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Background: Multiple sclerosis (MS) is an autoimmune disease of the central nervous system. MS causes many changes in the lives of its patients, forcing them to renegotiate their lives. Part of these changes are related to patients' self- and others- mental representations. Despite the importance of mental representations in changes caused by or adaptation to MS, limited research has been conducted to examine the mental representations of people with MS. Methods: This study examines the mental representations that Healthy Controls (HC) and people with MS (PWMS) have of themselves and others, including childhood and current self-images, as well as those of their mothers, love partners, and close friends. In both groups (HC (n = 82) and PWMS (n = 82)), participants completed demographic variables as well as a modified version of the comfortable interpersonal distance (CID) task in both passive (when protagonists approached them) and active modes (when participants approach protagonists). Participants estimated the point at which they felt discomforted. Results: The PWMS group preferred a significantly larger interpersonal distance than the HC group for both current self-image and love partner. There is no difference between the two groups in preferring interpersonal distance from their childhood self-image, mother, and friends. Conclusions: Based on the research results, it seems that PWMS experience a kind of alienation at the level of self-mental representations. This research can be helpful in modifying MS interventions and increasing the engagement of support systems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract Background Multiple sclerosis (MS) is an autoimmune disease of the central nervous system. MS causes many changes in the lives of its patients, forcing them to renegotiate their lives. Part of these changes are related to patients’ self- and others- mental representations. Despite the importance of mental representations in changes caused by or adaptation to MS, limited research has been conducted to examine the mental representations of people with MS. Methods This study examines the mental representations that Healthy Controls (HC) and people with MS (PWMS) have of themselves and others, including childhood and current self-images, as well as those of their mothers, love partners, and close friends. In both groups (HC (n = 82) and PWMS (n = 82)), participants completed demographic variables as well as a modified version of the comfortable interpersonal distance (CID) task in both passive (when protagonists approached them) and active modes (when participants approach protagonists). Participants estimated the point at which they felt discomforted. Results The PWMS group preferred a significantly larger interpersonal distance than the HC group for both current self-image and love partner. There is no difference between the two groups in preferring interpersonal distance from their childhood self-image, mother, and friends. Conclusions Based on the research results, it seems that PWMS experience a kind of alienation at the level of self-mental representations. This research can be helpful in modifying MS interventions and increasing the engagement of support systems.

Researchers note that Japanese national identity has been shaped by the nihonjinron ideology, which defines the country as culturally unique and mono-ethnic, thus constituting a divide between Japan and the rest of the world. However, in the context of globalization, the Japanese government, following the global trend, has engaged in a national branding program called “Cool Japan,” which aims to attract foreigners and therefore differs in its message from nihonjinron. Previous research suggests that, in reality, Cool Japan is not so much in conflict with nihonjiron narratives, but rather inherits their rhetoric. However, little attention has been paid to how foreigners are represented within this program. Therefore, our research question is this: How is the interaction between the nation/national subjects and foreigners portrayed in the Cool Japan discourse, and what characteristics are attributed to both groups? Through narrative analysis and critical discourse analysis, this study examines government-affiliated media: articles from the “Friends of Japan” section in a government magazine and episodes from the NHK documentary series “Japanology Plus.” The findings show that the analyzed materials reproduce the boundaries between Japanese people and foreigners, rearticulate Japan’s cultural uniqueness, and implicitly reinforce the narrative of mono-ethnicity. In “Friends of Japan,” foreigners are portrayed as enthusiasts of Japanese culture, expected to mediate between Japan and the world without being fully integrated. Similarly, in “Japanology Plus,” foreigners are depicted as “Japanophiles,” helping to bridge Japan and the world by sharing Japan’s uniqueness. The position of foreigners in this discourse is ambivalent: they appear subordinate to Japanese nationals but are also seen as capable of revitalizing the country’s economy and are thus valued. This duality reflects Japan’s struggle to balance globalization with affirming national identity in the logic of nihonjinron, highlighting the challenges of integrating foreigners into Japanese society.

