non-Western Research Articles

Prevalence and factors associated with the perpetration and victimization of teen dating violence: A systematic review and meta-analysis protocol

Dating violence is a global health problem that affects adolescents physically, psychologically and sexually. During adolescence, there is a high prevalence and negative consequences in both perpetration and victimization, which can vary according to culture, but maintain common characteristics in traditional societies. Factors associated with the perpetration and victimization of gender-based violence among adolescents include gender inequality, discrimination, substance use, parental neglect, peer influence and exposure to family violence. Despite modern criticisms of gender expectations, traditional views that legitimize violence persist. In this sense, the collection of global data on the prevalence and factors associated with dating violence among adolescents could favour comparative studies between Western and Eastern cultures and is fundamental for informing public policies in a globalized world. It is hoped that the results will contribute to expanding scientific knowledge in the area, as well as helping managers and the academic community to target resources, identify risk groups and promote gender equality from adolescence onwards. In this sense, this study aims to globally assess the prevalence and factors associated with the perpetration and victimization of dating violence among adolescents. It is hoped that the results will expand scientific knowledge in this area.

Differences and Similarities in the Use of Nine Emotion Regulation Strategies in Western and East-Asian Cultures: Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

Differences in emotion regulation strategies usage between Western and East-Asian individuals have been shown to exist. In this systematic review and meta-analysis, we aimed to synthesize differences and similarities of the spontaneous use frequency of nine emotion regulation strategies (suppression, reappraisal, acceptance, avoidance, rumination, mindfulness, distraction, expression, and self-compassion), in Western and East-Asian individuals. Quantitative comparison studies were identified through systematic and snowball searches. Meta-analysis was undertaken with the meta package from R. Nineteen articles involving 21 studies were included in the systematic review and 20 studies were included in the meta-analysis. These articles were published from 2002 to 2023. The results showed that East-Asian individuals use more suppression ( d = −0.29) and avoidance ( d = −0.57) compared with Western individuals, with a medium effect size. No significant difference was observed in reappraisal, rumination, and expression usage. Future comparison studies across Western and East-Asian cultures should consider focusing on the use of self-compassion, acceptance, distraction, and mindfulness, which are understudied in the field of emotion regulation. Moreover, to improve the methodology, address inadequacies in analyzing cultural measurement invariance, distinguishing between emotional valences, and reporting the ethnicity of participants.

Космополис эпохи премодерна на границе западной и восточной культур: многоязычие и пределы переводимости (на материалах Каффы XIII–XV веков)

Objective: To investigate the problem of the terminological precision of the most relevant qualities possessed by cosmopolis in the pre-modern world where the representatives of Western and Eastern faith acted equals in various written and spoken languages. Research materials: The “Codex Cumanicus” composed in Caffa at the turn of the 13th–14th centuries; the lexis of medieval urbanism in three languages (Latin, Persian, and Comanian) selected from it; “Libellus de notitia orbis” of Iohannes de Galonifontibus with a description of multilingual Caffa from the early 15th century. Results and novelty of the research: From the “Codex Cumanicus” was first isolated the lexis of medieval urbanism, dispersed throughout four semantic fields: representation of cosmopolis in the physicality, legally, the sociocultural data, and the ethical community. The representation of cosmopolis in the physicality found untranslatability to eastern languages such Latin terms as “murus”, and “vacuum”, calling attention to essential attributes of urban physis – stone walls, and public places. The representation of cosmopolis in the legally data proved the failure to communicate such thing as a “libertas”, the key characte­ristic of a free city; the Latin term “civitas”, a community of citizens, was adapted in Coman language only through Sogdian analogy of “känd”. The concept “lex”, law, was perceived only through the Jewish approach of “ˈtorə”. The representation of cosmopolis in the sociocultural data did reflect the richness of terms which represented the merchants, traders, bankers, artisans, warriors, and those in the service, education, and entertainment industries; most of them entered the language as a borrowings from Persian and Arabic. The representation of cosmopolis as ethical community explained the rethinking any archaic thought forms of the earlier polytheistic mind moving toward the monotheistic idea; the central concept of Western culture “Deus”, God, was reinterpreted in the most distant Eas­tern cultures as “Tengri” like the designation used earlier for the supreme sky deity of all Asian nomads; the universal theories for both West and East about the four elements and four bodily fluids reflected the relation between the world and man, as macrocosm and microcosm, really integrated citizens of different faiths and languages into the ethical community. This research uses the cognitive science and mental mapping methods. The first allows one to inquire on the terms, ideas, linguistic units, verbal codes in which was treated the cosmopolis in the pre-modern world. The second makes it possible to visualize a distribution of lexical triads according to the degree of positivity / negativity, nearness / distance in transmitting meanings from Latin in Eastern.

