Article Reviews Research Articles

A Comprehensive Systematic Review of the Effects of Photobiomodulation Therapy in Different Light Wavelength Ranges (Blue, Green, Red, and Near-Infrared) on Sperm Cell Characteristics in Vitro and in Vivo.

Around 7% of the male population in the world are entangle with considerable situation which is known as male infertility. Photobiomodulation therapy (PBMT) is the application of low-level laser radiation, that recently used to increase or promote the various cell functions including, proliferation, differentiation, ATP production, gene expressions, regulation of reactive oxygen spices (ROS), and also boost the tissue healing and reduction of inflammation. This systematic review's main idea is a comprehensive appraisal of the literatures on subjects of PBMT consequences in four light ranges wavelength (blue, green, red, near-infrared (NIR)) on sperm cell characteristics, in vitro and in vivo. In this study, PubMed, Google Scholar, and Scopus databases were used for abstracts and full-text scientific papers published from 2003-2023 that reported the application of PBM on sperm cells. Criteria's for inclusion and exclusion to review were applied. Finally, the studies that matched with our goals were included, classified, and reported in detail. Also, searched studies were subdivided into the effects of four ranges of light irradiation, including the blue light range (400-500 nm), green light range (500-600 nm), red light range (600-780 nm), and NIR light range (780-3000 nm) of laser irradiation on human or animal sperm cells, in situations of in vitro or in vivo. Searches with our keywords results in 137 papers. After primary analysis, some articles were excluded because they were review articles or incomplete and unrelated studies. Finally, we use the 63 articles for this systematic review. Our category tables were based on the light range of irradiation, source of sperm cells (human or animal cells) and being in vitro or in vivo. Six% of publications reported the effects of blue, 10% green, 53% red and 31% NIR, light on sperm cell. In general, most of these studies showed that PBMT exerted a positive effect on the sperm cell motility. The various effects of PBMT in different wavelength ranges, as mentioned in this review, provide more insights for its potential applications in improving sperm characteristics. PBMT as a treatment method has significant effectiveness for treatment of different medical problems. Due to the lack of reporting data in this field, there is a need for future studies to assessment the biochemical and molecular effects of PBMT on sperm cells for the possible application of this treatment to the human sperm cells before the ART process.

Transport system of Azerbaijan: what's happening now and what's next?

The article presents a comprehensive analysis of the transformations that have occurred in Azerbaijan's transport sector over the past decade, offering insights into the current state of the transport system. It is widely acknowledged that the transport sector plays a pivotal role in enhancing a country's international recognition and strengthening its global position. It follows that the advancement of this sector of the economy represents a fundamental strategic objective for any state. The article reviews and analyses the current state of Azerbaijan's transport system and the measures taken to improve it, as well as the investments made in this field. Furthermore, in consideration of Azerbaijan's current status as a transit nation, the article examined the transportation routes of international corridors traversing the country and their operational efficiency. Also, the article presents a comparative analysis of the cargo and passenger transportation potential of Azerbaijan's transport system over the past decade across various modes of transportation. In order to ascertain the efficacy of the transportation system, the final revenues and expenditures were subjected to analysis, resulting in the calculation of the profit (or loss) for the various modes of transport.

Effective Treatments for Abductor Vocal Cord Paralysis: A Comprehensive Review.

Abductor vocal cord paralysis (AVCP) is a disabling disorder that affects the voice and the quality of life of a patient, and hence, there is importance in providing a detailed knowledge of its aetiology and management. In this review article, we offer an implicational definition of AVCP and a discussion of its background, viewed as potentially affecting voice production and health. Finally, we explore modalities of diagnosis by medical history and physical examination, visualization techniques like laryngoscopy and stroboscopy, and radiographic imaging such as computed tomography (CT) and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scans. The article reviews and categorizes approaches into operative and non-operative treatments, including injection laryngoplasty, voice therapy, botulinum toxin injections, and the management of Reinke's edema. Surgical approaches, like arytenoid adduction, cordotomy, and posterior cordotomy, are also scrutinized taking their indication, efficacy, and complication profile into consideration. Learning about the advantages and drawbacks of the following experimental yet promising directions like nerve-muscle pedicle implantation, nerve reinnervation, and engineering of tissues is therefore highly necessitated. In conclusion, the review details the measures that have shown to be useful in the treatment process and their impact on the future practice of clinical work, calling for a more clarified structure of the organization of diagnostic, therapeutic, and rehabilitative activities. Future research directions are outlined based on the gaps which include the development of new treatment approaches, the evaluation of treatment for long-term effects, and the need for interdisciplinary cooperation in the medical field for the benefit of the patients.

