Sociocultural Trends Research Articles

The regimes of ethical hacking: moral projects and the emergence of a market for vulnerability

ABSTRACT This article examines the historical evolution of ethical hacking and vulnerability disclosure practices from the 1990s to the present day. It analyzes three key disclosure regimes and their emergence: full disclosure, responsible/coordinated disclosure, and bug bounty programs. The full disclosure regime is characterized by an adversarial relationship between hackers and companies, with hackers publicly releasing vulnerability information to pressure companies to improve security. The responsible/coordinated disclosure regime formalizes collaboration between hackers and companies, introducing standards and policies to manage the disclosure of vulnerability information. Finally, the bug bounty regime established a market-based model of disclosure that partially commodified vulnerabilities and transformed ethical hacking into a form of gig work. The analysis reveals how these regimes while building upon existing models, enact distinct moral projects and govern interactions between hackers and companies. It highlights how ethical hacking has been transformed through processes of normalization, standardization, and economization and argues that these transformations resulted from complex interactions between hackers and companies shaped by broader socio-cultural trends and pre-existing practices rather than being the result of a simple co-optation by corporate interests. In doing so, this nuanced historical perspective on vulnerability disclosure regimes demonstrates how a political economy perspective contributes to developing a critical cybersecurity research agenda.

From migrants to legionnaires: diplomatic and political tensions surrounding Italians in the French Foreign Legion, 1945–54

Abstract Since its inception in 1831, the French Foreign Legion, a specialised unit within the ranks of the French military, has played a prominent role in the wars of both colonisation and decolonisation. This article seeks to trace the origins, development and eventual decline of an Italian and international ‘Legionary issue’ regarding the recruitment and employment of Italian volunteers in a foreign military force deployed in the French decolonisation war in Indochina. Through the examination of archival sources as well as autobiographical narratives by Italian legionnaires, this study offers a novel perspective on the interplay between Italy’s political, economic and sociocultural trends, the enlistment of Italian volunteers into the French Foreign Legion, and the evolution of Italo-French relations in the postwar period.

Tiered moderation on Chinese platforms: content security, quality, and user protection

The role of content moderation on online social media platforms as a means of circumventing the dissemination of problematic content has become crucial in the modern digital world. With the ever-increasing significance of this phenomenon, greater research attention needs to be devoted to dissecting the intricate mechanisms of content moderation within online platforms. Chinese online platforms adopt multiple standards and rules to control and filter content to comply with state regulations, achieve commercial development goals, and address user experience considerations. This study explored the “black box” of the moderation mechanisms employed by China’s mainstream online platforms. To this end, we interviewed 20 key informants to identify how these platforms manage user-generated content. Our findings indicated that these platforms differentiate between “bottom-line” and “non-bottom-line” content. Within the latter category, the platforms enhance the moderation of content quality by distinguishing between objective and subjective content quality. Meanwhile, they grant moderation privileges to specific users with more significant political and economic influence than ordinary users, which allows them to benefit from more lenient moderation rules. This article argues that content moderation on Chinese online platforms constitutes a tiered moderation mechanism that employs different moderation rules and measures according to distinct content categories and user profiles while balancing mainstream values, commercial interests, and sociocultural trends.

Sociocultural trends in music therapists’ clinical music choices

Sociocultural trends in music therapists’ clinical music choices

Enabling more equitable teaching of advanced GCE level (A-Level) Music in England: a partnership approach

