Authentic Representation Research Articles

Ramuan Herbal Untuk Pengobatan Penyakit Perempuan dalam Naskah Tradisional Pulau Penyengat

The manuscript of Pengobatan Tradisional pada Masyarakat Pulau Penyengat (PTpMPP) contains various types of illnesses along with their herbal ingredients, one of which is illness related to women. This study aims to present the transliteration and editing of the text of the treatment of female diseases in the PTpMPP manuscript and explain the ethnomedicine studies contained therein. The methods used are data collection through field studies and literature studies, data processing through manuscript description, transliteration, and text editing, and data analysis using ethnomedicine theory. The main data source used is the PTpMPP manuscript in Jawi script and Malay language, kept at Yayasan Inderasakti, Penyengat Island as an authentic representation of local traditional medicine. The results of this study present an edited text with five causes of female illness, namely meroyan (ordinary), meroyan throughout the body, meroyan bleeding, meroyan oil to the liver, and women who do not menstruate. Each illness has its own herbs and medical practices used, belonging to the naturalistic medical system.

Analysis of the Themes of the Stories and Literary Life of Saadat Hasan Manto

Saadat Hasan Manto, a pioneer of Urdu writing, is renowned for his incisive storytelling and unflinching portrayals of social realities. The article examines Manto's literary paths and the profundity of his works' subjects. Manto, born in 1914, was influenced in his storytelling style and thematic concerns by early exposure to the works of Western literary luminaries such as Oscar Wilde and Victor Hugo. Manto's paintings are lauded for their bold realism and precise depiction of societal realities, while they face criticism for their purportedly gruesome nature. This study analyzes Manto's thematic focus, encompassing political, social, and sexual concerns, through a comprehensive examination of academic sources. The findings illustrate Manto's commitment to social critique and realism by depicting a society rife with gender issues, class struggles, and moral hypocrisy. We advocate for Manto's literature, which is occasionally misconstrued and criticized, as a sincere representation of the societal conditions of his era. The study concludes that Manto significantly contributed to Urdu literature by offering an authentic representation of the human condition and a comprehensive critique of societal norms. Saadat Hasan Manto, a pioneer of Urdu writing, is renowned for his incisive storytelling and unflinching portrayals of social realities. This essay examines Manto's literary paths and the profundity of his works' subjects. This study analyzes Manto's thematic emphasis on political, social, and sexual issues through a comprehensive examination of academic sources. The findings illustrate Manto's commitment to social critique and realism by depicting a society rife with gender issues, class struggles, and moral hypocrisy. We advocate for Manto's literature, often misconstrued and criticized, as a sincere representation of the societal conditions of his era. The study concludes that Manto significantly contributed to Urdu literature by offering an authentic depiction of the human condition and a comprehensive critique of societal norms.

Understanding the barriers and enablers to participation in vaccine trials in a pregnant population from diverse ethnic background in an inner-city UK hospital.

Vaccination during pregnancy is an important healthcare intervention for safeguarding the health of the mother and their infants. Ethnic disparities in recruitment to vaccine research studies during pregnancy potentially contribute to health inequalities. The aim of the current study was to explore the barriers and enablers influencing the willingness of pregnant women from ethnic minority backgrounds to participate in vaccine research studies. Semi-structured qualitative online interviews were conducted with 23 pregnant women from diverse ethnic backgrounds in the UK. Interviews were transcribed verbatim, and thematically analysed. Our findings suggest that participants perceived vaccines and vaccine research, in principle, to be beneficial to the individual and to society, and understood the value of vaccination in mitigating severity of disease and protecting the health of mothers and their infants. Apprehension over the safety of vaccination in pregnancy was common and reduced willingness to participate. For those that decided to participate in vaccine trials in pregnancy, this was seen as an act of solidarity, a way to contribute to a collective responsibility for the public health of the community. Personal and community connections and representation-seeing people from their own communities represented in in the recruitment process shapped decisions about vaccine trial participating. Trust and mistrust in health systems, shaped by past experiences of interacting with healthcare professionals were likely to inform whether they would consider participating. Practical considerations such as excessive time commitments related to study procedures, travel and organising childcare were barrier to participation. The level of invasiveness of trial procedures were also a concern, although increased monitoring during the trial was seen as a potential benefit, mitigating some safety concerns. Our study reinforcing previously identified barriers to vaccine participation among pregnant women from diverse ethnic communities. This study underlines the need to develop tailored interventions that focus on fostering trust with the aid of community engagement to understand cultural contexts, establishing authentic representation, and address practical considerations, to contribute to enhancing vaccine trial participation in pregnancy in those from diverse ethnic communities.

