Contemporary Society Research Articles

Research on the Progressiveness and Deficiency of Laws of the Twelve Tables

The wheel of history rolls forward, leaving a profound mark on the land of ancient Rome. In this long history, Roman law, as the birthplace of Western civilization, has a far-reaching impact. Among them, the bloodshed between the aristocrats and the commoners is undoubtedly the most profound mark in Roman history. However, behind this mark is hidden a great law - the Laws of the Twelve Tables. Laws of the Twelve Tables is the earliest written law of ancient Rome, which had a profound influence on the development of the legal system of later generations. The birth of this law marked the transformation of Roman society from a tribal union to a centralized system, and laid the foundation for the later Roman Empire. This paper will assess the historical significance and impact of the Twelve Bronze Tables Law in light of contemporary legal theories. This will offer a fresh viewpoint and source of inspiration for future research on Roman legal history, help people around the world gain a better understanding of the principles and practices of the rule of law in ancient Rome, and serve as a helpful guide for the development of the rule of law in contemporary society.

Crossroads between Big Data and entrepreneurship: current key trends

AbstractEntrepreneurship is vital for economic growth and development, as it fosters innovation, creates jobs, and enhances competition and competitiveness. At the same time, in contemporary society, where the Internet has assumed the role of the primary instrument for both communication and commerce, effective utilisation of vast amounts of data has become imperative for businesses, especially in the entrepreneurial environment. To identify the main connections in two of the currently most trending concepts in business, we undertook a systematic literature review focusing on Big Data, entrepreneurship, and their interconnections in business management through 301 research documents. While numerous studies have already delved individually into Big Data and entrepreneurship, the interconnection between these concepts still has research potential. Our results reflect a growing interest in leading research on these topics, with specific leading authors and countries. Furthermore, we show and discuss a conceptual map consisting of five clusters, unveiling interesting connections such as the impact of blockchain on firms, the correlation between Big Data and firm performance, the role of data science, and the significance of Big Data analytics for operational performance. The article ends by examining how Big Data and entrepreneurship change the business landscape. While entrepreneurs use data for decision-making, innovation, and tailored customer experiences, there are lingering concerns such as data security and privacy. The future of business and innovation will depend, in part, on the crossroads between entrepreneurs and Big Data technologies.

The Influence of Parasocial Relations on Contemporary Chinese Young Women's Idol Worship: A Study on Fan Culture

With the booming development of socio-economic and Internet technology, social culture has also continued to improve and enrich the times. Fan culture is given a new cultural connotation, and the fans cover the coverage of all sectors of society, which has attracted widespread attention. This study explores the correlation between parasocial relationships and celebrity worship among young Chinese women, utilizing questionnaires to examine how social connections influence celebrity worship behavior and its impact on well-being. The findings reveal a significant association between parasocial connections with celebrities and the level of celebrity worship. Despite potential adverse effects, celebrity worship provides emotional support and fosters a positive outlook on the future through parasocial relationships. The research also delves into the psychological mechanisms underlying the formation of these relationships, emphasizing the role of social media and celebrity culture. Understanding celebrity worship among young Chinese women contributes to our understanding of fan behavior, personal identity development, and the broader socio-cultural context of media and celebrity in contemporary society.