Abstract Recent governmental figures have demonstrated that the number of students taking an examination in A-Level Music across England has fallen by 41% in eleven years (Ofqual, 2023a). Furthermore, areas with lower POLAR ratings (i.e. historical rates of participation in higher education) and greater levels of deprivation correlate with lower uptake of A-Level Music (Whittaker et al., 2019). These findings have profound implications for equitable access to music education, especially at advanced levels. Against this challenging background, Sandbach School, the Love Music Trust and the Royal Northern College of Music have sought to respond by creating a new partnership approach to A-Level Music. Since September 2019, this specialist course has drawn students together from all over Cheshire whose access to A-Level Music has been geographically limited. Specifically aiming to facilitate progression into higher education, this course provides the young musicians with musical enrichment activities that are additional to the core curriculum, including performance opportunities, advanced musicianship classes, chamber music and instrumental tuition at the Royal Northern College of Music. This article presents a critical discourse analysis of data collected from these students and their teachers, contextualising their experiences within a broader analysis of recent socio-cultural trends and the associated political climate that has impacted on the provision of music education within English schools. Findings point to an important rearticulation of the meaning of ‘Music Hub’, where putting schools at the centre and enriching this provision through strategic partnerships with local ensembles, music services and higher education institutions can build musical cultures and communities that better enable equitable access to high-level music education and progression pathways into higher education.

Evolution of hospitality concepts: from standards to personalization

Methods. The main method used in the study is a system analysis to study the connections between individual aspects of hotel business management and development, as well as a comparative analysis to determine the features of innovative approaches in various hotel establishments in Ukraine. In addition, case study elements were used, which allowed using the example of successful hotels to identify key innovation trends and mechanisms for their implementation. Results. Modern concepts of hotel development as strategic tools for ensuring competitiveness and adaptation to market changes are examined in the research. It is emphasized that modern hotel business focuses on personalization of service, integration of technologies and implementation of environmental practices that meet the requirements of sustainable development. The evolution of hotel service in Ukraine is analyzed, starting from a standardized approach to a modern innovative and customer-oriented model. Particular attention is paid to the use of digital solutions and automation that facilitate operational processes and increase convenience for guests. Examples of successful Ukrainian hotels demonstrate how local and international trends affect the level of development of the hospitality industry. Novelty of the study lies in identifying key innovative components that most effectively contribute to the development of the hotel business. For the first time, the work developed a model for the integration of digital technologies, such as IoT and CRM systems, with elements of environmental management for the Ukrainian market. The emphasis is also placed on analyzing the impact of modern socio-cultural trends on the concept of hotel development, including local adaptation through cultural elements in design and services. Practical value lies in the possibility of using the proposed recommendations by hotel owners and managers to improve business processes, increase competitiveness and create unique customer experiences. In particular, methods for implementing automated service management systems and mechanisms for adapting to environmental standards can be integrated into both new and already operating hotel facilities.

Trans Memori Imajinasi Dalam Pewarisan Nilai Monumental Pertunjukan Wayang Kulit Bagi Masyarakat Hindu di Bali

Memory transfer (memory trance) conceptually involves actively remembering, realizing, and inheriting values of greatness, survival, and stability in performing arts. Imagination, used to affirm memory transfer, creates mental images that emphasize large, impressive objects, ideas, or concepts, significantly influencing the inheritance of the monumental value of Balinese traditional wayang kulit performances. This research aims to first identify memory trance based on imagination in inheriting Balinese wayang kulit's monumental value; second, analyze the significance of memory trances in this inheritance. A phenomenological approach (psychology-imagination) and instrumental aesthetic theory support the qualitative research. Findings include: first, imagination memory trance reveals action phases based on imagination behavior, such as 'imagination' (transmutation of objects by the subject), ‘creativity and mental imagery’ (transformation through metacognition), ‘cultural context’ (value clarification and internalization), and 'monumental value' (understanding the majestic value). Second, the significance of imaginary memory transience impacts active behavior in inheriting Balinese wayang kulit's monumental value. It examines the audience's aesthetic experience from imaginary images presented by the puppeteer and transforms artistic sources into aesthetic elements involving socio-cultural trends, creating 'dialectics' and 'catharsis' for audience appreciation. Additionally, it involves internalizing socio-religious values, building involvement, and vertical-horizontal existence, and forming the image of wayang as monumental art.

