Life Challenges Research Articles

Hamka's Perspective on Parenting to Support Character Building: A Humanist Islamic Approach

<p><em><span lang="EN-US">This article discusses the integration of Hamka's thought and concept of Humanist Islam in the context of childcare and applies it practically to shape children's character according to Humanist Islamic values. The basic assumption of this study is that the integration of Hamka's thought and Humanist Islam offers a holistic approach to shaping children's character, recognizing their spiritual, moral, and social needs. The method used in this study is qualitative, utilizing a comparative and holistic approach as the analytical tool. The findings reveal that Hamka views the role of parents as the main key in shaping children's character. The basic concept of Humanist Islam, with its emphasis on human values, can be applied in parenting to form a balanced and ethical character. The relevance of Hamka's concept of character proves significant in dealing with the dynamics of modern children's lives. Overall, the integration of Hamka's thought and Humanist Islam provides a solid and empowering framework for shaping children's character while remaining relevant in the face of modern life's challenges. Additionally, the concept of Humanist Islam has significant implications in childcare practices, especially within the Indonesian national education system, influencing learning methods, curriculum, and the attitudes of the educational environment. This shapes children to be quality, inclusive, and tolerant individuals. This research contributes to providing a theoretical and practical foundation for parents, educators, and related parties to understand, implement, and develop empowered parenting strategies.</span></em></p>

UNDERSTANDING HALAL PERCEPTIONS AMONG SINGAPOREAN MUSLIM CONSUMERS

The challenges of modern life are continually evolving alongside technological advancements, facilitating easy access to clear and precise information for Muslim consumers worldwide. This, coupled with the growth of education, including religious education, empowers citizens to continually strive for the best. While concerns persist among Muslim consumers, particularly in minority Muslim communities, they do not significantly impede consumer behaviours. Knowledge acquired from childhood forms a fundamental pillar in their daily lives. This study investigates how the Muslim community in Singapore perceives the concept of halal in a manner that is easily understood and applicable in daily life. Employing qualitative methods, including semi-structured interviews and focus group discussions (FGDs), thematic analysis of the findings was conducted using NVivo 12Plus software. Thematic outcomes reveal three overarching themes: the community's understanding of halal, methods of ensuring halal compliance, and points of reference. These findings aim to assist individuals in navigating the complexities of selecting and utilizing halal food or products, particularly in non-Islamic countries or contexts.

Mengembangkan Kecerdasan Eksistensial Melalui Kegiatan Bermain Peran Pada Anak Usia 4-5 Di PAUD An-Line

Existential intelligence refers to an individual's ability to understand the meaning of life, explore existential goals, and build meaningful connections in everyday life. This research aims to examine the influence of role-playing activities on the development of existential intelligence in early childhood. This research uses a descriptive qualitative approach with participatory observation techniques and in-depth interviews with children involved in role-playing activities in early childhood education environments. Research shows that role-playing activities can significantly develop children's existential intelligence. This research shows an increased ability to interpret and deal with everyday life experiences through roles played. Children develop a deeper understanding of social relationships, values, and ways to overcome challenges in life. These findings show the importance of expanding the approach to early childhood education to include role-playing activities to facilitate the development of existential intelligence. The practical implication of this research is that educators and parents can consider integrating role-playing activities in the early childhood curriculum as a strategy to support children's holistic development and the role of parents and teachers in working together to increase children's existential intelligence.

Стан стресостійкості та вияву морфофункціональних показників дівчат протягом першого року навчання у закладі вищої освіти

