Cultural Context Research Articles

A Pathway to Screen for Mercury Levels During Pregnancy and Postpartum

BackgroundPrioritizing dietary choices during pregnancy and breastfeeding is a constant concern, as highlighted by the US Food and Drug Administration. Northwestern Ontario (NWO) boasts stunning natural landscapes, including bodies of water such as streams, rivers, and lakes that serve as vital sources of sustenance for local inhabitants. However, these environments, and particularly the fish that inhabit them, harbor naturally occurring levels of mercury, posing ingestion risks. Northern communities face heightened vulnerability to mercury exposure due to their reliance on fish for nutrition and the ecosystems they inhabit. Prolonged mercury exposure can harm the liver and kidneys. Despite the significant health benefits associated with fish consumption, abstaining from it, especially within certain cultural contexts, is often implausible. Consequently, the health care sector must devise strategies for mitigating elevated mercury levels in susceptible individuals. MethodsA descriptive study explored the frequency of primary care providers (PCPs), including family physicians, midwives, and nurse practitioners, screening for elevated mercury levels among their patients in NWO. ResultsConducted via Qualtrics from June 1 to October 1, 2023, the study revealed that 58% of PCPs either infrequently or never inquire about fish consumption, and 86% have never requested blood mercury levels for perinatal patients. Barriers to screening included lack of conversation initiation, language barriers, perceived insignificance, absence of guidelines, inadequate knowledge, and uncertainty about the relevance of discussing fish consumption. Participants called for a screening protocol, easily accessible fish consumption guidelines, and educational workshops. DiscussionImplementing these recommendations and using the suggested screening pathway could empower PCPs to screen for mercury levels in their patient populations efficiently.

Archiving sartorial narratives from India: An interview with Anwesh Sahoo

This article is an interview conducted by the author with Anwesh Sahoo who is a visual designer, technical and non-fungible token (NFT) artist, the first Indian recipient of the Troy Perry Medal of Pride for compassionate activism, the youngest winner of Mr Gay World India and the creator of The Effeminare. Through their conversation, the article touches upon a range of aspects of queer fashion, including cyber fashion, digital drag, representation of masculinity and femininity, and its varied significances within the cultural context of India.

A gastronomic product specific to the Caucasus region culinary: Khinkali (ხინკალი) & Hinkal

In this research paper, the characteristics of khinkali and hinkal, which are a type of food specific to the Caucasus region, were examined within the context of Turkish and Georgian culinary cultures. The qualitative research method was adopted in the research and the purposive sampling technique was preferred. Face-to-face interviews were held in Artvin and Tbilisi with a total of ten participants, five of whom fulfilled the condition of preparing in Turkish and Georgian cuisines. At the end of the interviews, the data obtained from the participants were interpreted by conducting content analysis. This type of called “hinkal” in Turkish cuisine and “khinkali” in Georgian cuisine. The common features of product consist of “being a traditional product, learning the preparation at an early age, preparing the dough in similar ways, being widely consumed in cold winter months, having 5-6 pieces per portion on average, taking care to prepare it during holidays, serving it to guests, preparing it with family members, and laborious and time-consuming nature of preparation”. The most obvious differences between khinkali and hinkal are that they are folded in a half-moon shape in Turkish cuisine, roasted beef is used as a filling and consumed with pickles, whereas in Georgian cuisine they are folded as a bundle, ground beef is used as the stuffing, and it is consumed with either alcoholic or non-alcoholic beverages by sprinkling black pepper on it. In the study, it was concluded that both product types should be considered as gastronomic products. Besides, it was thought that determining common and different aspects by conducting similar studies on Turkish and Georgian cuisines, which have interacted with each other throughout history, would contribute to the relevant literature.