Reclaiming the Narrative: A Critical Discourse Analysis of Donald Trump's 2024 Super Tuesday Campaign Speech

This study critically analyzes Donald Trump's 2024 campaign speech using Fairclough's Critical Discourse Analysis (CDA) framework to explore how his rhetorical strategies construct power relations and reinforce ideological divisions. By examining key rhetorical devices such as pronouns, metaphors, hyperbole, and Repetition, the study reveals how Trump's language fosters a collective identity among his supporters, positioning them as defenders of "true" American values. The analysis also demonstrates how Trump employs a problem-solution structure to portray himself as the sole solution to issues like immigration, economic instability, and national security. The study further contextualizes Trump's rhetoric within broader discursive practices, showing how the speech resonates with populist themes of institutional distrust and nationalism. By drawing on socio-cultural trends such as the rise of populism and media fragmentation, Trump effectively mobilizes his base while deepening ideological divides. The "us versus them" narrative, a hallmark of populist discourse, is examined in light of Fairclough's and van Dijk's theories, highlighting the role of language in shaping social realities and power dynamics. Through this analysis, the research aims to shed light on the broader implications of political discourse in maintaining and challenging power structures within a divided society.

Indigenous ethnomedicinal knowledge of inhabitants of Neelan valley, district Abbottabad, KPK, Pakistan

The indigenous knowledge of utilizing medicinal plants for the treatment of various ailments in very ancient and emerges under the influence of culture in each society. The culture of Pakistan is very rich in utilizing medicinal plants to cure various diseases. The current study was conducted to collect the indigenous knowledge from the local community regarding the utilization of native plant species for the cure of different diseases. The study was carried out in the Neelan Valley, Abbottabad, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan. The method used in the current study for documentation of the indigenous knowledge and traditional uses of important medicinal plants was based on questionnaires and personal interviews during field visits. A total of 350 informants, including 216 males and 134 females were interviewed for their traditional knowledge of medicinal plants used for various diseases and their knowledge regarding different folklores. As a result of interviews, 42 important medicinal plant species belonging to 32 families including 12 trees, 13 shrubs and 17 herbs were documented. The ethnomedicinal record was produced by listing the local and botanical name, plant family, habit, parts used and ethnomedicinal uses/folklores. The most frequent plant parts used for the aforementioned purpose were leaves, flowers, seeds and whole plants. Most of plants were used against digestive/gastrointestinal and respiratory disorders, jaundice, diabetes, rheumatism etc., as well as for antipyretic and anthelmintic purposes. It was observed that indigenous knowledge of herbal folklores is commonly used in the area to control various diseases, but is mostly confined to elderly people, while younger population is less aware of this knowledge due to altering socio-cultural trends in the area of study.

The hidden impact of GLP-1 receptor agonists on endometrial receptivity and implantation.

Increasing infertility rates represent a growing medical challenge in modern societies resulting from a complex interplay of sociocultural trends, lifestyle factors, exposure to environmental toxins, and underlying health problems. Women's fertility is particularly vulnerable to these shifts. The obesogenic lifestyle not only accelerates weight gain, but also disrupts ovulation driving the rise in infertility. Among several medications used for treating obesity and type 2 diabetes, glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonists (GLP-1RAs) show promising improvement in female fertility most likely by stimulating ovulation. However, the effects of GLP-1RAs on the endometrium remain unclear. Further studies are needed to investigate the impact of GLP-1RAs on endometrial receptivity and embryo implantation and early development. The aim of this study is to address the knowledge gap regarding the effects of GLP-1RAs on human reproduction, with special focus on the endometrium. Understanding these mechanisms may help to develop new strategies for improving fertility treatment, reduce implantation failureand address potential safety concerns regarding teratogenicity and adverse developmental outcomes for children born to women conceiving during or soon after GLP-1RA treatment.