The metamorphosis of otherness occurs under the influence of postmodern ethics and the changed perspective of the world even in contemporary novels. Therefore, I analyzed and interpreted this phenomenon in three contemporary novels: in the Slovenian novels Starec in jaz (TheOld Man and Me) (2017) by Sarival Sosič and Po celi ravnini pod nebom (Across the Whole Plain Under the Sky) (2022) by Jana Putrle Srdić, and in the Cuban novel Silencios (Tišine) (1999) by Karla Suarez. When explaining and connecting the concept of the Other and otherness, I relied on the understanding of the binary structure Absolute/Other, building on Nietzsche’s theory about the Apollonian and Dionysian poles of the once harmonious binary union. In the analyzed contemporary (Slovenian) novels, a new multi-perspective emerges, which, influenced by postmodern dynamics, bends and relativizes any binary entities. The analysis of the metamorphosis of otherness revealed that observed building blocks of binary motives (harmony/disharmony, Apollonian/Dionysian, culture/nature, heterosexuality/homosexuality) shake off established value signs by exposing their variability. The evolving attitude towards the entity of the Other, which no longer sees the world as a hierarchically arranged monolith, brings a multi-layeredness to contemporary novels both in terms of narrative and content. In the analyzed narratives, this is reflected in: the need for deeper literary empathy and tender narration; fusing of narrative perspectives and voices; the feeling of otherness towards both extreme spectral poles; longing for existential harmony or lost integrity; the representation of art as the last solid entity; constantly oscillating between the desire to withdraw and actively deal with the world, and the feeling of loneliness and the desire for solitude; the extension of binaries into modern triads. In the two Slovenian novels, the fluidity of sexual identity also comes to the fore, giving voice to forms of sexuality still unarticulated in Slovenian literature.

Abstract A 38‐year‐old pathologist developed multiple evanescent white dot syndrome (MEWDS). He documented his visual impairment in detail utilizing a light microscope for pathological diagnosis. Notably, the subjective defects illustrated by the patient were in good spatiotemporal agreement with diagnostic outcomes. The present report enhances the understanding of visual impairment associated with MEWDS through a comparative analysis of subjective experiences and objective clinical findings.

A 38‐year‐old pathologist developed multiple evanescent white dot syndrome (MEWDS). He documented his visual impairment in detail utilizing a light microscope for pathological diagnosis. Notably, the subjective defects illustrated by the patient were in good spatiotemporal agreement with diagnostic outcomes. The present report enhances the understanding of visual impairment associated with MEWDS through a comparative analysis of subjective experiences and objective clinical findings. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

I suggest here ecologies of the nascent state, posing the following general questions: what is this state and what is it to live, to fabricate modes of life, in its immanence? I believe populating this state is, by right, 'ecological', even if what I offer here is only a sketch or glimpse, playful as it is, of the possibility of such modes of life, of dwelling. As I develop it here, the nascent is in flight of being. It is populated by lesser, minoritarian existences. If it is 'ecological', it is because these existences, or modes of becoming, are themselves, in their own right, 'ecologies', that is, modes of dwelling, of life, on the 'other side of existence', as Antonin Artaud put it once, in exile from Being. The power to return eternally to the nascent state is the power to live, to dwell, in the absolute forgetfulness of Being, in the interstice where philosophy supposedly ends, but where it nevertheless begins again, in oblivion itself, where being is never already the verticality of Being, its difference with beings, but always nascent, in the beginning, eternally so. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper analyses the recently published diary of the Marchioness of Fronteira, written between 1826 and 1842, from the point of view of the history of emotions. There are few diaries written by women in Portugal, especially in the troubled period of political instability, resulting from the Portuguese liberal revolution of 1820 and the consequent civil war, which led to the emigration of a significant number of the constitutional regime’s supporters. As it is primarily a travel diary, detailing encounters with other cultures and social realities, this provides a privileged source for understanding the emotions of its author, from her sociable interactions with people of both genders, and different social and geographic backgrounds. Analysis of these emotions and the author’s reactions enables study of her identity and self-perception, her emotional performativity, gender relations and her ties with an interconnected Europe.

