Introduction: Stunting remains a major public health concern in Indonesia, particularly in remote and highland regions such as the Bintang Mountains of Papua. It is characterized by impaired physical and cognitive development due to chronic malnutrition, repeated infections, and inadequate health services. Understanding the determinants of stunting in these settings is critical to inform effective interventions and policies. Methods: This study employed an analytical survey with a case-control design to examine risk factors associated with stunting among toddlers aged 24–59 months in the Oksibil Health Center working area, Bintang Mountains Regency, Papua. A total of 66 respondents were recruited between April and May 2024, consisting of 33 stunted toddlers (cases) and 33 non-stunted toddlers (controls). Data were collected through structured interviews and analyzed using odds ratios (ORs) with 95% confidence intervals to identify significant risk factors. Results: The findings revealed that several factors were significantly associated with stunting: maternal knowledge (OR = 1.911), history of infectious diseases (OR = 8.090), environmental sanitation (OR = 1.375), socio-cultural practices (OR = 3.801), and health service utilization (OR = 9.339). Among these, inadequate health service utilization posed the highest risk. Socio-cultural norms, poor hygiene practices, and limited maternal awareness were also strongly linked to stunting prevalence. Conclusion: Stunting in the Bintang Mountains is strongly influenced by a combination of health service gaps, infectious diseases, socio-cultural factors, and insufficient maternal knowledge. Strengthening maternal Education, improving sanitation, addressing harmful cultural practices, and expanding access to health services are critical strategies to reduce stunting prevalence in highland and resource-limited areas of Indonesia

This research aimed to develop a learning process that fosters creativity and innovation through experiential learning in the music and performance traditions of the Urak Lawoi ethnic group. Adopting a qualitative approach integrated with action research, the study engaged knowledge holders and youth representatives in co-creating a learning management model centered on local music and folk performance. Participants included Urak Lawoi children and youth interested in traditional music, along with cultural practitioners. Data were collected through interviews, observations, and document analysis. The findings reveal that creative and innovative skill development can be effectively promoted through four stages of learning management: (1) identifying knowledge transmitters and youth participants, (2) preparing musical instruments, (3) creating experiential learning activities in music and performance culture, and (4) cultivating performance experience. These steps were supported by four creativity development strategies: (1) individual knowledge acquisition, (2) raising awareness of community music culture, (3) facilitating collaborative brainstorming, and (4) co-creating artistic outputs. As a result, two youth participants acquired foundational skills in playing the Ga-Yok reed pipe and violin, forming a basis for enhanced creative thinking and a deeper understanding of Urak Lawoi musical heritage. Furthermore, this learning model aligns with the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), specifically supporting Quality Education (SDG 4) and the preservation of cultural heritage within Sustainable Cities and Communities (SDG 11).

This study examines the spatial and design barriers that impede active transportation (AT) in the historic Juanda area of Central Jakarta, a context characterised by rich heritage, informal street life and multimodal transit integration. Employing a qualitative methodology encompassing field observation, spatial mapping and stakeholder interviews, the study identifies key challenges including inactive ground floor frontages, fragmented pedestrian infrastructure and the exclusion of informal economies. Drawing on human-scale urbanism and heritage-sensitive mobility frameworks, the paper formulates adaptive strategies that embrace, rather than displace, local sociocultural dynamics. The findings emphasise contextually embedded solutions that integrate informal trade, cultural practices and micro-mobility within walkable, living heritage corridors. Recommendations target urban planners, heritage conservationists and public space managers, highlighting pathways for regenerating urban environments that are sustainable, inclusive and responsive to the realities of Southeast Asian cities undergoing rapid modernisation. This article is also included in The Business & Management Collection which can be accessed at https://hstalks.com/business/.