Conceptual approaches to the formation of portable housing architecture

Portable housing, developing in line with the current processes of prefabricated architecture formation, is undergoing qualitative changes at the present stage. The purpose of this study is to establish conceptual approaches to the implementation of portable residential facilities.The study identifies the main socio-cultural trends affecting the formation of ways to organize portable housing:reducing living space to a minimum within one cell, searching for ways to ensure a nomadic lifestyle and the development of radical home mobility, a technological trend towards introducing elements of virtual reality in the context of organizing residential environment with the possibility of its transfer to the meta-space. Analysis of modern implemented and design concepts for organizing ultra-compact dwellings made it possible to establish the following current approaches to the formation of a portable dwelling: a capsule prefabricated object based on a solid-body structure; a portable object that has the quality of expanded functionality of its structure-forming elements; elements of clothing and equipment capable of high-quality transformation into a portable shelter; user-powered portable housing; prefabricated shelter on a movable base for operation in various extreme environmental conditions; suspended portable objects not tied to a stationary site; meta-portable residential objects implemented on the basis of virtual reality technologies. It is show that a portable home instantly absorbs changes in the social and technological sphere, becoming an experimental object for the implementation of innovative solutions.

An Empirical Investigation on Level of Awareness regarding Processed and Packaged Food Among Youth of Haryana

Purpose -To study the consumer’s cognizant and attitude towards processed and packaged food. Research Methodology- Respondents were selected by using stratified convenience sampling method. 145 respondents from Haryana were interviewed. A structured questionnaire was used to assess the level of awareness in special reference to packaged and processed food among youth. The Statistical tools like crosstab analysis and chi-square test were employed. Findings: From the results it is evident that education and income levels play an important role in being cognizant regarding packaged and processed food whereas other demographic variables like age, gender, occupation were found to be insignificantly differentiating the various groups of respondents. Implications- The majority of respondents expressed strong intentions to purchase packaged goods that are environmentally friendly. The awareness level regarding effect of Preservatives, food colours, MSG in the preparation of the food is very high. Indian consumers' dietary habits are being influenced by changing socio-cultural trends. So, manufacturers should check the quality and level of Preservatives, food colours, MSG and eco-friendly packaging which will cause lesser amount of degradation of environment.

Double Diaspora and Transgenerational Memory in Nikesh Shukla’s The One Who Wrote Destiny

This article offers a focused exploration of Nikesh Shukla's The One Who Wrote Destiny (2018), delving into the challenges and complexities of the 'double diaspora' experienced by British South Asian characters in the UK. Situated at the intersection of literary analysis and sociocultural studies, the study addresses the novel’s thematic core, emphasizing the lasting impact of racism and cultural displacement across multiple generations. Utilizing Jan Assmann's framework of 'communicative memory' and 'cultural memory,' alongside Maya Parmar's exploration of double diaspora, the study investigates the evolution of memory representation, highlighting the transformation from lived, embodied memory to mediated, cultural forms. Central to this research is the examination of double diaspora, as outlined by Parmar, exploring the migration of the Gujarati community from South Asia to East Africa and later to Britain, and the identity struggles arising from these dual displacements. Through this in-depth analysis, the article explores the intricate interplay between memory, generational shifts, and the unique challenges faced by twice-migrant communities. It provides valuable insights into the evolving nature of immigrant experiences, cultural identity, and belonging in the United Kingdom since the turn of the millennium. This analysis contributes to a broader understanding of how transgenerational memory and double diaspora influence cultural adaptation and identity formation within diasporic communities, reflecting wider sociocultural trends in contemporary Britain.

Navigating (Eco) Homogenization: Emerging Socio-Cultural Trends and Digital Influences Among Chinese Youth in Ecotourism

Navigating (Eco) Homogenization: Emerging Socio-Cultural Trends and Digital Influences Among Chinese Youth in Ecotourism

Unsuccessful and Successful Selfies in the Presentation of Anthropomorphic Metaphors in English-Language Digital Discourse

