Traditional Culture Research Articles

Endotoxin, a novel biomarker for the rapid risk assessment of faecal contamination of coastal and transitional waters

ABSTRACT Contaminated water has been responsible for the spread of disease for centuries. Current methods for testing water for faecal contamination rely on the culture of faecal indicator bacteria (FIB; Escherichia coli and Enterococci) that take 24–48 h, which leads to delays in taking proactive measures and poses a risk to public health. More rapid methods are therefore required. Here, we have tested a rapid, portable assay (Bacterisk) that detects the bacterial biomarker endotoxin in 30 min to quantify the bacterial biomass present, to evaluate 159 coastal water samples and to compare the results with the traditional culture of FIB. There was a significant correlation between the Bacterisk data given in endotoxin risk (ER) units and FIB culture that could accurately distinguish between poor and sufficient or good quality bathing water using the EU bathing directive values. Receiver operating characteristic analysis was used to determine the optimal ER threshold for coastal water samples, and the area under the curve was 0.9176 with a p-value of <0.0001. The optimal threshold was 7,300 ER units with a sensitivity of 95.45% and a specificity of 83.48%. In conclusion, we have shown that the Bacterisk assay provides a rapid and easy-to-use in situ method to assess bathing water quality.

Identity Politics as Lingua Franca?

Abstract Although identity politics dates back to the 1960 s, it has acquired a new urgency since the ascendance of Black Lives Matter in the late 2010 s. And while identity politics, as a critical framework, was developed in the United States, its rhetoric has since been taken up in much of the rest of the world. This article argues that the terminology of US-style identity politics is especially ill-suited to Germany, a country in which race does not exist as a legal category, and discrimination and inequality do not revolve around a Black/white axis. It points out, moreover, that the German appropriation of certain words and concepts – such as diversity, political correctness, cancel culture, woke, intersectionality, and others – clashes both with their usage and meaning in the US and with the demographic changes that have transformed post-Second World War German culture. In order to illustrate this clash, this article compares Michael R. Jackson’s Pulitzer Prize and Tony Award-winning musical A Strange Loop (2019) with Yael Ronen’s Slippery Slope (2021), a critically acclaimed musical performed in English at Berlin’s Maxim Gorki Theater. It critiques Slippery Slope’s appropriation of the buzzwords of identity politics and notes with regret that German theatres are ill-equipped to perform the plays of the most important playwrights working in the US today, a new generation of African American writers, including Jackson, whose work is steeped in the performance traditions of Black American cultures.

The ethics of research informed consent from the Kyrgyz perspective: A qualitative study.

To ensure informed consent is tailored to ethnic Asian communities, it is necessary to establish an ethical foundation that is relevant to the specific populations. We hypothesized that certain communitarian factors unique to traditional Kyrgyz culture may influence an individual's decision to participate in research. Guided by Seedhouse's (2005) Rational Field Theory, we conducted qualitative, in-depth interviews with cultural experts in Kyrgyzstan to identify the ethical foundations of decision-making for informed consent in Kyrgyz culture. The results indicate that Kyrgyz people have a distinctive decision-making style influenced by their nomadic culture and history, which values and prioritizes family integrity and reputation. These findings indicate that a multidimensional approach based on socio-cultural sensitivities is necessary to assess the appropriateness of consent procedures. We believe our results may have implications for revising the guidelines of local and regional research ethics committees in Kyrgyzstan and other Central Asian countries.