Infectious disease research in the Association of Southeast Asian Nations region: a scientometric analysis.

This study compared the research output of Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) countries to understand research trends and clarify past, present, and future patterns using scientometric techniques. This scientometric study systematically mined health and social science publications from the Web of Science and Scopus databases using keywords associated with infectious disease. The analysis included only English-language articles and review articles by authors from any ASEAN country. Publication, citation, and text co-occurrence network analyses were performed. R Studio and VOSviewer enabled data management, analysis, and visualization. Searches identified 12,511 articles published between 1925 and 2022, with a notable increase in research publications since 2003. The leading journals on infectious disease were associated with established publishing houses, including BMC, BMJ, and The Lancet. The most-cited articles were primarily global burden of disease studies, with 7,367 citations. Among ASEAN countries, Thailand, Malaysia, and Singapore had the most publications and collaborative efforts on the topic. Analysis of keyword co-occurrence revealed clusters related to global health, dengue, bacterial studies, non-dengue viral topics, and diagnostics. Most early studies examined diagnostics, gene and sequencing methodologies, and virology; later, the focus shifted toward herbal and alternative medicine. Recently, the research capacity of Southeast Asia has expanded dramatically, with substantial contributions from high-income countries. Intense cooperation between member states is essential, emphasizing the role of HICs in supporting their neighbors. Increased research efforts and collaboration must be dedicated to innovative approaches to combat persistent health conditions, along with emerging issues like climate change.

Safety and Efficacy of Canakinumab for the Prevention and Control of Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus and Its Complications: A Systematic Review.

Today, diabetes mellitus (DM) is one of the leading causes of morbidity and mortality globally.In this grim context, while our current armamentarium of anti-diabetic agents is vast and increasingly available, glycemic control in a significant proportion of these patients continues to remain sub-optimal.This necessitates the exploration of other potential cellular pathways and targets to effectively manage this notorious disease and its numerous complications. Inflammatory responses are thought to be implicated in the decline of pancreatic beta-cell function, with interleukin-1 beta (IL-1β) playing an important role in these pathways. Canakinumab, a human monoclonal anti-IL-1β antibody, operates by reducing inflammation, potentially safeguarding or enhancing pancreatic beta-cell function. This systematic review aims to study the safety and efficacy of canakinumab in the prevention and control of type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) and its complications. This study was conducted in accordance with the PRISMA 2020 Guidelines. PubMed including MEDLINE, Google Scholar and Cochrane Library were used as information sources and randomized clinical trials and retrospective observational studies evaluating patients with T2DM or impaired glucose tolerance with/without complications receiving canakinumab, compared with placebo or standard therapy and reporting about glycemic indicators including hemoglobin A1C (HbA1C) or blood sugar levels (BSL) or insulin levels and/or inflammatory indicators including high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hsCRP) or interleukin-6 (IL-6) were included. Non-randomized clinical trials, animal studies, review articles, case reports, case series, studies not in the English language and those evaluating type 1 DM were excluded. In total, 271 studies were identified to be included in this study. Subsequently, 27 were found to be duplicate records and were eliminated. Manual screening of title/abstract of 244 records was done which found 207 to be ineligible and 37 studies were shortlisted. These were retrieved and full-text screening was undertaken which resulted in the exclusion of 28 reports due to the following reasons: ineligible study design (17), studies evaluating type 1 DM (three), studies evaluating anakinra (one), trial being canceled (three) and duplicate studies (four). Subsequently, a total of nine studies were included in the final review. All studies were included post quality appraisal. We found that canakinumab had a modest but mostly non-significant effect on glycemic parameters including HbA1C, while having a consistently significant reduction in systemic inflammatory parameters like hsCRP and IL-6. Additionally, it was found to have a significant reduction in incident major adverse cardiovascular events (MACE). Canakinumab was also found to be safe and well-tolerated in all patient populations. Although canakinumab did not reduce incident T2DM, an exploration of alternative pathways and targets implicated in the pathogenesis of this disease process is warranted for the prevention and control of T2DM.