Copyright of Middle East Journal of Legal & Jurisprudence Studies / Mağallaẗ al-Šarq al-Awsaṭ li-l-ʿulūm al-Qānūniyyaẗ wa-al-Fiqhiyyaẗ is the property of Manar Elsharq for Studies & Research and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

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Some studies suggest that narcissism, either grandiose, vulnerable, or normal, is empirically associated with healthy or pathological concern towards others. These relationships remain poorly documented, and existing research only offers theoretical rationales as to the nature of the narcissism–concern association. The present study aims to assess the relationships between the various types of narcissism and concern while including the mediating role of explicit motives. French-speaking adults (n = 213) completed self-report questionnaires measuring these constructs. Results of mediation analyses suggest that specific motives mediate the positive associations observed between vulnerable or grandiose narcissism and pathological concern as well as the negative associations observed between grandiose or normal narcissism and healthy concern. Thus, it seems that pathological concern could be used as a maladaptive self-regulation mechanism by both forms of pathological narcissism. Fear motives mediate both relationships, suggesting avoidance as the main drive behind pathological concern in pathological narcissism. Also, the negative association between normal narcissism and healthy concern is coherent with the antagonistic interpersonal style of this form of narcissism. Results add to the practical knowledge of narcissism through a better understanding of the factors involved in self-regulation mechanisms. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Confucian philosophy of the Dao of due consideration 恕 (shu) and of "Do not impose upon others what you yourself do not desire " 己所不欲，勿施於人 undoubtedly involves the question of "others" and addresses the spiritual pursuit of individual equality, mutual agreement, and communality. Confucianism's theory of practice 工夫 (gongfu), while emphasizing the establishment and success of oneself, also requires the ability to make others established and successful. There are basically three paths for the virtuous subject to reach others: "taking what is near at hand as an analogy " 能近取譬 (neng jin qu pi), the "measure" 度 (duo) of considering other people's emotions on the basis of one's own emotions 將心比心 (jiang xin bi xin), and putting oneself in the place of others 推己及人 (tui ji ji ren). The present study, drawing on the long commentarial tradition, will fully explicate them as gongfu, that is, as concrete processes of moral practice, revealing the three paths of the Dao of due consideration from self to others, and interpreting them in relation to the dimension of the other in Confucian ethical philosophy. All three are unified and highly practical and are effective means of realizing Confucian benevolence 仁 (ren). They do not exist in a sequential ascending relationship. Through diligent moral practice, people can "help others to take their stand" 立人 (liren) and "help others to realize themselves" 達人 (daren) by following any one of the three types of gongfu. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Journal Industrial Engineering / Revista de Ingeniería Industrial is the property of ECORFAN-Mexico S.C. and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Introduction: Major and minor pediatric infections may cause intracranial arteriopathies, the long-term outcome of which we investigated and identified the factors influencing the progression/resolution of arteriopathies. Methods: We collected the clinical and radiological data of children aged 1 month–15 years who had ischemic stroke with definite arteriopathy following a recent febrile infection. Repeated neuroimaging was done over the next year to ascertain recurrent strokes and the progression and resolution of arteriopathies. Results: The anterior circulation was more frequently affected (83.33%), predominantly involving the middle cerebral artery (41.67%), resolving in 20.84% of cases and progressing in 33.33% of cases. Lesions were commonly unilateral (54.17%) and stenotic (75%), resulting predominantly in cortical infarcts (45.83%), with hemiparesis being the most common neurodeficiency. Apart from tubercular meningitis patients, others had a good functional outcome. Conclusion: Lower age, minor infections, and unilateral arteriopathies had a significantly higher chance of resolution. Postviral arteriopathies had a significantly lower chance of progression compared with those following bacterial infections. Progressive and bilateral arteriopathies were significantly associated with worse outcomes and recurrent strokes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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Ethics Position Theory (EPT) (Forsyth, 1980) states that people have relatively stable implicit moral philosophies in terms of degree for idealism and relativism. The present study hypothesizes that the complexity of a situation might lead to shift in their ethical ideologies. The level of complexity any situation poses is assessed based on centrality approach, i.e. stakeholder centrality (self/other) and situational centrality (rational/emotional). The extent of shift in various ethical positions has been examined in detail in the present study and is individually assessed for all four ethical position dimensions i.e. absolutists, exceptionists, situationists and subjectivists. The 2X2 between groups experiment is designed which traces the shifting patterns of 224 professionals with a mean age of 24.4 years. The results show mobility and retention of ethical moral personalities and states that individuals tend to anchor high idealism in rational situations when it directly impacts their selves. However when situation impacts others, there is more reliance on relativism. The study also states that when emotions are involved in situations, people tend to anchor more towards high relativism. