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The aim of this article is to analyze the news media discourse around menstruation in women’s sport by examining news media coverage of two tennis players, Heather Watson and Qinwen Zheng, who attributed their defeat in 2015 and 2022, respectively, to “girls’ things.” Using thematic analysis, the article analyses four themes: (1) breaking the menstrual taboo in sport, (2) specificity and marginalization of the female body, (3) the risk of a leaking body and (4) the wider context beyond the world of sport. The analyzed discourse is part of the broader changes observed since the mid-2010s regarding the greater presence of menstruation in public discourse. The most significant difference between the 2015 and 2022 corpora lies in the framing of menstruation as taboo. Whereas an open statement about menstruation in 2015 was perceived as something both brave and shocking, such discourse was practically absent in 2022. Despite this change, this discourse illustrates the tension between the public exposure of menstruation alongside efforts aimed at keeping it hidden. It can be read in the framework of neoliberal feminism by emphasizing the privileging of the male body and the current product-focused menstrual activism by highlighting the need to keep menstruation invisible. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This text explores the portrayal of Jesus in modern German and Polish literature, examining how authors challenge traditional interpretations and offer alternative perspectives. German authors like Sibylle Lewitscharoff, Arnold Stadler, and Michael Köhlmeier use unconventional narratives and perspectives to create new meanings around Jesus. In Polish literature, Jesus has been depicted as a symbol of Polish identity and resistance against political oppression, but more recent works have questioned traditional interpretations and presented Jesus in a more relatable way. The text also discusses the tension between religious and secular influences and the complex nature of Jesus as depicted in literature. [Extracted from the article]

The article highlights the importance of making visible and studying poetry written by women in Spain. The book coordinated by Verónica Leuci and Facundo Giménez sheds light on little-studied authors and also incorporates the voices of contemporary poets. Theoretical reflections and analysis of the poetic production of Elena Medel, Mercedes Cebrián, Ángeles Mora, Ángela Figuera Aymerich, and the deconstruction of taboos in current female poetry are presented. The study of Rosalía de Castro's new self-representation in her latest poetry collection is highlighted, and the poetry written by women in post-war Spain is analyzed, focusing on the production of Gloria Fuertes. The book concludes with a selection of texts by women poets that demonstrate the breadth and possibilities of poetry written by women. [Extracted from the article]

The Japanese Kurisu Kei (1910–2009) and the Bulgarian Nikola Aleksiev (1909–2002) never met. They were devoted to communism (for which they were imprisoned several times) and at the same time enthused about Esperanto. In 1933–34, Kurisu received a coded warning from a Soviet citizen (a veteran Communist and Esperantist) against Stalin's terror regime. Kurisu put this experience aside for a long time. In the 1930s, he used Esperanto to spread Georgi Dimitrov's plea for an anti-fascist popular front in Japan. He became a renowned translator from Czech literature and maintained a worldwide correspondence. It was not until 1951 that he left the Japanese Communist Party. His Esperanto involvement contributed significantly to the departure from communist beliefs. In 1992, after the collapse of the Eastern bloc, he got in touch with Aleksiev, who had been a leading figure for the party in Bulgaria and for the Esperanto movement as well. Kurisu accused him of having unswervingly defended the imperialist policy of the Soviet Union. Aleksiev exercised some self-criticism. He admitted that communist rule had not been brought down by the class enemy , but by its own mistakes and crimes , and recalled an old taboo: the murder of Soviet Esperantists under Stalin. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article presents an account of one woman's experience of the menopause. Affecting 51% of the global population, menopause has the potential to negatively impact home and work life. Yet, the arrival of menopause can often be a surprise due to a lack of education and awareness. Over 63% of UK working women claim menopause has negatively affected their careers, yet only 30% of employers support women to work through the menopause, and the cost to business and to women's health is significant. Shrouded in silence, the menopause is often misunderstood, and taboo exists. Therefore, women do not divulge, and many leave their jobs unsupported. Through Grace's story, this article explores how women's hormone health can affect work and by opening up conversations and raising awareness, as we have with mental health, it is possible to eradicate the silence behind the taboo. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Although several studies have dealt with the use of derogatory terms on social media, only few compared the phenomenon across languages from a sociocultural aspect. This study used a mixed-method comparative analysis of 920 Arabic and English abusive tweets. The researchers used content analysis to annotate the tweets according to their type and severity. They also used qualitative thematic discourse analysis to interpret the linguistic themes. Furthermore, they used frequency analysis to statistically identify the most common targets and lexical items and to identify the sociolinguistic patterns behind them. The results reveal that Arabic tweets have higher frequencies of gender abusive terms, and they are more severe than the English ones. However, English showed greater reliance on vulgar terms because of cultural taboos. English communication was also dominated by implicit insults, while Arabic favored explicit offense in accordance with direct/indirect cultural values. Both languages used emojis intensively, but Arabic used more diverse registers within messages. Anonymity boosted prejudices for both languages. In conclusion, the difference in online toxicity between the languages is the result of linguistic differences and the cultural norms and the interaction between the two. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

PeeBuddy, the first portable urination device for Indian women, has been around for close to seven years; still, it is struggling to break the taboo of serving as a portable urination device for Indian women treated as a taboo product in India. It has been hard to convince the Indian populous at large. Although Bajaj had done tremendous work over the years, much remained to be done. The critical task is to position PeeBuddy, such that Indian women should understand the purpose of the product, a brand, without hurting their sentiments. Bajaj knows that convincing Indian women and shifting them to any urination device required a shift in their mindset, which was hard to achieve. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article examines the limited access to information and resources for women in managing their reproductive health during Victorian Britain. It discusses how women had to rely on folk remedies and advice from friends and neighbors, as the medical profession largely avoided the topic of abortion and birth control. The article also explores the intersection of pornography and scientific texts, highlighting how pornographic publishers used scientific language to discuss taboo subjects like birth control and abortion. It further analyzes the short story "A: B: O" by Walter de la Mare, which critiques the prevailing attitudes towards abortion and medical practices of the time. The text argues that controversial genres like pornography provided a space to discuss censored topics in the medical domain. [Extracted from the article]

