bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
How emotion contagion changes as strangers become acquainted: A longitudinal conversation study
Authors: Tsang Shelly , Wood Adrienne
Published: September 2024

People’s emotional states often become more similar after social interactions, a process known as emotion contagion. Emotion contagion is considered both a by-product of shared goals and a tool for strengthening social bonds. Although cross-sectional evidence suggests emotion contagion is positively related to bond strength, few studies have investigated this relationship longitudinally as people become acquainted. Perhaps emotion contagion increases as people become closer (a within-dyad effect), reflecting relationship closeness. Or perhaps some dyads have a stable mutual liking and a tendency towards emotion contagion that does not change over time (a between-dyad effect). Our study disentangled these two accounts. Pairs of unacquainted participants had conversations weekly for six weeks. Participants reported pre- and post-conversation emotion states and closeness to their partner after each conversation. Emotion contagion, measured in three different ways, declined over time as dyads became interpersonally closer (evidence for a within-dyad effect). This decline may indicate increased comfort with emotional divergence. Notably, dyads that reported greater average interpersonal closeness exhibited larger changes in emotion states during their conversations, aligning with previous between-dyad findings. Thus, the association between emotion contagion and feelings of interpersonal closeness depends on whether we consider change within a dyad or compare between dyads.
28 days later: A prospective daily study on psychological well-being across the menstrual cycle and the effects of hormones and oral contraceptives
Authors: Doornweerd Anne Marieke , Gerritsen Lotte
Published: September 2024

BackgroundWe aimed to study how hormonal status (oral contraceptive users vs naturally cycling) affects different dimensions and variability of psychological well-being, and how they relate to sex hormone levels (estradiol, progesterone and testosterone). Methods22 participants with a natural cycle (NC) and 18 OC users reported daily affective and physical symptoms and collected daily salivary samples across 28 days. They were compared using average psychological well-being levels, day-to-day variability, and network models. In NC participants the time-varying associations between hormones and psychological well-being aspects were assessed using both person-centered level and change scores. ResultsLowered variability was found for OC users agitation, risk-taking, attractiveness, and energy levels. This was paralleled by lower overall ratings of happiness, attractiveness, risk-taking, and energy levels, but OC users also reported more relaxation, sexual desire, and better sleep quality compared to the NC group. The impact of sex hormones on psychological well-being varied significantly across menstrual cycle phases, with the largest effects for progesterone levels.ConclusionsOur results confirm that hormonal status is associated with a range of psychological well-being domains beyond mood and sexual desire, among which energy levels, feelings of attractiveness, risk taking, and agitation. Our results of lower variability in OC users compared to NC participants fit with ‘emotional blunting’ as a possible mechanism behind OC’s side effects. The differential influence of the menstrual cycle and sex hormones on markers of psychological well-being emphasizes the need to adequately account for the menstrual cycle when studying hormone-related mental health.
Protocol for a randomised controlled feasibility trial of an integrated psychosexual intervention for sexual difficulties in people with Multiple Sclerosis: The PIMS trial
Authors: Brown Ashley , Norton Sam , Scott Whitney , Barrett Barbara , Rahman Qazi , Catterall Lesley , Middleton Denise , Kuran Malgorzata , Silber Eli , Moss-Morris Rona
Published: September 2024

Background: Multiple Sclerosis (MS) is a long-term condition that significantly diminishes quality of life (QoL). Sexual difficulties (SDs) are common, but often overlooked symptom, affecting 50-80% of people with MS (PwMS). The emergence of SDs in MS results from the intricate interplay of disease processes, treatments, and psychosocial factors, contributing to a further decline in QoL and adverse effects on body image, relationships, and psychological well-being. Despite the limited treatment options, which mainly include medications and physiotherapy, there is promise in psychological interventions for addressing SDs in PwMS, although integrating them into routine care poses challenges. This protocol details the trial assessing the acceptability and feasibility of an eight-session, clinicians supported integrated Psychosexual Intervention for people with Multiple Sclerosis (PIMS). Methods:This is a multicentre interventional two-arm randomized feasibility trial with a nested qualitative study to gather preliminary data about the intervention and the feasibility of conducting a full-scale trial. We aim to recruit 50 PwMS across three research sites in England’s National Health Service (NHS). Participants will be randomised to either the PIMS intervention (comprised of 8 sessions: 6 self-led and 2-facilitator led over the course of 12 weeks) or psychosexual education (one appointment with a facilitator to discuss treatment options). Feasibility will be assessed by collecting descriptive data on recruitment and retention rates and willingness to be randomised according to Consolidated Standards of Reporting Trials (CONSORT) feasibility and pilot trial guidelines. Patient reported outcomes (e.g., measures of sexual functioning and distress, psychological functioning, and quality of life) will be measured at baseline and follow up 14-weeks after randomisation. We will also use a nested qualitative study will use inductive thematic analysis to identify barriers to engagement with and delivery of the intervention, and to make appropriate modifications to PIMS.Discussion: The PIMS intervention will be the first integrated psychosexual intervention developed for people with Multiple Sclerosis in the UK. Assessing the feasibility of PIMS is an important first step to establishing future implementation and efficacy via a definitive randomised controlled trial. Trial registration: This trial is registered at ISRCTN: 12202900 https://doi.org/10.1186/ISRCTN12202900Registration date: 28th February 2023; Retrospectively registered IRAS identification: 305830NIHR award reference: NIHR202006Trial sponsorship: This trial is co-sponsored by South London and Maudsley NHS Foundation Trust and King’s College London. Contact: slam-ioppn.research@kcl.ac.ukProtocol version: 1.3, 21st February 2024
Discovery of The Fractal Archetype
Authors: Shirley Harry
Published: September 2024