The analysis of functional indicators of the physical condition of students of the first year of study in higher education during the period of martial law is very important from the point of view of health, namely, increasing its adaptive capacity and readiness of students for various challenges of life. The purpose of the study is to determine the stress resistance and the state of functioning of the body of students during the first year of study during martial law. Research methods – to analyze the stress resistance of students, questionnaire diagnosis was used according to the method of V. Shcherbatykh. In assessing the functional state of female students, anthropometric measurements (height, body weight) and pulse measurements using standard methods were used. When determining the functional state of the cardiovascular system and the respiratory, muscular system of the body, movement parameters were used, namely the Ruffier index (RI), the Strength Index (SI), the Life Index (LI). The obtained experimental data were processed using mathematical statistics. The results of the study found that the majority of 79 % of applicants are stressed and need special methods and professional advice to remove it, and only 4.6 % of applicants have no obvious signs of stress. They found that morphological indicators correspond to the norm, but other functional indicators were not found at a sufficient level to form a protective mechanism, and especially during stressful conditions. So the Ruffier index (RI) (11.5 ± 0.5) corresponds to a “satisfactory level,” the SI index (46 ± 1.2) was at the “below average” level, the LI index (50 ± 1.2) at the “average level”. Conclusion – the mental and physical state of the considered indicators of students does not correspond to the required level, which can negatively affect their health, and especially in conditions of increased stress as a result of hostilities in Ukraine, and requires a comprehensive solution.

CalmSense – Stress Monitoring & Stress Reducing Mobile Application

Abstract: Stress has become a ubiquitous concern in modern society, impacting individuals’ mental and physical health. Manual monitoring of stress levels can be cumbersome and ineffective. To address this, the CalmSense application integrates technology with evidence-based stress monitoring techniques. Developed by a dedicated team led by Sahil G. Shamsi, CalmSense offers comprehensive stress monitoring and reduction solutions. This paper explores CalmSense’s development, features, and potential impact, highlighting its significance in modern stress monitoring. Moreover, CalmSense goes beyond mere stress tracking, providing users with a range of tools and resources to actively manage and reduce their stress levels. Through guided meditation sessions, breathing exercises, and personalized activity suggestions, CalmSense empowers individuals to cultivate psychological resilience and enhance their overall well-being. By incorporating evidence-based practices in stress coping techniques, the application equips users with practical strategies to navigate the challenges of daily life more effectively. In summary, CalmSense represents a significant advancement in modern stress monitoring, offering a multifaceted approach to stress monitoring and reduction. By combining technology with evidence-based practices and fostering a supportive community, CalmSense has the potential to positively impact individuals’ mental health and well-being in today’s fast-paced world. Keywords: Stress Monitoring, Stress Reduction, Mobile Application, Well-being, Mental Health, Stress Coping Techniques, Psychological Resilience, Evidence-based Practices.

Character Education in the Digital Age: Strategies for Teaching Moral and Ethical Values to a Generation that Grows Up with Technology

This research aims to investigate the effectiveness of strategies for teaching moral and ethical values to a generation that has grown up with technology in the digital era. This research uses the literature study method to examine character education in the digital era, with a particular focus on strategies for teaching moral and ethical values to a generation that has grown up with technology. The results of this study show that character education that is well integrated in the school curriculum can help children develop a deep understanding of moral values, such as integrity, empathy, and responsibility, which are needed in digital life. The use of technology as an educational tool has also proven effective in delivering moral messages in a way that is engaging and relevant to the digital generation. Educational apps, interactive games and multimedia content have helped strengthen students' understanding of the importance of acting ethically and responsibly in online interactions. In addition, the development of good digital literacy, which includes an understanding of data privacy, online safety, communication ethics and the ability to manage information encountered on the internet, is also an important factor in character education in the digital era. The implication of this study is the need for a holistic approach in integrating character education with digital literacy in the education curriculum. This will not only help protect children from the negative impact of technology, but also equip them with the necessary skills to face and overcome moral and ethical challenges in online life.

Psychological flexibility in the face of potential adversity: Examining wellness among gay and heterosexual men.

