Distinct Cultures Research Articles

Structural Reform of Police Organization at Village Level Government in Bandung Regency, West Java Province

The research aimed to enhance the Police's performance in delivering exemplary community service and harmonize the National Police's structure with the Village/District Level Regional Government. The study employed qualitative description with SWOT and ASOCA Analysis. In Bandung Regency, there's a notable security vulnerability. The data indicates: 1) Potential disturbances exceed 70%, 2) Disorder threshold surpasses 60%, and 3) Actual disruptions are above 30%. Addressing this and to achieve structural synchronization between the National Police and the Regional Government, a strategy is devised titled "Structural Reform of the Police Organization at the Village Government Level." This aims to optimize police performance, resonating with the National Police's 2005-2025 Grand Strategy. SWOT analysis reveals 1) Strength in Leadership, 2) Weakness in Organizational Structure, 3) Opportunities within the Legal Framework, and 4) Threats from misalignment with the Village's Regional Government. ASOCA Analysis emphasizes several factors. Internally, it points out the Police Leadership's ability and members' loyalty. It stresses the importance of harnessing police resources and an Organizational Performance Improvement Program. There's a highlight on the intellectual prowess of police members and their potential to act creatively. Externally, the community's aspiration for better police service is noted. The Bandung Regency's distinct culture and traditions play a role. Challenges persist, like the misalignment of the organizational structure with geographical realities and limited flexibility in local Police management. Community participation and educational levels remain concerns. Lastly, the Village Police follows a "Line and Staff Organization" model. This aligns with the higher-level organizational structure, emphasizing task decentralization and role clarity, ensuring a robust hierarchy and efficient task delegation.

The New Mission of Abandoned Architectural Heritage

The construction of pit cave dwellings is a longstanding custom in China. However, as living standards have increased, this distinctive style of building is being gradually forgotten. Sanmenxia, Henan Province is known for its unique clay, which has contributed to the advancement of construction and architectural design. The region's unique climate, which is warm in the winter and cool in the summer, has also made people more nostalgic, which has led to a boom in the tourism industry. It's urgent to figure out how to revitalize and change the historic structures that will soon decay and vanish into something new in order to stay relevant.This essay explores the distinctive architectural style of China's pit cave dwellings, capturing its essence and adapting it to modern demands. It also serves to highlight the disappearing ancient architectural and cultural form while revitalizing the abandoned kiln and bringing it back to life. Enhancing the recreational area for the locals and drawing attention to the region's distinctive culture, the abandoned kiln will be transformed into a tourist destination with cultural activities.

Thinking Three, Revisited Infants, Coparents, Gender Roles, and Cultural Contexts.

Tracing its beginnings to the mid-1990s, coparenting theory and research, guided greatly by Minuchin's structural family theory, have deepened socialization perspectives in the field of developmental psychology. Coparenting theory has perhaps had its largest impact in the field of infant-family mental health, where empirical investigations of coparenting and family level dynamics have dovetailed with studies of family alliances and triangles and inspired creative interventions to support families of infants and toddlers. In this article, the authors retrace some of the early accounts of coparenting and triangular interactions during infancy, highlighting symmetries with analogue conceptualizations discovered in the field of family therapy. Emphasizing key concepts and lessons divined from the infant-family mental health literature holding value for the practice of family therapy, the article also recognizes the dominant Euro-Western bias that has shaped much of the extant literature to date. A closing section addresses two important areas calling for more concerted attention by infant-family mental health experts and family therapists alike - under-appreciated and misunderstood elements of men's psychology connected to their core self-definition, and cultural distinctions in normal family processes. In both cases, if misread or misunderstood by the helping professional, the recipients of therapeutic services may experience failures of empathy.