Expressing the Spatial Concepts of Interior Spaces in Residential Buildings of Huizhou, China: Narrative Methods of Wood-Carving Imagery

In the interiors of ancient Huizhou buildings in China, a profusion of wood carvings are employed for decoration, with traditional research interpreting their function from decorative and aesthetic perspectives. However, this research suggests that the role of Huizhou wood carvings in interior spaces surpasses mere decoration; they enhance the expression and experience of spatial concepts through narrative imagery. By analyzing the mechanism and intrinsic logic behind the spatial concepts formed in Huizhou residential buildings, this study investigates how wood-carving imagery contributes to shaping spatial concepts through narrative techniques, as well as their creativity and expressiveness in architectural design. Utilizing literature reviews, field surveys for case selection, and case analysis methods combined with observation, interviews, and measurements, this research ultimately employs image analysis to interpret the narrative structures and styles of wood-carving imagery in detail. This study reveals that (1) the spatial concepts of Huizhou residential buildings are influenced by traditional thought, social culture, and other factors, leading to an interweaving of material, cultural, and social spaces that results in a spatial concept characterized by harmony between heaven and humanity, clear hierarchy, and orderliness; (2) Huizhou wood-carvings, through their narrative images, actively engage in the production of spatial concepts, employing thematic juxtaposition narrative modes and utilizing singular-scene narration, composite-scene narration, and cyclical narration to articulate these concepts. These findings significantly deepen our comprehension of the relationship between the spatial concepts of Huizhou’s traditional residential architecture and social culture. By integrating cultural elements with spatial production theory, this research addresses the limitations of existing studies and augments their theoretical interpretative power. Additionally, clarifying the connection between the cultural elements of wood-carving imagery and the formation of spatial concepts offers a novel perspective on the study of Huizhou wood carvings, moving beyond their longstanding categorization as purely decorative elements.

Systematic literature review on the nexus of food waste, food loss and cultural background

PurposeThe present paper aims to reveal how different cultures, as reflected by cultural norms, traditions, and social expectations, influence food waste behaviour in different regions of the world.Design/methodology/approachA systematic multifaceted literature review was employed as a main research tool.FindingsThe focal role of education and awareness campaigns in reducing household food waste and promoting responsible food consumption behaviours is revealed. The importance of guilt, behavioural control, negative attitudes towards leftovers, and social norms are among the most important factors predicting intentions to reduce food waste. Cultural beliefs significantly shape food attitudes and waste. Tailoring sustainable practices to traditions helps to ensure food security. Embracing cultural diversity can lead to the development of effective and sustainable food consumption patterns across different parts of the world.Originality/valueTo the best of the authors’ knowledge, this is the first paper fully devoted to revealing how different cultural backgrounds shape food consumption habits and which marketing strategies aiming to nudge positive changes in responsible food consumption are preferred in different cultural contexts.

Haptic and deep sensing in ballet class

ABSTRACT Different cultural traditions about the sensory domain of tactility can lead groups of people to categorize the senses differently. This research explores how professional dancers in their social relations learn sensorially through touch at three London institutions and offers new perspectives on how touch compose part of the dancers’ shifting sensoria and the epistemology of the culture of their ballet class. Drawing on de Sousa Santos (2018) development of the concept of corazonar and Borda’s (2015, 10) notion of “sentipensar” (feeling-thinking) I discuss how dancers feel touch, how other sensorial modalities intersect with touch and how the variants of touch/being touched influence learning. In my study the dancer’s ways of knowing are inscribed in social relations by combining the feeling/thinking, reason, and love in emotions/affects indicating a deeper understanding of the confluence of various senses. The methodology involved four years of ethnographic observations, my active participation in professional ballet classes and interviews with dancers.

SCIENTIFIC FOREIGN LANGUAGE ETIQUETTE AS AN IMPORTANT FACTOR IN FORMING THE HUMANITARIAN CULTURE OF FUTURE TEACHERS OF FOREIGN LANGUAGES

SCIENTIFIC FOREIGN LANGUAGE ETIQUETTE AS AN IMPORTANT FACTOR IN FORMING THE HUMANITARIAN CULTURE OF FUTURE TEACHERS OF FOREIGN LANGUAGES

Sonication protocols and their contributions to the microbiological diagnosis of implant-associated infections: a review of the current scenario.