Ideas about work: contexts and meanings

This article presents various readings of the meaning of work in Western civilization, investigating the contexts of these constructions. The mythical meanings of Hellenism, Judaism, Rousseau and even the mythical appropriation of communism are illustrated here, as well as the rapprochement between liberalism and Protestantism to forge a specific concept of work. Modern concepts committed to revolutionary philosophy or progressivism are also analyzed by comparing them with the current meanings assigned to work. In addition to reviewing more general conceptions of work in different times, addressing different contexts in which its meaning is produced, this article illustrates how ideas contained in works of dystopian literature, such as George Orwell's 1984 or Aldous Hukley's Brave New World, were the basis for a more forceful critique of the modern conception of work. Research by Zygmunt Bauman (2001), who comments on the limits of the modern conception of work, and Cecília Bergamini (2003) and Marie-France Hirigoyen (2002), who propose a renewed meaning of work that can embrace attending to diversity as an operational advantage in corporations, were used as some of the theoretical contributions.

Dynamics of transformation and change in actual practice: examples and insights for transforming HRD

ABSTRACT Human Resource Development (HRD) is first and foremost a field of practice, and efforts to transform the field must arise and prove themselves out in actual practice. Practice is always in motion and, thus, its transformation is not static or ever finished, but open-ended, searching, and evolving. This article in the special issue on transforming HRD is written in a personal and narrative style, offering wide-ranging accounts of specific transformation initiatives taken from our professional practice as two white, western HRD people, senior in experience and age. The goal is to tell the stories of particular transformation efforts in different contexts, cultures, and times and to draw out insights for the dynamics of transformation. We suggest that the value of the tales in this article, even in the limited space of a journal article, lies in offering the reader glimpses of the intricacies and dynamics of HRD transformation as it actually unfolds. We invite the readers to reflect on their own projects and draw their own conclusions on the fit between our portrayals of the matter at hand and their own experiences as calls for the need to transform HRD arise loud and clear in many different parts of the HRD ecosystem.

Dinamika Reformasi Dan Westernisasi Yang Terjadi Pada Masa Pemerintahan Kerajaan Turki Usmani

Since the 17th century the Ottoman Empire began to collapse due to defeat from the West. As a result, the caliphs wanted to reconstruct the government with a Westernized model. Thus, the caliphs wanted to reform and westernize between Turkish culture and Western civilization which culminated in the time of Mustafa Kemal Ataturk. so, what was the dynamic of reform and westernization in the Ottoman Tukri government. This article uses the Normative type of research. Normative research is a type of research whose data is taken from literature studies in the form of books, journals, and so on as well as research results related to the topic of discussion in this study. Then, this article uses he Historical Approach approach, the result and discussion is the development of reforms during the reign of Ottoman Turkey pioneered by Sultan Mahmud II who is famous for the Tanzimat period. then, the flow of leadership was continued by Sultan Abdul Majid thus inaugurating the Gulhane and Humayun Charter. In addition to the Tanzimat era, the renewal of Turkey was carried out by the Young Ottomans and culminated in the leadership of Mustafa Kemal Ataturk. then The implementation of westernization is carried out by three groups, namely Islamism, Westernism,

A Search for a New Model in Graffiti Art through the Synthesis of Eastern and Western Cultures with Artificial Intelligence

A Search for a New Model in Graffiti Art through the Synthesis of Eastern and Western Cultures with Artificial Intelligence

Формально-сущностные характеристики правосудия (историко-правовое исследование)

Purpose. The article examines the problems of defining the concept of justice in modern science and questions the correctness of the definition of justice by identifying it with the subject implementing it. Methodology: dialectics, hermeneutics, axiology, philosophical conceptology. Conclusions. The author proposes a point of view according to which justice is proposed to be defined through the property of legitimacy, that is, recognition of an act of justice by the subjects at whom its action is directed and by third parties. The article provides a study of the genesis of the understanding of justice in the context of its historical development, reveals the understanding of legitimacy and its basis at various stages of the existence of Western civilization. In turn, it is proposed to consider the evolution of the understanding of justice using specific examples that confirm the author’s thesis that in the perception of European cultures, justice is a synthesis of the sacred essence and the accessible mechanism for its administration.