Pioneer and Leader of the Gen-Z Entertainment Industry: Bilibilis Market Analysis and Strategy Based on the SWOT Analysis Framework

Bilibili, as a leading Chinese online entertainment platform, boasts a distinctive community culture that has garnered significant attention. With approximately 315 million monthly active users in the first quarter of 2023, Bilibilis influence is undeniable, highlighting its commercial and social value. This research identifies critical challenges that Bilibili faces in the modern video market. These challenges encompass commercialization difficulties, content creator attrition, and struggles to redefine its identity while attempting to break boundaries. To address these issues, the research offers strategic recommendations. Firstly, Bilibili can enhance its commercialization by promoting its e-commerce function, fostering branded content partnerships, and implementing data-driven advertising to increase revenue. Secondly, reducing talent attrition among content creators can be achieved by addressing fan culture concerns and demonstrating a commitment to content creators. Finally, instead of unthinkingly pursuing boundary-breaking strategies, Bilibili should reaffirm its identity, emphasize long-form content, and focus on its profitable gaming segment. This research is significant as it guides Bilibilis strategic decision-making, ensuring it remains competitive and adaptable in the dynamic video content landscape. By implementing the recommendations, Bilibili can strengthen its position and remain the preferred platform for Chinas young generation, ensuring its long-term success in the online entertainment industry.

Research on the Teaching and Learning of Second Language Acquisition from Cultural Differences in the Perspective of Globalization

The current world is showing a trend of globalization. Cultures of various countries coexist in diversity and are colorful. Not only ordinary communication issues need to be considered, but also many social phenomena should be dealt with appropriately. For instance, the number of international students is rising nowadays, and the caliber of foreign workers and immigrants is gradually getting better. In such a situation, learning a second language is an essential condition and ability. If there is a lack of understanding of the cultural differences behind bilingualism or even multilingualism, it is difficult for people to master the practical meaning of second language acquisition. The understanding and research of different cultures also need to be deepened to strengthen academic ability, enhance consensus, and form a global synergy. Therefore, using a literature research methodology, this paper examines how, in the modern period, second language learning and cultural diversity exist in different nations. Additionally, the research in this paper includes a comparison of Chinese and foreign language studies, as well as a look at how cultural adaptation is done and how cultural information is used in second language instruction. The study found that most students today acquired a basic second language only through the classroom, and even after a long period of study and training, they still face the goal of intercultural communication in their second language. The necessity of popularizing significant cultural distinctions in the teaching of second language acquisition and of offering comprehensive assistance to students in order for them to fully understand the learning and production of language and culture is made evident by such phenomena.

The effect of probiotic strains on the proteolytic activity and peptide profiles of lupin oat-based yoghurt

Plant-based yoghurt is on the rise, addressing both sustainability and innovation in food production. The macro-molecular changes driven by bacterial strains during fermentation of plant-based yoghurt leading to diverse nutritional functionality, however, is overlooked. Here, the lupin-oat milk yoghurt was developed using three distinctive commercial starter cultures composed of Lactobacillus delbrueckii sub bulgaricus, Streptococcus thermophilus and Lactobacillus rhamnosus for yoghurt 1 (Y1), Lactobacillus delbrueckii sub bulgaricus, Streptococcus thermophilus and Lactobacillus paracasei for yoghurt 2 (Y2), Lactobacillus plantarum and Bifidobacterium sps for yoghurt 3 (Y3). The post-acidification, proteolytic activity, amino acid composition, cell viability, peptide profile and angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitory activity were investigated during seven days of refrigeration at 4 °C. Gel electrophoresis and size exclusion chromatography (SEC) of yoghurts, showed substantial degradation of proteins into low molecular weight protein fractions (45, 55 and 75 kDa) which are complemented by an increase in small polypeptides with a molecular weight of <20 kDa. The bacteria did not fully utilize the released peptides, leading to significant accumulations in the medium. This observation indicates the potential presence of bioactive compounds with beneficial effects. The SEC peak fraction containing a smaller peptide size ranging from 0.059 to 0.87 kDa showed better ACE inhibitory activity. A comprehensive analysis of peptide profiling of the yoghurts was done using Nano UPLC-MS/MS which showed co-cultures promoted the formation of peptides. After undergoing bacterial fermentation, the number and types of peptides followed the Y3>Y1>Y2 sequence. This study emphasizes the potential of lupin-oat yoghurts peptides as a functional component.

Obligate biotroph downy mildew consistently induces near-identical protective microbiomes in Arabidopsis thaliana.