Addressing the existing problem in the microbiological diagnosis of infections associated with implants and the current debate about the real power of precision of sonicated fluid culture (SFC), the objective of this review is to describe the methodology and analyze and compare the results obtained in current studies on the subject. Furthermore, the present study also discusses and suggests the best parameters for performing sonication. A search was carried out for recent studies in the literature (2019-2023) that addressed this research topic. As a result, different sonication protocols were adopted in the studies analyzed, as expected, and consequently, there was significant variability between the results obtained regarding the sensitivity and specificity of the technique in relation to the traditional culture method (periprosthetic tissue culture - PTC). Coagulase-negative Staphylococcus (CoNS) and Staphylococcus aureus were identified as the main etiological agents by SFC and PTC, with SFC being important for the identification of pathogens of low virulence that are difficult to detect. Compared to chemical biofilm displacement methods, EDTA and DTT, SFC also produced variable results. In this context, this review provided an overview of the most current scenarios on the topic and theoretical support to improve sonication performance, especially with regard to sensitivity and specificity, by scoring the best parameters from various aspects, including sample collection, storage conditions, cultivation methods, microorganism identification techniques (both phenotypic and molecular) and the cutoff point for colony forming unit (CFU) counts. This study demonstrated the need for standardization of the technique and provided a theoretical basis for a sonication protocol that aims to achieve the highest levels of sensitivity and specificity for the reliable microbiological diagnosis of infections associated with implants and prosthetic devices, such as prosthetic joint infections (PJIs). However, practical application and additional complementary studies are still needed.

Utilizing stem cell-secreted molecules as a versatile toolbox for skin regenerative medicine

Stem cells are recognized as an important target and tool in regenerative engineering. In this study, we explored the feasibility of engineering amniotic fluid-derived mesenchymal stem cell-secreted molecules (afMSC-SMs) as a versatile bioactive material for skin regenerative medicine applications in a time- and cost-efficient and straightforward manner. afMSC-SMs, obtained in powder form through ethanol precipitation, effectively contributed to preserving the self-renewal capacity and differentiation potential of primary human keratinocytes (pKCs) in a xeno-free environment, offering a potential alternative to traditional culture methods for their long-term in vitro expansion, and allowed them to reconstitute a fully stratified epithelium sheet on human dermal fibroblasts. Furthermore, we demonstrated the flexibility of afMSC-SMs in wound healing and hair regrowth through injectable hydrogel and nanogel-mediated transdermal delivery systems, respectively, expanding the pool of regenerative applications. This cell-free approach may offer several potential advantages, including streamlined manufacturing processes, scalability, controlled formulation, longer shelf lives, and mitigation of risks associated with living cell transplantation. Accordingly, afMSC-SMs could serve as a promising therapeutic toolbox for advancing cell-free regenerative medicine, simplifying their broad applicability in various clinical settings.

ANEKA DISRUPSI PEMBELAJARAN BAHASA ARAB DI PONDOK PESANTREN

<p style="text-align: justify;"><em>Islamic boarding schools, as traditional Islamic educational institutions in Indonesia, play a central role in preserving and promoting Islamic religious and cultural traditions. One of the important elements of education in Islamic boarding schools is the teaching of Arabic. Arabic is not only a means of understanding the teachings of Islam but also a gateway to the rich intellectual heritage of the Islamic world. This qualitative research uses open questionnaires as a data collection technique. The questionnaires were distributed to Arabic teachers in seven Islamic boarding schools in Situbondo. The results cite the strengths of Islamic boarding schools in the form of their long-standing tradition of teaching Arabic and Islamic culture, the presence of knowledgeable teachers, a focus on memorizing the Quran, and a communal learning environment. However, weaknesses in the traditional curriculum may overlook practical aspects such as the use of digital technology in Arabic language learning in the modern world. To improve Arabic language learning in Islamic boarding schools, it is important to address the practical aspects of the language, maximize opportunities for collaboration and adoption of technology, and address challenges such as cultural and social change and competition from formal educational institutions offering Arabic language instruction.</em></p>

An analysis of the development path of ethnic villages under the protection of traditional Jiarong culture