Data science basis and influencing factors for the evaluation of environmental safety perception in Macau parishes

In the context of rapid urbanization, accurately identifying the visual factors that influence environmental safety perception is crucial for improving urban transportation environments and enhancing pedestrian safety. With the increase in urban population density and traffic flow, optimizing urban environmental design to elevate residents’ sense of safety has become a key issue in urban planning and management. However, the existing studies face numerous challenges in conducting large-scale quantitative analysis of environmental safety perception in complex scenarios, such as difficulties in data acquisition and limitations in analytical methods. This study addresses these challenges by applying image semantic segmentation and object detection techniques to extract key visual elements from street view images, combined with manual scoring and deep learning methods, to construct a road safety perception dataset. Using a LightGBM model and the SHAP interpretation framework, in this study, we identify the critical visual factors influencing environmental safety perception. An empirical study was conducted in Macau, a modern city where Eastern and Western cultures intersect, and tourism thrives. The findings reveal that: ① The overall environmental safety perception in the eight parishes and surrounding roads of Macau is relatively high, with significant regional differences in safety perception scores around Macau’s parish roads; ② The proportions of buildings, sidewalks, roads, and trees in images are the four primary factors influencing environmental safety perception; ③ The proportions and quantities of visual elements interact with each other, and their reasonable distribution helps form clear spatial visibility and creates conducive activity spaces, thereby enhancing the perception of environmental safety. Through empirical analysis, this study uncovers the mechanisms by which visual elements in urban street scenes affect environmental safety perception, providing scientific evidence for urban planning and transportation environment improvement. The research holds theoretical significance and offers practical references for urban design and management, demonstrating broad application value.

Exploration of Historical Sites of Art and Culture Exchange on the Silk Road of Pre-Qin and Han Dynasties

Abstract The pre-Qin and Han Silk Road opened up the Central Plains Dynasty to the Eurasian- African continent, not only having extraordinary political, economic and cultural exchanges complementary strategic significance, but also becoming an irreplaceable important window and way for the Central Plains Dynasty to gain cognitive knowledge of the broader world. In particular, the exploration of the artistic and cultural relics and historical background of the Silk Road is a deep excavation and collation of historical materials of exchanges between the East and the West, especially between China and the nationalities in the Western regions in the fields of traditional politics, commerce, economy, art and culture. This depth of excavation and collation of historical materials, so as to clarify the origin of the Silk Road under different historical conditions and the background of its political, economic, art, and cultural significance in forming the civilisation of the countries along the route. This mutual understanding among various nationalities inevitably promotes the shared development of Eastern and Western civilizations. Therefore, the topic discussed in this paper is a retrospective and complementary approach to the Silk Road as a distant civilisation. This exploration is also another purposeful search for the roots of this road, which was known as the “Journey of Adventure” and “Journey of Intercommunication” from the pre-Qin Dynasty to the two Han Dynasties. Accordingly, this paper promotes the discussion from three aspects: the long historical context of the Silk Road, the channel of multi-ethnic art exchange constituted by Silk Road, and the exchange and dissemination of handicraft culture on the Silk Road, excavating these three rich historical materials is more in order to reveal the historical values of the Silk Road.