This article reveals interculturalism in local Balinese Indonesian literature and its relevance as literary teaching materials to support the prevention of intolerance in schools. This research is motivated by the fact that diversity is an empirical fact of Indonesian society that can have a positive impact as a social and cultural strength of the nation, but can also have a negative impact because it has the potential to cause social conflict. The potential for social conflict usually arises from intolerant attitudes in society, including in the school environment. This indicates that intercultural awareness must continue to be fostered. As a cultural product as well as a cultural practice, literature can play a role in strengthening students' intercultural awareness. Therefore, literary learning requires teaching materials that are relevant and contextual to the needs of building students' intercultural awareness. On that basis, research on interculturalism in local Balinese literature is important to conduct. Local Balinese literature was chosen as the focus of the research because the results of this research are expected to be applied in Bali as an open area with the complexity of typical intercultural problems. The main problems to be answered in this research are the representation of interculturalism in local Balinese literature and its relevance as literary teaching materials to support the prevention of intolerance in schools. This research uses a qualitative descriptive design with a sociology of literature approach. The research data source is in the form of local Balinese Indonesian literature containing intercultural elements. The results of the study found that interculturalism in local Balinese Indonesian literature is woven through the medium of marriage and friendship institutions. The meeting of two different cultures gives rise to cultural shock which is responded to with adaptive and accommodating attitudes of the story characters. In the relationship between characters who have different backgrounds, there are a number of factors that allow interculturalism to occur, namely economy, religion, and tradition. However, this study found a tendency for religion to be a separating factor, while customs and traditions are unifying factors.

The phenomenon of prewedding photography has become increasingly popular among Indonesian Muslims and has emerged as part of a new cultural practice in the sequence of events leading up to marriage. However, this practice has drawn both support and criticism from the perspective of Islamic law, particularly concerning the potential breach of sharia mandated boundaries between two individuals who are not yet in a legitimate marital bond. This study aims to analyze the legal status of prewedding photography through the lens of the kaidah Sad adz Dzari’ah, the principle of preventing actions that may lead to harm (mafsadah) or violations of sharia. It is a library research employing a qualitative approach, based on a review of classical and contemporary fiqh literature as well as an analysis of several relevant community cases.The findings indicate that the practice of prewedding photography can be classified as a form of dzarī’ah—a means that has the potential to give rise to immoral situations such as khalwat (seclusion), tabarruj (excessive display of adornment), and ikhtilāṭ (free mixing of genders)—and is therefore, in principle, prohibited under the kaidah Sad adz Dzari’ah, unless it is conducted with strict observance of sharia boundaries and appropriate supervision. These results underscore the importance of a critical and cautious mindset among Muslims when adopting popular cultural practices that are not yet fully compatible with sharia principles.

This study examines the influence of organizational culture (OC) on the innovative performance (IP) of public-sector employees, with job satisfaction (JS) serving as a mediating variable, specifically within the Directorate General of State Assets in Indonesia. The research aims to analyze how organizational culture shapes innovative performance and to assess the extent to which job satisfaction strengthens this relationship. Using a quantitative approach with a descriptive survey, data were collected from 361 employees through questionnaires measuring OC, JS, and IP, and analyzed using SMARTPLS4 for model and hypothesis testing. The findings reveal that job satisfaction successfully mediates the relationship between organizational culture and innovative performance, indicating that a positive organizational culture enhances innovation primarily through increased job satisfaction, while the direct effect of culture on innovation is not significant. These results highlight the unique contribution of the study, namely the crucial mediating role of job satisfaction in driving innovation through organizational culture. The study recommends that organizations strengthen positive cultural practices to improve job satisfaction and, consequently, employee innovation. Future research is encouraged to expand the analysis to other government institutions to provide a broader understanding of how culture influences public-sector innovation.

Women have become a key target of the global development agenda, particularly in developing countries. In Timor-Leste, several development partner agencies have helped initiate support for the government in agricultural development to ensure that women benefit from this intervention. This article focuses on women's participation in agricultural development interventions in Ermera municipality in Timor-Leste. This qualitative research uses a case study approach to have a better understanding of women farmers' everyday lives in rural areas. It uses a transformative worldview because the findings of this research will contribute to transforming the agricultural development of rural women in Timor-Leste in the future. The discrimination against women in agricultural development interventions continues to occur, which has contributed to the lower success outcomes of the interventions. The lack of women's participation in decision-making processes, limited access to agricultural resources and information, and gender-discriminatory cultural practices are acknowledged as the main contributing factors to the failures of current agricultural interventions for rural women in Timor-Leste.

