ABSTRACT In the Indian cultural lexicon, the term Yakshi refers to an enigmatic supernatural entity whose disposition can oscillate between benign and malevolent. This duality underscores the ambiguity and complexity inherent in traditional Indian narratives concerning gender and paranormal beings. In regional narratives from the southern state of Kerala, Yakshi embodies both demonic and divine essence. This phenomenon reflects a complex interaction between cultural beliefs, supernatural lore, and practices aimed at controlling or neutralising perceived threats from beyond the human realm. This paper focuses on investigating and delineating the progression leading to the death of Yakshi and analysing the subsequent integration into the natural environment. By examining literary/cultural narratives alongside gender and environmental symbolism, this study seeks to understand the transformation of Yakshi from a mythical figure to an intrinsic part of nature, particularly in the ambiguities surrounding Yakshi’s death, burial and mourning.

Public green spaces play a critical role in fostering social cohesion in rapidly industrializing cities. However, empirical research on how urban residents in non-Western contexts perceive, evaluate and use these spaces remains limited, particularly in Islamic industrial cities with distinct cultural practices and urban development patterns. This study examines determinants of visitor satisfaction in Coastal Park, Asaluyeh, a rapidly industrializing Persian Gulf city. The city’s industrial character, marked by acute green space scarcity and demographic imbalances due to workforce migration, provides a distinctive context for examining urban park dynamics in Iran’s petrochemical industrial zones. Using structured questionnaires and systematic field observations, we assess factors influencing park satisfaction and the role of the park in facilitating community bonds. Results reveal that vegetation quality shows the strongest association with visitor satisfaction (r = 0.45, p < 0.001), surpassing demographic characteristics in explanatory power. The park predominantly serves group-based activities, with family gatherings representing the dominant form of social interaction, reflecting cultural preferences for communal recreation. Significant disparities emerge across men and women in satisfaction levels and usage patterns. Temporal concentration during weekend evenings is driven by extreme daytime heat, while transportation barriers limit equitable access. Statistical analyses indicate weak correlations between demographic variables and satisfaction, underscoring the primacy of experiential factors in shaping visitor perceptions. The findings provide evidence-based recommendations for culturally sensitive park design in industrial Islamic cities, emphasizing the need for infrastructure, amenities, and improved public transport connectivity to ensure equitable access across diverse demographic groups.

This study examined apprenticeship system and youths empowerment in Orlu LGA, of Imo State, Nigeria. The researcher used human capital theory as the framework of analysis. Descriptive survey was applied and data were collected through primary source (questionnaire). Data analysis was done using percentage, mean and Pearsons’ Product Moment Correlation Coefficient (PPMCC) at 0.05 level of significance with the aid of the Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS version 21.0). The researcher discovered that there is significant impact of apprenticeship system on unemployment reduction in Orlu LGA, Imo State, and apprenticeship helps to reduce criminality in Orlu LGA, Imo State. Based on the forgoing, this study concludes that the apprenticeship system in Orlu LGA (2019-2025) is not merely a cultural practice but a crucial economic safety net that reduces unemployment, mitigates crime by curbing idleness, and alleviates poverty by fostering local entrepreneurship. For maximum effectiveness, this system requires strengthened support, including financial inclusion for graduating apprentices and the integration of modern digital skills. It was recommended that the Imo State government's "SkillUp Imo" program should be sustained and localized in Orlu, particularly focusing on digital skills (web design, CCTV maintenance, cyber security) to complement traditional trades.

This article analyses the unique challenges and issues Asian parties experience under the Property (Relationships) Act 1976 (PRA) in New Zealand. Drawing on demographic data, case law, and interviews with expert and experienced practitioners in property relationship issues, the article highlights how cultural practices, language barriers, and differing understandings of legal norms complicate relationship property disputes in court. Issues include the treatment of family transfers—whether a transfer is a gift or a loan, interpretation and translation of evidence, discovery and disclosure, limited documentation and lack of expert cultural and language evidence. The analysis emphasizes the need for cultural competence within the Family Court, when cultural issues may be relevant to adjudicative issues, and recommends changes to ensure equal access to justice as the PRA enters its 50th year. Keywords: Property (Relationships) Act; Asian parties; filial piety; cultural competence; family transfers; loans; gifts; language barriers; access to justice; superdiversity; contracting-out and compromise agreements; interpretation and translation; intergenerational support.