Hindi Translation, Cultural Adaptation, and Validation of Modified Weight Bias Internalization Scale (WBIS-M): A Cross-Sectional Study from the Metabolic Surgery Clinic in North India

Background: The lack of culturally-sensitive tool masks the epidemiology of weight-bias and internalized-stigma. This study aimed to translate, adapt, and validate the Modified Weight-Bias Internalization Scale (WBIS-M) into Hindi. Methods: The translation and adaptation process followed the World Health Organization guidelines. Three psychiatrists translated the original WBIS-M into Hindi. The bilingual panel comprised four psychiatrists, two laparoscopic bariatric surgeons, a professor of English, and an individual with severe obesity (with an International English Language Testing System (IELTS) score of Band 8.5) who was familiar with Western culture. The panel identified and resolved inadequate expressions of translations or discrepancies. An independent translator, whose mother tongue was English, back-translated it into the English language. Focused group discussions with individuals with severe obesity were conducted. The final H-WBIS-M was administered to undergraduates ( n = 120) after seven days. Test–retest reliability was assessed. The original WBIS-M, Eating Disorder Diagnostic Screen, and Fat Phobia Scale-Short Form were administered to 120 undergraduates and 55 individuals with severe obesity ( n = 175)]. Reliability and validity of H-WBIS-M were analyzed. Results: Kaiser–Meyer–Olkin measure of sampling adequacy was 0.788, and Bartlett’s test of sphericity was χ2 = 1381.892, p = 0.000. The exploratory factor analysis extracted three components. Spearman-Brown coefficient for H-WBIS-M was 0.875. The internal consistency was α = 0.875 ( p = 0.000), intraclass correlation coefficient was 0.857 (95% confidence interval [CI] = 0.812–0.893) ( p = 0.000), and Pearson correlation ranged from 0.869 to 0.989 ( p = 0.000). Cross-language concordance revealed a significant intraclass correlation coefficient (0.877–0.986) ( p = 0.000) and Pearson correlation ranging from 0.781 to 0.972 ( p = 0.000). Conclusions: The H-WBIS-M demonstrated good psychometric properties based on standard testing procedures.

Religiusitas dan Toxic Friendship di Kalangan Peserta Didik

In modern times like this, teenagers are faced with pressure and influence from various sources, such as social media, western culture, and the surrounding environment. Religiosity has an important role, because religiosity can be a source of support, moral guidance and spiritual strength in facing life's challenges. Teenagers' level of religiosity will influence their behavior. If teenagers' level of religiosity is high, they will tend to show behavior that reflects religious life. On the other hand, teenagers with a low level of religiosity will show behavior that is less related to religious aspects. By understanding the field of religion, students are able to differentiate between friendship relationships that support individual growth and those that can hinder individual development. This arises because it can avoid detrimental friendships or what is usually called toxic friendship. The aim of this research is to analyze the influence of religiosity on toxic friendship in students at Wachid Hasyim 10 Prambon Middle School. The research method used is quantitative with simple linear regression analysis. The data collection technique was through a questionnaire filled out by 200 respondents. The results of data analysis using SPSS show that the level of students' religiosity is in the high category with an average value of 178.35. Meanwhile, the level of toxic friendship is in the low category with an average value of 38.98. The normality test shows that the data is normally distributed with a sig value of 0.896 which is greater than 0.05. Based on the results of inferential analysis, there is a significant negative influence between religiosity and toxic friendship with a significance value of 0.000 which is smaller than 0.05, and tcount of -5.900 which is greater than ttable of 1.653. Religiosity influences toxic friendship by 15%, while 85% is influenced by other factors. This research concludes that the higher the level of religiosity of students, the lower the level of toxic friendship they experience. These results emphasize the importance of strengthening religious values ​​in an effort to reduce toxic friendships among students.

The Poet-Creator of Philosophy: To the Methodology of Research in Philosophical Thought by Rabindranath Tagore