Reviewing and reconceptualising cyberbullying through a social and sustainable lens

ABSTRACT The turn of the century saw a rapid increase in the rate of cyberbullying and with it, the long-term damage it causes young people, their families, and communities. Cyberbullying is now considered a high priority policy around the world. With COVID-19 revealing and reinforcing the increasingly technosocial nature of contemporary society, there are calls of concern around the unintended consequences of the pandemic. For example, school closures or lockdowns have resulted in adolescents spending an increased amount of time online. This increase has exacerbated the problem, compounded negative outcomes, and put the safety, health and wellbeing of youth in the virtual space at further risk. Given the far-reaching mental and physical health impacts, this hidden epidemic needs our full attention. Yet, cyberbullying as a field is characterised by definitional inconsistencies and lack of theoretical foundations. Research to date has largely individualised and decontextualised cyberbullying from its social, cultural and political contexts. Therefore, this paper aims to review and reconceptualise cyberbullying using critical social theories and a sustainable development lens to demonstrate the wider and macrosocial drivers and impacts of this form of cyber-harm. This paper will present how discriminatory attitudes and behaviours, known as othering processes, are mediated through technology, alongside highlighting some broader implications of cyberbullying at a holistic and systemic level beyond individuals.

La confección de la utopía comunitaria

The researchers who are part of this dossier are members of the Working Group on Anthropology of Communities, Futures and Utopias in Latin America, affiliated to the Latin American Anthropological Association (ALA), and of the Research Network on Communities, Utopias and Futures (RIOCOMUN). The studies and reflections contained in this dossier are nourished by the discussions provoked by meetings and dialogues that have been taking place in the network for more than three years. The texts strung together for this issue of Encartes show different historical and cultural contexts in different states of the country and abroad: Baja California, Jalisco, Michoacán, Veracruz, Chiapas; and in the north Patagonian region of Argentina. Translated with DeepL.com (free version)

Coupled Impact of Points of Interest and Thermal Environment on Outdoor Human Behavior Using Visual Intelligence

Although it is well established that thermal environments significantly influence travel behavior, the synergistic effects of points of interest (POI) and thermal environments on behavior remain unclear. This study developed a vision-based outdoor evaluation model aimed at uncovering the driving factors behind human behavior in outdoor spaces. First, Yolo v5 and questionnaires were employed to obtain crowd activity intensity and preference levels. Subsequently, target detection and clustering algorithms were used to derive variables such as POI attractiveness and POI distance, while a validated environmental simulator was utilized to simulate outdoor thermal comfort distributions across different times. Finally, multiple classification models were compared to establish the mapping relationships between POI, thermal environment variables, and crowd preferences, with SHAP analysis used to examine the contribution of each variable. The results indicate that XGBoost achieved the best predictive performance (accuracy = 0.95), with shadow proportion (|SHAP| = 0.24) and POI distance (|SHAP| = 0.12) identified as the most significant factors influencing crowd preferences. By extrapolation, this classification model can provide valuable insights for optimizing community environments and enhancing vitality in areas with similar climatic and cultural contexts.

The role of Confucian values in Korean administrative culture: a cultural-contextual perspective

ABSTRACT The Korean administrative culture and its philosophy have been developed through the philosophical underpinnings of religious and spiritual practices of Confucianism. This paper argues how, as an administrative culture, Confucian tradition has significantly impacted Korean bureaucrat’s and citizens’ behavioural and attitudinal patterns. The managerial values developed by Western countries still could not be absorbed and integrated with Korean administrative culture due to the strong ethical and cultural Confucian values. However, in contemporary times, there is a diminishing trend of public service motivation and an erosion of public trust towards public officials in Korea. Many aspects of bureaucracy have been standardised regardless of their applicability in the cultural context. Although the rule of law remains the universally accepted mode of governance, understanding the contextual or situated specificity of the role of religion in Asia Pacific states is significant as the world is reverting to traditions and culture. The conclusion offers that in rendering public services, public values shape the ethics or moral standards of the bureaucrats. The morality of Confucian values and ethics can complement in Korea’s public organisational behaviour and religion, which could be a way to achieve an impersonal ethical code in modern public governance.

