Contemporary Forms Research Articles

The Splendor of Plainness: A Transformation of the Process of Qi as Expressed in the Generative Artwork UKON

Abstract The authors thoroughly examine the creative process behind UKON, which uses computer simulation to reinterpret the Song Dynasty’s aesthetic of “plainness.” By treating random numbers as representations of Qi, the artwork undergoes a transformation that both complicates and simplifies its visual elements. This approach not only transcends simple visual depiction but also reflects a profound exploration of “the extreme splendor of plainness,” capturing its essence in a contemporary form. The work showcases the artist’s deep understanding of traditional aesthetics and illustrates how modern technology can reinvent these concepts as a new visual language.

Police cynicism: a state-of-the-art literature review

PurposeThe level of cynicism officers experience can directly impact their day-to-day decisions, especially in policing’s currently strained climate. This paper provides an updated systematic review of the predictors, outcomes and conceptualizations of police cynicism within the relevant literature.Design/methodology/approachA systematic review was conducted utilizing the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) approach. Results from the 56 articles published after Langworthy’s 1987 systematic review are included. It was hypothesized that due to the current climate, police cynicism may be more discussed within the literature, especially when examined with the “Ferguson Effect.”FindingsResearchers conceptualize police cynicism in various ways outside the traditional measures. Officers who were more cynical were more likely to maintain tougher law enforcement orientations and may have been more likely to engage in problem behaviors. Lack of internal support was related to organizational cynicism. Support for the Ferguson effect and demographic-related variables (tenure, racial identity and gender) on police cynicism yielded mixed findings despite the field’s inclination of their augmenting impact.Research limitations/implicationsMore research needs to be conducted on operationalizing and conceptualizing police cynicism. Researchers should establish standardized measures of police cynicism to help disaggregate results, as well as recruit from multiple agencies to increase generalizability.Originality/valueThis review is the first literature review conducted on police cynicism since Langworthy’s 1987 review. Exploring data post-1987 illustrates contemporary conceptualizations of police cynicism and related significant findings.

Circular Business Models and Sustainable Behavior: An Integrated Framework Based on the COM-B Model

Objective: This study aims to understand how circular business models can effectively influence consumer behavior towards sustainability, using the COM-B model (Capability, Opportunity, Motivation - Behavior) as an analytical framework. The central objective is to demonstrate that the integration of circular practices not only reduces environmental impacts but also redefines the consumer's role as an active agent in the regenerative economy. Theoretical Framework: It is based on contemporary concepts of circular economy, highlighting frameworks and consumer-oriented approaches such as the sharing economy and product lifecycle extension. These theories underscore that consumer behavior is a central component in the transition to more sustainable economic systems. Method: The theoretical approach relied on an extensive literature review on circular business practices and behavioral studies. Through the COM-B model, a framework was structured to analyze the interactions between behavioral components and business models. Results and Discussion: The study argues that consumers' ability to adopt circular practices depends on clear information, economic incentives, and adequate infrastructure. Additionally, it demonstrates that motivation is amplified by personal values and trust in companies aligned with sustainability. However, challenges such as cultural resistance and institutional barriers still limit broader adoption. Research Implications: The research reinforces the need for integrated strategies among consumers, businesses, and governments to enable the adoption of circular models. The impact transcends the economic sphere, influencing public policies and redefining consumption patterns. Originality/Value: This paper stands out by proposing a holistic and practical approach to integrate circular business models with behavioral changes, contributing to a research agenda focused on concrete solutions in sustainability.

Dynamics of VEGF-А, Аngiopoietin-2 and HIF-1α Levels in Patients with Brain Metastases Treated with Cyberknife Radiosurgery.