This paper explores the intersection of Jungian psychology, fractal geometry, and cultural symbolism to propose a novel framework for understanding consciousness. Drawing on the fractal nature of the Mandelbrot set, it presents the idea that fractal patterns, ubiquitous in nature and mathematics, also manifest in the psyche, as articulated through Carl Jung’s theory of archetypes and the process of individuation. By examining artistic and cultural symbols—such as the Mona Lisa, the structure of Stonehenge, and ancient Egyptian artifacts—this study demonstrates how these symbols reflect underlying fractal structures that mirror the organization of the human mind.The concept of the Self, central to Jungian psychology, is reinterpreted through the lens of fractal geometry, positioning the Mandelbrot set as an archetypal component of the psyche. This comparative analysis connects the fractal patterns observed in art, religious symbolism, and historical architecture with psychological and spiritual concepts, suggesting a shared universal structure.Additionally, this paper explores the implications of fractal consciousness in the emerging age of artificial intelligence, raising questions about the nature of creativity, the collective unconscious, and the future of human spirituality. By bridging the gap between ancient wisdom and modern scientific understanding, this work contributes to a deeper understanding of consciousness, culture, and the human experience in a rapidly evolving technological landscape.
The Consistency of Categorization-Consistency in Speech Perception
Authors: Kim Hyoju , McMurray Bob , Oleson Jacob , Sorensen Eldon
Published: September 2024

Listeners generally map continuous acoustic information onto categories in a gradient manner with varying individual differences. Typically, such individual differences in speech categorization have been characterized by the mean slope of the response function, as quantified through the visual analog scaling (VAS) task. However, recent evidence suggests that categorization consistency (trial-by-trial response variability) may be a more robust predictor of real-world outcomes than the mean slope. Despite this, the extent to which these VAS indices represent reliable and stable traits relevant to speech perception remains uncertain. This study investigates the stability and trait-like nature of VAS indices by analyzing VAS responses across a diverse range of speech continua. We also examine the potential associations between differences in speech categorization and broader cognitive differences. American English-speaking adults (n=68) completed the VAS task, alongside three questionnaires assessing autistic traits, anxiety, and impulsivity. We found that categorization consistency showed significantly stronger correlations across continuum types than the categorization slope. Furthermore, no significant correlations were observed between the VAS indices and broader cognitive factors. These results suggest categorization consistency is a more stable property of individuals over the mean slope, and importantly, it is not an artifact due to higher cognitive factors. Thus, the extent to which listeners are consistent in their speech categorization may provide a more accurate characterization of individual differences in speech perception.
Demographic predictors of mental health changes in Flemish adolescents from before to during the COVID-19 pandemic
Authors: Achterhof Robin , Kirtley Olivia J , Lafit Ginette , Akcaoglu Zeynep , Bamps Eva , Hiekkaranta Anu Pauliina , Hagemann Noëmi , Hermans Karlijn Susanna Francisca Maria , Janssens Julie , Lecei Aleksandra , Myin-Germeys Inez
Published: September 2024

Purpose: The COVID-19 pandemic is assumed to have had a large impact on the mental health of adolescents. Finding out for which youth the mental health impact was largest is imperative for strengthening future crisis responses. In this study, we aimed to assess the impact of the pandemic on the mental health of different sociodemographic groups of general population adolescents in Flanders, Belgium. Methods: Adolescents were tested for the SIGMA study, at W1 (n=1913; mean age=13.8; 63.1% female; 2018/2019); W2 (n=272; mean age=16.5; 74.0% female; 2020); and W3 (n=227; mean age=18.0; 78.4% female; 2022/2023). Subclinical anxiety, depression, psychoticism, and general psychopathology were measured with the Brief Symptom Inventory-53. Multilevel linear regression models with imputed data sets were used to test cross-wave differences in each psychopathology outcome (controlling for age-related increases), effects of time since the beginning of the pandemic and stringency of pandemic-related measures, and effects of several sociodemographic predictors on levels and changes in psychopathology (from W1 to W2, and from W1 to W3). Results: Results indicated limited overall early increases in psychopathology (only for depression from W1 to W2), and some decreases in psychopathology levels from W1 to W3 (for anxiety and general psychopathology). Girls and those reporting same-gender attraction reported higher levels of nearly all symptoms. Conclusion: Although most youth in this sample were resilient during the COVID-19 pandemic, some groups consistently showed high psychopathology levels. Attention is still needed for groups that were at risk before the pandemic, notably, LGTBQIA+ youth.
NEURAL MECHANISMS OF MEMORY AND COGNITIVE CONTROL
Authors: Khalil Ayesha
Published: September 2024

Objective: This study investigates the neural mechanisms underlying memory and cognitive control using functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI).Methods: We conducted an fMRI study with 30 participants to examine brain activity during tasks involving memory and cognitive control.Results: Significant activation was observed in the prefrontal cortex and parietal lobes during memory and cognitive control tasks.Conclusion: The study highlights critical neural regions involved in memory and cognitive control, suggesting potential targets for cognitive interventions.
Gender diversity in the deans of Brazilian universities: career temporal evolution, production of knowledge and of human resources
Authors: Nodari Carolina Andrea , de Oliveira Claudio Celso Soares , Barbosa Marcia
Published: September 2024

