Cultural Patterns Research Articles

Peer Interaction, Exclusion and School Participation: Issues of Schooling in a Tribal Village of Odisha

In India, drop-outs and out-of-school children in school education are dominant educational discourses even after seven decades of independence. No doubt, various policies and programmes were devised to challenge these issues in education, but still the issues of drop-outs are rampant both in rural and urban areas. The inequality in educational attainment between Scheduled Tribes and the rest of the population has widened throughout the years. Various social aspects of why children leave school before they complete the secondary level of school are understudied in India. Aspects of cultural and social practices and patterns of socialization of tribal children have received little attention in the research on tribal children in India. By specially focussing on friendship networks/peer interaction, the article reflects on how it affects educational participation of tribal and non-tribal children in a village located in the tribal areas of Odisha, one of the eastern states of India.

Alicja Curanović. The Sense of Mission in Russian Foreign Policy: Destined for Greatness! London: Routledge & CRC Press, 248 p

Alicja Curanović’s 2021 book The Sense of Mission in Russian Foreign Policy is an important contribution to the study of Russian politics and foreign policy, and since the 2022 full-scale invasion of Ukraine by Moscow, its importance has only increased. The ultimate failure of “structural” and rational-choice models to account for Russia’s behavior has only reemphasized the importance of approaches that open the “black box” of domestic politics and examine the long-term cultural and identitary patterns which both shape and help legitimize the decision-making in an authoritarian polity relying on pronounced anti-Western discourse and “siege mentality.”

Societal Roles of Nonprofit Organizations: Parsonian Echoes and Luhmannian Reframing of the Organization–Society Interface

Nonprofit organizations (NPOs) have long been recognized as playing vital roles in society. Nevertheless, a coherent understanding of how these roles align with broader social theory, and how to conceptualize the interface between nonprofits and society is still lacking. In pursuit of a solid theoretical foundation, we conducted a systematic literature review encompassing 119 publications spanning from 1959 to 2021 that delve into the societal roles of NPOs. We reason that much of prior research has implicitly adhered to a functionalist perspective akin to that proposed by Talcott Parsons nearly seven decades ago. Our review identifies four overarching societal roles fulfilled by NPOs: service delivery, advocacy, integration, and the development of cultural patterns. Recognizing the limitations of Parsonian functionalism, we advocate for a shift toward a neo-functionalist, systems-theoretical framing to allow for an analysis of societal functions that is more sensitive to the heterogeneity and contradictions pervasive in contemporary society.

Antimicrobial Resistance Patterns of Urine Culture in Tertiary Care Teaching Hospital Islamabad, Pakistan

Background: Urine cultures are performed in laboratories to identify any bacteria or other microorganisms present in urine samples. The purpose of this study was to investigate the microorganisms growing resistant to antibiotics in the urine culture and their antibiotics susceptibility testing. Methods: For this investigation, the Microbiology Department's hospital management information systems records provided the culture and sensitivity data of the uropathogens found in urine samples. Urine samples collected midstream were prepared for microscopy and culture, and the organisms were identified using globally accepted methods. The Kirby-Bauer disk diffusion method was used to determine antibiotic susceptibility in accordance with hospital clinical and laboratory standards as well as international protocols. In this investigation, the information and data were assessed using descriptive statistics. Results: A total number of 207 urine culture data were extracted from the hospital management information system records of which, 116 samples showed positive bacterial growth. Candida had positive growth in 16.4%. Out of positive samples gender-wise, females were in the majority 66.4% and males were 33.6%. Escherichia coli bacteria frequently isolated in positive samples 58/116 (50%), whereas, Enterococcus spp were positive in 17 patients out of 116 (14.7 %). Gram-negative rods were positive in 16 patients out of 116 (13.8%), Klebsiella spp were positive in 4 patients out of 116(3.4%) and Pseudomonas aeruginosa were least positive in only 2 patients out of 116 positive samples (1.7 %). Conclusion: In our study according to gender distribution female frequency was higher than males. Escherichia coli bacteria were the most common isolate in positive samples, whereas, Enterococcus spp were observed. Vancomycin was most sensitive in all urine cultures against all organisms and Erythromycin was most resistant in urine culture. Antimicrobial resistance is a serious subject on national and international levels that needs continued surveillance and resolute management.