This concurrent qualitative study was carried out with the main objective to determine wildlife beliefs, taboos, usages, health perceptions, and practices among ten ethnic groups in four communities in Tak and Mae Hong Son provinces of Thailand from November 2020 to January 2021. We also gathered comprehensive information on study respondents' knowledge related to potential risk behaviors that could lead to zoonotic disease transmission and infection. Furthermore, we intended to use the study's findings to develop communication strategies and health literacy improvement interventions for mitigating risky behaviors, with a focus on ethnic groups and particular individuals who live in close proximity to forests and wildlife, to prevent future pandemics. Sixty-five respondents were purposively selected based on their extensive knowledge, active participation in local cultural contexts, beliefs, and exposure to wildlife contact or consuming game animals. Twenty (30.8%) participated in in-depth interviews (IDIs), while 45 (69.2%) participated in eight focused group discussions (FGDs). The results revealed that the characteristics of wildlife contact are similar and distinct based on their beliefs and taboos among various ethnic groups and study locations, which are influenced by cultural backgrounds and traditions. Although some ethnic groups do not have explicit restrictions on the consumption of wildlife, others adhere to specific beliefs and taboos that forbid the consumption or killing of specific wild animals. These beliefs frequently correspond with conservation initiatives, thereby facilitating the preservation of threatened species. The study also revealed a lack of appropriate health knowledge, perceptions, and practices regarding wildlife contact and consumption. As a result, it is recommended that public health officials and local governments develop and execute communication and education initiatives. These campaigns should aim to increase health literacy and promote safe handling, preparation, and cooking practices to reduce the risk of zoonotic disease transmission and infection effectively. Moreover, it is necessary to design and implement wildlife conservation education and outreach activities. The programs should promote environmental stewardship while considering the cultural contexts, beliefs, and practices of various ethnic groups. The activities should involve diverse stakeholders, including local leaders, religious influencers, community members, schoolteachers, students, health professionals, village health volunteers, and civil society organizations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this article, we examine the current management of sexually transmitted infections (STIs), in the context of rising antimicrobial resistance (AMR), through the lens of ‘treatment cultures’. Prevailing treatment cultures—including the prominence of syndromic care for STIs—foster certain possibilities and foreclose others, with important consequences for countering AMR. Drawing on qualitative interviews with STI professionals, experts and industry representatives, we unpack these stakeholders’ accounts of STI treatment cultures, drawing out the importance of socio‐historical (i.e. taboo and stigma), political–economic (i.e. perceptions of significance, profit‐making and prioritisation) and subjective (i.e. patient contexts and reflexivity) dimensions therein. In developing this critical account of how treatment cultures are formed, reproduced and indeed resisted, we reveal how such discourses and practices render the reining in of AMR and shifting antibiotic use difficult, and yet, how productive engagement remains key to any proposed solutions. As such, the article contributes to our understanding of AMR as a highly diversified field, through our exploration of the bio‐social dimensions of resistance as they relate to the case of STIs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper examines the critical perspectives of scholars during the Han Dynasty on customs and beliefs related to ghosts and deities. Focusing on Wang Chong as an example, it explores the naturalistic explanations of life and death, the concept of ghosts and deities, and the associated customs of funerals, sacrifices, and taboos. Wang Chong's criticisms focused on the core ideologies that underpinned funeral practices, sacrifices, and taboos and attempted to undermine the essence of these traditional customs. By reinterpreting funeral practices, sacrifices, and taboos from a ritualistic perspective that emphasized the social function rather than their supernatural implications, Wang Chong aimed to reconcile local tradition with rationality and promote a more profound understanding of the world. His approach, though complex and at times seemingly contradictory, holds an important position among the intellectual critiques of customs and beliefs during the Han Dynasty, and it sheds light on the challenges faced by ancient Chinese scholars in navigating the intersections between rationality, morality, and religion. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article revisits the concept of strategic ambiguity to identify and critically assess the overlooked role of international norms. Addressing a significant gap within the existing analysis of strategic ambiguity which fails to fully explain the role of norms, the article demonstrates how international norms construct and function within deliberately ambiguous foreign policy as the normative exploitation of epistemic ambiguity. Yet the article further reveals that strategic ambiguity is then systemically dependent on a precarious overreliance on epistemic ambiguity; this comprises a highly fragile policy framework which is excessively vulnerable to change. The article applies this innovative retheorization to an empirical case-study: United States foreign policy concerning the alleged Russian chemical warfare strategy in Ukraine. This analysis is based on an original and comparative discursive analysis of US administration and institutional public statements drawn primarily from government archives. The new analysis a) identifies US policy as strategic ambiguity and explains the strategy's motivations and perceived benefits; b) shows how an international norm (the chemical weapons taboo) was employed to enact an ambiguous foreign policy; but also, c) demonstrates the intrinsic fragility and potential collapse of this strategic ambiguity as a consequence of normative dynamics. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The NAEYC DAP position statement and book are widely used as guides for implementing equitable early learning in settings serving children birth through age 8. Building on the spirit of Sankofa, which in translation from the Akan expresses, 'It is not taboo to go back and fetch what you forgot'. this article documents the revision process for the position statement and highlights critical early childhood research on cultural contexts and equitable practices that particularly informed the fourth edition. Looking back to move forward and engaging in critical reflection is essential to DAP. This article outlines the extensive development process behind NAEYC position statements beginning with a historical understanding of DAP. We highlight the importance of feedback, as well as the diversity of thought behind the fourth edition of the position statement, which challenged old practices and illuminated new possibilities, eliciting both positive and negative critiques. We underscore that DAP, an imperfect living document, requires ongoing reflection. We conclude by encouraging critics of DAP and those defending it to do so with the understanding that research and scholarship must undergo updates/revisions, and DAP is no different. Thoughtful discussions are at the heart of DAP as anchored in intentional teaching. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Why do human societies have so many taboos, defined here as culturally prohibited activities? In this article, I offer a naturalistic account of the origin and transmission of taboos from an evolutionary anthropological perspective. Drawing from the extensive literature in cognitive science and cultural evolution, I argue that taboos may arise from our tendency to retrospectively attribute causes to misfortunes due to a deterministic worldview, and the imperfect transmission of taboos often leads to the loss of their original utilitarian rationale, making them resemble mere cultural conventions. While this account does not explain all cultural prohibitions in human societies, it provides valuable insights into the psychological and social mechanisms by which many taboos are generated in a bottom‐up fashion. Towards the end of the article, I offer a few implications on the proposed account of taboos and specify some testable predictions that merit further studies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Nawal El Saadawi, an advocate for women's rights in the Arab World, quickly gained international attention at the United Nations' 1980 Second World Conference on Women in Copenhagen thanks to her tackling of taboo topics, such as women's lives in Palestine. Arguing that the conflict with Israel influenced women's rights in the region and that therefore the Israeli-Palestinian conflict deserved attention at the conference, El Saadawi found herself at the center of a larger debate about what counted as "women's issues" and what were "political matters." Spotlighting a particular moment when feminists dug in and grappled with ideas of how to work in solidarity with one another across geopolitical borders, this article provides a window into conversations where feminists challenged assumptions about what "women's issues" were, who should solve them, and what empowered women. Through the story of El Saadawi's participation in these exchanges, this article reveals a major shift that took place in transnational feminist circles when women's issues were deemed inherently political. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