This work expands the theoretical model on the pursuit of happiness in a hostile world, which concerns individuals' coping processes in the face of life adversity while focusing on psychological flexibility, regarded as an adaptive strategy presenting co-occurrence of converse experiences. Psychological flexibility was operationalized by concurrent, positive, and negative affect as well as by differing modes of coping (negative and positive engagement) related to the concept of a hostile-world scenario. The adaptive role of psychological flexibility was examined among Israeli gay men, a sexual minority that deals with unique hardships. Gay men (N = 474, aged 18-84) were pair-matched with equivalent 474 presumably heterosexual men on core sociodemographic variables. Questionnaires assessed the participants' psychological flexibility and psychological wellness as indicated by self-rated health, life satisfaction, depressive symptoms, and neuroticism. The results showed a positive association between psychological flexibility and psychological wellness. Moreover, this association was stronger among gay compared to heterosexual men. In conclusion, the endurance of contradictory experiences may facilitate the adjustment to complex life challenges of sexual minorities. Therefore, researchers and clinicians working with sexual minorities are encouraged to examine coping strategies that enhance psychological flexibility by addressing the adaptational benefits embedded in the coactivation of positive and negative experiences. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2024 APA, all rights reserved).

DEVELOPING SOFT SKILLS OF FUTURE PSYCHOLOGISTS IN THE EDUCATIONAL PROCESS

In the professional environment, it is common to divide skills into two types: soft and hard skills. The former help to solve life challenges and interact with other people, while the latter help to achieve the best results in a particular profession. It is emphasized that soft skills are skills that each of us has, but not everyone has reached a high professional level. Soft skills help to solve life problems and work with other people. Not everything always goes smoothly, and a future psychologist must be able to cope with difficulties, take responsibility, and look for solutions. To do this, they need to be able to communicate, defend their ideas, think critically, and work in a team. It has been proven that if students do not have the desire to develop, it will be difficult to improve soft skills and change themselves. Though everyone possesses soft skills, they do not all reach the high level. The main success lies in getting feedback and analyzing the stage they have passed - without all this, it will be extremely difficult to move on. It has been found that customer focus, project management, mentoring, non-violent communication, decision-making, problem solving, emotional intelligence, learning ability, working under uncertainty, lean manufacturing, ecological thinking, self-reflection are effective methods of developing soft skills. The article describes the specifics of developing students’ soft skills who are future psychologists.

Contemporary Applications of Ancient Greek Drama in the Light of Philosophy

Ancient dramas (tragedies and comedies) by the major representative authors – Aeschylus, Sophocles and Euripides, as samples of the greatest artistic expressions of human life, bring together the weaknesses and tensions of human actions in relation with the challenges of life at any historical period or geographical and cultural context.

Does public rental housing foster social ties? A study of the everyday social lives of rural migrants in Chongqing, China

ABSTRACT Public housing is a crucial means of providing sufficient housing solutions worldwide. However, many experts criticize the harsh architecture, the absence of public space, and lacking social infrastructure in these densely populated public housing projects in the Global North. In China, previous research has mainly focused on the effect of public rental housing (PRH) on real estate values, employment trajectories of rural migrants, and their life challenges. Few studies have explored the dynamic relationship between rural migrants, their daily social life, and how it interacts with the environment. By conducting multiple site observations and 120 semi-structured interviews with rural migrants living in three different PRH sites in Chongqing, this study addresses these gaps and uncovers the complexities of their daily social lives. The findings show that rural migrant residents have established neighborhood networks, provided mutual support, and developed a sense of place attachment to their new homes through various strategies in their daily social lives. The research enriches the theoretical debate on migration theories and deepens our understanding of rural migrants’ social experiences in urban settings. It also sheds light on China’s sustainable urban development and the overall well-being of migrating populations.

Personalized Daily Hand Movement Training Methods and Effects: A Case Study

This study proposes a method for personalized daily hand exercise training to address the lack of personalization in rehabilitation training and its disconnect from daily life. This research aims to evaluate the impact of Happiness Memory Therapy on patients’ hand function through gamified daily life training. The methodology integrates Happiness Memory Therapy and Positive Mirror Theory to assist in life game design. Patient interviews and empathy are used to gather life experiences, interests, hobbies, and challenges, which are then incorporated into personalized rehabilitation training. The experimental process includes pre- and post-intervention tests to assess changes in subjective well-being (SWLS), happiness (SHS), positive and negative emotions (PANAS), psychological well-being (PWB), and hand function impairment (DASH). The results show that the intervention significantly enhances patients’ subjective well-being, happiness, positive emotions, and reduces negative emotions and hand function impairments. In conclusion, Happiness Memory Therapy and Positive Mirror Theory are effective in developing personalized daily hand exercise training methods and have a significant impact on improving the psychological health and quality of life of stroke patients, offering new ideas and methods for personalized rehabilitation training.