Economic, Cultural, Social Determinants of Black Women Obesity

Obesity is a widespread problem in the United States, particularly affecting Black communities. It is a public health problem, a long-term, cumulative issue of economic and social justice and inequality for this demographic group. Thus, the key to solving it is to eliminate persistent structural root causes. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), in 2022, the prevalence of obesity among African American adults is 49.5%, with Black women having the highest prevalence compared to other racial and ethnic groups. The main purpose of this study is to provide a comprehensive literature review that examines the multifaceted factors contributing to obesity among African American women, as well as systematise the determinants related to the economic well-being of the community, social factors, cultural patterns of lifestyle in the community, etc. The analysis revealed a clear inverse relationship between income and obesity among African Americans, with this trend being particularly pronounced among women than men and differing across age groups in black communities. The economic determinants of obesity in Black women are related to the fact that low-income households have limited access to affordable and nutritious food and are regularly exposed to stress related to financial difficulties, with so-called “food swamps” and “food deserts” being common in low-income areas. The social determinants of obesity are related to the fact that Black women face higher levels of racism and sexism than other demographic groups, and unequal social conditions cause structural disparities in health, education and employment. Psycho-social and cultural determinants (cultural norms of body image, social influencers, religion, social networks and family upbringing, etc.) play a key role in the emergence of the problem under study, so Black women often model their eating and physical activity habits by cultural traditions, and those who struggle with overweight may face stigma, social isolation and discrimination. The article makes recommendations for reducing obesity among Black women, which primarily relate to the development of culturally sensitive nutrition education programs, community-based health promotion programs, community-centered food policy advocacy, technology-based health platforms, public-private partnerships for affordable healthy food retail, etc.

Gender differences in the effect of rtms with the H7-coil on physical and social anhedonia in schizophrenia spectrum disorder; a randomized, sham-controlled trial

IntroductionStudies of differences in the incidence and severity of physical and social anhedonia between women and men diagnosed with schizophrenia spectrum disorder (SSD) are often inconsistent, and gender differences in treatment response have not been well studied. Hormonal factors, such as those related to the menstrual cycle, pregnancy or menopause, as well as social and cultural patterns and roles, may influence treatment response. The incidence of affective or stress-related psychiatric comorbidities may be gender-specific, which could also complicate the treatment of anhedonia and other negative symptoms of SSD. Finally, there is no evidence of sufficient quality on gender differences in the effects of rTMS, but the results are intriguing and point to the need for further research.ObjectivesTo investigate gender differences in the effect of rTMS with the H7-coil on physical and social anhedonia in patients diagnosed with SSD with dominant negative symptoms.MethodsWe conducted a randomized, sham-controlled trial during 2000-2023 in the population of patients diagnosed with SSD with primary negative symptoms defined as PANSS negative symptoms subscale score > 24, and PANSS positive symptoms subscale score < 20. The intervention was HF rTMS H7 coil (Brainsway Ltd. Jerusalem, Israel) once daily for 20 days applied to the prefrontal cortex (mPFC and ACC) at 100% motor threshold with a frequency of 18 Hz, and total of 39600 pulses. The outcomes were Physical and Social Anhedonia Scales (PAS, and SAS). We controlled for the large number of relevant covariates.ResultsWe randomized 49 men and 29 women of similar age. The effect on physical anhedonia was statistically significant in women (b = 9.04; p = 0.016), but not in men (b = 2.87; p = 0.272). The effect on social anhedonia was similar, but the difference was smaller (for men b = 3.71; p = 0.082; for women b = 5.42; p = 0.043). However, the Wald test showed no statistically significant differences between the beta coefficients for women and men.ConclusionsBased on this study, it is not possible to make valid and reliable conclusions about the existence of gender differences in the effects of rTMS treatment of anhedonia with the H7 coil. However, it is possible to claim that the treatment of anhedonia with this protocol is effective in women.Disclosure of InterestNone Declared

The Impact of The Presence of the University of Timor on the Economy of Local Communities in North Central Timor District

In the last decade, the North Central Timor Regency in East Nusa Tenggara Province has become a new center of economic growth. This is due to the presence of a higher education institution known as the University of Timor. The presence of this university has a positive impact on small and medium businesses due to the significant flow of educational migration. Therefore, this research aims to identify the partial or simultaneous influence of three main variables, namely social and cultural patterns, educational accessibility, and community thought patterns and attitudes, on the welfare of people involved in micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs). ). The analytical method used is multiple linear regression, involving a sample of 100 respondents from a total of 693 MSME actors. Sampling was carried out randomly using the Simple Random Sampling technique based on the Slovin formula. The research results show that these three variables have a significant positive effect on the welfare of MSMEs in the North Central Timor Regency.