The contemporary concept of carcinogenesis summarizes the role of hypoxia, neoangiogenesis, and hemostasis, including in the stage of progression and metastasis of the tumor process. Metastatic disease is a serious therapeutic challenge for any oncological condition. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the dynamics of specific indicators of neoangiogenesis and hypoxia as potential biomarkers for therapeutic efficacy or risk of disease progression in patients with brain metastases (BM) undergoing robotic stereotactic radiosurgery. Two groups of patients (lung cancer and other types of cancers) with oligometastatic disease and brain metastases were included. The patients (n = 66) were treated CyberKnife system. Human Angiopoietin-2, Hypoxia inducible factor 1 α (HIF-1α) and human Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor-А (VEGF-А) were measured in this prospective longitudinal study. Analysis of human Angiopoietin-2, HIF-1α, human VEGF-A in the post-treatment period showed a statistically significant decrease between the baseline and the 6 months post-treatment time point in both patient groups. The baseline value of serum VEGF-А in the group with lung cancer decreased by 40%, Аngiopoietin-2-by 48%, HIF-1α -by 43%. In the group with other types of cancers, VEGF-А decreased by 54.75%, Аngiopoietin-2-by 52%, HIF-1α -by 39.5%. Despite the significant reduction, the levels remained significantly higher in both groups than in healthy controls. This study underscores the potential of integrating molecular markers like VEGF-A, Angiopoietin-2, and HIF-1α into clinical decision-making to enhance outcomes for patients with brain metastases undergoing RSRS.

First psychometric evaluation of the Mexican Spanish version of the 11-item BPFSC-11 and convergence with maladaptive self and interpersonal functioning.

The Borderline Personality Features Scale for Children (BPFSC-11) is a well-used, short, and easy-to-administer measure of borderline traits in young people. The aim of the current study was to evaluate the psychometric properties of the Mexican Spanish version of the BPFSC-11 in a large community-based sample of Mexican adolescents. In addition, we evaluated the convergence between the borderline construct as measured by the BPFSC-11 and general personality functioning consistent with more contemporary personality disorder formulations to assess the nomological net of the BPFSC-11 total score. A sample of 1212 adolescents (52.6% female, mean age = 15.11, SD = 1.74) were recruited from the community through schools in Mexico City and Michoacán area. Reliability of the BPFSC-11 was good (α = 0.805; ω = 0.806). A confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) model testing the unidimensional factor structure of the 11 items of the BPFSC-11 provided good fit (X2[44] = 137.96, p < 0.001; root mean square error of approximation (RMSEA) = 0.04 [90% CI: 0.03, 0.05]; comparative fit index (CFI) = 0.96; standardized root mean square residual (SRMR) = 0.03). Both configural and metric invariance for gender and age were demonstrated; however, only partial scalar invariance could be demonstrated with some items showing "bias" for gender and age. The Mexican Spanish BPFSC-11 also showed strong convergence with measures assessing contemporary conceptualization of general personality functioning. The Mexican Spanish BPFSC-11 appears to show similarly strong psychometric properties of other versions of the BPFSC-11; and the borderline construct as assessed with the BPFSC-11 shows good conversion with general personality functioning in adolescents.

Guideline summary review: An evidence-based clinical guideline for the diagnosis and treatment of adults with osteoporotic vertebral compression fractures.

The North American Spine Society's (NASS) Evidence-Based Clinical Guideline for the Diagnosis and Treatment of Adults with Osteoporotic Vertebral Compression Fractures features evidence-based recommendations for diagnosing and treating adult patients with osteoporotic vertebral compression fractures. The guideline is intended to reflect contemporary treatment concepts for osteoporotic vertebral compression fractures as reflected in the highest quality clinical literature available on this subject as of September 2020. The purpose of the guideline is to provide an evidence-based educational tool to assist spine specialists when making clinical decisions for adult patients with osteoporotic vertebral compression fractures. This article provides a brief summary of the evidence-based guideline recommendations for diagnosing and treating patients with this condition. This is a guideline summary review. This guideline is the product of NASS' Clinical Practice Guidelines Committee. The methods used to develop this guideline are detailed in the complete guideline and technical report available on the NASS website. In brief, a multidisciplinary work group of spine care specialists convened to identify clinical questions to address in the guideline. The literature search strategy was developed in consultation with a medical librarian. Upon completion of the systematic literature search, evidence relevant to the clinical questions posed in the guideline was reviewed. Work group members utilized NASS evidentiary table templates to summarize study conclusions, identify study strengths and weaknesses, and assign levels of evidence. Work group members participated in recommendation meetings to update and formulate evidence-based recommendations and incorporate expert opinion when necessary. The draft guideline was submitted to an internal and external peer review process and ultimately approved by the NASS Board of Directors. Twenty-nine clinical questions were addressed, and the answers are summarized in this article. The respective recommendations were graded according to the levels of evidence of the supporting literature. The evidence-based clinical guideline has been created using techniques of evidence-based medicine and best available evidence to aid practitioners in the diagnosis and treatment of adult patients with osteoporotic vertebral compression fractures. The entire guideline document, including the evidentiary tables, literature search parameters, literature attrition flowchart, suggestions for future research, and all of the references, is available electronically on the NASS website at http://www.spine.org/guidelines.

