Background: The COVID-19 pandemic has influenced multiple domains of human health, including sexual functioning. This study investigates the potential association between COVID-19 infection and penetrative sexual disorders by examining demographic, clinical, and laboratory characteristics. Methods: A retrospective analysis was conducted on 148 individuals diagnosed with penetrative sexual disorders. Participants were classified into two groups based on their COVID-19 status: COVID-negative (n = 53) and COVID-positive (n = 95). Demographic information, clinical features, psychometric scale scores, and laboratory parameters were compared between the groups. Results: The median age of the cohort was 28 years (range: 19–41). COVID-19 status was significantly associated with educational level, marital status, marital duration, and stages of sexual functioning (p < 0.05). Participants with COVID-19 infection more frequently reported higher educational attainment and a history of multiple marriages. Hamilton Depression Scale scores were lower among COVID-positive individuals, while the majority showed moderate to severe classifications according to the Lamont system. Laboratory analysis revealed significant group differences in FSH, LH, albumin, AST, HbA1c, calcium, magnesium, vitamin B12, TSH, and leukocyte levels (p < 0.05). Conclusion: COVID-19 infection appears to be associated with distinct demographic, clinical, and biochemical characteristics among individuals experiencing penetrative sexual disorders. These findings suggest that COVID-19 may influence sexual health indirectly, highlighting the need for further research to clarify underlying mechanisms and inform preventive or therapeutic approaches. Keywords: COVID-19, Sexual Penetration Disorders, Clinical Correlates, Demographic Factors, Laboratory Parameters
Correntropy has become increasingly prevalent in recent years due to its strong performance in solving estimation, identification, and filtering problems under impulse noise or abrupt disturbances. It is commonly defined as the mathematical expectation of a Gaussian kernel applied to two random variables. When estimation errors follow a symmetric distribution, the use of a symmetric Gaussian kernel provides favorable results. However, when measurement noise is asymmetric, the efficiency of symmetric correntropy declines significantly. Under such conditions, the adoption of asymmetric correntropy, which employs an asymmetric Gaussian model as the kernel function, becomes more suitable. This study examines an algorithm for estimating both stationary and non-stationary model parameters in the presence of Gaussian and non-Gaussian noise. Simulation results verify the effectiveness of the proposed asymmetric correntropy-based estimation approach, demonstrating enhanced robustness against asymmetric disturbances.
Dental caries result from demineralization, a process involving the loss of minerals from the tooth structure. Remineralization, achieved by applying mineral-rich compounds to the tooth surface, can counteract this process. In the fish processing industry, fish bones are treated as waste despite their high calcium content; typical bone composition includes calcium, phosphorus, and carbonate. Bones from the snakehead fish (Channa striata) contain substantial calcium and therefore offer promising potential as a source for hydroxyapatite in tooth remineralization pastes. Enamel consists of approximately 92% hydroxyapatite crystals, and hydroxyapatite is known to integrate effectively with human hard tissue and support new bone formation. The purpose of this study was to formulate a remineralization paste using hydroxyapatite derived from Channa striata bone meal and evaluate its acceptability through organoleptic testing. Sixty-five panelists participated and were divided into four groups. Data analysis was conducted using one-way ANOVA and the least significant difference (LSD) test. The findings confirmed successful hydroxyapatite synthesis from fish bone meal, yielding crystals with an average size of 43.91 nm and a calcium content of 32.957%. The resulting remineralization paste demonstrated acceptable taste, color, texture, and aroma, ranking as the second most preferred formulation among the tested samples.