The notion of the human person according to the encyclical Humanae vitae

This article explores the notion of the human person according to the 1968 encyclical Humanae Vitae, promulgated by Pope Paul VI, highlighting the need to understand human life and looks at human growth and development, identifying the modern challenges of human life and how such challenges threatened to reorder the role of women and the value of children within society.

From athletic excellence to academic influence: a study of retired Chinese athletes transitioning into the higher education sector.

While the career transition of athletes has been explored to several extents, it is often marked by complex psychosocial challenges and requires a redefined sense of identity and professional purpose. Research to date has predominately focused on the disadvantages or inequity emerging from broad social demographics without delving into specific career transition pathways, such as into higher education settings. This study specifically investigates the unique psychosocial factors underlying the career transition of retired Chinese athletes into higher education. We conducted an interview phase with retired Chinese athletes (Phase 1, n = 17) and a Delphi phase with senior human resources (HR) managers from Chinese higher education settings (Phase 2, n = 15). This approach allowed us to understand the lived experiences and challenges of these athletes within the Chinese cultural and social context, as well as HR experts' perceptions of their career transitions, respectively. The results unveil crucial psychosocial factors that motivate, and the barriers that challenge, and difficulties retired Chinese athletes in their transition, informing intervention and policy efforts to facilitate their successful integration into higher education.

‘It’s where I belong’: what does it mean to age in place from the perspective of people aged 80 and above? A longitudinal qualitative study (wave one)

BackgroundMost people want to remain at home as they age. Ageing in place – remaining at home and connected to the community – is a national and international policy priority; however, to better understand how policy might be implemented, a more nuanced understanding is required about older adults’ lived experiences of ageing in place, especially the experiences of those aged 80 and above.ObjectiveTo describe and explore the social processes which enable ageing in place from the perspective of community-dwelling older people (80+).MethodsForty-six respondents (80–100+ years) participated in the first wave of a longitudinal qualitative study set in North East England. Semi-structured interviews were conducted in participants’ homes between June 2022 and January 2023. Interviews were analysed using reflexive thematic analysis.ResultsParticipants positioned their homes as a place of freedom and as the antithesis of a ‘care home’. Remaining in place was important for all participants; a key priority for them was to remain physically active to enable this. However, many participants faced significant hurdles to remaining in place. These were primarily related to health and mobility issues. Some participants were able to overcome such barriers by drawing on financial resources and available social networks.ConclusionThe home is central to understanding older peoples’ (80+) experiences of ageing. In a socio-political context which promotes ageing in place, the social factors shaping experiences of ageing in place must be considered. This involves attending to the challenges of later life, particularly health and especially mobility and physical function. Currently, those with resources (social and economic) are better equipped to respond to such challenges, thus potentially exacerbating widening inequalities in ageing. By foregrounding the perspectives of those ageing in place alongside social factors shaping their experiences, our study has important implications for policy and health and social care. We show that a more equitable allocation of resources is vital to fulfil the ageing in place policy agenda. Furthermore, we highlight a need to recognise commitments to ageing in place displayed by people aged 80 and above, especially when remaining in place becomes difficult to achieve.

An Analysis of the Big Five Personality (OCEAN) on The Characters in Garth Jenning's Movie Sing