Introduction. This article is devoted to the analysis of the role of anthropomorphic metaphors in modern digital vocabulary using the example of the word «selfie». The relevance of the work is due to the growing interest of the scientific community in the evolution of digital vocabulary, which includes a variety of lexical units and expressions that reflect modern realities and sociocultural changes.Methodology and sources. The methodological study is based on the productivity of anthropometric cognitive tools in the formation of figurative expressions in English, with theinclusion of the word «selfie». This study is related to the conceptual theory of metaphors developed by famous linguists G. Lakoff and M. Johnson.Results and discussion. In the course of this study, attention is drawn to some expressive phrases associated with the concept of «selfie». Adjectives with negative and positive connotations were selected, then, based on the analysis of empirical material, structures were identified that architecturally represent the «adjective + selfie» model. On this basis, in the context of selfie, negative and positive metaphorical images were identified, which were analyzed in examples.Conclusion. Consideration of the semantics of the expressions under study allows us to better understand how digital vocabulary shows sociocultural trends and changes in society, provides a look at the evolution of language in the era of digitalization and emphasizes the role of digital vocabulary in the formation of new linguistic patterns that reflect the dynamics of sociocultural changes, emphasizing the role of digital vocabulary in the modern world.

Mapping the Way: Teaching Music Information Literacy in the Contemporary Information Landscape

abstract: Information literacy instruction in the twenty-first century stands at a crossroads of multiple socio-cultural trends, recent technological advances (specifically, artificial intelligence applications and large language models), shifting professional standards, and new developments in local educational settings. It is now necessary for instructors to act as explorers of the information environments in which they live and work, observing and staying cognizant of these developments while utilizing the principles of information ethics as a compass for guiding their work. In this article, the author explains how developments in local settings, combined with the above factors, can serve as an impetus for reinventing information literacy instruction. The author presents a variety of strategies for teaching information literacy in music in both credit-bearing courses and "one shot" instructional sessions that incorporate existing information literacy standards and values in information ethics. Curriculum mapping is highlighted as a strategy for planning and codifying pedagogical strategies while keeping lesson planning adaptable and responsive to specific learning needs. Recommendations for other instructors acknowledge that the process of delivering effective information literacy instruction in music is ongoing; success will depend upon how instructors choose to respond to contemporary societal developments and the educational needs of students and colleagues at their respective institutions.

Abdominoplasty Combined with Hip Expansion by Fat Grafting: An Evolution in Waistline Contouring.

Recent sociocultural trends show numerous patients requesting more curvaceous profiles. Abdominoplasty techniques had evolved into a combination of fascial plication with liposuction of the lateral torso, but often left patients with "boxy" profiles. The senior author performs 360-degree liposuction of abdomen and back, hip expansion with structural fat grafting, excision of redundant soft tissue, and wide plication of abdominal fascia to create the desired profile. Retrospective review of patient charts and CosmetAssure claims of female patients treated from January 2014 through May 2022 identified 1125 patients with a minimum 6-month follow-up who underwent abdominoplasty using 360-degree liposuction of waist, back, and flanks; wide plication of the rectus abdominis muscle; and hip expansion with fat grafting. Authors reviewed pre- and postoperative photographs to evaluate the technique's effectiveness. Hip expansion with fat grafting combined with abdominoplasty was successfully achieved in 1125 cases. Average age was 38 years. Average body mass index was 29 kg per m2. Average amount of aspirated fat was 1896 mL. Average amount of fat injected into the bilateral hips was 493 mL. Complication rates were comparable to those observed in similar abdominoplasty series reported in the literature. Abdominoplasty combining liposuction of the waist, back, abdomen, and flanks followed by wide fascial plication and expansion of the hips with fat grafting is a safe, reproducible technique for female patients. This technique prioritizes the hip anatomical area as an aesthetic consideration in abdominoplasty and facilitates creating a harmonious hip-to-waist ratio characteristic of a feminine figure.