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Larq Journal for Philosophy, Linguistics & Social Sciences is the property of Republic of Iraq Ministry of Higher Education & Scientific Research (MOHESR) and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Clinical guidance on outpatient follow-up of children hospitalized with acute neurologic complications of SARS-CoV2 infection is needed. We describe the clinical infrastructure of our pediatric neurology post-Covid clinic, including our clinical evaluation and cognitive testing battery specific to this patient population, and a case series of our initial patient cohort. Our findings demonstrate cognitive sequelae in all 4 of our patients months following acute SARS-CoV2 infection with neurologic complications including acute disseminated encephalomyelitis, posterior reversible encephalopathy syndrome, viral encephalitis, and gait difficulties. Verbal and executive function domains were predominantly affected in our cohort, even in patients who did not endorse symptomatic or academic complaints at follow-up. Our recommendations include systematic clinical follow-up for children following hospitalization with SARS-CoV2 infection with a comprehensive cognitive battery to monitor for cognitive sequalae and to assist with developing an individualized education plan for the child as they return to school. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In addition to human losses, the Second World War caused great damage to the economy of Bosnia and Herzegovina, especially to the industry that was exposed to severe destruction and damage. The situation was similar in the Bosnian Podrinje, and in the whole of northeastern Bosnia, where many residential buildings were destroyed. The Communist Party was not active in northeastern Bosnia, leaving room for its political and ideological opponents. More or less „Chetnik and Ustasha groups“ were moving around the surrounding forests, attacking the local population, harassing and looting them. The period of peace and stability from 1945 to 1991 enabled, among other things, the strong economic, educational, cultural and demographic development of Bosnia and Herzegovina. After the end of the Second World War, Bosnia and Herzegovina had an area of 51,121 km2. According to the 1948 census, 2,565,277 people lived in the area. There were 1,237,381 males and 1,327,896 females. There were 498,294 households. According to the 1948 census, there were 1,136,116 Serbs (44.29%), 788,384 Bosniaks (30.73%), 614,142 Croats (23.94%), 4,338 Slovenes (0.17%), and 675 Macedonians (0.03%), Montenegrins 3,094 (0.12%), other Slavs 12,947 (0.50%), non-Slavs 5,338 (0.21%) and unknown 193 (0.007%). In 1948, the Bosnian Podrinje consisted of eight districts (counties): Bijeljina, Foča, Goražde, Rogatica, Srebrenica, Višegrad, Vlasenica and Zvornik. At that time, Bratunac was in the Srebrenica County, and Čajniče was in the Goražde County. In this area lived 326,930 inhabitants. There were 123,798 Bosniaks (37.87%), 199,232 Serbs (60.94%), 2,938 Croats (0.90%), 78 Slovenes (0.02%), 41 Macedonians (0.01%), and 194 Montenegrins. 0.06%), other Slavs 144 (0.04%), non-Slavs 194 (0.06%) and unknown 21 (0.006%). In 1948, Bosniaks made up the majority of the population in the counties of Goražde and Zvornik, and Serbs in the counties of Bijeljina, Foča, Rogatica, Srebrenica, Višegrad and Vlasenica. According to the 1991 census, there were 4,377,033 inhabitants in Bosnia and Herzegovina. The most numerous people were Bosniaks, of whom there were 1,902,956 or 43.50%. There were 1,366,104 Serbs or 31.21%, 760,852 Croats or 17.38%, 242,682 Yugoslavs or 5.54%, the other 104,439 or 2.38%. According to the 1991 census, there were 412,729 inhabitants in the Bosnian Podrinje area, which is 10,136 or 2.52% more than in 1981. In the ethnic structure of the population, the most numerous were Bosniaks, who numbered 223,955 (54.26%). There were 170,402 Serbs (41.29%), 1,312 Croats (0.32%), 8,451 Yugoslavs (2.05%) and 8,960 others (2.17%). In the period from 1948 to 1991, the population of Bosnia and Herzegovina increased from 2,565,277 to 4,377,033, which is an increase of 1,811,756 persons (70.62%). The number of Bosniaks increased from 788,384 to 1,902,956 persons, which is an increase of 1,114,572 persons (141.37%). Serbs recorded an increase from 1,136,116 to 1,366,104 persons, an increase of 229,988 persons (20.24%), and Croats from 614,142 to 760,852 persons, an increase of 146,710 persons (23.89%). The number of others increased from 26,585 to 347,121 people, which is an increase of 320,536 people (1205.70%). In 1948, Bosniaks made up 30.73% of the total population of Bosnia and