The Turnaround in Israel’s Haredi Society in the Late 20th Century: A Data-Based Analysis

In recent decades, research on Haredi society has expanded significantly, emphasizing its distinctive characteristics in contrast with the broader Israeli social fabric. Commonly described as “separatist”, “secessionist”, “isolated”, and “an enclave”, Haredi society is often perceived as segregated from the rest of Israel’s population. However, recent studies suggest that this reclusiveness is a relatively recent development. Until the 1980s, most Haredim coexisted in mixed residential areas with secular, traditional, and national-religious populations. The employment rate among Haredi men was comparable to that of other Israelis, and secular subjects were part of the curriculum in Haredi schools. Moreover, many Haredi men served in the Israeli army and held a positive view of the state, celebrating its accomplishments. The contemporary concept of a “society of learners”, where many married men engage in yeshiva study while their wives serve as the main breadwinners, was once largely unacceptable within the community. Unlike earlier qualitative studies that documented the transformation of Haredi society, this article employs a quantitative approach to detail these changes. Through an analysis of residential patterns, education, military service, political influence, and the rise of the “society of learners”, this study provides a deeper understanding of the forces shaping contemporary Haredi society and explores potential future trajectories.

Faith motifs in the constructions of family meanings by adults with care experience in Zimbabwe

PurposeAdults with care experience often struggle to make sense of their family relationships owing to adverse childhood experiences (ACES). This study analysed motifs of faith and spirituality in how care leavers made sense of the concept of “family” in their lives.Design/methodology/approachQualitative semi-structured interviews were used to collect data from 45 adult care leavers Harare, Zimbabwe. A thematic analysis brought out recurring ideas of faith and spirituality that influenced participants’ family constructions.FindingsThe Church played a functional role in care leavers’ lives providing support and care. Faith-based residential care facilities engaged in group spiritual practices, such as going to Church together, praying and worshiping together, which fall within the contemporary concept of “family practices” and allowed care leavers to view unrelated caregivers as “family” based on shared experiences. Finally having faith in God was described as an anchoring force when dealing with the hardships of adulthood in the absence of biological family and state support. These findings have implications for social policy around the role of faith-based institutions in child welfare.Originality/valueThe investigation of the role of faith and spirituality in care-experienced lives is an emerging area of study. This study explores the role of faith and spirituality in care leavers interpersonal lives, which contributes to studies of care leavers’ personal lives. As a marginalized group of young people, their voices are crucial in informing social policy around their care after leaving public state care.

But I am your mother!? Queer-feminist resistance to censorship in fascist times

This article is a feminist-queer discussion of contemporary forms of censorship and resistance to those abuses. Drawing on recent examples from Poland, the emphasis is given to systemic, neoliberal forms of censoring, which make the ‘caring hands of the fascist Leviathan’ even more ready to restrict freedom.

Beatlemania in Bombay

ABSTRACT Using ‘Beatlemania’ to broadly describe the global enthusiasm for rock music in the 1960s, this article surveys the sonic, cultural, material, and ideological implications of the adoption of rock music by musicians in Bombay and the enduring legacy of rock music in more contemporary forms of Indian pop music. Drawing on ethnographic interviews in Mumbai between 2000 and 2023 along with evidence from published scholarship, journalism, and films, the author emphasises the unique context of Bombay (now Mumbai), the ways in which the 1960s ‘hippie’ counterculture was absorbed by Indian youth of that era, and the development of the rock music in Bombay from the novelty of playing cover songs to a full-fledged music scene with its own meanings and subjectivities.