Auditory time travel: Acoustic notes on the virtual reality reconstruction of the Queen's theatre (Adelaide, 1841)

This paper presents the results of an international interdisciplinary effort to reconstruct the Queen's Theatre in Adelaide as it stood on its inaugural debut in 1841. Our collaborative approach brings together real actors, set and costume designers, architects, virtual reality (VR) developers, motion capture specialists, and acoustic engineers in order to reproduce, as realistically as possible, the opening night monologue by Mr Gustavus Arabin. By combining the modelled ambisonics room impulse responses with a proprietary algorithm, we achieved an authentic representation of the historical environment both visually and acoustically by allowing the user to immerse themselves in the space at several locations within the theatre. Central to our VR reconstruction is the ability of our software to combine auralisations from multiple sound sources simultaneously as well as allowing the user to upload user-generated anechoic files. The paper focuses on the acoustic nuances throughout the VR reconstruction, providing a comprehensive overview of collaborative endeavours and technological advancements enabling users to grasp and appreciate the acoustic intricacies of Queen's Theatre. Emphasising the acoustic dimension of the space underscores the potential of our virtual model to serve as a dynamic platform for historical exploration, research, and educational pursuits.

“Polleras para cubrir los calzones”: Fashioning the Pseudonym in early Nineteenth-Century Argentina

Two political and literary magazines allegedly written by women were published under female pseudonyms during the first half of the nineteenth century in Buenos Aires. One, La Aljaba, was received as an authentic representation of female writing while the other, La Argentina, was understood as a male impersonation. There is, however, no historical evidence that proves whether La Argentina was written by a man or a woman. This article analyses the discourses created in La Argentina alongside its use of a gendered pseudonym to understand what kind of femininity it created and how it conversed with the political context at the time. Further, the analysis uncovers how the performance of femininity constructed through the pseudonym appropriates discourses on fashion in ways that made descriptions and repetitions of the attire fundamental for gendered representation.

Queer Narratives in Indian Cinema : A Comparative Study of Traditional and Modern Depictions" Films Like Taali , Haddi , Super Deluxe , Margarita with a Straw and Aligarh

Indian cinema has historically reflected societal attitudes towards LGBTQ+ identities, with early portrayals often confined to stereotypes and marginal roles. Traditional films frequently depicted queer characters as either comedic caricatures or tragic figures, reinforcing societal biases and limiting authentic representation. This study examines the evolution of queer narratives in Indian cinema, highlighting the significant shift towards more nuanced portrayals in contemporary films. Films such as Taali (2023) and Margarita with a Straw (2014) showcase a move towards depth and empathy, reflecting broader societal changes and greater awareness of LGBTQ+ issues. Taali offers an authentic portrayal of a transgender activist, while Margarita with a Straw provides a ground-breaking depiction of a bisexual woman with a disability. Similarly, Aligarh (2015) and Super Deluxe (2019) demonstrate a departure from superficial portrayals, focusing on the complexities of queer experiences. Despite progress, Bollywood still grapples with outdated stereotypes, underscoring the need for ongoing advocacy and reform. This study emphasizes the importance of these evolving portrayals in fostering a more inclusive cinematic landscape and contributing to societal understanding of LGBTQ+ experiences.