Most of the villages in the north-west ethnic areas of Sichuan are located within a culturally rich zone. However, during the process of village modernization, the protection and inheritance of traditional culture are often overlooked. This study has investigated the construction techniques and spatial components of traditional villages in Lixian, Sichuan Province, from the perspective of cultural inheritance. It analyzes and synthesizes representative design language and proposes a design concept that combines spatial perspective and cultural inheritance to conduct research on design paths aimed at strengthening functional positioning, optimizing spatial layout, improving village style, and improving infrastructure. The objective is to establish a research path to maintain the village-style during post-disaster process reconstruction and village development, thus protecting the unique local architectural culture and achieving comprehensive village development. In addition, we explored issues such as the lack of architectural style and the lagging development of human settlements, aiming to promote rural revitalization and integrated urban-rural development in this area.

Apple Fruit Disease Classification using Naive Bayes Algorithm

Apples are one of the most productive varieties of fruit in the world, with a high nutritional and medicinal value. However, numerous diseases affect apple production on a wide scale, resulting in significant economic losses. These diseases often go overlooked until just before, after, or after fruit has been processed. Many pathogens can be avoided with cultural traditions and (optional) fungicides, even if there are no cures for tainted fruit. However, accurate diagnosis is essential for determining the right management practices and preventing further losses. Apple scab, apple rot, and apple blotch are some of the most prevalent diseases that affect apples. The proposed approach will greatly aid in the automated identification and classification of apple diseases, according to our test results. We discovered that normal apples were easy to discern from diseased apples in our trial, and that the texture-based GLCM function produced more reliable results for apple disease classification, with a classification accuracy of more than 96.43 percent. This demonstrates that combining the GLCM extraction function with naive bayes classification will greatly improve accuracy. Key Words: Naive bayes, Apple Diseases, Classifier

From Aristocrat to Religionist: Kyai Pati and Islamic Renaissance in 16th-Century Semarang

Semarang is a city with a sizeable Muslim population in Central Java Province, Indonesia. In 2022, the Muslim population in Semarang will reach 87.38%, and this indicates that the role of the Muslim community in various areas of life cannot be underestimated. Reading the history of Islamization in Semarang, a unique name will emerge: Wasis Jaya Kusuma, known as Kyai Pati; this figure is a symbol of concrete identity change in the life of traditional Javanese society in the 16th century. This change occurred because of his bitter life experience, being defeated in the war against the Islamic Mataram Kingdom under the leadership of Panembahan Senopati. Finally, he changed from being a nobleman to becoming a religionist who devoted himself to the people of the South Semarang area. This life story is a humanitarian phenomenon that is important to reflect from a global perspective that war can change a person's identity. Advantage or disadvantage, this change in identity has placed someone like Kyai Pati in a respected position; through the path of Syiar, he has become an essential part of the history of Islamization in Semarang.

Research on Dunhuang Burial Practices: “One and Diverse”: Dunhuang Murals in Gansu as an Example

As an important junction on the ancient Silk Road in China, Dunhuang's historical remains reflect the social order, social life, and social values of that time. To study the funeral customs and concepts in ancient Dunhuang, this paper analyzed the funeral customs by examining Dunhuang murals and a substantial amount of literature searching related essays online. In particular, the text compares and relates the funeral practices of ethnic minorities and the Han Chinese. It is found that the evolution of funeral customs in Dunhuang reflects the characteristics of the concept of all-in-one pluralism, representing a unified approach to diversity and inclusion. In this region of Dunhuang, the funeral customs observed include not only those derived from Taoism and Confucianism, which were the dominant religious traditions among the Han Chinese, but also those derived from Zoroastrianism, which was practiced by the ethnic minorities, as well as from exotic forms of Buddhism. This means that different regions and religions constantly fused and were absorbed into one another in Dunhuang, eventually becoming part of the excellent traditional Chinese culture. This demonstrates that different cultures can exist within a given practice, not only without mutual exclusion but also by displaying different characteristics.