The Indian poet and educator Rabindranath Tagore was the creator of an original philosophy that gives additional meaning to the picture of the history of Indian philosophy in the 20th century. He usually emphasized his identity as a poet and an artist, not considering himself a philosopher. However, Tagore embodies the phenomenon of a poet-thinker who comprehends universal philosophical problems and, in the process of philosophizing, offers his own vision of them. Moreover, he owns a number of texts of a religious-philosophical and socio-philosophical nature, in addition to the content of poetry and fiction. The philosophy created by the poet requires a comprehensive holistic study, which, in turn, raises the problem of research methodology. The article proposes the author's methodology for the reconstruction of Rabindranath Tagore's philosophy, based on an understanding of his personality, the contexts of thought and the hermeneutics of texts. The methodological model of philosophy reconstruction includes three levels. The first involves analyzing the personality of R. Tagore using the categories "cross-cultural thinker" and "problematic thinker". The second is a description of the contexts of his philosophizing: external general civilizational, internal epochal and internal biographical. The third is the hermeneutics of texts, taking into account the poetic component and the philosophical problems of speeches and fiction. The novelty of the described methodological model is due to the possibilities and prospects of reconstructing Tagore's philosophical thought and concepts. 1. Description of the phenomenon of a poet and writer creating a philosophy in which the experience of artistic creation generates a universal religious and social meaning and actualizes humanistic issues. 2. Presentation of the process of formation of cross-cultural philosophy of the XX century on the material of a particular thinker. 3. The analysis of the contexts of the unfolding of philosophy helps to trace the continuity of the thinker and his ideas with the Indian philosophical tradition in a broad sense and at the same time identify innovation, not least due to his dialogue with Western culture and modernity. 4. Seeing Tagore's philosophy as a kind of quintessence of the Bengali Renaissance heritage, it is not difficult to notice its significance and relevance for modernity. 5. Reconstruction along the proposed methodological path will open up not only direct, but also comparative prospects for studying Tagore's philosophical thought in comparison with the reflections of philosophers from different cultural areas, primarily peripheral to the West and non-Western ones.

Complications: skull base and cerebrovascular

Neurosurgical complications are a rich source for learning, but they are grossly underutilized for the purpose of surgeon education. Details of the complications, which make them all the more powerful as teaching tools, are restricted to morbidity and mortality conferences behind closed doors, and open discussions of the topic are blurred by hypotheticals in order to shield the presenters from medicolegal risks. In this issue of Neurosurgical Focus, 9 neurosurgeons were invited to present complications they encountered along with the details and specific lessons they learned. The contributors were picked for their well-known track record of skill, experience, and candor, so readers can be confident in the lessons. The video and the accompanying written article present the clinical facts. The actions that led to the complications are demonstrated in the surgical video segments. In ancient Western civilization, the seven "deadly sins" categorized and conceptualized human malfeasance, and similarly, the neurosurgical correlate of this set of sins can provide a framework for discussing the errors that lead to unexpectedly poor outcomes. Although errors in judgment and planning grow rarer with experience, errors in execution can still occur, no matter the stage of one’s career. Interestingly, even though skill and experience do not eliminate complications, they may affect the lesson that the neurosurgeon takes home. The lack of open discourse on complications may slow progress in the field and set the stage for repeating mistakes. The writing and production teams hope that this work opens a rich source of learning. The video can be found here: https://stream.cadmore.media/r10.3171/2024.7.FOCUS24379

Quantifying the importance of factors in predicting non-suicidal self-injury among depressive Chinese adolescents: A comparative study between only child and non-only child groups

BackgroundDepression is a major global public health concern, often co-occurring with Non-Suicidal Self-Injury (NSSI). Focused on Depressive adolescents, this study aimed to quantify the importance of factors in predicting NSSI and compare them between the only child and non-only child groups, enriching knowledge to leverage tailored intervention strategies. MethodsA large multicenter survey was conducted in China. 2510 adolescents diagnosed with Major Depressive Disorder (MDD) volunteered for the study. 36 factors were included to train random forest models for NSSI prediction in only child and non-only child groups, respectively. The SHapley Additive exPlanations (SHAP) method was utilized to compute the relative importance of each factor in two groups. ResultsAdolescents with MDD exhibited a rather high prevalence of NSSI (52.0 %), among them 66.9 % were non-only children. Self-esteem was the most significant factor for both groups, while critical disparities of factors were also found. In the only child group, factors like family support, parental overprotection, drinking alcohol, sleep conditions and romantic relationship involvement showed greater importance, while higher depression degree, anxiety level and emotional abuse were more important factors for non-only children. LimitationsThe use of cross-sectional data from Chinese adolescents may limit deeper analysis of NSSI mechanisms and the generalizability to Western cultures. ConclusionsOnly and non-only child family structures may have different influence on factors related with NSSI occurrence of adolescents with MDD. Only children were more susceptible to vulnerable family environments, alcohol abuse and romantic experience, while non-only children were more disturbed by abnormal mental states.