Exploring hospital staff experiences and requirements for safer and more equitable EHR-integrated medication management system: A qualitative study.

Digital health in managing type 2 diabetes among indigenous populations: a scoping review.

Fluid dynamics is ubiquitous in the kitchen. Here, we discuss examples of cultural kitchen practices that involve the hydrodynamics of a thin-film, namely, practices related to decanting residual fluids with varying viscosity from a carton and draining leftover water after washing a cooking pot to minimize rusting. By performing calculations on the thin-film equation and experiments in the kitchen, we show why it is hard to empty a jar or dry a wok by flipping them for just a brief instant of time. The duration of decantation to recover 90% of the residual fluid was estimated for a variety of kitchen fluids through experiments and theoretical calculations. By comparing the time scales of viscous flow and evaporation in the case of an iron wok, we discuss how a two-dump method reduces rusting of its inner surface by one order of magnitude. The results of our calculation based on thin-film fluid flow offer a quantitative justification for these traditional kitchen practices.

Connecting health and place through age-friendly built environments to reduce experiences of loneliness (mokemoke) for Māori.

Barriers and facilitators to engage with the maternity continuum of care in northwest Ethiopia: a qualitative descriptive study.

ABSTRACT In the past decade, memes have emerged as a prominent mode of online interaction that influence social, cultural, and political discourse, but less attention has been given to people’s everyday practices associated with memes. Based on two focus-group interviews conducted with undergraduate university students in Denmark, we examine how, when and why memes are a part of everyday lives and practices – particularly focusing on the relational and intimate dimensions of meme circulation among friends and family. Our findings indicate that meme-sharing is a habitual yet meaningful practice, deeply embedded in participants’ digital routines. The analysis identifies memes’ dual functions, as embedded cultural practices and narrative devices for establishing digital intimacy. By focusing on private, interpersonal meme-sharing among young adults, we show how engagement with memes represents a complex interplay of routine engagement, self-reflection, and relational communication that shapes both individual identity and intimate relationships.

Background/Objectives: Sleep plays a crucial role in children’s cognitive, emotional, and physical development. Although sleep practices and perceptions are shaped significantly by cultural and familial contexts, most sleep recommendations are developed by Western countries. This qualitative study explores primary school children’s perceptions of sleep, examining how cultural contexts, family environments, and technology influence sleep practices. Methods: Two cross studies were conducted: Study 1, in India, involved 15 children aged 8–12 years, and Study 2, in the UK, involved 12 children aged 8–10 years. Semi-structured group interviews and thematic analysis were used. Results: Both studies revealed common themes, including perceived sleep benefits, consequences of poor sleep, factors affecting sleep quality, and the role of technology. Study 1 showed that Indian children identified clear benefits of sleep, such as physical and emotional well-being, while highlighting significant barriers, including late bedtime routines, stress related to academic performance, and extensive use of social media and digital media devices. Cultural and religious practices were commonly mentioned as sleep aids. Study 2’s results from the UK revealed similar recognition of sleep benefits, notably recovery and growth. UK children emphasised environmental barriers such as noise pollution, sibling disturbances, and uncomfortable sleeping conditions. Technology usage was acknowledged as both a barrier and an occasional aid, with stricter parental controls on bedtime and device usage. Conclusions: This research highlights the importance of culturally sensitive sleep education programmes and recommendations to enhance children’s sleep health globally.

The study examined the knowledge, awareness and prevalence of safety cultures workers of indigenous oil and gas firms operating in the Niger Delta Region, Nigeria. Response of 482 oil and gas workers from the sampled oil and gas companies in Nigeria (Niger Delta) on safety culture was collected using a structured survey questionnaire consisting of safety culture’s contributing constructs from four (4) domains in the cross-sectional descriptive research. However, descriptive statistics were employed for the study. Findings from the study show that there is a moderate domain’s mean values from the constructs for knowledge, awareness and prevalence; communication strategy; management commitment; and adoptive strategy (3.153, 3.175, 3.177 and 3.402 respectively) indicating moderate impact on safety performances, participation including safety compliance. It can be concluded that proper knowledge, awareness and prevalence of the safety culture contributed the least components to safety climates and there was no discernible difference between the practices of safety cultures in the indigenous oil and gas companies in the Niger Delta Region. It is recommended that there is need for more concerted effort in developing safety cultures in the indigenous oil and gas companies and adequate sanctions should be given to any industry that fails to comply. Also, the routine safety assessment should be carried out by firms with a view to receiving recommendations from employees on how to improve the safety culture of the firms in all upstream, midstream and downstream sectors.