There has recently been a growing interest in social justice language education, with the goal of challenging entrenched social, cultural and economic hierarchies within educational institutions and the society at large. Contributing to this line of research, the present study focused on an online conversation club that aimed to develop EFL learners' communicative skills and critical literacy through the discussion of social justice issues which have traditionally been deemed 'taboo' and 'controversial'. Data were collected online via demographic information survey, the recordings of the conversation club sessions, facilitator's field notes and reflective journals, and student interviews. The results revealed several discursive moves adopted by EFL learners, which mostly revolved around that's our responsibility vs others in relation to environmental issues; and that's the government's-job when it comes to themes related to immigration. The findings illustrated the potential of social justice-oriented conversation clubs to foster diverse perspectives and authentic conversation in language classrooms, and to cultivate EFL learners' critical literacy. The study provides insights into how language educators can integrate social justice issues into the language curriculum in ways that help language learners question their already-existing beliefs and take action for a socially just world. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Knowledge is an essential determinant and component of the international development cooperation agenda and projects. Therefore, it is vital to understand and reflect on how knowledge in international development cooperation is created, what knowledge counts, and how it influences the planning, implementation, and outcomes of international development cooperation projects. In this paper, we critically examine the knowledge system of the development cooperation of the Czech Republic, an emerging donor country, by applying system theory and utilizing system properties as an analytical tool. To this end, we carried out a multi-phase qualitative research with actors from the Czech Republic and Zambia. Subsequently, we analysed the knowledge system properties and identified those often overlooked by development actors, such as taboos, mistrust, and development burden, revealing how knowledge flows can be obstructed by these characteristics. In addition, we compiled a set of suitable interventions to tackle the overlooked system properties and foster knowledge cross-fertilisation. These interventions include, among others, active engagement of traditional leaders, active work with narratives of success, and introducing action-reflection-reaction cycle into the development practice. Furthermore, the proposed interventions clearly emphasize the need for more collaborative and transdisciplinary processes. Finally, we discuss that it is essential to uncover deep layers of the international development cooperation knowledge system to shift and leverage it towards more inclusive and just outcomes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cases of hate speech linked to Indonesian women using taboo language on social media have risen, leading to many Indonesian women being subjected to criminal penalties. Therefore, research on taboo language must be conducted to resolve cybercrimes. This study discloses the type, category, and adverse effects of using taboo language from a legal perspective. The data were verdicts downloaded from the Supreme Court’s directory. Data were analyzed using the intralingual equivalence method to examine linguistic features such as meaning, information, and speech context. Linguistic forensics was also applied to focus on the language that generates legal cases based on the Indonesian cultural environment according to Jay’s classification of taboos. The results of the study revealed that the women on social media utilized prohibited language, including hate speech in Indonesian and indigenous languages. The taboo languages used by women on social media categorized as cases of hate speech were: 1) sexual references, 2) profane or blasphemous, 3) animal names, 4) ethnic-racial-gender slurs, and 5) references to perceived psychological, physical, or social deviations. The negative impact of using taboo language by women on social media from a legal perspective is a hate speech crime that violates the Indonesian Electronic Information and Transactions Law. This research contributes to handling legal cases by imposing language, gender stereotype theory, and taboo language as potential evidence in hate speech cases. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Since 1990, there has been a global decline in forest areas. Between 2010 and 2020, the greatest annual net loss of forests was on the African continent. Despite South African indigenous forests and trees being protected under the National Forests Act of 1998 (Act No. 84 of 1998), the country has also shown an increased annual net loss of forests. Although the Vhembe District Municipality in South Africa has lost forest owing to humaninduced deforestation and other land use activities, sacred forests have not been affected. According to traditional beliefs, exploitation of such indigenous patches of sacred forests is taboo. This study aims to explore the role of taboos in the protection of the remaining patches of sacred forest. Methods: The study relies on data collected between December 2022 and December 2023. Semi-structured interviewswere conductedwith key informants (n = 61) and local communities in Tshidzivhe and Duthuni villages (n = 60). Observations were used as a further data collection tool. The interview questions were prepared to assess the role of taboos in the protection and management of sacred forests. Data collected through interviews were analysed using thematic content analysis, while field observations helped to corroborate the results from the interviews. Results and discussion: The study identified two main taboos - one that restricts entry into the sacred forests (i.e. preventing entry into the sacred forests, and harvesting, hunting and hiking in these areas), and another that prohibits noise or activities that disrespect sacred forests. The study found that believers and nonbelievers alike, for fear of retribution by the spirits, still obey these taboos and their relatedmyths. This has allowed these areas to develop dense stands of closed-canopy evergreen forest that support more diverse flora and fauna than found in surrounding areas. Although sacred forests are not meant for biodiversity conservation, they offer opportunities to be integrated into global conservation targets of "30x30" and "Half-Earth" by 2030. They also offer the opportunity of serving as carbon sinks which is key to climate change mitigation. Recommendations for protecting sacred forests and associated taboos are drawn up based on these results. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