Representing Organ Mountains-Desert Peaks National Monument: Encounters with a U.S. Public Lands Artist-in-Residence Program

From Thomas Moran to Ansel Adams, artists have long played a significant role in shaping perceptions of U.S. public lands. Although there are currently more than seventy active artist-in-residence (AIR) programs at federal U.S. public lands sites, research investigating the work of these programs is limited. In this article, we examine the AIR program at Organ Mountains-Desert Peaks (OMDP) National Monument. Established in 2014, OMDP encompasses 496,529 acres of Chihuahuan Desert uplands surrounding the city of Las Cruces, New Mexico. Each year, OMDP’s AIR program hires artists to spend a month living within and interpreting the monument through place-based artwork. Drawing on interviews with artists and program administrators, we explore the ways in which OMDP’s AIR program works to build community around OMDP, cultivate a sense of place, and make meaning out of artists’ encounters with the monument’s landscapes. We find that these efforts engender nuanced artistic engagements with contemporary social and environmental themes, constituting a contemporary form of public lands advocacy and place-making that celebrates OMDP while also interrogating layered aspects of place, nature, culture, and history. OMDP’s AIR program departs from eco-nationalist and eco-capitalist tropes that pervade historical artwork and promotional imagery of public lands, instead reflecting paradigm shifts that are occurring as public lands confront contemporary socioenvironmental issues.

Decolonial chronotopes and palimpsestic heterotopias in Safdar Ahmed’s Still Alive

ABSTRACT Refugee and asylum-seeker graphic storytelling constitutes a core segment of contemporary graphic life narrative. The texts belonging in this category articulate border-crossing experiences of subjects who become othered within Eurocentric media, legal, and other discourses. In expressing such life stories, these narratives often, but not always, counter injurious formations of border-crossing subjects, and they foreground the violence that becomes embedded in the biopolitical and necropolitical control of border spaces within and outside Western states. Locations of asylum detention that have been described as ‘Black Sites’ in the context of Australian border control constitute injurious weapons in the service of the State’s dehumanisation of asylum seekers who are stranded therein, but continuously resist their violence. Focusing on Still Alive: Graphic Reportage from Australia’s Immigration Detention System (2022) by Safdar Ahmed, in this article, I propose an interpretation of Australia’s Black Sites through the lens of decolonial theory, the heterotopia, the palimpsest, and the chronotope. I argue that this approach foregrounds contemporary forms of (neo-)colonial violence and injustice against asylum seekers as linked to longer histories of colonialism, as well as to the human and spatial binary divisions and hierarchies that have emerged in the context of modernity/coloniality.

Philosophical Aspects of Thanatology in Palliative Care: Ad Impossibilia Nemo Obligatu

The data from literary sources have been summarized to highlight contemporary concepts of providing palliative care and understanding the thanatological aspects of the palliative care philosophy. The possibilities of forming an alternative philosophy of palliative care are considered.Objective of this analysis was to considering the philosophical aspects of thanatology in the alternative philosophy of palliative care.The alternative philosophy of palliative care prompts many ethical and philosophical questions about the future of palliative care itself. Thanatological aspects of it have potential for solving theoretical and practical problem of contemporary palliative care not only in sphere of relief of the patient’s suffering, but preparing the patient for death. Objectively, this applies to the entire process of palliative care, not only in the terminal stages, and includes the patient's social environment in this process, focusing attention on the problem of not physical but social death. The one of the key issue of palliative care is not preparing patient to the death only, but first of all answer to the question about death in itself. This is a philosophical problem that have the most direct connection to ontology and metaphysic, clearly outlines the external of the entire quintessence of human existence. The alternative philosophy of palliative care is directed to offering an opportunity to explore cultural, social, and personal aspects of loss, death, dying, and grief; it emphasizes effective support and collaboration with community-based services, includes topical issues in thanatology, palliative care, bereavement theories, social justice and diversity, ethical issues, social and political discourse.

