The influence of travel in formulating cultural identity: the case of the Sarawakian-Chinese

A thesis submitted for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy of the University of Bedfordshire. Author's name given variously as Caroline Tie and as Caroline Tie Chin Ching.This research study examines the influence of travel and tourism in formulating cultural identity within the Sarawakian-Chinese community, with a special focus on travel to the People‟s Republic of China (PRC), the 'ancestral homeland'. Given the nature of this study, an interpretive paradigm that is informed by the use of a qualitative methodology was employed. In keeping with this research paradigm, interpretive ethnography was utilised to investigate how the Sarawakian-Chinese understand their sense of 'Chineseness' based upon their tourism experiences to China. The research enquiry also includes researcher reflexivity as part of the research process, as the identity of the researcher is significant in this study that investigates the identity of her 'own' people. The findings of the research suggest that the Sarawakian-Chinese perceive China as being significant in constructing their ethnic identity. It is also apparent that there is a commonality of being 'Chinese', however the extent of this association varies by characteristics of age, education, religion and language. Within this association there is also an element of 'pick and mix' of culture, which was observed during the field visit to China, as members of the group evaluated different aspects of Chinese culture. The research study concludes that the experiences of the Sarawakian-Chinese in China highlighted their similarities and differences to the Chinese identity. It is evident that although all Sarawakian-Chinese feel themselves to be at least Chinese in an essentialist context, their degree of 'Chineseness' is affected by Sarawak culture, especially religion and education. They also make a clear distinction between Sarawak as 'home' and China as the 'homeland' with their travel and tourism experiences have served to highlight their sense of hybridity of being Sarawakian-Chinese

A 'reality of return': the case of the Sarawakian-Chinese visiting China

Using an interpretive ethnographic framework, this paper focuses on how travel to the homeland informs the identity of the Sarawakian-Chinese, a diaspora that contains a composite of subcultures. The data collection is based upon 35 semi-structured interviews and participant observation of a Sarawakian-Chinese tour group to China. Whilst emotional connections with China are universally significant in constructing the diaspora's ethnic identity, the strength of association is influenced by characteristics of education, religion and language, as identity becomes re-defined and plural. The findings suggest that the influence of tourism to the homeland may not necessarily be significant in enhancing emotional and cultural connections with China. Instead, ambivalent connections to homeland become established during tourism experiences. Visits to the homeland could play a significant role in forging new and hybrid identities of ethnic communities outside the homeland, thereby bringing a new vital dimension to identity formation and communication of the Sarawakian-Chinese in the future

Hyperoxemia and excess oxygen use in early acute respiratory distress syndrome : Insights from the LUNG SAFE study

Publisher Copyright: © 2020 The Author(s). Copyright: Copyright 2020 Elsevier B.V., All rights reserved.Background: Concerns exist regarding the prevalence and impact of unnecessary oxygen use in patients with acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS). We examined this issue in patients with ARDS enrolled in the Large observational study to UNderstand the Global impact of Severe Acute respiratory FailurE (LUNG SAFE) study. Methods: In this secondary analysis of the LUNG SAFE study, we wished to determine the prevalence and the outcomes associated with hyperoxemia on day 1, sustained hyperoxemia, and excessive oxygen use in patients with early ARDS. Patients who fulfilled criteria of ARDS on day 1 and day 2 of acute hypoxemic respiratory failure were categorized based on the presence of hyperoxemia (PaO2 > 100 mmHg) on day 1, sustained (i.e., present on day 1 and day 2) hyperoxemia, or excessive oxygen use (FIO2 ≥ 0.60 during hyperoxemia). Results: Of 2005 patients that met the inclusion criteria, 131 (6.5%) were hypoxemic (PaO2 < 55 mmHg), 607 (30%) had hyperoxemia on day 1, and 250 (12%) had sustained hyperoxemia. Excess FIO2 use occurred in 400 (66%) out of 607 patients with hyperoxemia. Excess FIO2 use decreased from day 1 to day 2 of ARDS, with most hyperoxemic patients on day 2 receiving relatively low FIO2. Multivariate analyses found no independent relationship between day 1 hyperoxemia, sustained hyperoxemia, or excess FIO2 use and adverse clinical outcomes. Mortality was 42% in patients with excess FIO2 use, compared to 39% in a propensity-matched sample of normoxemic (PaO2 55-100 mmHg) patients (P = 0.47). Conclusions: Hyperoxemia and excess oxygen use are both prevalent in early ARDS but are most often non-sustained. No relationship was found between hyperoxemia or excessive oxygen use and patient outcome in this cohort. Trial registration: LUNG-SAFE is registered with ClinicalTrials.gov, NCT02010073publishersversionPeer reviewe

The influence of travel in formulating cultural identity : the case of the sarawakian-chinese

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Associations between <i>APOE</i> (any ε4 vs. no ε4) and white matter microstructure in seven tracts (<i>n</i> = 89).

<p><i>Note</i>. <i>APOE</i> = apolipoprotein E, FA = fractional anisotropy, MD = mean diffusivity, CCG = cingulum cingulate gyrus, CHC = cingulum hippocampus, CS = corticospinal tract, FMAJ = forceps major, FMIN = forceps minor, IFOF = inferior fronto-occipital fasciculus, SLF = superior longitudinal fasciculus. All effects were adjusted for age.</p><p>Associations between <i>APOE</i> (any ε4 vs. no ε4) and white matter microstructure in seven tracts (<i>n</i> = 89).</p

Examined white matter tracts.

<p>Regions of interests in the TBSS skeleton from which mean fractional anisotropy and mean diffusivity were extracted for each individual. The regions of interest were based on modified probabilistic template masks emanating from the Catani and JHU white-matter tractography atlases (see <a href="http://www.plosone.org/article/info:doi/10.1371/journal.pone.0134766#sec007" target="_blank">Methods</a> section for details). <b><i>A</i></b>: Red, cingulum cingulate gyrus; blue, cingulum hippocampus; green, corticospinal tract; violet, forceps major. <b><i>B</i></b>: Red, forceps minor; blue, inferior fronto-occipital fasciculus; green, superior longitudinal fasciculus. The backdrop image is the MNI ICBM template.</p