Aims: This study aimed to assess DNA methylation status and mRNA expression levels of the Nerve Growth Factor (NGF) gene in menstrual blood from individuals with endometriosis, and to examine their association with menstrual pain severity. Settings and Design: This experimental investigation involved a comparative analysis using molecular and statistical approaches. Methods and Materials: The study included 20 reproductive-age participants, 10 with clinically confirmed endometriosis and 10 without the condition (controls). Menstrual blood samples were collected using filter paper pads. NGF DNA methylation was quantified by pyrosequencing, followed by NGF mRNA expression analysis using RT-qPCR. Statistical analyses were performed using SPSS version 22, with a significance threshold of p < 0.05. Results: Menstrual blood from endometriosis patients demonstrated NGF gene hypomethylation accompanied by a significantly higher mRNA expression level compared with controls (p < 0.05). Despite these differences, no significant correlation was found between NGF DNA methylation levels and mRNA expression in endometriosis samples (p > 0.05). Conclusions: The elevated NGF mRNA expression detected in menstrual blood from individuals with endometriosis does not appear to be directly driven by reduced DNA methylation. Nevertheless, the concurrent presence of NGF hypomethylation and increased gene expression highlights its potential clinical utility as a non-invasive early biomarker for endometriosis diagnosis.
The concept of peace has inspired numerous theoretical approaches designed to attain, protect, and strengthen it. Although universally regarded as a noble ideal, peace remains one of the most complex and fragile constructs within human society. Its pursuit is frequently obscured by conflicting interests and unreliable justifications promoted by those who claim to protect it. Consequently, peace is often concealed beneath political and ideological rhetoric, serving as a temporary antidote to the destructive realities of contemporary conflict. This obscuration not only diminishes present efforts but also cloud the prospects of a hopeful future—one sustained by individuals who persist in defending peace despite widespread indifference. These individuals, often forgotten, continue to struggle tirelessly against adversity, moving toward fertile ground that symbolizes the possibility of coexistence and reconciliation across the globe.
This study investigates the fractional‐order dynamics of the Lorenz chaotic system by incorporating the Caputo fractional derivative operator. First, the classical Lorenz model is formulated, and appropriate parameter values and initial conditions are selected to demonstrate its chaotic behavior. The sensitivity of the system to initial conditions is highlighted to reinforce its well-known chaotic nature. Subsequently, the model is extended by replacing the standard integer-order derivatives with Caputo fractional derivatives. This generalization enables the analysis of memory and hereditary effects, which play a significant role in many real physical, biological, and engineering processes but cannot be captured through classical differential equations. To obtain the solution of the fractional Lorenz system, a novel numerical scheme tailored to the Caputo operator is proposed. The method ensures accuracy and computational efficiency when solving nonlinear fractional differential equations. Several fractional orders are selected to examine the influence of the derivative order on the system’s dynamical behavior. The results are illustrated through numerical simulations, where phase portraits and time-series plots confirm that the fractional model preserves and enriches the chaotic characteristics of the classical Lorenz system. Overall, the findings emphasize that fractional-order formulations provide a more flexible and realistic framework for analyzing chaotic systems and reveal how memory effects affect the Lorenz dynamics.
Every child possesses the fundamental right to live, grow, develop, participate, and receive protection from violence, discrimination, and violations of civil freedom. Bullying represents a critical problem that must be addressed urgently to disrupt its continuing cycle. Ideally, schools should serve as environments that foster peace, comfort, safety, and nonviolence. However, the persistence of bullying indicates that these expectations have not yet been fully realized, thereby interrupting the effectiveness and efficiency of the teaching–learning process. This study aims to identify appropriate strategies for preventing bullying in educational settings, focusing specifically on strengthening multicultural education. A qualitative research approach was employed, using a literature review as the research design. Data were gathered from journals, books, scientific articles, and other academic sources relevant to the research topic. The analysis process involved selecting and classifying the literature, reviewing abstracts for relevance, noting key findings, and organizing the information systematically. The results of the study indicate that reinforcing multicultural education provides a strategic approach to preventing bullying in boarding-based madrasah education. The implementation of multicultural principles should emphasize four central dimensions and related indicators, encouraging students to apply these values actively in their daily interactions. Such reinforcement is expected to build mutual respect, empathy, and cultural awareness, thereby reducing the likelihood of bullying and fostering a more inclusive educational environment.