This study examines the literature of the Greeks of Asia Minor as a carrier of cultural memory and a platform for cultural entrepreneurship, focusing on narrative spaces connected to the refugee experience, health, and trauma. It explores how literary narratives reflect the psychosocial impacts of the Asia Minor Catastrophe, reinforcing collective memory and the historical identity of refugee communities. At the same time, it investigates the contribution of literature to the promotion of cultural sites, the development of literary tourism, and the formation of sustainable cultural entrepreneurial practices. By linking narrative landscapes, historical memory, and thematic tourist routes, the study highlights literature’s potential as a tool for preserving cultural heritage and enhancing the psychosocial well-being of communities through experiential engagement. The findings demonstrate that literature can simultaneously function as a medium of memory, a driver of cultural tourism and entrepreneurship, and a mechanism supporting social cohesion and sustainable development.

Traditional textile crafts face significant challenges in preserving and transferring knowledge due to the aging of expert artisans and declining community engagement. The Phum Riang silk-weaving tradition in Suratthani Province is a critical example of indigenous knowledge systems that require systematic documentation and digital conservation strategies. This research aims to develop a comprehensive ontological framework to support the capture, organization, and preservation of traditional knowledge related to Phum Riang silk production processes, establishing practical methodologies applicable to broader cultural heritage craft digitization and knowledge management systems. The research methodology employs ontology engineering principles, using the Web Ontology Language to create structured knowledge representation systems. Data collection was conducted through ethnographic fieldwork, in-depth interviews with expert craftspeople, and systematic documentation covering production processes, materials, tools, and cultural practices. The developed ontology encompasses five primary knowledge domains: production processes, raw materials, traditional tools, geographical context, and cultural significance. The framework comprises 23 distinct classes organized in hierarchical structures, 15 object properties, and 12 data properties, complemented by business rules ensuring authenticity and quality control mechanisms. This framework has significant implications for cultural heritage digitization, indigenous intellectual property protection, systematic knowledge transfer across generations, cultural authenticity preservation, and traditional craft community economic sustainability.

This article examines the design of musical and poetic concert programs for socio-cultural activities, using original programs as a template. Its relevance stems from the growing demand for chamber stage formats focused on a targeted audience, emotional engagement, and cultural communication, coupled with a shortage of methodologically sound descriptions of the technology for constructing such programs in the applied field of cultural institutions. The scientific novelty lies in the analytical comparison of the repertoire structure of original programs and the normative and methodological requirements for script-directing projects, highlighting consistent compositional solutions and principles of thematic editing. This paper describes the logic behind the selection of numbers, compositional dynamics, and types of semantic dominants characteristic of programs aimed at a female audience, a general audience, and the chanson genre. Particular attention is paid to the use of the script plan, editing list, and musical accompaniment in the preparation of a concert project. The paper aims to substantiate a model for the analytical evaluation of an original concert program as a product of cultural and leisure practice. To achieve this, a comparative analysis of sources, structural and compositional analysis, and a typology of thematic lines are used. This article will be helpful to directors of cultural and leisure programs, methodologists, heads of creative groups, and teachers of specialized disciplines.

This study aims to investigate the connections between culture and science in physics education in the Kariri-Xocó Indigenous community. The research is based on the premise that scientific knowledge should not be viewed in isolation, but rather integrated with local cultural knowledge and practices. The methodology used includes bibliographic research as an analysis of pedagogical practices in physics education, and the proposal of a didactic sequence within the context of the daily lives of the Kariri-Xocó. The analysis seeks to identify how elements of indigenous culture, such as myths, rituals, and traditional practices, can serve as a starting point for teaching physics topics, making learning more relevant and meaningful for students. Furthermore, the research examines the challenges educators face in implementing this teaching model, which seeks to respect and value students' cultural identity. The expected results include the development of pedagogical strategies that integrate physics into the cultural context of the Kariri-Xocó, contributing to a more inclusive and contextualized education.