Reclaiming African Identity: Analyzing Issues of Postcolonial-ism in Chinua Achebe’s “Things Fall Apart"

Chinua Achebe's "Things Fall Apart" stands as a seminal work in postcolonial literature, exploring the intricate dynamics between colonizers and the colonized in the context of European colonization's impact on African societies. This abstract delves into the novel's portrayal of postcolonial themes, focusing on the disruption of traditional Igbo culture, power dynamics between Europeans and indigenous peoples, and the psychological and emotional repercussions of colonization. Achebe was motivated to write the novel as a response to European portrayals of Africans in literature, particularly influenced by Joyce Cary's shallow depiction of Africa in "Mr. Johnson." Achebe's use of language, particularly his appropriation of English to convey African experiences, challenges Eurocentric narratives and offers a counter-narrative that centres African perspectives. Through meticulous depiction of pre-colonial Igbo society, Achebe reclaims African history and cultural identity, countering colonial misrepresentations and emphasizing the resilience and dignity of indigenous cultures. Additionally, the abstract discusses Achebe's critique of colonial ideologies, particularly Christianity, which undermines native traditions and fractures communal bonds within Igbo society. By contrasting "Things Fall Apart" with Joseph Conrad's "Heart of Darkness," Achebe challenges demeaning depictions of Africans in Western literature and asserts the importance of authentic representation in postcolonial discourse. Overall, "Things Fall Apart" remains a powerful testament to the enduring legacy of colonialism and the ongoing struggle for cultural autonomy and identity in the postcolonial world. By using a postcolonial framework, the study aims to shed light on the socio-political implications of Achebe's work and highlight the importance of diverse narratives and marginalized voices.

Author Meets Critics: Advertising Revolutionary: The Life and Work of Tom Burrell

Abstract: In this roundtable, Dr. Jason Chambers discusses his book Advertising Revolutionary: The Life and Work of Tom Burrell (University of Illinois Press, 2024), which focuses on Tom Burrell's influence on African American representation in advertising. Participants, including scholars and industry professionals, examine Burrell's leadership style, shaped by his experiences at agencies like Leo Burnett and Needham, where he faced imposter syndrome and challenges in getting his creative work recognized. These experiences inspired his approach to nurturing African American talent and fostering cultural sensitivity. Participants also detail Burrell's philosophy of "positive realism," which focused on authentic, positive portrayals of Black life versus stereotypical media depictions. Burrell's upbringing, particularly his relationship with his father and his mother's chronicling of his career, also influenced his determination and leadership. The conversation covers the generational shift in leadership at Burrell Communications and the ongoing challenges of diversity and authentic representation in the industry. The discussion concludes with advice for future image-makers focused on resilience, cultural understanding, and meaningful engagement with diverse audiences—all of which were keys to Burrell's success and legacy.

Roundtable on the Challenges of Doing Intersectional Work in Advertising

Abstract: This roundtable brings together advertising, business, and communication experts who unpack the complexities of conducting intersectional work within the advertising industry. The discussion highlights the challenges of addressing power dynamics, privilege, and systemic oppression while striving for authentic representation in marketing practices. The participants explore how intersectionality, as initially theorized by Black feminists and activists and coined by Kimberlé Crenshaw, has been misapplied in the corporate world, often reduced to a tool for market segmentation rather than a framework for addressing structural inequalities. Through critical reflections on the industry's current practices, the roundtable emphasizes the need for a deeper understanding and application of intersectionality that transcends surface-level diversity initiatives. The conversation also underscores the importance of context, both in academic and practical settings, and calls for ongoing dialogue and critical examination of how intersectionality is integrated into advertising and branding strategies.

Embedding assessment flexibilities for future authentic learning

ABSTRACT Studies reporting flexible assessment strategies and their impact across different modes of study remain limited with little emphasis placed on the role these arrangements play in devising authentic assessment processes. This paper synthesises recent research work depicting flexible design principles and practice strategies for how educators might effectively and with confidence move assessment forward in ways that prepare students for a multitude of future possibilities. Evidence is presented for how such assessment arrangements can be created to allow for a valid and authentic representation of student performance in increasingly digital learning environments. Authentically future-facing assessment in higher education needs to be adaptable, ideally offering an element of flexibility and agency to students which helps them to continuously connect what they are learning – ideas to thinking, principles to problems, theory to practice, learning to life.