Jhumpa Lahiri’s The Namesake Through the Lens of Diaspora Literature

Abundant papers have been written on Jhumpa Lahiri’s The Namesake, endeavoring to elaborate on alienation, ecologic overtones, cross-cultural conflict, feminism, existentialism, and identity crisis, to name a few. However, navigating through a labyrinth of complexities, this study, in addition to cultivating the results found hitherto, aims to crack the case of two acculturation strategies opted by Gogol, namely assimilation and integration. To further the point, this qualitative research which has been done based on a close reading approach, will reveal Gogol’s shift of strategy from assimilation to integration. In the second place, the lights are to be shed on the remarkable traces of re-orientalizationin the selected work, especially during the arrival of Gogol in Maxine’s house where binary opposition, i.e., the Occidental Culture/ Oriental Culture will be visible. Furthermore, this paper sets out to lay bare Moushumi as a foil character for Ashima, who, unlike Ashima’s vigorous allegiance to her husband, Bengali roots, and Patriarchal norms, is a Byronic-like character with intelligence, selfishness, refractoriness, complacency, and penchant for infraction of patriarchal rules. Last but not least, this study aims for a deeper understanding of the kernels of this diasporic novel including alienation, uprootedness, nostalgia, and search for genuine identity.

Princess power: Deconstructing the influence of popular culture on local traditions in a novel

The study employed a descriptive methodology with a cultural perspective, with a key focus on dissecting the novel ‘Princess: A True Story of Life Behind the Veil in Saudi Arabia’ by Jean Sasson published in 1993 to explore the impact of popular culture on the identity of Saudi women, focusing on the princesses within the royal palace. The cultural environment of Saudi Arabia presents a complex scenario for women as they reconcile traditional Islamic values with pervasive Westernized influences. This inquiry scrutinized how popular culture, introduced through migration and media exposure, molded Saudi women’s attitudes and actions, particularly those of the royal lineage. This novel is the source of data for the research. The analysis focused on themes, representations, and cultural significance. It examined language, imagery, and narratives to uncover meanings and relate them to broader societal issues, ultimately revealing how popular culture reflects or challenges prevailing ideologies. The findings revealed Sultana’s struggle to balance her Saudi princess identity with Western influences, revealing the complexities of cultural exchange, marriage practices, and societal expectations in both Western and Islamic contexts. Sasson’s narrative highlights how global influences, particularly Western culture, shape perceptions and interactions, enriching yet complicating societal norms. Vivid depictions of gender roles, sensory experiences, and emotional responses underline the ongoing struggles women face in patriarchal societies. These stories provide an understanding of the intersections of culture, gender, and identity, reflecting personal journeys while echoing broader themes of empowerment, resistance, and evolving cultural identities in a globalized world.

Epidemiological and Clinical Characteristics of Multiple Sclerosis in the Iraqi Population: A Study of 600 Cases