Perception of normal and treatment level ejaculatory latency times in men with premature ejaculation

Abstract Background Although the normal intravaginal ejaculation latency time (NIELT) as subjectively perceived by patients with premature ejaculation (PE) and expected IELT (EIELT), which represents the individual’s expectations of what treatment for PE would achieve, are critically influential in the treatment of patients with PE, there is a significant dearth of exploratory research on NIELT and EIELT among patients with PE. Aim To explore the NIELT and EIELT of patients with PE, understand why patients with PE perceive such a long IELT as normal, and identify factors associated with EIELT. Methods We recruited both patients with PE and control subjects, and analyzed the parameters related to IELT using detailed interviews and questionnaires. Outcomes Parameters related to IELT. Results A total of 592 individuals (mean age 29.6 ± 6.2) were included in the study, comprising 466 patients with PE (mean age 28.3 ± 5.4) and 126 non-PE individuals (mean age 34.6 ± 6.5). The actual perceived intravaginal ejaculation latency time (PIELT), referring to the patient’s self-assessed IELT at baseline, as well as NIELT, and EIELT of patients with PE, were 1.0 (1.0 − 2.0), 14.0 (10.0 − 15.0), and 15.0 (10.0 − 20.0), respectively. The control group’s PIELT and EIELT were 15.0 (10.0 − 20.0) and 20.0 (15.0 − 24.3), respectively, showing statistical differences compared with the PIELT and EIELT in the PE group. In the PE group and the control group, 31.5% and 57.9% of individuals, respectively, have an EIELT greater than the average actual normal ejaculatory latency time of 15.0 minutes. Among patients with PE, 51.3% expressed a NIELT >10 minutes, identical to the EIELT in a higher percentage (59.4%). The control group’s EIELT is 5 minutes longer than the PE group’s EIELT. Multivariable linear regression analysis showed that age, marital status, education level, BMI, satisfaction evaluation of PIELT, PEDT score, and IIEF-6 score were not associated with EIELT; only NIELT (beta = 0.817, P < 0.001) and PIELT (beta = 0.056, P = 0.044) were related to EIELT. Clinical implications Sexual health care providers should be aware that patients with PE have excessively high expectations for IELT. Strengths and limitation The first study explores why patients with clinically diagnosed PE perceive long IELT as normal and examines factors associated with EIELT. Further validation is needed in different cultural contexts. Conclusion Patients with PE often have excessively high expectations regarding IELT, primarily due to their insufficient understanding of IELT.

‘It’s just my personality.' How employees make sense of their long work hours in a supportive workplace

ABSTRACT This paper examines how employees make sense of their long work hours. We use a case study of an administrative unit at a public university in the United States, where expectations of working long hours are relatively low and employees have organizational resources to achieve work-life balance. Even so, we find that many employees still work more than expected and feel the need to work over the weekends. These employees overwhelmingly attribute their long hours to their personalities. Because many employees view their work as central to their existence, they invest their emotional energy and drive themselves to work longer hours than is expected from their supervisors and the institution. This individualized understanding that uses personality as a cultural frame persists and operates as a justification for long work hours even when other causes, such as staff shortage, were present. These findings imply that removing organizational expectations and rewards for long work hours alone is not enough for employees to achieve work-life balance because personal work ethics can still drive working long hours in the cultural context that puts high moral values on long work hours. In the conclusion, we discuss policies and cultural shifts needed to address these problems.

Crypto-aesthetics: towards a New Materialist theory of NFT art

ABSTRACT The advent of non-fungible tokens (NFTs) in the art world has led to the emergence of a unique aesthetic sensibility, ‘crypto-aesthetics.’ This nascent phenomenon is marked by the amalgamation of digital and traditional art forms, the exploration of decentralisation and blockchain themes, and an emphasis on scarcity and digital ownership. This article proposes to examine the crypto-aesthetic phenomenon of NFT art through the lens of New Materialism, in particular the key concepts of two major New Materialist thinkers, namely Karen Barad and Jane Benett. Our application of New Materialism elucidates crypto-aesthetics as a distinct occurrence stemming from the interplay of object-reality, agency and networks, sociomateriality, and cultural and historical contexts. Utilising the New Materialism perspective to investigate crypto-aesthetics sheds light on the intricate relationships, processes, and consequences shaping the art market vis-à-vis NFTs and digital art. By acknowledging the agency of matter and the entwined nature of human and non-human entities, a more holistic comprehension of crypto-aesthetics’ transformative potential for artistic expression, value generation, and cultural dynamics can be attained. Our theoretical framework offers a novel lens through which to explore and understand the burgeoning world of NFT art and its crypto-aesthetic tendencies.