The big five personalities, such as conscientiousness, agreeableness, neuroticism, openness to experience, and extraversion, displayed by each character in the movie Sing. It provides insight into how to achieve goals and dreams despite numerous challenges in life, which makes it interesting to investigate. This objective of this research is to investigate the Big Five Personality of the characters in the movie Sing. This study takes a mixed-methods approach, combining descriptive qualitative analysis and content analysis, where scenes and speech from the movie were analyzed to discover and categorize the characters' personality qualities. The research findings on the Big Five personality traits in the movie Sing stated that extraversion reaches at 12.5%, while neuroticism, agreeableness and openness to experience each getting at 18.75%, and conscientiousness at 31.25%. The analysis of the Big Five Personality types in the movie finds a variety of characters embodying distinct features. Buster Moon exemplifies Extraversion, reaching at 12.5% of the attributes and showing a moderate level of friendliness and outgoing personality. Meena and Buster Moon both exhibit Neuroticism, reaching at 18.75% of their characters and emphasizing emotional depth and sensitivity. Rosita and Buster Moon embody Agreeableness to the same percentage as Neuroticism and openness to experience, stressing compassion and empathy throughout their interactions. Johny, Meena, and Buster Moon stand out in Conscientiousness, getting at 31.25% and demonstrating organizational and dependability. Johny and Buster Moon also have an Openness to Experience of 18.75%, indicating a willingness to explore new ideas and engage in creative efforts. Overall, this extensive analysis provides valuable insight into the diverse personalities shown in the movie Sing, expanding our understanding of how the Big Five Personality impact the characters' behaviors and interactions in the movie

MSR34 Diversity in Clinical Trials: Life Science Initiatives and Challenges in Light of the FDA’s Latest Guidance

MSR34 Diversity in Clinical Trials: Life Science Initiatives and Challenges in Light of the FDA’s Latest Guidance

The role of interleukin-10 receptor alpha (IL10Rα) in Mycobacterium avium subsp. paratuberculosis infection of a mammary epithelial cell line

BackgroundJohne’s disease is a chronic wasting disease caused by the bacterium Mycobacterium avium subspecies paratuberculosis (MAP). Johne’s disease is highly contagious and MAP infection in dairy cattle can eventually lead to death. With no available treatment for Johne’s disease, genetic selection and improvements in management practices could help reduce its prevalence. In a previous study, the gene coding interleukin-10 receptor subunit alpha (IL10Rα) was associated with Johne’s disease in dairy cattle. Our objective was to determine how IL10Rα affects the pathogenesis of MAP by examining the effect of a live MAP challenge on a mammary epithelial cell line (MAC-T) that had IL10Rα knocked out using CRISPR/cas9. The wild type and the IL10Rα knockout MAC-T cell lines were exposed to live MAP bacteria for 72 h. Thereafter, mRNA was extracted from infected and uninfected cells. Differentially expressed genes were compared between the wild type and the IL10Rα knockout cell lines. Gene ontology was performed based on the differentially expressed genes to determine which biological pathways were involved.ResultsImmune system processes pathways were targeted to determine the effect of IL10Rα on the response to MAP infection. There was a difference in immune response between the wild type and IL10Rα knockout MAC-T cell lines, and less difference in immune response between infected and not infected IL10Rα knockout MAC-T cells, indicating IL10Rα plays an important role in the progression of MAP infection. Additionally, these comparisons allowed us to identify other genes involved in inflammation-mediated chemokine and cytokine signalling, interleukin signalling and toll-like receptor pathways.ConclusionsIdentifying differentially expressed genes in wild type and ILR10α knockout MAC-T cells infected with live MAP bacteria provided further evidence that IL10Rα contributes to mounting an immune response to MAP infection and allowed us to identify additional potential candidate genes involved in this process. We found there was a complex immune response during MAP infection that is controlled by many genes.

Nano-Pulse Treatment Overcomes the Immunosuppressive Tumor Microenvironment to Elicit In Situ Vaccination Protection against Breast Cancer.