The Banality as a Mood of Contemporary Society in Contrast to the Artist's Mood

Contemporary times witness significant transformations in economic organisation, deeply influencing social dynamics and emotional frameworks. This study aimed to elucidate banality as the prevailing mood of contemporary society, delineating two perspectives through art: one defined by a banal emotional framework and the other advocating innocence. Inspired by Heidegger and Nietzsche, an inquiry unfolded to reveal the emotional and affective aspects of the examined phenomenon, enriched by perspectives from acclaimed artists. Consequently, the findings established banality affective disposition characteristics as a hallmark of contemporary comprehensiveness, encompassing instrumental engagement with the world, acceptance, and incapacity to perceive its banal condition. In contrast, the banality of the broader world was juxtaposed with that of the artist, who focused on innocence as a manifestation of their being in the world. The outlined approach derived, in methodological terms, from a phenomenological-hermeneutic procedure anchored in the Heideggerian framework, which analysed the "mood" (Stimmung) as a determinant in the interpretation and unfolding of the world. The findings proposed alternative understandings of contemporary life as the result of the conquest of the banality of average mood and contrast it with the character of the artist who resists falling into the overarching banality of our time. The results reflected the difficulty of the current era, from which hopeful aspects of transformation are not evident. Conversely, resistance is concentrated in isolated occurrences that reclaim life and its evolution. This work sought to establish new avenues of research that enable the exploration of multiple contemporary phenomena, in addition to indicating paths of inquiry that link the thoughts of artists and their expressions.

A lab experiment on metals separation and recovery from waste ink-jet cartridges as a non-formal appealing learning activity for students of secondary schools

Abstract Since 2004, the Italian Ministry of Education, University and Research (MIUR), the Conference of Science and Technology Headmasters, and Confindustria, have been promoting the National Plan for Scientific Degrees (PLS) aimed at supporting students in acquiring scientific skills better responding to contemporary society challenges and increasing vocations in basic sciences. This paper describes a successful experience of the University of Cagliari together with selected local secondary schools, in which the hot topic of technological waste valorization was selected to create an orientation laboratory for students towards chemistry disciplines. Specifically, students and teachers were guided into the challenging world of e-waste production and treatment through the practical activity of noble metals recovery from real waste ink-jet cartridges. A specific emphasis was placed on fundamental chemical aspects – separation and recovery of metals driven by redox processes favored by a complexing agent – as well as on the chance to play on coordination chemistry to promote a green chemistry approach. The close collaboration between school and university teachers in planning and implementing laboratory activities is the element that characterizes PLS actions and promotes the development and strengthening of relations between secondary school and university courses in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM).

Artificial Look: Body Narcissism in the Fashion and Cosmetic Industry

Consumers universally engage with cosmetic products in pursuit of bodily perfection, often influenced by prevailing fashion trends dictating societal beauty standards through advertising. Consequently, a woman's body serves as a cornerstone of identity, its alignment with these standards transforming it into a commodified entity. While the fashion industry ostensibly champions feminist ideals of empowerment, its underlying motive remains profit generation. This paper endeavors to explore the commodification of women's bodies within the fashion and cosmetic industries, illuminating its enduring implications. Through a historical analysis spanning from the colonial era to contemporary society, we examine the evolution of the body as a commodity, drawing on secondary sources and available data on beauty standards. Grounded in Saussure's structuralist framework, this study aims to unravel the intricate dynamics underpinning the commodification process and its broader societal ramifications.

An approach towards total quality in architectural education in India track: higher education (architecture education)

Architecture Education is a service and product, which demands, quality delivery to meet the expectations of stakeholders. Architecture Education in India is over 100 years old, and the focus of higher education in India post-independence has been on addressing the demand for skilled professionals required for a developing nation. Over the years the emphasis on quantity has impacted the quality of graduates and there is a need for a quality framework for better delivery to all the stakeholders and to produce more employable graduates. Quality imperatives are critical to all contemporary societies which demand a better quality of life through holistic built environments across the globe delivered through professionals having the skill set to meet societal aspirations There is an increasing demand for trained professionals given the tremendous growth in the physical infrastructure in urban and rural areas particularly the current shortfall in the housing sector besides other tertiary sectors of the economy. The paper addresses the issues about architectural education as mandated through statutory processes prescribed by the Council of Architecture, New India’s Minimum Standards of Architectural Education in India, and the New Education Policy -2020 of the Government of India. The research process adopted identifies the gaps in the current system of education through content and perception analysis through interviews and expert opinions and suggests methodologies that can transform the current processes through an understanding of total quality principles and their application to the higher education sector. The paper evaluates various aspects of architectural education such as institutional mechanisms, the process of admission, curricula structure, pedagogy, teaching-learning processes, scheme of examinations, faculty selection process, and their growth through the perspective of total quality parameters for the service sector. The paper attempts to suggest an approach towards Total Quality in Architectural Education in India driven by quality and research, relevant to the socio-economic, cultural, and physical context of the developing economies in the 21st Century.