GOING BEYOND GEO-CULTURAL PROXIMITIES: DISCOVERY OF CULTURE PATTERNS AND MALAYSIAN BTS FANDOM

The recent global success of K-pop can be attributed to innovative communication strategies, characterized as fan-based, new media- driven, transnational flow approaches reaching out to fans. This study analyzes textual communication and interactions within the online communication of BTS’ fans through Malaysia’s ARMY official Twitter account @BTSMY_ARMY. It also aims to discover fandom activities emerging from this online communication. Through virtual ethnography and quantitative content analysis of 401 tweets, this research identified five distinct cultural patterns that unite Malaysian BTS fans: 1) Fan Account and Fandom Culture, 2) Streaming Parties and Charting Activities, 3) Creation of Fanart and Graphic Edits, 4) Bilingual Communication and 5) Fan Projects and Supportive Initiatives. It can be concluded that these culture patterns are used as a basis for online interaction, engagement, and knowledge sharing among Malaysian BTS fandom, despite linguistic and cultural differences, transcending geographical divides and going beyond geo-cultural proximities.

A Retrospective Observational Study of the Microbial Etiology and Antimicrobial Susceptibility Patterns of Blood Cultures From ICU Patients at a Healthcare Facility in North India.

Introduction Bloodstream infections (BSI) are a leading source of fatalities and morbidity in hospitals. However, the clinical spectrum and antimicrobial resistance differ globally. Identifying the pathogenic spectrum and variations in antibiotic resistance is crucial for controlling BSI and preventing inappropriate antibiotic use. Material and methods This retrospective observational study was conducted at the Dr. Ram Manohar Lohia Institute of Medical Sciences, Lucknow, UP, India, for one year between June 2022 and June 2023. A total of 669 adult patients' blood cultures were obtained from ICUs. Blood culture was done using a BacT/Alert 3D (BioMérieux SA,Marcy-l'Étoile,France) automated system. Identification of the bacterial as well as fungal isolates was done using matrix-assisted laser desorption ionization-time-of-flight mass spectrometry (MALDI-TOF MS), and the antimicrobial susceptibility profile was analyzed using the VITEK 2 Compact system (BioMérieux SA). Results Of the 669 blood culture samples, 213 (31.8%) showed bacterial or fungal growth. Of these 213 isolates, the most common isolate was coagulase-negativeStaphylococci(21.6%), followed byKlebsiella pneumoniae(19.3%)and Acinetobacterspp.(17.8%). The majority of gram-negative bacteria were resistant to most drugs, and vancomycin and linezolid were both effective against the majority of gram-positive bacteria. Conclusion The current study found that septicemia was more frequently caused by gram-negative bacteria than by gram-positive bacteria. Blood cultures are always necessary in cases of suspected septicemia, and once the antimicrobial susceptibility profile of the pathogen causing septicemia has been determined, suitable antimicrobials should be prescribed and used to lower the antimicrobial resistance burden.

Which Spousal Behaviors Predict Marital Satisfaction When Couples Have Children? A Multi-Level Modeling Analysis in Five Cultures

This study utilized Multilevel Modeling Analyses to explore predictors of marital satisfaction and to explore how those predictors might moderate any negative impact of children. The Marriage and Relationship Questionnaire (MARQ), which demonstrates cultural and gender invariance, has been used to explore predictors of marital satisfaction in different cultures. In earlier research using MARQ datasets from the U.S.A., U.K., Turkey, Russia and China (3,000 couples), regression analyses identified 13 predictors explaining from 62% to 74% of the variance in marital satisfaction. The current research took the six most powerful predictors (sexual fulfillment, kind spouse, humorous spouse, dependable spouse, having the same outlook, and having a physically attractive spouse) and number of children, and subjected those variables to a Multilevel Modeling Analysis. Results are discussed on the level of the individual and the dyad by culture. Cultural similarities and differences emerged; unique cultural patterns are discussed. Across cultures, all predictors were associated with marital satisfaction. The negative impact of children did not appear in every culture with alpha set at .01. Moderation analysis results suggest that, depending on culture, the negative impact of children is moderated by maintaining sufficient levels of sexual satisfaction, kindness, humor and dependability after children arrive.