Hyaloperonospora arabidopsidis (Hpa) is an obligately biotrophic downy mildew that is routinely cultured on Arabidopsis thaliana hosts that harbour complex microbiomes. We hypothesized that the culturing procedure proliferates Hpa-associated microbiota (HAM) in addition to the pathogen and exploited this model system to investigate which microorganisms consistently associate with Hpa. Using amplicon sequencing, we found nine bacterial sequence variants that are shared between at least three out of four Hpa cultures in the Netherlands and Germany and comprise 34% of the phyllosphere community of the infected plants. Whole-genome sequencing showed that representative HAM bacterial isolates from these distinct Hpa cultures are isogenic and that an additional seven published Hpa metagenomes contain numerous sequences of the HAM. Although we showed that HAM benefit from Hpa infection, HAM negatively affect Hpa spore formation. Moreover, we show that pathogen-infected plants can selectively recruit HAM to both their roots and shoots and form a soil-borne infection-associated microbiome that helps resist the pathogen. Understanding the mechanisms by which infection-associated microbiomes are formed might enable breeding of crop varieties that select for protective microbiomes.

A Cross-Cultural Research on Natural Tourists’ Behavioral Intentions

Comparative research on park patrons with distinctive cultures or ethnicities has been one line of cross-cultural research in the recreation field in recent decades. The critical issue for such research is between-group homogeneity as most cross-cultural studies use culture or nation as their unit of analysis. This study employed the between-group comparison approach to identify different perceptions of service quality among three major socio-culture groups, Hoklos, Hakkas, and Mainlanders, in the context of outdoor recreation in Taiwan. A total of 2,433 respondents, 1,719 from Hoklos, 499 from Hakkas, and 215 from Mainlanders, were collected from an outdoor recreation visitor survey conducted in the Huisun National Forest Recreation Area and Taroko National Park. The findings revealed that the differences in service quality perceptions, satisfaction judgment, and behavioral intention derived from the between-group examination. A discussion of cultural heterogeneity across the subgroups and its implications for park and recreation management is included.

CSIG-06. CROSSTALK BETWEEN ONCOGENIC SIGNALING PATHWAYS AS DRIVERS OF THERAPY RESISTANCE AGAINST SMALL MOLECULE INHIBITORS IN GLIOBLASTOMA

Abstract Patients with glioblastoma multiforme (GBM) have a median survival of 15 months. Despite an intensive treatment schedule with resection, radio- and chemotherapy, recurrence is inevitable. An important challenge to overcome GBM treatment resistance involves intratumoral heterogeneity, characterized by molecularly, phenotypically, and clinically distinctive GBM subtypes. Different small molecule inhibitors have been designed to inhibit signaling proteins in oncogenic driver pathways, including the EGFR, PDGFR, MET, CDK4, and PI3K/Akt pathway, in GBM. However, these small molecule inhibitors have been unsuccessful in improving patient outcome. Here, we investigate if crosstalk and redundancy in signaling pathways is responsible for single-agent resistance using patient-derived glioblastoma 2D stem cell cultures (pdGBM). Eight brain-penetrable and clinically approved small molecule inhibitors (SMI) were used to target key GBM driver genes. We measured cell viability in triplicate with a CellTiter-Glo assay. The half-maximal inhibitory concentration (IC50) for each inhibitor was defined for six molecularly distinct pdGBM 2D cell cultures. Although inhibition of downstream effector proteins reduced cell viability more effectively (IC50 70nM-1µM), compared to inhibiting upstream membrane-bound tyrosine kinase receptors (IC50 1-15µM), remaining cell proliferation was seen in all pdGBM using the different SMIs as single agent. To identify resistance mechanisms, we investigated changes in phosphokinase activity after SMI monotherapy in the different pdGBM 2D cell cultures. Based upon these results, we could identify combinations of SMIs targeting compensatory pathways that drive treatment resistance. In conclusion, this study presents a mechanistically driven selection of tumor tailored combination treatment to overcome resistance to SMI monotherapy in pdGBM. The efficacy of these novel SMI combinations will be challenged next, moving from pdGBM 2D stem cell cultures towards pdGBM organoids.