Intersections of family expressiveness and adolescent mental health: exploring parent–adolescent relationships as a mediator

Purpose This study investigates the mediating role of parent−adolescent relationships in the impact of family emotional expressiveness on adolescent psychological adjustment. This study aims to elucidate the mechanisms by which positive family dynamics and strong parent−child bonds influence adolescents' psychological resilience and well-being. Design/methodology/approach The study involved 463 middle school students (241 boys and 222 girls) from Chlef, Algeria. Data was collected using the self-expressiveness in the family questionnaire (SEFQ), the parent−adolescent relationship scale (PARS) and the strengths and difficulties questionnaire (SDQ). Descriptive statistics, correlations and mediation analysis were performed to examine the relationships among family emotional expressiveness, parent−adolescent relationships and psychological adjustment. Findings The results reveal moderate positive correlations among family emotional expressiveness, parent−adolescent relationships and psychological adjustment. Mediation analysis indicates that parent−adolescent relationships partially mediate the effects of family emotional expressiveness on psychological outcomes, with both direct and indirect effects being statistically significant. Originality/value This study contributes to the field of mental health by exploring the nuanced interplay between family dynamics, parent−adolescent relationships and psychological adjustment within the Algerian cultural context. While the quantitative nature of the study limits the depth of contextual insights, the findings underscore the importance of considering family emotional expressiveness and the quality of parent−adolescent relationships in interventions aimed at promoting adolescent psychological well-being. The study highlights the partial mediating role of parent−adolescent relationships, indicating that other factors may also influence the association between family expressiveness and adolescent adjustment. This emphasizes the need for a comprehensive, culturally-sensitive approach that addresses various influences on adolescent development. It should be noted that while the family unit and parenting styles have been extensively researched, this study offers a fresh perspective by focusing on these dynamics within a specific cultural setting.

Investigating how cultural differences influence the translation process and the strategies used by translators to bridge cultural gaps

This study investigates the impact of cultural differences on the translation process and the strategies used by translators to bridge these cultural gaps. Through qualitative interviews with professional translators specializing in literature, business, legal, and technical translation, the research identifies key strategies employed to address cultural challenges. These strategies include localization, adaptation, the use of cultural equivalents, annotation, and consultation with cultural informants. The findings reveal that these strategies are effective in maintaining both translation accuracy and cultural relevance. Localization tailors content to the cultural context of the target audience, while adaptation handles idiomatic expressions and culturally specific references. Cultural equivalents preserve the emotional and cultural impact of the source text, and annotations provide necessary explanations for cultural references without direct equivalents. Consultation with cultural informants enhances the accuracy and appropriateness of translations, particularly in specialized fields. The effectiveness of these strategies is supported by concrete examples from the translators' experiences, demonstrating successful applications across various fields. The study's findings align with established theories in translation studies, such as those proposed by Venuti, Nida, Baker, and House, reinforcing the importance of cultural competence in translation. This research highlights the complex interplay between language and culture in the translation process and underscores the necessity for tailored strategies to address cultural nuances. The study contributes to the theoretical understanding of cultural translation and offers practical recommendations for translators. As global communication continues to expand, the role of culturally competent translators remains vital in facilitating cross-cultural understanding and interaction. Future research should explore the evolving role of technology in translation and its implications for cultural competence.

Cultural Perspectives on the Efficacy and Adoption of the Crohn’s Disease Exclusion Diet across Diverse Ethnicities: A Case-Based Overview

Background: The Crohn’s Disease Exclusion Diet (CDED) is a whole-foods regimen that has demonstrated efficacy in inducing remission among children and adults with mild-to-moderate disease. While initial studies predominantly originated from Israel, recent years have witnessed the expansion of experiences to diverse cultures, culminating in the recognition of CDED in the latest ESPEN guidelines. However, implementing dietary therapy poses significant challenges across various cultures, necessitating adaptations. Aim and Methods: This case-based study aims to present the collective experience from different cultures, shedding light on the encountered challenges and the corresponding solutions devised to surmount them by convening healthcare providers (dietitians and physicians across six countries and eight cultural settings) with extensive experience in utilizing the CDED. Results and Conclusions: Our findings underscore the efficacy of CDED across diverse cultural contexts and emphasize the pivotal role of dietitians in tailoring the diet to accommodate patients’ cultural behaviors and traditions. We highlight challenges encountered and delineate strategies for overcoming them by customizing the diet and offering tailored guidance. Additionally, we provide insights into implementing CDED in various regions through adjusted recipes and personalized counseling from dietitians. This study contributes to the growing body of literature on CDED, and offers practical guidance for its effective adoption in diverse cultural settings.