Research on the Current Application of Big Data in Public Governance

Computer technology has profoundly impacted contemporary society, and the social governance of the digital era is inseparable from big data technology. The importance of data statistics in the field of public governance is increasingly prominent, as it can aid government decision-making, improve the quality and efficiency of services. By deeply analyzing data, precisely meeting public demand, increasing service speed and execution, and through real-time monitoring of social data, the government can grasp social dynamics, pre-warn risks, formulate targeted policies, and ensure social stability and harmony. At the same time, attention is paid to the problems that may arise from the application of big data technology, fully leveraging the unique advantages of electronic information technology, establishing and improving relevant laws and regulations to ensure its healthy and orderly development.

Redefining Public Space: The Evolution of Meaning in the Digital Era

Throughout history, public space has had a dynamic and evolving structure interacting with society and has undergone various conceptual changes and developments. This paper explores the evolving definition of public space, emphasizing the role of digitalization in this transformation. The study also seeks to delve deeply into the current meaning of public space, informed by perspectives from spatial design experts and Istanbul residents. The research employs a systematic literature review and a survey method, segmented across two distinct groups. The survey also concentrated on the spatial and digital dimensions of public space and asked participants to evaluate the personal meanings and usage patterns of these spaces. Besides, the advancement of digital technologies has led to literature that indicates an expansion in the definition of public space. The findings acquired from the research also supported this. In other words, analysis displays that public space goes beyond its traditional definition. Participants began to represent public spaces not only as physical spaces but also as digital platforms and social networks, and these findings supported the idea that the meaning and boundaries of public space augment and alter with digitalisation. This study emphasizes that the definition of public space cannot be confined solely to physical spaces but also includes digital platforms as integral components of this domain. Acquiring insight into public spaces' ever-changing and dynamic structure is essential for comprehending social and spatial dynamics in contemporary societies. This study revealed the evolution of the concept of public space and the effects of digitalization on this evolution.

Early-Life Exposures and Social Stratification

Adverse environmental exposures—war and violence, natural disasters, escalating heat, worsening air quality—experienced in pregnancy are consequential for multiple domains of well-being over the life course, including health, cognitive development, schooling, and earnings. Though these environmental exposures become embodied via biological processes, they are fundamentally sociological phenomena: Their emergence, allocation, and impact are structured by institutions and power. As a result, consequential early-life environmental exposures are a critical part of the sociological understanding of social stratification, intergenerational mobility, and individual and cohort life course trajectories. We review theory and evidence on prenatal exposures, describe enduring methodological issues and potential solutions for elucidating these effects, and discuss the importance of this evidence for the stratification of opportunity and outcomes in contemporary societies.

The conundrum between the neoliberal rationality and the contemporary environmental crisis: Fluctuations through uncertain times

The current investigation deals with the scope of the contemporary environmental crisis and its relationship with the neoliberal rationality. In this sense, the issue of such research comes up from the following questions: What is the future prognosis in the relationship between neoliberal rationality and the environmental crisis? What are the challenges to be faced and what measures and/or political-legal instruments should be proposed in an attempt to guarantee human dignity, environmental protection, economic growth and sustainability? The research’s goals are can be summarized in the following premises: conceptualizing and contextualizing neoliberalism in contemporary society from the micro level – as the subject and the society – to macro levels – States; clarify future prognoses with neoliberal perspectives within the wake of new technologies as well as the transhumanism movements; comprehending the contemporary environmental crisis as a political phenomenon. The methodology applied in this research observers the hypothetical-deductive method. It’s been observed that the neoliberalism paradigm abruptly intensifies environmental problems and it is necessary to find new ways and possible solutions to protect human and environmental rights.

