To address the growing demand for integrating traditional Chinese musical instruments into modern digital music ecosystems, this study delves into the tailored application of Ableton Live — one of the industry’s most versatile Digital Audio Workstations (DAWs)—in arranging music for the Yang Qin, a classic Chinese hammered dulcimer renowned for its bright, layered timbre and intricate performance techniques. The core objective of the research is to forge a seamless connection between the Yang Qin’s time-honored acoustic characteristics and cutting-edge digital production workflows, thereby revitalizing the instrument’s presence in contemporary music while safeguarding its cultural authenticity. Employing a rigorous mixed-methods framework, the research unfolds in three interconnected phases. First, an exhaustive literature review maps the current landscape of traditional Chinese instrument digitalization, identifying critical gaps in existing DAW-based arrangement strategies that often compromise the Yang Qin’s unique tonal nuances or technical expressiveness. Next, a series of experimental arrangements are conducted to test Ableton Live’s functional adaptability: the team evaluates how the software’s tools align with the Yang Qin’s hammering dynamics, polyphonic capabilities, and modal scales. Finally, expert evaluations—solicited from both veteran Yang Qin performers and professional electronic music producers—are used to refine and validate the proposed methods against dual benchmarks of cultural fidelity and modern musical appeal. Key findings highlight that Ableton Live’s Session View (for modular, improvisational arrangement), advanced MIDI integration (for expanding the instrument’s tonal range without distorting its core timbre), and real-time audio processing tools (for subtle spatial enhancement) collectively amplify the Yang Qin’s expressiveness in cross-genre contexts, from ambient electronica to fusion pop. Beyond its immediate application, the study delivers a replicable framework for digitizing other traditional Chinese instruments, laying a foundation for their wider inheritance and global market innovation while preserving their cultural essence.

The study considers the model of an abstract organism, called Arbitrary Oscillator (ArbO), which is capable of making decisions at each timed step. These decisions are ‘critical’ since, randomly, their outcome can be ‘fatal’ for ArbO, thus bringing its life cycle to an end. If we impose limits on the total number of critical decisions using a fixed parameter TC (Total Cases), we can treat the statistical distribution of fatal events over a large number of ArbOs using statistical mechanics methods. This results in a mathematically definable asymmetric ‘bell’ distribution, which can be compared with demographic mortality curves (dx curves), with an appropriate choice of time scale (one step = five years). The possibility of modeling and therefore predicting the trend of demographic mortality is of great scientific and social interest. Our conjecture assumes that, as demographic longevity improves, i.e., with the lengthening of lifespan, the actual demographic curves will increasingly match the mathematical distribution curve of our ArbO. The statistical distribution of the ArbO was introduced by the author in a previous paper and is here recalled and formalized analytically and its characteristics are detailed. The above said conjecture is based on two case studies: mortality in the United States from 1900 to 2017 and mortality in Italy from 1974 to 2019. The conjecture, applied to both case studies, appears reasonable. Tables and comparison figures are provided to support this. Also, an attempt to predict demographic mortality behavior and limitations for the years to come is provided. Finally, the more general theme of the nature of human aging can also be related to our conjecture, since it can highlight the presence of an absolute limit on the number of ‘critical’ events (the TC parameter). As ‘critical’ events accumulate over time by aging, approaching the final limit value, the probability of death will tend toward one.

This study examines the enhancement of the outdoor visual identity system at the Xuhui Campus of East China University of Science and Technology. University visual identity systems serve as essential mediums for conveying cultural values and strengthening community identity. However, many systems, including that of ECUST, remain underdeveloped—characterized by fragmented cultural expression, inconsistent signage, and a general lack of engaging user experience. The research employs a mixed-method approach, incorporating historical analysis, field surveys, questionnaire data from 512 respondents, and 28 in-depth interviews. Findings reveal a rich cultural foundation rooted in chemical engineering heritage, a spirit of diligence and truth-seeking, and a tradition of national service. Yet, these elements are poorly translated into the physical environment, resulting in low cultural recognition and user satisfaction. In response, the study proposes a comprehensive enhancement strategy guided by four principles: integrating history with modernity, unifying institutional spirit and disciplinary identity, balancing science with humanistic values, and asserting identity with openness. Core strategies include cultural integration through systematic naming, event-related visual interventions, semantic coordination across spaces, and public participation mechanisms. Specific design measures range from renewing road names with scientific and cultural meanings, to embedding interactive installations and revitalizing historical structures such as the water tower. The proposed redesign aims to transform the campus into an open-air history museum that embodies a distinctive ECUST rhythm—blending historical legacy, industrial aesthetic, and forward-looking engagement. This study provides a practical and culturally grounded framework for visual identity enhancement in academic settings, with implications for both cultural branding and campus planning. Further implementation and evaluation across multiple campuses are recommended.