Women are underrepresented in positions of power and leadership in higher education and the challenges faced by women in order to reach these senior positions in academia are complex and have received considerable attention in recent years. In this work, we quantify gender diversity in Brazilian academia using three types of indicators: production of knowledge, temporal evolution in the career, and training of human resources to study in detail the profile of the Deans of Research and Graduate Studies in 215 Higher Education Institutions in the year of 2019. Our analysis shows that around only 36% of positions were occupied by women, a percentage that is not consistent with the number of women professors in Brazilian higher education. Using the National Council for Scientific and Technological Development Lattes’ Platform databank, we show that men and women in dean positions publish roughly the same number of paper/scientific articles per year and present almost the same time elapsed in the career path, while women produce more human resources. The fact that women occupy only 1/3 of the positions of dean of research and graduation reveals that for women to reach the top, it is necessary that they adapt to the same metric intended for men while facing additional challenges indicating a persistent glass ceiling.
Lies, Damned Lies and Statistics: Justice-Orientated Counter-Storytelling About Aid Flow to Gaza in 2023
Authors: Pathak Pathik , Jacob Chandni , Espejo Irene Ruiz , Boxall Jessica , Bastable Emily , Norton Frankie
Published: September 2024

Background: The escalating hostilities with Israel that began on 7 October 2023 have intensified the already dire situation in Gaza, with power outages and severe shortages of medicines and health supplies crippling hospitals' ability to deliver life-saving care. Using Gaza as a case study, in this article we introduce the concept of “justice-orientated statistical counter-stories”. Methods: We argue that traditional statistics distort reality, hide disparities, and generally misrepresent social and environmental issues. We show that by making “adjustments” based on identifiable flaws in raw statistical datasets we can rectify this problem and offer an alternative view. We illustrate the principles of justice-oriented statistical counter-stories by examining the aid flow to Gaza in 2023 from major OECD countries. Results: Our justice-orientated analytical lens shows how the rankings for OECD countries shift significantly when we factor in donor nations’ GDP and military aid donations to Israel, who are propagating a war against the Palestinian people. Our paper also identifies some of the key methodological challenges in making such adjustments (issues of aggregated data, asymmetrical data periods and unavailable data).Conclusion: We conclude by emphasising the broader implications of “justice-orientated statistical counter-stories” for understanding not only aid flows, but global development and the representation of social and environmental issues.
One year analysis of Prospective Memory Clinics Registry in Qatar: A Critical Tool for Dementia Research and Policy Planning
Authors: Al Hamad Hanadi , Nadukkandiyil Navas , Chandran Mani , Manikoth Pravija Talapan , Sathian Brijesh
Published: September 2024

Background: The Global Dementia Observatory (GDO) is a monitoring and accountability tool for the Global Action Plan on Public Response to Dementia 2017–25. Evidence from dementia registries may be utilized to better address WHO efforts in member countries, as well as to improve clinical practice and public health policy. The goal of this study was to analyze one-year data from a prospective memory clinic registry.
Methods: This study was a baseline analysis of prospective memory clinics registry data of Qatar from January 1, 2023, through December 31, 2023.
Results: This study investigated the demographic, clinical, and lifestyle characteristics of 464 participants who were enrolled in memory clinics. Mild neurocognitive disorders were the most prevalent diagnoses in both sexes, affecting 61.5% of male patients and 63.7% of female patients. Dementia was slightly more common in men (19.8% vs. 18.9%), although delirium was more common in women (1.9% vs. 0%). In terms of risk factors, the analysis revealed that females were more likely to be obese (36.8% vs. 16.7% in males), while males had higher rates of diabetes (61.1% vs. 51.9% in females), hypertension (69.4% vs. 62.7% in females), and smoking (17.1% vs. 3.8% in females).
Conclusion: The findings of this study highlight the differences in dementia risk factors between genders and races, highlighting the need for customized interventions. Furthermore, the registry is a great resource for policymakers and healthcare professionals, providing evidence-based suggestions to improve dementia care, increase the well-being of patients and caregivers, and maximize resource allocation.
Design and Implementation of Solar Cell Cleaning Control System
Authors: Ajaweed Mazin N. , Muhssin Mazin T. Muhssin , A. Al-Mashhadani Abduallah
Published: September 2024

تتأثر طاقة توليد الخلايا الشمسية بعدة عناصر مثل الغبار والظلال والأوساخ وأملاح البحر والثلج. لكن هذا البحث يهتم أكثر بالغبار كمسألة مهمة يمكن أن تؤثر على كفاءة الخلايا الشمسية، خاصة في دول الشرق الأوسط (مثل العراق). الغبار المتراكم على ألواح الخلايا الشمسية يقلل من إشعاع ضوء الشمس المطبق ويقلل من كفاءة الخلايا الشمسية. في هذا البحث تم تصميم نظام التحكم بالتنظيف عن بعد للحفاظ على نظافة الألواح. نظام التحكم يتم تنفيذه بشكل عملي ويتميز بخفة الوزن والهيكل المحكم. تم تصميم هيكل نظام التحكم بحيث يكون أكثر قابلية للتطبيق ويمكن دمجه بسهولة عمليًا. أظهرت النتائج أن هناك تحسنًا ملحوظًا في كفاءة مخرجات الألواح الشمسية عند تنظيفها في ظروف متنوعة مثلا عندما يكون غبارًا كثيفًا ومتوسطًا. بعد تنظيف اللوحة، يزداد متوسط الطاقة المتبددة مع زوايا إمالة مختلفة بمقدار 1.75 وات تقريبًا عند جمع قياس الطاقة في الساعة 9 صباحًا و1.85 وات عند جمع القياس الطاقة في الساعة 12 ظهرًا.
Grado de nutrición y soledad social en el paciente geriátrico de la Unidad de Medicina Familiar No. 62
Authors: Rodríguez Olvera Karla Alejandra , Ríos Morales Rubén
Published: September 2024