Cross-Cultural Influences in The Satanic Verses

The novel The Satanic Verses focuses on the cross-cultural influences and delves into the complexities of cultural hybridity by exploring the collision and blending of diverse traditions, identities, and belief systems. The narrative follows the intertwined lives of two Indian expatriates, Gibreel Farishta and Saladin Chamcha, who survive a terrorist attack on their flight from Bombay to London. Following the miraculous survival, the characters experience a series of surreal and fantastical transformations, blurring the lines between reality and myth. Rushdie's novel is renowned for its exploration of cultural syncretism, where elements of Eastern and Western cultures converge and coalesce. The characters navigate between different cultural landscapes, grappling with questions of identity, belonging, and the clash of civilizations. The narrative traverses various historical and geographical contexts, including India, Britain, and the Islamic world, highlighting the interconnectedness and fluidity of cultural boundaries. Central to the novel is the concept of hybridity, where characters embody multiple cultural identities and negotiate the complexities of their hybrid existence. Through vivid imagery, intricate storytelling, and linguistic experimentation, Rushdie depicts the rich tapestry of cultural influences shaping the characters' lives and experiences. The novel challenges essentialist notions of cultural purity and celebrates the dynamic interplay between diverse cultural traditions. Furthermore, the text explores the impact of colonialism, migration, and globalization on cultural formations, illustrating how power dynamics shape cultural exchanges and encounters. Rushdie critiques the hegemony of dominant cultural narratives and emphasizes the importance of embracing pluralism and diversity in contemporary societies. Overall, "The Satanic Verses" serves as a provocative and illuminating exploration of cross-cultural influences, offering profound insights into the complexities of cultural identity, hybridity, and the ever-evolving nature of human experience in an increasingly interconnected world.

African Religion in our Contemporary Society

Characteristically, African Religion is a resilient enterprise that cuts across centuries of interaction with other religions such as Christianity and Islam. This research article sets out to unveil its resilient characteristics, as it underlines the fact that it is part and parcel of the African cultural heritage. Methodologically, it highlights the multi-dimensional ways in which the African Religion has permeated into the lives of Africans to date. In the context of Christianity and Islam, it has remained a ‘controversial’ areaof research among theologians, as some fail to understand its relevance. On the flip-side, there are other scholars who contends that it needs to be recognized as an independent and self-fulfilling religion, just as it is the case with Christianity, Islam, and other world religions.To address the divergent views, an application of an Afro-Biblical Dialogue, as a theory, has been proposed to address this development. As the dialogical methodology, this model which was first adopted by the Jerusalem Christian Council in the wake of Hellenism(Acts15), will thus attempt to answer the question regarding the place of Gentiles who became Christians. Were they meant to abandon their religio-cultural backgrounds?

Multi‐Wavelength Metasurface Empowered Cryptography for Heightened Security and Improved Fidelity

AbstractInformation security holds paramount importance in the contemporary information society. Here, a novel cryptography method is proposed based on the multi‐wavelength complex‐amplitude metasurface, which can achieve a high security level by generating a frequency‐selective key as an additional layer of protection. Moreover, the quality of the decrypted holographic images can be significantly improved by employing the complex‐amplitude encoding method and the modified visual secret sharing scheme, which adopts a new superposition operator to prevent fidelity loss. As a proof‐of‐concept demonstration, a prototype metasurface sample is designed, fabricated, and characterized, where the measured results agree very well with the numerical ones and the design goals. The proposed method can reinforce security level and improve fidelity of the decrypted message, rendering it appealing for applications in communication and anti‐counterfeiting.