Spotify Wrapped, the year-end campaign of the world’s biggest music streaming company, is a singularly successful marketing scheme in the context of algorithmic technologies. Presenting individual user data in a design tailored to mobile apps, Wrapped has been noted as a unique appropriation of user data as a tool for advertising. This article analyzes promotional materials and features of Spotify Wrapped to investigate the discursive shifts accompanying datafication, which describes the accumulation and use of behavioral data in algorithmic systems, in contemporary music streaming. The article introduces data realism as a concept for theorizing the reconfiguration of music, listening, and listeners effected by these shifts. It shows how the construction of data-as-realness is reinforced through discursive pairings of data and broader cultural practices, supported by Wrapped’s multimodal design, and articulated in listener typologies. Positioning Wrapped’s design within the broader context of algorithmic culture, the paper ultimately considers how critical engagements with Wrapped may challenge or perpetuate data realist constructions of music, listening, and listeners in the context of algorithmic recommendation.

Abstract The earthquakes of 6 February 2023 profoundly shook not only the urban fabric of Hatay but also the meaning-making frameworks of its diverse religious and ethnic communities. This article examines the mythic and religious narratives that emerged in the aftermath of the disaster as cultural practices through which social resilience and the continuation of identity are reconstituted. Based on a two-phase ethnographic fieldwork carried out in Antakya, Defne, and Samandağ, the study explores how discourses of sin–warning–purification and the reconceptualization of sacred space as a protective agency provided a meaningful framework against the pervasive sense of uncertainty and loss. The article argues that myth does not operate as an irrational retreat or a superficial “return to religion”, but as a world-making strategy that fills the ontological void opened by catastrophe. The case of Hatay reveals that myth constructs not only a memory of the past but also the very possibility of the future.

Religious and cultural beliefs have a significant influence on the maternal experience across many societies, including those of the Santal in Bangladesh. During pregnancy, Santal women often practice several cultural and religious rules for protection, mental peace, and well-being. This study analyzed the religious and cultural beliefs and practices of Santal women during the antepartum period. A qualitative phenomenological approach was applied, involving eight women and eight men from the family who had a recent experience of pregnancy. The data were collected from October 2023 to December 2023. All the respondents were selected through purposive sampling. Individual in-depth interviews were conducted in Bangla. The interviews were audio-recorded and transcribed. The analysis was done employing a thematic approach. Ethical approval was obtained for the study, and confidentiality and anonymity were ensured. The findings of this study revealed that three main types of cultural and religious practices were available among the Santal Christian women during pregnancy. These are religious faith-based maternal practices, traditional protective cultural beliefs and practices, and family-imposed rules. Faith-based maternal practices included personal and combined prayers, vow making, church-based thanks, consultation with priests, and the use of sacred objects such as blessed water, the Bible, Jop mala (rosaries), and stickers. Traditional safeguarding practices and cultural beliefs during pregnancy included movement restrictions, the belief in the evil eye, clan-based protective measures, food restrictions, and avoidance of activities during eclipses. Moreover, family influence during pregnancy highlighted how women followed cultural and religious practices due to social and family pressure. The Santal Christian women adhered to deeply rooted religious and cultural practices during pregnancy. The study suggested that religious and cultural beliefs should be an integral part of healthcare providers' training, enabling them to understand and provide holistic services that cater to the diverse needs of their patients.

Floodplain wetlands in riverine environments are characterized by rhythmic hydrological changes, which re-structure physical habitat, change between aquatic and dry life conditions, reset successions, and facilitate the respective food chains and/or migration/drift of nutrients and organisms. Since the earliest days of humankind, these floodplains were sought-after places for humans to settle, use natural resources directly or indirectly, to learn from nature. and even to venerate nature in spiritual relationships. The fast industrial and commercial developments of the past centuries have caused a decrease in the valuation of wetlands by humans, going along with the cutting-off of the natural hydrological regime by dikes and dams and their large-scale transformation into permanent dry land. This paper delivers a review on (i) Driving forces that form biocultural diversity in river floodplains, (ii) Typology of cultural activities in river floodplains, (iii) Today’s co-decline/extinction of biocultural diversity in river floodplains, and (iv) Cultural practices as inspiration for future conservation and sustainable development in Europe. Rather than presenting cultural practices in the form of a “Red list”, we want to highlight that they are actually a tool to rediscover, evolve, or create new cultural linkages with rivers and their floodplains and to help to take action to better respect, protect, restore, or to newly create these floodplains. Cultural practices can be studied in a similar way to more-than-human species traits, including their cultural activities. Biological and cultural diversity in floodplains is threatened by similar drivers. Cultural diversity can deliver important incentives for floodplain management.