Introducción: la OPS considera geriátrico a una persona con edad > 60 años. En este protocolo de estudio se estimará la asociación del estado nutricional y la soledad social, ya que en esta etapa de envejecimiento los pacientes suelen ser abandonados por sus familiares, trayendo consigo cambios y deficiencias nutricionales.
Material y métodos: se realizará un estudio observacional, analítico, transversal y prospectivo. Utilizando fórmula para cálculo de muestra la de una proporción finita con muestra calculada de 365 pacientes, utilizando muestreo aleatorio simple. Se incluirán pacientes derechohabientes, con edad de 65-75 años y que firmen el consentimiento informado. Se utilizará Mini Nutritional Assessment para identificar a ancianos desnutridos con alfa de Cronbach de 0.9 y Escala ESTE II, que evalúa soledad social con un Alfa de Cronbach de 0.72.
Análisis de datos: en un primer momento, se realizará un análisis uni-variado para variables cualitativas, por medio de frecuencias y porcentajes, y se representará por medio de gráficas de barra; para variables cuantitativas, si son de distribución libre se analizarán con mediana y valores máximos-mínimos, y si son de distribución normal con media y desviación estándar. En un segundo momento se realizará un análisis bivariado para estimar la relación entre las variables grado de nutrición y soledad social, se utilizará la prueba de U de Mann-Whitney con un valor de (p=<0.05).
Resultados: se realizó un estudio para determinar la asociación entre el grado de nutrición y la soledad social en 365 pacientes adscritos de la UMF No. 62 IMSS, donde se encontró un 32.1% (117 pacientes) con grado de soledad baja, con grado de soledad media se encontró un 42.2% (154 pacientes) y con un grado de soledad alta un 25.8% (94 pacientes).
Conclusión: como conclusión, una malnutrición en el paciente geriátrico sí se encuentra relacionada con una soledad social alta.
An Introduction to Persian Seals
Authors: Amir H. Zekrgoo
Published: September 2024

This article provides an overview of formation and transformation of Persian seals in the course of about 6000 years, with a focus on a group of seals, devotional in nature, from an interesting eighteenth-century Persian manuscript preserved at the Syed Muhammad Naquib Al-Attas’ (SMNA) Library, ISTAC-IIUM. The paper is divided in four main sections. First, “Pre-Islamic Persian Seals,” which provides a concise account of the variety of ancient seals from Iran’s historical sites. Second, “The First Seal of the Islamic World,” which is an introduction to the origination of using seals in the Islamic world that goes back to the early years of Islam, when Prophet Muhammad used his personal seal to authenticate the official letters that were prepared on his behalf. Third, “Persian Seals of the Islamic Era,” which is an overview of the seals in Persian language that became widespread after the advent of Islam. And fourth, “Collection of Seals in Nami’s Manuscript,” which is a detailed assessment of forty-three seal impressions from seven seals in a single manuscript. The inscriptions on the seals are devotional in nature, which is a departure from the traditional function of manuscript seals.
DYNAMICS OF SETTLER COLONIALISM
Authors: Belal Alakhras  , Raja Noriza Raja Ariffin  , Makmor Tumin
Published: September 2024

This essay explores the factors influencing the Israeli government’s treatment of the Palestinians in the West Bank and Gaza Strip between 2009 and 2019. The essay argues that the Israeli approach towards the Palestinians can be examined in the broader context of settler colonialism and is not exclusively shaped on a security basis. Sem-structured interviews, documents, and other secondary data sources were employed to determine factors defining Israel’s approach in confronting Palestinians. Multiple internal and external factors have shaped the Israeli treatment of Palestinians in the West Bank and Gaza Strip. Internal elements include power structure, ideology, public opinion, and the colonized people’s response. The external factors include the regional (dis-)order and the US-Israel alliance. This analysis finds that most of these factors have fuelled a violent Israeli treatment towards Palestinians. The Palestinian resistance was found to compel Israel to lessen its violent treatment on various occasions. These results indicate that the Israeli treatment of Palestinians is not exclusively shaped on a security basis.
EIDOS IN SUFI PHENOMENOLOGY
Authors: Konul Bunyadzade
Published: September 2024

Sufi phenomenology is a new philosophical system that embraces Sufism and Husserl’s phenomenology. Eidos is one of the basic principles of this system. It underlies philosophy both in the ontological and epistemological sense. We will consider only the ontological side of this term and compare the divine and human sides in this article. The article consists of seven sections, where we consider the new approach from different prisms. First, we research the ‘Eidos in the History of Philosophy’ from Plato until Husserl. This philosophical and historical study of this term helps to analyze the need for a new approach. Eidos is an underused definition. The next section, ‘Eidos in Sufi Phenomenology’, considers the opportunities to use both its initial mean and new perspectives. One of the principal questions in an ontological sense is creation. There are two kinds of creation in Sufi Phenomenology: Divine creation and human creativity. We will consider these concepts in the sections on ‘Divine Creation and Eidos’, ‘Human Creativity and Eidos’, and on ‘Creation, Eidos, and Will’.
ISLAMIC ASTRONOMY AND CALENRDICAL SCIENCE IN CHINA
Authors: Omar Min Ke-qin
Published: September 2024