Herzegovina, Serbs 44.29%, Croats 23.94% and Others 1.04%. In 1991, Bosniaks accounted for 43.50%, Serbs 31.21%, Croats 17.38% and Others 7.93% of the total population of Bosnia and Herzegovina. In the area of the Bosnian Podrinje, the number of inhabitants, in the period 1948-1991. year, increased from 326,930 to 412,729, which is an increase of 85,799 people (26.24%). Bosniaks had an increase from 123,798 to 223,965 persons, which is an increase of 100,167 persons (80.90%). Serbs recorded a decrease from 199,322 to 170,402 persons, which is a decrease of 29,396 persons (14.51%), and Croats from 2,938 to 1,312 persons, which is a decrease of 1,626 persons (55.66%). The number of Others increased from 672 to 17,411 persons, which is an increase of 16,739 persons (2490.92%). In 1948, Bosniaks made up 37.87% of the total population of the Bosnian Podrinje, Serbs 60.94%, Croats 0.90% and Others 0.21%. In 1991, Bosniaks made up 54.26%, Serbs 41.29%, Croats 0.32% and Others 0.40% of the total population of the Bosnian Podrinje. During the socialist period, the number of Bosniaks in the total population of the Bosnian Podrinje continuously increased due to stable natural growth, peace, developed economy, health and the fact that a significant number of Bosniaks „hid“ in Yugoslavs and other groups. At the same time, the number of Serbs and Croats in the total population of this area was decreasing. This was, first of all, due to the departure of Serbs and Croats to neighboring Serbia, ie Croatia for employment or education.

Background: This study aimed to determine whether ongoing vascular inflammation presents in patients who had coronary artery aneurysms (CAAs) caused by Kawasaki disease (KD). Methods: Subjects were 26 patients with a history of KD; 15 had giant CAA (gCAA) ≥ 8.0 mm and 11 had smaller CAA (smCAA) < 8 mm in the acute phase. They underwent X-ray computed tomography and 18F-fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography. We determined the maximum coronary target-to-background ratio (CaTBR) and the mean thoracic aorta TBR (TaTBR) in each patient. They were compared between groups, and their correlation with various variables was determined. Results: CaTBR and TaTBR were significantly higher in gCAA than in smCAA (P <.005 for both values) and were significantly higher even in patients without any metabolic risk factor (P <.05 for both values). The CAA size in acute phase significantly positively correlated with CaTBR (R2 = 0.32) as well as TaTBR (R2 = 0.28). Also, TaTBR significantly positively correlated with CaTBR (R2 = 0.32) as well as cumulative number of metabolic risk factors (trend, P =.03). Conclusions: Ongoing vascular inflammation may present long after KD, especially in patients with severe inflammation expressed as gCAA in the acute phase. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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The article Others - the creations of Polish female emigrants in Danuta Mostwin's novels concerns the identity of Polish female immigrants in Danuta Mostwin's novels. The article aims to present the functioning of the Others category in Mostwin's novels, describing the experience of Polish female immigrants in the United States. The visibility of strangeness or exclusion, influencing the construction of the identity of emigrant women, has been noticed in the novels: Nie ma domu, Dom starej lady, Ameryko!Ameryko!, Odchodzą moi synowie, Ja za wodą, ty za wodą and collections of stories: Asteroidy i Ptaki. The category of the Others is related to the following phenomena: broadly defined otherness towards autochthons and oneself, and the possibility of building an identity based on a constructive combination of Polish values and those present in the culture of the country of immigration. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cancer cells rely on mitochondrial oxidative phosphorylation (OXPHOS) and the noncanonical tricarboxylic acid (TCA) cycle. In this paper, we shed light on the vital role played by the noncanonical TCA cycle in a host-side concession to mitochondria, especially in highly energy-demanding malignant tumor cells. Inhibition of ATP-citrate lyase (ACLY), a key enzyme in the noncanonical TCA cycle, induced apoptosis by increasing reactive oxygen species levels and DNA damage while reducing mitochondrial membrane potential. The mitochondrial membrane citrate transporter inhibitor, CTPI2, synergistically enhanced these effects. ACLY inhibition reduced cytosolic citrate levels and CTPI2 lowered ACLY activity, suggesting that the noncanonical TCA cycle is sustained by a positive feedback mechanism. These inhibitions impaired ATP production, particularly through OXPHOS. Metabolomic analysis of mitochondrial and cytosolic fractions revealed reduced levels of glutathione pathway-related and TCA cycle-related metabolite, except fumarate, in mitochondria following noncanonical TCA cycle inhibition. Despite the efficient energy supply to the cell by mitochondria, this symbiosis poses challenges related to reactive oxygen species and mitochondrial maintenance. In conclusion, the noncanonical TCA cycle is indispensable for the canonical TCA cycle and mitochondrial integrity, contributing to mitochondrial domestication., (© 2024 The Author(s). Cancer Science published by John Wiley & Sons Australia, Ltd on behalf of Japanese Cancer Association.)