AbstractSuicide is a public health issue that impacts an average of six family members and up to 135 community members. Persons bereaved by suicide may feel guilt, stigma, shame, and rejection. In Türkiye, suicide survivors may face additional challenges due to Islamic taboos and sanctions placed on suicide. This study explores the experiences and support needs of Turkish suicide survivors through an online survey. Using NVivo software for thematic analysis, we examined responses from 73 participants and identified three predominant themes: (1) the impact of suicide, (2) support experiences and perceptions, and (3) recommendations for appropriate support provision. Each theme contained several subthemes. Our findings indicated a lack of available services and an unmet need for support. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Prognostication has been found to be a delicate matter in interactions between palliative care professionals and patients. Studies have investigated how these discussions are managed and how speakers orient to their delicate nature. However, the degree to which prognostication is a delicate matter in discussions between palliative care professionals themselves has yet to be investigated. This study explored how hospice multidisciplinary team (MDT) members oriented to the delicacy of prognostication during their meetings. Video-recordings of 24 hospice MDT meetings were transcribed and analyzed using Conversation Analysis. In-depth analysis of the interactions showed how prognostic discussions were oriented to as delicate. This was displayed through markers such as pauses and self-repair organization including cutting off words and restarts, and through accounts accompanying the prognosis. In this way, it was seen that prognostication was not necessarily straightforward. This was further evidenced when prognostic requests were problematic to respond to. It is noteworthy that prognostic discussions are delicate during hospice MDT meetings. Potential reasons may reach further than the taboo of death and lie within prognostic uncertainty and accountability. Research is warranted to explore what causes this delicacy and whether specific support is needed for hospice staff. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