Islamic astronomy, Huihui tianwen in Chinese, once had a splendid time in the history of Chinese sciences. It was in practical usage parallel with Chinese traditional astronomy for almost four centuries. It spread to China since the beginning of Northern Song dynasty (960-1127), and officially abolished by Manchu Qing authority in 1669. During this approximately seven hundred years, Islamic astronomy played the roles of either adding astronomical values into that of Chinese astronomy or of running as independent establishment alongside Chinese astronomical bureau. In this short article we intend to briefly delineate the rise and fall of Islamic astronomy in China.
KITĀB AL-MAWĀHIB AL-ʿALIYYAH FĪ AL-JAMʿI BAYN AL-ḤIKAM AL-QUR’ĀNIYYAH WA AL-ḤADĪTHIYYAH (BOOK OF HIGH TALENTS IN THE INTEGRATION OF QUR’ANIC AND HADITH WISDOM)
Authors: Akbar Mohamed Aslam
Published: September 2024

This article is based on my doctoral study of an unpublished manuscript retrieved from the SMNA library titled Kitāb al-Mawāhib al-ʿAliyyah fī al-Jamʿi bayn al-Ḥikam al-Qur’āniyyah wa al-Ḥadīthiyyah written by ‘Alī al-Muttaqī al-Hindī, a sixteenth-century Islamic scholar who authored Kanz al-ʿUmmāl (one of the most extensive Hadith compilations). The manuscript of Kitāb al-Mawāhib is a compendium of one thousand pieces of wisdom. Five hundred of them are from the Qur’an and the rest from the Hadith. The wisdom of Qur’an is identified in this manuscript as al-iqtisābāt (quotations) and Hadith as al-taḍmīnāt (inclusion or embodiment). This work is one of the earliest and most excellent compilations on wisdom ever made. It is an introduction to the virtue of wisdom to which the Qur’an refers as a great bounty in these words: “and he, to whom wisdom is granted, indeed has been granted abundant good”. The significance of the manuscript, as the author himself indicated, lies in four things, i.e., preserving the Qur’anic verses, conserving hadith narrations, commentary on the Qur’an, and special significance of Sufism. The author organized the collection of ḥikam (wisdom) in the Qur’an and Hadith according to the subject matter in the alphabetical order, such as Imān, Ihsān, Akhlāq, Imārah, and so on. He did this for every letter of the Arabic alphabet, from alif to yā. I was able to use the only copy available to me during my research. There are, however, another three manuscript copies of Kitāb al-Mawāhib available elsewhere: a handwritten copy at Maktabah Asʿad Afandī, Turkey; a handwritten copy at Maktabah Dāmād Zādah, Turkey; and a handwritten copy at Dār al-Kutub al-Miṣriyyah, Egypt. The details on these copies will be discussed in this article.
NINETEENTH-CENTURY KITĀB JAWI SUFI WORKS IN PATTANI, THAILAND: MAINSTREAMING ETHICAL SUFISM OF AL-GHAZALI
Authors: Burhanudin Jajat
Published: September 2024

The nineteenth century plays a decisive role in the history of Islam in the Malay Archipelago and Southeast Asia. It was the period that witnessed the consolidation of Malay-Islamic knowledge culture, which has impacted Malay religious life until present times. This article seeks to investigate the intellectual process that has led to the popularisation of Ghazalian ethical Sufism in the nineteenth-century Malay world. It presents Shaykh Daud ‘Abd Allah al-Fatani (1769-1847), the leading Malay ‘ālim of Pattani origin, as one of the greatest figures to be identified with this process. He adopted neo-Sufism, which had already been introduced to the Malay Archipelago in the seventeenth century, in his formulation of ethical Sufism, as articulated in his Minhāj al-‘Ābidīn, a Malay translation of al-Ghazali’s work with the same title. In this article, Minhāj al-Ābidīn is given special attention considering its status as a leading Malay Sufi work in the genre of kitab Jawi in nineteenth century. And, more importantly, it presents the teachings of ethical Sufism that helped contribute to the emergence of mainstream Sufi thought in the region.
MEMENTO MORI: EXISTENTIAL AND RELIGIOUS PERSPECTIVES ON DEATH
Authors: Subhan Arief
Published: September 2024

Death is often understood as the antithesis of life, with ideas of our impermanence coming in diverse forms. The existentialists would argue that existence precedes essence; therefore, meaning is created, with both life and death conceptualized in accordance with the conscious self. For the believer in God, s/he would argue that essence precedes existence, implying that meaning is there for us to grasp and to embrace, both in this world and the assumed next. Such an 'essence' is one which pertains to divinity and its contingent awareness as well as expression. This article compares the ideas of death brought forward by existentialists with those elucidated by religionists. For the former, we shall engage with the French-Algerian philosopher Albert Camus and his notion of Absurdism. For the latter, we shall delve into the work of Titus Burckhardt, who touched upon concepts like annihilation of individuality (fana’) and a subsisting in/with the divine. Aiming to express this perennial subject's depth, examples from other faith systems will also be gleaned. We are not attempting a synthesis of the two frameworks; rather, we intend to draw attention to a shared human condition and its diverse views on death.
ISLAMIC APOCALYPTIC LITERATURE AND EXTREMISM: CONTEXTUAL READING OF HADITHS ON THE MAHDI WITH SPECIAL REFERENCE TO SRI LANKA
Authors: Mohammad Ismath Ramzy  , Rahimi Md Saad  , Rohan Gunaratna
Published: September 2024