This narrative analysis study was conducted to describe the experiences of upland women in the culture of <i>dakop,</i> highlighting the community shaming and social pressure. <i>D</i><i>akop</i> is a cultural belief when the young couple intimately together is seen or caught by a witness who will then inform the family of the girl, thereby causing public shame. This study was conducted at Libacao, Aklan, Philippines. There were eight (8) participants purposively selected based on the criteria to share their experiences. The interview guide and observations were utilized for qualitative data. Thematic analysis was used for data analysis. Secondary data such as school records supplemented the findings and results of the study. As revealed by the study on the narratives and experiences of the participants, the upland women exposed to <i>dakop</i> culture face unique challenges and adjustments in their married lives, but they continue to persevere and adapt to their circumstances. Despite the challenges and misjudgments, they encountered, these women remain resilient, driven by their commitment to their families and their determination to overcome societal obstacles. In response, the school management offered support through Safe and Confidential Space, Individual/Group Counseling, Connection with Mental Health Professionals, and Workshops or Training for Life Skills Development. Drawing from the narratives and stories of the participants, hence a policy recommendation for young women who experienced <i>dakop</i> culture was developed.

Nigerians national security got flawed by a terror group on 26<sup>th</sup> August, 2011. A terror group which refers itself as “Jama ‘atuAhl as - sunnah li-Da’awatiWal- Jihad” JASDJ popularly known as Boko Haram detonated a Vehicle-Borne Improvised Explosive Devise(VBIED) on United Nations Headquarters in Abuja killing scores and left many injured. A decade after, terrorists continue plotting and launching attacks in Nigeria.Barely,a decade into Nigeria return to a democratic government witnessed the sudden rise of insurgency threat to human lives, property and her nascent democracy.Considering the miracle of a transition to democracy after years of dictatorship military rule,many never imagined the sudden rise of terrorist cellular development that would bring feverish tension gripping innocent civilian populace of Nigeria.Compared to the ruthless and often uncommon shrewdness of the era of military rule that rose to dizzy heights in Nigeria,non had such sudden and prolonged reign of terror and insurgency threat to national security Foreign Embassies have issued travel advisory to its citizens, who intend visiting Nigeria, due to threat to life, terrorism and other related crimes.In so far as gap exist in the safety of lives,property and national security,this paper raises questions on what is terrorism? and what are the background and motives of terrorism in Nigeria? This paper examines the challenges and response top restoring order and averting the multiplication of terrorist groups in Nigeria. Terrorism releases shocking waves of fear in the spine of nations. When fear is gone life opens up all its grandeaur. An increased majority are in fear from extremist andradical terror groups in Nigeria. Their right to life need be reassured and be delivered fromthis fear.Ultimately this paper deploys conceptual tools such as historical sources for objective analysis and answers to the concept of terrorism, its background and motives in Nigeria.

This paper examines the epistemology of the sense of “alienation” in Western thinking since early Greece through to modern day thinking up to Poststructuralism. The term is informed by a sense of insecurity assumed by Uranus to his power and an obsession to retain it. It led to the primordial creation of a binary opposition of “I/We” (Uranus, the power) and “they” (his offspring, the Giants and the Cyclopes, the possible threat to the power), or in short, a sense of alienation, a defense mechanism by Uranus to retain his power. This was the first social dichotomy consciously designed to retain power which soon translated into conflict like Gigantomachy (war between Uranus and the Giants) and later Titanomachy (the war between the Titans and the Olympians). The paper assumes that the idea first gets conceived in and executed by the first Greek God, Uranus, and since then it has found an active legacy in different transmutations. It uses analytical and interpretive methods to look into the transmutation through representative texts in different discourses-literature, politics, science, psychology, mathematics, history. The transmutation has a social impact and this paper is particular with conflict and war as examples. The paper also contends that most of the conflicts in the West, starting with the Trojan War until the Russian-Ukraine conflict, have germs in this idea. What Uranus did is often honestly re-orchestrated by his orphans in the West in new forms and platforms across time and hence an insight into it will certainly impact our perspective on the cause and consequence of conflict and war today.