If abortion remains a taboo experience anchored—in social, political and media discourse—in the notion of trauma, French literature of the last decades offers increasingly diversified narratives on the question. Wishing to move away from the binaries that have always animated debates on abortion, several authors reveal a much more varied spectrum of reactions towards this experience, which can be contradictory or ambiguous, combining relief with loss. This article focuses on this more complex vision of abortion through the analysis of three literary works of the last decade: Dix-sept ans by Colombe Schneck (2015); Ligne de partage des eaux by Fabienne Swiatly (2011); and Il fallait que je vous le dise by Aude Mermilliod (2019). After reviewing the discourses circulating around abortion, the article demonstrates how, in these works written in the first person, abortion registers as completion incompletion, leaving its marks in the women who might feel a connection to their foetus. Finally, these texts make it possible to read, see, and imagine a mosaic of abortion experiences. This gives rise to filiations made through the experience of abortion, bringing together women who underwent it and put it into words, and encouraging others to share their stories. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aim: This study aims to identify and describe prevalence rates for ASD in the Scandinavian countries (Denmark, Norway, Sweden), as well as the Nordic countries (Finland, Iceland, the Faroe Islands, and Greenland). Methods: A systematic review was conducted following PRISMA (2009) guidelines and based on the two databases: APA PsycINFO and MEDLINE (PubMed). Results: A total of 13 studies were included in the analyses. It was not possible to identify ASD prevalence studies for Greenland. However, for the remaining countries descriptive increases in ASD prevalence figures were observed. Increases were evident both in relation to age and birth cohort. Studies varied regarding which age group and cohort prevalence figures were reported. The most reported age group was the 7– 12-year-olds. In this group, recent prevalence figures for Denmark ranged from 0.26% to 1.47%, in Norway 0.6%, in Sweden 0.23– 0.68%, in Finland 0.22– 0.86%, and in Iceland 2.40– 3.13%. Iceland stood out in terms of higher prevalence figures compared to the other Scandinavian and Nordic countries. Two studies from the Faroe Islands reported ASD prevalence rates between 0.50% and 0.94% for 7– 24-year-olds. These studies were based on nationwide figures, but not from national or official registers. Discussion and conclusion: This study documented increasing prevalence of ASD in Scandinavian and Nordic countries. Several explanations of aspects that may contribute to the increases were discussed, eg, heightened awareness of ASD and earlier diagnosis. The importance of considering differences in data sources was discussed, with an emphasis on the importance of using national registries when available as this source is the most reliable and valid. The absence of prevalence figures for Greenland may be attributed to structural as well as cultural aspects, eg, two parallel systems assessing ASD, cultural taboos as well as lack of awareness of ASD. Suggestions or how to gain knowledge on ASD prevalence in Greenland is presented. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Language has an important role in society, because language is a means for humans to communicate with each other, through language speakers can identify themselves as they understand their own language as a symbol. The language human use has meaning, meaning plays a very important role in all fields and helps in the understanding of Language. The researcher conducted this research to find out what types of taboo language are in the Harry Potter movie and to find out what type of taboo language most often used in the Harry Potter films. This research is descriptive qualitative research, data collection techniques by watching it repeatedly, then the researcher transcribes all the taboo words contained in the Harry Potter movie, then the researcher groups the taboo words according to Steven Pinker (2017). There are 4 types of taboo language namely: profanity, sexual language, regious taboo, and taboo word in socity. There are 9 taboo language in the Harry Potter movie. From the results above, the use of taboo words in the Harry Potter movie not only reflects the nature of the characters but also expresses feelings of anger, surprise and annoyance which aims to create character depth and a more realistic atmosphere. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract argumentation has become one of the important fields of artificial intelligence. This paper proposes a dual-neighborhood tabu search (DNTS) method specifically designed to find a single stable extension in abstract argumentation frameworks. The proposed algorithm implements an improved dual-neighborhood strategy incorporating a fast neighborhood evaluation method. In addition, by introducing techniques such as tabu and perturbation, this algorithm is able to jump out of the local optimum, which significantly improves the performance of the algorithm. In order to evaluate the effectiveness of the method, the performance of the algorithm on more than 300 randomly generated benchmark datasets was studied and compared with the algorithm in the literature. In the experiment, DNTS outperforms the other method regarding time consumption in more than 50 instances and surpasses the other meta-heuristic method in the number of solved cases. Further analysis shows that the initialization method, the tabu strategy, and the perturbation technique help guarantee the efficiency of the proposed DNTS. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Menstrual function is an integral component of the overall health and well-being of cyclically menstruating athletes, impacted by and affecting their participation in sport and athletic training. This review used the coach–athlete relationship to examine the sport environment for factors that facilitate or hinder healthy sport participation for cyclically menstruating athletes with respect to their menstrual cycles. Four databases were searched until June 30, 2023, for studies that explored the experiences, perceptions and knowledge related to the menstrual cycle among athletes training under a coach and coaches of cyclically menstruating athletes. The search produced 2511 studies, which, following screening for relevance and eligibility, resulted in 34 studies of moderate-to-high quality. Thematic synthesis and integration of qualitative and quantitative data from 7558 athletes and coaches from elite to amateur level uncovered 4 main themes pertaining to the coach–athlete relationship and the menstrual cycle that constituted barriers (menstruation taboo, lack of knowledge and awareness, and lack of communication among stakeholders) and facilitators (presence of female coaches, positive experiences of communicating about the menstrual cycle, and trust) to healthy sport participation. A final theme summarised the needs of athletes and coaches related to the menstrual cycle. Greater education, representation of females in sporting roles, and improved collaboration among the various stakeholders emerged as the primary factors for driving a culture-shift in the sporting environment, in order to abolish the taboo against menstruation and promote healthy sport participation for cyclically menstruating athletes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In Asian cultures, discussing sexual matters with adolescents is often considered taboo and culturally or religiously sensitive. Due to a lack of knowledge and skills, many parents find approaching such a topic with their children challenging, fearing that raising such an issue will bring concerns about encouraging promiscuity. This systematic review aims to assess evidence on Asian parents’ perspectives and practices regarding delivering sexuality information to adolescents. It also seeks to identify the factors that facilitate or hinder the effective delivery of such knowledge. The electronic databases EBSCO-CINAHL, Scopus, and Science Direct were searched using keywords and synonyms such as “sexuality information,” “sexuality education,” “parent-child,” “communication,” and “Asian.” The studies’ quality was assessed using the Mixed-Method Assessment Tool. A comprehensive database search identified 1392 potentially relevant literature sources for this review. Following the application of inclusion criteria, a final set of 16 eligible full-text research articles was selected for inclusion in the review. In most quantitative literature, parents were found to have a good level of knowledge, whereas most qualitative studies reported the opposite, indicating inadequate knowledge. Seven studies highlighted the cultural denial of delivering regarding sexuality, whereas six studies emphasized the need for parental support. Negative experiences, including discomfort, shyness, embarrassment, fear of intimidation, and fearful encounters, were reported in the literature. In conclusion, this review aims to pinpoint gaps and challenges in the delivery of sexuality education among Asian parents, offering valuable insights for public health practitioners and policymakers.

Background and Aim: Menstruation is a normal physiological event for teenage girls who reach reproductive age. Superstitions and social taboos nevertheless surround it. An inadequate understanding of the menstrual cycle might lead to risky hygiene practices. Despite such clinical and educational impacts, menstruation-related information and hygienic behaviors are not adequately addressed in India, particularly among adolescent girls. Hence, the main objective of this study was to enhance adolescent schoolgirls’ knowledge and usage of menstrual hygiene management in the Belagavi District through educational intervention. Materials and Methods: Four eighty-four adolescent girls aged between 12 and 19 years were randomly assigned into the intervention group (IG group) and control group (CG group) (n = 242 per group). Both groups received one session of an educational intervention. Before and after the intervention, they were requested to complete outcome assessments using the Menstrual Knowledge, Sociocultural Restrictions and Barriers Questionnaire and Menstrual Practice Needs Scale-36. Results: The result of the study has revealed statistical significance. The IG group demonstrated an extremely significant change in both outcome measures’ preintervention and postintervention scores (P < 0.001). In comparison to the CG, the interventional group had superior postinterventional knowledge and hygiene practices, according to the between-group analysis (P < 0.001). Conclusion: According to the current research findings, knowledge levels significantly increased in the IG (88.8%) and the CG (28.45%). Adolescent girls’ practice scores also revealed a significant rise in the IG of 44.6% and no change in the CG. Thus, the educational program’s goals of enhancing menstrual hygiene understanding and practice were achieved effectively.