Style and Stylistics in Literary Research: An Analysis Using the Examples of Goran and Dylan

Stylistics, originally confined to literary criticism, evolved into an independent discipline with the expansion of linguistics. Beyond literature, style extends to the distinctive markers of individuals in public life, encompassing appearance, behavior, and content. Societies exhibit diverse cultural patterns and interpersonal dynamics. This paper delves into the exploration of stylistics, focusing on its manifestation in literary articles where writers convey emotions and thoughts, influenced by various principles. The study introduces style concepts, terminology, and methodologies, examining their impact on writers, texts, and readers. It analyzes style from the author's perspective, considering language choice, rhetorical devices, and mental state. Practical examples from selected poetic texts, including works by Goran and Dylan, illustrate literary style within this comprehensive exploration.

A Study on Chinese Consumer Preference for the Tea Packaging Design: Focusing on the Comparative Analysis of China, Korea, and Japan Tea Packaging Designs

Tea packaging reflects the cultural characteristics of different countries from all the following aspects: design concept, color, pattern elements, layout, and choice of materials. This study aims to propose means of improving Chinese tea packaging through the understanding of the formation processes of the tea culture concepts of Korea, China, and Japan. The study is based on comparative research and analysis of tea packaging in the three countries influenced by tea culture. The audience perspective was adopted to select three well-known tea brands in Korea, China, and Japan for comparative analysis. We combined qualitative and quantitative methods to compare tea culture elements, color elements, patterns, fonts, and image layouts of the visual language symbols. A total of 556 reliable questionnaires were obtained from the 600 questionnaires administered to varied age groups in China, and SPSS statistical data were used for the analysis, which revealed the following results. First, the colors and picture layouts of Korean tea packaging are more popular than those of China and Japan. Second, the pattern designs of Chinese tea packaging are more popular than those of Korea and Japan. Third, the font designs of the Japanese tea packaging are more popular than those of China and Korea. Fourth, the intention to buy tea is more predominant in Korea than in China and Japan. Korean, Chinese, and Japanese tea cultures and tea packaging designs are related to each other, and the visual language symbols of tea packaging design absorb the relevant tea culture heritage. It is also hoped that the visual language symbols of the tea packaging designs of the three countries can learn from each other through the present study and new and innovative ideas can emerge in tea packaging designs in tandem with the domestic tea culture inheritance. The comparison and discussion of the differences, problems, supplementary schemes, and improvement directions of Chinese tea packaging design enabled us to posit modern and systematic fundamental information about Chinese tea packaging.

Investigating the relationship between microbial network features of giant kelp "seedbank" cultures and subsequent farm performance.

Microbial inoculants can increase the yield of cultivated crops and are successful in independent trials; however, efficacy drops in large-scale applications due to insufficient consideration of microbial community dynamics. The structure of microbiomes, in addition to the impact of individual taxa, is an important factor to consider when designing growth-promoting inoculants. Here, we investigate the microbial network and community assembly patterns of Macrocystis pyrifera gametophyte germplasm cultures (collectively referred to as a "seedbank") used to cultivate an offshore farm in Santa Barbara, California, and identify network features associated with increased biomass of mature sporophytes. We found that [1] several network features, such as clustering coefficient and edge ratios, significantly vary with biomass outcomes; [2] gametophytes that become low- or high-biomass sporophytes have different hub taxa; and [3] microbial community assembly of gametophyte germplasm cultures is niche-driven. Overall, this study describes microbial community dynamics in M. pyrifera germplasm cultures and ultimately supports the development of early life stage inoculants that can be used on seaweed cultivars to increase biomass yield.