Complication and Explantation Rates of Penile Prostheses in Transmasculine Patients: A Meta-analysis

ObjectiveTo synthesize current literature on penile prosthesis implantation post-gender affirming phalloplasty to correlate implant types and complication rates. MethodsA meta-analysis of penile prosthesis in transmasculine patients was initiated in December 2022. Inclusion criteria encompassed randomized clinical trials, cohort studies, and cross-sectional studies reporting on penile prosthesis complications post-gender-affirming phalloplasty. Exclusion criteria were review articles, meta-analyses, studies that exclusively reported on cisgender patients or surgeries other than penile prosthesis implantation. An initial search of five databases yielded a total of 1593 articles. Upon screening, 15 full-text articles were eligible for inclusion. 9 studies were included in the analysis. ResultsThe overall complication rate for the inflatable prosthesis group was 38% (95% CI: 21, 59) and for the malleable prosthesis group was 37% (95% CI: 18, 62). The most probable complications in the inflatable group were infection (14.5%), dysfunction (12.9%), dislocation (5.7%), and leakage (5.4%). The most probable complications in the malleable group were dislocation (14.9%), infection (11.2%), dysfunction (9.1%), and extrusion (7.6%). There was no significant difference in the probability of any complications between the malleable and inflatable prosthesis groups.The best estimate of explantation rates for any reason for the inflatable group was 19% (95% CI: 9, 38) and for the malleable group 13% (95% CI: 4, 33). There was no significant difference in the probability of any reason for explantation between the malleable and inflatable prosthesis groups.

LESION STERILISATION AND TISSUE REPAIR OF PRIMARY TEETH

BACKGROUND Lesion sterilization and tissue repair is also known as non-instrumental endodontic therapy. It involves the use of combination of antibiotics drugs on infected pulp tissue and root canals after getting access to the root canal orifices of the primary teeth. Various combination of antibiotics had been used by some dentists with macrogol , polyethylene glycol, propylene glycol, normal saline or sterile water as the solvent or vehicle used. METHODS An electronic literature search in Science direct and Google was done in December, 2023 using the Population, Concept and Context framework. Search terms and keywords were combined by Boolean operators. Two independent investigators screened titles and abstracts of publications on lesion sterilization and tissue repair of primary teeth. Original research articles, case report, case series with accessible full text were included for review, while review articles, systematic reviews, viewpoints, books, letters, thesis, editorials, book chapters, dissertations and perspectives were among articles excluded during screening. RESULTS One case report was identified from Morocco, a case series from Nigeria and randomized controlled trial from Egypt respectively. CONCLUSIONS Lesion sterilization and tissue repair or non-instrumental endodontic therapy can be a treatment option for primary teeth with infected pulp and root canals .More studies from diverse ethnic population in Africa countries will fill the gaps in knowledge and add to the existing literature.

Phytoestrogens in Menopausal Hot Flashes: A Review Article

Background: Menopause is a biopsychosocial phenomenon in a woman’s life, and it occurs at about the age of 48-55 years. Factors such as smoking, the number of children, early puberty, and social class can cause early natural menopause. Symptoms that occur during menopause include headache, mood disorders, insomnia, distraction, hot flashes, vaginal dryness, and sweating. The most common symptom is hot flashes, which affect 85% of women with menopause. Recently, people are showing more tendencies toward alternative therapies and herbs phytoestrogens. Objective: This review aims to introduce the mechanism of herbal phytoestrogens controlling hot flashes during menopause. Methods: Our searches were performed in the databases of PubMed, Scopus, and Cochrane. English clinical trials, that investigated the effects of phytoestrogen plants individually or in combination on the treatment of hot flashes in menopause were analyzed. After reviewing articles and meeting the inclusion and exclusion criteria, 18 articles were selected. Results: In this study, 18 clinical trials of 2351 female patients were analyzed. The phytoestrogen plants studied include soy, red clover, cohosh, hops, flax, pomegranate, anise, and Vitex Agnus. Conclusion: Studies have shown the beneficial effects of phytoestrogens in controlling hot flashes, but in some cases, including soybeans, there are contradictory effects. Therefore, more clinical trials are needed to achieve reliable results to confirm the phytoestrogen effects of herbal medicines.