Cut-off scores for sensitivity interpretation of the Korean Highly Sensitive Person Scale

This study aimed to replicate findings on sensitivity groups, their proportions, and cut-off scores in a South Korean population. Uniquely, it extended the age range to include participants up to 80 years old, representing the first attempt to validate these constructs across such a broad age spectrum in this cultural context. A total of 1773 South Koreans in their 20s to 80s participated in the Highly Sensitive Person Scale (HSPS) questionnaire survey, conducted to establish a cut-off score to be used more conveniently in real-world scenarios. The results showed that 22.0%, 45.3%, and 32.7% belonged to the low-, medium-, and high-sensitivity groups, respectively. The average item scores of 3.81 and 4.73 served as cut-off points distinguishing low- from medium-sensitivity and medium- from high-sensitivity groups, respectively. This study represents applied research on the use of HSPS. Research on HSPS cut-off scores considering cultural or demographic characteristics is still in its early stages, and accumulating data through various surveys is key for in-depth comparative analyses.

The relationship between self-efficacy and sustainable Leanmanagement systems withinthe healthcare arena.

The purpose of this paper is to improve the understanding of the social contexts of sustainable Lean culture in healthcare by examining self-efficacy (SE) as a fundamental construct related to the value of perceived readiness, prior education of Lean and the importance of leadership's system-level support. A descriptive correlational study was conducted to identify the relationships between SE and Lean readiness factors, SE and prior Lean training, SE and clinical vs administrative roles and SE and perceived system-level support in a large health system. There was a statistically significant difference in self-reported readiness to use Lean tools between individuals who had received Lean training during their academic education and those who had not; however, their level of education did not impact SE. Lastly, and perhaps most important, the learner who embodies SE also has system-level support. Future directions of this research, in addition to assessing team readiness as other studies suggest, would be to evaluate individual team member readiness by gauging SE and addressing deficits prior to the deployment of process improvement (PI) projects to promote success and sustainability. This contributes to the ongoing scholarship of Lean management systems, providing clinical and non-clinical leaders with a contextual understanding of their supportive role in the SE of teams. This study demonstrates the value of understanding SE of individual team members and how it can contribute to overall improved team outcomes, directly impacting the sustainability of Lean change culture and its promotion of improved patient safety, cost efficiencies and access to care.

Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Belonging Framework in the Cultivation and Consumption of Kalanamak Rice: A Case Study

This research article examines the dimensions of Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Belonging (DEIB) in the cultivation and consumption of Kalanamak rice (KNR), a heritage and indigenous agricultural product of India. It explores the historical and contemporary roles of KNR in promoting or hindering DEIB within its cultural and agricultural contexts. The research is a unique attempt to construct the DEIB framework in KNR by using secondary resources and qualitative personal interview data, applying the grounded theory approach. The study provides insights into a rarely studied heritage/indigenous crop in India concerning the DEIB framework in its cultivation and consumption. The case study of KNR indicates that the equity and integration of marginal communities in KNR fall short of the desired level. Nonetheless, there is an acknowledgment of the necessity for progress in establishing a DEIB framework. Challenges such as insufficient financial resources and expertise, stemming from a prevailing power and privilege imbalance, are a threat to DEIB in KNR and need to be addressed by policymakers for the benefit of stakeholders. The article also highlights some of the government interventions to improve the DEIB of the KNR farmers and communities.

How do young-oriented values facilitate conspicuous consumption travel behaviour through information searching and content generation?