We previously reported that nano-pulse treatment (NPT), a pulsed power technology, resulted in 4T1-luc mammary tumor elimination and a strong in situ vaccination, thereby completely protecting tumor-free animals against a second live tumor challenge. The mechanism whereby NPT mounts effective antitumor immune responses in the 4T1 breast cancer predominantly immunosuppressive tumor microenvironment (TME) remains unanswered. In this study, orthotopic 4T1 mouse breast tumors were treated with NPT (100 ns, 50 kV/cm, 1000 pulses, 3 Hz). Blood, spleen, draining lymph nodes, and tumors were harvested at 4-h, 8-h, 1-day, 3-day, 7-day, and 3-month post-treatment intervals for the analysis of frequencies, death, and functional markers of various immune cells in addition to the suppressor function of regulatory T cells (Tregs). NPT was verified to elicit strong in situ vaccination (ISV) against breast cancer and promote both acute and long-term T cell memory. NPT abolished immunosuppressive dominance systemically and in the TME by substantially reducing Tregs, myeloid-derived suppressor cells (MDSCs), and tumor-associated macrophages (TAMs). NPT induced apoptosis in Tregs and TAMs. It also functionally diminished the Treg suppression capacity, explained by the downregulation of activation markers, particularly 4-1BB and TGFβ, and a phenotypic shift from predominantly activated (CD44+CD62L-) to naïve (CD44-CD62L+) Tregs. Importantly, NPT selectively induced apoptosis in activated Tregs and spared effector CD4+ and CD8+ T cells. These changes were followed by a concomitant rise in CD8+CD103+ tissue-resident memory T cells and TAM M1 polarization. These findings indicate that NPT effectively switches the TME and secondary lymphatic systems from an immunosuppressive to an immunostimulatory state, allowing cytotoxic T cell function and immune memory formation to eliminate cancer cells and account for the NPT in situ vaccination.

The effect of subcutaneous and sublingual birch pollen immunotherapy on birch pollen-related food allergy: a systematic review.

Birch pollen-related food allergy (BPFA) is the most common type of food allergy in birch-endemic areas such as Western and Central Europe. Currently, there is no treatment available for BPFA. Due to the cross-reactivity between birch pollen and a range of implicated plant foods, birch pollen allergen immunotherapy (AIT) may be effective in the treatment of BPFA. In this study, we systematically evaluate the effectiveness of birch pollen-specific subcutaneous or sublingual immunotherapy in treating BPFA. A search was performed in the PubMed, Embase, and Cochrane libraries. Studies were independently screened by two reviewers against predefined eligibility criteria. The outcomes of interest were changes in (1) severity of symptoms during food challenge, (2) eliciting dose (ED), and (3) food allergy quality of life (FA-QoL). The validity of the selected articles was assessed using the revised Cochrane risk of bias tool. We focused on studies with the lowest risk of bias and considered studies with a high risk of bias as supportive. Data were descriptively summarized. Ten studies were selected that included 475 patients in total. Seven studies were categorized into "high risk of bias" and three into "moderate risk of bias." The three moderate risk of bias studies, with a total of 98 patients, reported on severity of symptoms during challenge and on the ED. All three studies had a control group. Compared to the control group, improvement in severity of symptoms was observed during challenge in two out of the three studies and on the eliciting dose in one out of three. Only one study investigated the effect of birch pollen AIT on FA-QoL, showing that there was no significant difference between patients receiving subcutaneous immunotherapy or a placebo. Of the seven supportive studies, four had a control group and of those, three showed improvement on both severity of symptoms and ED. None of the supportive studies investigated the effect of the therapy on FA-QoL. This systematic review shows that there is not enough evidence to draw firm conclusions about the effect of AIT on BPFA. Future research is warranted that uses robust clinical studies that include long-term effects, QoL, and multiple BPFA-related foods.

Akhlak Mahmudah Perspective of Ibn Miskawaih

The moral of Mahmudah is an important point in the tradition of Islamic thought that has been explained in depth by the Islamic philosopher Ibn Miskawaih. According to him, mahmudah morality refers to the noble and noble qualities that individuals strive for to achieve happiness and peace in life in this world and the hereafter. This study analyzes good behavior in Islamic psychology from the point of view of Ibn Miskawaih. In this study, the author used Library Research and used descriptive methods of analysis to understand Ibn Miskawaih's views on good behavior. According to Islamic psychology, individual behavior is influenced by mental and psychological aspects. Analysis of behavioral treatment in Islamic psychology shows that the concept of mahmudah morality plays an important role in shaping human behavior. The results of Ibn Miskawaih's Akhlak mahmudah are divided into several points: First, Encourage humans to behave well, Second, establish good relationships with humans, and Third, Build strong character through good character can help individuals overcome the challenges of daily life and Fourth, maintain balance in various aspects of life.