“Imagine, maths is used anywhere, and we don’t get to know this”—upper secondary students and the relevance of advanced mathematics

People are more motivated to put effort into learning when they know they will be able to put the learnt content to use. These relevance perceptions play a motivating role in the learning of mathematics, a subject renowned for its abstraction, hard examinations, and usefulness in many fields in society (research, industries, etc.). In this article, we describe a study on upper secondary students in an advanced mathematics course and their perception of the relevance of mathematics in future professions, in particular regarding two concepts in their curriculum (logarithms, trigonometry). We defined relevance as a connection between an object (relevance of what?), a subject (relevant for whom?), an asserter (relevant according to whom?), and a purpose (relevant to what end?). The aim of the study was to know (1) what relevance perceptions students held regarding the advanced abstract mathematical concepts, and (2) how students can develop these considering that students do not yet know exactly what future is ahead of them. We interviewed pairs of students (n = 14, 17–19 years old) in two parts. The first part of the interview revealed that students learned mathematics within a traditional school culture that emphasized practice-and-drill of pure mathematics and that did not in any way inform students about the use of mathematics in research and workplaces. After exposing students to authentic applications of logarithms and trigonometry, the second part of the interview showed the power of imagination when it connected students to future professions for which mathematics was relevant. Instrumental in effectively prompting students’ imagination were visualizations showing applications of the mathematical concepts within workplace contexts. Drawing on Leont’ev’s version of Activity Theory, we theorize students’ assertions of the relevance of mathematics through the dialectics of self and collective (relating one’s own goals and more general motives), the dialectics of use-value and exchange-value (needing mathematics for later life or for examinations), and the dialectics of mathematization and de-mathematization (while mathematics is used in many workplaces, it is hidden in instruments).

Analysis of the Causes of the Formation of the “Involution” of Chinese Family Education

Starting from the influence of Chinese traditional reading culture on contemporary Chinese family education, this paper analyzes the reasons for the formation of the “involution” of Chinese family education. The involution means to have fierce competition but no good feedbacks. This study found that the objective reasons include China's national education policy, and the subjective reasons come from the current family education; there are problems such as incomplete awareness of parents' education, lack of educational ability, education comparison and so on. It is proposed that the correct values and competition views should be cultivated among family members so that parents can take the initiative to break the barriers of education and promote the all-around development and healthy growth of children. This article focuses on the role of family education and the educational methods to prevent “involution”, which may provide another way for China's family education.

Analyzing Neuroarchitecture to Enhance User Experience in Sacred Spaces

This paper explores the analysis of neuroarchitecture principles to enhance the user experience in sacred spaces, aiming to deepen spiritual engagement, emotional resonance, and overall well-being. Sacred paces play a pivotal role in human societies, serving as places for worship, contemplation, and community gathering. By integrating insights from neuroscience into architectural design, it is possible to optimize spatial layouts, sensory stimuli, and environmental factors to foster a deeper sense of connection, tranquility, and spiritual fulfillment. Through a multidisciplinary approach encompassing neuroscience, architecture, and environmental psychology, this research examines the impact of architectural elements on neural processes and subjective experiences within sacred environments. Case studies of sacred spaces from diverse cultural and religious traditions are analyzed to elucidate effective design strategies and best practices. The effectiveness of neuroarchitecture principles in enhancing the user experience and promoting a sense of connection, reverence, and transcendence in sacred environments is assessed through empirical studies and user feedback. The findings highlight the potential of neuroarchitecture to enrich the design of sacred spaces, offering insights that contribute to the creation of environments that inspire awe, foster contemplation, and deepen the human spirit.