Classification of ECG Signals Using Machine Learning Techniques

Cardiovascular diseases are one of the leading causes of mortality in contemporary society. With the growth in the accumulation of medical data, new opportunities have arisen to enhance diagnostic accuracy using machine learning techniques. Heart diseases present symptoms that can be similar to other disorders or be mistaken for signs of aging. Furthermore, diagnosing based on electrocardiogram (ECG) signals can be challenging due to the variability in signal length and characteristics. This article has developed a methodology for classifying ECG signals using the k-Nearest Neighbor (kNN) algorithm and statistical techniques. 9000 ECG signal samples from the PhysioNet database were processed. The signals were normalized to a length of 9000 samples, and relevant features for classification, such as median, standard deviation, skewness, among others, were extracted. Multiple kNN models with different parameters were trained and evaluated on a test set. The models exhibited high performance in classifying normal signals but faced difficulties in correctly classifying signals with arrhythmias. The weighted kNN algorithm demonstrated the best accuracy, although all models showed a tendency to misclassify abnormal signals due to data imbalance. While significant accuracy was achieved in ECG signal classification, there is still room for improvement. Future strategies could involve extracting more relevant features, addressing data imbalance, and fine-tuning model hyperparameters. Integrating domain knowledge from the medical field and advanced signal processing techniques could further enhance classification accuracy. Received: 3 January 2024 / Accepted: 7 April 2024 / Published: 5 May 2024

Challenges and Opportunities of ESG Integration in Financial Operations

In contemporary society, with the burgeoning concern for sustainable development among the populace, Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) criteria have emerged as a pivotal discourse within the global financial sector. Responsible investment is increasingly paramount, directing capital flows towards enterprises and ventures of greater sustainability. Against this backdrop, the integration of ESG criteria into financial operations poses both a significant challenge and opportunity for financial institutions. Architects and providers of financial products and services are gradually incorporating ESG factors into their decision-making processes to align with escalating regulatory demands and meet investors' expectations of social responsibility. Nevertheless, this transition is not devoid of challenges. Issues such as data acquisition and quality, regulatory uncertainty, and inadequate comprehension of ESG values among market participants constitute substantial obstacles that the financial realm must surmount in the pursuit of ESG integration. Nonetheless, through a series of strategies and recommendations, such as enhancing data transparency and quality, bolstering relevant education and training for market participants, and advocating for regulatory authorities to formulate clearer and more unified directives, financial institutions can harness technological advancements to optimize the analysis and integration of ESG data, thereby paving the way for new opportunities.

Asbab Al-Wurud as an Approach to Understanding the Purpose of Hadith (Maqasid Al-Sunnah) in a Wasatiyyah and Balanced Way that is Practiced in Contemporary Society

Objective: The understanding and implementation of the Hadith, as the second main source in Islam, should align with the intended purpose and message delivered by the Hadith to its audience. To preserve the peace of humanity, one of these qualities involves being balanced, moderate, and not extreme. Currently, there are still a significant number of Muslims who excessively adhere to the Hadith of the Prophet, exhibit harsh behavior from a liberal perspective, or solely rely on logical reasoning. Theoretical framework: This article seeks to elucidate the application of maqasid al-Sunnah in the interpretation of the Hadith of the Prophet SAW, employing the methodologies established by renowned scholars as well as the method of asbab al-wurud in a balanced and moderate manner. Method: This article uses content analysis to examine discussions on the method of asbab al-wurud as an approach to maqasid al-sunnah. This method is used to interpret hadith in a comprehensive and balanced way. Results and Discussion: Attaining equilibrium and unity in life is one of the primary objectives of the observance of the Hadith of the Prophet. To achieve this objective, it is necessary to comprehend the Nabawi Hadith in a straightforward and equitable manner, aligning with its intended purpose and objective. The understanding and interpretation of a hadith, as well as its transmission to the listener, can be obtained by consulting the scholarly opinions of the Salf al-Salih and considering the asbab al-Wurud. Conclusion: The concept of maqasid al-sunnah, when understood through the lens of the ultimate hadith and the application of the method of asbab al-wurud, allows for a more comprehensive and balanced comprehension of a hadith. This approach ensures that the hadith is interpreted in a manner that is in line with the conditions of the current times and places, and is accepted by all Muslims. This strategy enables the effective management and regulation of extreme, excessively literal, and radical comprehension, resulting in the attainment of peace and well-being for all of humanity.