Balancing boundaries: Mapping parents’ perceived concerns and opportunities of LGBTQ storylines in children’s television

In today’s global media landscape, the integration of LGBTQ characters and storylines in children’s television has transformed media representations for young audiences. However, little is known about the way parents evaluate this on-screen presence. By means of interview with 53 Flemish parents, this study uncovered a complex interplay of considerations related to children, media, gender, and sexuality. In terms of possible opportunities associated with LGBTQ characters, parents referred to possibilities of information, socialization, promoting prosocial behavior, and aiding identification. However, parents also harbored some concerns regarding characteristics of the viewers (children’s young age and gender differences) as well as characteristics of these media representations (as to quantity, quality, and physicality between characters). Parents mentioned they were worried about the perceived maturity needed to comprehend what these LGBTQ characters represent, and they showed more discomfort with gender diversity (trans and non-binary characters) than sexual diversity (non-heterosexual characters). They also feared that an overabundance of LGBTQ references might prioritize “political correctness” over authentic representation, which moreover could confuse children.

A Critical Appreciation of the Commercial Blockbusters by Zhang Yimou

It is essential to note that for the past two decades the majority of the Fifth Generation directors have experienced an obvious shift of film-making from art cinema to the production of commercial blockbusters. By means of borrowing Hollywood’s “high concept” cinema, the local blockbusters featuring Chinese cultural elements are very emphatic about symbolism and visual effects of productions that are bringing to the audience new and stirring feel. And in the blockbusters of Chinese style, the stardom and renowned directors are the guaranteed success of box office. In terms of thematic subjects, the representative director Zhang Yimou has with certainty showcased his reflections on the unlimited power hierarchy and the impulse to deconstruct it in his works, which contain social and cultural allegories and morality problems of family. The so-called “commercial blockbusters” as <i>Hero</i> and <i>House of Flying Daggers</i> have utilized the unique on-site shooting and color effects to achieve the desired results. At the same time Zhang Yimou has in his art house works benefited from Akira Kurosawa, master of the genre, and some technicalities in gangster film. Zhang’s blockbusters of swordsman and Wuxia (martial art) have made an immense box value owing to their tactic violation of the mainstream ideologies. As a result, they are not regularly categorized as the most significant movie of the day. Being Zhang’s last blockbuster, <i>Curse of the Golden Flower </i>takes advantage of merging spectacular scenes and artificial staging for the purpose of authentic representation and imagination. This is also materialized by his cleverly adapting the original work of fame by Cao Yu, a contemporary playwright. Zhang Yimou’s blockbusters, with his special aesthetic, has largely succeeded in an economic sense, but failed ideologically to merge in the mainstream cinema of China.

Non-conformance aspects of moulded composite materials and “corresponding” simulation models with 3D textile reinforcement

Composite materials with 3-dimensional (3D) reinforcement were manufactured and corresponding simulation models were created in parallel. The used simulation approach has earlier been shown to produce close to authentic geometrical representation of the yarn architecture in 3D reinforcement. It is shown that although the as-woven reinforcement pattern can be modelled quite reliably, significant distortion from the nominal fibre arrangement might take place later in manufacturing, primarily related to compression during moulding. Such effects have earlier received significant attention for composites with 2-dimensional reinforcement but not as much for their 3D counterparts. The yarns in the real and the simulated materials are studied and compared, and some of the discrepancies and the mechanisms behind are discussed. The distortions are partly attributed to the relatively sparse weave that allows yarns oriented in the through-thickness direction, in particular, to deviate from their original positions.