One of the dynamics of the traditional African societies is that music is a common feature of cultural expression. In Nigeria, traditional music which is rooted in the belief system and the socio religious activities of the people finds space in the musical practice of the country and therefore attracts attention of scholars for documentation and analysis. Bolojo music, a traditional genre rooted in Yorùbá oral tradition from the Yewa people of Ogun State, Nigeria serves as a cultural expression that embodies the socio-cultural dynamics, historical contexts, and musical heritage of the Yewa people. This music has received scholarly studies in aspects such as its history, sociology, its dance forms, and song texts, but its ethno musicological study is still under explored. This study is therefore an ethno musicological examination of Bòlòjò music. Engaging established theories in ethnomusicology and African cultural studies as its theoretical framework, the study examines the musical structure, social functions, adaptability, and communicative roles of Bolojo within Yewa society. The study employs qualitative research methods including participant observation, interviews with local musicians, and audio-visual recordings of Bòlòjò performances. Through participant observation, the researchers engage in communal events where Bòlòjò music is performed, gaining first-hand insights into its social functions. Interviews with Yewa elders and Bòlòjò musicians provide valuable perspectives on the genre’s cultural meanings and evolution over time. Audio-visual recordings further aid in analyzing musical structures, rhythmic patterns, and lyrical themes with Bòlòjò music. Bòlòjò music is renowned for its unique rhythms, showcasing the call-and-response patterns that foster community participation and engagement during performances, also with the variety of traditional instruments integral to Bòlòjò performances, particularly the distinctive use of drum such as talking drum (gángan), àkúbà or kóngà, bèmbé, bàtá, which create complex rhythmic patterns, as well as agogo (metal gong), sèkèrè (rattles), and the introduction of guitar by King Jossy Friday. As an essential cultural practice, Bòlòjò music plays a central role in rites of passage, festivals, weddings, funerals, communal gatherings, where it not only entertains but also reinforces Yewa identity and heritage in social cohesion, cultural expression, and moral instruction. This study concludes that Bòlòjò music serves as a vital expression of the Yewa people’s identity and cultural heritage. Its origins are rooted in the historical, social, and spiritual fabric of the community, making it not only a form of entertainment but also a powerful medium for preserving cultural memory and fostering community unity. As Bòlòjò music continues to adapt and evolve, it remains a testament to the resilience and creativity of the Yewa people in navigating their cultural heritage. The need to preserve and promote Bòlòjò music has become urgent, particularly in the face of globalization and changing social landscapes. This paper recommends that archival documentation, festival support, gender inclusivity and international collaborations should serve as safeguard for the preservation of Bòlòjò music.

Exposure to racism is an important risk-factor for Black children's mental health that can be combated through parents' transmission of cultural pride messages. To assist parents in enhancing these practices, we piloted a Black cultural pride box intervention, entitled Just for Me!, that included Black-centered play and educational items. Fourteen families participated in the study with their preschoolers (mean age = 3.6 years). Families interacted with the box contents for 2 months prior to the mothers completing a post-intervention interview. We assessed the impact of the intervention on parents' cultural socialization practices using Wilcoxon signed rank tests. Intervention acceptability was measured using a 5-point Likert scale in four subdomains: engagement, likability, current usefulness, and future utility. We used reflexive thematic analysis to determine mothers' foremost values in their cultural socialization practices and whether the intervention aligned with those values. The intervention was associated with a significant increase in how often mothers practiced the following behaviors with their preschoolers related to their ethnic/racial group: learning history/traditions (p = 0.041), talking about important people/events in history (p < 0.001), and reading culturally-specific books (p = 0.010). Furthermore, there were high ratings for acceptability across all subdomains. Participants shared common values in their cultural socialization practices of ensuring representation of Blackness, affirming Black features, and being intentional about timing conversations about race with their preschoolers. The intervention consistently supported these values, showing the benefit of a community-based approach to aid Black parents' enhanced cultural socialization practices with their preschoolers.