Background: These are two diseases of the central nervous system which are associated with demyelization of nerves and which has caused neurological disease and disability all over the world. Multiple Sclerosis (MS) and Neuromyelitis Optica (NMO) are chronic diseases exhibiting features of an autoimmune affection mainly affecting the central nervous system. To date, no study or report has looked at the epidemiology and clinical profile of these disorders in Middle Eastern countries, Iraq included, even though there is bibliographic evidence of the existence of these conditions in Western peoples. This project aims at encompassing this gap by carrying out a descriptive epidemiological analysis study of multiple sclerosis (MS)and neuromyelitis optica (NMO) in the Iraqi population. In this case, the research is going to be aimed at the demographic characteristics of patients, their clinical presentation and outcomes of their treatment. Methodology: A post hoc comparative cross-sectional examination of the medical records of 600 patients in Iraq was performed as part of the present investigation. For this study, data was gathered and analyzed. An additional 150 individuals with neuromyelitis optica and 450 patients with multiple sclerosis were recalled from the sample. The information was collected from Baghdad Teaching hospital in Medical City complex. The records of the patients were combed through for the previous 10 years in a row in order to determine the demographic and clinical features of the patients, as well as information on the relapses, treatment, and rehabilitation processes. In order to examine the prevalence and incidence of the two illnesses, the research used comparisons based on frequency and percentage analysis, as well as the t-test and the Chi square statistic. Results Although there were some similarities between NMO and MS, the relapse rate was notably higher in NMO patients (3. 4, compared with 2. 8 in patients with MS), and severe relapses were more frequent in the NMO group (38. ∗%, compared with 29. ∗% in the MS group; p = 0. 041). This means that NMO is much more aggressive than MS. Moreover, the NMO patients experienced more severe and longer lasting relapses than the Ms patients (median relapse duration 4. 1 weeks, p = 0. 008 compared to the 3. 2 weeks of Ms patients; 34. 7% degree of impairment in NMO patients, p = 0. 007 compared to the 21. 8% degree of impairment in Ms patients). The first notitur is that more patients with NMO received immunosuppressants (86. 7% versus 46. 7% of patients with multiple sclerosis who received immunosuppressive drugs; p = 0. 001) Thus, it is necessary to use other approaches with this group of patients. Despite this, the results showed that there was no significant difference between the two groups in relation to the time it took to resume work and/or a normal lifestyle. Thus, out of the sample, 28% showed complete recovery with the remainder 56%. Regarding the recoveries made, majority stated they had full recovery at 92 percent, 8 percent had partial recovery. Conclusion: The current study focuses on this problem in the Iraqi population and also acknowledge that NMO seems to be worse and more progressive than MS. It also puts much stress on the early diagnose of such cases as well as the use of treatment techniques that are both wide and intense especially with those who have other related complications of NMO. Each of the result supports the argument of the need to establish new treatment procedures that are relative to the area with the intention of enhancing the living standards of the patients. These results are a significant addendum to the overall shortage of knowledge of multiple sclerosis and neuromuscular disorder in the regarding of patients who belong to the developing world. In addition, they form a basis for future research that will help in the discovery of methods that can be utilised in enhancing disease treatment in the developing countries.

The Concept of Islamic Science According to Alparslan Acikgenc: A Study on Contemporary Islamic Epistemology

This article delves into the concept of Islamic science as articulated by Alparslan Acikgenc, a contemporary issue in Islamic epistemology. The study is set against the backdrop of the impact of secular Western science and the dominance of the Western modern science paradigm, rooted in Western philosophy, values, and culture. This context highlights the fact that science is not neutral but inherently value-laden, which calls for a deeper exploration and development of Islamic science. Alparslan Acikgenc, a notable Islamic scholar, provides a definition of Islamic science that is intricately linked to the Islamic worldview, which serves as a fundamental framework for Islamic science. Utilizing descriptive and analytical methods, this study draws several important conclusions. Firstly, Alparslan posits that a scientist's worldview is inseparable from the science they produce, indicating that the underlying beliefs and perspectives of scientists shape their scientific output. Secondly, he argues that a systematic Islamic worldview is necessary for the development of Islamic science, suggesting that without this foundational basis, the science produced will not align with Islamic principles. Thirdly, Alparslan acknowledges that while these definitions are not universally absolute, they hold conventional universality. This means that despite potential differences in opinions among scientists, as long as they share the same worldview, the resulting science will be consistent and coherent. This research underscores the importance of developing Islamic science within its own epistemological framework, thereby challenging the hegemony of Western scientific paradigms and highlighting the significance of cultural and philosophical values in shaping scientific knowledges.

How universities can support Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples to achieve self-determination and improved wellbeing.

The right to self-determination is enshrined in international law, affirming Aboriginal people have the right to make decisions about matters that affect their lives, including meeting their social, political, cultural and economic needs. This paper explores the role of universities in supporting Aboriginal self-determination, including an examination of the importance of the social and cultural determinants of wellbeing and the impacts of assimilation on Aboriginal people’s ability to live in accord with cultural traditions. Insights into how universities can create more culturally appropriate learning environments are also reviewed with a particular focus on the fundamental differences between Western and Aboriginal culture, pedagogy, epistemology, ontology, and axiology. The paper suggests that by undertaking a process of truth telling, universities will be able to create improved learning and research environments for Aboriginal students and staff that better support self-determination. By doing this, universities will leverage their unique position of influence to create improved wellbeing for Aboriginal people and the nation as a whole. This is an invited article based on a HERDSA keynote address, which was presented at the 2024 conference held in Adelaide, 8-11 July. Dr Callaghan was also invited to provide a video introduction to the article. The video link may be found on the ASRHE journal site next to the link to the PDF.