The eating model in contemporary Taiwan: Destructuration or a new insight into compressed food modernity in Asia

In contemporary societies with diverse but often conflicting values attached to eating, it is important to scrutinise what eating well means to a given population. While such attempts have been pioneered, mostly in Western countries, Asia has been rarely explored. Moreover, food scholars in Western countries have called for in-depth analysis of the impacts of food modernisation on our everyday eating models, but empirical data about Asia and its implications for the plurality of food modernisation have been limited. To narrow this knowledge gap, we replicated Ueda's previous survey in Japan by utilising the same web-based questionnaire in a study of the Taiwanese population (n = 920, aged 20–69) to elucidate their eating model across all dimensions; that is, not only meal content but also the temporal, spatial, social, qualitative and affective facets. It was found that, similarly to other parts of the world, the Taiwanese have experienced the so-called ‘destructuration’ of their eating model, including two out of five habitually skipping meals; one out of four eating out 14 times or more in a week; and three out of five eating alone for breakfast. The destructuration also extended to their dietary norms, which marked a sharp contrast with other countries, such as Japan and France, where many eaters experience dilemmas due to high ideals and reality. We argue that this interesting phenomenon is due to the ‘compressed’ food modernity that Taiwan experienced. This study is the first attempt to provide comprehensive data about the eating model in Taiwan. Further empirical studies, particularly in other Asian regions, are expected to advance our thinking about a complex relationship between food modernity and well-being.

On the geography of deserts

ABSTRACT What is a desert? What is a desert to a geomorphologist, a geoclimatologist, a biogeographer, a geoanthropologist, a cartographer or a geopolitologist? Geography, as a discipline that is as much concerned with terrestrial morphology and climates as it is with ecosystems and human societies, shed light on the various meanings of the term ‘desert’ in different fields of language and knowledge, providing insights into the significance of deserts for our contemporary societies. The ambition of this reflection is to unravel the complexities of deserts and help to grasp what deserts are and what they ‘do’ by encouraging geographers to merge bioclimatic analyses and geo-historical understandings, establishing the geographical discipline as the quintessential science of deserts.

CGAS/STING signaling pathway-mediated microglial activation in the PFC underlies chronic ethanol exposure-induced anxiety-like behaviors in mice

Chronic ethanol consumption is a prevalent condition in contemporary society and exacerbates anxiety symptoms in healthy individuals. The activation of microglia, leading to neuroinflammatory responses, may serve as a significant precipitating factor; however, the precise molecular mechanisms underlying this phenomenon remain elusive. In this study, we initially confirmed that chronic ethanol exposure (CEE) induces anxiety-like behaviors in mice through open field test and elevated plus maze test. The cGAS/STING signaling pathway has been confirmed to exhibits a significant association with inflammatory signaling responses in both peripheral and central systems. Western blot analysis confirmed alterations in the cGAS/STING signaling pathway during CEE, including the upregulation of p-TBK1 and p-IRF3 proteins. Moreover, we observed microglial activation in the prefrontal cortex (PFC) of CEE mice, characterized by significant alterations in branching morphology and an increase in cell body size. Additionally, we observed that administration of CEE resulted in mitochondrial dysfunction within the PFC of mice, accompanied by a significant elevation in cytosolic mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) levels. Furthermore, our findings revealed that the inhibition of STING by H-151 effectively alleviated anxiety-like behavior and suppressed microglial activation induced by CEE. Our study unveiled a significant association between anxiety-like behavior, microglial activation, inflammation, and mitochondria dysfunction during CEE.