StopThePop: Sorted Gaussian Splatting for View-Consistent Real-time Rendering

Gaussian Splatting has emerged as a prominent model for constructing 3D representations from images across diverse domains. However, the efficiency of the 3D Gaussian Splatting rendering pipeline relies on several simplifications. Notably, reducing Gaussian to 2D splats with a single viewspace depth introduces popping and blending artifacts during view rotation. Addressing this issue requires accurate per-pixel depth computation, yet a full per-pixel sort proves excessively costly compared to a global sort operation. In this paper, we present a novel hierarchical rasterization approach that systematically resorts and culls splats with minimal processing overhead. Our software rasterizer effectively eliminates popping artifacts and view inconsistencies, as demonstrated through both quantitative and qualitative measurements. Simultaneously, our method mitigates the potential for cheating view-dependent effects with popping, ensuring a more authentic representation. Despite the elimination of cheating, our approach achieves comparable quantitative results for test images, while increasing the consistency for novel view synthesis in motion. Due to its design, our hierarchical approach is only 4% slower on average than the original Gaussian Splatting. Notably, enforcing consistency enables a reduction in the number of Gaussians by approximately half with nearly identical quality and view-consistency. Consequently, rendering performance is nearly doubled, making our approach 1.6x faster than the original Gaussian Splatting, with a 50% reduction in memory requirements. Our renderer is publicly available at https://github.com/r4dl/StopThePop.

Promoting diagnostic reasoning in teacher education: the role of case format and perceived authenticity

Teachers routinely observe and interpret student behavior to make judgements about whether and how to support their students’ learning. Simulated cases can help pre-service teachers to gain this skill of diagnostic reasoning. With 118 pre-service teachers, we tested whether participants rate simulated cases presented in a serial-cue case format as more authentic and become more involved with the materials compared to cases presented in a whole case format. We further investigated whether participants with varying prior conceptual knowledge (what are symptoms of ADHD and dyslexia) gain more strategic knowledge (how to detect ADHD and dyslexia) with a serial-cue versus whole case format. We found that the case format did not impact authenticity ratings but that learners reported higher involvement in the serial-cue case format condition. Bayes factors provide moderate evidence for the absence of a case format effect on strategic knowledge and strong evidence for the absence of an interaction of case format and prior knowledge. We recommend using serial-cue case formats in simulations as they are a more authentic representation of the diagnostic reasoning process and cognitively involve learners. We call for replications to gather more evidence for the impact of case format on knowledge acquisition. We suggest a further inquiry into the relationship of case format, involvement, and authenticity but think that a productive way forward for designing authentic simulations is attention to aspects that make serial-cue cases effective for diverse learners. For example, adaptive feedback or targeted practice of specific parts of diagnostic reasoning such as weighing evidence.

Preserving Ukrainian Identity: Ethical Cataloging of Ukrainian Music in Soviet Publications

ABSTRACT The ongoing war of aggression by Russia in Ukraine has brought international attention to the conflation of Ukrainian and Russian cultures and identities. Such conflation exists in various forms, at its most dangerous in weaponized distortions of history and pretexts for violence. These two distinct cultures can also be misunderstood unintentionally in ways that appear harmless, even in music libraries. Cataloging the Ukrainian music materials contained within the Margarita Mazo Collection at Indiana University has necessitated an examination of the historical relationships between Ukraine and Russia in general and the influence of the Soviet Union on music publications in particular. Best practices for catalogers, such as appropriate use of controlled vocabularies and accurate transcription of text, are expanded upon to promote understanding and appreciation of Ukrainian music and to ensure access to users who search in the Ukrainian language – perhaps the users for whom these materials are most vital. Librarians must be critical and well-informed to understand Soviet publications of Ukrainian music, intrinsic to which are state control, censorship, and the manipulation of cultural expression for ideological purposes. Here lies a crucial opportunity for reparative cataloging, in which music catalogers can provide authentic representation in bibliographic and authority records.