Walking an EmotionalTightrope: Examining the Carceral Emotion Culture(s) of Federal Prisons for Women in Canada

This article examines the role of solidarity as a centrally distinguishing feature of two distinct emotion culture(s) operating in federal prisons for women in Canada. We explore the social interactions between correctional officers and inmates and among criminalized women to understand how group cohesion is shaped by the power dynamics between these groups in the prison environment. For correctional officers, solidarity facilitates difficult aspects of their work and enables them to behave antagonistically towards inmates. Despite prison staff's efforts to disrupt prisoner solidarity, solidarity serves two key functions for criminalized women–emotional coping and resistance to systemic oppression.

Cultural Communication and Ethnic Intermingling: A study of Chinese Descendants in Kampung Kapitan Palembang

Background: This study challenges assumptions about negative relationships between ethnic Chinese and other residents, focusing on highlighting harmony in the long-term habitation of Chinese descendants in Kampung Kapitan Palembang. Emphasis is on preserving distinct cultures during adaptation. Purpose: This research explores the ethnic intermingling among Kapitan Tjoa Ham Lim's descendants in Kampung Kapitan Palembang through a cultural communication lens, aiming to understand intercultural dynamics. Theoretical Framework: Using a cultural communication perspective, the study emphasizes openness and acceptance of cultural differences in the acculturation process. Non-verbal communication is a key focus, highlighting cultural sensitivity in fostering positive relationships within diverse communities. Design/Methodology/Approach: Qualitative and ethnographic methods explore long-term cultural acculturation in Kampung Kapitan. The study centers on non-verbal communication, openness, and recognizing the dynamic nature of communication, culture, religion, and economics. Findings: The study reveals gradual cultural acculturation in Kampung Kapitan, facilitated by openness and acceptance, especially through non-verbal communication. Palembang becomes the dominant language, reflecting sustained interaction between Chinese descendants and locals. Acceptance of cultural diversity fosters harmonious relationships, recognizing physical traits as integral aspects of identity. Research, Practical &amp; Social Implications: Enriching qualitative understanding, the research contributes to communication science by shedding light on motives behind ethnic intermingling and bridging differences in historically rooted communities. Practical implications include maintaining social connections within diverse communities. Originality/Value: This study challenges assumptions, provides nuanced insights into ethnic intermingling, and enhances understanding of cultural communication in historically rooted communities. Its significance in the field of communication science inspires further exploration by academics and researchers.

Motivational drivers of heavy work investment: intercultural comparison between USA and Egypt

Purpose The purpose is to identify the underlying motives of heavy work investment (HWI) types (i.e. workaholism and work engagement) based on self-determination theory, while controlling for job demands and resources. The role of four cultural differences (i.e. individualism, power distance, uncertainty avoidance and masculinity) in moderating the motivational correlated relationships is also explored using data retrieved from two distinct cultures (i.e. the USA and Egypt).Design/methodology/approach Full-time employees (N = 595) in the USA and Egypt were surveyed. Multiple regression analyses were used to test the associations between the two HWI types and four types of motivation (i.e. intrinsic, extrinsic, introjected and identified motivations). Furthermore, moderation analyses were conducted to explore potential effects of four cultural dimensions (i.e. individualism, power distance, uncertainty avoidance and masculinity) on the motivationalcorrelated relationships.Findings Workaholism positively relates to the controlled types of motivation (i.e. extrinsic and introjected regulation), while work engagement positively relates to the autonomous ones (i.e. intrinsic and identified regulation) and negatively associates with extrinsic motivation. Moreover, cultural masculinity moderated the relationship between work engagement and extrinsic motivation, as well as the association between workaholism and extrinsic motivation.Practical implications A clear differentiation of motivation behind both types of HWI is required by occupational health practitioners to design interventions that stimulate employee engagement rather than fuel workaholism. Multinational organizations could also benefit from understanding the interaction between cultural dimensions, motives and HWI, thereby planning more effective work engagement strategies among different cultures.Originality/value This is the first study to investigate the motivational correlates of HWI types across two contrasting cultures.