Copyright of Adab Al-Kufa is the property of Republic of Iraq Ministry of Higher Education & Scientific Research (MOHESR) and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

How to treat others is a key topic in Laozi's thought. Laozi not only advocates "non-action" (wuwei 無爲), or not interfering with others, but also hopes that actors will take some positive responsibilities for others. He expects that actors can implement the instructions of Dao 道 and fulfill the role of "assisting others to achieve their self-so-ness but not daring to interfere" (chapter 64). He believes that "one person will become more abundant when he contributes to others" (chapter 81); that is to say, actors and others are always in the process of mutual attainment. What he claims can be summarized by the dual assertion "to do V1, but not to do V2" (V means a type of action), containing two kinds of responsibilities: the situations represented by "not to do V2" are concrete manifestations of "non-action," which refers to the negative responsibility of non-interference with others, while the situations signified by "to do V1" are essentially a kind of action of assisting others, which is a positive responsibility for others. There is a subtle cooperative relationship between "assistance" and "non-action." In a nutshell, what Laozi expects is a responsibility to support others to actualize their authentic self on the premise of earnestly respecting the spontaneity and autonomy of others. When the focus on "non-action" is broken through, we can grasp Laozi's thinking deeply and expand our understanding of his thought. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Journal of Babylon Center for Humanities Studies is the property of Republic of Iraq Ministry of Higher Education & Scientific Research (MOHESR) and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Alasdair MacIntyre doubts that Confucianism can discuss the relationship between individuals and community because he maintains that it is impossible to discuss the topic in depth without a Western conception of individual rights. In this article, I show that Neo-Confucianism pays extensive attention to the relationship between individuals and community by working through several Chinese thinkers' theories from the 11th to the 17th centuries. Neo-Confucianism seems to be focused on the exploration of the common principles of a community, but its real intention is ensuring the fundamentality of individual selves and making up for limitations caused by an excess of individual limitations. Thus, a new relationship is formed between individuals and community; that is, all individuals are equal and the common principles of community are independent of any individual. In order to make each individual harmonize with common principles, some mainstream Neo-Confucian thinkers attached great importance to the effort (gongfu 工夫) of "eliminating personal desires" (qu renyu 去人欲) since they thought that personal desires represented a selfish appeal that contradicts common principles. Influenced by this line of thinking, Neo-Confucianism fell into the predicament where individuals were suppressed, but this shortcoming was corrected in its later stage by defending the right to satisfy individual desires for survival. This study shows that Neo-Confucian discourse has given much thought to the problem of the relationship between individuals and community. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Amotivation is a typical feature in major depressive disorders and refers to individuals exhibiting reduced willingness to exert effort for rewards. However, the motivation pattern when deciding whether to exert effort for self versus others in people with depression remains unclear. Methods: We conducted a functional magnetic resonance imaging study and employed an adapted Effort‐Expenditure for Rewards Task in subthreshold depressive (SD) participants (n = 33) and healthy controls (HC) (n = 32). This required participants to choose between a fixed low‐effort/low‐reward and a variable high‐effort/high‐reward option, and then immediately exert effort to obtain corresponding rewards for themselves or for unfamiliar people. Results: Compared with the HC group, the SD group showed blunted activity in the left dorsal anterior cingulate cortex/dorsomedial prefrontal cortex, bilateral anterior insula (AI), and right putamen‐left dorsolateral prefrontal cortex functional connectivity when choosing to exert effort for themselves. Additionally, the SD group exhibited increased willingness and greater activation in the bilateral AI when choosing to exert effort for others. Furthermore, these brain activations and functional connectivity were positively related to self‐reported motivation. Conclusions: These findings show altered motivation during effort‐based decision‐making in individuals with the mild depressive state, particularly with higher motivation for others. Thus, this suggests that motivational behaviors and prefrontal–striatal circuitry are altered in individuals with SD, which can be utilized to discover treatment targets and develop strategies to address mental illness caused by motivation disorders. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the contemporary “post-modern” era, a variety of issues have entered an even more challenging stage. Academia has explored arts and aesthetics in an attempt to retrieve a disappearing aura, and the possibility of Chinese calligraphy has also become one of the focuses of philosophical discussion. In the tradition of Chinese philosophy, cultivation and ethics are inseparable from each other. If calligraphy can involve the gongfu 工夫 of life practice, how can gongfu practice open up a broad road to ethics? In order to answer this question, this study aims to develop the ethical connotations of calligraphy. Calligraphy is a part of life for the literati. In every era, the life imprints of many literati are passed down to the present in the forms of study utensils, writings, books, or authors’ biographies where there are abundant resources to be explored. The ideas inherited by calligraphy are inseparable from Zhuangzi and Mencius. This paper demonstrates the philosophy of Zhuangzi and Mencius, and particularly pays attention to the aspects of body and qi 氣 to engage in an intercultural conversation with western philosophy in an attempt to outline the gongfu theory of “self-cultivation” and “route to others.” [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

As a result of international developments, many communities had to "migrate" from their own country and tried to protect their existence by living their language and culture and transferring them to the next generations. However, some members of the immigrant communities returned to the land where they were born and migrated years later and tried to maintain this existence. Faced with immigration and Christian communities living in Turkey "Assyrians/Syriac" are also their native lands and those of their ancestors emigrated to European countries. The Assyrians were affected by both cultural changes with the migration phenomenon and the differences with their fellow countrymen who continued their lives by not migrating from the lands they lived in, along with the cultural units and changes they had acquired in the country they went to. In addition, the fact that this community was forced into the migration phenomenon by the Kurds living in the region and that they had to live together on their return was also discussed. With the return of the Assyrians, how the historical ties and cultures are similar among their citizens in the place they came from and what they have contributed to common life, the reflection of the past difficulties with the other ethnic element Kurds in the region, and the fact that they were examined in the light of the results obtained from one-on-one interviews in the field are the essence of this article. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Standard methods for quantifying positron emission tomography (PET) uptake in the aorta are time consuming and may not reflect overall vessel activity. We describe aortic microcalcification activity (AMA), a novel method for quantifying 18F-sodium fluoride (18F-NaF) uptake in the thoracic aorta. Methods: Twenty patients underwent two hybrid 18F-NaF PET and computed tomography (CT) scans of the thoracic aorta less than three weeks apart. AMA, as well as maximum (TBRmax) and mean (TBRmean) tissue to background ratios, were calculated by two trained operators. Intra-observer repeatability, inter-observer repeatability and scan-rescan reproducibility were assessed. Each 18F-NaF quantification method was compared to validated cardiovascular risk scores. Results: Aortic microcalcification activity demonstrated excellent intra-observer (intraclass correlation coefficient 0.98) and inter-observer (intraclass correlation coefficient 0.97) repeatability with very good scan-rescan reproducibility (intraclass correlation coefficient 0.86) which were similar to previously described TBRmean and TBRmax methods. AMA analysis was much quicker to perform than standard TBR assessment (3.4min versus 15.1min, P<0.0001). AMA was correlated with Framingham stroke risk scores and Framingham risk score for hard cononary heart disease. Conclusions: AMA is a simple, rapid and reproducible method of quantifying global 18F-NaF uptake across the ascending aorta and aortic arch that correlates with cardiovascular risk scores. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]