Microplastic Removal Techniques in Domestic and Municipal Wastewater: A Systematic Review

Microplastics can be lethal to human health and the environment. Due to the increasing amount of microplastics in the environment, it is significant to access and determine the different methods and techniques to reduce and remove the microplastics in the environment, particularly in wastewater. This study has conducted a systematic review to analyze and identify what kinds of methods and techniques are suitable for the microplastic removal of domestic and municipal wastewater. The researchers utilized search engines and research databases, namely Google Scholar, Science Direct/ Elsevier, NCBI, and IWA Publishing, to look for and select the eligible literature related to this study. The eligibility criteria of the literature are as follows: clearly stated methods or techniques used in removing microplastics; mentioned the type of microplastics removed; specified wastewater source, either domestic or municipal wastewater; a quantitative scientific paper published between 2016 and 2024; original studies as full-text research or review articles that were published in English; and the studies can be studied in multiple countries. Only the stated eligibility criteria were considered; others not mentioned were excluded. Only 20 of the 134 studies that were downloaded and analyzed by the researchers were eligible for this systematic review. The result of the study showed that the best methods for removing microplastics in primary and secondary treatment are electrocoagulation, electro-flotation (EC/EF), and membrane filtration process (MFP) with 100% removal efficiency. Meanwhile, the most efficient method for tertiary treatment is the laboratory-scale sand filter, with up to 100% removal efficiency.

Review of Particle Physics

The summarizes much of particle physics and cosmology. Using data from previous editions, plus 2,717 new measurements from 869 papers, we list, evaluate, and average measured properties of gauge bosons and the recently discovered Higgs boson, leptons, quarks, mesons, and baryons. We summarize searches for hypothetical particles such as supersymmetric particles, heavy bosons, axions, dark photons, etc. Particle properties and search limits are listed in Summary Tables. We give numerous tables, figures, formulae, and reviews of topics such as Higgs Boson Physics, Supersymmetry, Grand Unified Theories, Neutrino Mixing, Dark Energy, Dark Matter, Cosmology, Particle Detectors, Colliders, Probability and Statistics. Most of the 120 reviews are updated, including many that are heavily revised. The is divided into two volumes. Volume 1 includes the Summary Tables and 97 review articles. Volume 2 consists of the Particle Listings and contains also 23 reviews that address specific aspects of the data presented in the Listings. The complete (both volumes) is published online on the website of the Particle Data Group () and in a journal. Volume 1 is available in print as the . A with the Summary Tables and essential tables, figures, and equations from selected review articles is available in print, as a web version optimized for use on phones, and as an Android app. The 2024 edition of the Review of Particle Physics should be cited as: S. Navas et al. (Particle Data Group), Phys. Rev. D 110, 030001 (2024)© 20242024

Navigating techniques in job recommender systems on internship profile matching: a systematic review

PurposeThis review article is focused on the following research questions: RQ1: What are the methods used by authors to collect data in order to evaluate one's profile? RQ2: What are the classification algorithms and ranking metrics used to give suggestions to users? RQ3: How effective are these algorithms and metrics identified in RQ2?Design/methodology/approachThere are four major systematic review phases being carried out in this survey, namely the formulation of research questions, conducting the review, which includes the selection of articles and appraising evidence quality, data extraction and narrative data synthesis.FindingsCollecting from primary sources is more personalized and relevant. Embedded skill sets that have a considerable impact on one’s career aspirations could be mined from secondary sources. A hybrid recommender system helped mitigate the limitations of both. The effectiveness of the models depends not only rely on the filtering techniques used but also on the metrics used to measure similarity and the frequency of words or phrases used in a document.Research limitations/implicationsThe study benefits internship program coordinators of a university aiming to develop a recommender or matching system platform for their students. The content of the study may shed a light on how university decision-makers can explore options on what are the techniques or algorithms to be integrated. One of the advantages of internship or industrial training programs is that they would help students align them with their career goals. Research studies have discussed other RS filtering techniques apart from the three major filtering techniques.Practical implicationsThe outcome of the study, which is a recommendation system to match a student's profile with the knowledge and skills being sought by organizations, may help ease the challenges encountered by both parties. The study benefits internship coordinators of a university who are planning to create a recommendation system, an innovative project to be used in teaching and learning.Social implicationsInternship programs can help a student grow personally and professionally. A university student looking for internship opportunities can find it a daunting task to undertake, as there is a vast pool of opportunities offered in the market. The confidence levels needed to match their knowledge, skills and career goals with the job descriptions (JDs) could be challenging. The same holds with companies, as finding the right people for the right job is a tough endeavor. The main objective of conducting this study is to identify models implemented in recommendation systems to give and/or rank suggestions given to users.Originality/valueWhile surveys regarding recommender systems (RS) exist, there are gaps in the presentation of various data collection methods and the comparison of recommendation filtering techniques used for both primary and secondary sources of data. Most recommendation systems for internship programs are intended for European universities and not much for Southeast Asia. There are also a limited number of comparative studies or systematic review articles related to recommendation systems for internship programs offered in an Southeast Asian landscape. Systematic reviews on the usability of the proposed recommendation systems are also limited. The study presents reviews of articles, from data collection and techniques used to the usability of the proposed recommendation systems, which were presented in the articles being studied.