Changing Nature of Capitalism in the Era of Globalization through YouTube: A Perspective of Consumerism

The contemporary concept of globalization emerged during the 1980s under the influence of leaders like Ronald Reagan and Margaret Thatcher, who promoted privatization as a pathway to globalization. This idea gained widespread popularity in the 1990s. Postmodern scholars such as Paul-Michel Foucault, Jean Baudrillard, Arjun Appadurai, and Douglas Kellner argue that globalization is a top-down process legitimizing capitalist logic, where technology plays a pivotal role in fostering "techno-capitalism." In the 21st century, digital media platforms have become instrumental in generating surplus value for capitalism through various mechanisms. YouTube, as a prominent video-sharing platform launched in 2005, has played a significant role in this process. This research critically examines the role of YouTube in promoting consumerism as a tool of capitalism, exploring its impact on modern digital economies and cultural consumption patterns.

Research trends in periodontal disease in people with HIV infection: A bibliometric analysis

Context: Currently, the interaction between periodontal disease and HIV infection has become a crucial issue for oral health. Aims: To examine the current scientific literature on the topic of improving oral health for individuals affected by HIV infection. Methods: This bibliometric study, guided by PRISMA-2020 parameters, comprehensively examines the scientific literature to identify trends, knowledge gaps, and future research areas. Results: The results reveal key moments of interest and sustained growth of publications and research leaders, highlighting the thematic evolution from micro-organisms to contemporary concepts. Thematic clusters indicate areas of high conceptual affinity while emerging keywords such as HAART, Inflammation, and Chronic Periodontitis suggest future research directions. Conclusions: The research agenda proposal emphasizes the importance of exploring established and emerging concepts and addressing specific gaps.

Classification and pathogenesis of preeclampsia: contemporary concepts

Preeclampsia is a systemic hypertensive disorder that develops during pregnancy and is typical only for humans. Persistent high blood pressure and associated organ damage have a negative impact on the mother and child organisms not only during pregnancy, but also exposes them to the risk of cardiovascular and cerebrovascular complications later in life. Despite many years of research, the etiology and pathogenesis of preeclampsia have not been sufficiently studied, while currently available therapeutic methods remain ineffective. This review analyzes the contemporary concepts on the types and stages of preeclampsia, as well as on pathomorphological changes in the placenta and blood vessels tissues. Depending on gestational age, pathophysiology and clinical consequences for the mother, two types of PE are currently distinguished — preeclampsia with early onset (before 34 weeks of pregnancy) and preeclampsia with late onset (at/after 34 weeks or after delivery). Preeclampsia with early manifestation is recognized as a consequence of defective placentation, while the pathology of maternal cardiovascular system is the main cause of the late disease onset. In both cases an impaired placental perfusion leads to numerous morphological anomalies and deposition of fibrotic tissue in the placenta and vessels.

Some Social Order Concepts in the Context of Sayyid Quṭb’s Fī Ẓilāl al-Qurʼān: A Critical Approach

Reducing inequalities, promoting justice and creating strong institutions are important agenda items in today's world. In this context, this article focuses on Sayyid Quṭb's Qurʾānic exegesis, Fī ẓilāl al-Qurʼān, in relation to global issues such as promoting peace, justice, and strong institutions for peaceful and inclusive societies. It argues that Quṭb revitalized Islamic thought, making it relevant to contemporary discussions. Despite criticisms from certain Islamic circles regarding his views on Western lifestyle and authoritarian regimes, this study aims to present Quṭb's insights beyond narrow ideological frameworks. Through content analysis methods, the article examines Quṭb's perspectives on concepts like revival, democracy, and secularism, contextualizing them within both religious and secular contexts. Preliminary findings suggest that while some of Quṭb's criticisms towards contemporary concepts may be valid, certain evaluations are open to criticism and lack an analytical basis.