This essay offers an interpretation of Mk 5: 25–34 by drawing upon historical-critical, feminist, and postcolonial interpretive strategies. The ambiguity within the text opens up a range of possible meanings. In the Markan account, Jesus responds to the bleeding woman by bleeding power; creating space for her to tell her story without shame or blame; and blessing her so that she can go in peace. I argue that this three-fold response could reframe the church's approach to solidarity with women who have experienced reproductive loss, inclusive of abortion. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The presented article examines the notion of taboo in translation in Philip Larkin’s poem “This Be The Verse” and its three Polish translations by Jerzy Jarniewicz, Jacek Dehnel and Maciej Froński. In the first part of the article, we find information on Larkin's reception in Poland and translations of his poems. We also learn that in addition to supporters such as Barańczak, Jarniewicz and Dehnel, he also had well-known opponents, the most famous of whom was Czesław Miłosz The second part of the article deals with the idea of different types of taboo is presented together with an analysis of Larkin’s dealings with this notion. The types of taboo discussed here are: profanity, ancestors, immediate family and God. Larkin seens to be breaking all of them, yet retaining a classic verse structure and certain elegance that present a great challenge to his translators In the third part, we look closer at the three Polish translations of “This Be The Verse”, focusing on how the subsequent translators have dealt with its taboos. They all had a difficult task, which they accomplished in a variety of ways, all of which have been carefully researched and described. Finally, as the author, I also present my own version of Larkin's translation of the poem, but leave its assessment to subsequent researchers.

There are significant differences between the methods used in Western and Eastern culture to discuss sex. Any topic related to sex in Eastern culture, specifically Indonesia, is often considered taboo compared to Western culture. This is due to the strong cultural and religious values prevalent in Eastern societies, making discussions about sex feel impolite and inappropriate. Therefore, this study aimed to explore the importance of sex education as a “sine qua non” in Indonesia and the consequences of treating sex education as a taboo. The exploration process would examine the role of parents, teachers, counselors, psychologists, and the community in sex education, new sex education policies, along with recommendations, implications, and directions for future investigations.

Abstract Introduction : This study aimed to investigate the work problems and challenges of male prehospital emergency technicians when faced with female medical emergencies. Given that qualitative research has not been done in this field, planning to find the weak points and improve the quality of prehospital emergency as the first line of treatment for female emergency patients, which is considered an important part of the health care system, is considered important and valuable. Therefore, this phenomenological study was conducted in 2023. Methods This study was conducted using a qualitative method of phenomenology in 2023. The environment of the research was urban and road prehospital emergency centers in Iran and the data were collected through interviews with EMS technicians. The collected data were analyzed using Smith’s approach to explain the lived experiences of EMS technicians facing female emergencies or women’s emergencies in Iran. Results All the 15 participants were men. Their mean age was 35 years, with a range of 25 to 45 years, and with a mean work experience of 10.54 years with a range of 4 to 20 years. The lived experiences of 115 emergency technicians in facing women’s emergencies in Iran were placed in four main themes cultural-social factors, organizational factors, human resources-related factors, and administrative-legal factors. Conclusion EMS personnel face various obstacles in carrying out missions related to women’s emergencies, Considering the critical nature of women’s emergencies, it is recommended that policymakers and clinical educators improve the level of community culture, communication skills, theoretical and practical training, respecting privacy, hiring female personnel, adding specialized equipment, amending and changing laws, removing road-traffic obstacles and to support personnel, patients and their families psychologically to optimize performance in women’s emergencies.