PurposeThis study explores how the effects of youth-oriented values influence the behavioural attitudes towards online conspicuous activities during travel, leading to their further conspicuous consumption travel behaviour.Design/methodology/approachThis study applied a mixed-methods approach. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with 20 young tourists to extract the youth-oriented value measurement scale. A systematic survey was conducted in a renovated heritage site in China. PLS-SEM analysis was performed on 322 responses to test the proposed hypotheses.FindingsThe results of semi-structured interviews supplement seven new items and form a measurement scale of youth-oriented values with 16 items in three dimensions (self-identification, peer-identification and eagerness to change). The results of PLS-SEM analysis reveal that all three youth-oriented values significantly influence attitudes towards information searching and content generation, and these two behavioural attitudes are positively related to continuous conspicuous consumption travel. The openness trait moderates the relationship between self-identification and content generation.Originality/valueThe study contributes to youth tourism research in conspicuous consumption travel behaviour. It provides insights to tourism operators to formulate strategies to develop the young tourist market in a cultural heritage tourism context.

Cross-Cultural Applications of the New Ecological Paradigm in Protected Area Contexts

Working mostly in Western, Educated, Industrialized, Rich, and Democratic countries, environmental psychologists have developed scales assessing relationships between pro-environmental beliefs and behaviors. Working in Tanzanian and Indonesian protected area landscapes, containing important biodiversity and conflict over human-nature interactions, we investigate the utility of the New Ecological Paradigm for measuring pro-environmental beliefs and understanding support for protected area regulations. We found the New Ecological Paradigm ineffective at measuring pro-environmental beliefs in both countries; in Tanzania due to acquiescence bias, and in Indonesia exploratory factor analysis supported none of the original factors, with 4 of 15 statements loading onto a novel “eco-fragility” factor. Individual statements in both countries and the eco-fragility factor in Indonesia were weakly correlated with support for protected area regulations, highlighting while elements of the New Ecological Paradigm can improve understanding of support for protected area regulations, care must be taken when applying psychometric tools in novel cultural contexts.

Harnessing Vernacular Knowledge for Contemporary Sustainable Design through a Collaborative Digital Platform

Vernacular architecture offers valuable technological and typological solutions rooted in knowledge systems that connect environmental, social, economic, and cultural contexts. This paper introduces the Heritage for People Platform, a collaborative digital tool developed under the VerSus+ project (Creative Europe Program), aimed at organising and disseminating vernacular architectural knowledge with a focus on sustainable practices that are both culturally and environmentally conscious. The platform builds upon lessons learned from similar projects, offering key improvements such as the adoption of a Case-Based Reasoning methodology, which organises examples by geographic location, materials, and intervention types. A structured classification system based on sustainability principles and strategies enables cross-disciplinary research and comparison. The design process was highly participatory, incorporating user feedback at every stage to ensure the platform is accessible to a wide range of users, including designers, scholars, craftspeople, and the general public. A cross-device, user-centered approach further broadens its accessibility. The platform provides a public, web-based geospatial repository where users can create, update, and explore a dynamic collection of artefacts, design models, people, and institutions from across the globe. This tool marks a significant advance in promoting and preserving both physical and intangible heritage, with strong educational and practical applications for sustainable architecture. The paper details the theoretical framework and real-world potential of the platform as a critical resource for promoting sustainability in the built environment.

Global Resources and Resource Justice—Reframing the Socioecological Science-to-Policy Landscape

The lexical analysis of seminal policy-to-diplomacy documents from the socio-environmental discourse of the last fifty years of agendas has allowed examining the contextual affinities between resources, pollution, and health. The central role of resource stewardship, according to nature’s physical limits, is highlighted in the context of the boundary systems for the biosphere and societies, and the carrying capacity and inclusive systemic health (one health, planetary health, …). To reframe a rather fragmented conceptual and methodological landscape, this work proposes choices that consider core values, purpose, and best practice developments, allowing us to compare the dynamics of socioecological states across the planet and in specific social, economic, political, and cultural contexts. The prioritization of resource justice and responsibility becomes a societal project, embedding the economy in social and ecological frames through institutional reframing and tangible action on resource management, pollution control, and health outcomes. How? By recognizing the primacy of the law and economy of life—the adequacy between basic needs and accessible resources for all— over the rules and economy of the market through socioecosystemic checks and balances.