Advertising is increasingly recognized as a cultural practice that extends beyond persuasion to reflect collective values, identity, and social belonging (Hall, 1973; Arnould &amp; Thompson, 2005). This study investigates the effectiveness of cultural advertising in Lebanon, focusing on Almaza’s social media campaigns during 2022–2023. By analyzing engagement data (likes, comments, shares), the research shows that ads embedding cultural symbols generate significantly higher interaction than non-cultural campaigns. Guided by encoding/decoding theory, consumer culture theory, and reception theory, the findings underscore how cultural resonance strengthens audience engagement and brand identity. The originality of this study lies in situating Lebanon—a context marked by collectivism and resilience—within global advertising scholarship. Its implications align with the UN Sustainable Development Goals, particularly SDG 8 (Decent Work and Economic Growth) and SDG 12 (Responsible Consumption and Production), by demonstrating how culturally rooted marketing can foster sustainable business practices and community cohesion.

Abdallah, A., Khairy, M., Tawfik, M., Mohamed, S., Abdel-Rasheed, M., Salem, S., and Khalifa, E., "Role of First-Trimester Three-Dimensional (3D) Power Doppler of Placental Blood Flow And 3D Placental Volume in Early Prediction of Pre-Eclampsia," International Journal of Gynecology & Obstetrics 153, no. 3 (2021): 466-473, https://doi.org/10.1002/ijgo.13572. The above article, published online on 23 December 2020 in Wiley Online Library (wileyonlinelibrary.com), has been retracted by agreement between the journal Editor-in-Chief, Michael Geary; and John Wiley & Sons Ltd. UK. Concerns were raised by a third party regarding the reported results, particularly the mean gestational age at delivery of the normotensive group, which is stated in the article as 36.67 weeks. In light of these concerns, the authors were asked to provide their raw data. The authors did not provide the requested study data but responded that rounding accounted for the short duration of pregnancy, as well as cultural healthcare practices in the study region. However, the editorial team and publisher did not feel that this was an adequate response to the concerns. Lacking the study data for further analysis and the inconsistencies present in several places in the article, including the odds ratios in Tables1 and 3, the editors consider the data and conclusions to be unreliable. Therefore, the article must be retracted. When informed of the decision to retract, M. Abdel-Rasheed, on behalf of the authors, disagreed with our decision to retract.

Purpose: The purpose of this article was to role of homestay tourism in enhancing cultural exchange in coastal Kenya Methodology: This study adopted a desk methodology. A desk study research design is commonly known as secondary data collection. This is basically collecting data from existing resources preferably because of its low cost advantage as compared to a field research. Our current study looked into already published studies and reports as the data was easily accessed through online journals and libraries. Findings: The study found that homestay tourism significantly strengthens direct interactions between tourists and host families, allowing visitors to experience authentic aspects of life in coastal Kenya. Through shared daily routines, guests gained a deeper appreciation of local traditions, including cuisine, language, and cultural practices. Homestay hosts also benefited from the exchanges, noting that they acquired fresh perspectives and knowledge from their visitors. The findings further showed that organized cultural activities such as storytelling, traditional dances, and craft demonstrations enhanced visitors’ understanding of coastal heritage. Overall, the research concluded that homestay tourism is an effective avenue for fostering meaningful cultural exchange, promoting mutual respect, and supporting the preservation of coastal Kenya’s cultural identity. Unique Contribution to Theory, Practice and Policy: Social Exchange Theory, Contact Hypothesis and Theory of Cultural Authenticity may be used to anchor future studies on Role of Homestay Tourism in Enhancing Cultural Exchange in Coastal Kenya. For homestay operators and associations, enhancing authentic exchange requires moving from ad-hoc hosting to a deliberate, professionally supported "Cultural Exchange Management" system. County and national governments must transition from regulating homestays solely as accommodation providers to recognizing and incentivizing their role as Critical Infrastructure for Intangible Cultural Heritage (ICH) Safeguarding.

This study explores the use of art and cultural practices as a means to instill Islamic values in the learning process of Islamic Religious Education. The background of this research arises from the challenges faced by Islamic education in the era of globalization, particularly the declining interest of students in Islamic-oriented activities and the strong influence of popular culture. Using a descriptive qualitative approach by reviewing relevant literature, the study finds that various forms of Islamic art such as nasheed, hadrah, calligraphy, and Islamic-themed drama can help students understand and appreciate religious values in a more engaging and meaningful way. These artistic activities serve as a bridge between Islamic teachings and everyday life, allowing values such as good character, piety, and love for the Qur’an to be internalized more effectively. However, the implementation still encounters several obstacles, including limited teacher competence and insufficient curriculum support. The study concludes that strengthening collaboration with the community, utilizing digital technology, and developing extracurricular programs are important steps to reinforce the application of Islamic values through art and cultural approaches within educational settings.

