of the PT often depends on the morphometric profile of the tendon. This study reported on the harvestable surface area (SA) of the tendon using a simple tracing method. The PT of 79 adult formalin-fixed cadavers of South Africans of European Ancestry were dissected, and the margins of the PT were traced on a wax paper before the tracings were scanned. The SA, straight proximal width (SPW), curved proximal width (CPW), straight distal width (SDW), curved distal width (CDW) and length of tendon (LOT) from the digitized image of the PT was measured. In addition, the length of the lower limbs was measured to normalize the measurements. The results showed no significant side differences, and the measurements were not sexually dimorphic. A strong correlation was reported for SA vs. LOT, SPW vs. CPW and SDW vs. CDW for both sexes and sides. The presented morphological profile provides additional information on the usability of the graft and with respect to healing and recovery.