Like any other religious community, the apocalyptic literature in Muslim society has become a source of pessimism instead of optimism. The extremists who conducted a series of suicide attacks on religious places and hotels in Sri Lanka in 2019 justified their violent activities, referring to apocalyptic literature that prophesied the advance of Mahdi. These extremists misunderstood the hadiths on the Mahdi and intended to create instability in the world to accelerate his coming to resolve the present issues of Muslims. This research studied the relevant hadiths quoted by the extremists to kill innocent people and explored their meaning. The contextual analysis method has been employed to extract the meaning of these hadiths. This research shows that the extremists have misinterpreted these hadiths and used the Islamic apocalyptic literature out of context. The socio-political context of the usage of these hadiths further elaborates the change that has taken place in the understanding of their purpose throughout history. Therefore, this research recommends that Muslim religious and social leaders review interpretation traditions and educate young people to adopt socio-political and historical contexts to understand Islamic apocalyptic literature, mainly hadiths, to protect young people from extremism and radicalism.
A FEAST OF CIVILIZATIONS: THE LIFE AND MIND OF TOSHIHIKO IZUTSU
Authors: Anwar Ibrahim
Published: September 2024

Toshihiko Izutsu’s contributions to the world of the intellect, theology and philosophy have been so immense, expansive and multifarious that it is a travesty to attempt to single out his most significant contributions. That’s because his works are so seamlessly interconnected that it’s almost impossible to segregate or compartmentalise them without appearing to have taken an arbitrary position.
CLINICAL EFFICACY OF THE AUTHOR’S METHOD OF NEPHROPEXY IN NEPHROPTOSIS
Authors:   The First Research Institute of Clinical Gerontology and Rehabilitation of War Veterans of the Medical University ", Polutin V.B. ,   Reaviz",   , Samara, Russia, Leshchenko I.G. ,   The First Research Institute of Clinical Gerontology and Rehabilitation of War Veterans of the Medical University "Reaviz", Samara, Russia; Department of Surgical Diseases with the course of urology of the Medical University "Reaviz", Samara, Russia
Published: September 2024

Introduction. The currently existing more than 300 methods of nephropexy in nephroptosis indicate that the process of improving this operation is far from complete. Aim of the research. To substantiate the clinical effectiveness of the author’s method of laparoscopic nephropexy. Materials and methods. The study included the results of examination and treatment of 165 patients with stage 2–3 nephroptosis aged 18–39 years, operated on in 1987–2017. The main group consisted of 62 people who underwent laparoscopic nephropexy (LPN) using the original method using a polypropylene mesh with fixation of the kidney at the lower pole. 103 patients of the control group underwent nephropexy according to Pytel-Lopatkin. The following indicators were used as an evidence base for the clinical effectiveness of the author’s LPN method: length of the incision, duration of the operation, prescription of analgesics, amount of serous discharge from the surgical wound per day, removal of drains, activation of patients, postoperative bed-day. The significance of differences in indicators was assessed using Student’s t-test. Differences were considered significant at p < 0.05. Results. For all clinical parameters, statistically significant better results were revealed in the main group of patients compared with patients in the control group (p > 0.001), except for the duration of the operation (p = 0.849). Conclusion. The use of the author’s LPN method demonstrates a clear priority over open nephropexy which allows us to recommend it for wider use in urological practice.
CURRENT PROBLEMS OF UNILATERAL CONDYLAR HYPERPLASIA DIAGNOSIS
Authors:   Russian University of Medicine, Moscow, Russia, Lezhnev D.A. ,   Russian Medical Academy of Continuous Professional Education, Moscow, Russia, Loginopulo O.V. ,   Russian University of Medicine, Moscow, Russia; Peoples’ Friendship University of Russia named after Patrice Lumumba, Moscow, Russia, Skuba A.N. ,   Russian University of Medicine, Moscow, Russia, Fedotov R.N. ,   Russian University of Medicine, Moscow, Russia, Baev A.A. ,   Russian University of Medicine, Moscow, Russia, Zimmerman A.V. ,   Russian University of Medicine, Moscow, Russia, Imshenetskaya N.I. ,   Russian University of Medicine, Moscow, Russia
Published: September 2024