Abstract The programme of radiocarbon dating undertaken at Stanwick, Northamptonshire, demonstrates the value of scientific dating of Romano-British sites, including those with good pottery sequences and large numbers of datable coins and other finds. It has refined and clarified the chronology and phasing of the site, particularly in its final phase of occupation. It confirmed some of our original dating of the human burials, and showed other dates were significantly wrong. It also addresses issues relating to the calibration of radiocarbon dates and dietary isotopes in the period. This has enabled us to identify activities, material culture and burial practices current at Stanwick and elsewhere in the immediate post-Roman period.

Breeding objectives for turfgrass species include continued improvement of aesthetics and persistence while minimizing inputs such as water, fertilizers, and fungicides. In order to achieve the objectives, breeders must evaluate large amounts of germplasm for multiple traits in multiple environments to develop resilient grasses suitable for sport, lawn, and landscape uses. Fungal endophytes of the genus Epichloë develop a mutualistic relationship with many turfgrass species, including ryegrass (Lolium spp.) and fescues (Festuca spp.), imparting a high tolerance to biotic and abiotic stresses. The development of improved turfgrasses with endophyte is of great value to reduce maintenance costs and conserve resources. It has been reported that red thread disease (caused by the pathogen Laetisaria fuciformis) and dollar spot disease (caused by Sclerotinia homoeocarpa) can be suppressed in fine fescues that are infected with endophytes. Grasses colonised by Epichloë endophytes have shown high tolerance to foliar feeding insects such as billbugs (Sphenophorus spp.). Several studies have also demonstrated that endophytes confer protection to perennial ryegrass and tall fescue from water stress by increasing the availability of primary metabolites, e.g. concentrations of glucose and fructose. Breeders can use established immunological tests to determine if Epichloë endophytes are present in plant seed, but there is no guarantee that the endophyte is viable. To determine viability, the same immunological tests (commonly known as growouts) can be performed on grass seedlings to determine viable endophyte infection frequencies across grass populations. To deliver grass cultivars with high (&gt;70%) endophyte infection frequencies, these cultivars must be developed with endophyte infection frequencies near 100%. Many grass breeders in the United States maintain high endophyte frequencies in the live plant material to ensure the mutualistic relationship between the plant genotype and endophyte genotype is maintained throughout the breeding cycle. However, viable endophyte infection frequencies can decrease over time depending on the environment and cultural practices deployed. Maintaining breeder seed of a cultivar with a high endophyte infection frequency requires cold storage with low humidity in addition to an established endophyte assessment protocol. However, delivering this quality endophyte-seed product for commercial production requires a quality assurance program that is not currently available on an industry wide scale in the United States.

Since the creation of the world, to the rising and falling of empires and kingdoms, the development and evolution of civilisations from one generation to another, from the movement of explorers to the days of colonisation, no country has ever existed as an island. Languages and cultures around the world have constantly influenced and impacted one another in different ways through the exchange of linguistic and cultural practices, and the world has increasingly remained a global village of diversities and similarities. Languages and cultures have consistently borrowed from one another and continue to do so. This article therefore, studies how the Ngwo language has borrowed and continues to borrow from other languages to enrich its linguistic repertoire. Sources, domains and modifications employed in the reception of lexical items into the Ngwo language system are discussed. The process of borrowing changes over time as discussed in new generation borrowing. The article shares opinion on the merits and demerits of the process to the Ngwo language. Relexicalisation is discussed as a negative aspect of borrowing as it can apply to other Cameroonian languages in particular and African languages in general.