Trends in the Synthesis of Antimicrobial Derivatives by using the Gewald, Strecker, and Groebke-Blackburn-Bienaymé (GBB) Reactions.

Multicomponent reactions are highly useful in synthesizing natural products and bioactive molecules. Out of several MCRs, although utilized widely, some remain neglected in review articles. The Gewald and Groebke-Blackburn-Bienaymé (GBB) reactions are two such reactions. This comprehensive review assimilates applications of Gewald and Groebke-Blackburn- Bienayme reactions in synthesizing novel antimicrobial agents. It presents the antimicrobial properties of the synthesized molecules, providing an overview of their potential druggability. Developing novel antimicrobial agents is the need of the hour. Toward this objective, the scientific community is developing new methods for constructing novel architectures with potential antimicrobial properties. This review will showcase the usefulness of the Gewald, Strecker, and Groebke-Blackburn-Bienaymé (GBB) reactions in synthesizing antimicrobial molecules. The articles are searched by using the Sci-finder search tool and summarize the chemistry of their synthesis and antimicrobial evaluation of the molecules. This review focuses on synthesizing antimicrobial molecules using the Gewald, Strecker, and Groebke-Blackburn-Bienaymé (GBB) reactions. The antimicrobial activities of the synthesized molecules are also summarized in tables. This review will briefly overview the application of the Gewald, Strecker, and Groebke- Blackburn-Bienaymé (GBB) reactions in synthesizing novel antimicrobial molecules. It contains several molecules with promising activity against resistant and non-resistant microbial strains. These promising molecules could be studied further to develop novel antibiotics.

Ocular Complications of Zygomatic Dental Implants: A Systematic Review.

Zygomatic implants are a form of dental implant that anchors in the zygomatic bone with potential for complications to the eye and orbit. This article presents a systematic review of the literature regarding ophthalmological complications of zygomatic implantsto familiarize ophthalmologists with the potential complications and their treatment options. The review was conducted using the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) guidelines. Various searches using PubMed, Elsevier, and Google Scholar were used to search for articles using search terms including 'zygomatic', 'dental', 'implant', 'complications', 'eye,' and 'orbit.' Exclusion criteria included articles that were unavailable in English or written before 1980. Twenty-four articles were included in this review: nine case reports, one case series, nine cohort studies, one randomized controlled trial, and four review articles. The most common complication was infraorbital paresthesia, followed by intraoperative orbital penetration. Other complications included implants placed into the orbit, orbital hematomas, extraocular muscledamage, diplopia, subconjunctival hemorrhage, periorbital fistulae, infraorbital rim infections, and orbital emphysema. Of 41 cases, which included outcomes, 10 patients required further procedures, and five patients had irreversible damage. It is important for both oral and maxillofacial surgeons and ophthalmologists to recognize these complications for proper coordination of care and treatment.

The impact of brand image on customer satisfaction and brand loyalty: A systematic literature review

This literature review examines the impact of brand image on customer satisfaction and brand loyalty in the context of foreign tourism. Following a review of relevant literature, 13,302 articles were found for this study, including the keywords “brand image (BI)”, “customer satisfaction (CS)”, and “brand loyalty (BL)”. Considering the required inclusion and the quality of studies, we employed the rigorous PRISMA technique for comprehensive data synthesis and evaluated 79 articles for the final review. Our findings underscore the significant impact of brand image on shaping customer satisfaction and fostering brand loyalty within the foreign tourism sector. The study enriches the literature by incorporating self-congruity theory. In addition, factors like product quality, pricing, and advertising are identified as key determinants significantly influencing the proposed relationship.