In L’Événement (2000), the author’s retelling of her experience of an illicit abortion in 1964, Annie Ernaux writes of a ‘chaîne invisible où se côtoient des artistes, des écrivaines, des héroïnes de roman’, stating that ‘[s]on histoire est en elles’. There is a timelessness to Ernaux’s abortion narrative, jumping between two temporal spaces: the contemporary narrator’s experience of writing the novel at the turn of the millennium, and that of the young Annie in the 1960s. Twenty-one years after the novel’s publication, Audrey Diwan’s film adaptation of the same name became another link on this chain, further highlighting the relevance of the story of a young woman’s illicit abortion almost 50 years after the decriminalisation of abortion in France. This article extends Ernaux’s ‘chaîne’ further back in time, by adding another female-authored novel: L’Ensemencée (1904), by Jeanne Caruchet. The author explores how these women’s experiences of abortion are presented across these three works, examining the change in attitudes towards abortion, with particular focus on the evolution of female communities, from the Belle Époque, through the turn of the millennium and into the early 2020s. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Early historiography of the South-Asian Partition tended to emphasize on the high politics surrounding the struggles against British imperialism and the transfer of power, focusing on prominent leaders and politicians and their roles in achieving self-rule. The perspectives of the general populace and the effects of high politics on those on the periphery of society, have been elided. However, since the 1990s, alternative voices, documenting the human dimension of Partition and the histories of marginalized masses, previously excluded from official histories, have started to gain importance. This article analyses how the graphic narrative, “The Taboo,” by Malini Gupta and Dyuti Mittal, offers such an alternative history, presenting the experiences of the residents of a refugee camp (Cooper’s camp) who have not been rehabilitated to this date and thereby remained trapped as “historical residues” of the Partition. This article discusses how the narrative highlights the subjectivity and agency of the refugees, particularly, the refugee women, with lower caste and class backgrounds whose histories have remained undocumented in official records. It further examines “The Taboo” as a microhistory of Partition that presents the local history of the camp and foregrounds the agency of the protagonist Lily, as an unattached refugee woman. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Multi-objective optimization is challenging for computationally expensive objectives because most optimization methods rely on a large number of function evaluations to approach the Pareto-optimal front. To this end, this article develops a novel multi-objective optimization algorithm, the Multi-Objective Parallel Local Surrogate-assisted search (MOPLS) algorithm, which combines surrogate approximation and parallel computing. In each iteration, MOPLS incorporates a tabu mechanism to determine new points for expensive evaluations via a series of independent surrogate-assisted local searches. A master–worker architecture in MOPLS allows the algorithm to conduct either synchronous or asynchronous parallel processing. On a number of benchmark problems, MOPLS outperforms recent surrogate-assisted algorithms within a limited computational budget. Empirical results from parallel experiments indicate that MOPLS can significantly improve its efficiency through parallelism, and the asynchronous MOPLS shows advantages in handling objectives with non-constant evaluation times. Finally, the better performance of MOPLS over alternatives in calibrating a complex watershed simulation model demonstrates its competitiveness in solving real-world engineering applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper, by replacing the exponential memory kernel function of a tabu learning single-neuron model with the power-law memory kernel function, a novel Caputo's fractional-order tabu learning single-neuron model and a network of two interacting fractional-order tabu learning neurons are constructed firstly. Different from the integer-order tabu learning model, the order of the fractional-order derivative is used to measure the neuron's memory decay rate and then the stabilities of the models are evaluated by the eigenvalues of the Jacobian matrix at the equilibrium point of the fractional-order models. By choosing the memory decay rate (or the order of the fractional-order derivative) as the bifurcation parameter, it is proved that Hopf bifurcation occurs in the fractional-order tabu learning single-neuron model where the value of bifurcation point in the fractional-order model is smaller than the integer-order model's. By numerical simulations, it is shown that the fractional-order network with a lower memory decay rate is capable of producing tangent bifurcation as the learning rate increases from 0 to 0.4. When the learning rate is fixed and the memory decay increases, the fractional-order network enters into frequency synchronization firstly and then enters into amplitude synchronization. During the synchronization process, the oscillation frequency of the fractional-order tabu learning two-neuron network increases with an increase in the memory decay rate. This implies that the higher the memory decay rate of neurons, the higher the learning frequency will be. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper examines aggravated impoliteness in online restaurant reviews, with a dataset consisting of 92 negative reviews from the Chinese-based website Dazhongdianping. It first analyzes the usage and frequency of different types of aggravated impoliteness strategies. The topic categories of the review samples are then investigated, and the connection between these two aspects is further discussed. The variety of aggravated impoliteness strategies includes: preceding intensifiers, indignant exclamations, unpalatable questions, emoji, postpositional intensifiers, unfavorable comparisons, emphatic structure and taboo words, in decreasing order of frequency. These strategies are employed in connection with the ratings of: food, service, general experience, interpersonal judgments, price and environment. This study contributes to the impoliteness research by investigating the aggravated impoliteness in Chinese online data, and also enriches and provides insights into research on the genre of online consumer reviews. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Little is known about military attitudes toward weapons taboos or the durability of nonuse norms in wartime. Chemical weapons are a key case given public revulsion and clear international prohibitions. We explore soldiers' attitudes in a salient setting: the Pacific theater of World War II. We draw on a declassified survey covering a representative sample of enlisted US soldiers in Hawaii in 1944. This unique context, during a total war against an adversary that had employed chemical weapons, represents a hard test for the chemical weapons taboo. Up to 91% of soldiers supported using chemical weapons against Japan, including 24% who favored initiation and 67% who favored retaliatory use. To understand the influence of military instruction, we exploit a novel regimen still used in basic training, which saw some troops exposed to lachrymatory gas. We find exposure to chemical weapons in training reduced support for use. Visceral experiences can mobilize support for weapons taboos in otherwise permissive environments. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article delves into the concept of "distant communications" in the context of death and grief. It challenges the notion that technology has erased distance, arguing that despite instant communication across long distances, feelings of separation persist. The article explores how different cultures and religions approach communication with the dead, emphasizing the significance of historical and cultural context in shaping societal responses to death. It also examines various technologies and mediums used to manage and visualize death, as well as the political and social implications of mourning practices. The text covers a range of topics, including wills, suicide letters, and the use of death in creating alternative worlds and spaces. The authors highlight the emotional and practical functions of communication beyond death and stress the importance of understanding diverse belief systems and alternative knowledge systems in relation to death and the afterlife. [Extracted from the article]

Copyright of Bulletin of Ablai Khan KazUIRandWL: Series 'Philological sciences' is the property of Kazakh Ablai Khan University of International Relations & World Languages 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.)

Copyright of Acta Biologica Slovenica is the property of Drustvo Biologov Slovenije 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.)

Language has proven to possess tremendous power: words not only reflect our perception of the world, but they also have an impact on other people's ideas (Foucault, 2002; Fairclough, 2003; Koller, 2017). This is especially significant in the case of health communication, which, in the last few years, has raised a particular interest as a result of the number of health-related discourses that have emerged on the Internet (Harvey, 2013; Brookes and Hunt, 2021). Exchanging information has become so easy and quick now that more and more people are starting to share their stories of illness, raising awareness and seeking for emotional support, which has highlighted the therapeutic role of storytelling (Conti, 2019). Given that cancer is the leading cause of death in the world (WHO, 2022), and considering the growing trend towards storytelling and the extraordinary power of language, the aim of this paper is to analyse how cancer patients use language in their narratives when describing their illness experiences. To conduct our analysis, we compiled a corpus of cancer narratives written in English and used corpus linguistic tools (McEnery and Hardie, 2012) such as Sketch Engine (Kilgarriff et al., 2014) to explore how cancer, illness, health, life and death are represented. Preliminary findings show that, although the word 'cancer' seems to be commonly used by English-speaking cancer patients, they do not often talk about death, especially about their own, suggesting that death may still be a taboo in our society. In addition, as reflected in their narratives, patients seem to change their life expectations, values and priorities after living with cancer. Furthermore, our findings suggest that patients may understand certain issues such as 'being healthy' differently from the general population. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Lingüística y Literatura is the property of Universidad de Antioquia, Facultad de Comunicaciones 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.)