Габитус правящей элиты современной России

The purpose of the article is to establish the peculiarities of the habitus of the ruling elite in modern Russia. The methodological basis is the position according to which certain points of view, type of thinking, habitus correspond to the social position. As a method of collecting information, one of the varieties of document analysis is thematic analysis. According to the results of the study, the following characteristic of the habitus of the ruling elite of modern Russia was given. The ideological attitudes of the Russian elite are oriented towards the patterns of Western culture, but the stability and depth of the referential orientation towards the West of the Russian elite groups depends on the political and economic situation. The ruling elite of Russia is conservative, it is generally satisfied with its position in Russia. The same reason leads to its negative attitude to any significant social transformations. The conservatism of the Russian elite leads to the rejection of analytical thinking, with the help of which reality is decomposed in order to construct from its parts the future that is fundamentally different from the present. The ruling elite strives to see the world as integral and organic. The elite strata, at least, are suspicious and distrustful of the intellectual abilities and moral qualities of the Russian population. Attributing certain stable socio-psychological qualities to the population (irresponsibility, low ability to self-organize and adapt to changing socio-economic conditions, infantilism, inadequate assessment of reality) indicates a deep gap between the elite and other social groups, which, given such an obvious stigmatization, becomes not only political or economic, but also psychological. And this, in turn, is an additional conflictogenic factor. Failure to take into account the peculiarities of the situation of opposing social groups, which is a consequence of socially determined stigmatization, will be perceived as an arrogant and dismissive attitude, which often becomes the detonator of social clashes. Such a negative and exaggerated assessment of the socio-psychological qualities of the population is reflected in the quality of public administration. In the latter, there is a tendency to primitivization and one-sidedness of influence, a constant search for simple solutions. The failures caused by this are justified by the immaturity of the people, their low moral qualities, which only intensifies the social gap and differentiation.

Selection of a Topic of a Research Proposal of Emerging Academic Writers in a Blended Linked EAP Course: An Interactional Ethnographic Perspective

AbstractRecent years have witnessed the ethnographic turn in academic writing research and the multimodal turn in classroom discourse studies. Most research proposal genre studies have only provided generic guidelines, and most EAP intervention studies have only provided pre‐ and post‐intervention learning outcomes but have not examined actual in‐depth classroom teaching and after‐class consultative processes of proposal development. This paper fills these gaps by following the view of genre as contextualized social practices and adopting interactional ethnography (IE) logic‐of‐inquiry to analyze video‐recorded linked EAP classroom interactions and WeChat‐mediated individual consultations focusing on postgraduate students' topic selection. IE‐guided reasoning and analysis may make the invisible research topic developmental processes transparent by utilizing IE analytic tools to visualize these dynamic and complex processes, identify cultural patterns of academic literacy practices, and (re)theorize educational phenomena. The IE approach may complement the well‐established three approaches to student writing (i.e., study skills, academic socialization, academic literacies) as the fourth approach for its deep theorizing, micro‐ethnographic discourse‐based analysis, and video‐enabled IE‐guided analytic tools. This study may make a methodological contribution to the EAP field through the IE as an epistemology with analytical tools and propose a tri‐level four‐step IE analytic model for teacher‐researchers' self‐reflexive professional development.

REVISITING TITLE DESIGN IN VERNACULAR CINEMA: A CINE SEMIOTIC ANALYSIS

Indian cinema is a term that refers to films made in India since time immemorial and has greatly influenced world cinema. Indian Cinema includes various regional languages and among them is Tamil cinema that produces films in the Tamil language with a very wide audience. It showcases varied and interesting patterns of visual culture. Film posters play a vital role in exhibiting these visual cultures and serve as the essence of a film’s soul. Film posters have a deep-rooted relationship with Indian cinema and one of the important parts of these posters is the title design. Title designs are synonymous with the story of the film with a view to create a visual force. The title designs have a modern facelift in the digital era. The use of new graphic techniques, expressive typography, composition, and color creates a lasting impact particularly in new age film title designs. The current research aims to examine the title designs in Kollywood film posters using a semiotics approach. Analysis is done based on the following aspects such as structural parameters, relationship with the theme of the film, context of use and production techniques.