Teaching and learning challenges faced by teachers and young learners in early literacy: Reading and writing in EFL context

This article aimed at identifying and investigating the teaching and learning strategies in early literacy which were used by the English teaching, obstacles faced by learners, and the solution in the teaching reading and writing for young learners especially in foreign language context. It was collected through peer review journals, theories, articles, books and finding from previous studies. Based on the researches and studies made on L1 and L2 acquisition, the learners who completed their first language acquisition have been found more successful in L2 and FL acquisition. The results of this article show that the teachers can integrate L1, L2 or Foreign Language in teaching reading, and also appropriate materials. Therefore, some strategies for early literacy for EFL learners are provided; teaching phonological awareness and making balancing between bottom-up and top-down processing skills.

Connecting Coding and Clinical Reports: Marfan Syndrome

This article reviews coding guidelines and offers tips for reporting diagnosis codes for Marfan syndrome and evaluation and management (E/M) services related to care of individuals with Marfan syndrome. Diagnosis codes for Marfan syndromeConsultations and care coordination

Preferred diuretic therapy for primary hypertension: Chlorthalidone or hydrochlorothiazide?

Because of its greater reduction of major adverse cardiovascular events (MACE), chlorthalidone is recommended over hydrochlorothiazide as the preferred diuretic for patients with primary hypertension. However, hydrochlorothiazide is more commonly prescribed than chlorthalidone for this condition. This article reviews recent studies investigating the effectiveness of chlorthalidone and hydrochlorothiazide in reducing MACE, to help clinicians make an evidence-based informed decision on which diuretic to prescribe.

Imaging Assessment of the Pediatric Elbow: Developmental Variants and Common Pathologies.

The pediatric elbow is a complex joint that undergoes rapid growth and development. The normal anatomy of the elbow varies depending on the age of the patient, which can be challenging for imaging interpretation. This article reviews developmental variants and common pathologies of the pediatric elbow, with a focus on their radiologic features. Normal anatomy and development of the pediatric elbow are discussed, including the six ossification centers and elbow alignment. Congenital anomalies such as longitudinal deficiencies of the upper extremity are reviewed. Some common injuries that affect the elbow, such as supracondylar fracture, lateral condyle fracture, medial epicondyle avulsion, and radial head dislocation are also described.

Current Treatments and Future Directions for Facial Paralysis.

Facial palsy is a condition that affects the facial nerve, the seventh of the 12 cranial nerves. Its main function is to control the muscles of facial expression. This involves the ability to express emotion through controlling the position of the mouth, the eyebrow, nostrils, and eye closure. The facial nerve also plays a key role in maintaining the posture of the mouth and as such, people with facial paralysis often have problems with drooling, speech, and dental hygiene.Due to the devastating effects on the quality of life of individuals with facial palsy, there are a multitude of various treatment options for the paralyzed face. This article reviews current management strategies and points towards promising future directions for research in the field of facial reanimation.

Toward a Sociological Perspective on the Gender and Sexuality of Friendship

ABSTRACTThis article reviews friendship research to offer a conceptual framework that helps us better understand the co‐constructive nature of gender, sexuality, and friendship in the United States. Scholarship across psychology and sociology considers friendship experiences, friendship processes, friendship patterns, friendship schemas, and the social implications of friendship. Psychological research identifies that friendship experiences and friendships processes differ by gender and explores the social implications for individuals. While sociology has dedicated less attention to friendship, this perspective offers insights on the social construction and structural basis of friendship. Sociological perspectives reveal how friendship schemas—based in amatonormativity, heteronormativity, and gender essentialism—shape friendship experiences, friendship processes, and friendship patterns in gendered ways. In addition, sociological research examines the social implications of friendship at both individual and institutional levels, documenting friendship's roles in systems of inequality. Thus, I argue that a sociological perspective is necessary to fully grasp how societies in general and cultural understandings of gender and sexuality in particular, shape and are shaped by friendships.