In a previous article, the author presented a conjecture on the trend of demographic mortality as life span progresses. This earlier article provided a mathematical formulation of the statistical distribution to which mortality would tend in this case. In the present work we show that this theory predicts that the height of the mortality peak with respect to demographic age and the amplitude at mid-height of the mortality curve itself are limited to fixed values, towards which the mortality curves will tend as the lifespan increases. These limit values are also calculated numerically. These limiting requirements derive directly from the mathematical formulation of the above said conjecture. Demographic data from the United States, Japan and Italy were used as an experimental test. For the Italian case in particular, regional subdivisions were also analyzed to see if any counterexamples to the assumed limits could emerge. In all cases, the assumed limits were not exceeded by the actual data and the apparent asymptotic trend towards these limits was confirmed by the collected data. The identified height limit also gives us a quick test for future Life Tables with 5-year age intervals: the dx data for them, in the maximum mortality interval, may not exceed 29.3% of the total cases.

True to its culture of breaking boundaries and overlapping edges, postmodern art, as well as theory has become a veritable terrain for artistic experimentation and innovation as advocated by Ezra Pound’s phrase “Make it New”. It is definitely in the light of showcasing such novelty that this paper is borne. The paper sets out to discuss postmodern poetics drawing examples from the poems of five authors: Charles Oslon, Frank O’Hara, Allen Ginsberg, John Cage and Robert Duncan. The article basically sets out to answer the question what is postmodern or cyber poetry and what are its defining aesthetics? It also attempts a comparative analysis of postmodernist poetics and the aesthetics of the poets under study. The paper is hinged on the hypothesis that besides unintelligibility and indeterminacy, personism and spontaneity,- the distancing of the author and proceduralism (the self-consciousness of postmodern improvisation), self-reflexivity, and reader engagement are some of the hall marks of postmodern poetry. By debunking grammar and syntax, and emphasizing pastiche and the meaninglessness of their poems; these poets demonstrate that far from organic unity and decorum, postmodern poetry exemplifies playful pluralism and “other” worlds and voices of contemporary postmodern experience. The paper submits that postmodern poets are derivative poets who engage in post-language lyric, and cyber technology as a form of poetics.

<i>Background</i>: With the development of artificial intelligence technology and the transformation of the city image to the global comprehensive factor system, new demands have emerged for the visual representation of urban subway culture. <i>Objective: </i>In the era of artificial intelligence, we should explore the innovative ideas of urban subway cultural communication and put forward feasible cultural communication strategies. <i>Methods </i>The new trend of artificial intelligence technology is studied, and the new direction of urban subway culture communication is explored in combination with the information receiving mode of subway passenger groups. Through analysis, induction and other methods, the expression strategy of urban subway culture communication intelligence is proposed. <i>Results</i>: The study finds artificial intelligence technology to analyze the three main aspects of artificial intelligence to promote the new mission of urban subway culture communication, artificial intelligence to promote the new form of urban subway culture communication, and artificial intelligence to promote the new measures of urban subway culture communication, so as to realize the function of urban subway culture construction and publicity and promotion, and provide new ideas for the innovative development of urban subway culture image. <i>Conclusion: </i>Under the premise of establishing the concept of artificial intelligence, the dissemination of urban subway culture should aim at continuously meeting the public's vision of more and higher subway travel needs, so as to realize the development and innovation of urban cultural economy.

In the studies on Islam, Sufism is an unavoidable topic, so is with Chinese Islam. This paper focuses on Chinese Islamic Sufi orders and sectarianism. Since the length of the paper is quite long, it is divided into two parts, under slightly different titles. The first title is above stated, while the second will be “Sufi Orders and Sectarians: The Shattering Chinese Muslims Unity”. It is intended by this paper to provide the reader a fuller and clearer picture on Chinese Sufism and sectarianism, whose introduction into the country since beginning stirred up disputes and conflicts within Muslim community, later spilled out the community, and escalated to common rebellion against Qing government (1644-1911) from 1862 to 1878. In this first part, the author traces the fountain sources of those orders and sectarians, often to Arab nations and Central Asia, even Muslim India. In the discussion, the author redivides those orders and sectarians into three categories: one traditional school (<i>Qedim</i> sect), three movements (Xidaotang, <i>Ikhwan</i>, and <i>Salafiyya</i>), and four Sufi orders (<i>Jehriyya</i>, <i>Khufiyya</i>, <i>Qadiriyya</i>, <i>Kubrawiyya</i>). Based on the existing materials, mainly Ma Tong’s field research work, which provides the firsthand information on Chinese Sufi orders and sectarianism, the author delineates the formation of those Sufi orders and sectarians, so to lay a solid foundation for further discussion of their later development, analyzing the causes and reasons of later disputes and conflict. This paper does not claim to be creative and all-inclusive but try to provide the reader a fuller contour of Chinese Islam. It best can be complementary to the existing body of similar research.