Representation of cultural patterns of individualism and collectivism in primary school textbooks

ABSTRACT The purpose of this study is to analyse the content of primary school textbooks in Iran for their cultural values and characteristics, based on the individualism-collectivism dimension. Six primary school Let’s Read Persian (LRP) textbooks were assessed using quantitative content analysis using two lists of individualistic and collectivistic values and cognitive tendencies derived from previous literature. The results showed that Iranian LRP textbooks emphasised themes of individualism, such as self-direction, success, and happiness, and manifested individualistic cognitive tendencies, such as focusing on central objects, making dispositional attributions, and expressing positive emotions. The findings suggest that Iranian LRP textbooks tend to teach children to be independent, strong, self-reliant, and unique individuals, rather than interdependent, cooperative, and harmonious members of a group. The implications of these findings for the education system and the cultural identity of Iranian students are discussed.

Социальная адаптация иностранных студентов, обучающихся в региональных вузах (на примере Пензенской области)

Internationalization is a key aspect of education export and one of the most promising lines of higher education development. For successfully becoming a member of the host community, a foreign student as an object of research is forced to assimilate and accept new cultural patterns. However, even when entering a new socio-cultural environment under the most favorable conditions, adaptation difficulties and problems usually arise. The purpose of the article is to identify the factors and conditions for the successful adaptation of foreign students in regional universities using the example of the Penza Region’s universities. The research is based on scientific concepts of students’ social adaptation in a university, as well as concepts of an educational environment creation and functioning. The study considers the reasons for choosing Russia as a country of study based on the author’s questionnaire of Penza universities’ foreign students, secondary analysis of sociological research data on similar topics, and analysis of statistical data. The authors discover that foreign students in Russia face difficulties at various levels: linguistic, conceptual, moral, informational, climatic, communicative, pertaining to everyday life, etc. Favorable conditions contribute to increasing the university’s prestige and the education internationalization levels, become an important factor for choosing an educational institution and quickly including foreign students in the educational process.

Rejecting resistance: Everyday resistance and harmony in Chinese hip-hop

In power systems where opportunities for overt expression are limited, the requirements for recognition and intentionality behind acts of resistance risk overlooking the struggles of individuals who must find unpatterned and creative ways to express desires and discontent. Based on 42 interviews with Chinese hip-hop fans and artists and drawing on Scott’s and De Certeau’s theories of everyday resistance, this article shows that resistant acts in China can take transient, unintentional, seemingly apolitical forms disguised by a superficial rejection of resistance. This strategy protects resisters from potential consequences of openly challenging power, enabling the quiet expression of individual visions and dissatisfaction with power and contemporary society through hip-hop. Moving beyond dichotomous conceptions of power and resistance, this article advocates for de-emphasising the requirement of expressed, or expressible, intentionality behind acts of resistance and recognises the significance of ordinary actions of everyday resistance in their potential to catalyse change, shape social spaces and transform cultural patterns.

General or Situational? Exploring Cultural Identification Patterns Using Entropy Among Maghrebi Immigrants to Canada

Migrants and members of cultural minorities must negotiate their identification with multiple cultural groups. Many studies have investigated associations between general questionnaire–based cultural identity patterns and psychological adjustment. Research on situational cultural identity patterns—context-bound, momentary identification with a given cultural group—is scarcer. Furthermore, we know little about how variability in identification across contexts and situations may be associated with psychological adjustment. This study addresses these issues by (a) comparing the relative ability of general questionnaire–based and situational diary–based cultural identity patterns in statistically predicting psychological adjustment among Maghrebi migrants to Canada, and (b) introducing and testing cultural identity entropy, a novel approach to characterizing variability in a person’s multiple cultural identities during daily interactions. Drawing on concepts in thermodynamics and information theory, cultural identity entropy indexes greater balance in one’s multiple identifications during an interaction and reflects greater flexibility in cultural ways in that moment. Participants were 93 Maghrebi migrants to Canada who completed baseline questionnaires and daily diaries on situational identification during interactions for 7 days. Results show that situational diary–based cultural identity patterns accounted for substantial variance in psychological adjustment, above and beyond general questionnaire–based patterns, and that greater entropy in heritage cultural contexts was associated with greater psychological adjustment. These results underscore the importance of going beyond general characterizations of multicultural identity by investigating the shifting and contextual ways in which migrants mobilize and negotiate their cultural identities in daily life.