Translation for social justice: concepts, policies, and practices across modalities and contexts

The transnational nature of contemporary movements, media and networks in our globalised and interconnected societies has placed translation at the heart of counter-hegemonic discourses and endeavours. In this context, translation has become a powerful prism through which to think about and practise social justice. Although largely intellectualised in relation to Western liberal welfare states, social justice is also a performative and interpersonal prism of social change with roots historically spread across cultures, traditions and territories and with ramifications in contemporary forms of resistance. Thus, whereas social justice has traditionally been understood as the fair distribution of means and resources and the recognition of people’s rights across status in a given society, the increasing interconnection of struggles across the world has broadened social justice in ways that raise the stakes of translation. The leveraging and enactment of the multiple rights which social justice now encompasses is contingent on the organisation, the practice and the theorisation of translation in all its modalities (translation, interpreting, bilingual facilitation, fixing, subtitling, dubbing) and across communication contexts of resistance (social movements, media networks, cultural institutions). This special issue of the journal explores social justice by delving into specific areas and modalities of translation and interpreting practices. At the same time, it engages with macro-societal issues that affect these practices. These issues range from the power (and the limitations) of translation in circulating counter-hegemonic ideas and knowledge across borders in the publishing, media and cultural industries to the development of curricular, pedagogical and policy-making strategies in a higher education system that is both technologically disrupted and ableist-structured. The issues also include the public institutions’ exclusionary communication practices inherited from colonialisation, patriarchy, and ableism, and the subsequent expectations and actual practices of language professionals’ support to migrants and other vulnerable citizens in this context. The contributions gathered in this special issue contribute to expanding the boundaries of the constantly evolving field of translation while deepening our reflection on the ways in which education, research and practice may reproduce, contest and disrupt systemic injustices.

Integrated Care Implemented in the Children's Hospital From the Interwar Period as the Source of Good Practices for the Contemporary Concept of Coordinated Care Based on the WHO Model.

The article tests the hypothesis that we can draw practical knowledge from the experience of service providers operating in the past. The research questions were formulated: can the historical example of the organization of medical care in the Polish Children's Hospital named after Karol and Maria be used as a viable example today? Is it relevant for contemporary practitioners? And do we still use the knowledge of predecessors? The authors decided to use the interwar Hospital and an operating paediatric ward of the Child-Friendly Hospital for a comparative analysis. The model of the European Regional Office of the World Health Organization for integrated delivery of health services was adopted as the analysis framework. We based the analysis on descriptive methods, starting with a literature review of routine activities of the Karol and Maria Hospital (historical example) and a paediatric hospital in Poland (contemporary example), then we conducted a comparative transversal study concerning the extent to which integrated care occurs in the WHO model. Finally, the elements of the process evaluation were used in the work. The research model used enabled us to provide answers to the research questions formulated. The comparative study of a historical hospital and a contemporary one has shown that some problems and ways of solving them constantly reappear in the discussion on the management of evidence-based medical care. Sourcing good practices from the past can be a good research method for current practitioners. It seems that while the technical aspects of integrated care initiated in the past are developing perfectly, the approach to the evidence-based medicine is waiting to be developed again.

The Rise of the Term ‘Analytic Philosophy’ in Britain in the Early 1930s and Its Contemporary Evolution: Conceptual Creativity and Conceptual Engineering

Ernest Nagel’s two-part article entitled “Impressions and Appraisals of Analytic Philosophy in Europe” undoubtedly played a crucial role in the development of analytic philosophy in both Europe and the United States. Nagel articulates the shared metaphilosophical assumptions embraced by philosophers from various centres, including Prague, Vienna, Lviv, Warsaw, and Cambridge. Nevertheless, it is important to note that philosophers began to describe themselves using the term “analytical philosopher,” or a similar term, particularly within the intellectual centre of Cambridge, in the early 1930s in Britain. In this article, I shall compare how these philosophers conceptualized “analytic philosophy” with the metaphilosophical assumptions outlined by Nagel. Then, I shall draw a comparison between the understanding of analytic philosophy in the early 1930s in Britain, and contemporary conceptions such as “conceptual creativity” and “conceptual engineering.” As it turns out, a part of contemporary analytic philosophy is more open to social-practical issues than it was in the early 1930s in Britain, especially in the intellectual centre that was Cambridge.