Broadcasting Self-Injury for Change: Exploring the Presentation of Advocacy Strategies on YouTube

ABSTRACT This study employed an observational design to explore the presentation of advocacy strategies in YouTube videos orientated around the event of Self-Injury Awareness Day (SIAD). While previous research has focused on highlighting potential dangers of social media platforms like YouTube we approached our exploration from a perspective of advocacy to try and establish a more balanced understanding of how YouTube can, and does, contribute to self-injury discourses. The aim was not to define advocacy in YouTube videos but rather to understand more about the ways advocacy strategies might be presented, and what this looks like in the content produced by individuals with lived experience of self-injury. We expected to find content concerned with improving the lives of people experiencing self-injury, which could be interpreted as advocacy. Thematic analysis of thirty videos offered four themes: Community, comradery, and cheerleading; Education around self-injury; Authentic representation of self-injury; Development of advocacy identity. Findings indicate advocacy through YouTube exists and results in supportive, passionate, and resourceful content with potential to improve the wellbeing of individuals who self-injure, countering narratives of self-injury related content having a solely negative impact. Further research is required to fully understand, and harness, the potential of advocacy through online mediums.

A realist evaluation of how, why and when objective structured clinical exams (OSCEs) are experienced as an authentic assessment of clinical preparedness

Introduction Whilst rarely researched, the authenticity with which Objective Structured Clinical Exams (OSCEs) simulate practice is arguably critical to making valid judgements about candidates’ preparedness to progress in their training. We studied how and why an OSCE gave rise to different experiences of authenticity for different participants under different circumstances. Methods We used Realist evaluation, collecting data through interviews/focus groups from participants across four UK medical schools who participated in an OSCE which aimed to enhance authenticity. Results Several features of OSCE stations (realistic, complex, complete cases, sufficient time, autonomy, props, guidelines, limited examiner interaction etc) combined to enable students to project into their future roles, judge and integrate information, consider their actions and act naturally. When this occurred, their performances felt like an authentic representation of their clinical practice. This didn’t work all the time: focusing on unavoidable differences with practice, incongruous features, anxiety and preoccupation with examiners’ expectations sometimes disrupted immersion, producing inauthenticity. Conclusions The perception of authenticity in OSCEs appears to originate from an interaction of station design with individual preferences and contextual expectations. Whilst tentatively suggesting ways to promote authenticity, more understanding is needed of candidates’ interaction with simulation and scenario immersion in summative assessment.

Diversity and Inclusion in Advertising: Beyond the Buzzwords

This study investigates the impact of advertising representation and inclusion policies on consumer trust and brand perception at PT. XYZ Medan, a biscuit manufacturing company. Using quantitative methods and employing SmartPLS for data analysis, the research finds significant direct effects of Representation in Ads and Inclusion Policies on both Consumer Trust and Brand Perception. Furthermore, the study reveals significant indirect effects, highlighting the mediating role of Consumer Trust in the relationship between Representation in Ads / Inclusion Policies and Brand Perception. The findings underscore the importance of authentic representation and comprehensive inclusion policies in fostering consumer trust and enhancing brand perception. These insights are crucial for companies aiming to strengthen their market position through inclusive marketing strategies that resonate with diverse consumer groups.

Nanopore and Illumina sequencing reveal different viral populations from human gut samples.

The advent of viral metagenomics, or viromics, has improved our knowledge and understanding of global viral diversity. High-throughput sequencing technologies enable explorations of the ecological roles, contributions to host metabolism, and the influence of viruses in various environments, including the human intestinal microbiome. However, bacterial metagenomic studies frequently have the advantage. The adoption of advanced technologies like long-read sequencing has the potential to be transformative in refining viromics and metagenomics. Here, we examined the effectiveness of long-read and hybrid sequencing by comparing Illumina short-read and Oxford Nanopore Technology (ONT) long-read sequencing technologies and different assembly strategies on recovering viral genomes from human faecal samples. Our findings showed that if a single sequencing technology is to be chosen for virome analysis, Illumina is preferable due to its superior ability to recover fully resolved viral genomes and minimise erroneous genomes. While ONT assemblies were effective in recovering viral diversity, the challenges related to input requirements and the necessity for amplification made it less ideal as a standalone solution. However, using a combined, hybrid approach enabled a more authentic representation of viral diversity to be obtained within samples.