Swearing, or the use of taboo language, has been repeatedly shown to induce hypoalgesia. While reliable hypoalgesic effects have been observed across studies, the mechanisms by which swearing influences pain and the optimal dosage of swearing remain poorly understood. Plausible mechanistic rationale for swearing's impact on pain include sympathetic response, emotion, humor, distraction, aggression, state disinhibition, psychological flow, risky behavior, and self-confidence. It remains unknown how the intensity of the swear word, speech volume, frequency, or timing influences pain modulation. While the majority of evidence demonstrates the efficacy of swearing at attenuating acute pain responses, these studies have utilized healthy populations with controlled experiments in laboratory settings. Comparatively, less is known about how laboratory findings translate practically/clinically to diverse populations, various dosages, and different pain chronicities. A greater understanding of mechanistic underpinnings and practical implications are necessary to feasibly implement swearing as a therapeutic modality to combat pain. The purpose of the following mini-review is to provide an overview of the current evidence on swearing for the reduction of pain, speculate on plausible underlying mechanisms, and discuss the potential for optimization of swearing for real-world translation. Lastly, identifying knowledge gaps to aid in directing future research will be discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract\nPoints of interestHow do the support staff and the families of the residents with intellectual disabilities of care facilities in France perceive the latter’s sexual life and desire for parenthood and how is this taken into account in their interactions? Life-history interviews conducted with seven family caregivers and four focus groups using Photolanguage® conducted with the support staff were analyzed using a thematic and a psychodynamic analysis. Both institutional rules and families’ concerns impact the sexual expression of the residents. Their sexual and intimate lives are primarily perceived as an ‘additional problem’. Fearing the reactions of the families, support staff tend to keep residents in the dark about reproductive and sexual health issues These findings reveal an urgent need to change the paradigm in these institutions: a vision of residents as fully-fledged adults who can make choices and who have the right to clear information in their sexual and intimate life.In France, people with intellectual disabilities still largely live in care homes administered by parents’ associations, where there are not always explicit common rules on the sexual and intimate lives of the residents.The sexual and intimate lives of care home residents are both recognised and set aside by families and staff, who tend to view these aspects as problems to be managed. The autonomy and free choice of residents on these issues are largely prevented, which forces them into a position of incapacity.This tendency to prevent residents from making informed choices generates a culture of incident that makes sexual violence against professionals and other residents more likely.There is an urgent need for training for French professionals and residents on intimate and sexual life in the residential setting, along with ongoing support for parents of children with intellectual disabilities.In France, people with intellectual disabilities still largely live in care homes administered by parents’ associations, where there are not always explicit common rules on the sexual and intimate lives of the residents.The sexual and intimate lives of care home residents are both recognised and set aside by families and staff, who tend to view these aspects as problems to be managed. The autonomy and free choice of residents on these issues are largely prevented, which forces them into a position of incapacity.This tendency to prevent residents from making informed choices generates a culture of incident that makes sexual violence against professionals and other residents more likely.There is an urgent need for training for French professionals and residents on intimate and sexual life in the residential setting, along with ongoing support for parents of children with intellectual disabilities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the globalization trend, China's cultural heritage is in danger of gradually disappearing. The protection and inheritance of these precious cultural resources has become a critical task. This paper focuses on the Miao batik culture in Guizhou Province, China, and explores the application of knowledge graphs, natural language processing, and deep learning techniques in the promotion and protection of batik culture. We propose a dual-channel mechanism that integrates semantic and visual information, aiming to connect batik pattern features with cultural connotations. First, we use natural language processing techniques to automatically extract batik-related entities and relationships from the literature, and construct and visualize a structured batik pattern knowledge graph. Based on this knowledge graph, users can textually search and understand the images, meanings, taboos, and other cultural information of specific patterns. Second, for the batik pattern classification, we propose an improved ResNet34 model. By embedding average pooling and convolutional operations into the residual blocks and introducing long-range residual connections, the classification performance is enhanced. By inputting pattern images into this model, their categories can be accurately identified, and then the underlying cultural connotations can be understood. Experimental results show that our model outperforms other mainstream models in evaluation metrics such as accuracy, precision, recall, and F1-score, achieving 94.46%, 94.47%, 93.62%, and 93.8%, respectively. This research provides new ideas for the digital protection of batik culture and demonstrates the great potential of artificial intelligence technology in cultural heritage protection. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: : This study aimed to investigate the work problems and challenges of male prehospital emergency technicians when faced with female medical emergencies. Given that qualitative research has not been done in this field, planning to find the weak points and improve the quality of prehospital emergency as the first line of treatment for female emergency patients, which is considered an important part of the health care system, is considered important and valuable. Therefore, this phenomenological study was conducted in 2023. Methods: This study was conducted using a qualitative method of phenomenology in 2023. The environment of the research was urban and road prehospital emergency centers in Iran and the data were collected through interviews with EMS technicians. The collected data were analyzed using Smith's approach to explain the lived experiences of EMS technicians facing female emergencies or women's emergencies in Iran. Results: All the 15 participants were men. Their mean age was 35 years, with a range of 25 to 45 years, and with a mean work experience of 10.54 years with a range of 4 to 20 years. The lived experiences of 115 emergency technicians in facing women's emergencies in Iran were placed in four main themes cultural-social factors, organizational factors, human resources-related factors, and administrative-legal factors. Conclusion: EMS personnel face various obstacles in carrying out missions related to women's emergencies, Considering the critical nature of women's emergencies, it is recommended that policymakers and clinical educators improve the level of community culture, communication skills, theoretical and practical training, respecting privacy, hiring female personnel, adding specialized equipment, amending and changing laws, removing road-traffic obstacles and to support personnel, patients and their families psychologically to optimize performance in women's emergencies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]