ABSTRACT Psychedelic research has shown that the effects of serotonergic substances, such as psilocybin and LSD, are strongly influenced by the interaction of substance, set, and setting. Mystical-type experiences, often induced by psychedelics, are not solely driven by pharmacological mechanisms but emerge from a dynamic interplay between the psychological state (set), external environment (setting), and the neurochemical effects of the drug. We defend a causal pluralist theory that suggests multiple valid explanations can be offered, including pharmacological, neural, psychological, social, political, and historical explanations of the causal influence of set and setting on the psychedelic experience. A question for pluralism is how causation can occur at the higher-levels of analysis of psychological states (set), and societal and cultural practices (setting). We use concepts from enactive cognitive science as applied to psychedelic experience to answer this question by elaborating on a pluralist notion of causation. A problem for enactive cognitive science is that it has so far failed to yield testable models and predictions about the psychedelic experience. We suggest that the predictive processing theory may be able to fill this gap. We conclude then that a pluralist synthesis of ideas drawn from enactive cognitive science and predictive processing may provide the best set of conceptual tools for making scientific sense of the dependence of the psychedelic experience on set and setting.

ABSTRACT The study explores the attitudes of Indian shepherds in Karnataka toward wolves, focusing on the Gadag District near Kappatagudda Wildlife Sanctuary. Through 42 qualitative interviews, the study reveals a generational shift: older shepherds (over 30 years old) view wolves as sacred and beneficial, whereas younger shepherds perceive them as threats to their livelihoods. Despite significant livestock losses, tolerance persists, particularly among older shepherds, due to cultural beliefs and traditional practices. The findings emphasize the critical role of integrating traditional ecological knowledge with contemporary conservation approaches – such as strategic fencing, the use of livestock-guarding dogs, community-based management, awareness initiatives, improved compensation mechanisms, and the preservation of grazing lands – to facilitate sustainable coexistence between humans and wolves. The findings underscore the need for collaborative approaches that respect cultural values and address economic challenges, ensuring the sustainability of both pastoralism and wolf conservation in India.

The rate at which people move from place to place has led to deleterious effects on childhood moral formation among Nsukka people of Enugu State. The assessment of the influence of urbanisation on the childhood moral formation in Nsukka therefore; becomes needful, that is the problem this work is poised to tackle. The major purpose of this study is to specifically ascertain the decline of childhood moral formation in Nsukka. The specific objectives included to examine the causes of the decline of childhood moral formation and to find out the nature of the decline of childhood moral formation in Nsukka. This work adopted a qualitative research design. As such, the method of data collection was oral interview. The work illustrates how urbanisation has disrupted traditional values and customs, bringing about both beneficial and harmful effects. On the positive side, urbanisation offers individuals the opportunity to interact with people from diverse religious and cultural backgrounds. This exposure fosters a spirit of tolerance and learning, enabling people to coexist peacefully in shared spaces. It also broadens their understanding of various social norms and behaviors. On the negative side, however, urbanization has contributed to a decline in children's moral upbringing, The emergence of Western centered perspectives and the erosion of indigenous Igbo cultural practices. Corruption which is inherent in these forces has unleashed unparalleled wave in secularism, materialism, greed which have engulfed the moral life of children in Nsukka. The study suggests that the government and other relevant bodies should oversee and control the content shared through print, electronic media, and other morally questionable materials in circulation today, in order to protect the younger generation from moral deterioration, based on the study's findings.

Abstract This paper investigates the role of household socio-economic characteristics in shaping responses to policy interventions when traditional norms are strong, focusing on the impact of land inheritance amendments on women’s empowerment in India. Leveraging changes to the Hindu Succession Act, which granted women the right to inherit ancestral property, and a simple conceptual framework with testable prediction, I show that the diverging results that can be found in the literature about the amendments can be explained by the heterogeneous responses to such policy changes. Using representative survey data, I find that the amendments positively affected education, especially among women from rural, landowning households with smaller plots of land. These women also experienced improved marriage market outcomes. The impact on female labor force participation varied across the socioeconomic spectrum, with more educated women showing increased participation in higher-paying jobs, while less educated women in rural areas either left the workforce or transitioned to less demanding occupations. This research contributes to understanding the complex dynamics of policy responses, highlighting the importance of considering the interplay between cultural practices, household characteristics, and socioeconomic factors in policy design and implementation, especially in contexts of high inequality.