Unveiling the dynamics of open innovation and collaborative network tourism in ASEAN nations

ABSTRACT This research investigates the interplay between open innovation and social capital in Southeast Asia's tourism sector. Focusing on the mediating role of open innovation, the study explores its impact on integrating external ideas into tourism while enhancing social capital through collaborative networks. Through surveys, interviews, and case studies across Southeast Asian nations, the research aims to unveil strategies for open innovation in tourism and how social capital contributes to sustainable growth. The findings will inform stakeholders, governments, and scholars on fostering innovation while preserving the region's cultural and socioeconomic distinctiveness, ultimately aiming for a resilient and sustainable Southeast Asian tourism sector.

Anticipatory co-governance for human rights to sciences across knowledge systems

ABSTRACT The interface between Indigenous and Western knowledge systems highlights the existence of diverse sciences, each with their own history, contexts and processes for validation, with relevance to the human rights to sciences (HRS). The lens of intersectional universality shows how Indigenous peoples differ in ways that affect the HRS, through: (1) holding unique connections to territories, distinct cultures, worldviews and knowledge systems; (2) experiencing dispossession of their lands, territories and resources leading to great disadvantage in socio-economic status; (3) bearing a disproportionately high impact from colonial scientific practices that breach human rights; and (4) utilising Indigenous governance systems based on customary institutions for decision-making. Human rights law requires that these institutions are consistent with principles of non-discrimination – the universal aspect. From this recognition of difference and sameness, we argue that diligent anticipation of risk needs to be based on recognition and support from states for the institutions that govern Indigenous sciences, redress by relevant scientific organisations for the negative impacts of colonial scientific practices, and capacity-building to overcome inequitable distribution of resources and power. Anticipatory co-governance with Indigenous peoples can empower Indigenous agency, Indigenous perspectives on human rights and provide a fertile ground for future thinking to diligently anticipate risks and benefits of science and scientific progress.

The Development of the Sericulture Industry in Ancient Persia

This paper delves into the unique geographical advantages of the Persian region and explores how various factors such as climate, trade, politics, and warfare contributed to its significant influence on other nations in terms of silk production techniques. By tracing historical roots, we aim to uncover the reasons behind the emergence of a distinct Persian silk culture and innovative silk production methods, which would soon exert their influence far and wide. Furthermore, we investigate how the wisdom of these techniques spread across different global regions, drawing upon insights from various disciplines. Our comprehensive analysis integrates historical perspectives, political dynamics, and economic and agricultural theories, shedding light on the uncommon history of sericulture in this region during an unusual era. Ultimately, this essay seeks to redirect scholarly attention beyond the traditional focal points of Europe and East Asia.

The interactive organization of every day “talk” of native Kenyan sign language (KSL) users: The case of cohesion

People who are deaf in Kenya operate within a distinct Kenyan deaf culture that uses Kenya Sign Language (KSL) to interact. The focus of this paper is every day “talk” or any signing activities that they engage in during their interaction in everyday contacts. The paper pivots on discourse that is not planned. According to Brazil [1] unplanned discourse is instinctive and happens gradually in time. Therefore, unplanned discourse is spontaneous and impulsive and is heavily reliant on immediate context to make known people’s thoughts and relies less on structure to express meaning, Brazil [2]. An analysis of “Talk” that occurs naturally is conversational analysis. Consistent with Richards et al [3], conversation analysis involves examination of naturally occurring conversations to establish the linguistic attributes of “talk” and how it is used in ordinary life. This is the concern of this paper. It also examines how casual talk achieves cohesion as we investigate the linguistic characteristics of every day “talk” in the context of people who are deaf and users of KSL.

Cultural dynamics of digital space: Democracy, civic engagement and youth participation in virtual spheres

Globally, the digital culture of the youth has been playing a decisive role in the promotion of networking democracy, civic engagement and political participation in online spheres, and similar dynamics are being witnessed in the politics of East and SouthAsia. The present study has been conducted in two countries (Indonesia & Pakistan) focusing on youth networked engagement (civic and social) and political participation in virtual affairs. Indonesia and Pakistan possess distinct culture, religious, and historical identities the youth culture show surprising commonalities which reflect the universal nature of youthful aspirations, goals and desires. To help young people embrace social media as a multi-faceted channel, the current article demonstrates exploratory information and aims at delineating the usage of social media in escalating participation in political arenas, protecting (and acquiring) political human rights, and revitalizing the importance of their local and digital networks. The researcher (s) employed a cross-sectional study design and carried out a survey to collect the data from the citizens of Indonesia and Pakistan. The data was gathered through a standardized questionnaire. As a sampling frame was established, the researchers approached the general public for filling out the questionnaire through both offline and online sources. The results depict that social media is a platform for political communication, political expression, and facilitating digital democracy. The findings show that culture of social media politics was strongly correlated with political efficacy, social media and democracy. Hence, it concludes that a significant youth culture in these countries have tremendous chances to strengthen inter-cultural relations, and encourage to participate in civic, political and democratic platforms.