At the moment, the problem of differential diagnosis between facial asymmetry cdue to unilateral condylar hypoplasia and hyperplasia, presence of condylar bone tumors, dislocation of presence of bone tumors of the condylar process, dislocation of the articular disc and asymmetrical deformation of the jaws, not accompanied by a temporomandibular joint (TMJ) disorder, remains relevant. The purpose of the study is to determine the criteria for “nilateral condylar hyperplasia” diagnosis with the further formation of a combined treatment plan. The study included 77 patients of both sexes aged 15-25 years with clinically detectable facial asymmetry. All of them underwent multislice computed tomography or cone-beam computed tomography, as well as magnetic resonance imaging of the TMJ. Based on the results obtained several groups with established radiological diagnoses were identified: 1 – secondary osteoarthritis deformans – 14 people (18.18%), 2 – condylar hypoplasia – 15 people (19.48%), 3 – chondroma/osteoma of the condylar process – 11 people (14.29%), 4 – condylar hyperplasia – 14 people (18.18%), 5 – asymmetrical deformity of the jaws, not caused by TMJ pathology – 19 people (24.68%), 6 – dislocation of the articular disc – 4 people (5.19%). Patients from groups 2, 4 and 5 were administered a scintigraphy for differential diagnosis and clarification of the diagnosis. According to the results of scintigraphy, the final diagnosis of hyperplasia was established in 12 patients (15.58%). As a result of the study, it was revealed that the development of an objective method for diagnosing pathological and healthy growth zones of the TMJ is required, allowing to determine the optimal volume of intra-articular resection of the condylar process at the stage of preoperative planning which will ensure normalization of occlusion and facial symmetry without further need for orthognathic surgery. In addition, regardless of the X-ray examination findings, all patients with identified facial asymmetry require scintigraphy. The exception is patients with congenital condylar hypoplasia, since in them the percentage of accumulation of the radiopharmaceutical drug will a priori be different, and the results will be uninformative.
CLINICAL FEATURES OF PATIENTS WITH BIPOLAR AFFECTIVE DISORDER I COMORBID WITH DEPENDENCE SYNDROME CAUSED BY THE USE OF SEDATIVES OR HYPNOTICS
Authors:   Novosibirsk State Medical University, Novosibirsk, Russia, Klimova I.Yu. , Ovchinnikov A.A. ,   Novosibirsk State Medical University, Novosibirsk, Russia
Published: September 2024

Introduction. Substance use disorders (SUDs), including dependence on sedatives or hypnotics, are highly prevalent in bipolar disorder and impact clinical outcomes significantly. Dependence on sedatives and hypnotics in bipolar disorder is one of the most important comorbidities, requiring special attention from psychiatrists, addiction specialists, psychotherapists, followed by an adequate pharmacotherapy and addressing issues of prevention. Aim of the research. To study the clinical characteristics of patients with bipolar affective disorder (BAD) I who have a dependence syndrome caused by the use of sedatives or hypnotics. Materials and methods. The study was carried out on the basis of the Novosibirsk State Clinical Psychiatric Hospital No. 3. We selected 217 patients (main group – MG) with an established diagnosis with BAD I (according to ICD-10 criteria – F31.7) more than 5 years ago, having a dependence syndrome caused by the use of sedatives or hypnotics (F13.2), and a control group of the study (CG) – patients with a diagnosis of BAD I, current remission (ICD-10 – F31.7), 100 people in number. Beck Depression Inventory, Young Mania Rating Scale, State-Trait Anxiety Inventory (situational anxiety), SAD PERSONS scale. Results. According to the results of the Beck Depression Inventory, obtained at an interval of 6 months, mild depressive disorder was diagnosed in 52% (p < 0.05) of respondents, moderate depressive disorder – in 22% (p < 0.005). According to the results of the Young Mania Rating Scale, when obtained at an interval of 6 months, a hypomanic state was detected in 25% (p < 0.05) of patients. According to the results of the State-Trait Anxiety Inventory, obtained at an interval of 6 months, moderate anxiety was diagnosed in 57% (p < 0.05) of respondents, high anxiety – in 16% (p < 0.05). According to the data SAD PERSONS scale, the following results were obtained: high risk of suicide was diagnosed in 8% (p < 0.05) of patients, very high risk – in 2% (p < 0.005) of patients in this group. Conclusion. The study showed that dependence syndrome caused by the use of sedatives or hypnotics among patients diagnosed with bipolar affective disorder I (ICD-10 – F31.7) more than 5 years ago, aggravates the course of the underlying disease. In this group of patients, the affective component is represented by the predominance of depressive symptoms of varying severity, a decrease in manic manifestations of BAD I, an anxiety symptoms aggravation (moderate anxiety – 33-57%, high anxiety – 0-16%) and an overlay of suicidal tendencies over time (high risk suicide – 0-8%, very high risk of suicide – 0-2%), up to a very high risk of suicide, requiring hospita¬¬lization (including compulsory) in a 24-hour psychiatric hospital.
Association of the novel coronavirus infection (COVID-19) and endometrial pathology (literature review)
Authors:   South Ural State Medical University, Chelyabinsk, Russia, Zatvornitskaya A.V. , Kazachkov E.L. ,   South Ural State Medical University, Chelyabinsk, Russia, Kazachkova E.A. ,   South Ural State Medical University, Chelyabinsk, Russia, Voropaeva E.E. ,   South Ural State Medical University, Chelyabinsk, Russia
Published: September 2024

This literature review presents available information on the possible ways in which the SARS-CoV-2 virus and the novel coronavirus infection (COVID-19) affect the female reproductive system. The putative mechanisms of the impact of SARS-CoV-2 on the uterine mucosa and the possible contribution of the virus to the development of endometrial hyperplasia are described.
Pudendal neuropathia. A case report
Authors:   Sverdlovsk Regional Clinical Hospital No. 1, Yekaterinburg, Russia, Batenkova T.Yu.
Published: September 2024

Pudendal neuropathia is a rare disease caused by entrapment or compression of the pudendal nerve in various anatomical structures. Pudendal neuropathia impacts the quality of patients’ life significantly, and restricts the activities of daily living dramatically. The diagnosis of pudendal neuropathia is often made lately or wrongly because clinical manifestations can mimic other pathologies. Currently, there is a paucity of medical literature and scientific data on the diagnosis and treatment of this condition. This article presents a case of pudendal neuropathia in a man with pelvic pain complaints over a period of 6 months.
Follow-up Period Classification of Type 2 Diabetes Patients using Data Mining Techniques
Authors: Chapakiya Ilham , Traisuwan Attasuntorn , Chumpong Supichaya , Chumpong Kittisak
Published: September 2024