Exploring the Aesthetic and Functional Aspects of Recycled Furniture in Promoting Sustainable Development: An Applied Approach for Interior Design Students

This study aimed to explore the sustainable aesthetic and functional dimensions of environmental waste in the context of interior design applications by students. Employing both descriptive and applied methodologies, a series of artistic works derived from environmental waste, specifically metal and wood, were conceptualized and executed by art education students. These works, totaling 11 artistic models in interior design, underwent chemical treatment as part of the process. An evaluation card, assessed by arbitrators, was utilized to gauge the standards of aesthetic and functional sustainability inherent in the artworks. Technical data were collected and subsequently analyzed using SPSS software, which facilitated the calculation of arithmetic averages, standard deviations, and t-tests to ascertain the extent to which sustainability standards were met within the aesthetic and functional dimensions of the works. The study findings indicated that the average response scores for the aesthetic and functional dimensions, pertaining to the achievement of sustainability for wood and metal waste, were notably high. This underscores the potential of producing artful works suitable for interior design applications within the spaces of the College of Education. With an average score of 3.984, students exhibited positive engagement with the aesthetic and functional aspects of their artistic products, indicative of their considerable ethical significance. This augurs well for the feasibility of attaining sustainability through the recycling of wood and metal waste. Furthermore, this research underscores the necessity of integrating aesthetic, environmental, and social values in achieving sustainable aesthetic and functional environmental values within the interior design curriculum. This integration demands a comprehensive understanding of user expectations, technological advancements, and the cultural background, customs, and traditions of both users and society at large.

Involvement as a Preventive Attitude towards Owned Culture

Preserving traditional cultures amidst modernization is a pressing concern that requires effective strategies engaging all generations within the community. This paper examines the importance of proactive involvement in safeguarding traditional cultures, focusing on the unique art tradition of the Alifuru tribe. Using a qualitative approach with a phenomenological lens, the study analyzes the Alifuru tribe’s approach to preventive involvement, especially among the youth, to ensure their cultural heritage endures. Preventive involvement targets young individuals during traditional events to counteract the perception of these practices as outdated. By incorporating art into rituals and entertainment, the community’s cohesion and connection are enhanced. The paper highlights that preserving traditional culture demands continuous regeneration, with the participation of both older and younger members being pivotal. Elders serve as mentors, displaying their artistic expertise as guides, while the younger generation takes on the role of students and successors in the cultural arts. The findings stress the profound impact of proactive involvement on knowledge transmission, particularly in the arts. The reciprocal proactivity between generations fosters an environment conducive to absorbing knowledge and preserving culture. Through a preventive approach, the Alifuru tribe effectively sustains their heritage while allowing for meaningful evolution. In summary, this study underscores the crucial role of preventive involvement in upholding traditional cultures. The Alifuru tribe’s approach, driven by the proactive collaboration of older and younger members, demonstrates the potential of intergenerational synergy. By embracing their art tradition and adopting a preventive cultural attitude, the Alifuru tribe navigates modernization’s challenges while ensuring a lasting cultural legacy. Keywords: involvement, preventive, traditional art, Alifuru culture

Malang Mask Puppet Aesthetic Revitalization Entitled "Sodo Lanang Competition"

This research aims to revitalize the mask puppet show titled “Sayembara Sada Lanang” performed by the Malang mask puppet artist group at the Asmorobangun hermitage. The traditional Malang mask puppet show has been staged for quite a long time, 2 - 3 hours. During performances, puppeteers rely on memory skills and perform verbally or directly without using a written script, thus the length of the performance depends on the puppeteer. This research follows a qualitative approach, utilizing observation, interviews, and document analysis as research methods. The research findings reveal that the revitalization of the “Sayembara Sada Lanang” mask puppet performance involved reducing its duration from 2 to 3 hours to just 7 minutes. The revitalization carried out is a revitalization of local wisdom which seeks to reintroduce traditional culture to the general public, especially children. So that children get to know traditional cultures that are almost extinct. The duration of the show is 7 minutes by reconstructing the structure of the show, without changing the essence of the story. The The play’s story structure unfolds in stages, beginning with exposition, followed by complication, climax, and resolution. Additionally, the title features three types of characters: protagonist, antagonist, and tritagonist. Keywords: revitalization, aesthetics, wayang mask