Team Identification and Perceptions of College Athletes

College campuses are unique spaces, with college towns having their own distinctive culture. However, attendance at intercollegiate athletic events has declined in recent years. Long-term strategies for building faculty fanbases are uncommon, yet, faculty maintain high organizational identification, positively impacting brand loyalty and purchase intentions. As such, university faculty may be an ideal target market for athletic departments through relationship marketing. Utilizing Allport’s (1954) Intergroup Contact Theory, this study examined faculty motivation to attend university athletic events regarding their university identification, perception of college athletes, and motivation for sport consumption. Two hundred and thirty-eight faculty members at Power Five institutions completed the Motivation Scale for Sport Consumption, the Points of Attachment Index, and the Perceptions of Athletic Departments Questionnaire. Descriptive statistics suggested that faculty are motivated differently than other fans, as the physical skills of athletes served as the strongest motivator for faculty. The multiple regression analysis provided evidence to conclude higher levels of both faculty university athletic team identification and their perceptions of student-athletes contributed to increased athletic event motivation scores. Based on the results, in order to increase faculty motivation to attend athletic events, marketers should consider designing innovative marketing efforts specifically for faculty members and utilizing marketing techniques to increase faculty’s perceptions of college athletes.

Enrichment and safety -the parents of young children constructing early childhood education and care institution in Finland

ABSTRACT Parents` significance in early childhood education and care (ECEC) is emphasized in the research, but primarily from the perspective of ECEC professionals. Drawing on discursive institutionalism, we analysed what parents of young children in Finland constructed as essential in ECEC from the child`s point of view in their discussions concerning the forms of ECEC services. We found that parents constructed ECEC through two interconnected frames: enrichment and safety. The frames indicate that an individual child and her well-being here and now are considered essential in ECEC for Finnish parents. Parents’ interpretations differ from one of the global discourses of ECEC, which emphasizes children`s development for the future. On the other hand, parents’ discourses maintain the cultural distinctions traditionally present in the Finnish ECEC institution. Our study underscores the significance of scrutinizing the construction of educational institutions in the discourses of those whose everyday lives these institutions are.

2,4-Dichlorophenoxyacetic Acid Induces Degeneration of mDA Neurons In Vitro.

Background: Parkinson's disease (PD) affects 1-2% of the population over the age of 60 and the majority of PD cases are sporadic, without any family history of the disease. Neuroinflammation driven by microglia has been shown to promote the progression of midbrain dopaminergic (mDA) neuron loss through the release of neurotoxic factors. Interestingly, the risk of developing PD is significantly higher in distinct occupations, such as farming and agriculture, and is linked to the use of pesticides and herbicides. Methods: The neurotoxic features of 2,4-Dichlorophenoxyacetic acid (2,4D) at concentrations of 10 µM and 1 mM were analyzed in two distinct E14 midbrain neuron culture systems and in primary microglia. Results: The application of 1 mM 2,4D resulted in mDA neuron loss in neuron-enriched cultures. Notably, 2,4D-induced neurotoxicity significantly increased in the presence of microglia in neuron-glia cultures, suggesting that microglia-mediated neurotoxicity could be one mechanism for progressive neuron loss in this in vitro setup. However, 2,4D alone was unable to trigger microglia reactivity. Conclusions: Taken together, we demonstrate that 2,4D is neurotoxic for mDA neurons and that the presence of glia cells enhances 2,4D-induced neuron death. These data support the role of 2,4D as a risk factor for the development and progression of PD and further suggest the involvement of microglia during 2,4D-induced mDA neuron loss.