Objective: This study investigates the use of high-performance data mining techniques to predict the follow-up period of diabetes patients. Material and Methods: The diabetes dataset was obtained from Pak Phanang hospital in Nakhon Si Thammarat, Thailand. The hospital acquired the data between January 1 and December 31, 2022. The hospital-based retrospective study was based on 2,042 records, featuring 14 independent factors; including age, gender, systolic blood pressure, diastolic blood pressure, body mass index, pulse, weight, height, waist, smoking, drinking, parental history of diabetes, and fasting blood sugar and creatinine levels. To predict the follow-up period of diabetes patients, six well-known classification models were employed: Random Forest (RF), Extra Trees Classifier (ETC), Adaptive Boosting (Adaboost), Support Vector Machine (SVM), K-Nearest Neighbor (KNN), and Artificial Neural Network (ANN). Class imbalances were addressed by using the Synthetic Minority Oversampling Technique (SMOTE), and feature importance was handled using the RF model. Results: The experimental results demonstrated that, by applying SMOTE together with Random forest feature selection, the Support vector machine outperformed the other models; exhibiting the highest performances with a weighted precision of 0.9296.Conclusion: The results indicated that incorporating both SMOTE and feature selection resulted in significantly improved accuracy in predicting the follow-up period of diabetes patients for most models. Therefore, doctors and related healthcare providers could employ our proposed web-based tool to effectively schedule follow-up care for diabetes patients.
THE RUSSIA-UKRAINE WAR AND THE RENAISSANCE OF IR REALISM
Authors: Pietrzak Piotr
Published: September 2024

Realism is one of the leading theories in the study of international relations, originating from thinkers like Thucydides, Machiavelli, and Hobbes, and later articulated by 20th-century scholars like Hans Morgenthau, Kenneth Waltz, John Mearsheimer, and Stephen Walt. It posits that international politics is characterized by anarchy and a struggle for power between sovereign nation-states pursuing their national interests driven by human nature and the structure of power. However, after 1991, many scholars wanted to discredit it as an obsolete, dysfunctional, old way of doing things. The same critical voices pushed countries like Ukraine to surrender the nuclear arsenal that they inherited after the collapse of the Soviet Union in exchange for some empty security assurances in Budapest in 1994. Today, the same voices are strangely silent when it comes to finding effective security policies. However, realists are ready to provide policymakers with effective systemic solutions not only to the war in Ukraine but others.
Role of Fluoride Compounds in Preventing Early Childhood Caries and Caries Progression in Children
Authors: Łapińska Urszula , Zdziebło Piotr , Machała-Ćwikła Ewelina , Ćwikła Piotr , Machała Dominika , Machała Kamila , Łapiński Rafał
Published: September 2024

Caries is a contagious disease affecting most of the population from the first month of life. Almost half of the children under 6 years old are affected by caries and its consequences. The aim of the measures taken is to reduce its spread and level of its incidence in children, preventing health complications in the future. Limiting spreading of caries can decrease amount of invasive dental treatments and following complications. Reducing caries transmission and preventing its onset requires repetitive preventive methods that affect women from pregnancy, through infancy and childhood, and continue into adulthood due to its strong infectivity. This work aims to evaluate the effectiveness of fluoride-containing compounds from childhood onward, as well as comparing them to prevent and reduce the development of cariessss.
Impact of 240 g/L glyphosate IPA on weed control and upland rice (Oryza sativa L.) growth and yield in a no-tillage system
Authors: UMIYATI UUM , WIDAYAT DEDI , WAHYUDIN AGUS , TRIAZAHRA MARISKA MADHA
Published: September 2024

Glyphosate IPA 240 g/L herbicide is known as one of the effective chemical solutions in weed control, especially in no-tillage systems. No-tillage systems offer advantages in upland rice cultivation by reducing soil damage and production costs. However, the main challenge in the application of no-tillage systems is the presence of pre-planting weeds that can compete with plants in the absorption of growth factors such as nutrients, light, and water. This experiment aims to test herbicide doses that effectively suppress weed growth and optimize the growth and yield of upland rice with the no-tillage system. The experiment was conducted from December 2023 to April 2024 at Ciparanje Farm, Faculty of Agriculture, Padjadjaran University, Jatinangor District, Sumedang Regency, West Java Province, Indonesia. The experiment used Randomized Block Design (RBD), consisting of 7 treatments, each repeated four times. The treatments consisted of 5 doses of glyphosate IPA 240 g/L herbicide 2.00, 3.00; 4.00, 5.00; 6.00 L/ha with no-tillage system; manual weeding; and control with perfect tillage system. Experimental results showed that glyphosate IPA 240 g/L herbicide at a dose of 3.00 - 6.00 L/ha with the no-tillage system can be used to replace the perfect tillage system because it can suppress the growth of broadleaf weeds, namely Ageratum conyzoides, Cleome rutidosperma, Mollugo pentaphylla and Synedrela nodiflora, and grass Digitaria ciliaris. No phytotoxicity symptoms were found, and had a favorable effect on rice plant growth regarding population size and tillers. The yield of rice plants with the highest milled dry grain yield was 4.45 t/ha.