FROM THE ‘IMPOSSIBLE’ LUKASHISM TO THE NEW BELARUS: ON THE WAY TO OVERCOMING POST-AUTHORITARIAN CULTURAL TRAUMA

The article analyzes the phenomenon of the “impossible” stability of the authoritarian regime of A. Lukashenko, as well as the key reasons for its deep crisis, which led to the protests of 2020. The events of 2020 became a stressful “bifurcation point” in the evolution of lukashism and led to its transformation into a harsh repressive regime. Based on the concept of cultural trauma by P. Sztompka, the authors analyze how traumatization of Belarusian society occurred during the period of lukashism. The cultural trauma of lukashism becomes the most important sociocultural task in the process of transition to the New Belarus. The ambivalence of the events of 2020 for Belarusian society is shown: they became a strong socio-cultural factor of both situational national unity, on the one hand, and a strong trigger for internal polarization, on the other. Based on the ideas of K. Mannheim, the authors believe that this polarization is an example of “normal” intergenerational cultural dynamics. However, as the experience of post-communist Poland shows, a rapid overcoming of such a long-term intergenerational cultural trauma is possible, but it is not granted. Based on memory studies ideas, the authors show that overcoming authoritarian cultural trauma requires the development of a systematic “cultural policy” (in fact, “memory policy”). The experience of overcoming the authoritarian past in the FRG, the GDR and France shows that overcoming the legacy of lukashism in Belarus risks being (1) a long, (2) conflictual and (3) fundamentally “unfinished” process. It should include two parallel vectors of movement (dismantling authoritarian institutions and building democratic structures) happening within the frame of a new Belarusian identity. Such an identity will allow reworking the problematic past and set foundations for future national self-identification. Some versions of such identity are briefly reviewed, their similarities and relevance for modern sociocultural trends are revealed.

Definitions of the Term “Victimological Security” in the General Structure of Сriminologiсal Knowledge

The article considers the definition of the concept of victimological security as one of the significant concepts of the criminological system of crime prevention. Approaches to the study of victimological security are highlighted, the historical aspect of the development of the concept is given, attention is focused on the need to study issues of victimological security, as well as issues of understanding the term as part of the development of an effective security system as a whole. The article analyzes the prospects for the development of the victimological branch in the criminological theory, as a reserve and a necessary element of maintaining a favorable criminological environment. Consideration of reserve opportunities to prevent modern criminological threats from a victimological perspective will speed up creating a favorable victimological environment, where responsible and caring public attitude will ensure a total reduction in the level of victimization. The development of a victimological system has been evolving in dependence with changes throughout the period of shaping of modern Russia, reflecting the state of its economy, political trends, sociocultural trends, ideological, value attitudes and the urge to minimize criminological threats. The very attitude towards the behavior and role of victims in crimes committed is nothing more than the proper level of legal culture of modern society, and the norms of criminal legislation and criminal procedure legislation that ensure the full legal status of victims are an indicator of compliance with constitutional principles. A condition for the effectiveness of a system of measures to ensure victimological security is its ability to adapt to criminological changes and compliance with the dynamics of modern crime progression. The article substantiates the need for a comprehensive study of the term victimological security for the development of a general system of criminological knowledge.

PERANCANGAN PROYEK BOUTIQUE HOTEL DENGAN PENDALAMAN SENSE OF PLACE OLEH KONSULTAN ARSITEKTUR INTERIOR JENEE STUDIO

The design process of interior architecture consultant Jenee Studio, which focuses on the approach to a sense of place as well as architectural and interior design plans for a boutique hotel on Gili Trawangan Island, Lombok, is contained in the final assignment report, “Project Design Boutique Hotel With Insight Sense of Place By Interior Architecture ConsultantJenee Studio.” Approach a sense of place is made to lift problems from socio-cultural trends related to demographics and tourism development in Indonesia. It’s intended that by employing the sense of place method, it will be possible to create pieces that stand out and offer users a fresh experience in addition to highlighting the conventional component of interior architecture. This project design was created to fulfill the final assignment for the Ciputra University Department of Interior Architecture and to be the first portfolio for Jenee Studio to handle real projects. This site was formerly an undeveloped property that was to be the site of a boutique hotel with effective circulation and traditional Lombok features in its interior design and ambiance. The design method uses an approaching sense of place which will impact the design in general. The research method used is qualitative by observing the physical elements of the potential site. It is hoped that the results of this research will be a descriptive sense of place through the elaboration of physical and social elements in the interior design of boutique hotels.